Agenda and minutes

The Mayor will open the meeting and welcome all present.

The Mayor’s Chaplain, the Reverend Mike Herbert, will lead the Council in prayer.

The Mayor opened the meeting and welcomed all present.

To receive any apologies for absence on behalf of Council members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cookson, Enderby, Hartnett and MacMillan.

The Council recorded its condolences to Councillors Hartnett and MacMillan in view of their recent bereavements.

To invite Councillors to declare any interests they may have in items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 15 September 2008.

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 4 - 2008/09)

RESOLVED that

subject to the adjustment in the record of the description of the ‘Leader of the Main Opposition Party’, the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on the 15 September 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To receive a report from the Mayor on civic matters which have arisen since the last meeting or events which may be occurring in the near future.

To give notice of any variation to the items listed in the Forward Plan and/or items accepted as “Urgent Business”.

(No separate report / oral update)

The Mayor’s communications and announcements were considered under the following headings:

a)         Mayoral engagements

The Mayor advised that since the previous meeting of the Council he had attended various functions, including: aCivic visit to the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire; Civic Services in Bromsgrove, Alcester and Stratford-on-Avon; the Official opening of the Underpass in Bengrove Close, Woodrow by the Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP;  a cheque presentation (monies raised for charities) at EZE Fitness, in Alcester Street, Redditch; the Friends of Gruchet AGM and Quiz: the Malvern Hills District Council Chairman’s Charity Dinner; a Celebration Church Service and Joint Declaration of Intent at the Headless Cross Methodist Church; Local Democracy Week events at Walkwood Middle School and  at the Town Hall; Mrs Ada Hampton’s 100^th Birthday Party at Plymouth Court; the opening of a new affordable housing development at Yeates’ Acre, off Astwood Lane, in Feckenham; and the Worcestershire Army Cadet Force League Fund-Raising Lunch at the Chateau Impney, Droitwich.

b)         Forthcoming engagements

The Mayor advised that forthcoming events included the Official opening and re-launch of Redditch Market; the 5 November Bonfire and Fireworks display in the Arrow ValleyCountry Park and the Remembrance Day Service at St Stephen’s Church, Redditch.

The Mayor also took the opportunity to remind Members of the Charity Auction, to be held at the Town Hall at 7.00 pm on Saturday, 15 November in aid of his Charities and also the Primrose Hospice, for which tickets, at £10 each, could be purchased from Trish Buckley.

The Mayor also thanked the Deputy Mayor for stepping in to take on a number of engagements on his behalf and finally, reminded all present that a Carol Service in Walter Stranz Square would precede the next full Council meeting on Monday, 8 December.

c)         Oakenshaw Clean-up Event

With the permission of the Mayor, Councillor Gandy advised that, a clean-up event held in Oakenshaw on the previous Saturday, in liaison with the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints, had attracted up to fifty people.  The event, which had included a BBQ, had been a great success and had made a huge impact on the environment of the area. 

Councillor Gandy thanked the Council Officers who turned out for the event.    

To receive a brief report from the Council’s Youth Champions and the Chair of the Student Council on recent Local Democracy Week Events.

(No separate report)

The Council received an oral report on the Local Democracy Week Events held on the 21 October from its Champions for Young People, Councillors Brunner and Hunt and from Student Councillor Patrick Yates.

Councillor Brunner thanked all Councillors who participated in the Local Democracy Events which had been a great success once again.  Relevant Officer were also thanked for all their work organising and ensuring the success of the event at the Town Hall.

Student Councillor Patrick Yates reported that the event had been very enjoyable and on behalf of the Student Council, thanked Councillor Brunner and everyone else involved for organising it.

Patrick was then invited to present Certificates to the winning Borough Councillors for the “Most Popular Councillor” Awards: namely

Overall Most Popular Borough Councillor – Councillor Farooqui

1st Runner up – Councillor Fry

2nd Runner up – Councillor A Clayton.

The Leader also added her own thanks to everyone involved, particularly Councillor Brunner and staff at Walkwood Middle School, where a further Local Democracy event had been held.   

RESOLVED that

the success of the Local Democracy Events and the Council’s appreciation of the contributions of everyone involved in the events, in particular Councillor Brunner, be formally noted.  

A.        To formally receive the minutes from the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 3 September 2008:

(All decisions here have previously been fully resolved. There are no outstanding recommendations or referrals which require the Council’s consideration.)

B.        To receive the minutes and consider the recommendations and/or referrals from the following meeting of the Executive Committee:

17 September 2008

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration are:

·        Sustainable Community Strategy;

·        Prudential Indicators 2007/08 and 2008/09;

·        Sports and Leisure Facilities – Birchensale Playing Fields – Section 106 Improvements;

·        Microgeneration Technology - Grant Scheme; and

·        Lease of Unit 1, Matchborough Centre.

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 4 – 2008/09
 – to follow)

C.        To receive the Decision Notices and consider the recommendations and/or referrals from the following meetings of the Executive Committee:

8 October 2008

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration are:

·        Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Publication Scheme;

·        Advisory Panels etc. – Update Report; and

·        Redevelopment Clauses within Commercial Leases.

(Decision Notice previously circulated / copy attached)

22 October 2008

Matters potentially requiring the Council’s consideration are:

·                    Hackney Carriage – Fare Tariff;

·                    Outcomes of Issues and Options Core Strategy Development Plan Document and Sustainability Appraisal Consultation and Preferred Draft Core Strategy; and

·                    Bromsgrove District Council Town Centre Area Action Plan Issues and Options Consultation – Response.

(Decision Notice to follow)

Any matters arising, not covered elsewhere in the agenda, will be considered under this heading.

Confidential matters may be taken after the Exclusion of the Public, subject to notification at this point in the meeting.

RESOLVED that

1)         the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on

            3 September 2008 be received and adopted;

2)         the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on  17 September 2008 be received and adopted and all recommendations contained within them approved;

3)         the Decision Notice of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 8 October 2008 be received and all recommendations contained within it approved, subject to:

            in respect of Minute 107 (Advisory Panels Update),

            it being further

            RESOLVED that

            1)         an Economic Advisory Panel be established with a membership of six (3 Con + 2 Lab + 1 LibDem); and

            2)         membership of the Panel be made up of Councillors MacMillan (relevant Portfolio Holder in the Chair), Braley, Norton, R King, Shurmer and Thomas; and

4)         the Decision Notice of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 22 October 2008 be received and all recommendations contained within it be approved.

To formally receive the minutes of the following meeting of the Council’s Regulatory Committees:

Planning Committee   -   9 September 2008

(All decisions here have been fully resolved.)

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 4 – 2008/09
 – to follow)

The Council received the minutes of a recent meeting of the Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on the

5 August 2008 be received and adopted.

To review Borough Council representation on the County Council Highways Forum, following changes to the composition of the body: it will now comprise all Redditch County Councillors, plus up to two Borough Councillors.

The Council currently has three representatives: Councillors Boyd-Carpenter, Fry and Field, one of whom, Cllr Fry, will now automatically have a place as a County representative.

In terms of the remaining representatives, the County Council asks for up to two non-voting members “with a mandate for land drainage and street scene”. (The closest match for this requirement would be Cllr MacMillan as the Portfolio Holder for Local Environment, Planning and Transport.)

The Council is requested to RESOLVE

which Member(s) are now to be appointed.

(No separate report)

The Council noted recent changes to the composition of the County Council Highways Forum, which would now comprise all Redditch County Councillors plus up to two non-voting Borough Councillors.

Members expressed disappointment at the changes in the composition of the Forum, particularly in that it no longer represented a truly ‘partnership’ approach and in relation to the County’s decision to restrict the Borough Council’s appointees to that of non-voting representatives.

RESOLVED that

Councillors MacMillan (Portfolio Holder for Local Environment and Planning and Transport) and Hunt be appointed to the County Council Highways Forum as the Borough Council’s representatives.

To note the following decisions taken in accordance with SO36 since the last meeting of the Council:

1)         Improved Lighting in RedditchTown Centre
 – Unicorn Hill and Bates Hill

(Acting Deputy Chief Executive)(Decision Reference 473)

            The case for urgency was in order that the works might be concluded within proposed timescales and in time for the busy Christmas period. Funding for the scheme is coming from a number of partners, including the Council. To wait for decision at the next full Council meeting on 27 October would have been too late to achieve this.

            It was therefore RESOLVED that

            Section 106 funding, from the development of the Hewell Road Social Club site, of up to £15,599, be allocated in the Capital Programme to support the scheme.

(Report previously circulated for the Executive Committee)

(Abbey Ward)

2)         Revised 2007/08 Statement of Accounts

(Acting Deputy Chief Executive)(Decision Reference 474)

The case for urgency was that the revised 2007/08 Statement of Accounts needed to be agreed by the Council by 30 September 2008 in order to comply with a statutory deadline.  To wait for decision at the next full Council meeting on 27 October would have been too late to achieve this.

It was therefore RESOLVED that

in principle, the Revised Statement of Accounts be approved.

As agreed within the terms of the Urgent Approval, the revised statement of accounts, together with District Audit guidance are attached to the agenda for the Council’s consideration, subject to which

the Council is asked to RESOLVE that

the Revised Statement of Accounts be approved.

(Report attached)

(All Wards)

3)         Ice Rink Proposal

(Acting Deputy Chief Executive)

(Decision Reference 475)

The case for urgency was to secure an appropriate operator following the recent opportunity arising to provide a temporary ice skating facility over the Christmas 2008 period in Redditch Town Centre. If the matter was not finalised as a matter of urgency, the operator might no longer have been available to the Council as required.  Therefore, the next Council meeting on the 27 October 2008 would have been too late to achieve this.

It was therefore RESOLVED that

1)         a revenue budget of £29,500 be allocated to provide a synthetic ice skating facility in the former market area for 2008/09; and

2)         a fee of £3.00 per person be agreed.

(Report previously circulated for the Executive Committee)

(Abbey Ward)

Members noted three Urgent Business decisions, which had been determined in accordance with Standing Order 36, namely:

Improved Lighting in Redditch Town Centre – Unicorn Hill and Bates Hill

(UB Reference 473)

Revised 2007/08 Statement of Accounts

(UB Reference 474)

Ice Rink Proposal

(UB Reference 475)

In relation to the matter of the Revised 2007/08 Statement of Accounts, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Management reiterated the need for all Members to take up Member Development training opportunities when presented. 

In relation to the recent financial difficulties being experienced by other Local Authorities Officers who had invested funds in Icelandic Institutions, confirmed that, in accordance with current Treasury Management policy, the Council had no investments in Overseas Banking Institution.  As a precautionary measure, however, Officers agreed to look into whether the London Investment Banks with whom the Council invested, had themselves subsidiary interests in Overseas Banks that might affect the security of the Council’s investments.

RESOLVED that

1)         the reports be noted; and

2)         the Revised Statement of Accounts, as presented in the report attached to the Agenda, be approved.

To consider any additional items exceptionally agreed by the Mayor as Urgent Business in accordance with the powers vested in him by virtue of Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

(This power should be exercised only in cases where there are genuinely special circumstances which require consideration of an item which has not previously been published on the Order of Business for the meeting and/or on the Leader’s Forward Plan.)

There were no separate items of Urgent Business for consideration at this meeting.