Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Merrial Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 2AG

Contact: Julia Cleary  01782 742227

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllr Fear.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 46 KB

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 15th April be agreed as a correct record.

3.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest stated.

4.

Election of Mayor 2015/2016

When the Mayor has declared the result of the election, the Mayor preceded by the Mace Bearers, will retire to the Mayor’s Parlour accompanied by the following:-

 

  • Retiring Mayoress
  • Retiring Consort
  • Retiring High Constable
  • Retiring Chaplain
  • Chief Executive
  • Mayor Designate
  • Consort designate
  • High Constable designate
  • Chaplain designate

 

The incoming Mayor will then be robed and invested with the chain of office.  The Mayoral party will then return to the Council Chamber in the following order:-

 

  • Mace Bearers
  • Mayor
  • Consort designate
  • Chief Executive
  • High Constable designate
  • Chaplain designate
  • Retiring Mayoress
  • Retiring Consort
  • Retiring High Constable
  • Retiring Chaplain

 

The Mayor will take the chair and make the declaration of acceptance of office.

 

Minutes:

The Mayor requested that the Council place on record appreciation of the service given to by former Councillors who had not sought re-election or had been unsuccessful at the recent elections. Their dedicated service to the Council was very much appreciated.

 

Councillor Mrs Shenton proposed Councillor Mrs Sandra Hambleton as Mayor for the next municipal year.

 

Councillor Turner seconded this nomination.

 

Resolved:

 

That Cllr Mrs Hambleton is appointed as Mayor for the municipal year 2015 to 2016.

5.

Appointment of Deputy Mayor 2015/2016

Following the appointment of the Deputy Mayor, he/she will make the declaration of acceptance of office.

Minutes:

Cllr Miss Reddish proposed Cllr Wilkes as Deputy Mayor; this was seconded by Cllr Wemyss.

 

Resolved:     That Cllr Ian Wilkes be appointed as Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2015 to 2016.

6.

Mayoral Appointments

The Mayor will announce the appointment of his/her:

 

Consort

High Constable

Chaplain

Mace Bearers

Minutes:

The Mayor made the following appointments:

 

Consort:                     Trevor Hambleton

High Constable:        Sean Castrey

Chaplain:                    Ann Taylor

Mace Bearers:          Laurence Tagg and Carl Edworthy

 

7.

Mayoral Address

Minutes:

The Mayor welcomed Councillors and stated that the following would be her charities for the municipal year:

 

·        Deaf Vibe

·        Approach

·        Apedale Heritage Centre

8.

Vote of Thanks to the Retiring Mayor and Consort

In appreciation of their services during the past year, the retiring Mayor and Consort will be presented with their badges.

Minutes:

Cllr Sweeney proposed a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor and Consort. Cllr Sweeney stated that it had been an absolute pleasure to work with the retiring Mayor and that both she and the Consort had brought dignity and professionalism to the role whilst continuously promoting the interests of the Borough and the Council.

 

 

9.

Response of the Retiring Mayor and Summary of the Mayoral Year.

Minutes:

Cllr Mrs Hailstones thanks Members and highlighted how the work undertaken had helped to raise the profiles of her charities in the public eye and that over 250 Mayoral engagements had been carried out during the year. Cllr Mrs Hailstones had donated a glass cabinet to the Council within which the Mayoral robes could be displayed for all to see outside the Council Chamber.

 

Cllr Mrs Hailstones thanked all those who had supported both her and her Consort during the year and said that it had been both a pleasure and a privilege to serve as Mayor. Cllr Mrs Hailstones wished the Mayor and her Consort every success for the forthcoming year.

10.

Mayors Announcements

Minutes:

The Mayor announced that the Annual Civic Church Service would be held at St Giles’ Church on the morning if Sunday 21st June and that those able to attend were invited to join her in the Civic Suite by no later than five past ten. The service would commence at ten thirty.

11.

Appointment of Deputy Leader and Cabinet

The Leader will report the appointment of his/her Cabinet and Deputy Leader for 2015/2016.

Minutes:

Notice had been received of the resignation of the current Leader of the Council.

 

The Mayor requested nominations for Leader of the Council.

 

Cllr Turner proposed Cllr Mrs Shenton;

 

Cllr Loades proposed Cllr Sweeney.

 

A named vote was requested by Cllr Holland and this request was confirmed by over 12 other Members in the Chamber.

 

Vote to appoint Cllr Mrs Shenton as Leader of the Council:

 

Allport

YES

Heesom

NO

Shenton

YES

Astle

YES

Holland

NO

Simpson

YES

Bailey

YES

Huckfield

NO

Stringer

YES

Baker

YES

Johnson (Mrs)

YES

Stubbs

YES

Bates

YES

Johnson

NO

Sweeney

NO

Beech

YES

Kearon

YES

Tagg (John)

NO

Braithwaite

NO

Loades

NO

Tagg (Simon)

NO

Burgess

YES

Mancey

NO

Turner

YES

Cooper

NO

Matthews

NO

Wallace

YES

Cooper (Miss)

NO

Naylon

YES

Walklate

YES

Dymond

YES

Northcott

NO

Waring

NO

Eagles

YES

Parker

NO

Welsh

YES

Eastwood

YES

Peers

NO

Wemyss

YES

Frankish

NO

Pickup

YES

White

YES

Hailstones (Mrs)

NO

Plant

YES

Wilkes

YES

Hailstones

NO

Proctor

YES

Williams (Mrs)

YES

Hambleton (Mrs)

YES

Reddish

YES

Williams

YES

Hambleton

YES

Robinson

YES

Winfield

YES

Harper

NO

Rout

YES

Wing

NO

 

 

 

 

Woolley

NO

 

 

In Favour:       35

Against:          23

Absent:           2

 

The Leader then confirmed the following appointments:

 

Deputy Leader:         Cllr Turner

 

Other Cabinet Members (portfolios to be confirmed):

 

Councillor Mrs Rout

Councillor Williams

Councillor Mrs Beech

Councillor Kearon

Councillor Proctor

 

Resolved:     That Cllrs Mrs Shenton be appointed as Leader of the Council for the next four years.

 

 

12.

Appointment of Committees, Chairs and Vice-Chairs 2015/2016 pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That the following appointments to committees be agreed:

 

 

 

 

LABOUR

CONSERVATIVE

LIB DEM

UKIP

NEWCASTLE INDEPENDENT GROUP

GREEN

IND

Audit & Risk

7

4

2

0

1

0

0

0

 

 

Sarah Pickup

Paul Waring

 

Ken Owen

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvia Dymond

David Loades

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvia Burgess

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trevor Hambleton

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

 

4

2

0

1

0

0

0

 

 

 

Stephen Sweeney

 

David Harper

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Holland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Member

PHILL BUTTERS

Until end 2017/18

Employees Consultative

7

4

2

0

0

1

0

0

 

 

Elizabeth Shenton

Stephen Sweeney

 

 

Derek Huckfield

 

 

 

 

Sandra Hambleton

John Cooper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bert Proctor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann Beech

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

 

4

2

0

0

1

0

0

 

 

 

David Loades

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

Trevor Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staffing Committee

11

5

4

1

0

1

0

0

 

 

Sylvia Dymond

Mark Holland

Marion Reddish

 

Dave Woolley

 

 

 

 

Amelia Rout

Stephen Sweeney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann Beech

John Cooper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Wallace

Avril Frankish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gill Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

11

5

4

1

0

1

0

0

 

 

Tony Kearon

David Loades

June Walklate

 

Eileen Braithwaite

 

 

 

 

 

Chloe Mancey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grants Assessment

9

4

3

1

0

0

1

0

 

 

Joan Winfield

Julie Cooper

June Walklate

 

 

WenslieNaylon

 

 

 

Sophia Baker

Andrew parker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Wallace

Lucinda Wing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvia Burgess

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

9

4

3

1

0

0

1

0

 

 

Hilda Johnson

David Loades

Andrew Wemyss

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colin Eastwood

Gill Heesom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Stringer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Licensing

15

7

5

1

1

0

0

             1

 

 

Trevor Hambleton

Simon Tagg

Andrew Wemyss

David Harper

 

 

Simon White

 

 

Sandra Simpson

Chloe Mancey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billy Welsh

Avril Frankish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colin Eastwood

Trevor Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gill Williams

Andrew Parker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Winfield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reg Bailey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

15

7

5

1

1

0

0

1

 

 

Tony Kearon

David Loades

Marion Reddish

Ken Owen

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Stringer

Stephen Sweeney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Wallace

Paul Northcott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Cooper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member Development

9

4

3

1

0

0

0

1

 

 

Rob Wallace

Tracey Peers

Ian Wilkes

 

 

 

Simon White

 

 

Bert Proctor

Trevor Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Winfield

Paul Waring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trevor Hambleton

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

9

4

3

1

0

0

0

1

 

 

 

Mark Holland

Andrew Wemyss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ian Matthews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gill Heesom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conservation Advisory

5

2

2

0

0

0

1

0

 

 

Sandra Simpson

Julie Cooper

 

 

 

WenslieNaylon

 

 

 

Dave Allport

Trevor Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

5

2

2

0

0

0

1

0

 

 

Kyle Robinson

Stephen Sweeney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvia Burgess

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planning

16

8

5

1

1

1

0

0

 

 

Sophia Baker

Paul Northcott

Marion Reddish

Ken Owen

Eileen Braithwaite

 

 

 

 

Dave Stringer

Andrew Fear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bert Proctor

Chloe Mancey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandra Hambleton

Gill Heesom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gill Williams

John Cooper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Williams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Billy Welsh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry Turner

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

16

8

5

1

1

1

0

0

 

 

 

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Protection

13

6

4

1

1

1

          0

0

 

 

Kyle Robinson

Ian Matthews

Andrew Wemyss

David Harper

Eileen Braithwaite

 

 

 

 

Sylvia Dymond

Peter Hailstones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gill Williams

Linda Hailstones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave Allport

John Tagg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Winfield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Kearon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

13

6

4

1

1

1

0

0

 

 

 

Trevor Johnson

June Walklate

Ken Owen

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

Gill Heesom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucinda Wing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Waring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standards

Committee

8

4

3

1

0

0

0

0

 

 

Sandra Hambleton

Chloe Mancey

Andrew Wemyss

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan Winfield

Gill Heesom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Eagles

Trevor Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reg Bailey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Substitutes

8

4

3

1

0

0

0

0

 

 

 

John Cooper  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Appointments of Representatives on Outside Bodies 2015/2016.

The Council is requested to review its representation on outside bodies for 2015/2016.

 

In the case of any appointments made by office rather than by name, in the event of any change to the office holder these will automatically transfer to the new incumbent.

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the following Members be appointed to Outside Bodies:

Outside Bodies – Community Groups

 

Organisation/Partnership

Number of places

Status of Body

Current Representatives

Nominations 2014/15

 

Community Centres Management Committees:

Audley

Butt Lane

Chesterton

Clayton

Crackley

Harriet Higgins

Holly Road

Knutton

Marsh Hall

Red Street

Silverdale, Park Road

Silverdale, Social Centre

Whitfield

Wye Road

3 on each

Community

 

Ward members automatically become the Council’s nominated representatives for community centres situated within their wards for the period of their office, negating the need to make specific nominations each year

 

 

Bradwell Lodge Centre Management Committee Limited

(constitution only permits one councillor to sit on the board)

1

Community

SANDRA HAMBLETON

 

SANDRA HAMBLETON

 

 

Outside Bodies – Third Sector

 

Organisation/Partnership

Number of places

Status of Body

Current Representatives

Nominations 2014/15

 

Community Council for Staffordshire

1

Third Sector

DAVID LOADES

 

SIMON WHITE

 

Newcastle Chamber of Trade – Executive Board

1

Third Sector

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR ECONOMIC REGENERATION, BUSINESS & TOWN CENTRES

 

Newcastle-under-Lyme Almshouses Charity Trustees

3

Third Sector

Mrs Williams

Mr Williams

Mrs Winfield

 

 

Mrs Williams

Mr Williams

Mrs Winfield

 

 

North Staffs Victim Support

1

Third Sector

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES

 

Sir John Offley Almhouses Trust

1

Third Sector

 

BILLY WELSH

 

BILLY WELSH

 

Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Theatre Trust Limited (New Victoria Theatre)

1

Third Sector

 

LEADER

 

The United Charities Trust

4

Third Sector

Mrs Walklate

Mrs Williams

Vacancy

Mrs Winfield

Terms of office expire November 2016

 

Aspire Board

1

Local Body

MRS HAMBLETON

 

SANDRA HAMBLETON

 

 

Aspire Housing Board

1

Local Body

COLIN EASTWOOD

 

COLIN EASTWOOD

 

Campaign to Protect Rural England

1

Regional Body

DAVID LOADES

WENSLIE NAYLON

 

The Industrial Communities Alliance

(formerly the Coalfield Communities Campaign)

1

National Body

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR REGENERATION, BUSINESS AND TOWN CENTRES

 

Local Government Association – General Assembly

1

National Body

 

LEADER

 

Local Government Association – Rural Commission

1

National Body

 

LEADER

 

Local Government Association – Urban Commission

1

National Body

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR REGENERATION, BUSINESS AND TOWN CENTRES

 

Locality Action Partnerships:

Audley

Butt Lane

Betley, Keele and Madeley

Clayton

Poolfields, Thistleberry and Town

East Newcastle

Greater Chesterton

Kidsgrove

Newcastle Rural

Partnership of Western Communities

 

N/A

Local body

 

 

The LAP constitutions state that membership is open to “Any County or District Councillor representing any part of the area” - this negates the need to make specific nominations annually.

 

Newcastle Town Centre Partnership

1

Local Body

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR REGENERATION, BUSINESS AND TOWN CENTRES

 

Newcastle-under-Lyme Partnership (Local Strategic Partnership)

(Strategic Board)

1 + sub

Local Body

 

Leader

(substitute Deputy Leader)

 

Staffordshire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee

1

Local body

 

CHAIR OF HEALTH SCRUTINY

 

Staffordshire LGA – Staffs Connects

1

Local Body

 

LEADER

 

Staffordshire LGA – Waste Board

1

Local Body

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR ENVIRONMENT & RECYCLING

 

Staffordshire Planning Forum

2 + sub

Local Body

 

Chair of Planning and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Town Centres

(substitute Vice-Chair of Planning)

 

Staffordshire Playing Fields Association

1

Local Body

TREVOR HAMBLETON

 

TREVOR HAMBLETON

 

Staffordshire Police and Crime Panel

1+ sub

Local Body

 

Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities

 

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Strategic Partnership  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Report - Planning Scheme of Delegation pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was submitted requesting Council to update the current Planning Scheme of Delegation to reflect recommendations arising following the recent Planning Peer Review. The report was introduced by the Chair of the Planning Committee where consideration had previously been given to the matter.

 

Some Members expressed concern regarding the proposed changes to the call in procedure as it appeared that Officers would have less time to deal with planning applications and opportunities for elected members and the public to be involved in the planning process.

 

The Chair of the Planning Committee stated that in fact the cycle length for Planning Committee meetings had been lengthened from 3 to 4 weeks thus allowing more time for members to contribute. The call in time had increased from 10 to 15 days with a proviso that members had to speak to officers first which would alleviate the current problem where a call in was submitted and then withdrawn due to a lack of communication with officers.

 

A proposal was made that the report be taken back to the Planning Committee and more consideration given to the implications for the public and due to the fact that there was still confusion in relation to the planning peer review; this was seconded and voted on as follows:

 

In Favour:       28

Against:          29

 

The recommendation fell and Members voted on the recommendations as listed in the report:

 

In Favour:       29

Against:          29

 

The Mayor used her casting vote which resulted in 30 in favour of the recommendations.

 

 

Resolved:

 

That the revised Planning Scheme of Delegation set out in the Appendix to the report be adopted by the Council

 

 

 

15.

Report - Member Allowances pdf icon PDF 20 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was submitted requesting Council to confirm that the current scheme of allowances as set out in Appendix 1 be retained for the Municipal Year 2015/16.

Under the provisions of the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 the Council must before the beginning of each year, agree a scheme which provides for the payment of an allowance to each member of an authority. The amount of such an allowance must be the same for each member (basic allowance).  Such a scheme may also provide for a Special Responsibility allowance to such members of the authority and these must also be specified in the scheme.

Resolved:        That the current scheme of allowances as set out in Appendix 1to the report be retained for the Municipal Year 2015/16.

 

 

16.

Calendar of Meetings 2015/2016 pdf icon PDF 22 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was submitted requesting Council to agree the Calendar of Meetings for 2015 - 2016

 

Resolved:

 

That Council agree to the dates and times of the meetings as listed at appendix A to the report.

17.

Receipt of Petitions pdf icon PDF 42 KB

Petition attached in relation to the Butts, Thistleberry Parkway and Howard Place Green. 

 

The petition has been submitted by Nigel Jones.

 

A full copy of the petition can be viewed on the website.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mr Nigel Jones presented a petition to the Council requesting that the Butts, Thistleberry Parkway and Howard Place Green be placed in the Green Space Strategy as areas protected from building development.

 

There was a proposal that the content of the petition be submitted to an all party working group for consideration. This proposal was seconded.

 

A second proposal was put forward that such a working group should consider all sites as well as those mentioned specifically in the petition. This was seconded.

 

The Council Leader highlighted the fact that the Green Space Strategy would be coming before members for consideration in due course and that the petition before the Council only requested consideration of certain areas of land. The Leader proposed that she, the Deputy Leader and the relevant Portfolio Holder meet with the petition organiser to discuss the concerns in detail before taking a report forward to the appropriate body. This proposal was seconded.

 

A vote was taken on whether there should be a cross party working group with the remit to consider all affected green spaces:

 

In Favour:       26

Against:          28

 

The recommendation fell.

 

A vote was taken on whether there should be a cross party working group to only consider the areas mentioned in the petition:

 

In Favour:     24 voted in favour and the rest abstained.

 

The vote was carried.

 

The Leader stated that a meeting would be set up with the petition organised and the Liberal Democrat Leader would be invited to attend this meeting.

 

Resolved:

 

That a cross party working group be set up to consider the areas of land highlighted in the petition.

18.

Standing Order 18 - Urgent Business

To consider any communications pursuant to section 7 of the Council Procedural Rules in Appendix 7 of the Constitution.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.