Agenda and minutes

The public open forum will commence at 2.00 p.m. and the following formal business of the Council will commence at 2.30 p.m. or whenever the public open forum ends, if earlier.

Question 1

Question to the Portfolio Holder for Grow the Economy – Economic Development, Councillor Mrs Frances Cartwright

Mr Morgan:

In the proposed Southern Quadrant development of Grantham, what proportion of the housing (both as number of homes and number of bedrooms) will be: (a) social housing and (b) affordable housing?

Councillor Mrs Cartwright:

Thank you Mr. Chairman, and thank you for your very interesting question. I gather you’ve tried to put this before but I’m afraid the answer is that you’re still too early with this question because we are still in negotiation with the developers and until that has happened we cannot release any figures until we know what they are, but thank you for the question anyway.

Mr Morgan (supplementary):

Given that we have thousands on the council waiting list and many more people who are in need of more housing; young people growing up and can’t afford to move out and staying in their parents’ houses and clogging up the streets with the extra cars could I draw your attention to the fact that this is a once in a generation opportunity to end the Council waiting lists certainly in the Grantham end of the district and sort out the problem and suggest that you take this on board with a view to achieving that in your negotiations.

Councillor Mrs Cartwright:

Thank you for that. I’m sure I can reassure you that we are taking that on board and we are working extremely hard with all sorts of partners to make sure affordable housing is bought right across our district. Indeed if you look on the DCLG, which is the Department for Communities and Local Government, website you will find that we have actually produced 143 by the end of this year as long as all the developments go to plan, which is quite a high number compared to some of the other districts in Lincolnshire. Thank you.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bevan, Broughton, Cook, Davidson, Higgs, Parkin and Powell.

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 22 January 2015 were proposed, seconded and agreed as a correct record.

                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

The Council noted the Chairman’s engagements.

Report number HOF310 of the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Good Housing.                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

Decision:

PART A

In relation to the General Fund - Revenue

a.    to set a General Fund budget requirement of £13.014M for 2015/16 shown at Appendix A of report number HOF310 (inclusive of special expenses) taking into consideration the savings and efficiencies shown at Appendix B

b.    to approve a Council Tax freeze (no increase) for 2015/16

c.    to note the indicative base estimates for 2016/17 and 2017/18 as detailed in the summary at Appendix A of report number HOF310

d.    To approve the fees and charges as shown at Appendix C of report number HOF310

In relation to the General Fund – Capital

e.    approve the General Fund Capital programme for 2015/16 to 2019/20 detailed at Appendix D page 1 of report number HOF310

f.     approve the Capital Financing statement detailed at Appendix D page 2 of report number HOF310

In relation to the General Fund - Reserves and Balances

g.    to approve the use of reserves as detailed at Appendix E of report number HOF310

Management and prudential indicators

h.    to approve the Treasury Management Strategy provided at Appendix F of report number HOF310

In relation to the Housing Revenue Account - Revenue

i.      to approve dwelling rent increases in accordance with Government guideline rent providing an average rent of £80.91 (an average rental increase of 3.56%)

j.      to approve an increase in garage rents of 2.3%

k.    to approve an increase in service charges by 2.3%

l.      to approve the Housing Revenue Account for the year 2015/16 (including the  items at Appendix H in the report) and indicative years 2016/17 and 2017/18 shown at Appendix G of report number HOF310

In relation to the Housing Revenue Account - Capital

m.  approve the indicative Housing Investment Programme for 2015/16 to 2019/20 detailed at Appendix I page 1 of report number HOF310

n.    approve the Capital Financing statement detailed at Appendix I page 2 of report number HOF310

In relation to the Housing Revenue Account - Reserves and balances

o.    to approve the use of the reserves as detailed at Appendix J of report number HOF310

Pay Policy Statement

p.    to approve the pay policy statement shown at Appendix K of report number HOF310

PART B

In accordance with paragraphs 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended, the Council adopts:

1)      That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2015/16 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended)

a)      £77,763,996 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32 (2) (a) to (e) of the Act (including special expense and parish precepts).

b)        £63,605,236 being the aggregate of the amounts which the  

                 Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32 (3) (a) to (c) of the Act.

c)        £14,158,760 being the amount by which the aggregate at a) above exceeds the aggregate at b) above, calculated by  the Council, in accordance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

Report number LDS144 of the Chief Executive.                             (Enclosure)

Decision:

In order to ensure that the Council’s committees and policy development groups to maintain political balance, the following adjustments should be made to their membership:

1.    Councillor Peter Stephens replacing Councillor Mrs Jean Taylor on both the Licensing Committee and the Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Committee

2.    Councillor Mrs Jean Taylor replaces Councillor David Higgs on the Development Control Committee

3.    Councillor Paul Wood replaces Councillor Martin Wilkins on the Governance and Audit Committee

4.    Councillor Mike Taylor replaces Councillor Mrs Jean Taylor on the Communities Policy Development Group

5.    Councillor Mrs Frances Cartwright replaces Councillor Mike Taylor on the Chief Executive’s Performance Panel

The Leader of the Conservative Group nominated Councillor Peter Stephens to fill the vacancy on the Licensing Committee and the Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Committee and Councillor Mrs Cartwright to fill the vacancy on the Chief Executive’s Performance Panel. She nominated the vacancy on the Communities Policy Development Group as the PDG seat for the UKIP group. She also informed members that Councillors David Higgs would be removed from the Development Control Committee and Councillor Martin Wilkins from Governance and Audit Committee.

The Leader of the UKIP group nominated Councillor Mrs Taylor to take its seat on the Development Control Committee and he (Councillor Mike Taylor) would take the group’s seat on the Communities Policy Development Group.

Councillor Howard nominated Councillor Wood to fill the additional seat to which the group of Independents was entitled on the Governance and Audit Committee.

The nominations were put to the vote en bloc and the appointments were duly confirmed.

The Leader will announce changes to the membership of the Cabinet and responsibility for Portfolios.

The Leader notified the Council that Councillor Mike Taylor was no longer a member of the Cabinet and that for the remainder of the term, she would take on the Strategic Resources – Well Run Council Portfolio.

Report number LDS145 by the Chairman of the Constitution Committee.   (Enclosure)

Appendix B to this report can be viewed electronically (http://moderngov.southkesteven.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=261&MId=3104&Ver=4). Copies of Appendix B will be made available in hardcopy on request.

1.1       Amendment to the Constitution

The Council approves that the Constitution is amended to include in the Scheme of Delegation for the Executive Manager, Environment the following:

“The Mobile Homes Act 2013 and the Mobile Homes Act 1983 and Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 are added to the list of statutes contained within the Constitution and that the Executive Manager Environment and Officers delegated in writing by them are authorised to act under these statutes and Regulation Orders made thereunder.”

1.2       Amendment to the Arrangements for dealing with Standards

Complaints

The Council approves the following amendments to the arrangements for dealing with Standards Complaints under the Localism Act 2011 (the Arrangements):

·      That legal representation is permitted for Members who face an allegation of misconduct and are required to appear before the Review Board

·      That such representation must be provided at the cost to the Member and not at a cost to the Council

1.3       Constitution Review

The Council approves the draft Constitution document (Appendix 2 to report number LDS145) incorporating all previously agreed amendments together with the following amendment:

Procedure for cancellation of meetings

The Chairman or Vice-Chairman in  the Chairman’s absence has the authority to cancel meetings of a committee/policy development group where there are insufficient items for the agenda of the next meeting.

The Chairman of the Constitution Committee presented the recommendations in report number LDS145, which summarised the Committee’s deliberations at its meeting on 9 February 2015.

He proposed the first recommendation in the report, which would see the Constitution amended to include officer delegations related to mobile homes. The proposal was seconded and on being put to the vote agreed.

The Constitution Committee Chairman then proposed the second recommendation which related to dealing with standards complaints and legal representation for members who face allegations of misconduct. This was seconded and on being put to the vote agreed.

The third proposition related to the introduction of a procedure for the cancellation of meetings which would involve the Chairman or Vice-Chairman consulting with other members of the committee/policy development group, with a majority agreeing to the cancellation of the meeting. Under this proposition, this procedure could only be invoked once the notice period for adding items to the agenda had lapsed.

An amendment to replace the wording of the proposal was proposed and seconded that: The Chairman or Vice-Chairman in his or her absence has the authority to cancel meetings of a committee/policy development group where there are insufficient items for the agenda of the next meeting. Some discussion ensued on this item where members recognised that the business of the regulatory committees was demand-led. While this was acknowledged by those Councillors speaking against the amendment, they suggested that in relation to policy development groups and other committees, consulting with members could generate business. The concern was also raised that cancelling a meeting without consulting the wider membership could disenfranchise the rest of the members of the committee/policy development group.

A vote was taken on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

To note the list of questions asked under Council procedure rule 11.1 as circulated at the start of the meeting and their reference to the relevant Policy Development Group.

Three Questions Without Discussion had been received and referred to the relevant Policy Development Groups for response.

Question 1

From: Councillor Morgan

What plans do SKDC have with regard to increasing parking and appropriate secure cycle storage capacity in Grantham town centre given the significant developments approved and those in the pipe line?

Referred to the Communities Policy Development Group

Question 2

From: Councillor Morgan

How is SKDC planning to increase the locally agreed living wage to match the national living wage?

Referred to the Resources Policy Development Group

Question 3

From: Councillor Ashberry

How is SKDC proposing to ensure the appropriate upgrade and maintenance of playground equipment in areas where there is no parish council and low opportunity for S106 funding?

Referred to the Communities Policy Development Group

The meeting was closed at 17:09.