Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bisnauthsing, Broughton, Higgs, Jock Kerr, King, Jacky Smith, Ian Stokes and Wilkins.

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

No interests were disclosed.

                                                                                                                  (Attached)

It was proposed and seconded that the minutes from the meeting held on 13 September 2012 be agreed as a correct record. This was put to the vote and carried. Councillor Powell clarified an amendment she made as it was recorded under minute number 36. She had intended the second part of the amendment to read as follows:

“Certain car parks can be allocated only for commuters, leaving other car parks nearer to the shops solely for shoppers.”

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The Council noted the Chairman’s engagements.

The Council will receive a brief review of the Gravity Fields Festival.

The Leader and the Grow the Economy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder gave a brief presentation on the feedback and achievements of the inaugural Gravity Fields Festival.

Particular thanks was given to the Festival Co-ordinator, Rosemary Richards. The Council showed its appreciation with a round of applause. All teams from across the council, together with internal and external volunteers, were also thanked for their contributions.

The aims of the Festival were building the reputation of the district, changing people’s perception and putting the district on the map so people want to live, work and invest; feedback indicated that these objectives were achieved. Targets were exceeded for the number of schools and volunteers involved in the festival, together with the number of businesses. Councillors noted the feeling of local pride and support; 81% of ticket sales were from the local NG and PE postcodes.

Traders reported improved business and feedback from individuals was positive. The festival received positive press coverage in the national print media, television, local radio and support from the Grantham Journal. A souvenir brochure was presented to the Festival Co-ordinator and officers who made a significant contribution to the festival to thank them for their efforts:

·         Festival Co-ordinator (Rosemary Richards)

·         Economic Investment and Development Service Manager (David Mather)

·         Head of Community Assets (Paul Stokes)

·         Team Leader – Leisure and Amenities (Susie McCahon)

·         Consultation and Engagement Officer (Fiona Truman)

·         Corporate Health and Safety Advisor (Katherine Evans)

·         Specialist HR Business Partner (Simon Collingwood)

·         Legal Administrator (Clare Richardson)

·         Strategic Director – Development and Growth(Ian Yates)

·         Communications Officer (Chris England)

Councillors watched a DVD which showed highlights of the festival.

A number of Councillors all spoke on the success of the festival and their experiences, offering their congratulation and gratitude to all those involved; specific mention was made of the Guildhall Arts Centre box office staff.

Members complimented the quality, range, accessibility and affordability of the events. Councillors’ highlights included the Cirque Bijou performance, which was part of the Transformation of the Town finale. In speaking about the potential legacy of the Festival, several Councillors hoped to see growth in the local economy in the medium to long term, not only during the festival.

In response to a question on the cost of the festival, the Chief Executive stated that the Council had budgeted £75k funding over two years. Additional funding was contributed by the arts council and other sponsors. Council noted that potential investors had shown interest in supporting future festivals. The Chief Executive added her thanks to everyone who had been involved in the Festival.

Report number LDS078 by the Scrutiny Committee Chairman.   (Attached)

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee presented the Scrutiny Committee annual report for 2011-2012 to the Council for noting. He commented that it had been a challenging year and that the Committee had put in a lot of hard work as there were a lot of members who had no previous experience of scrutiny.

A number of Councillors thanked the chairman for his report and the committee for their work and the way in which it was conducted. Members noted the improvements that had been made to the Committee’s operation and felt it was heading in the right direction. It was suggested that when the Committee carried out investigations, it should look deeper into the evidence base. To help the Council further understand the Committee’s work, it was suggested the annual report could include a column listing outcomes, and that the report be presented to Council at an earlier meeting when it was more current.

Council noted the report.

Report number LDS079 by the Portfolio Holder for Governance and Communication.     (Attached)

Decision:

That Councillor Mike Taylor be appointed to fill the vacancy as the Council’s representative on the Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board.

Report LDS079 asked the Council to consider appointing a Councillor to fill a vacancy which had arisen on the Upper Witham Internal Drainage Board. Councillor Mike Taylor was nominated to fill this vacancy; this was seconded. On being put to the vote, the proposition was carried.

Report number LDS080 by the Constitution Committee Chairman.  (Attached)

Decision:

The Council approves the recommendations made by the Constitution Committee at its meeting on the 24^th September 2012 as follows:

1.1  Motions on Notice

The Constitution Committee recommends to Council that the Constitution be amended at clause 12.3 of page 128 to read:

Motions must be about matters for which the Council has a responsibility or which directly affect the district. The content of any motion on notice shall consist of one single subject matter. No motion on notice shall be debated in the absence of the member who has proposed the motion.

1.2  Neighbourhood Plans – Delegation

The Constitution Committee recommends to Council that the Constitution be amended to insert at page 105.3 the following delegation to the Head of Development and Growth:

     Neighbourhood Planning

To take, after consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder  and the local ward member(s), decisions on the following matters, as defined in the Localism Act 2011 and Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (or as may be amended):

·      Applications to designate a Neighbourhood Area

·      Applications to designate a Neighbourhood Forum

·      To accept or decline repeat proposals for a Neighbourhood Development Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order

·      Validity and acceptance of proposals for a Neighbourhood Development Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order

·      Appointment of person to carry out examination of a Neighbourhood Development Plan or Neighbourhood Development Order

1.3 The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012

       The Constitution Committee recommends to Council the amendments to the Constitution to incorporate the changes introduced by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations) as follows:

Page 63 – Proper Officer for Access to Information

15.3 (h) – delete existing clause and replace with:

Publication of Notices relating to Key Decisions

The Monitoring Officer will publish notices relating to key decisions in accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

Page 90 – Delegation to the Chief Executive

Add new item 4 – To authorise the Head of Paid Service (or deputy) to grant dispensation in respect of any conflict of interest of any Member of the Cabinet declared at meetings of the Cabinet

Page 106 – List of Proper Officers and Designated Officers for Particular Functions

Column C  - add reference to Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 for items relating to Monitoring Officer and officer responsible for background papers

Add new item –

Column A  - Monitoring Officer

Column B – Recording of Executive Decisions

Column C – Local Government Act 2000; The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012

Page 143 – Access to Information Procedure Rules

Scope – add reference to regulations made in accordance with section 9G, 9GA and 105 Local Government Act 2000.

Page 144 – Access to Agenda and Reports before the Meeting

Add after  ..and designated offices – “and on the Council’s website”.

Page 146 – Public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

1)    Councillor Paul Wood

South Kesteven District Council operates the leader/cabinet arrangements for running the Council and the majority of decisions are taken by the members of the cabinet. The full Council take very few decisions and the majority of members are not involved in strategy decision making. Most members do not have a major role to play in the running of SKDC.

There are alternatives to this arrangement and the Localism Act 2011 permits Councils to change from one form of governance to another. The Chief Executive and the Monitoring officer have both confirmed to me that this is both legal and possible.

An alternative could be to operate a full committee system in which several committees are set up with specified responsibilities. The committees would be politically balanced and have responsibility for taking strategy decisions within their remit. In this way all members would be actively involved and be part of the running of SKDC.

Operating a committee system would mean that, apart from day-to-day operational decisions, decisions are made by committees comprised of Councillors from all political groups.

A committee system operated at SKDC for many years prior to the leader/cabinet arrangements and was very successful. Committees are the most democratic form of decision making and enable all Councillors to be involved and gain experience in many areas.

I am aware of other Councils reverting back to a Committee system and in particular Nottinghamshire County Council which is Conservative led agreed to return to Committees following a Nottinghamshire Conservative manifesto pledge. They successfully organised this change in the period from November 2011 to 17^th May 2012 and now operate a full committee system. Nottinghamshire have also contained all costs within their existing budgets.

I propose that South Kesteven District Council agree to return to the Committee system and set a timescale to achieve this.

Councillor Wood withdrew his notice of motion with the assent of his seconder. He had submitted a written notice to the Chief Executive supported by more than five members in accordance with item 8 of the Council’s Policy Development Group Procedure Rules on page 178 of the Council’s constitution, which requested the matter be referred to the PDG Co-ordinating Group.

The meeting was closed at 15:35.