Agenda and minutes

The Mayor will open the meeting and welcome all present.

The Mayor’s Chaplain, the Reverend Jo Musson, will lead the Council in prayer.

The Mayor opened the meeting and welcomed all present. The Mayor’s Chaplain, the Reverend Jo Musson, led the Council in prayer.

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

There were no apologies for absence.

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

Councillor Debbie Taylor declared a personal and Prejudicial interest in Item 11 (Regulatory Committee) as detailed separately at Minute 93 below.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 13th December 2010 and 10th January 2011.

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 7- 2010/11 – to follow)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 13th December 2010 and 10th January 2011 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

To pay tribute to the late former Councillor and Mayor of the Borough of Redditch Kieth Boyd-Carpenter in recognition of his contribution to the Borough and its residents.

The Mayor introduced a tribute to former Councillor and Mayor of the Borough, Kieth Boyd-Carpenter, whose death had been announced over the Christmas holiday period. Members had observed a Minute’s silence in his memory at the previous Council meeting, when his death was first announced.

The Mayor welcomed former Councillor Boyd-Carpenter’s wife, Val and other members of the family to the meeting and expressed the Council’s deepest condolences to them. Members of the Council were invited to express any thoughts they might wish to offer in memory of former Councillor Boyd-Carpenter and of his services to the Borough.

The Leader of the Council commenced the tributes to former Councillor Boyd-Carpenter, noting that he had been a first class constituency Councillor, respected by the ordinary people of the Borough but never striving to achieve high office. The Leader of the Minority Group then led other Members in expressing their thoughts on the character and achievements of former Councillor Boyd-Carpenter.

Former Councillor Boyd-Carpenter’s wife, Val thanked the Council on behalf of the family for the tributes that had been paid to her late husband.

RESOLVED that

the Council formally record its gratitude to former Councillor Boyd-Carpenter for his service to the Council and to the community.

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)         Budget Jury

The Mayor thanked the members of the Budget Jury for their very helpful inputs into the budget setting process, noting that the process would be concluded at the following meeting of the Council.

b)         Mayor’s Announcements

The Mayor advised that since the previous meeting of the Council she had attended various functions, including: the opening of Osprey House for NEW College, the Staff Quiz, which was very successful and had raised over £550 for her Charities, various Carol Services, a visit to the Alexandra Hospital on Christmas Day, an At Home with the Bishop of Worcester, an Open Day at the Redditch Music School and the Special Olympics Awards Evening.

c)         Forthcoming events

The Mayor advised that forthcoming events included: the Wyre Forest District Council Chairman’s Charity Dinner, a Valentine Dinner with the Mayor of Evesham, a meeting with the Asian Women’s Community, the installation of the Reverend Richard Harding at Matchborough, the Older People’s Forum event, the Redditch One World Link AGM, a Street Collection on 27th February, a Concert by the Bel Canto singers at the Town Hall on 5th March and the Civic Dinner on 2nd April.

d)         Urgent Business

The Mayor advised that she had accepted one set of late papers, Item 10, the Executive Committee minutes for the meeting on 1st February 2011.

To receive a report from the Leader on matters considered to be of significance to the Council.

(Oral update – minutes of the last two meetings of the Redditch Partnership Board attached)

There were no announcements from the Leader.

To consider the following Question for the Leader, which has been submitted in accordance with Standing Order 8A:

“Big Society”

(Councillor Juliet Brunner)

(Question attached)

The Leader responded to a question submitted in accordance with Standing Order 8A from Councillor Juliet Brunner. Councillor Brunner’s question related to the “Big Society” and evidence for its presence within the Borough.

The Leader responded that she entirely agreed that the “Big Society” was very much in operation within the Borough. She thanked all those who had attended the Christmas Carol concerts and reflected upon the tremendous work done by the voluntary sector within the Town. The need for Councillors as civic leaders to actively promote the Borough was noted in this regard and Members were encouraged to support the work of the Promoting Redditch Task and Finish Group.

No Notices of Motion have been received.

There were no Notices of Motion.

A.        To formally receive the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on:

2nd December 2010.

(There is one outstanding recommendation which requires the Council’s consideration, a matter which was deferred at the last ordinary meeting of the Council.)

·                     Tenant Involvement Agreement

(Report, Tenant Involvement Agreement document showing amendments in full and decision attached)

10th January 2011

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

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 7 – 2010/11 – to follow)

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

12th January 2011

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration include:

·                    Customer Experience Strategy 2011 – 2014;

·                    Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

·                    Shared Services Board

(Reports and decisions attached)

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 7 – 2010/11 – to follow)

C.        To receive the decision notice and consider the recommendations and/or referrals from the following meeting of the Executive Committee:

1st February 2011

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration may include:

·                    Housing Revenue Account Initial Estimate 2011/12;

·                    Independent Remuneration Panel for Worcestershire District Councils – Annual Report and Recommendations for 2011/12;

·                    Shared Information and Records Management Strategy;

·                    Crematorium Energy Recovery Project;

·                    Introduction of a Private Home Support Service

·                    Polling Stations – Annual Review 2011; and

·                    Shared Services Board.

(Reports attached – Decision notice to follow)

Members received the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee held on 2nd December 2010, 10th January, 12th January and 1st February 2011.

RESOLVED that

1)      the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 2nd December 2010 be received and adopted, subject to:

in respect of Minute 124 (Tenant Involvement Agreement) it being further resolved that the recommendation in respect of this item, consideration of which had been deferred at the previous meeting of the Council, be approved.

2)      the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 10th January 2011 be received and adopted;

3)      the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 12th January 2011 be received and all recommendations adopted, subject to:

in respect of Minute 153 (Customer Experience Strategy) it being further resolved that Worcestershire County Council’s performance against the standards set for winter gritting during the winter of 2010/11 be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration; and

in respect of Minute 153 (Garden Waste Collection Service – Outcomes of Trial) it being noted that the Leader had undertaken to request Officers to investigate the options for private companies to provide this service.

4)      the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 1st February 2011 be received and all recommendations adopted; subject to:

in respect of Minute 169 (Independent Remuneration Panel for Worcestershire District Councils – Annual Report and Recommendations for 2011-12 it being noted that consideration of the recommendations, which the Council accepted in principle,  was to be deferred to the meeting of Council on 21st February 2011 to allow an opportunity for discussions between Group Leaders, particularly in respect of the proposal to delete Special Responsibility Allowances for Vice-Chairs;

in respect of Minute 172 (Private Sector Home Support Service) it being further resolved that the matter be deferred until the next meeting of the Council on 21st February 2011 to allow Officers the opportunity to provide Members with definitive information on the funding of private sector users of the service; and

in respect of Minute 173 (Polling Stations – Annual Review 2011) it being further resolved that the Polling Station for the Church Hill North Polling District (CHB) remain at Abbeywood First School and not be relocated to St. Andrews MethodistChurch.

To formally receive the minutes and/or consider the recommendations / referrals arising from the following meetings of the Council’s Regulatory Committees:

Audit & Governance Committee     - 24th January 2011

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration include:

·        Treasury Management Strategy, Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2011/12;

Licensing Committee                       - 17th January 2011

·        Hackney Carriage – Fare Tariff;

Planning Committee             - 7th December 2010

                                                            - 4th January 2011

(Reports and decisions attached)

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 7 – 2010/11 – to follow)

The Council received the minutes of recent meetings of the Audit and Governance Committee, Licensing Committee and Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that

1)      the minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 24th January 2011 be received and all recommendations adopted;

2)      the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 17th January 2011 be received and all recommendations adopted; and

3)      the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committees held on 7th December 2010 and 4th January 2011 be received and adopted.

(Prior to consideration of this item, and in accordance with the requirements of Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000, Councillor Debbie Taylor declared a personal and prejudicial interest in view of her close personal connection to an employee of Redditch Co-operative Homes (Minute 60, Planning Committee, 7th December 2010, Planning Application 2010/253/FUL – Former Marlfield Farm First School, Redstone Close, Church Hill North).)

A.        To note the following decision taken in accordance with SO36 since the last ordinary meeting of the Council:

HMRS – Licence for use of Town Hall Premises

(Chief Executive)(Decision Reference 488)

All necessary approvals were sought to permit a licence to be granted to Her Majesty’s Revenue Service (HMRS – the ‘Tax Office’) for use of a small amount of back office space (for three desks), plus access to the RBC Customer Service Centre (OSS) on a number of days per week (three currently proposed).  Revenue of £18,000 p.a. will be generated. The need for Member authority was only latterly noted and, for practical purposes, taking into account the Christmas and New Year holidays, a decision was sought before the next available meeting of the Executive Committee in 2011.

It was therefore RESOLVED that

1)                 authority be delegated to the Head of Resources and Head of Customer Services and Director of Policy, Performance and Partnerships to take all necessary steps to achieve the aims indicated above; this to include authority to sign all necessary agreements with HMRS; and

2)                 the Council be asked to note the financial implications and adjust budgets accordingly.

B.        To note the following decision taken in accordance with the Council’s Constitutional Rules since the last meeting of the Council:

Council Response to "Local Decisions - A Fairer Future for Social Housing" – Decision to remove the right to call-in the item

(Executive Committee, 12th January 2011)

RESOLVED that

the response to the consultation paper: Local Decisions, A Fairer Future for Social Housing be endorsed.

The Mayor agreed, in accordance with Part 2, Article 6, Paragraph 16 of the Constitution, that the decision proposed, above, was reasonable and that, owing to the urgency around the response to the consultation, it should not be subject to call in (the response was required by 17th January, within the call-in period).

This provision was highlighted in advance on the agenda for the Executive Committee meeting (circulated to all Members on 4th January) and by Officers at the meeting itself.

The Council noted two Urgent Business decisions.

The first had been approved in accordance with Standing Order 36, namely:

HMRS – Licence for use of Town Hall Premises

(UB Reference 488)

The second had been taken in accordance with Part 2, Article 6, Paragraph 16 of the Constitution, namely:

Council Response to “Local Decisions – A Fairer Future for Social Housing” – Decision to remove the right to call-in the item

RESOLVED that

the matters be noted.

To consider any additional items exceptionally agreed by the Mayor as Urgent Business in accordance with the powers vested in her 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.