Agenda and minutes

At the request of the Chairman, Councillor Mrs. C. J. Spencer opened the meeting with a prayer.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dr. D. W. P. Booth JP, S. R. Colella, R. J. Deeming, S. J. Dudley, K. Grant-Pearce, R. J. Laight, B. Lewis F.CMI, L. C. R. Mallett, P. M. McDonald, J. A. Ruck, C. J. Tidmarsh and M. J. A.  Webb.

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

No declarations of interest were received.

To consider the recommendations from the special meeting of the Cabinet held on 27th September 2011 on the following items (the full Cabinet reports are enclosed for information at the back of the Council agenda book)

• Audit Commission Annual Governance Report 2010/11
• Statement of Accounts 2010/11

(i)         AUDIT COMMISSION ANNUAL GOVERNANCE REPORT 2010/11

            The recommendations from the Cabinet were moved by Councillor R. Hollingworth and seconded by Councillor Mrs. M. A. Sherrey JP.

            RESOLVED:

            (a)       that the Audit Commission Annual Governance Report be noted           and that the Statement of Accounts 2010/11 be not amended to       reflect the issues raised by the Audit Commission for the             reasons set out in detail within the report; and

            (b)       that the draft letter of representation be approved.

(ii)        STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2010/11

            The recommendation from the Cabinet was moved by Councillor R. Hollingworth and seconded by Councillor Mrs. M. A. Sherrey JP.

            During the debate, in response to Member comments, the Monitoring Officer explained the current situation with regard to data protection and notification of Members to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

            In response to comments made by Councillor C. J. Bloore with regard to the possibility of having a second officer to support Overview and Scrutiny, the Leader stated that this would be taken into consideration as part of the forthcoming budget round.

            RESOLVED that the Statement of Accounts 2010/11 be approved.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7th September 2011 were received for information.

In relation to the Cabinet response to the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group Report on Recreation Road South Car Park, Councillor C. J. Bloore queried whether the Leader supported free car parking after 7.00 p.m. and on Sundays. The Leader responded that this matter would be considered as part of the forthcoming budget round and he would answer the question at that time.

In relation to decisions taken by the Cabinet with regard to the Waste and Street Scene Publicity Plan 2011/13, Councillor Mrs. C. M. McDonald queried if the Council had officers qualified to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), if so how many had been issued during the ‘mucky pup’ dog fouling campaign and whether the issue of FPNs would continue after the campaign. As the relevant Portfolio Holder was absent, the Chairman responded that he would be asked to contact the Councillor with this information.