Agenda and minutes

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

Councillors Kearon and Naylon declared an interest in item 9 as Members of Keele Parish Council.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Resolved:              That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January, 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor advised members of her Civic Mass, being held on 6 March at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church on London Road.  Members were asked to be in attendance by 10.15am.

Members were reminded that the Mayor’s Spring Ball would be held in the Ballroom of Keele Hall on 8 April.

On the following evening Newcastle Male Voice Choir would be performing a concert at Newcastle Methodist Church in aid of the Mayor’s Charity Fund.

Finally, the Mayor will be hosting a National Town Crier’s Competition on Saturday 16 April at the Market Cross in the High Street.  The competition would be held between 11am and 3pm.  A Gala Dinner will be held in the evening at Bradwell Lodge with a 6.30 for 7pm start time.  Tickets are now available at a cost of £20.

A report was introduced by the Portfolio Holder for Finance IT and Customer.  Councillor Turner thanked the officers who had worked on the budget for 2016/17.

Members were advised that a new Government ruling had been introduced which would allow the Council to raise Council Tax by £5 per month but the Cabinet had chosen not to do that but stick with the 1.99% increase.

Councillor Loades introduced a report proposing an amended budget on behalf of the Conservative Group – this was to limit the Council Tax increase to 1.5%.

Councillor Loades thanked Councillor Turner and the officers for the budget report.

There were two proposals put forward:

(i)              To cease production of the Council’s Reporter newspaper from 1 April, 2016 – saving £31,000

(ii)             To reduce the General Fund Budget contribution to the Revenue Investment Fund by £31,000.  This sum to then be used to support vulnerable families in the Borough.

There were mixed reactions to the cessation of the Reporter.  Some Members felt that it was a useful source of information to some residents – especially those with no access to the internet.  Other Members stated that not every household in the Borough received a copy and that it was not read by everyone.  It was felt that ceasing the Reporter could not be done without consultation with the public.

Discussion took place in respect of the Revenue Investment Fund in respect of what the intention of the fund was and how it had been utilised in the past .

A named vote was requested for the proposed amendments:

In Favour - 25

Against - 32

Abstain - 0

The proposed amendment fell.

A named vote was then taken for the budget as set out in the agenda:

A report was introduced by the Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer regarding the Treasury Management Strategy for 2016/17.

The Council has to have an approved Treasury Management Strategy in place before the start of the 2016/17 financial year.

Resolved:      (i)     That the Treasury Management Strategy Report for

2016/17 be approved. 

(ii)      That the prudential indicators contained within the report be approved.

(iii)     That the Investment Strategy contained within the report be approved.

(iv)     That the Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy, contained within the report, be approved.

A report was introduced by the Portfolio Holder for Policy, People and Partnerships regarding the Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17.

The Localism Act 2011 requires the publication of a pay policy statement for each financial year.

Resolved:    That the Pay Policy Statement attached at Appendix A to the

report be approved and published on the Council’s website by 31 March, 2016.

A report was introduced by the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Policy, People and Partnerships advising Members of changes made to the Officer Scheme  of Delegation in relation to the Environmental Health function and the Licensing function in consequence of legislative changes and the current vacancy in the post of Head of Business Improvement, Central Services and Partnerships.

Resolved:    That the revised Schemes of Delegation be noted.

A report was introduced by the Portfolio Holder for Policy, People and Partnerships regarding a recommendation of the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny (FRAPS) Committee to appoint substitutes to the Planning Committee and to approve the Members’ Protocol on Planning Matters.

A request was made that the Protocol be reviewed in 6 months’ time.  The  Chair of FRAPS confirmed that this would be picked up at the Committee meeting.

Members were advised that any substitutes appointed to Planning Committee would receive training on Planning matters.

Resolved:    (i)       That substitutes for the Planning Committee be

appointed.

(ii)      That the Members’ Protocol on Planning Matters, attached to the agenda report, be approved.  

A report was introduced by the Portfolio Holder for Policy, People and Partnerships regarding the outcome of the Community Governance Review that had been carried out in relation to the boundary of Keele Parish Council. 

Resolved:    That the current boundary for the Parish Council be brought in

                    line with the boundary for the Borough Ward of Keele.

To receive a statement by the Leader of the Council on the activities and decisions of Cabinet and items included on the Forward Plan (report to follow).

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

Members made comments on the item relating to the Asset Strategy.  A number of Members requested a list of the sites contained within the Assets Policy document.  The Leader confirmed that she would send a copy out to all Members.

A query was made on the item regarding land at Sheldon Grove and the Cabinet resolution ‘that this site be retained within the Council’s operational

Portfolio and continue to be maintained in the current manner and kept under review as part of the cyclical asset management review process’.

Did the above resolution mean that the land could be sold in the future?

The Leader confirmed that the current Administration had no intention of selling off the land at Sheldon Grove.   

Resolved:    That the report be noted.  

Chairs are requested to submit written reports to Democratic Services by 22 February, 2016.

a)       Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee

b)       Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee

c)       Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

(The Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities Scrutiny Committee and Active and Cohesive Communities Scrutiny Committee have not met since the November, 2015 Council meeting).

Resolved:    That the reports be noted.

Chairs are requested to submit written reports to Democratic Services by 22 February, 2016.

a)       Audit and Risk Committee

b)       Planning Committee

c)       Licensing Committee

d)       Public Protection Committee

Councillor Loades thanked the Licensing Committee on how the Colourville application had been dealt with.

Councillor Snell gave a verbal update on the Planning Committee.  Members were requested that if a call-in of an application is made and this is subsequently withdrawn, could this, wherever possible be done in plenty of time.

In addition, any Members calling-in an application should be in attendance at the relevant Planning Committee to explain the reasons for the action.

Resolved:    That the reports and comments be noted.  

A notice of motion other than those listed in Standing Order 19 must reach the Chief Executive ten clear days before the relevant Meeting of the Council.

There were no Motions from Members

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

No Petitions were received.

This item had been covered under item 8 of the Leader’s Statement.

There was no urgent business.