Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Antonia Pulsford and Pat Witherspoon.

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.

Councillor Debbie Taylor declared an other disclosable interest in respect of agenda item 7(b) as an employee of University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Annual meeting of the Council held on 23^rd May 2016.

RESOLVED that

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23^rd May 2016 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

a)    The Mayor

The Mayor advised that he had had a busy first two months in office and thanked his deputy for attending a number of events on his behalf.  He also took the opportunity to thank the Leader for his support at a number of events.  Particular reference was made to the lowering of the flag in respect of the Orlando shootings and the atrocities which had taken place in Nice, France.  He had also attended the Bandstand event, which had been well attended, the Astwood Bank Carnival and the 37th Signals Civic Reception and it had been a pleasure to support the Cycle Race. 

b)    The Leader

The Leader reiterated the Mayor’s comments in respect of it being a busy two months and highlighted a number of events and meetings which he had attended during that period.  The comments of the Mayor were echoed in respect of the tragic events which had taken place in recent weeks, including the Orlando shootings, the death of Jo Cox, MP and the horrific events in Nice.  The Leader and Mayor had been joined by the MP, Mosque leaders and two French nationals on the roof of the Town Hall with the tricolour and Union flag flying at half-mast.

The Leader also made reference to the following events which had taken place:

·         The parade for Armed Forces day had been followed by a Civic Reception at the Town Hall for the Armed Forces and their families, which had been a great success.

·         The first Syrian refugees had arrived in Redditch and had been visited by the Leader welcoming them to the town.  There had also been a funding raising dinner held in the Town Hall which had been a great success and which the families had attended.

·         The Leader had collected the Inspiring Co-op of the Year Award on behalf of Redditch Co-op Homes/Riverside Co-op.

·         Together with Councillor Hill the Leader had attended the re-opening of the Polish Club, which was also attended by a representative of the Polish Embassy from London.

·         The first Bandstand event of the year had a theme of the Queen’s Birthday and had been well attended.

·         40th Birthday celebrations of the Ecumenical Centre.

·         Redditch Has Talent finals – thanks were given to all the staff and volunteers at the Palace Theatre.

·         Along with other Members, the Leader had attended the Service of Remembrance for the 100 year anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.  It was acknowledged that over 50 soldiers from Redditch and surrounding areas had lost their lives in the battle.

·         The Leader had also attended, along with other Members, a community fun day at the Ryce building, which had been a diverse multi-cultural event.

·         A fund raising event hosted by the Mayor at the Shai Palace which had raised over £600 towards his chosen charities for the year.

The Leader had also attended a number of meetings/briefings which he made reference to during his announcements:

·         The West Midlands Combined Authority had now been formed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

There were no questions on notice on this occasion.

To consider the enclosed Motions on Notice submitted under Procedure Rule 11.

a)    Redditch against Hate Crimes

A Notice of Motion had been submitted by Councillor Juliet Brunner in respect of Redditch against Hate Crimes.  This was seconded by Councillor Bill Hartnett.

In proposing the Motion Councillor Brunner explained that the Motion had come about as Members had been approached by residents asking for this to be brought forward.  Councillor Brunner reassured all the communities in Redditch that they were valued and supported and that any acts of Hate Crime would not be tolerated.  The Redditch Anti Hate Partnership was one of the first to be set up in 1995, and pre dated the Crime and Disorder Act.  There had not been an increase in such crimes, but the Council should not be complacent and anyone who had witnessed or experienced such a crime should report it as soon as possible, in order to work together to support officers in dealing with such matters.

In seconding the Motion Councillor Hartnett thanked all the residents who had sent emails to many Members, with a draft notice of motion which this had been based on.  Council was reminded that Redditch had a long and proud history of diversity, tolerance and of communities working together.  Whilst it was unfortunate that the public felt the need to move a notice, it was an opportunity to reaffirm the Council’s rejection of racism, xenophobia and hate crime.  Councillor Hartnett highlighted the work of the Council’s Community Safety Partnership and in particular the anti-hate crime programme which was instigated by them and rolled out across the county, together with the good working relationships which had been built up with community leaders throughout the town.  Redditch was made up of diverse communities with a great community spirit, coming together at many events held throughout the year.  Councillor Hartnett reminded Members that Redditch had been the first town in the county to welcome refugees from Syria.  In supporting the motion he concluded that xenophobia and hate had no place in our society and would not be tolerated in Redditch.

A number of Members spoke in support of the Motion with Councillor Paul Swansborough bringing forward an amendment to the original Motion, to insert the phrase “and working” into the final sentence of the Motion.  This was agreed by the proposer and seconder and subsequently by the Council.

RESOLVED that

The Motion be agreed in the following terms:

"We in Redditch are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Racism, xenophobia and hate crimes have no place in our town or country. 

The Elected representatives on Redditch Borough Council, condemn racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally. We will not allow hate to become acceptable. 

Councillors and officers of Redditch Borough Council will continue to work to support local bodies and programmes such as the North Worcestershire Hate incident partnership, to prevent and tackle racism and xenophobia.

We reassure all people living and working in Redditch that they are valued members of our community.”

b)    Announcement of emergency temporary change to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

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

8th March 2016 – there are no recommendations from this meeting

7^th June 2016 – there are no recommendations from this meeting

12^th July 2016 – there are recommendations from the Committee on the following matters:

Minute no: 16: Borough of Redditch Local Plan No.4 – Proposed Main Modifications;

Minute no. 17: Redditch Local Development Scheme July 2016 and Draft Statement of Community Involvement 2016;

Minute no. 18: Consolidated Revenue and Capital Outturn and Financial Reserves Statement 2015/16.

Copies of the reports to the Executive Committee are enclosed with this agenda and the minutes are enclosed in Minute Book 1.  Details of the recommendations are included in the agenda in front of the relevant reports

Members considered the minutes of the Executive Committee meetings of 8^th March 2016, 7^th June 2016 and 12^th July 2016.  The minutes from the March meeting were for information only as the recommendations had been dealt with at the last ordinary meeting of the Council.  There were no recommendations from the minutes of the meeting held in June.  There were a number of recommendations to be debated from the minutes of the July meeting of the Executive and these were discussed as follows:

Borough of Redditch Local Plan No.4 – Proposed Main Modifications

Members were reminded that the proposed modifications were those which had been put forward by the Inspector and it was clarified that the consultation referred to was in respect of those modifications only and not the plan as a whole.  The consultation period had been extended to take account of the holiday period.

Councillor Juliet Brunner proposed the following amendment:

“The consultation not to commence until the outcome of the ‘notice to hold’ has been formally decided by the DCLG and the Executive Committee and Council has considered a report on the outcome.”

Councillor Brunner explained that she had proposed the amendment due to Karen Lumley, MP having requested a “notice on hold” against the Local Plan No. 4.  It would therefore be prudent for the Council to await the outcome of that request before making a decision and entering into a consultation period.  A consultation could be a costly exercise and one which may have to be repeated should changes following the “notice of hold”.

Officers clarified the “Notice of Hold” process, which entailed the Plan being brought before the Secretary of State. This was a valid mechanism for the MP to use in order to put the Local Plan on hold. The following areas were debated by Members:

·         The Plan was “out of date” already as no account had been taken in respect of the Council’s membership of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

·         Potential flaws within the plan in respect of the location of both housing and commercial sites and the impact on the infrastructure of borough.

·         Whether the deferral of the Plan would impact on any of the Council’s neighbours, for example Bromsgrove District Council.

·         It was reiterated that the amendments within the report were merely those of the Inspector and that the Plan as a whole was not being consulted upon, as this process had already taken place.

·         Whether the Plan had taken into the account the true views of the residents.

Following debate the amendment was declared lost.

Members thanked Officers for their hard work and those residents who had taken the time to respond to previous consultations.  The Council had been transparent during the process and the Inspector was merely asking for a consultation to take place in respect of those amendments.  It was highlighted within the report that the consultation was not an opportunity to raise matters that either were, or could have been, part of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

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

a)    Planning Committee – 13^th April 2016

b)    Audit, Governance and Standards Committee – 21^st April 2016

c)      Planning Committee – 8^th June 2016

d)    Audit, Governance and Standards Committee – 7^th July 2016 (copy to follow)

The Council received the minutes from meetings of the Planning and Audit, Governance and Standards Committees:

RESOLVED that

1)    the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 13^th April 2016 and 8^th June 2016 be received and adopted; and

2)    the minutes of the meetings of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee held on 21^st April 2016 and 7^th July 2016 be received and adopted.

The Council reviews its constitution on an annual basis.  To consider the enclosed report which highlights updates over the last year.

The current constitution is available on the Council’s website under “Council” and also on the agenda for this meeting.

Paper copies are placed in each Group Room and are available from Democratic Services on request.

Council reviewed its constitution on an annual basis.  Members were asked to consider a report outlining updates that had been proposed to the Council’s constitution.

RESOLVED that

the Council’s constitution as presented be approved.

Councillor Bill Hartnett has stood down from Redditch Co-Operative Homes.  To appoint to the vacancy for the municipal year 2016-17. 

The other current representatives from the Council are Councillors Gareth Prosser, David Thain and Pat Witherspoon.

As Councillor Hartnett had stood down from the Redditch Co-operative Homes Members were asked to appoint to the vacancy for the municipal year 2016/17.

RESOLVED that

Councillor Andy Fry be appointed to Redditch Co-operative Homes for the municipal year 2016/17.

To note that Councillor Yvonne Smith has replaced Councillor Pat Witherspoon as substitute member on the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board (formerly the Worcestershire Shared Services Joint Committee). 

The Council was informed that there had been a slight change to the Council’s membership of Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board (formerly Worcestershire Shared Services Joint Committee) in that Councillor Yvonne Smith had replaced Councillor Pat Witherspoon as substitute member.

RESOLVED that

the appointment of Councillor Yvonne Smith as substitute Member for the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board be endorsed.

There were no urgent decisions to note.

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.)

The Mayor informed Members, as notified on Friday 22^nd July 2016 he had accepted an item of urgent business, which was to appoint a Vice-Chair to the Planning Committee as Councillor Yvonne Smith had stepped down from that role.  The item was urgent as a Vice Chair needed to be in place for the next meeting of the Planning Committee, which was due to take place in August.

RESOLVED that

Councillor Nina Wood-Ford be appointed Vice Chair of the Planning Committee for the municipal year 2016/17.