Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Wemyss, Cllr Peers and Cllr Olszewski.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th June 2014.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 4^th June be agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor thanked everyone who had come out on 25^th June to support the Parade by C Company, The Mercian Regiment (Staffords).

A report was submitted seeking full Council’s approval for the virement of monies to pay for costs of appeals that have recently been received against the decisions by the Planning Committee to refuse two planning applications.

Resolved:     That Council approves funding of £75,500 from the Revenue Investment Fund and £36,500 from the Budget Support Fund to meet the costs and expenses of the appeals.

A report was submitted requesting that Council increase the number of members of the Audit and Risk Committee from five members (plus an independent member) to seven members (plus an independent member).

The report also requested that Council agree to the requested changes to the Membership of the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee; the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities Scrutiny Committee; and the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved:     a)         That the size of the Audit and Risk Committee be increased to seven elected members (plus one independent member – Mr Phil Butters).

b)        That, due to the increase in membership, Cllr Sweeney be appointed to the Audit and Risk Committee

c)         That the appointment to the labour vacancy on the Audit and Risk Committee be dealt with under Appendix 4 of the Council’s Constitution (Scheme of Delegation), Section (22) which states that the Chief Executive in consultation with the appropriate political group can make appointments to all committees other than the Cabinet to give effect to the rule of political balance.

c)         That the following changes in membership of committees are agreed as follows:

i)             That Cllr Kyle Robinson replaces Cllr David Allport on the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities Scrutiny Committee

ii)            That Cllr David Allport replaces Cllr Kyle Robinson on the Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.

iii)           That Cllr Amelia Rout is appointed to the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee.

A report was submitted requesting Council to approve the revised Financial Regulations and Procedures. The Council’s Financial Regulations and Procedures needed to be reviewed regularly and revised where necessary so that they reflected the current structures and requirements of the Council.

Resolved:     That the revised Financial Regulations and Procedures be approved.

A report was submitted setting out the review of the Council’s ‘List of Outside Bodies’, as agreed at the Council’s Annual Meeting on 4th June 2014. The report included a working definition for an ‘Outside Body’ as well as criteria for the Council to nominate Members to be a part of these outside bodies. Based on the criteria established in the report of the existing ‘List of Outside Bodies’, a number of changes had been made to the existing List of Outside Bodies and these were found at Appendix A to the report.

The existing ‘List of Outside Bodies’ included around 80 such organisations on which Members were currently nominated to represent the Council. In order to ensure that resources were used efficiently, a review had been carried out and the list amended accordingly.

Resolved:

a)    That the changes proposed to the ‘List of Outside Bodies’ (found at Appendix A) be approved.

b)   That no additional bodies should be added to the list unless they meet the criteria set out in this report.

c)    That the issues raised in the report, especially in relation to those outside bodies identified in the report be noted.

d)   That the nominations listed on pages 5 and 6 of the second supplementary agenda be agreed.

Outstanding nominations will be requested from Groups Leaders prior to the meeting.

Resolved:  That the following substitutes be agreed:

A report was submitted to seek approval of the masterplan for the Thistleberry Parkway Neighbourhood Park drawn up as a result of a consultation exercise undertaken with the local community and other stakeholders.

The report also sought approval to proceed with the first phase of the proposals to improve the parkway.

Resolved:     a)         That the masterplan proposals for the parkway be approved.

b)        That the first phase of the project, to improve the cycleway running through the park and provide lighting be approved.

c)         That the Executive Director – Operational Services be authorised to seek tenders for the works and, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling accept the lowest suitable tender within the available funding.

To receive a statement by the Leader of the Council on the activities and decisions of Cabinet and items included on the Forward Plan.

A verbal statement was provided by the Leader of the Council on the activities and decisions of Cabinet and items included on the Forward Plan.  The Leader confirmed that a written copy of the statement would be distributed the next day and that a written report would be provided in writing prior to the meeting in the future.

Resolved:     That the information be received.

Chairs are requested to submit written reports to the Democratic Services Manager by Monday 14^th July 2014.

a)         Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee

b)         Active and Cohesive Communities Scrutiny Committee

c)         Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities Scrutiny Committee

d)         Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee

e)         Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Resolved:     That the reports and information be received.

Chairs are requested to submit written reports to the Democratic Services Manager by Monday 14^th July 2014.

a)         Audit and Risk Committee

b)         Planning Committee

c)         Licensing Committee

d)         Public Protection Committee

Resolved:     That the reports and the information be received.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 11, questions must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting to the Head of Business Improvement, Central Services and Partnerships.  Any questions considered urgent will only be accepted with the agreement of the Mayor prior to the meeting.

No questions had been received.

A notice of motion other than those listed in section 10 of the Council procedure rules must reach the Chief Executive ten clear days before the relevant meeting of the Council.

A motion had been submitted by Cllr Nigel Jones and seconded by Cllr Mrs Reddish in relation to the Council’s Enforcement Policy.

Resolved:     That under the provisions of Procedure Rule 12, as this matter was within the remit of the Public Protection Committee, the matter was referred to that Committee.

No petitions were received.

There was no urgent business.