Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bevan, Broughton, Miss Channell, Dilks, Higgs, Rowlands, Scott, Woods and Wren.

The chairman reported that Councillor Higgs was recovering well from recent surgery. The Chief Executive was asked to write to him with the best wishes of the Council.

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

Councillor Morgan disclosed an interest in agenda item 10 (Notices of Motion given under Council Procedure Rule 12 – first notice of motion) as the new fundraiser for Grantham Foodbank.

During the meeting Councillor Bryant disclosed an interest in agenda item 10 (first notice of motion) because of the work he undertook for, and the contributions he made to, local voluntary organisations.

                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

It was proposed and seconded that the minutes from the meeting held on 3 May 2012 be agreed as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

·         Page 3, minute number 3, final paragraph: change “a notice without motion...” to “this notice without motion”

This was put to the vote and carried.

                                                                                                                  (Enclosure)

The Council noted the Chairman’s engagements.

The Chairman expressed a vote of thanks to the Council’s officers and volunteers who helped with the Olympic torch relay on the three days it came into South Kesteven. Councillors watched a short film which showed the journey of the torch through the district. Councillors showed their congratulation and appreciation with a round of applause.

An estimated 85,000 people watched the torch pass through South Kesteven and took part in community events. A representative from one of the official Olympic sponsors had particularly noted the effort made in the district. As the event in Bourne was early in the morning, it was intended to be low-key however there was strong public support.

An Olympic themed cultural tour travelled to over 70 schools in the district, with a torch designed as part of a children’s competition.

A special presentation was made to officers who played key roles in co-ordinating the Olympic torch relay in South Kesteven: Paul Stokes, Susie McCahon, Geoff O’Neill, Carol Drury, Pat Swinton, Phil Jordan and Mark Jones. Councillors once again showed their appreciation with a round of applause.

Report number LDS071 by the Governance and Communication Portfolio Holder.          (Enclosure)

Decision:

1.    That the Council establishes a working group of Members to work with officers to develop proposals for the submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England relating to council size and revised warding arrangements

2.    That membership of the working group be five members

3.    To reflect the overall composition of the Council, that the working group consist of three members of the Conservative Group, one member of the Independent Group and one member of the Labour Group

4.    To appoint Councillors  Bob Adams, Adam Stokes, Kelham Cooke, Alan Davidson and Reg Howard to the working group

The Governance and Communication Portfolio Holder moved the recommendations in report number LDS071 on the Local Government Boundary Commission Electoral Review of South Kesteven, which was then seconded. He explained that a review was required, and that the Boundary Commission considered South Kesteven a priority  as 13 of the district’s 34 Wards had an electoral imbalance (either 10% more or fewer electors than the average of 1820).

The review would take place in two stages. The first stage would see the submission of a proposal on council size to the Boundary Commission. The second stage was a more detailed review of warding arrangements. All proposals needed the approval of Council before their submission to the Boundary Commission. All proposals had to be well-reasoned and based on evidence.

A working group was required to carry out detailed work on the proposals and make recommendations to Council. It was proposed that the working group consist of five members and be politically balanced (three Conservative, one Independent and one Labour Councillors).

The Conservative Group working party nominations were Councillor Bob Adams, Councillor Adam Stokes and Councillor Kelham Cooke. The Labour group nominated Councillor Alan Davidson as its representative and Councillor Reg Howard was proposed as the Independent Group’s representative.

The recommendations as proposed and seconded were put to the vote and carried unanimously.

Report number LDS072 by the Governance and Communication Portfolio Holder.          (Enclosure)

Decision:

1.    The Council adopts the draft Members’ Code of Conduct attached as Appendix A to report number LDS072.

2.    The Council adopts arrangements to deal with complaints made about District Councillors set out in Appendix B to report number LDS072 and considers arrangements for dealing with complaints about parish and town councillors.

3.    That the Monitoring Officer be appointed as the Proper Officer to receive complaints of failure to comply with the Members’ Code of Conduct by district, town and parish councillors, with authority to delegate the function of dealing with the complaints relating to parish and town councillors to the relevant town or parish council where appropriate.

4.    The Council approves the appointment of Mr Fred Mann as the Independent Person and the Venerable Tim Barker as the reserve.

5.    That the Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority, after consultation with the Independent Person or reserve, to determine whether a complaint merits formal investigation and to arrange such investigation.

6.    That the Council disband the Standards Committee and delegate to the Review Board (see Constitution page 82) the authority to receive reports on investigation carried out into alleged failure to comply with the Members’ Code of Conduct, to consider whether a complaint should be investigated as required by the Monitoring Officer, determine the outcome of investigations and report findings to Council as and when required by the Review Board.

7.    That the Monitoring Officer be instructed to seek resolution of complaints without formal investigation wherever practicable, and that the Monitoring Officer be given discretion to refer decisions on investigation to the Review Board where it is inappropriate for the Monitoring Officer to take the decision.

8.    Where an investigation finds no evidence of failure to comply with the Members’ Code of Conduct, the Monitoring Officer is instructed to close the matter, providing a copy of the report and findings of the investigation to the complainant, to the Member concerned and to the Independent Person.

9.    Where the investigation finds evidence of a failure to comply with the Code of Conduct, the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Independent Person is authorised to seek local resolution in appropriate cases with a summary report for information to the Council. Where such local resolution is not appropriate or not possible, the Monitoring Officer is to report the investigation findings to the Review Board for local hearing and determination.

10.That the Council delegate to the Review Board such of its powers as can be delegated to take decisions in respect of a member who is found on hearing to have failed to comply with the Code of Conduct, such actions to include:

·         Reporting its findings to Council [or the Town or Parish Council] for information.

·         Recommending to the Member’s Group leader (or in the case of ungrouped Members, recommend to Council or to Committees) that he/she be removed from any or all Committees or Sub-Committees of the Council.

·         Recommending to the Leader of the Council that the Member be removed from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

Report number LDS073 by the Governance and Communication Portfolio Holder.          (Enclosure)

Decision:

The Council appoints Councillor Mrs Brenda Sumner as its second representative on the Local Government Association Urban Commission.

Report number LDS073 recommended that the Council appoint a representative to the Local Government Association Urban Commission. As agreed at the annual meeting of the Council 3 May 2013, Councillor Mrs Cartwright remained one of the Council’s representatives on the body and held the voting rights.

Three nominations were proposed and seconded: Councillor Mrs Brenda Sumner, Councillor Alan Davidson and Councillor Harrish Bisnauthsing. Following a vote, Councillor Mrs Sumner was appointed as the Council’s second representative on the Local Government Association Urban Commission.

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.

One question without discussion had been received and referred to the relevant Policy Development Group.

Question

To:       Councillor Linda Neal, Leader of the Council

From:  Councillor Rob Shorrock

Do you think it appropriate that as Leader of the Council a PDG has to provide an answer about your own work and engagements and on reflection do you think you can provide further information on your work and engagements since the last full council meeting and have this published on the SKDC website for clear and public and access?

Could a response to the question be provided to me by email?

Referred to the Engagement Policy Development Group.

Notices of motion deferred from the meeting held on Thursday 1 March 2012.

1)         From Councillor Charmaine Morgan

It is proposed that South Kesteven District Council creates a Voluntary Sector Fund specifically for the use of voluntary sector organisations, across the District, which are providing vital facilities to vulnerable residents.

The combination of high unemployment, cuts in welfare benefits and rising household costs is leading to an increase in the level of people in need of assistance from the Voluntary Sector to access the most basic life essentials

2)         From Councillor Charmaine Morgan

South Kesteven District Council's Core Strategy recognises that our natural and built heritage play a valuable role in promoting the past. 

Our heritage also a generator of economic growth, where heritage assets are protected and used appropriately,

This motion calls for a cross party workshop to examine what specific action should be taken to develop economic growth across South Kesteven District, based on tourism, recognising the value of both our natural and built heritage

3)         From Councillor Phil Dilks

Council notes that a Public Open Forum of up to 30-minutes is set aside at the start of each Council meeting for any resident of the District to question the administration, subject to written notification no later than 72-hours prior to the meeting.

The resident may reasonably expect to receive an answer at the meeting as well as a reply to a supplementary question. 

Questions from Councillors are also required to be submitted within a similar time-frame, but are then treated very differently to questions from residents.

In referring all questions from councillors to ‘the relevant Policy Development Group’ irrespective of who they are directed to, the councillor usually has to wait for an answer even longer than the legal maximum response time to questions lodged under the Freedom of Information Act.

In the spirit of improving openness, accountability, and efficiency, this Council resolves to task its Constitutional Committee to consider appropriate amendments to the Rules of Procedure to be voted on at the next Annual Meeting of the Council, thus ensuring that in seeking information, councillors are not more disadvantaged than the residents they are elected to represent.

4)         From Councillor Phil Dilks

This Council resolves that each SKDC Committee and Policy Development Group is invited to provide a short report on its work over the previous year to be presented to the Annual Meeting of the Council.

5)         From Councillor Rob Shorrock

            This motion calls on the council to do the following:

1. The council will, through its neighbourhood groups, consult widely with existing and would-be tenants and others on government proposals for secure tenancies, rents and housing benefit

2. Seek the views and experience of private sector tenants, and provide support and advice in the face of high rents and housing benefit cuts.

3. Provide a briefing for landlords on the impact of housing benefit changes and work with them to develop affordable pricing strategies

4. Not replace existing or future secure tenancies with fixed term tenancies for existing  ...  view the full agenda text for item 28.

Decision:

That the Council rejects the motion:

It is proposed that South Kesteven District Council creates a Voluntary Sector Fund specifically for the use of voluntary sector organisations, across the District, which are providing vital facilities to vulnerable residents.

The combination of high unemployment, cuts in welfare benefits and rising household costs is leading to an increase in the level of people in need of assistance from the Voluntary Sector to access the most basic life essentials.

Councillor Morgan proposed the motion:

“It is proposed that South Kesteven District Council creates a Voluntary Sector Fund specifically for the use of voluntary sector organisations, across the District, which are providing vital facilities to vulnerable residents.

The combination of high unemployment, cuts in welfare benefits and rising household costs is leading to an increase in the level of people in need of assistance from the Voluntary Sector to access the most basic life essentials”

The motion was seconded.

In proposing the motion, Councillor Morgan stated that voluntary organisations in the district that provided services for the most vulnerable residents were facing increased demand and finding it difficult to access funding. Attracting funding for existing projects was difficult and there was a lot of competition. A lot of initiatives were church-led or reliant on voluntary contributions from individuals. Similar concerns were echoed by other Councillors who spoke in favour of the amendment.

Referring to the draft Financial Outturn, she proposed that a fund be created from within the reserve which was set aside for unforeseen events.

During debate on the motion, Councillors highlighted national economic conditions, levels of unemployment, the number of part-time workers and the number of families living in poverty.

Members also considered future funding arrangements for the authority; further reductions in funding were expected over the next four-years.

The Council’s Budget included funding for the Lincolnshire Community Voluntary Service, which supported voluntary sector organisations and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, from which individuals could seek support.

Some Councillors expressed concern that the proposed level of funding and its duration were not included in the motion. Several Councillors suggested that the support provided by voluntary sector organisations should be provided by the government, and funding for the services should not be the responsibility of a district council.

The Section 151 Officer stated that the 2012/13 budget had been agreed and would require reports to Cabinet and Council by which point the budget cycle for 2013/14 would be underway. He suggested that if the motion was successful, provision for such a fund could be built into this.

There was a request for a recorded vote. However, failing to receive the support of ten Members as per Council Procedure rule 16.4, the request was refused. The proposal was put to the vote and lost.

Councillors Selby, Morgan, Shorrock, Davidson, Powell, Ashberry and Wells requested that their votes for the motion be recorded. Councillor Peter Stephens requested that his vote against the motion be recorded.

Councillor Morgan withdrew her second notice of motion. The notices  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

The meeting was closed at 17:24.