Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive the apologies of any Member who is unable to attend this meeting.

An apology for absence was received on behalf of from Councillor Hall.

An apology for absence was received on behalf of from Councillor Hall.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

1.         To give notice of any items for future meetings or for the Forward Plan, including any scheduled for this meeting, but now carried forward or deleted; and

2          any other relevant announcements.

(Oral report)

The Chair advised that she had accepted the following matter for consideration as Urgent Business:

Item 8 – Job Evaluation and Terms and Conditions Review

(Report not meeting the publication deadline)

The Chair advised that she had accepted the following matter for consideration as Urgent Business:

Item 8 – Job Evaluation and Terms and Conditions Review

(Report not meeting the publication deadline)

To seek endorsement of the responses to the joint consultation.

(Report attached – Appendices available via the Council’s website and in Group Rooms)

RESOLVED that

that the outcome of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Special Consultation on Redditch Expansion (as detailed at Appendix A to the report) be approved.

The Committee received a report that detailed the outcome of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Consultation on Redditch expansion, which had been conducted from 8th February 2010 to 22nd March 2010.

Members were informed that the period of consultation was conducted following the Examination in Public into the Phase Two Revision of the West Midlands Regional Spacial Strategy (WMRSS), which provided the framework and targets for the separate Core Strategies being produced by Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils.  It had been recommended that 7000 dwellings be delivered to meet Redditch’s growth needs up to 2026.  Of those 4000 were to be delivered within Redditch’s boundaries and around 3000 in Bromsgrove District.

Officers clarified the status of the WMRSS in that it continues to be part of the development plan.  Members were informed that Central Government’s intention would be to abolish Regional Spacial Strategies.  However, Members were informed that the possibility could not be taken into account at this time.

RESOLVED that

that the outcome of the Bromsgrove and Redditch Special Consultation on Redditch Expansion (as detailed at Appendix A to the report) be approved.

To seek endorsement of the Draft Core Strategy for the purposes of public consultation.

(Report attached – Appendices available via the Council’s website and in Group Rooms)

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the Revised Preferred Draft Core Strategy (Appendix A to the report) be approved for the purposes of public consultation;

2)         the Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix B) for the Preferred Draft Core Strategy be approved for the purposes of public consultation;

3)         a consultation period be held from 21st January 2011 for six weeks;

4)         authority be delegated to the Acting Development Plans Manager in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Oppostion, to make any minor amendments to the Revised Preferred Draft Core Strategy and Sustainability Appraisal prior to the consultation period commencing on 21st January 2011.

(An amendment to the Revised Preferred Draft Core Strategy relating to the suggested increase in the total number of newbuild properties under the West Midlands Regional Spacial Strategy (WMRSS) was proposed, seconded and defeated.)

Members considered a report which sought endorsement of the Revised Preferred Draft Core Strategy (PDCS) and the Sustainability Appraisal, as detailed in Appendices A and B of the report respectively.

Officers reported that the Core Strategy outlines the vision, objectives and key policies that will guide Redditch Borough’s development up until 2026 and reflects both national planning policy and information on matter that are important locally. 

Members were informed that currently the West Midlands Regional Spacial Strategy (WMRSS) still forms part of the statutory development plan and that the Government’s stated intention to abolish Regional Spacial Strategies was not a material consideration.

A lengthy discussion took place regarding the recommended housing targets that had been set for the Borough by the WMRSS.

An amendment to the Revised Preferred Draft Core Strategy relating to the suggested increase in the total number of newbuild properties under the WMRSS was proposed, seconded and defeated.

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the Revised Preferred Draft Core Strategy (Appendix A to the report) be approved for the purposes of public consultation;

2)         the Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix B) for the Preferred Draft Core Strategy be approved for the purposes of public consultation;

3)         a consultation period be held from 21st January 2011 for six weeks;

4)         authority be delegated to the Acting Development Plans Manager in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Oppostion, to make any minor amendments to the Revised Preferred Draft Core Strategy and Sustainability Appraisal prior to the consultation period commencing on 21st January 2011.

To seek Members agreement on a revised Core Strategy work timetable and to seek approval to abandon production of the Site Allocations Development Plan document.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

1)      work towards the Publication version of the Core Strategy Development Plan Document continue, but with flexibility in the timetable for production;

         RECOMMENDED that

2)      work on the Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document be abandoned temporarily.

Members considered a report which sought agreement of a flexible timetable for the production of the Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD) and to temporarily abandon work on the Site Allocations and Policies in order to focus resources on the Core Strategy DPD.

RESOLVED that

1)      work towards the Publication version of the Core Strategy Development Plan Document continue, but with flexibility in the timetable for production;

         RECOMMENDED that

2)      work on the Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document be abandoned temporarily.

To consider Redditch Borough Council’s response to the Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy and the Worcestershire Local Transport Plan No 3.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

1)                 the response prepared to the Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy, as detailed in the Appendix to the report, be endorsed; and

2)                 the response to the Worcestershire Local Transport Plan No. 3, as detailed in the Appendix to the report, be endorsed subject to an amendment in respect of Paragraph 4.2 (iii) of the report regarding the potential opening of bus lanes to other traffic. 

(Members were opposed to any such move and asked Officers to liaise with Councillors Gandy and Debbie Taylor regarding amendment to the wording to reflect the Council’s wishes in this respect.)

Members considered a report which sought approval for:

1)                 the Council’s response to the Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy; and

2)                 Redditch Borough Council and Bromsgrove District Council’s response to the Worcestershire Local Transport Plan No 3 (LTP3).

Officers reported that the Council’s support for the content of the Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy and would encourage the location of waste management facilities in Redditch

Officers also reported that Redditch Borough and Bromsgrove District Council’s general response was supportive of the content of LTP3 but had raised a number of concerns which should be addressed by Worcester County Council (WCC) before adoption of the final plan.

In particular, Members expressed their concerns regarding the possibility of opening bus lanes to motorcycles and other traffic, a suggestion that had previously been opposed by WCC.

Members were opposed to any such move and asked Officers to liaise with Councillors Gandy and Debbie Taylor regarding an amendment to the wording to reflect the Council’s wishes in this respect.

RECOMMENDED that

1)                 the response prepared to the Worcestershire Waste Core Strategy, as detailed in the Appendix to the report, be endorsed; and

2)                 the response to the Worcestershire Local Transport Plan No. 3, as detailed in the Appendix to the report, be endorsed subject to an amendment in respect of Paragraph 4.2 (iii) of the report regarding the potential opening of bus lanes to other traffic. 

To consider a report on the progress of Job Evaluation and harmonisation of Terms and Conditions.

[This report contains exempt information as defined in S.100 of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, as it contains information relating to consultations or negotiations in connection with labour relations matters arising between the authority and its employees.  In view of this it is anticipated that discussion of these matters will take place after the exclusion of the public.]

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

1)         the current position on the implementation of the Job Evaluation Scheme be noted and Officers be requested to continue to negotiate with the relevant trade unions to achieve a collective agreement; and

RECOMMENDED that

2)         authority for negotiation and agreement of changes to Terms and Conditions be delegated to the Executive Director Leisure, Environmental & Community Services and Executive Director of Finance and Resources.

(Officers were instructed to report further to the Committee to seek a Member decision if a collective agreement could not be reached through negotiation.

Officers advised that, although the item had been circulated as a confidential report, the matter could properly be discussed in public session providing Members did not stray into:

-    discussion around Terms and Conditions that would be subject of negotiation between the authority and staff and the Unions; or

-    discussion of the Terms and Conditions of individual members of staff.

Members agreed that this item should be dealt with in public session.)

This report had been accepted as a matter of Urgent Business – not having met the publication deadline – and was considered at the meeting as such, with the approval of the Chair, in accordance with the Council’s constitutional rules and powers vested in the Chair by virtue of Section 100 (B) (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 to agree to matters of urgency being discussed by reason of special circumstances.

In this case the special circumstances were that the report needed to be considered at the current meeting to allow implementation of the Job Evaluation Scheme to progress and to delegate powers to Officers to undertake negotiations aimed at amending a number of Terms and Condition.

Members considered a report on the progress of Job Evaluation and harmonisation of Terms and Conditions.

Officers advised that, although the item had been circulated as a confidential report, the matter could properly be discussed in public session providing Members did not stray into:

-    discussion around Terms and Conditions that would be subject of negotiation between the authority and staff and the Unions; or

-    discussion of the Terms and Conditions of individual members of staff.

Members agreed that this item should be dealt with in public session.

The Executive Director of Finance and Resources reported on the current position on implementation of the Job Evaluation Scheme and sought delegated powers to allow the Executive Director Leisure, Environmental & Community Services and the Executive Director of Finance and Resources to undertake negotiations with Union representatives and reach agreement on amended Terms and Conditions with the aim to implement by 1st April 2011.

Officers were instructed to report further to the Committee to seek a Member decision if a collective agreement could not be reached through negotiation.

RESOLVED that

1)         the current position on the implementation of the Job Evaluation Scheme be noted and Officers be requested to continue to negotiate with the relevant trade unions to achieve a collective agreement; and

RECOMMENDED that

2)         authority for negotiation and agreement of changes to Terms and Conditions be delegated to the Executive Director Leisure, Environmental & Community Services and Executive Director of Finance and Resources.

(This report had been accepted as a matter of Urgent Business – not having met the publication deadline – and was considered at the meeting as such, with the approval of the Chair, in accordance with the Council’s constitutional rules and powers vested in the Chair by virtue of Section 100 (B) (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 to agree to matters of urgency being discussed by reason of special circumstances.

In this case the special circumstances were that the report needed to be considered at the current meeting to allow implementation of the Job Evaluation Scheme to progress and to delegate powers to Officers to undertake negotiations aimed at amending a number of Terms and Condition.