Agenda and minutes

To receive Declarations of Interest from Members on items included on the agenda.

Councillor Jones declared a personal, but not a prejudicial, interest in that his wife is the Chair of the Fair Trade Group, Newcastle.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2012.

Cllr Becket requested that his apologies be noted for the previous meeting.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 22^nd February 2012 be agreed as a correct record.

(a)       Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee

(b)       Transformation and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(c)        Active and Cohesive Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(d)       Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(e)       Economic Development and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(f)         Health Scrutiny Committee

The Council received verbal updates from the Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees highlighting work that had been undertaken since the last meeting of Full Council.

Resolved:     That the reports be received.

(a)       Planning Committee

(b)       Licensing Committee

(c)        Public Protection Committee

The Council received verbal updates from the Chairs of the Statutory Committees highlighting work that had been undertaken since the last meeting of the Council.

Resolved:     That the reports be received.

Concern was raised that a complaint had been received regarding the new switchboard number for the Council. The Leader had not been aware that there were issues regarding the number but this would be investigated.

Councillors discussed the letting of surplus office space as Heads of Terms agreements for new leases had now been agreed in principle with the County Council, Police and Public Health to share accommodation in the Civic Offices and Kidsgrove Town Hall.   Concerns were raised regarding the ownership of Kidsgrove Town Hall.

Members also raised concerns over the safety of Borough Council staff once the police had moved into the building. The Leader stated that any concerns would be taken into account and that all safety issues would be addressed by the police. It was also confirmed that the current police station would be closing and the whole operation moving to the Civic Offices.  Members requested that a copy of the risk assessment be provided.

Members welcomed the fact that the Borough Council and County Council were to enter into a Services Level Agreement to provide the operational management at Chesterton Vision and it was highlighted that the service was for the entire of the Borough and not just for residents in Chesterton.

The Council had submitted a bid to become a ‘Portas Pilot’ and if successful, up to £100,000 could be made available to support the establishment of 12 pilot schemes that would test the ideas in the Portas review with the main objective being to strengthen the town centre. Members agreed that this was a positive step forward and that serious notice and action needed to be taken to re invent the Town.

Resolved:     That the report be noted.

To consider the reports (copies herewith) of the various Committees and for Members to make any comment thereon: -

It was motioned and seconded that the Council write to the Queen to congratulate her on her long and successful reign and to thank her for her work.

Resolved:-   That the Council write to the Queen to congratulate her on her long and successful reign and thank her for her work.

A report was submitted to provide Members with information required under the Localism Act 2011. The Localism Act 2011 required local authorities to prepare and publish a pay policy statement for the financial year 2012/13 and subsequent financial years.  The statement set out the authority’s policies relating to the remuneration of its chief officers, the remuneration of its lowest paid employees and the relationship between the remuneration of its chief officers and the remuneration of its employees who are not chief officers.

A request was made that information be made available to Members regarding all posts not just those required to be made public under the Act. Officers agreed that they would look into this.

Resolved:     (a)       That the Pay Policy Statement at Appendix A to the report be approved and published on the Council’s website by 31^st March 2012.

                        (b)       That Officers look into the possibility of providing information on all Council posts.

The Council received a report to update Members regarding the impact of the newly acquired Fairtrade status for the Borough.

Achievement of Fairtrade status was something which the Borough can be proud of and could be used as a promotional tool.  There were dedicated images which could only be used once status has been achieved.  The Borough had printed some of the larger images for distribution to retail and café outlets.  The other images would be used in other publications or on street signs.  It was noted that the café in Jubilee 2 would be a Fair Trade Outlet.

Continued Council support was vital since the first renewal application was due within 1 year of being obtained (i.e. by 6 February 2013) and every 2 years thereafter and a large flagship non-public employer would now be needed.

The Newcastle Fair Trade Group and the officers involved were congratulated on their achievements.

Resolved:      (a)        That the Council celebrates the achievement of Fairtrade status for the Borough and encourages support for the celebratory event planned for June

(b)               That the Council continues to provide active support for the Fair Trade Group in its efforts to maintain its status and to increase the level of awareness for Fairtrade products and fair trade in general within the Borough

(c)               That the Business Development Officer continue to be the principal officer to further the interest of fair trade within the Council.