Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will take the chair, make the declaration of acceptance of office and be invested with the chain of office.

Decision:

That Councillor Reg Howard is elected Chairman of South Kesteven District Council until the next annual meeting of the Council.

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor Reg Howard be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year. In proposing Councillor Howard, reference was made to his dedication and many years’ service as a town and district councillor.

The proposer also felt that Councillor Howard’s experience would make him a good ambassador for the district and particularly suited to the office.

No other nominations were put forward and a vote was taken. Councillor Howard was unanimously elected Chairman of South Kesteven District Council.

The Chairman was invested with the chain of office. He made a declaration of acceptance and took the chair.

COUNCILLOR HOWARD IN THE CHAIR

After the vote of thanks, the chairman will make a presentation to the retiring Chairman. The retiring Chairman will respond.

A vote of thanks was made to the retiring Chairman, who was praised for his fairness and his leadership of the Council.

The Chairman presented Councillor Nalson with gifts to commemorate his year in office.

Councillor Nalson thanked Members for their kind words and added that he had enjoyed serving as Chairman. He presented the Chief Executive with a gift for the Council.

The Vice-Chairman will make the declaration of acceptance of office and be invested with the Vice-Chairman’s medallion.

Decision:

That Councillor Ray Wootten is elected Vice-Chairman of South Kesteven District Council until the next annual meeting of the Council.

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor Alan Davidson be elected Vice-Chairman of South Kesteven District Council. His proposer felt that his experience would mean he could carry out the role fairly and objectively, complementing the Chairman.

A nomination was received for Councillor Ray Wootten, which was seconded. Councillor Wootten’s proposer and seconder felt he would be an excellent ambassador for the district and that his experience as Chairman of Lincolnshire County Council would be of particular value.

A further nomination that Councillor Harrish Bisnauthsing be elected Vice-Chairman of South Kesteven District Council was received and seconded. Reference was made to Councillor Bisnauthsing’s work on Stamford town council, his tenure as mayor of Stamford and the community projects with which he had been involved.

On being put to the vote, Councillor Wootten was elected as Vice-Chairman of South Ketseven District Council. He signed the declaration of acceptance and thanked Members for their support.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dilks, Morgan, Selby, John Smith, Mrs Judy Smith and Ian Stokes.

Members are asked to disclose any interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

No interests were disclosed.

                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2014 were proposed, seconded and agreed as a correct record.

                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

The Council noted the Chairman’s engagements.

The Chairman informed Councillors that his charity for the year would be the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.

For noting. The Leader will announce the size of the Cabinet, appoint members to the Cabinet and announce their portfolios.

The Leader informed Council that the size of the Cabinet would not change then she announced the Cabinet members and their portfolios.

Councillor Carpenter would remain the Deputy Leader

Report number LDS122 by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.    (Enclosure)

Decision:

1.    To approve the following appointments to Committees and Policy Development Groups based on rules of political balance and the nominations of group leaders:

2.    To approve the appointments of chairmen and delegate election of vice-chairmen to the respective committees/groups

The Council had before it report number LDS122, which informed members of the proposed apportionment of places on the Council’s committees and policy development groups when the rules of political balance were applied. A list of the proposed nominations from each political group was circulated before the meeting.

The nominations for committees/PDGs were proposed en bloc. They were seconded and, on being put to the vote, the appointments were approved.

The Leader of the Council provided her nominations for chairmen of the Council’s committees/PDGs. It was further proposed that the vice-chairman of policy development groups and committees would be elected by that committee/group at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To approve a programme of ordinary meetings of the Council and its committees for the municipal year – report number LDS123 by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.      (Enclosure)

Decision:

In accordance with Council procedure rule 1.1(x), the Council approves the programme of ordinary meetings of the Council and its committees attached as appendix 1 to report number LDS123 (subject to the Scrutiny Committee scheduled for 10 June 2014 being moved to 24 June 2014).

The adoption of the draft timetable of Council meetings as appended to report number LDS123 was proposed and seconded. Councillors were notified of one change to the circulated draft: the Scrutiny Committee meeting scheduled for 10 June 2014 would be moved to 24 June 2014.

A number of members asked questions on the frequency and total number of certain meetings. Councillors were assured that the number of meetings of Council was unchanged and that the Development Control Committee met on a three-weekly cycle. One member also suggested leaving August free of meetings as the peak holiday period. Councillors were advised that the requirements in relation to the number and frequency of meetings meant that continuing some meetings in August was necessary.

On being put to the vote, the draft programme was approved subject to the alteration of the Scrutiny Committee meeting as noted above.

To consider nominations to represent the Council on outside bodies – report number LDS124 by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.                                          (Enclosure)

Decision:

To approve the following list of nominations for representatives on outside bodies:

Members had before them report number LDS124, setting out those outside bodies and organisations that were seeking district council representation. It was proposed and seconded that the Leader should be appointed to East Midlands Councils and the Local Government Association, with the Deputy Leader acting in the Leader’s absence. It was further proposed and seconded that Councillor Bob Russell be appointed as the substitute member for the Lincolnshire Health Scrutiny Committee.

A vote was taken on proposals and the nominees were duly appointed.

Report number PLA1039 of the Economic Development – Grow the Economy Portfolio Holder.                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

Please note that due to the size of the appendices to this report, they are only available electronically at:  http://moderngov.southkesteven.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=261&MId=2987.

A hard copy is also available for Councillors to view in the Members’ Lounge.

Decision:

That the Council adopts:

1.    The Site Allocation and Policies Development Plan Document as amended in accordance with the Main Modifications recommended by the Inspector in Appendix A to his report dated 27 February 2014 (Appendix 1 to report number PLA1039) and the minor modifications set out in Appendix 2 of report PLA1039

2.    The Policies Map as revised and updated to show the consequential changes that result from the adoption of the Site Allocation and Policies Development Plan Document

The Council had before it report number PLA1039 by the Portfolio Holder for Grow the Economy - Economic Development on the adoption of the Site Allocation and Policies Development Plan Document (SAP DPD) in accordance with the Inspector’s recommendations following examination and a revised Policies map.

The Portfolio Holder for Grow the Economy and Economic Development proposed the recommendations in the report. She stated that the methodology for defining sustainable villages had met with the approval of the Planning Inspectorate. She added that all representations had been taken into account when making recommendationsand went on to propose the recommendations in the report, which were then seconded.

In response to questions from Members, the Service Manager for Planning Policy and Partnerships informed Councillors that all the sites in the SAP DPD were expected to come forward for development during the life of the plan (by 2026). Reference was also made to a site in Stamford that had been locally controversial. Members were advised that part of the site at Kettering Road was identified as part of the Council’s original proposals; when the opportunity came for people to make formal representations, land adjoining the site was suggested. This site was considered through the site assessment process to determine whether it was suitable and deliverable. Its inclusion was subject to consultation and people were given the opportunity to make representations; these were taken into account by the Inspector when finalising the report and making recommendations to the council.

Separate votes were taken on each of the proposals. On being put to the vote, both propositions were carried.

Report number GAC006 by the Chairman of the Governance and Audit Committee.       (Enclosure)

Decision:

The Council:

1.    Approves the Annual Report of the Governance & Audit Committee for 2013/14

2.    Approves the indicative work plan and timetable for 2014/15 which reflect the terms of reference of the Committee

The Vice-Chairman of the Governance and Audit Committee presented report number GAC006, which was a factual report on the work that the Governance and Audit Committee had undertaken during 2013/14 and an indicative work programme for 2014/15. The recommendations in the report were proposed, seconded and on being put to the vote, carried.

The meeting was closed at 15:01.