Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

To Follow.

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 January, 2018 be agreed as a correct record.

Resolved      (i)         That Cabinet approve the scheme and authorises the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling to take all necessary steps to implement the scheme including the seeking of formal consent from the Duchy of Lancaster and appointment of a contractor with the scheme being financed from the funds secured via community donations and Staffordshire County Council.

                        (ii)        That Cabinet authorises the Executive Director – Operational Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling to implement similar measures to other areas of the Common in the future should the need arise and funding be available.   

A report was submitted which sought approval for a scheme to deter traveller encroachment onto Wolstanton Common.  The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling reported that the local community had raised sufficient funding to pay for the timber bollards to be installed around the boundaries of the Common which would help to deter future unauthorised encroachment whilst preserving the open nature of the Common. 

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing welcomed the proposals, particularly in view of potential benefits to community safety and was joined in her support for the scheme by the Portfolio Holders for Planning and Regeneration and Finance and Resources who referred to the costs related to the clearing up of the area following previous incursions.

Resolved      (i)         That Cabinet approve the scheme and authorise the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling to take all necessary steps to implement the scheme, including the seeking of formal consent from the Duchy of Lancaster and appointment of a contractor, with the scheme being financed from the funds secured via community donations and Staffordshire County Council.

                        (ii)        That Cabinet authorises the Executive Director – Operational Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling to implement similar measures to other areas of the Common in the future should the need arise and funding be available.   

Resolved:                 (i)         That members accept the reasons for the call-in made following the decision of the previous Cabinet and rescind that decision with immediate effect.

                                    (ii)        That officers be asked to bring an updated Asset Management Strategy to a future Cabinet after the completion of the Stock Condition Review and the consultation on the Joint Local Plan Preferred Options Document.

                                    (iii)       That officers continue to focus on marketing the large sites that have the benefit of resolutions to grant planning permission with a view to achieving their disposal at the earliest opportunity.

Following the change in Administration, a previous decision of the Cabinet (8/11/2017) relating to the Councils Asset Management Strategy was reconsidered. The “call-in” in relation to this item had been withdrawn.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Service Improvement People and Partnerships noted that the recently commissioned Stock Condition Review would not be completed until April/May 2018 and the Local Joint Plan Preferred Options Document was due to be the subject of a consultation exercise in February 2018, and that this should provide direction in terms of Council-owned land.

In conclusion he considered that the legislation which was put in place to protect Village Green status should be respected.

Resolved:                 (i)         That members accept the reasons for the call-in made following the decision of the previous Cabinet and rescind that decision with immediate effect.

                                    (ii)        That officers be asked to bring an updated Asset Management Strategy to a future Cabinet after the completion of the Stock Condition Review and the consultation on the Joint Local Plan Preferred Options Document.

                                    (iii)       That officers continue to focus on marketing the large sites that have the benefit of resolutions to grant planning permission with a view to achieving their disposal at the earliest opportunity.

-Resolved     (i)         That the assumptions set out in the report be approved.

                        (ii)        That the Cabinet recommends to full Council an increase in Council Tax of 2.7% for 2018/19.

                        (iii)       That the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee be asked to consider what comments it wishes to make on the draft Budget and Council Tax proposals before the final proposals are considered at Cabinet on 7 February 2018.

A report was submitted which reviewed progress on the completion of the revenue and capital budgets for 2018/19 following agreement of the 5 year Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources thanked the Executive Director – Resources and Support Services and his staff for their work in identifying savings and opportunities to increase revenue which had helped to close the funding gap for 2018/19.

With regard to Council Tax, the figures were set out for both an increase of 2.99% and a £5 (2.70% increase).  It was noted that additional savings would need to be found if an increase of 2.70% was agreed.

Resolved      (i)         That the assumptions set out in the report be approved.

                        (ii)        That the Cabinet recommend to full Council an increase in Council Tax of 2.7% for 2018/19.

                        (iii)       That the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee be asked to consider what comments it wishes to make on the draft Budget and Council Tax proposals before the final proposals are considered at Cabinet on 7 February 2018.

Resolved:     That the fees and charges proposed to apply from 1 April 2018, as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

A report was submitted to Cabinet which sought approval to the proposed scale of fees and charges to apply from April 2018.

Resolved:                 That the fees and charges proposed to apply from 1 April 2018, as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

There was no Urgent Business.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the attached report, because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs in Part 1 of Schedule 12A (As amended) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved:                 That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

Resolved:     That the report be noted.

Councillor attendance at Cabinet meetings:

(1)  The Chair or spokesperson of the Council’s scrutiny committees and the mover of any motion referred to Cabinet shall be entitled to attend any formal public meeting of Cabinet to speak.

(2)  Other persons including non-executive members of the Council may speak at such meetings with the permission of the Chair of the Cabinet.

Public attendance at Cabinet meetings:

(1)  If a member of the public wishes to ask a question(s) at a meeting of Cabinet, they should serve two clear days’ notice in writing of any such question(s) to the appropriate committee officer.

(2)  The Council Leader as Chair of Cabinet is given the discretion to waive the above deadline and assess the permissibility if the question(s). The Chair’s decision will be final.

(3)  The maximum limit is three public questions at any one Cabinet meeting.

(4)  A maximum limit of three minutes is provided for each person to ask an initial question or make an initial statement to the Cabinet.

(5)  Any questions deemed to be repetitious or vexatious will be disallowed at the discretion of the Chair.