Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors’ P Hailstones, Olszewski, Shenton, Snell, Wilkes and Wing.

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

Councillors’ Paul Waring and John Williams declared an interest in item 5 on the agenda – Revenue and Capital Budgets and Council Tax 2018/19, with regard to the submitted additional recommendations.  Councillor Waring as a member of ‘Go-Kidsgrove’ and Councillor Williams as a Director of BID.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January, 2018 be agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor would be conferring Freedom of the Borough on Gordon Banks O.B.E. on Friday 23 February at Keele Hall.

The Mayor’s Annual Civic Mass will be held on Sunday 11 March at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, London Road, Newcastle.

Tickets are now on sale for the Mayor’s Venetian Masquerade Charity Ball on 14 April, 2018 at Keele Hall.

A Mayor’s Parlour has now been provided within Castle House and the existing one at the Civic Offices had been reopened for visits.

The Leader of the Council introduced this report which set out the recommendations of Cabinet for Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2018/19 and sets out the recommendations for setting the 2018/19 Council Tax.  In summary the Council’s updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as reported to Cabinet indicated a forecast budget shortfall of £1.696m for 2018/19.  The Council had a duty to deliver a balanced budget.

Cabinet proposed an increase in council tax for 2018/19 of £5.00 per month from the 2017/18 amount.  This represented an increase of 2.70 percent from 2017/18.  Detailed recommendations were set out in Appendix A of the report.    Appendix B set out the proposed Revenue Budget for 2018/19.  A summary of additional income, additional expenditure and loss of income and new pressures was given in the report.

A summary of savings and funding strategies to bridge the £1.696m gap had been identified and agreed with managers and were given at Appendix C.

A review of the Council’s Balances and Reserves together with a risk assessment had been carried out. Details were given in Appendices D and E.  The MTFS and budget proposals had been scrutinised by the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee. 

The Capital Programme for 2018/19 was given in Appendix F of the report.

The Executive Director of Resources and Support Services and his team were thanked for the work that had been put into the preparation of the Budget.

The Labour Group proposed additional recommendations for the budget, which would be debated and voted upon separately:

First proposed amendment:

Proposed by Councillor Stubbs and seconded by Councillor Kearon.

That Council considers creating targeted one off ‘seed’ funding to create three new financial provisions that directly benefit all parts of the Borough. To stimulate footfall in Newcastle Town Centre, Council proposes to allocate an additional £5K for use by the Newcastle BID Team to provide free parking for its successful, and ever widening, series of Town Centre events.

Council further pledges to allocate £5K to “Go Kidsgrove”, the community interest company setup to support not only the traders of Kidsgrove Town Centre, but to rekindle the community spirit within the wider Parish. This financial backing should be synchronised with that of the local Town Council so that every penny is best utilised for the betterment of each Kidsgrove resident.

Finally, Council will show its support for the newly proposed Borough Investment Fund, with an initial injection of £5K. The Borough Investment Fund is a long-term facility created to capture a meaningful proportion of all land sales throughout the Borough, ring-fenced for the provision / re-provision of facilities and services for our residents. Council welcomes the Leaders support of the re-provision of Leisure Facilities in Kidsgrove and takes this first step to support this effort with the first cash allocation to the scheme.

Council understands that these are austere times and therefore does not look to reduce any service with this cash allocation. Therefore, Council will reallocate £15K for the purpose of the new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources sought approval of the Treasury Management Strategy for 2018/19, including the Prudential Indicators, Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy contained within it. 

Resolved:     (i)         That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2018/19 be

                                                approved.

                        (ii)        That the Prudential Indicators contained within the Report

                                                be approved.

                        (iii)       That the Investment Strategy contained within the Report

                                                be approved.

                        (iv)       That the Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy contained

                                                within the report be approved.

The Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder – Corporate and Service Improvement, People and Partnerships introduced this item by stating that the Localism Act 2011 requires local authorities to prepare and publish a pay policy statement for each financial year.  Full details were given in the Appendices of the report. 

Resolved:     That the Pay Policy Statement attached at Appendix A to the

report be approved and published on the Council’s website by 31 March, 2018.

The Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder – Corporate and Service Improvement, People and Partnerships advised Members of changes that are to be made to the Council’s Constitution.

The changes were regarding the Environmental Health Scheme of Delegation and Terms of Reference of the Employment Committee.

Resolved:     (i)         That the changes to the Environmental Health Scheme of

Delegation, as set out in the report, be approved.

(ii)        That the updated Terms of Reference to the Employment Committee be noted.

The Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Service Improvement, People and Partnerships introduced a report updating Members on the progress of the preparations for the local elections in May.

Members were advised of a change within the report. The final box in the table on page 84, Polling District SLA – voting would remain at the Crewe Arms.  Also, Polling District SLA on page 98, ‘recommendations’ in the final column  would be ‘no change’.

The software used for elections was being changed at this Authority to replace that currently used which is outdated.

Resolved:     (i)         That John Tradewell, acting Chief Executive, be

appointed as the Council’s Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.

(ii)        That the changes set out in Paragraph 3.8 of this report,

                                    relating to polling district boundaries and polling places,

be approved in order for them to be implemented on or by 1 March 2018.

(iii)       That the schedule of proposals for polling stations

outlined in Appendix A be approved.

(iv)       That delegated powers be given to the Council’s

Returning Officer to find  suitable alternatives, in conjunction with local members, should any polling station not be available for a particular election.

The Leader / Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Service Improvement, People and Partnerships introduced a report regarding the appointing of  an elected Member  as ‘mental health champion’ and also an officer to act as ‘lead officer’ for mental health.

Members were advised that the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing, Councillor Jill Waring would be the ‘champion’ and Mr Robin Wiles would be the ‘lead officer’.

Resolved:     (i)         That Councillor Jill Waring, as Cabinet Portfolio Holder for

Community Safety and Wellbeing, be appointed as the Council’s mental health champion.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration introduced a report providing Members with information so that they may consider petitioning Parliament on the Hybrid Bill.

Councillor Northcott thanked the officers who had worked on this.

This matter had been considered by Cabinet earlier today and they recommended that Full Council agree to the principle of petitioning the High Speed Rail (West Midlands – Crewe) Bill.  In addition, that the Portfolio Holder for  Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development to develop the scope of the Council’s petition to parliament and to coordinate the petitioning of the Bill before Parliament.

It would cost £20 to put the petition to Parliament.

A vote was taken and all fifty-two Members present voted in favour of the recommendations.

Resolved:     (i)         That the principle of petitioning the High Speed Rail

(West Midlands - Crewe) Bill be agreed      and;

(ii)           That delegated authority be given to the Cabinet Member

for Planning and Regeneration  in consultation with the Executive Director (Regeneration and Development) to:

a)    develop the scope of the Borough Council’s petition to Parliament, in consultation with the relevant Members and Officers of Staffordshire County Council (including the commissioning of Parliamentary Agents) and;

b)    co-ordinate the petitioning of the Hybrid Bill before Parliament and in so doing, to seek any necessary approvals for the expenditure of resources, if required.

The Leader /Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Service Improvement, People and Partnerships introduced a report advising members of the requirement to update the Council’s current Enforcement policy.

Reference was made to the fifth paragraph on page 128 of the agenda commencing ”We believe…” .  The paragraph referred to ‘firm’ action being taken and a request was made by Councillor Fear to use the word ‘firm’ within the report where it referred to action being taken.

Councillor Kearon referred to Planning Enforcement stating that he would also welcome a review of Planning Enforcement by this Council.

The Leader accepted the requested change to the wording and also agreed that a review of Planning Enforcement would be carried out.

Resolved:     That the proposed Enforcement Policy, as set out in Appendix A

be agreed with the addition of the word ‘firm’ where required and that the Policy be adopted.

The Leader submitted a report providing an update to Members on the activities and decisions of the Cabinet together with the Forward Plan.

Members asked the following questions on the Leader’s Statement:

Waste and recycling

Members asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling about missed collections.  Councillor Johnson explained that there was a computer problem  in that the smaller vehicles had not got the same system as the larger ones but the two systems were being looked at to bring them together.

The Leader commended the Portfolio Holder on his work and  informed Members that a review of the Service was now underway.

The Guildhall

Councillor Mancey asked the Leader about the future of the Guildhall.  The Leader stated that it was the only premier Council owned building in the town centre and considered that the Council should keep control of the building, renting out space.  Potential uses needed to be explored.

Newcastle Market

Councillor Wright asked the Leader if there were any plans to improve Newcastle Market.  The Leader advised members that last Autumn a decision had been made to bring in a private contractor in the hope of improving the facility and that the new management arrangement should be in place by April.

Kidsgrove Sports Centre

Councillor Dymond enquired about monies ring-fenced for the reopening of Kidsgrove Sports Centre and where the money had actually come from.  The Leader advised that it was the money that had been left over when it had closed.

The community group’s plans were that the   Centre would start by opening with the ‘dry’ side facilities and dependent upon its success, look at bringing the pool into use.

The equipment from the fitness suite had been stored so that it could be brought back into use.

The Council, in partnership with the County Council would be looking at ways of enabling the building of a new facility within a five to ten year period.

The Cabinet intends to bring an update report to its 23 March meeting.

Castle House

Councillor John Cooper enquired about the position regarding Castle House.

The Leader informed members that the County Council would not take the building on until works had been completed. The Leader supported this decision.  Each day that the Council remains within the Civic Offices, any costs which were being incurred would be met by the contractors.

Councillor Pickup stated that a justification for moving was to save costs and whether with the delay, the Council would recover the costs.  The Council’s Executive Director for Regeneration and Development would do a written response to all Members.

Councillor Turner referred to Kier’s proposals for installing the replacement cladding materials and questioned whether they had arrived yet as he understood that they were custom made and there would be a lead in period. The Executive Director for Regeneration and Development would do a written response to all Members on this.

At this point, the meeting had been in session for three hours.  Members took a vote,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Reports are attached for the following:

a)         Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee

b)         Active and Cohesive Communities Scrutiny Committee

The Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities Scrutiny Committee,  Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee and Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee have not met since the last ‘Ordinary’ Council meeting.

Written reports had been submitted for all of the Scrutiny Committees which had met since the last Council meeting.

Resolved:                 That the reports be received.

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

a)         Planning Committee

b)         Licensing Committee

A verbal update will be given for the Public Protection Committee

The Audit and Standards Committee has not met since the last Council meeting.

Written reports were submitted for the Committees that had met since the last Council meeting except for the Public Protection Committee where the Chair gave a verbal update.

Resolved:     That the reports be received.

A notice of motion, under Appendix 7 – paragraph 12 other than those listed in Appendix 7 – paragraph 10 of the Constitution must reach the Chief Executive at least ten clear days before the relevant Meeting of the Council.

A Motion was submitted to Council regarding adequate funding of services delivered in the Borough.

Members discussed the Motion and in view of the time, the Leader suggested that Members would have seen the information prior to the meeting and therefore it should be put to the vote.  A named vote was requested.

In Favour - 20

Against – 26

Abstain – 0

The Motion was therefore rejected.

A further Motion was submitted regarding Land Sales and the funding of services provided by the Council.

Members were asked to vote on this Motion.

In Favour - 18

Against – 26

Abstain – 1

The Motion was therefore rejected.

The following questions had been tabled this evening.  However, due to the lateness of the hour and that Members had voted to remain in session for an additional thirty minutes only, the Leader proposed that written responses would be sent to all Members before the end of the week:

To the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration

1.         In my ward of Butt Lane, housing developer Taylor Wimpey has

exceeded several conditions of planning permission.  This includes the failure to install a play park in a satisfactory time scale, failure to install an access point onto the public footpath from part of the estate and failure to replace dead trees on a green at the centre of the Bluebell Croft Estate.  Therefore can the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration please investigate why enforcement action has still not been taken against the developer in question and please update me about what further action he will take to see a satisfactory outcome for concerned residents?

2.         Can the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration assure me that enough resources have been allocated to support the Preferred Options Joint Local Plan consultation sessions across the Borough? 

  Councillor Kyle Robinson

…………………………………………………………………………………………

To the Portfolio Holder of Finance and Resources

3          Can the Portfolio for Finance and Resources inform the council how much additional funding has been allocated to electoral services in the Borough council budget for 2018/19 compared to the budget for 2017/18?

Councillor Tony Kearon

…………………………………………………………………………………………

To the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration

4          Can the cabinet member for Planning and Regeneration please explain why many of the preferred options joint plan consultation sessions held across the Borough were at times which resulted in many working people being unable to attend to have their say?

Councillor Sylvia Dymond

…………………………………………………………………………………………

To the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing

5          If the proposed police reorganisations go ahead, there will soon be NO police officers based in Newcastle, Kidsgrove or any other part of the Borough to respond to 999 calls made by residents of Newcastle, Kidsgrove or our rural communities.  Any of our residents who ring 999 will have to wait for a response from police officers based in Stoke.  What has the portfolio holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing done to oppose this move so far, and how does the Portfolio Holder plan to oppose it going forwards?

Councillor Chris Spence

………………………………………………………………………………………..

To the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration

6.         Although there have been a number of requests there is to be no Joint

Local Plan consultation event in Silverdale. This is despite the Joint Local Plan including 1800 houses on the Greenbelt Keele Golf Course which is located in Silverdale. How did the portfolio holder select locations, why was Silverdale not included and why were the requests for an event not met?

Furthermore, please can the portfolio holder confirm whether there are

any Tree Preservation Orders in place on the land included?

Councillor Amelia Rout

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

No petitions were received.

Councillor Hambleton stated that this would be the last Council meeting for some Members and offered a vote of thanks for the work that they had carried out and for being loyal servants of the Borough.

The Leader thanked the mayor for his hard work and loyal service.

To consider any communications which pursuant to Appendix 7 – paragraph 7 of the constitution are, in the opinion of the Mayor, of an urgent nature and to pass thereon such resolutions as may be  deemed necessary.

There was no urgent business.