Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Bates, Cllr Wing and Cllr Wallace.

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

Cllr Pickup and Cllr Stubbs declared an interest in the Leader’s Report, paragraph 9.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor confirmed that her Spring Ball would be held in The Ballroom of Keele Hall on 8 April.  Tickets were priced at £37 each and would be available from Peter Whalan from 1 January 2016.

The Civic Carol Service was to be held in The Parish Church of St Giles on 20 December 2015 from 6.30pm.  All were welcome.  The Service would be followed by Tea and mince pies in the church hall.

There would be a ceremony to grant Freedom of the Borough to Sgt Watchman (V) and to Neil Baldwin in Keele Hall on 26 November at 7pm.  Many councillors had responded to the invites sent out.  Those that had not were still welcome to attend.

The Monitoring Officer introduced a report requesting Members to consider reviewing the current Council size. The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) had acknowledged that currently this authority with 60 members was at the top of the range when compared to it’s ‘CIPFA nearest neighbours group’. 

Resolved:

(a)       That the current council size of 60 members be reduced.

(b)       That the number of elected Members should be in a range between 42 to 48.

A report was submitted requesting Members to approve a Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the borough area for the financial year 2016/17.

Resolved:

That the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council area as detailed is adopted for the financial year 2016/17.

A report was submitted to advise Members of the updated draft Licensing Policy as agreed by the Licensing Committee on 22nd October 2015.

Resolved:

That the updated Licensing Policy be adopted.

A report was submitted to advise Members of the updated draft Gambling Policy as agreed by the Licensing Committee on 22nd October 2015.

Resolved:

That the revised Gambling Policy be adopted.

A report was submitted to provide an update on the activities and decisions of Cabinet together with the Forward Plan.

A question was raised as to how many meetings had been cancelled recently. The Leader stated that only one Cabinet meeting had been cancelled to help make best use of the available resources.

In relation to Item 4, members queried what was meant by ‘significant’ regarding land sales at Sheldon Grove. The Leader stated that this item was currently subject to a call in and that and questions should wait until after this had taken place. The same was said of any questions relating to Maxims as this was also subject to a call in.

In relation to Item 6, Members queried whether the actions recommended in the peer review had been completed satisfactorily.

A member also drew the Leader’s attention to Item 2 and requested that the Leader remain open to the possibility of some short term borrowing to help finance the capital programme.

The Leader also stated that there was currently no update in relation to the Joint Local Plan with Stoke on Trent City Council.

Chairs are requested to submit written reports to the Democratic Services Manager at least 2 clear days before the meeting.

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 of the Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees be received.

Chairs are requested to submit written reports to the Democratic Services Manager at least 2 clear days before the meeting.

a)         Audit and Risk Committee

b)         Planning Committee

c)         Licensing Committee

d)         Public Protection Committee

Resolved:

That the reports of the Chairs of the Regulatory Committees be received.

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

No questions had been submitted.

A notice of motion other than those listed in Appendix 7, Section 10 of the Council’s Constitution must reach the Chief Executive ten clear days before the relevant Meeting of the Council.

The following members declared an interest in the item as they were members of a trade union:

Cllr Wemyss

Cllr Reddish

Cllr Pickup

Cllr Stubbs

Cllr Welsh

Cllr Williams

Cllr Robinson

Cllr Shenton

Cllr Mrs Williams

Cllr Hambleton

Cllr Kearon

Cllr Rout

Cllr Bailey

Cllr Burgess

Cllr Winfield

Cllr Eastwood

Cllr Snell

Cllr Plant

Cllr Eagles

A request was made for a named vote:

For: 31

Against: 19

Abstain: 5

Resolved:

That the Council:

1.         Support the UNISON, GMB and the TUC's campaign to protect the right to strike.

2.         Write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stating the council’s opposition to the government's proposals on trade unions.

3.         Write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government stating the opposition to the interference of central government in local industrial relations as it is against the spirit of localism.

4.         Ask the Leader to write to to all Members of Parliament covering the Borough and regional members of the House of Lords informing them of our position and asking them to oppose and vote against the Bill.5.            Continue to value the importance of meaningful workforce engagement and representation through trade unions in Newcastle-under-Lyme Council.

This Council further resolves, that in the event that the government's proposals become law, in so far as is lawful for the council as an employer to:

A.        Continue to allow recognised trade unions to use subscriptions through payroll, or otherwise support trade unions' efforts to move members onto direct debit subscriptions, through allowing access to workers and as much notice as possible of any changed arrangements.

B.        Maintain current arrangements on "facility time" for trade union reps to represent their members.

C.        Commit not to use agency workers to break strikes.

To receive from Members any petitions which they wish to present to the Council.

There were no petitions.

To consider any communications which pursuant to Appendix 7, Section 7 of the Council’s Constitution are, in the opinion of the Mayor, of an urgent nature and to pass thereon such resolutions as may be deemed necessary.

An urgent item had been accepted by the Mayor on the grounds that it met the provisions for such matters as set out in Appendix 7, Section 7 of the Council’s Constitution.

The item related to the formulation of a policy at the highest level, on a cross-party basis, to ensure fairness and transparency in the policy for management and disposal of council assets, but particularly with regard to disposal of green spaces for residential use.

The motion was proposed by Cllr Holland and seconded by Cllr Reddish.

It was confirmed that time scales were critical regarding the recommendations as Council would need to agreed it’s budget in February 2016.

A named vote was requested:

 For: 29

Against: 23

Resolved:

That the Council:

1. Establish an Asset Policy Committee that shall:

a)    Begin work immediately and exist until the date of the next meeting of Full Council

b)    Produce a completed report to a Special meeting of the Council by no later than the end of January 2016 so that this can inform the preparation of the Asset Management Strategy 2016/17 and the budget setting process

c)    Be composed of seven councillors and have authority to co-opt up to two independent members (who shall be non-voting) to assist the Committee in its work

d)    Have a remit to recommend a policy for the disposal of the Borough Council’s land assets for residential use in future

2. Request that Cabinet suspends the sale of land assets solely for residential use and included in the Asset Management Strategy, while the Asset Policy Committee is undertaking its work.