Agenda and minutes
PDF 39 KBVenue: The Council House, Burcot, Lane, Bromsgrove
Contact: Sheena Jones Rosemary Cole / Amanda Scarce / Pauline Ross
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apologies for absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R.E. Jenkins and C.J. Spencer. |
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Declarations of Interest To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17th June 2015 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17th June 2015 be approved as a correct record. |
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announcements from the Chairman and the Head of Paid Service Minutes: There were no announcements on this occasion. |
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Announcements from the Leader Minutes: The Leader informed Council that following discussions with the County Council and the Contractor , there was a revised completion date of the end of October 2015 in respect of the Parkside development. This date would also enable full testing of IT and Communications systems to take place prior to occupation of the building.
The Leader also confirmed that she would be meeting on a regular basis with the Contractor and Senior County Council officers in order to address any further issues.
Councillor L.C. R. Mallett thanked the Leader for the update on the revised completion date. He queried the potential costs to the Council of further delay.
The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor G. N. Denaro responded that it was likely that a proportion of any additional costs could be recouped from the Contactor via clauses within the contract. |
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comments, questions or petitions from members of the public A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed for embers of the public to make a comment, ask questions or present petitions. A councillor may also present a petition on behalf of a member of the public.
Minutes: There were no comments, questions or petitions from the public on this occasion.
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Questions on Notice To deal with any questions on notice from Members of the Council, in the order in which they have been received. Minutes: Question submitted by Councillor L. C. R. Mallett
In the light of developments since our full Council does the Leader want Bromsgrove to join the Combined Authority?
The Leader responded that no decision had been taken in relation to any Combined Authority. It was her intention to involve other Group Leaders in the decision making process and the final decision would of course be a matter for Council.
Question submitted by Councillor M. Thompson
Does the Leader of the Council agree with me that the District has different needs from other areas that might become part of the West Midlands Combined Authority?
The Leader agreed that all the Authorities who may potentially be involved in a West Midlands Combined Authority, including Bromsgrove District would have different needs.
Question submitted by Councillor P. M. McDonald
Would the Leader not agree with me that residents should be consulted regarding any move to be part of a Combined Authority?
The Leader agreed that there should be public consultation on any proposals to be part of a Combined Authority.
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Recommendation from the Cabinet Meeting held on 4th March 2015 To consider the recommendations from the meetings of the Cabinet held on 4th March 2015 (deferred from the previous Council meeting on 17th June 2015) and 1st July 2015
(Background information is included at the back of the Council Agenda book) Minutes: Finance Monitoring Report - Quarter 3 2014/15
The recommendation from the Cabinet was proposed by Councillor G. N. Denaro and seconded by Councillor C. B. Taylor.
In proposing the recommendation, which had been deferred at the previous Council meeting for additional information, Councillor Denaro clarified that the terms of the Section 106 agreement restricted the use of the funding to the improvement of parks and public open spaces in and around The Oakalls.
Members debated whether in future consideration could be given to utilising Section 106 agreements in a broader way to address traffic issues around the developments.
RESOLVED that the Capital Programme for 2015/16 be increased by £40,000 in respect of S106 monies (from land off Regent Road, The Oakalls) and that this be utilised to improve the quality of parks and open spaces in and around the Oakalls. |
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Recommendations from the Cabinet Meeting held on 1st July 2015 Minutes: (i) Worcestershire Shared Services – Future Arrangements for the Joint Committee and Worcestershire Shared Services
The recommendations from the Cabinet were proposed by Councillor P. J. Whittaker and seconded by Councillor R. J. Laight.
In proposing the recommendations, Councillor Whittaker referred to the background to the Worcestershire Shared Services Agreement.
Worcestershire County Council had decided to withdraw from the Worcestershire Shared Services Partnership and enter into a Service Level Agreement for the provision of Trading Standards services which meant that a new Partnership Agreement was now required. Councillor Whittaker also referred to the proposed new “flatter” management structure for WRS.
During the debate on this matter some Members expressed concern in respect of a number of issues including:
· the standard of service provided by WRS, particularly in relation to Trading Standards;
· Whether the action currently proposed would address the difficulties and ensure the continuation of a viable service;
· the level of expenditure proposed for 2016/2017;
· the outcome of the Joint Countywide Overview and Scrutiny exercise, which had raised some issues regarding the future viability of the service, and whether these had been addressed by this proposal;
· Whether the service was still operating under the three key service principles established in 2009.
With regard to the Overview and Scrutiny exercise, Councillor R. J. Laight responded that the situation had changed since this had been undertaken. At the time there was a proposal to enter into an arrangement with a Private Company to undertake support services. This no longer applied. The six remaining Local Authorities were intending to work together and to move forward.
Councillor Whittaker undertook to provide any further information in writing if Members wished to submit written requests to him.
RESOLVED: (a) that the current Worcestershire Shared Services Partnership be dissolved by mutual agreement on 31st March 2016; (b) that a new Worcestershire Shared Services partnership comprising the six District Councils be created on 1st April 2016 in accordance with the terms set out in appendix 2 to the report (as amended); and that the composition of partner authority Member representatives on the Joint Committee be reviewed after a period of one year; (c) that the new Worcestershire Shared Services partnership enters into a service level agreement with Worcestershire County Council for the provision of Trading Standards services in accordance with terms to be agreed by the Acting Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services; (d) that all existing contracts and service level agreements between the existing Worcestershire Shared Services partnership and other Local Authorities be novated to the new Worcestershire Shared Services Partnership; (e) that the new management structure for Worcestershire Regulatory Services set out in appendix 4 be approved for consultation with staff and recognised trade unions; (f) that authority be delegated to the Acting head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services, having consulted with the Chair of the Joint Committee to finalise the future management structure and undertake recruitment in accordance with the terms set out in the Worcestershire Shared Services Partnership Agreement; (g) that an Appointment Sub ... view the full minutes text for item 35\15 |
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To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1st July 2015 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1st July 2015 were received for information.
Members commented on the following issues:
· Council Tax Support Scheme Review and Hardship Policy; · Economic Strategy and the Town Centre: · Future Management of the Bromsgrove Market
Portfolio Holders responded accordingly.
Further to Minute No. 20/15 Councillor L. C. R. Mallett requested clarification on the position regarding Leasehold Issues at Sherwood Road.
Councillor G. N. Denaro, the Portfolio Holder for Finance stated that the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services would not be exercising the authority delegated to her to take any further action in this matter, pending the receipt of additional information and advice. There would be a further report to the Cabinet on this in the Autumn. In addition the Leaders of the opposition groups would be fully briefed on the additional information.
At the request of the Chairman there was a short adjournment to enable her to take advice on this matter.
On the resumption of the meeting Councillor Denaro referred to the detailed briefings which had taken place on this matter with the opposition leaders, and to the risks which were fully set out in the Cabinet report. The legal and commercial advice obtained by the Council was confidential and exempt from public discussion at this stage. The Cabinet minutes were on the agenda for information and questions of clarification only.
It was proposed by Councillor Mallett and seconded by Councillor C. J. Bloore that the Council go into private session in order to consider the matter more fully. On being put to the vote the Chairman declared the proposal to be lost.
It was put to the vote and carried that there be no further discussion.
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Minutes: As the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, Community Safety and Partnerships, Councillor M. A. Sherrey presented a report on the areas covered by her Portfolio.
Members welcomed the new provision for Portfolio Holders to submit a report to the Council and following the presentation of this first such report, Members raised a number of issues including:
· Worcestershire Children’s Safeguarding Board and concern over a reduction in funding from Worcestershire County Council; · CCTV operations in the District and the possibility of introducing additional cameras in areas such as Rock Hill; · The role of the Better Environment Theme Group and whether it could address the issue of poor air quality in some parts of the District together with carbon dioxide monitoring; · Bromsgrove Partnership and the Sunrise Project in Charford · Community Safety Partnership and its funding, including potential reduction of funding for projects addressing Domestic Violence.
Councillor Sherrey responded to the above matters and undertook to raise Members’ concerns about any proposals for additional cuts in funding with the Leader of the County Council. |
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Motion - CCTV Cameras Minutes: Councillor P. M McDonald requested discussion of an urgent Notice of Motion in respect of the need to undertake a district wide review of the operation of CCTV Cameras.
Councillor McDonald referred to a number of recent instances in Rubery, including significant vandalism within a Play Area, where it appeared that the incidents had not been satisfactorily recorded by the existing CCTV cameras. Councillor McDonald expressed the view that this may lead to a lack of confidence in the CCTV system .
The Chief Executive offered to meet with Councillor McDonald with a view to establishing a small cross party Working Group if appropriate to review the effectiveness of the CCTV Scheme.
On being put to the vote, this approach was agreed.
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Motion - Un-Adopted Roads Appraisal Minutes: Members considered the following motion submitted by Councillor P. M. McDonald:
Council carries out a full appraisal of all un-adopted roads in the District and puts pressure on the County Council to fulfil its obligations as the Highway Authority in adopting the roads.
The motion was moved by Councillor McDonald and seconded by Councillor S. P. Shannon.
In proposing the motion Councillor McDonald spoke about the practice of the County Council of declining to adopt any highways within a particular housing development until the whole development was complete, which could lead to significant delays. This meant that residents were paying Council Tax but were receiving a lesser service in terms of highway maintenance. The delay in adoption may also have an impact on the actions the Police could take in enforcing particular traffic legislation.
Other Members stated it had often been necessary for them to attempt to put pressure on the County Council over a long period of time in order to ensure that particular roads were adopted.
Whilst there appeared to be broad support for the notice of motion in principle, Members debated whether the motion as submitted was the most appropriate way to address the issue.
The following amended motion was put forward with the agreement of the proposer and seconder:
That a cross party Group to include the three Group Leaders be established and the Group meet initially with this Council’s Chief Executive in order to consider how best to bring pressure on the County Council to improve the existing process of Highway adoption in the District.
Having been put to the vote the Chairman declared the motion as amended to be carried.
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