Agenda and minutes

At the request of the Chairman, Councillor Mrs. J. Dyer M.B.E. opened the meeting with a prayer.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G. N. Denaro, D. Hancox, Dr. G. H. Lord, W. R. Newnes, C. B. Taylor, P.J. Whittaker and C. J. K. Wilson.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 16th July 2008 be approved as a correct record.

(Members are reminded that they need to keep their register of interest forms up to date)

No declarations of interest were received.

The Chairman referred to the Annual Civic Service to be held at All Saints Church on Sunday 21st September 2008 to which all Members were welcome to attend.

(a)               The Leader apologised for not having included in his announcement at the previous meeting with regard to Member Champions that he had asked Councillor Mrs. H. J. Jones to be Member Champion for Youth.

(b)               The Leader reported that the Council had been awarded Champion Status for dealing with the homeless by the Department for Communities and Local Communities and requested that the Council’s congratulations be conveyed to officers.

(c)               The Leader referred to the level of complaints from Members about fellow councillors referred to the Standards Committee and the related staffing implications of dealing with these. He felt that a number of complaints related to trivial issues which Members should be able to sort out between themselves and that only serious matters should be reported. He asked Members to give careful consideration before submitting any complaints.

To consider the recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3rd September 2008.

In order to consider the recommendations in this item, Members will need to familiarise themselves with the background papers to the reports that are contained within the Cabinet agenda papers.

Members will also need to have the Cabinet agenda papers available to them at the meeting.

Members of the public can access these papers on-line at www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/meetings, and follow the "Download agendas, reports and minutes" link.

(i)         INTEGRATED FINANCE AND PERFORMANCE REPORT (QUARTER 1)

                     During the debate on this recommendation Councillor P. M. McDonald requested the Leader to consider re-directing the Local Development Framework underspend of £100,000 towards supporting Area Committees. The Leader explained that this was a one-off saving but indicated that he was willing to discuss the issue with Cabinet Members and officers.           

RESOLVED that the Council approve a reduction in revenue budget and corresponding return to revenue balances of £100,000 in relation to the funding requirement for the Local Development Framework – Examination in Public.

            (ii)        REVIEW OF THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the Council approve the carry forward requests from 2007/08, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report; and

(b)       that the Council approve a reduction to the Capital Programme 2008/09 of £3.935m, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, to reflect both the savings achieved through procurement efficiencies and the projects which due to the factors detailed in the report would not be delivered during 2008/09.

(iii)    COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT - SELF ASSESSMENT

The Chairman announced that the recommendations from the Cabinet on this matter had been superseded by a separate report which would be considered later in the meeting at Agenda Item 9.

(iv)   REFUSE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING OPERATION REVIEW

         RESOLVED:

(a)       that a migration away from the current side arm refuse collection             fleet to a standard type of refuse collection vehicle similar to those   operated by all other Local Authorities in this country be             commenced;

(b)       that this be done on a phased basis commencing with 2 vehicles            that will be part funded by the vehicle manufacturer in         compensation for losses of bins that have occurred since          commencement of the existing operation;

(c)        that it be noted that the negotiations for compensation have          progressed and that agreement has now been reached;

(d)       that there be a virement of £63,500 from the capital budget          relating to containers which will no longer be required for this           purpose, which will be utilised in conjunction with the          compensation arrangements to enable the Council to acquire two           new vehicles; and

(e)       that approval be given to the wider vehicle replacement     programme in accordance with the funding provision agreed     within the capital programme, with a further report to be provided         on how the capital programme is to be funded.

(v)    COUNCIL PLAN 2009-2012 PART 1

         RESOLVED:

(a)       that the Council's Vision and Council Objectives, as detailed at    points 6.1 and 6.3 of Appendix 1 to the report, be reconfirmed;

(b)       that the analysis of the Council's national, regional and local         context, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, be noted;

(c)        that based on the context referred to at resolution (b) above, the definitions of the Council Objectives detailed at Addendum A to Appendix 1 of the report be agreed; and

(d)       that based on the context referred to at resolution (b) above, a reduction in the number of priorities, as detailed at point 3.5  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3rd September 2008 were received for information.

To deal with any questions on notice from Members of the Council, in the order in which they have been received.

No questions had been submitted.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive

Members considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive which presented and sought approval to the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) self assessment which needed to be submitted to the Audit Commission and formed a crucial part of the CPA. A number of minor comments on the document were put forward by Members which the Leader undertook to forward to the Assistant Chief Executive.

RESOLVED:

(a)               that the CPA self assessment be approved;

(b)               that it be noted that the self assessment is still work in progress but that no material amendments will made on the version approved by the full Council, just proof reading and referencing;

(c)               that the Council notes that the deadline for submission to the Audit Commission is 26th September 2008;

(d)               that the Council notes that the CPA site visit will take place during the week commencing 10th November 2008.

To consider the report of the Acting Chief Executive of Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Borough Council

Members considered a report of the Acting Joint Chief Executive of Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils on a proposed concordat for joint working between Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils including terms of reference and decision-making powers of the Shared Services Board, targets and objectives and proposed quick wins.

With reference to recommendation 2.1.5 regarding the offer of membership on the Shared Services Board to the Leaders of the Labour Groups of the respective Councils, the Leader stated that he considered it inappropriate to ask only two Members to provide a written agreement to the principle of Shared Services and he therefore proposed that this recommendation be amended to state “that an offer of membership on the Shared Services Board be offered to the Leader of Bromsgrove District Council’s Labour Group and that he be asked to confirm his support in the Chamber tonight to the principle of Shared Services”. 

Councillor P. M. McDonald subsequently made a statement confirming support for Shared Services

Having been moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Mrs. J. M. L. A. Griffiths, the consent of the meeting was given to the amended recommendation.

In response to a query the Leader advised that future meetings of the Shared Services Board would be in public and Members would be informed of dates of meetings.

The revised recommendations having been moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Mrs. J. M. L. A. Griffiths were put to the vote, whereupon it was

RESOLVED:

(a)               that approval be given to the terms of reference and governance arrangements detailed within the draft Concordat document attached at Appendix 1 to the report, subject to the recommended arrangements proposed by the Shared Service Board;

(b)               that the six month review process be undertaken by the respective Cabinets of each Council in accordance with the criteria detailed at 4.3 within the draft Concordat attached at Appendix 1 to the report;

(c)               that authority be delegated to Bromsgrove District Council’s Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Leader the power to determine appropriate arrangements to resolve any issue that may arise from a conflict of interest during the arrangement of Acting Joint Chief Executive in respect of matters that relate to Bromsgrove District Council; and

(d)               that the quick wins for further joint working / shared services between Redditch and Bromsgrove Councils as recommended by the Shared Services Board and outlined in the Quick Wins report attached at Appendix 3 to the report, namely in respect of

·         Elections

·         Community Safety

·         Performance and financial management

·         Equality and Diversity

·         Member Development

·         Head of Financial Services

(e)       that an offer of membership on the Shared Services Board be offered to the Leader of Bromsgrove District Council’s Labour Group.

To consider the report of the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services

Members considered a report of the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services on proposed revisions to the Council’s Constitution with regard to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Audit Board and Scrutiny Steering Board.

RESOLVED:

(a)               that the Constitution be amended to insert a mandatory provision that the role of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Audit Board and Scrutiny Steering Board be occupied by Members of the opposition groups;

(b)               that authority be delegated to the Head of Legal, Equalities and Democratic Services in consultation with the Leaders of the opposition groups to determine a protocol that would detail the process through which the positions would be allocated.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that Mr. M. Baldrey and Mrs. L. Hawkins be appointed to serve on the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of four year years expiring September 2012;

(b)       that Mr. J. Browne and Mr. P. Sandhu be re-appointed to serve on the Independent Remuneration Panel for a further period of two years expiring September 2010.