Agenda and minutes

The Mayor opened the meeting and welcomed those present. Councillor Joe Baker was invited to give a reading on the theme of the meaning and spirit of Christmas.

There were no apologies for absence.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 14^th October 2013.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 14^th October 2013 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

(a)       The Mayor’s communications and announcements were as follows:

i)          Nelson Mandela

The Mayor led the Council in paying tribute to the former South African President Nelson Mandela who had died the previous week at the age of 95. The Mayor commented that Mr Mandela had truly been a very special man and an inspiration to many around the world.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bill Hartnett, added that this legend of a man had changed the world for good and that, as a mark of respect, the Borough Flag had been flown at half mast and a Book of Condolence initiated in the Town Hall to allow local residents and others to pay their respects. The Leader of the Minority Group, Councillor Juliet Brunner agreed with what had been stated previously and added that the death of Mr Mandela represented an enormous loss to the South African nation and to the world.

Other Members then went on to add their own personal reflections and tributes, commenting on the anti-Apartheid struggle of the 20^th Century and on visits by a number of them to South Africa and to Robben Island, the place of Mr Mandela’s incarceration. Mr Mandela’s forgiveness and determination to eschew retribution was considered one of his greatest strengths.

Members observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to the late Mr Mandela.

ii)         White Ribbon Campaign

The Mayor was pleased to advise that the Council was supporting the White Ribbon campaign against domestic violence and sexual abuse for the third year running.

Councillor Rebecca Blake, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, reflected on the activities which had been undertaken locally during the course of the campaign and invited those present to view artwork which was on display in the Chamber from victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and local students. The Leader of the Council then led other Members in expressing their thanks to those from the Council and its partner organisations for the contributions they had made to this campaign and highlighted the Human Resources Policy which was being put in place to support those employees who were affected by this issue. It was also acknowledged that the numbers of domestic violence incidents recorded nationally was still at a level which was unacceptably high.

iii)        Mayoral Functions

The Mayor advised that since the last meeting of the Council she and the Deputy Mayor had attended a number of engagements including her own Skittles Evening in October, the Borough’s Fireworks Display, the Armistice Day Parade and Laying of Wreaths, the County Harvest Service in Worcester, her Charity Quiz at the end of November, a service of Thanksgiving for Warrant Officer (Second Class) Ian Fisher at Lichfield Cathedral, the Blind Society Christmas Party, A Redditch Choral Society event and a Polish St Nicholas Day celebration at the Town Hall the previous day.

iv)        Forthcoming events

The Mayor advised that forthcoming events included a meeting with Post Office staff, the Bromsgrove District Council Carol Concert, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

No questions had been submitted.

To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Bill Hartnett:

Freedom of the Borough.

(Motion attached)

A Notice of Motion had been submitted by the Leader, Councillor Bill Hartnett. The Motion was in respect of the admission of 37Signal Regiment based at Kohima House in Redditch to be Honorary Freemen of the Borough. This was seconded by Councillor Juliet Brunner.

Councillor Hartnett reminded Members of the Regiment’s long association with the Town and that this Regiment, which comprised members of the Army Reserve, had seen active service in war zones in recent times. Through contact with the Commanding Officer it had been very apparent that the honour of the Freedom of the Borough would be a matter of tremendous pride to the Regiment as a whole.

Councillor Brunner was delighted to have the honour of seconding this particular motion. She commented that the Regiment was made up of ordinary men and women who gave their service on a voluntary basis but who were ever able and eager to support the regular armed forces.

Members unanimously

RESOLVED that

Redditch Borough Council wishes to place on record its appreciation of the voluntary service of men and women from the Borough who serve with the 37 Signal Regiment based at Kohima House in Redditch.

We propose to confer the Freedom of the Borough of Redditch on the 37 Signal Regiment and delegate authority to the Chief Executive following consultation with the Mayor and Group Leaders to notify the Commanding Officer of the Regiment of the Council’s decision and seek her view, and in the event that her view is positive:

• Make arrangements for a Special Meeting of the Council to confer the Freedom of the Borough;
• Utilise existing funds within the corporate civic budget up to £1,500 to cover the costs of the associated reception and production of two copies of a commemorative framed scroll;
• Make arrangements for a ceremonial parade to be held in the Borough on an appropriate date.

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

15^th October 2013

• There are no matters requiring the Council’s consideration – the two recommendations included within these minutes were both the subject of the Council’s Urgent Business procedures in order to expedite the business.

12^th November 2013

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration include:

·         Redditch Borough Council Response to the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership Spatial Plan for Recovery and Growth Consultation Draft

26^th November 2013

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration include:

·         Redditch United Football Club – Ground Relocation

(Reports and decisions attached.)

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 5 – 2013/14)

The Council considered the minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee held on 15^th October, 12^th November and 26^th November 2013. It was noted that two of the three recommendations from the meeting on 15^th October had been agreed through the Council’s urgent Business procedures.

RESOLVED that

1)        the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 15^th October 2013 be received and all recommendations adopted;

2)        the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 12^th November 2013 be received and all recommendations adopted; and

3)        the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 26^th November 2013 be received and all recommendations adopted.

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

Audit & Governance Committee -26^th September 2013

Licensing Committee -                    11^th November 2013

Planning Committee -                     23^rd October 2013

Standards Committee -                   24^th October 2013

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 5 – 2014/15)

Members received the minutes of the meetings of a number of recent meetings of the Council’s Regulatory Committees.

RESOLVED that

1)        the minutes of the meeting of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 26^th September be received and adopted;

2)        the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 11^th November 2013 be received and adopted;

3)        the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 23^rd October 2013 be received and adopted; and

4)        the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 24^th October 2013 be received and adopted.

To note the following decision taken in accordance with the Council’s Urgency Procedures since the last ordinary meeting of the Council:

1.         Use of Housing Revenue Account Reserves to Fund Activity as a Syndicated Partner in the Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme within the Borough

(Deputy Chief Executive / Executive Director, Finance and Resources)

Consideration was given to a proposal that the Council become a syndicated partner in the Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme. There was a need to get the agreement for funding of this Scheme approved as soon as possible in order that the Council might maximise the opportunity to access the very significant grant funding available through the HCA.

RESOLVED that

authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Finance and Resources and the Head of Housing Services to use up to £400,000 from Housing Revenue Account Reserves for the Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme and support.

(Council Decision)

2.         Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Programme 2014/15

(Deputy Chief Executive / Executive Director, Finance and Resources)

Consideration was given to agreeing the Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Programme prior to it being publicly launched towards the end of October. The deadline for applications through the Grants process is 4^th December 2013. An urgent decision was required in order that the Council might maintain its timetable for the Grants Programme and ensure that voluntary and community sector groups have the opportunity to apply for and potentially gain funding through this process in time for the coming financial year.

RESOLVED that

the following themes and percentages of funding be allocated for the 2014/15 voluntary and community sector grants process: (see report  for details on themes: these themes link into the Strategic Purposes for Redditch Borough Council – See chart - Appendix 1 to the Executive Committee report)

·                     Independent Communities           =  £130,000 – see 3.3.1

·                     Community Development             =  £  55,000 – see 3.3.2

·                     Thriving Communities                   =  £  20,000 –  see 3.3.3

·                     Community Welfare                        =  £  20,000 – see 3.3.4

·                     Stronger Communities Grant Programme       =  £  15,000 –  see 3.3.5

·                     £1,000 be allocated from the Grants budget for the use by the Grants Team to deliver:

a)      networking and promotional events;

b)      advertising and communication support;

c)      newsletters.

(Council decision)

(No separate reports attached)

The Council considered two decisions that had been taken under its urgency procedures in respect of firstly the Use of Housing Revenue Account Reserves to Fund Activity as a Syndicated Partner in the Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme within the Borough and, second, the Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Programme 2014/15.

RESOLVED that

the decision 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.)

There were no separate items of urgent business to consider at this meeting.