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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN. View directions

Contact: Yamina Rhouati  Email: Yamina.Rhouati@wiltshire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

63.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for the meeting.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Helen Osborn, Pip Ridout, Simon Killane, Josie Green, Brian Dalton, Bill Douglas, George Jeans, Mark Packard, Linda Packard, Leo Randall, Terry Chivers, Rosemary Brown and Howard Greenman.

64.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the last meeting of Council held on 12 July 2016. 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the Meeting held on 12 July 2016 were presented.

 

Resolved

 

That the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 12 July 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

65.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that whilst a Councillor’s membership of a town or parish council was not a disclosable interest, Councillors may wish to declare their membership of any town or parish councils if they wished to speak or vote on relevant items.

66.

Announcements by the Chairman

Minutes:

The Chairman drew the meeting’s attention to the arrangements for the day’s meeting, specifically referencing fire safety and that the meeting was being recorded for live webcast.

 

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Chris Auckland to his first meeting of council as an elected member following his successful by-election on 14 July 2016.

 

The Chairman stated that details of his and the Vice-Chairman’s activities since the last meeting would be available via his blog:

 

http://wiltshirecouncilchair.blogspot.co.uk/

 

These, in summary, included:

 

·         Alabaré Annual Celebrations

·         Beating The Retreat and Sunset Ceremony

·         Civic Services

·         Fly the Red Ensign for Merchant Navy Day

·         Organ Restoration Appeal, St. Thomas’ Church

·         Unveiling of Victoria Cross Commemorative Paving Stone – Lt. Col. Tom Adlam, Guildhall, Salisbury

·         British Empire Medal Ceremony

·         The Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, Western Section

 

The Chairman made special mention of having had the pleasure of a wide tour of Wiltshire presenting best kept village awards for the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) in conjunction with the lord-lieutenant of Wiltshire and the High Sheriff. The Chairman paid tribute to the arrangements made by the CPRE; expressed his gratitude to Hills Waste for their continued sponsorship of the event, and formally congratulated the three winning villages:

 

  The Winterbournes                     -     The Best Kept Large Village

  All Cannings                                -     The Best Kept Medium Village

  Rushall                                        -     The Best Kept Small Village

  Aldbourne                                    -     Winner of the Laurence Kitching Award

67.

Petitions Received

No petitions have been received for this meeting.

 

Minutes:

No petitions had been received for presentation to this meeting.

68.

Petitions Update

Report by Yamina Rhouati, Democratic Governance Manager

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

A report by the Head of Democratic Services was presented which gave Council details of the two petitions received for the period since the last Council meeting.

 

Resolved

 

To note the petitions received and the actions taken, as set out in the appendix to the reportpresented.

69.

Public Participation

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

 

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named above for any further clarification.

 

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public  received in accordance with the constitution. Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named above (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) no later than 5pm on 11 October 2016 in order to be guaranteed a written response. Questions received after this deadline and no later than 5pm 13 October 2016 before the meeting will receive a verbal response. Please contact the officer named on the first page of this agenda for further advice.

 

Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent. Details of any questions received will be circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited those registered to put statements or questions to the Council.

 

Councillor Andrew Bryant of Trowbridge Town Council made a statement expressing concern as to a number of street scene issues that he wanted to bring to Councillors’ attention.

 

Councillor Philip Whitehead, the Cabinet Member for Highways, thanked the Councillor for the update and explained that he was in regular contact with the Town Council and encouraged further reporting through the MyWiltshire App.

 

The Chairman noted that the question asked on behalf of the CPRE would be taken under the Motion no. 37 to which it related.

 

Mr Bill Jarvis thanked the Council for the responses to his written questions, circulated in agenda supplement one, and asked two supplementary questions.

 

Councillor Toby Sturgis stated that the Council had a duty to consult with neighbouring authorities should proposals be progressed in the specific sites referred to in the original question.

 

Councillor Toby Sturgis stated that the council would review its policies in relation to the impacts of any international agreements as necessary.

 

Details of questions and responses are attached in Appendix 1

70.

Medium Term Financial Plan and Efficiency Statement 2017-2020

Report by Dr Carlton Brand and Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Directors together with the following documents:

 

·         Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee held on 10 October

·         Report of the Financial Planning Task Group held on 5 October

·         Summary of questions and responses at Budget consultation events

 

The views of Cabinet from its meeting on 11 October will be reported in due course

 

.

 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Councillor Dick Tonge to present the report which invited Council to consider and assess its medium term financial plan, and the four year funding offer from Government. The meeting’s attention was also drawn to the information published in Agenda Supplement One and the outcome of the discussion at Cabinet.

 

Issues highlighted in the course of the presentation and discussion included: That the government’s funding proposal was for a four year agreement; that this was part of a wider consultation on financial issues; that the Revenue Support grant from government would eventually drop to zero; the involvement of the public and Councillors in the consultation; that the share of non-domestic rates would increase slightly over the period; how signing up to the deal would allow the council to use money from capital receipts to fund some transitional work; the efficiency plan appended to the report; that £45m would be needed to save in the next four years; how the chief financial officer had worked with other partners to develop the assumptions used to plan; that more detailed budget plans would be presented to the budget and council tax setting meeting on 21 February 2017; that the plan would not fetter the discretion of future council administrations to make different savings; that only one council, nationally,was rejecting the 4 year deal; the concerns of some Members as to the overall direction for local government under the deal; and the involvement of Scrutiny in reviewing the proposals were noted.

 

Having been put to the vote, it was;

 

Resolved

 

1.    To approve the Efficiency Statement at Appendix A for submission to the DCLG, subject to conditions at paragraph 2.7of this report, as part of the conditions to accept the current four year funding ‘deal’ offered by central government;

 

2.    Subject to conditions at paragraphs 2.6 and 2.7 of this report, as part of its Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) set out a Council Tax increase of 2% each year for 2017-2020. This does not fetter future administrations from having a lower Council tax increase should further savings be made; and

 

3.    Subject to conditions at paragraphs 2.6 and 2.7 of this report, as part of its MTFP set out a Social Care Levy increase of 2% each year for 2017-2020.

71.

Revised Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document

To consider the recommendation from Cabinet dated 13 September 2016 that Council adopts the proposed Revised Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document.

 

Report by Dr Carlton Brand, Corporate Director

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Councillor Toby Sturgis to present the report which updated Council on the response to the consultation on the Draft Revised Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (February 2016); and recommended that the Revised Supplementary Planning Document be adopted by Council.

 

Having been put to the vote, the meeting;

 

Resolved

 

1.    To note the response to the consultation on the Draft Revised Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document set out in Appendix 2 of the report presented.

 

2.    To adopt the proposed Revised Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document Appendix 1 of the report presented.

 

3.    To agree that the Associate Director for Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Operational Property and Waste undertake the final stages associated with the formal adoption of the Supplementary Planning Document, including any minor textual changes in the interest of clarity and accuracy.

72.

Wiltshire Council’s Statement of Gambling Principles - Appendix

To consider the recommendation of the Licensing Committee dated 19 September 2016 that the Licensing Committee commends Appendix A – Local Area Risk Assessment, attached as Appendix 1 to this report, in relation to the Gambling Act 2005 to Full Council for approval at its next available

meeting.

 

Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Councillor Jerry Wickham and Councillor Peter Hutton to introduce the report which invited Council to consider the recommendations of the Licensing Committee from its meeting on 19 September 2016 in relation to proposed amendments to the Statement of Gambling Principles.

 

Having been put to the vote, the meeting;

 

Resolved

 

To approve the new Appendix A - Local Area Risk Assessment to the Statement of Gambling Principles (2015 -2018) (Appendix 1) under the Gambling Act 2005 for incorporation into the existing Statement of Gambling Principles with immediate effect.

73.

Community Governance Review - Consequential Issues

Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Councillor Stuart Wheeler to introduce the report which sought approval of further changes to community governance

arrangements, as set out in the report and to authorise the making of Community Governance Orders to bring those changes into effect from 1 April 2017.

 

Having been put to the vote, the meeting;

 

Resolved

 

a)     To approve the further changes to community governance arrangements, as set out in this report and to authorise the making of Community Governance Orders to bring those changes into effect from 1 April 2017.

 

b)    To approve the consequential changes to community governance arrangements for those parishes whose areas are to change as a result of the previous decisions of Council, as set out in this report,

 

c)    To authorise the Solicitor to the Council:

 

i)    To make the necessary Community Governance Order(s) to bring into effect all of the changes arising from this report and the previous decisions of Council on 24 November 2015 and 12 July 2016 on the community governance review.

 

ii)  To approve the proposed changes to governance arrangements set out in this report for Tidworth Parish Council and also for Grafton Parish Council, in consultation with the Community Governance Working Group, subject to the completion of the consultation process, for inclusion in the Community Governance  Order(s), provided that this does not prejudice the timescale for such Order(s)

 

d)     To take no further action at this stage in respect of the proposal to transfer the area shown hatched on the Plan for Scheme 104 on Appendix 4 from Steeple Ashton parish to Trowbridge parish, pending further consideration,

 

e)    To authorise the Electoral Registration Officer to make any necessary changes to polling districts to bring them into line with the agreed governance changes.

74.

Notices of Motion

For Council’s ease of reference the rules on how motions on notice are dealt with at Council and guidance on amendments to motions taken from Part 4 of the Council’s constitution are attached.

 

To consider the following notices of motions: 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The meeting considered the following notices of motion:

74a)

Notice of Motion No. 33 - Water Sprinklers in New Schools - From Councillors Graham Payne and Peter Edge

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman reported receipt of the above mentioned motion from Councillors Graham Payne and Peter Edge.

 

The motion had also been supported by Councillors Ernie Clark, Mollie Groom, John Knight, Chris Devine, Ricky Rogers, Bob Jones, Bridget Wayman and Christopher Newbury

 

Accordingly, Councillor Graham Payne moved the following motion which was duly seconded by Councillor Peter Edge:

 

“That Wiltshire Council views with great concern the decision of HM Government to remove the requirement for the compulsory fitment of water sprinklers to all new school buildings.

 

We therefore propose that Wiltshire Council establishes the necessary policies to ensure that the fitment of water sprinklers will continue to be a requirement in all new school buildings including school extensions and those school buildings undergoing major refurbishment in our County”.

 

To assist Council in its consideration of the motion, an officer briefing note was also presented.

 

Following a short debate which included a response from the Cabinet member, Councillor Laura Mayes, as to whether the existing policy sufficiently addressed the points raised in the motion, Councillor Payne agreed to amend the motion replacing the word ‘establishes’ with the word ‘reaffirms’.

 

Having been put to the vote, the meeting;

 

Resolved

 

That Wiltshire Council views with great concern the decision of HM Government to remove the requirement for the compulsory fitment of water sprinklers to all new school buildings.

 

We therefore propose that Wiltshire Council reaffirms the necessary policies to ensure that the fitment of water sprinklers will continue to be a requirement in all new school buildings including school extensions and those school buildings undergoing major refurbishment in our County.

 

74b)

Notice of Motion No. 34 - Fire Authority - From Councillors Ernie Clark and Ricky Rogers

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman reported receipt of the above mentioned motion from Councillors Ernie Clark and Ricky Rogers. Accordingly, Councillor Ernie Clark moved the following motion which was duly seconded by Councillor Ricky Rogers:

 

“Wiltshire Council, being mindful of the difficult and wide ranging requirements in the merger of two public bodies, congratulates Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service on the successful and professional manner in which the merger has been carried out and the way in which excellent standards of service are provided to the residents of Wiltshire, Swindon, and Dorset”.

 

 

Baroness Scott of Bybrook responded to the motion. She considered that it was too early to pass comment on the performance of the Fire Authority. Baroness Scott moved the following amendment which was duly seconded:

 

This council congratulates the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority on a smooth harmonisation of two public bodies into a single authority. The council requests that the Chairman of the Fire Authority brings a report to the council at its July 2017 council meeting to enable members to have informed debate on performance of the fire authority after its first full year of operation.

 

Following debate and at the request of Councillors Clark and Rogers, it was agreed to insert the following words ‘and all the personnel of Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service’ after ‘Fire Authority’ in the first sentence.

 

Following further debate, it was

 

Resolved

This council congratulates the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority and all the personnel of Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service on a smooth harmonisation of two public bodies into a single authority. The council requests that the Chairman of the Fire Authority brings a report to the council at its July 2017 council meeting to enable members to have informed debate on performance of the fire authority after its first full year of operation.

74c)

Notice of Motion No. 35 - A Fair Chance for Every Child in Wiltshire - From Councillors Jon Hubbard and Steve Oldrieve

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman reported receipt of the above mentioned motion from Councillors Jon Hubbard and Steve Oldrieve. Accordingly, Councillor Jon Hubbard moved the following motion which was duly seconded by Councillor Steve Oldrieve:

 

The Conservative Government in Westminster have issued a Green Paper suggesting that every school could convert to a Grammar School, reintroducing selective education for children across the county of Wiltshire.

 

Sir Michael Wilshaw*, the head of Ofsted, has described the expansion of Grammar Schools as a “retrograde step” and this view has been echoed by educationalists from across the country.

 

Currently in Wiltshire there are 2 Grammar Schools, both in Salisbury where there are 5 other state schools offering secondary education. No other community in Wiltshire enjoys having so many comprehensive schools in such a small geographical area.

 

Council notes:

  • Should one, or more, of Wiltshire’s market town schools, which is served by just one secondary school, convert to a grammar school then this would leave many children without a local school to attend
  • Even Free School founder and right ring columnist Toby Young has publically stated that introducing new grammar schools with do nothing to help boost social mobility

 

Council believes:

  • That should rural comprehensive schools in Wiltshire be converted to grammar schools it would disadvantage Wiltshire’s children, with many being forced to travel significant additional distance to schools each day
  • That there is a considerable risk to the county’s budget, should the council have to fund passenger transport for young people to schools other than those local to them as a result of not passing the 11 plus
  • That dividing young people at the age of 11, based on their individual performance during a 145-minute one-off exam, is a retrograde step which will end up in the majority of young people be left feeling they are failures
  • That former Prime Minister David Cameron was correct to say “I think it is delusional to think that a policy of expanding a number of grammar schools is either a good idea, a sellable idea or even the right idea.”

 

Council calls for:

  • A statement to be issued by Wiltshire Council stating: “This Council does not support the further expansion of grammar schools in Wiltshire”
  • The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services to lobby all parliamentarians in Wiltshire to do all in their power to prevent existing comprehensive schools being converted to grammar schools
  • The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services to write to the Secretary of State stating that Wiltshire Council does not believe that the conversion of comprehensive schools to grammar schools in rural communities is in the best interests of all young people”

 

Following agreement to debate the motion, the Chairman invited Councillor Hubbard to speak to his motion.

 

In response to the motion, Councillor Laura Mayes, as the relevant Cabinet member, commended the motion as comprehensive and well researched, but that she could not recommend support for the motion due to the need to consult further with partners and those affected, before writing to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74c)

74d)

Notice of Motion No. 36 - Capping Town and Parish Councils - From Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE and Councillor John Thomson

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman reported receipt of the above mentioned motion from s Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE and Councillor John Thomson. Accordingly, Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE moved the following motion which was duly seconded by Councillor John Thomson:

 

“The Council has received notification of a consultation from the Department for Communities and Local Government which includes the suggestion that a referendum would be needed if a Town and Parish Council wished to increase its precept by more than 2 per cent.

 

 Specifically;

·         For the first time, referendum principles will apply to Town and Parish councils for which the Band D charge is higher than £75.46 and the total precept is over £500,000.

 

·         However, those Town and Parish councils where a service had been transferred from a local authority would not be subject to the referendum principle, providing certain conditions are satisfied.

 

·         The government is also prepared to consider extending the referendum principles to all Town and Parish councils.

 

 

Preamble

 

Towns and Parishes receive no government money therefore the level of precept should be decided locally and not by government. As far as a referendum is concerned this would impose extra costs on the Town or Parish that chooses to have one, putting additional pressure on the precept.

Towns and Parishes are the core of local democracy and should not be fettered and undermined by government.

 

Motion

 

That Council agrees that a cap should not be imposed on town and parish councils, that it responds to the consultation robustly and uses other contacts to influence the consultation.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-government-finance-settlement-2017-to-2018-technical-consultation

 

Following a short debate, where the motion gained support from across the chamber, the meeting;

 

Resolved

 

To adopt the motion.

 

Admin Note: Councillor Ernie Clarke asked that his vote against the motion be recorded.

 

 

74e)

Notice of Motion No. 37 - Rethinking Wiltshire Council Governance - Cllrs Chris Caswill and Jon Hubbard

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Public Participation

 

Mrs Anne Henshaw made a statement and asked questions previously submitted and circulated.

 

The Chairman reported receipt of the above mentioned motion from Councillors Chris Caswill and Jon Hubbard.

 

Subsequently, Councillor Chris Caswill moved the following motion which was duly seconded by Councillor Jon Hubbard:

 

“Council notes the provision made in Section 21 of and Schedule 2 to the Localism Act 2011 (which amended the Local Government Act 2000) and in the Local Authorities (Committee System) (England) Regulations 2012 that provide the option for Local Authorities to adopt a committee system in place of Cabinet governance.

Council also notes that under these provisions, a Local Authority such as Wiltshire is enabled to decide how its functions, i.e. the powers given to it by central government, are delivered.

 

In considering this option, Council takes account of those authorities that have in recent years decided to move to a committee-based system of decision making, and the advantages that those changes are seen to have delivered. For example:

 

  • Nottinghamshire County Council
  • London Borough of Sutton (unitary authority)
  • Brighton and Hove City Council (unitary authority)
  • Reading Borough Council (unitary authority)
  • Norfolk County Council

 

To quote the 2014 Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) report [1]:

“The most cited advantage (and reason for changing) is that the committee system is inherently more democratic, with more councillors directly involved in decision-making. The opposition has more say and its voice is more strongly heard.”

 

And

 

“The supporters of the committee system do feel that decisions are more out in the open. Of course, especially in councils with majority administrations, important decisions are taken by the political groups. This can, at times, curtail genuine discussion. However, a committee system means that there is more likelihood of fewer decisions being pre-determined and that it is worth opposition members proposing alternatives or moving amendments to decisions – which will sometimes gain support from councillors with a majority. In councils with no overall control there is no certainty about what will happen at a committee. Councils represented here did say that councillors in general were having to take on extra work so that they could contribute effectively to their committees and they needed more training. But council leadersfelt this was positive, as was the need for officers to be better at forward planning.”

 

Council further notes that none of those Authorities moving to a committee system have wanted simply to replicate the old committee arrangements and all have introduced streamlined committee arrangements. In most cases these arrangements have either replaced Scrutiny Committees as part of a push for cost-neutrality, or reduced Scrutiny to a single committee with a clearly defined remit.  From the LGIU report again:

 

“All of the councils insisted that they were not going back to the system pre 2000.They were, they said, building on the best of that system but also on the best of the cabinet model.”

 

Council recognises the benefits of this change and believes that a modern committee system would, in principle,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74e)

74f)

Notice of Motion No. 38 - Democratic Accountability - Cllrs Chris Caswill and Chris Hurst

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman reported receipt of the above mentioned motion from Councillors Chris Caswill and Chris Hurst. Accordingly, Councillor Chris Caswill moved the following motion which was duly seconded by Councillor Chris Hurst:

 

“Council notes the extensive powers attributed within the Wiltshire unitary system to the Leader and the Cabinet, and to Officers under Delegated Powers. Council asserts the importance of democratic debate and challenge, and of the active engagement of backbench members and the public in the Council’s work.

 

It has accordingly proposed detailed measures designed to:

(a)  increase the accountability of the executive, in its various forms, and

(b)  improve those elements of the system which provide for the contributions of individual elected members, and

(c)  Strengthen the participation of , and engagement with, the Wiltshire public, and

(d)  Thereby strengthen the democratic legitimacy and contribution of Wiltshire Council

These measures are set out at Annex 1 to this Motion.

Council resolves that :

  1. The list at Annex 1 be adopted as the ambition for changes to current procedures, instruments and practices
  2. The changes proposed for Scrutiny be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, for its agreement to implementation or report back to Council at its next meeting
  3. Cabinet be asked to have the process of implementing the other changes begun as soon as possible
  4. Officers be requested to identify for an early Cabinet meeting those changes which can be implemented, or at least initiated, before May 2017 and to begin work on those as a matter of priority
  5. Cabinet be asked to report on progress by the end of March 2017, along with a justification of any changes it rejects
  6. And a plan for implementation of remaining changes after May 2017, subject to the agreement of the new Council. 

Annex 1 to Council Motion on Democracy and Accountability

List of proposed changes to current procedures, instruments and practices

 

Scrutiny

  1. All Scrutiny Committees will be chaired by a Councillor from outside the ruling administration group.
  2. Membership of all Scrutiny Committees shall include two members of the public, appointed on the basis of responses to advertised vacancies and selection by the Committees
  3. Cabinet responses to Scrutiny recommendations will be brought to Committees by the relevant Cabinet members in person. Recommendations and responses will be prominently displayed on the Council web site
  4. Provision will be made for public petitions to be presented and discussed at Scrutiny meetings (see below)
  5. Scrutiny meetings will be advertised on the Council web site and members of the public invited to address Committees on high profile items
  6. It shall be established within Constitution protocols understood that Scrutiny Committee decisions are not taken on party political / group lines, without prior group briefing
  7. Cabinet members and portfolio holders shall not be members of Scrutiny Committees
  8. Strengthened staffing of Scrutiny support will be regarded as a corporate priority. Scrutiny staff will be brought together as a separate team, together with Democratic Services  

Area Boards

a)    Provision will be made for public participation at the beginning of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74f)

74g)

Notice of Motion 39 - Delegation to Elected Members - Cllrs Chris Caswill and Cllr Jon Hubbard

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman reported receipt of the above mentioned motion from Councillors Chris Caswill and Chris Hurst Accordingly, Councillor Chris Caswill moved the following motion which was duly seconded by Councillor Chris Hurst:

“Council notes that Section236 of the Local Government and Public InvolvementinHealth Act2007gave the power for Local Authority delegation to individualCouncillors.

Council furthernotes that a significantnumber of Local Authoritieshavearrangements in place which delegate budgets to individual Members, and that theseinclude:

-       The LondonBoroughsof Haringey, Hillingdon, Lewisham and Westminster

-       Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire,

Northamptonshire,Suffolkand Warwickshire County Councils

 

and that althoughthe majorityof these delegations relate onlyto community grants,at least two, Hertfordshire and Suffolk delegate funding for highways improvements.Council notes that Suffolk County Councillors have a £10,000 locality budget for ‘local projects in their Division that benefit the local community’ and each also has ahighways budget of £15000, which can be rolled forward.

Council recognises that the increasing pressures on theWiltshire budget haveresulted in rationing systemsanddelegations to town andparish councilsthat haveleft individual members with reduced roles. And also that those financial pressuresare expected to increase, and with that furtherreductions in the ability of individualmembers to contribute locally, and deliver their responsibilities as localrepresentatives, community leadersand ‘champions of their divisions’, as set out inPart 12 of the Constitution (‘Rolesand Responsibilitiesof Members’).

Council supports the creation of individual grant and highways budgets for electedWiltshire Council Members as an important stepto reversethat trend, and becauseof the benefits it will bring, including:

·         Expressedtrust in the qualities and judgements of individual members

·         Enhanced roles for Members in their local communities

·         Encouragementof smallscale and local community awards

·         Enhancedengagement of the public with individual members

·         An enhanced rolefor elected members of Wiltshire Council, andhence an increased incentive for candidates of quality from all walks oflife to putthemselves forward for election to the Council

·         More flexibleand speedy decision making

·          Increasedaccountability of individual Members to local communitiesCouncil recognises four particular challenges in making this change:

a.      Accountability: In addition to the record keepingrequired by the 2007 Act,there are opportunities for regular reporting tothe local communitiesvia meetingsof the Area Boards, and by easily accessible reports on theCouncil’s web site

b.      Adequatebudgets : this will require increases in the amounts delegated by Cabinet and from Officerdelegations, which is to be welcomed in its own right

c.       The relationship with Area Board community grants : Community Area funds canand should be retained for Area-wide applications. Councillor budgetswould be complementary,smaller, and used for purposes local to theirDivisions. It shouldalso be possible for two or more membersto pool their funding for local applications that crossDivisionboundaries

d.      Managingthe flows of funds; Council is confident  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74g)

75.

Councillor Request for Extended Leave of Absence - Councillor Helen Osborn

Report by Robin Townsend, Associate Director - Corporate Office, Procurement and Programme Office

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman drew the meeting’s attention to the report which asked Council to consider a request from Councillor Helen Osborn for a further extension of office beyond the six month period of non-attendance due to ill health. In presenting the report, the Chairman and members wished Councillor Osborn a speed recovery.

 

There being no further questions or statements, the meeting;

 

Resolved

 

1.         To approve the request from Councillor Helen Osborn for a further extension beyond the six month period of nonattendance on the grounds of ill health; and

 

2.         That such an extension be granted until the end of February 2017.

76.

Review of Proportionality and Allocation of Seats on Committees to Political Groups

Report by Robin Townsend, Associate Director – Corporate Functions, Procurement and Programme Office

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman drew the meeting’s attention to the report, and the appendix in agenda supplement one, which proposed changes in the number of seats held by political groups following the result of the by-election held on the 14 July 2016 won by Councillor Chris Auckland.

 

There being no further questions or statements, the meeting;

 

Resolved

 

(a)          To note the report and the legal requirements.

 

(b)          To confirm the aggregate number and the draft scheme of committee places available to members of the Council as set out in Appendix 2 (circulated in agenda supplement one).

 

(c)          To make the changes to the appointment of councillors and substitutes to serve on those committees in accordance with the revised scheme of committee places, until the next occasion membership is reviewed under the provisions of the Local Government & Housing Act 1989.

 

(d)          In accordance with paragraph 4.4 of Part 3 of the Constitution (Responsibilities for Functions) to ratify the appointment of Councillor Chris Auckland to the Trowbridge Area Board.

77.

Membership of Committees

To determine any requests from Group Leaders for changes to committee membership in accordance with the allocation of seats to political groups previously approved by the Council.

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Group Leaders to present any requests for changes to committee membership in accordance with the allocation of seats to political groups previously approved by Council.

 

Following requests made by Councillor Glenis Ansell, Leader of the Liberal

Democrat Group, and Baroness Scott of Bybrook, OBE, Leader of the

Conservative Group, it was,

 

Resolved:

 

To approve the following committee changes:

 

  1. Strategic Planning Committee
    • Remove Councillor Mary Douglas as a substitute member
    • Add Councillor Christine Crisp as a substitute member
  2. Licensing Committee
    • Remove Councillor Bill Moss as a substitute member
    • Add Councillor Anna Cuthbert as a substitute member
  3. Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee
    • Remove Councillor Mary Douglas as a substitute member
    • Add Councillor Anna Cuthbert as a substitute member
  4. Children’s Select Committee
    • Remove Councillor Bill Moss as a substitute member
    • Add Councillor Anna Cuthbert as a substitute member
  5. Health Select Committee
    • Remove Councillor Mary Douglas as a full member
    • Add Councillor Atiqul Hoque as a full member
  6. Standards Committee
    • Remove Councillor Mary Douglas as a substitute member
    • Add Councillor Charles Howard as a substitute member
    • Remove Councillor Alan Macrae as a full member
    • Add Councillor Peter Evans as a full member
    • Councillor Paul Oatway to replace Councillor Julian Johnson as the Chairman of the Standards Committee
  7. Staffing Policy Committee
    • Remove Councillor Bill Moss as a substitute member
    • Add Councillor Richard Britton as a substitute member
    • Add Councillor Glenis Ansell as a full member
  8. Wiltshire Pension Fund Committee
    • Remove Councillor Bill Moss as a full member
    • Add Councillor Richard Britton as a full member
  9. Appeals Panel
    • Add Councillor Chris Auckland as a full member

 

78.

Minutes of Cabinet and Committees

a.     The Chairman will move that Council receives and notes the minutes of Cabinet and the various Committees of the Council and the Fire Authority as listed in the in the Minutes Book which can be accessed at this link

 

b.    The Chairman will invite the Leader, Cabinet members and Chairmen of Committees to make any important announcements.

 

c.    Councillors will be given the opportunity to raise questions on points of information or clarification on the minutes presented.

 

d.    Councillors will be given an opportunity to raise any questions on the minutes of the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority.

 

e.    Councillors will be given an opportunity to raise general issues relating to Area Boards but not specific local issues.

  

 

Minutes:

The Chairman moved that Council receive and note the following minutes as listed in the separate Minutes Book.

 

The Chairman then invited questions from members on points of information or clarification on the above minutes and gave the Chairmen of those meetings the opportunity to make any important announcements on the work of their respective Committees.

 

There being no further questions, the meeting;

 

Resolved:

 

That the minutes of the circulated Minutes Book be received and note

 

·         Cabinet – 19 July, 13 September, 11 October

·         Cabinet Capital Assets – 19 July, 13 September

·         ONS Management – 5 July, 6 September, 10 October

·         Children’s Select – 31 May, 21 June, 19 July

·         Environment Select – 7 June, 13 September

·         Health Select – 21 June

·         Licensing – 19 September

·         Strategic Planning – 13 July

·         Northern Area Planning – 13 July, 3 August, 24 August, 14 September

·         Eastern Area Planning – 4 August, 15 September

·         Southern Area Planning – 21 July, 11 August, 1 September

·         Western Area Planning – 29 June, 10 August, 28 September

·         Audit – 26 April, 27 July

·         Joint Strategic Economic Committee – 1 July

·         Health and Wellbeing Board – 9 June

·         Local Pension Board – 20 July

·         Pension Fund Committee – 30 June

·         Police and Crime Panel – 16 June

·         Staffing Policy Committee – 4 May, 6 July, 7 September, 26 September

·         Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority – 23 June

79.

Councillors' Questions

Please note that Councillors are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the first page of this agenda (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) not later than 5pm on Tuesday 11 October 2016.  Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

 

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

 

 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman reported receipt of questions from Councillors Terry Chivers, Ernie Clark, Chris Caswill, Peter Edge, Jon Hubbard, details of which were circulated in Agenda Supplement No. 1 together with responses from the relevant Cabinet member or Committee Chairman, details of which are attached as Appendix C. Where questions had related to a specific item on the agenda, they had been dealt with under that item.

 

Questioners were permitted to each ask one relevant supplementary question per question submitted and where they did so, the relevant Cabinet member responded as summarised below:

 

1. Councillor Terry Chiver to Councillor Stuart Wheeler (16/34)

 

The written answer to the question, circulated with the agenda supplement, was noted.

 

2. Councillor Ernie Clarke to Councillor Toby Sturgis (16/35)

 

The written answer to the question, circulated with the agenda supplement, was noted.

 

3. Councillor Chris Caswill to Councillor Laura Mayes (16/36)

 

The written answer to the question, circulated with the agenda supplement, was noted. A supplementary question was answered in a debate earlier in the meeting.

 

4. Councillor Peter Edge to Councillor Jonathon Seed (16/43)

 

In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Seed stated that in the light of financial constraints, following a review of the costs of the event, it had been decided not to proceed.

 

4. Councillor Jon Hubbard to Councillor Toby Sturgis (16/44)

 

In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Sturgis stated that it had been felt appropriate to use the DVLA definitions for commercial vehicles to ration the service, but that he would direct officers to offer appropriate support to the specific case mentioned in the question so that the customer was not unduly affected by the change.

 

5. Councillor Chris Caswill to Councillor Toby Sturgis (16/38)

 

The written answer to the question, circulated with the agenda supplement, was noted.

 

5. Councillor Chris Caswill to Councillor Toby Sturgis (16/39)

 

In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Sturgis stated that duty to process applications when they were ready, and should not risk appeal through undue delay. He noted that this had been acknowledged by the Inspector.

 

6. Councillor Jon Hubbard to Councillor Toby Sturgis (16/46)

 

In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Sturgis stated that the housing land supply questions are a minimum requirement.

 

7. Councillor Chris Caswill to Councillor Toby Sturgis (16/40)

 

In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Sturgis stated that the application in question had been approved subject to the signing of a s106 agreement, and if an agreement was not reached, the application would have to be reconsidered.

 

8. Councillor Chris Caswill to Councillor Toby Sturgis (16/41)

 

In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Sturgis stated that it was difficult to make a  comparison based on the evidence provided, and that the quote referred to had, in part, been taken out of context.

 

9. Councillor Chris Caswill to Councillor Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE (16/42)

 

In response to a supplementary question, Baroness Scott stated that there was a good spread of toilets available in the town. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.