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.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Simon Chalk, William Norton and Brenda Quinney.

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 meetings of the Council held on 7th and 21st February 2011.

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 8 - 2010/11)

RESOLVED that

subject to the inclusion of Councillor Diane Thomas in the list of those abstaining in the vote on Minute 105 (Council Tax – Year ending 31st March 2012), the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 7th and 21st February 2011 be confirmed as correct records 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)         Mayor’s Announcements

The Mayor advised that since the last meeting of the Council she had attended various functions, including: 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, an Older People’s Forum event, the Redditch One World Link AGM, a street collection which raised approximately £170 for her charities, a Chinese New Year celebration, a Charity Concert by the Bel Canto Singers, to whom she extended her grateful thanks, the Student Council AGM, a lunch with the Inner Wheel Club, a lecture at Worcester University and the Droitwich Spa Mayor’s Charity Ball. The Mayor thanked Councillors Juliet Brunner and Malcolm Hall for stepping in to attend a number of functions at which she had been unable to be present.

b)         Forthcoming Events

The Mayor advised that forthcoming events included: the launch of the new website for Woodrow Library, a production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Palace Theatre and, that coming Saturday, her own Civic Charity Dinner.

c)         Urgent Business

The Mayor advised that she had accepted one item of urgent business, an urgent Notice of Motion in respect of a Bus Service Consultation being undertaken by the County Council. She also advised that she had accepted one set of late papers, Item 10, the minutes for the meeting of the Shared Services Board on 22nd March 2011.

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

(No separate report / oral update)

Members were advised that the Council’s Lifeline Service had successfully gained accreditation to the Code of Practice of the Telecare Services Association. Members congratulated the staff concerned.

In consultation with the Mayor, an urgent cross-party Notice of Motion will be accepted for consideration at the meeting (to follow).

Although a Notice of Motion would not normally be considered within a formal election period, it has been agreed exceptionally that, in order for the Borough Council to respond as a body, within the required timescales, to the current County Council consultation on Bus Services, a cross-party motion would be accepted.

The results of the consultation process will be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 23^rd March, and the Notice of Motion will be agreed and made available shortly after that.

(Report attached)

An urgent Notice of Motion had been submitted by Councillor Carole Gandy too late to meet Standing Order deadlines but had been accepted by the Mayor for consideration at the meeting on the basis of its broad public interest  and in view of the time constraints pertaining to the review which was the subject of the Motion. The Motion was in respect of a Bus Service Consultation being undertaken by the County Council. This was seconded by both Councillors Malcolm Hall and Bill Hartnett.

The Council was advised that there were a number of issues which were particular to Redditch and which the County Council should be strongly encouraged to take into account when taking decisions on the future configuration of the bus service across the County. Amongst these was the design of the new town which had been developed very much with public transport in mind, a number of areas of significant deprivation in the town, lower than average rates of car ownership and much greater rates of bus use as a means of travelling to and from work. In addition, the needs of elderly and disabled travellers were raised as key issues, as was the need for the County Council to support measures that would enhance the creation of an environmentally sustainable transport system.

The Notice of Motion was the subject of the following named vote in accordance with Standing Order 16:

Members voting FOR the motion:

Councillors Peter Anderson, Kath Banks, Michael Braley, Andrew Brazier, Juliet Brunner, Michael Chalk, Greg Chance, Anita Clayton, Brandon Clayton, Jack Cookson, Andrew Fry, Carole Gandy, Adam Griffin, Malcolm Hall, Bill Hartnett, Nigel Hicks, Roger Hill, Gay Hopkins, Robin King, Wanda King, Jinny Pearce, Mark Shurmer, Debbie Taylor, Derek Taylor and Diane Thomas.

(25 votes)

Members voting AGAINST the motion:

None.

Members abstaining from voting:

None.

Accordingly, the Motion was approved in the following terms:

“We call on members to join with me and the Leader of the Labour Group and the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group in calling on the County Council to acknowledge the needs of the residents of Redditch.  Redditch is a town that was designed very specifically around the transportation needs of its communities and the vision that public transport would play a pivotal role in the day to day lives of its residents.  We have dedicated bus-only routes serving our communities which were all designed on the basis that this would remain a dedicated and exclusive bus infrastructure that services district centres within the Borough and provide a lifeline to those persons who reside there.

The removal of the bus services that operate within these areas would significantly undermine both the purpose of this vision and the independence of the residents who live there, particularly those with disabilities.

Both the residents and elected members of Redditch Borough acknowledge the challenge that all Councils are facing in these very difficult financial times – indeed we have been forced to examine  ...  view the full minutes text for item 113.

A.     To formally receive the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 21st February 2011.

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

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 8 – 2010/11)

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

15th March 2011

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration include:

• Redditch Sustainable Community Strategy; and

• River Revetment Works – Old Forge Drive and Park Way.

(Reports and decisions attached)

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 8 – 2010/11)

Members received the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee held on 21st February and 15th March 2011.

RESOLVED that

1)      the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 21st February 2011 be received and adopted; and

2)      the minutes of the Executive Committee held on 15th March 2011 be received and all recommendations approved.

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

Planning Committee –          2nd February 2011

                                                1st March 2011

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 8 – 2010/11)

The Council received the minutes of recent meetings of the Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 2nd February and 1st March 2011 be received and adopted.

To consider the minutes and recommendations arising from the meeting of the Shared Services Board held on 22nd March 2011.

(Minutes and covering reports for those items requiring further decision attached)

(In view of the fact that it contains information relating to matters which are likely to be the subject of contemplated consultations or negotiations in connection with labour relation matters between the authority and employees of the authority, part of the minutes of the meeting and one covering report and its associated  appendices are not for publication and will be circulated only to relevant Officers and Members of the Council. In view of this, it is anticipated that part of the discussion of this matter will take place after the exclusion of the public).

The Council received the minutes of the meeting of the Shared Services Board on 22nd March 2011.

Members considered a proposal to shorten the overall Programme timeline for shared services and the transformation of services from three years to eighteen months. In response to concerns that the Councils might be over-reaching themselves it was stressed that the timelines did allow for a degree of flexibility in order that significant developing issues might be addressed.

RESOLVED that

1)      the revised Programme timeline for the delivery of Shared Services and Transformation between the two Councils be approved.

(During consideration of this item Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed relating to contemplated consultations or negotiations in connection with labour relation matters arising between the authority and employees of the authority.)

To consider the Annual Report of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(Annual Report under separate cover)

The Council received the Annual Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Diane Thomas, provided an overview of the contents of the report. The gaining of a commendation in the Centre for Public Scrutiny Good Scrutiny Awards 2010 for the Neighbourhood Groups review had been a significant achievement. Public attendance at scrutiny meetings had increased and had been complemented by a massive increase in press coverage.

The numbers of recommendations to the Executive Committee which had subsequently been approved was highlighted in demonstrating the effectiveness of the Scrutiny process. Continued improvement was also demonstrated through the addressing of those areas for development which had been identified in the previous year’s report. The Chair listed those areas which were to be focussed upon during the coming year to make them more effective still, including constructive pre-scrutiny and budget scrutiny. Members and Officers involved in the Scrutiny process were thanked, as were a number of other individuals and bodies who had contributed to the successful operation of the Committee during the course of the year.

The Leader of the Council commended the Committee for their report and the work that had been carried out in 2010/11. The Chair of the Committee received praise for her efforts and for marshalling the resources at the Committee’s disposal to an effective end. Consequently it was unanimously

RESOLVED that

the Annual Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be received and noted.

To note the following decision taken in accordance with Standing Order 36 since the last ordinary meeting of the Council:

Housing Act 2004 Delegated authority to Officers to act.

(Executive Director - Planning, Regeneration, Regulatory & Housing)

All necessary approvals were sought to delegate to an officer of the Council authority to implement the provisions of the Housing Act 2004 as these functions were not transferred to the Worcestershire Regulatory Service and under the current scheme the Delegation is only to the Head of the Regulatory Service. It only recently came to light that as a result of the fact that the Private Sector Housing function was not transferred to the Worcestershire Regulatory Service and that the Head of Regulatory Service holds the delegation, no officer working within the Community Services / Private Sector Housing departments of the Council currently held delegated authority to implement the provisions of the Housing Act 2004, hence the need for urgency.

It was therefore RESOLVED that

the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be amended to authorise any of the following Officers to act under the provisions of the Housing Act 2004 and to authorise Officers to issue and refuse licences as appropriate :

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - PLANNING, REGENERATION, REGULATORY & HOUSING /HOUSING POLICY MANAGER /ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER /  (AREA EHO)( Private Sector Housing)

The Council noted an Urgent Business decision which had been approved in accordance with Standing Order 36, namely:

Housing Act 2004 – Delegated Authority to Officers to Act

(UB Reference 489)

RESOLVED that

the matter 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, other than the Notice of Motion which had been considered previously under Minute item 113.

Should it be necessary, in the opinion of the Chief Executive, to consider excluding the public from the meeting in relation to any items of business on the grounds that exempt information is likely to be divulged it may be necessary to move the following resolution:

“that, under S.100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following matter(s) on the rounds that it/they involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs (to be specified) of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) of the said Act, as amended.”

RESOLVED that

under S.100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following matter on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) of the said Act, as amended:

Shared Services Board (Item 5 – Business Case for a shared Leisure and Cultural Service between Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Borough Council)