Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors’ Astle, Miss J Cooper, Eagles and G Williams.

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

In view of his role at Staffordshire County Council as Cabinet Support Member for Social Care and Wellbeing Councillor Loades declared an interest in item 13 (relating to Bradwell Hospital) and item 14 (relating to the Better Care Fund).

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Resolved:     That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 September, 2016 be agreed as a correct record subject to correcting the spelling of Councillor Sweeney’s name at item 10.

Resolved:       That the appointment by the Mayor of Mrs Angela Mayer as Mace

Bearer be noted.

The Civic Carol Service would take place at St Giles Church on Sunday 18 December 2016 at 6.30pm

The Mayor’s Ball would be held at Keele Hall on Friday 21 April 2017

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer introduced this report which proposed the continuation of the existing Localised Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the financial year 2017/18.  He referred to the importance of consistency for residents and on the need to monitor the effects of any changes to the benefits system.

Resolved:      That the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council area, as detailed at Appendix A to the report, be adopted for the financial year 2017/18.

The Leader introduced this report which informed member of changes needed to the Constitution to provide authority to act in relation to untaxed vehicles on the highway and to issue Fixed Penalty Notices.

Resolved:      That the revisions to the Scheme of Delegation be approved.

The Leader introduced this report which detailed the consultation currently underway at the Boundary Commission’s request on proposals for a new pattern of electoral wards for the Borough.  She specifically highlighted the Commission’s request that all Community Governance Reviews, including that for Keele Parish Council, be deferred until the completion of their Review.

Resolved:      That the report be noted.

The Leader submitted a report updating members on the activities and decisions of Cabinet since the last Council meeting.  She detailed the findings of an independent report on the Recycling and Waste Review.

 Councillor Reddish moved and Councillor Holland seconded that a Special Council meeting be convened to consider the report.

After debate a motion moved by Councillor Snell and seconded by Councillor S. Hambleton that Council proceed to the next business on the agenda was carried.

Nominations are invited for the following positions:

·         Vice Chair of Planning

o   Labour nomination – Councillor Sandra Hambleton

o   Liberal Democrat nomination – Councillor Marion Reddish

·         Vice Chair of Public Protection

Planning Committee

Nominations were received for:

Councillor S Hambleton

Councillor Reddish

Councillor Loades

Resolved:      That Councillor S. Hambleton be appointed Vice-Chair of the Planning Committee

Public Protection Committee

Nominations were received for:

Councillor Proctor

Councillor Loades

Councillor Walklate

Resolved:      That Councillor Proctor be appointed Vice-Chair of the Public Protection Committee

Chairs are requested to submit written reports to the Democratic Services Manager by (TWO DAYS BEFORE MEETING)

The Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee has not met since the last Full Council meeting.

a)         Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee

b)         Active and Cohesive Communities Scrutiny Committee

c)         Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities Scrutiny Committee

d)         Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Reports were submitted by the Chairs of the following Scrutiny Committees:

Active and Cohesive

Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities

Health and Wellbeing

Resolved:      That the reports of the Scrutiny Chairs be noted.

Chairs are requested to submit written reports to the Democratic Services Manager by (two days before meeting).

a)         Audit and Risk Committee

b)         Planning Committee

c)         Licensing Committee – Verbal update

d)         Public Protection Committee

Reports were submitted by the Chairs of the following Regulatory Committees:

Audit and Risk

Licensing

Resolved:       That the reports of the Chairs of Regulatory Committees 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.

Motions received

1.    Recycling and Waste Service.

2.    State pension arrangements.

3.    Bradwell Hospital.

(1)  Implementation of the new 2016 Recycling Service

A motion was received, proposed by Councillor Loades and seconded by Councillor Sweeney regarding the implementation of the new 2016 Recycling Service.  Subsequently an amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor Burch and seconded by Councillor Snell.

Members debated the motion and amendment and, following a vote in favour of a motion that the question be now put, a vote was taken on the amendment as set out below:

After "The Council notes..." delete all text and replace with.

"that the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holder and Deputy Council Leader have made public apologies via the Reporter, the Sentinel and Radio Stoke to all residents affected by the changes to the new recycling system.

This Council further notes that the Leadership took swift and decisive action to deal with problems when they arose and ensured that problems were addressed as quickly as possible.

This Council recognised the Leadership's commitment to transparency and scrutiny by quickly establishing an independent report to investigate what went wrong and what lessons can be learnt.

This Council welcomes the news from the Leader that the independent report is now complete and will be published in its entirety and scrutinised by the Council's scrutiny committees.

The Council resolves that all recommendations from the independent report and the subsequent scrutiny process be submitted to the Cabinet for their consideration."

Resolved:      That the above amendment to the motion be carried.

(2)  State Pension Arrangements for Women born in the 1950s

The following motion was received, proposed by Councillor Wright, seconded by Councillor Rout, calling for fair transitional state pension arrangements for women born in the 1950s:

“This Council calls upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6^th April 1951, who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification.

Hundreds of thousands of women had significant pension changes imposed on them by the Pension Acts of 1995 and 2011 with little/no/personal notification of the changes. Some women had only two years notice of a six-year increase to their state pension age.

Many women born in the 1950’s are living in hardship. Retirement plans have been shattered with devastating consequences. Many of these women are already out of the labour market, caring for elderly relatives, providing childcare for grandchildren, or suffer discrimination in the workplace so struggle to find employment.

Women born in this decade are suffering financially. These women have worked hard, raised families and paid their tax and national insurance with the expectation that they would be financially secure when reaching 60. It is not the pension age that is in dispute – it is widely accepted that women and men should retire at the same time.

The issue is that the rise in the women’s state pension age has been too rapid and has happened without sufficient notice being given to the women affected, leaving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

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

The following questions were submitted:

1.         From Councillor Sweeney to the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture:

Question: The Conservative led County Council has invested a figure, via the Penda Partnership , in the region of £30,000 to support the feasibility study for a new leisure facility in Kidsgrove.

What provision has been made in the Borough Council budget to deliver the Labour manifesto commitment of a new Leisure Centre in Kidsgrove?

Reply: We are grateful to the Penda Property Partnership and Staffordshire County Council for their work which has allowed the preparation of a business case for Kidsgrove Leisure Centre. The Capital Budget is not yet set. Existing facilities will remain open until funds for the new offer are in place.

Supplementary comment: Council was informed 2 meetings ago that funding was in place.

No reply given.

2.         From Councillor Sweeney to the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing:

Question: In the Newcastle under Lyme Locality profile published October 2016 by the County Council, Kidsgrove is listed as the ninth most at risk ward in Newcastle under Lyme. Can the relevant portfolio Holder explain why this area has been selected for additional resources in the Miners estate report that went to Cabinet on the 14^th September where there are eight worse at risk areas in the Borough?

Reply: Action is specifically being taken in the Miners estate which has been identified as being amongst the 20% most deprived areas in the country.  The allocation of additional resources was agreed by Cabinet on 14 September 2016. Properties were originally intended to have a limited life. Enhancement  works aim to improve occupancy and community cohesion.

3.         From Councillor Sweeney to the Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer:

Question: One of the decisions of Cabinet on the 14^th September was

“That officers be authorised to re-prioritise existing staff resources, in consultation with relevant Portfolio Holders, in order that this initiative can be effectively co-ordinated and managed by the Partnerships Team. That a further report is submitted to Cabinet in October 2016 outlining the medium term resource implications to ensure future delivery can be sustained “

In this member lead Co-operative Council, what direction have members given to officers about where resources will be taken from to support work on the Miners Estate Galleys Bank Kidsgrove?

Reply: Kidsgrove is a pilot multi-agency project which will then be rolled out across the Borough. Additional resources are being directed into the Communities Team who will manage the project. Early emphasis will be placed on the housing function to address the absence of social housing. It is accepted that the Housing section will need additional resources for this and other initiatives.  Priorities will need to be re-determined.

Supplementary question: When will a report be submitted to Cabinet?

Reply: Anticipated to be December meeting. Priorities need to be determined as part of the budget setting process.

4.         From Councillor Snell to The Leader:

Question: Since the last full council, further announcements have been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

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

There were no petitions received.

There was no Urgent Business.