Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Simon Killane, Helena McKeown, Ian Thorn, Phillip Whalley, James Sheppard, Leo Randall and Nick Fogg.

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the last meeting of Council held on 4 February 2014.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 4 February 2014 were presented.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 4 February 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

The Chairman reminded Councillors of the letter of advice from the Monitoring Officer dated 20 January 2014 which made particular reference to interests in the context of considering the budget and where Councillors held tenancies with the Council.

Cllr Brian Dalton declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the housing revenue account to be considered as part of the budget (minute no. 21 a refers) as he held a garage tenancy and took no part in the discussion or voting on the item.

(a)          The Pound Arts Centre, Corsham

The Chairman reported that she had attended the visit of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall to the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham the previous week when she officially opened their new studios.  She met with resident artists and representatives of various community groups who benefit from the Centre, as well as some young people involved in the Centre’s new Creative Futures programme.                 

The Centre was lively and vibrant.  It was good to see the enthusiasm and dedication of many people across all ages in various aspects of creative art.  The Centre’s Rural Arts Touring programme had a fantastic range of live performances held in communities.  This initiative was being delivered in partnership with Wiltshire Council and South Gloucestershire Council with funding from Arts Council England.  The Chairman encouraged Councillors to view their website to see the wide range of events being held.

(b)          Commonwealth Flag Handover

The Chairman reported that she had on10 February together with the Leader of the Council joined the Mayor of Swindon and the Leader of the Council in the Mayor’s Parlour at the Borough Council Offices.  A short ceremony was held at which Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs. Sarah Troughton, handed over to the Chairman and the Mayor Commonwealth Flags which would be flown from the Councils’ flagpoles on Commonwealth Day, 10 March.

‘Flying a Flag for the Commonwealth’ was a new initiative to mark Commonwealth Day.  500 Commonwealth flags would be raised throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man at 10.00 a.m. on Monday, 10 March.  A short ceremony at the flagpole at County Hall was being organised and Councillors were encouraged to attend if they were able to do so.  

(c)       Briefing on the Wiltshire Core Strategy

The Chairman reminded Councillors that a briefing on the preliminary findings of the Inspector examining the Wiltshire Core Strategy would be held following this meeting of Council.

(d)          Wiltshire Olympians

The Chairman explained that she was sure Councillors would wish to join her in congratulating our Wiltshire Winter Olympians who competed in Sochi over the last couple of weeks. Trowbridge resident John Jackson and his four man bobsleigh team finished an impressive fifth, Shelley Rudman from Pewsey slid into sixteenth in the skeleton bobsleigh and Paula Walker, John Jackson’s girlfriend, finished twelfth in the women’s two man bobsleigh event.

No petitions have been received for presentation to this meeting and no petitions (excluding petitions on regulatory matters) have been received since the last report to Council on 4 February 2014.

The Chairman reported receipt of a petition, organised by Mr Glynn Root, details of which were circulated in the Agenda Supplement. The petition with 2,520 signatories was presented by Mr Chris Baker and stated:

‘Stop the proposed cuts to youth services. The cuts that you propose will simply be eaten up in the policing of young people with no facilities to direct their energy into something positive’.

‘Wiltshire Council are planning to cut 24 youth services and up to 144 youth workers. These cuts include losing Bass Connection based at Grosvenor House in Salisbury. This service has provided the opportunity for thousands of young people to not only build on their music skills but provide invaluable support and mentoring not available elsewhere.’

Mr Baker explained that he was presenting the petition on behalf of young people who had all been shocked at the proposals to cut funding for youth services. He considered there had been a lack of consultation with users and affected staff and that the usage figures quoted were misleading. He also sought clarification on what the proposals would mean for youth groups and youth workers.

The Chairman thanked Mr Baker for the petition and his comments which were duly noted.  She explained that the future of the youth service was currently the subject of consultation running until 14 April. The results of the consultation which would include reference to the petition and comments made at this meeting would then be considered and taken into account by Cabinet when it makes its decision on this issue, currently scheduled for 22 April (note: this was subsequently altered to 15 May). The Chairman explained that in view of the ongoing consultation and consideration by Cabinet, she did not intend to debate the petition at this meeting. Mr Baker and any other interested parties would be able to attend Cabinet, a meeting open to the public.

Resolved:

That the petition and comments made at this meeting be received and noted and referred to Cabinet as part of the response to the consultation on the review of positive leisure time activities for young people.

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 Tuesday 18 February 2014. 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.

No requests for public participation had been received for this meeting.

The Chairman reminded Councillors of the various papers that had been previously circulated in connection with Council’s consideration of this item as follows:

(a)          Leader's Budget Speech (tabled at the meeting)

(b)          The report of the Special Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee held on 5 February 2014

(c)          Relevant extract of the minutes of Cabinet held on 11 February 2014 detailing Cabinet’s recommendations

(d)          Financial Plan - Report by Michael Hudson, Associate Director - Finance and S.151 officer

(e)          Wiltshire Council’s Policy on Fees, Charges and Concessions

(f)           Proposed Council Tax Resolution

The Chairman explained how she intended to chair the debate on this item and that the Council had a duty to set a budget. The Chairman referred Councillors to the budget process which included the order of those who would be called to speak, details of which had been previously circulated.

The Chairman drew Councillors’ attention to the requirements of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 which came into force today. The Regulations required Councils to take recorded votes when determining levels of expenditure on services and the level of council tax to be levied for their area, details of which together with how this requirement would be incorporated into the Council’s Constitution were previously circulated.

The Leader of Council made her budget speech, copies of which were tabled at the meeting and attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes. 

The Leader explained that the Council’s vision continued to be to create stronger and more resilient communities. The Council would also continue to prioritise those who were most vulnerable and we would do all we could to continue to boost the local economy, and working with local people and organisations, we would encourage and support our communities to do even more for themselves. The Leader explained that she was confident that next year’s budget for 2014/15 would help us to deliver this vision and our key priorities as set out in the Council’s Business Plan.

The Leader highlighted the many achievements made by the Council and the priority areas which would as proposed in the budget, attract significant and increased funding.  She also highlighted the financial challenges ahead and the need more than ever, to work more innovatively and in partnership with other organisations.

The Leader made the following amendments to the recommended budget:

·         A re-alignment of £0.5 million each year for the next four years from the highways capital budget into flood prevention and protection reflecting the need to support and work with those local communities that have been most affected.

This means that £1 million will be allocated to help protect these communities which is in addition to any government announcement and funding streams allocated for flooding.

·         A transfer of £0.6 million from its transformation reserve to fund work on developing a single shared information system for Wiltshire with our partners in health.

At the Leader’s request, Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Finance, Performance, Risk, Procurement and Welfare Reform guided Councillors  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21a)

To consider Cabinet’s recommendation from its meeting held on 11 February 2014 that Council adopt the policy on fees, charges and concessions (relevant extract of Cabinet minute page     ). Report by Michael Hudson, Associate Director - Finance

Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Finance, Performance, Risk, Procurement and Welfare Reform presented a report which sought approval of a policy on the setting of fees, charges and concessions across the County. This would harmonise the process across the County instead of the different charging schedules inherited from the former Wiltshire district councils.

The proposed policy had been considered and recommended for approval by Cabinet at its meeting on 11 February 2014, the corresponding extract of the Cabinet minutes were presented.  Cllr Tonge confirmed that the query originally raised in the Cabinet minute had been resolved and did not require any amendment to the policy.

Resolved:

That Council adopt the Policy on Fees, Charges and Concessions

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 which required a recorded vote taken of the Council’s decisions in determining levels of expenditure on services and the voting was recorded as follows:

For the motion (70):

Cllrs Alan Hill, Alan MacRae, Allison Bucknell, Andrew Davis, Bill Moss, Bridget Wayman, Charles Howard, Chris Caswill, Christine Crisp, Christopher Devine, Christopher Newbury, Christopher Williams, Chuck Berry, David Jenkins, Dennis Drewett, Ernie Clark, Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, Fred Westmoreland, George Jeans, Glenis Ansell, Graham Payne, Graham Wright, Horace Prickett, Howard Greenman, Ian McLennan, Ian Tomes, Jacqui Lay, Jane Scott OBE, Jemima Milton, Jerry kunkler, John Knight, John Noeken, John Smale, John Thomson, John Walsh, Jonathon Seed, Jose Green, Julian Johnson,. Keith Humphries, Laura Mayes, Liz Bryant, Magnus Macdonald, Mark Connolly, Mark Packard, Mary Champion, Mary Douglas, Mike Hewitt, Mollie Groom, Nick Watts, Nina Phillips, Pat Aves, Paul Oatway, Peter Evans, Peter Hutton, Philip Whitehead, Pip Ridout, Richard Britton, Richard Clewer, Richard Gamble, Richard Tonge, Ricky Rogers, Roy While, Russel Hawker, Sheila Parker, Simon Jacobs, Stuart Wheeler, Sue Evans, Toby Sturgis, Tony Deane, Tony Trotman.

Against the motion (4):

Cllrs Helen Osborn, Jeff Osborn, Terry Chivers, Trevor Carbin.

Abstentions (5):

Cllrs Bob Jones MBE, David Pollitt, Gordon King, Peter Edge, Stephen Oldrieve.

Report by Michael Hudson, Associate Director - Finance

At the Chairman’s invitation and on behalf of the Leader, Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Finance, Performance, Risk, Procurement and Welfare Reform presented a report which detailed the various calculations in the prescribed format to enable Council to approve the council tax requirement for 2014/15.

Cllr Tonge drew Council’s attention to a correction at page 148 of the Summons – Paragraph C to read:

C) Exclude only those with savings of more than £10,000 from the scheme.

Using the tax base approved by Cabinet on 17 December 2013 of 167,334.47 band D equivalent households, and the net budget requirement of £333.063 million (of which £204.555 million is funded by council tax) gave a band D council tax for 2014/2015 of £1,222.43.

On being proposed by Cllr Tonge and seconded by the Leader, it was

Resolved:

1.         It be noted that on 17 December 2013 the Council calculated:

(a)       the Council Tax Base 2014/2015 for the whole Council area as 167,334.47 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")] and,

(b)      for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates as in Appendix 2.

2.         Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2014/2015 (excluding Parish precepts) is £204.555 million.

3.         That the following amounts be calculated  for the year 2014/2015 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

To consider Cabinet’s recommendation from its meeting held on 11 February 2014 (relevant extract of Cabinet minute at page     ).

Report by Michael Hudson, Associate Director - Finance

At the invitation of the Chairman and on behalf of the Leader, Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Finance, Performance, Risk, Procurement and Welfare Reform presented a report which sought Council’s adoption of the Treasury Management Strategy for 2014/15 as recommended by Cabinet at its meeting on 11 February 2014.

Resolved:

That Council:

a)            adopt the Prudential and Treasury Indicators (Appendix A of the report presented);

b)           adopt the Annual Investment Strategy, including the proposed increase in the lending limit associated with Government backed UK banks (Appendix B of the report presented);

c)            adopt the updated Treasury Management Practices (TMPs) (Appendix C of the report presented);

d)           delegate to the Associate Director, Finance, Revenues & Benefits and Pensions the authority to vary the amount of borrowing and other long term liabilities within both the Treasury Indicators for the Authorised Limit and the Operational Boundary;

e)            authorise the Associate Director, Finance, Revenues & Benefits and Pensions to agree the restructuring of existing long-term loans where savings are achievable or to enhance the long term portfolio;

f)             agree that short term cash surpluses and deficits continue to be managed through temporary loans and deposits; and

g)        agree that any surplus cash balances not required to cover borrowing are placed in authorised money-market funds, particularly where this is more cost effective than short term deposits and delegate to the Associate Director, Finance, Revenues & Benefits and Pensions the authority to select such funds.

No motions received for this meeting.

No motions received for this meeting.

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 18 February 2014. 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.

The Chairman reported receipt of questions from Councillors Helen Osborn, Jon Hubbard, Chris Caswill and Simon Killane, details of which

were circulated in the agenda supplement. Responses from the relevant Cabinet member were either included in the supplement, attached as Appendix 3 or provided verbally at the meeting.

Questioners agreed to take their questions as read and were given an

opportunity to ask a relevant supplementary question to which the relevant

Cabinet member responded.

Report by Dr Carlton Brand, Corporate Director

At the Chairman’s invitation, Cllr Stuart Wheeler, Cabinet member for Hubs, Heritage & Arts, Governance and Support Services presented a report which sought Council’s approval to establish a working party to carry out parish/ governance reviews of parish boundaries and electoral arrangements.

If so approved, Council was asked to approve the terms of reference of the working party and appoint to it one member nominated by each Group Leader (with substitute), with provision for the local member(s) to attend for any specific item under consideration. The working party would then make recommendations for Council’s consideration.

A community governance review is a review of the whole or part of the area of a principal council for the purpose of making recommendations with regard to:

• creating, merging, amending or abolishing parishes;

• the naming of parishes;

• the electoral arrangements for parishes; and

• grouping arrangements for parishes.

Details of requests already received for a community governance review were presented. Cllr Wheeler confirmed that any further requests could be submitted by 31 March 2014.

Resolved:

That Council:

a)     approve the Terms of Reference as presented for a Community Governance Review;

b)   approve the membership of the Community Governance Review Working Group as follows (substitutes in brackets):

Conservative group:

Cllr Stuart Wheeler (Cllr Julian Johnson)

Liberal Democrat group:

Cllr Jon Hubbard (Cllr Graham Wright)

Independent group:

Cllr Ernie Clark (Cllr DennisDrewett)

Labour group:

Cllr Ian McLennan (to be advised)

Plus local members as appropriate.

c)    undertake a Community Governance Review, starting on 1 April 2014.

To determine any requests from Group Leaders for changes to committee

membership in accordance with the allocation of seats to political groups

approved by the Council.

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.

Cllr Ernie Clark requested that Cllr Chris Caswill replace Cllr Dennis Drewett on the Police and Crime Panel.

Resolved:

That Council approve the above mentioned membership change.

a.    The Chairman will move that Council receives and notes the minutes of Cabinet and the various Committees of the Council as listed in the Minutes Book enclosed separately.

b.    The Chairman will refer to Cabinet and each Committee in turn:

                      i.        The Leader, Cabinet members and Chairmen of Committees will be invited to make any important announcements.

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

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

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

 (Under the Constitution, Councillors wishing to ask a question on the Fire Authority

minutes are required to give written notice to the officer named on the front of this agenda (acting on behalf of the Corporate Director) not later than five clear days before the Council meeting – 5pm on Monday 17 February 2014).

The Chairman moved that Council receive and note the following minutes as

listed in the separate Minutes Book and this was duly seconded by the Vice-

Chairman:

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.

Children’s Select Committee

Cllr Jon Hubbard, Chairman of the Select Committee advised Councillors that the subject of the briefing prior to the next Select Committee would be on childhood sexual exploitation.

Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority

Cllr Graham Payne, Chairman of the Fire Authority updated Council on proposals currently under discussion to merge the Fire Authority with the Dorset Fire Authority.  This would be with a view to make savings required in the face of reductions in central Government funding.

Appendix 1 – Leader’s Budget speech (minute no. 21 a refers)

Appendix 2 – Parish precepts              (minute no. 21 c refers)

Appendix 3 – Councillors’ questions    (minute no. 24 refers)