Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Astley Room - Castle. View directions

Contact: Geoff Durham 01782 742222 

Items
No. Item

1.

WELCOME

Minutes:

The Leader welcomed everyone present, including Miss Emily Martin from Keele University who was doing an internship with the Council.

2.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

There were no apologies.

 

 

3.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 90 KB

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes:

Resolved:     That the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 February, 2019 be

                        agreed as a correct record.

4.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive declarations of interest from Members  on items included in the agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest stated.

5.

LYME LOTTERY REVIEW pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

(i)    That the findings of the Lyme Lottery Review be noted.

(ii)   That the operation of the Lyme Lottery is continued and is supported using existing Council resources including the Communications Team, and external partners in the voluntary, community & social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

(iii)  That the Review is shared with Health, Wellbeing & Partnerships Scrutiny to consider further development opportunities.

 

Minutes:

A report was submitted to Cabinet informing Members of the findings of the Lyme Lottery Review carried out in January and the actions recommended.

 

The Leader, Councillor Simon Tagg introduced the report, advising that the Lottery had been brought in to replace the Community Chest.  However, there had been a significant reduction in the money available to community groups.  The leader stated that the Council needed to continue it, support it – but improve it.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency, Councillor Stephen Sweeney endorsed what the Leader had said, agreeing that it needed a boost.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing, Mrs Jill Waring had received complaints that tickets were only available online and not in the shops.  Councillor Waring felt that this needed looking into.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Growth, Councillor Paul Northcott stated that the scheme did show a good take up but that it needed to capture more people.  Councillor Northcott suggested that the reasons why people were not taking it up needed investigating.

 

Resolved:       (i)         That the findings of the Lyme Lottery Review be noted.

(ii)           That the operation of the Lyme Lottery is continued and is supported using existing Council resources including the Communications Team, and external partners in the voluntary, community & social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

(iii)          That the Review is shared with Health, Wellbeing & Partnerships Scrutiny to consider further development opportunities.

 

6.

VOLUNTARY, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE (VCSE) PLEDGE pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

(i)    That the Borough Council adopt & sign up to the Pledge.

(ii)   That the Borough Council seeks to promote & implement the Pledge.

 

Minutes:

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking approval for the Borough to sign up to the Staffordshire Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Pledge for Local Authorities.

 

The Leader introduced the report, advising that all local authorities were looking to sign up to this.  Members’ attention was drawn to page 19 of the agenda which set out the details of the Pledge.

 

Councillor Northcott endorsed this, stating that partnership working was crucial and could achieve so much.

 

Resolved:       (i)         That the Borough Council adopt & sign up to the Pledge.

(ii)           That the Borough Council seeks to promote & implement the Pledge.

 

7.

AIR QUALITY MINISTERIAL DIRECTION - STRATEGIC OUTLINE CASE pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That Cabinet notes the content of the Strategic Outline Case and approves the proposed shortlist of measures to be further evaluated as part of the Air Quality Local Plan Development works required by DEFRA.  

 

Minutes:

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking support to update and advise on the development of a Strategic Outline Case which details a shortlist of measures to be considered as part of the Air Quality document.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling, Councillor Trevor Johnson introduced the report advising members that the Council was working on the Plan with Stoke on Trent City Council.

 

Members’ attention was brought to Paragraph 3 of the report which gave a shortlist of measures to take forward.

 

The Leader stated that the chargeable access restriction (bullet point 5) had been opposed by the Cabinet previously.  It would be a levy on our town centre.  The Leader agreed that the first two measures were a good way forward stating that the Etruria Valley link road did put a lot of pressure onto other roads and suggested that the highway network possibly needed changing.  Following the last meeting of the Cabinet, the Leader had written to Newcastle MP, Paul Farrelly seeking his support and meetings had been held with him at Castle House.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage, Councillor Mark Holland agreed with the Leader’s comments and commenced the Portfolio Holder for the work that had been undertaken. 

 

Councillor Sweeney felt that the measures would not remedy the problems but move them from one area to another.

 

Resolved:     That the content of the Strategic Outline Case be noted and the

proposed shortlist of measures be approved to be further evaluated as part of the Air Quality Local Plan Development works required by DEFRA.  

 

8.

CASH COLLECTION AND CASH DELIVERIES CONTRACT pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Decision:

(i)    That the tendering of a contract for the cash collections and cash deliveries service be approved.

(ii)   That the Interim Director of Resources and Support Services be autjorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency to assess the outcome of the tender evaluation and approve the award of a contract to the successful bidder.

 

Minutes:

A report was submitted to Cabinet outlining the proposal to tender the cash collection and cash delivery services through one contract.

 

Councillor Sweeney introduced the report stating that the current contract was ending and therefore a re-tendering process was taking place.  Members’ attention was drawn to paragraph 3.2 of the report which outlined details for the new contract.

 

The Leader endorsed this stating that the way that people were paying for goods/services was constantly changing as cash was being used less and less through the use of various mobile ‘apps’.

 

Resolved:       (i)         That the tendering of a contract for the cash collections and

cash deliveries service be approved.

(ii)           That the Interim Director of Resources and Support Services be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency to assess the outcome of the tender evaluation and approve the award of a contract to the successful bidder.

 

9.

FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT TO END OF QUARTER THREE (October-December) 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted and the recommendation that the Council continues to monitor performance alongside the latest financial information for the same period, be agreed.

(ii)           That the future development of the Financial & Performance report to reflect the vision and priorities of the Council Plan 2018-2022, be supported.

 

Minutes:

A report was submitted to Cabinet providing the Financial and Performance review Report for Quarter three 2018/19.

 

Councillor Sweeney introduced the first part of the report, drawing Members’ attention to page 39 which outlined the current financial position.

 

The Leader introduced the performance part of the report, commencing at page 41 of the agenda.   Referring members to ref 1.9, he stated that Human Resources were now addressing some of the sickness issues.

 

Councillor Northcott addressed ref 2.3 stating that there had been changes to how the National Charging Structure which had caused an influx of planning applications prior to the changes taking effect.

 

The Leader addressed ref 4.1 to 4.3 stating that town centres everywhere were struggling but plans were in place to tackle the issues.  The Council would be working with the Business Improvement District (BID) on this.

 

Councillor Sweeney made reference to the Market which was now back under the control of the Council.  A survey had been carried out but there was still work to do to bring them back up to the popularity that they used to be.  There was still a place for Markets within the retail trade.

 

Resolved:        (i)         That the contents of the report be noted and the

recommendation that the Council continues to monitor performance alongside the latest financial information for the same period, be agreed.

(ii)           That the future development of the Financial & Performance report to reflect the vision and priorities of the Council Plan 2018-2022, be supported.

 

10.

IRRECOVERABLE ITEMS pdf icon PDF 48 KB

Decision:

That the items detailed at Appendix A be considered irrecoverable for the reasons stated and be written off.

 

Minutes:

Prior to the consideration of this report, Members were asked if they wished to make reference to specific items contained within the confidential appendix attached to this report.  Members agreed that the confidential appendix would be discussed in closed session..

                                                              

A report was submitted to Cabinet providing details of items deemed irrecoverable from debtors and seeking approval to write off the balances as shown in the appendix.

 

Resolved:       That the items detailed within the confidential appendix be considered

irrecoverable for the reasons stated and be written off.

11.

URGENT BUSINESS

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There was no Urgent Business.

12.

DISCLOSURE OF EXEMPT INFORMATION

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

 

Minutes:

Resolved:-                That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration if the following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

 

 

13.

IRRECOVERABLE ITEMS CONFIDENTIAL APPENDIX

Minutes:

The contents of the confidential appendix referred to in item 9 of the agenda were considered in detail.

 

Resolved:     That the information be received.