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 on behalf of Councillors Debbie Taylor and Graham Vickery.

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

Councillors Greg Chance, Adam Griffin, Bill Hartnett and Roger Hill declared personal and prejudicial interests in item 9 (Executive Committee) as detailed separately at Minute 44 below.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 9th August 2010.

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 4 - 2010/11)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 9th August 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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)         Mrs Norma Uphill

The Mayor informed the Council of the recent sad death of Mrs Norma Uphill, wife of former Councillor Jim Uphill. The Council was advised that condolences had been sent to Mr Uphill.

b)         Mayor’s Announcements

The Mayor advised that since the previous meeting of the Council she had attended various functions, including: the No Barriers Awards for local businesses, Wychavon District Council’s Chairman’s Barbecue, the Morton Stanley Park weekend festivities, a Redditch Crematorium open day, Woodrow District Centre 40th Anniversary celebrations, a Help4Heroes event at the Black Horse, an Archery Tournament at Kingsley College, Bromsgrove District Council Chair’s summer evening event, the opening of new pitch at Redditch Rugby Club, a Scarecrow Day at Arrow Valley Countryside Centre. A Girlguiding Association evening of Celebration, an Army Cadets event at Tiddsley Wood Centre, Pershore, watching Redditch Swimming Club competing in the Annual Finals at Wolverhampton, a Redditch Rotary Club lunch, a visit to Setubal, Portugal, the grand opening of SAPA Pole Products new premises at Ravensbank Drive and the Boys Brigade 50^th Anniversary Social and Church Service

c)         Forthcoming events

The Mayor advised that forthcoming events included: the Worcester Council for Voluntary Youth Services AGM, MacMillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning at the Town Hall, the Boys’ Brigade Worcester Battalion 50^th Anniversary Service, Launch of a new Consortium, Carers Action Worcestershire and the Council’s own Civic Service on Sunday, 10th October.

d)         Local Democracy Day

Members were advised that Local Democracy Day would be taking place on Wednesday, 20th October and invited to attend and take part in some of the activities.

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

(No separate report / oral update – Minutes of the most recent meeting of the Redditch Local Strategic Partnership attached for information)

The Leader’s Announcements were considered under the following headings:

a)         Morton Stanley Park Festival

The Leader thanked all the staff who had worked so hard to organise such a good event and those who had given their time freely over the weekend in question as volunteers in a variety of roles.

b)         Heart of England – Britain in Bloom

The Leader was delighted to inform the Council that Redditch had been awarded a Silver Gilt award in the large town / small city category in the Heart of England Britain in Bloom competition 2010. The Leader announced that she intended to write to all of those involved on behalf of the Council for their efforts which had helped to secure this accolade.

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

“Housing for Older Persons”

 (Mr M Chawner)

(Question attached)

The Leader responded to a question which had been submitted by Mr Mike Chawner in accordance with Standing Order 8A, namely:

Housing for Older Persons

Mr Chawner’s question related to the Older Person’s Housing and Support Strategy and the role of the Borough Tenants’ Panel during the development of the Strategy.

The Leader thanked Mr Chawner for the question, responded that she was pleased the Panel had given its full support to the proposals which had come out of the review of sheltered housing and stressed the importance of gaining the support of groups such as the Panel.

The Leader clarified the comments made at the last meeting by the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Local Environment and Health in this regard and noted that the Strategy had been the subject of the most comprehensive consultation ever undertaken by the Council.

The Leader confirmed that the Council had ensured that the Strategy was responsive to demographic change and would meet the needs of older people in the future and that consultation would be undertaken should further change be required to the Strategy.

To consider a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor W Norton in accordance with Standing Order 6, concerning concessionary bus travel.

(Report attached)

A Notice of Motion had been submitted by Councillor William Norton in respect of Concessionary Bus Fares. This was seconded by Councillor Diane Thomas.

The Council was advised that the Coalition government was continuing the policy of the previous government of reorganising the free bus pass system. The system in Redditch would in future be administered by Worcestershire County Council. It was noted that any enhancements to the core service to be provided by the County Council would have to be funded locally but there was still a lack of information on the reallocation of funds from the Districts to the County. Given that the changes were to be introduced from April 2011 at the latest it was imperative that the Council received this information as soon as possible in order that the financial implications could be determined.

An amendment to the motion proposing that the Council commit to maintaining the current level of service in the Concessionary Fares Scheme and fund any shortfall in funding from the County Council was the subject of the following named vote in accordance with Standing Order 16:

Members voting FOR the amendment to the motion:

Councillors Greg Chance, Jack Cookson, Andy Fry, Bill Hartnett, Robin King, Wanda King and Mark Shurmer.

(7 votes)

Members voting AGAINST the amendment to the motion:

Councillors Peter Anderson, Kath Banks, Michael Braley, Andrew Brazier, Juliet Brunner, Michael Chalk, Simon Chalk, Anita Clayton, Brandon Clayton, Carole Gandy, Adam Griffin, Malcolm Hall, Nigel Hicks, Roger Hill, Gay Hopkins, William Norton, Jinny Pearce, Brenda Quinney and Derek Taylor.

(19 votes)

Members abstaining from voting:

Councillor Diane Thomas.

Accordingly, the amendment to the Motion fell and the substantive motion as originally submitted to the Council 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, Simon Chalk, Greg Chance, Anita Clayton, Brandon Clayton, Jack Cookson, Andy Fry, Carole Gandy, Adam Griffin, Malcolm Hall, Bill Hartnett, Nigel Hicks, Roger Hill, Gay Hopkins, Robin King, Wanda King, William Norton, Jinny Pearce, Brenda Quinney, Mark Shurmer, Derek Taylor and Diane Thomas.

(27 votes)

Members voting AGAINST the motion:

None.

Members abstaining from voting:

None.

Accordingly it was

RESOLVED that

1)         it be noted that

a)   the Coalition Government has decided to continue with the policy of the previous government of reorganising the free bus pass system so that in the case of Redditch it will in future be administered by Worcestershire County Council;

b)  this will involve a reallocation of central government grants from Redditch Borough Council to WorcestershireCounty Council from April 2011 at the latest;

c)   as a result of this reorganisation the risk is that free bus pass will in future cover only a core service beginning after 9.30 am, which is narrower than the coverage currently provided by the Redditch-administered bus pass;

d)  any enhancements to the new bus pass core service will have to be financed by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

A.        To formally receive the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 28th July 2010.

            (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 4 - 2010/11)

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

8th September 2010

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration may include:

·        Building Control – New Supplementary Charges;

·        Review of Redditch Borough Council’s Sheltered Housing Stock – Customer Feedback Update; and

·        Church Hill District Centre – Redevelopment Report

(Decision attached)

Members received the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 28th July 2010 and the decision notice of the meeting held on 8th September 2010.

In respect of Minute 60, Officers undertook to speak to Councillor Hartnett about the implementation of additional charges for building control services following the meeting.

In respect of Minute 63, Review of Redditch Borough Council’s Sheltered Housing Stock – Customer Feedback Update, Councillors Carole Gandy and Diane Thomas requested that their thanks to Sharon Powell, Trainee Housing Manager, for the work she had undertaken over the course of the review of the sheltered housing stock be formally recorded.

RESOLVED that

1)         the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 28th July 2010 be received and adopted; and

2)         the decision notice of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 8th September 2010 be received and all recommendation approved, subject to:

in respect of Minute 63 (Review of Redditch Borough Council’s Sheltered Housing Stock – Customer Feedback Update) it being further resolved that the following decision relating to that item be amended to read as set out below:

1)                       Officers’ findings now be considered conclusive; and, further to Council Minute 31(2), the proposals for the Review of Sheltered Housing, subject to Resolution 2 below, now be fully approved and adopted;

and the original decision taken by the Council on 9th August 2010 be varied by the following additional decision, namely that it be RESOLVED that

2)         the Council deem Auxerre House to be unsuitable accommodation for older persons in the future and that authority be delegated to officers to investigate, subject to the outcome of the Housing Market and Viability Assessment, the options available for first time buyers.

(Prior to consideration of this item, and in accordance with the requirements of Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000, Councillors Greg Chance, Adam Griffin, Bill Hartnett and Roger Hill declared personal and prejudicial interests in view of the fact that they were Board Members of Redditch Co-operative Homes and took no part in the voting on the relevant recommendations (Minute 69 – Church Hill Redevelopment Project)

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

Planning Committee             -17th August 2010

(Minutes circulated in Minute Book 4 – 2010/11)

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 17th August 2010 be received and adopted.

A decision was taken recently under Standing Order 36 in respect of Disabled Facilities Grants and approval given for the award of a discretionary grant (Decision Number 485, to be reported to the Executive Committee, 29th September 2010). Discretionary grants are only rarely made and the following recommendation was approved alongside agreement of the grant to avoid the need for such further requests to come before Councillors.

RECOMMENDED that

the Council’s Scheme of Delegation to Officers be amended to provide the Head of Community Services with the authority to approve discretionary Disabled Facility Grants, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Local Environment and Health.

The Council considered a minor addition to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers.

RESOLVED that

the Council’s Scheme of Delegation to Officers be amended to provide the Head of Community Services with the authority to approve discretionary Disabled Facility Grants, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Local Environment and Health.

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

1)         Portfolio Holder – Committee Places Adjustments

(Acting Deputy Chief Executive)(Decision Reference 486)

            The case for urgency was that the next available meeting of the full Council was not until 20^th September and the Conservative Group wished to make these adjustments as soon as reasonably possible.

            It was therefore RESOLVED that

1)        with immediate effect Cllr Gay Hopkins be appointed Portfolio Holder for Leisure & Tourism, and therefore  Executive Committee Member, in place of Cllr Anderson; and

2)        the further adjustments of memberships, detailed below, be approved.

·   Leisure & Tourism Portfolio - Cllr Hopkins to replace Cllr Anderson

·   Executive Committee  - Cllr Hopkins to replace Cllr Anderson

·   Member Champion (1.  Children / Young People & Play and 2. Heritage)
  - Cllr Hopkins, as Portfolio Holder, to replace Cllr Anderson

·   Climate Change Advisory Panel - Cllr Anderson to replace Cllr Hopkins as Vice-Chair

·   Leisure Contracts Advisory Panel - Cllr Hopkins to Chair, Cllr Anderson Vice-Chair

·   O & S Substitutes /  Members’ Pool  - Cllr Anderson to replace Cllr Hopkins

·   Joint Worcestershire Hub Task & Finish Group  Cllr Hill nominated to replace Cllr Hopkins (for decision of the O&S Committee)

·   Audit & Governance Committee - Cllr Anderson to replace Cllr Hopkins

·   Other allocations made at the Annual Meeting (Committee Places and Outside Bodies appointments) to remain unchanged

Subsequent to the decisions, above, being taken a further change has been made by the Conservative Group to their appointments to Committees, as set out below:

Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Cllr Anderson to replace Cllr Banks

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

Portfolio Holder – Committee Places Adjustments

(UB Reference 486)

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 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.)

The Council considered a referral from the Joint Health Consultative Committee in respect of the ongoing consultation over the NHS White Paper, “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS”. That Committee had discussed the implications of the White Paper, particularly as it applied to Redditch and Worcestershire, and commented on the proposals with the intention of these comments forming the basis of a consultation response.

RESOLVED that

the comments of the Joint Health Consultative Committee on the NHS White Paper “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS” as detailed below, be adopted as the formal Council response to the consultation.

1)                 The locality focus of the proposals contained within the White Paper is broadly welcomed. However, it is recognised that the resultant GP Commissioning Consortia within Worcestershire may well cover populations and geographical scope that are widely differing in their size;

2)                 There is concern that the potential budgetary implications of the changes are unpredictable. The impact of the replacement of Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts by GP Commissioning Consortia on administrative and managerial costs are difficult to quantify at present. In addition, the ring-fencing of the health improvement budgets to local authorities is guaranteed at the present time but there is the possibility that situation could change over time;

3)                 The speed with which the proposed changes are to be implemented is considered to be a possible risk to the provision of healthcare within the County given the level of potential disruption that might ensue;

4)                 The greater involvement of local authorities in the provision of healthcare is welcomed although it is recognised that much of this influence would fall to upper tier authorities; and

5)                 There is a realisation that the Borough would need to work hard to ensure that its voice is heard at the County level but there is also a belief that the GP Commissioning Consortia covering Redditch could, in due course, represent a net benefit to the local population.