Agenda and minutes

A minute’s silence was held in tribute to Alderman Dylis Cornes who had recently passed away.

Dylis was described as being ’Mrs Audley’ and an aspiration for both the Borough and County Council,  She was a loyal colleague who bore no malice.  In addition, she had been a long serving member of Audley Parish Council, involved with Audley Methodist Church and had served as a magistrate. Dylis had been very proud of becoming an Alderman.

Dylis will be greatly  missed.

The Council sent its best wishes to the family.

Apologies were received from Councillors’ Bloor, S Hambleton, T Hambleton and Walklate.

The Chair, on behalf of the Members and officers of the Council sent best wishes to Trevor and Sandra Hambleton.

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

Councillor Burch declared an interest in the items on Kidsgrove Sports Centre as he was on the Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Trust.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 May, 2017 be agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor had no announcements to make.

This Council believes it is in the public interest that there should be an open and honest debate about the reasons for the closure of Kidsgrove Sports Centre.

Proposer : Cllr Simon Tagg

Seconder : Cllr Stephen Sweeney

Councillor Simon Tagg was invited to speak on his Motion.  Councillor Tagg thanked the Chair for calling this special meeting.

Councillor Tagg raised concerns regarding the Sport’s Centre situation and stated that The Council needed to work with the county and the people of Kidsgrove to find a solution.

Councillor Turner proposed an amendment (seconded by Councillor Rout) to Councillor Tagg’s Motion.  A number of Members commented on the wording contained within the amendment and in response, Councillor Turner invited Members to revise it rather than vote against it.

Councillor Tagg proposed changes to the amendment which were accepted by Councillor Turner.  The revised amendment to the Motion read as follows:

After the words “…closure of Kidsgrove Sports Centre” add the following:

“This Council notes the longstanding commitment of the current administration to provide a new leisure centre for the people of Kidsgrove.

This Council further notes the signing of the District Deal 2 and the public statements made by the Leader of Staffordshire County Council in June 2015.  This being that the County Council would support the development of a new leisure centre for Kidsgrove, and that this new facility would help to address the public health issues that are the responsibility of Staffordshire County Council.

This Council reaffirms the commitment of Newcastle Borough Council to the construction of a new leisure centre in Kidsgrove as soon as possible, as a fundamental right and benefit for its residents.

This Council notes that if the Borough is left to secure funding in its entirety for a new leisure centre in Kidsgrove that this will delay the project construction. 

This Council also recognises that a partnership between Newcastle Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council (like that which previously existed until the County decided to close the current building) is more likely to deliver a new leisure centre in a timely fashion and address the responsibilities and priorities of both councils.

This Council therefore instructs the Leader and Chief Executive to work with Staffordshire County Council to deliver a new leisure centre for Kidsgrove as a matter of urgency.

Furthermore that the Leader and Chief Executive request that the leadership of Staffordshire County Council, as asset owners, engage and enter into meaningful discussions with the recently formed Kidsgrove Sports Centre Community Group (CIO) to discuss acquiring an interest in the existing building.”

Following further debate, Councillor Turner requested that  a named vote be taken on the amended Motion.

A named vote was taken and all Members in attendance at the meeting, except for Councillor Wing who had to leave early, voted in favour of the amended Motion.

Resolved:     That the Motion (as amended) be agreed.

To consider an officer report on sport and leisure provision in Kidsgrove.

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Councillor Amelia Rout introduced this item regarding the provision of replacement sports facilities in the Kidsgrove area. 

Councillor Rout referred Members to the Cabinet Report of 19 July, which was attached to the agenda, and stated that option three was the best.  Members’ attention was also referred to proposal ‘f’ at paragraph 4 of the Cabinet report.

Members welcomed the report and agreed that the Council needed to work with the County Council and the community for the best possible outcome.

The Leader, Councillor Elizabeth Shenton informed Members of questions that had been asked at Cabinet on the previous evening.

Firstly, ‘does this Council support a leisure facility in Kidsgrove?’. 

Yes, and it has the backing of the whole Council.

Would there be a future leisure centre in Kidsgrove?

Councillor Rout had recommended that option three, contained within the Cabinet report be accepted to commission a project to identify the options available.

What would be the interim re-provision for school activities?

The Council have been successful in finding new locations for school swimming activities from September.

Members were informed that there would be two consultations carried out – one, concerning the interim re-provision of facilities had commenced on the previous Monday.  A consultation would also be undertaken regarding the new provision.

Resolved:     (i)         That the provision of affordable replacement sports

facilities in the Kidsgrove area be supported in principle.

(ii)        That Cabinet be asked to prepare a detailed report setting out future options and costs. 

The Leader submitted a report which provided an update to members on the activities and decisions of the Cabinet since the last meeting of full Council on 17 May, 2017.

Councillor Loades asked the Leader if she was confident that this Council had done all that it could to deliver the Local Plan on time and had the expertise to deliver it?  The Leader confirmed that the answer was yes and invited Councillor Loades to meet with herself and Councillor Robinson – Portfolio holder for Planning and Housing.

Councillor Simon Tagg asked if a report would be taken to Scrutiny on the Business Improvement District (BID) on how it works?  The Leader stated that in the past the BID had reported to Scrutiny and hoped that it would be placed on the work programme.

Councillor Holland queried the number of unanswered calls and this had been  as a result of the introduction of the new recycling service and election enquiries. The Leader agreed to ask the Portfolio Holder for Finance IT and Customer – Councillor Terry Turner to do a response and this would be circulated to Council Members.

Councillor Sweeney asked the Leader about the Council’s capital balance and whether it would ‘be enough’.  Councillor Sweeney added that it was imperative that the sites marked for disposal were actioned as soon as possible.  The Leader referred to the Village Green applications and stated that she would ask Councillor Turner, as Portfolio holder to give a response on the amount of money required for the Capital Programme.

Councillor Fear asked whether all Members had seen the presentation on the Joint Local Plan and why it had not come to this evening’s meeting?  The Leader stated that this was a Special meeting – set up  for a specific purpose.  A presentation on the Local Plan would be arranged for all Members, possibly prior to the meeting in September.

Councillor Snell enquired whether the Council had received a reply from the County Council regarding  the future delivery of Disabled Facilities Grant Programme.  Members were informed that the Chief Executive and the Deputy Leader had a meeting at the County next week and the matter would be raised.

Resolved:     That the report be noted.

Written reports have been received for the following:

·         Planning Committee

·         Audit and Risk Committee

Verbal updates will be given on the following:

·           Licensing Committee

·           Public Protection Committee

Resolved:     That the reports of the Planning Committee and Audit and Standards and verbal updates from the Licensing and Public Protection Committees be noted

Written reports have been submitted for:

·         Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee

·         Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee

·         Joint Health and Wellbeing and Active and Cohesive Communities Scrutiny Committee

The following have not met since the previous Council meeting:

·           Active and Cohesive Communities Scrutiny Committee

·           Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities Scrutiny Committee

·           Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Resolved:     That the reports of the Chairs of the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee, Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee and joint meeting of Health and Wellbeing and Active and Cohesive Scrutiny 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.

No Motions were received.

Councillor Simon Tagg asked the Leader what future plans there were for the Guildhall when the new Hub opens.

The Leader confirmed that officers had prepared a tender pack of relevant information and had assembled a list of prospective interested parties with the aim of securing a tenant ‘business’ of a nature that would facilitate ongoing access and use of the building by the community.  A competitive tendering process would commence shortly and the outcome would be reported to Cabinet in due course.

The Cabinet would be attempting to engage interest from organisations that were capable of bringing forward viable proposals for some form of community-based use of the building.  This would reflect the desire to facilitate ongoing public access to services in the focal and historic building. 

Councillor Sweeney asked the Leader for confirmation that the independent review into the Council’s handling of the June 8 General Election was truly independent. 

The Leader confirmed that this was the case.  An email had been sent to all Group Leaders on 13 June by the Chief Executive advising that he had “requested the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) to undertake an independent review of the election and to make a report as soon as possible”.  There was a subsequent email from the Chief Executive to all Group Leaders on 20 June in which it was confirmed that he had; “met with John Turner – Chief Executive of the AEA on Friday… to discuss the brief for the review”.  A copy of the brief which covered the matters raised  in the media and had been the subject of written complaints was attached with the email.  In addition, the Chief Executive asked all candidates and agents to provide comments about the election process and their responses had been forwarded to the AEA so that they could also be considered as part of the review.  In the second email the Chief Executive also invited feedback from Group Leaders.

Andrew Scallan had been nominated by the AEA to conduct the review.  

Councillor Trevor Johnson asked how often, in the last eighteen months had the Council used its power to fine for litter and fly tipping by travellers?

The Leader stated that such powers had not been used in the last eighteen months to fine for litter and fly tipping in relation to travellers on Borough Council managed open spaces and car parks.

To be successful in issuing any enforcement, identification and a fixed abode of the perpetrators would be required and this would not be possible in such circumstances.  It could also extend the period of occupation whilst attempts were made to serve such fines.

The Leader agreed that this was a good question and felt that more information was required on this.  Councillor Shenton would be asking her Portfolio Holder to provide her with a more detailed response which she would be happy to share.  It was also suggested that this would make an interesting topic for the appropriate Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Loades asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

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

No Petitions were received.

There was no urgent business.