Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 15^th December 2020 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor Dr S Peaple)

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Chief Executive Andrew Barratt made the following announcement-

“Thank you Madam Mayor I would just like to confirm that I have formally received notification from the Leader of the Council of his intention to retire from office as of the 1^st March. Later on the agenda tonight there is the proposal to vote in a new Leader of the Council. Thank you very much.”

No questions received

MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE RULE 4.13C

Councillor D Cook proposed to change the running order of the agenda, to bring agenda item 8 forward, therefore agenda item 8, recommendation from Corporate Scrutiny - Cemetery Regulations is now agenda item 6.

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor C Cooke)

(To receive an update from the Chair of Corporate Scrutiny Committee)

The Chair of Corporate Scrutiny Councillor T Jay updated Council  on this item which had been referred to the Committee from Council on 15^th December 2020, which had previously received a Petition requesting that a bench be placed at Wigginton Cemetery.

The Chair of Corporate Scrutiny reported that this Committee had 2 meetings on the 18^th January 2021 and the 28^th January 2021.

The Chair advised that during the 2 meetings there was good debate and discussion and committee was able to draw to a conclusion.

The Chair went on to say that this was a high profile, emotive case, and the Committee looked at the policy as a whole and not individual cases.

 After discussions and questions & answers during the 2 Scrutiny meetings it was decided and clear by Committee that the main policy should remain unchanged.

Councillor T Jay advised there were some additional recommendations which were referred to Cabinet in reference to Memorial plaques, which Scrutiny Committee felt the scheme wasn’t being used, so requested Cabinet to consult with the wider public to look at alternative memorial options.

Councillor D Cook also spoke regarding the recommendations which came to Cabinet on the 4^th February 2021.

Resolving that the policy was correct but there is other matters that need looking at long term, such as a memorial garden, and the plaque scheme.

Councillor D Cook informed Council that Cabinet had endorsed that the policy was correct, and that Cabinet has also sent the Portfolio Holder and Assistant Director a task to look at the other parts of the policy around memorial gardens and the plaque scheme.

Councillor D Cook advised Council he has written to Keeley Bunkers family offering further discussion if they wish, around placing the bench somewhere else in Tamworth and offering to work with the family as best as possible to try and reach a resolution, but at this time it was not possible to site the bench in Wigginton Cemetery.

Councillor Dr S Peaple asked the Leader, Councillor D Cook if Cabinet have referred this alternative forms of memorialisation task back to Cabinet or if it will be referred back to scrutiny, and if there is a time frame.

Councillor D Cook responded that technically he will not be the Leader of the Council after tonight so would be difficult to answer but he did put a recommendation to Cabinet that the Portfolio Holder and the Officer feedback by late spring, early summer with something that the public can be consulted on.  Councillor D cook did mention he has no problem with Scrutiny being involved with the process, and congratulated every member of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee for giving this the diligence it deserves.

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(Report of the Leader of the Council)

The Leader of the Council proposed the Vision Statement, Priority Themes, Corporate Priorities and Plans and their inclusion in the Corporate Plan.

To approve the recommended package of budget proposals to enable the Council to agree the:

General Fund (GF) Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2021/22;

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2021/22;

5 Year General Fund Capital Programme (2021/26);

5 Year HRA Capital Programme (2021/26);

3 Year General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (2021/24); and

5 Year HRA Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (2021/26).

To comply with the requirement of the Council’s Treasury Management Policy in reporting to Council the proposed strategy for the forthcoming year and the Local Government Act 2003 with the reporting of the Prudential Indicators and the requirement to prepare an annual Corporate Capital Strategy.

The Leader reported that the Council received Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) income based on its policy for developments within the borough, 15% of the income is set aside in reserve to fund neighbourhood projects and the balance now stands at over £35,000, therefore The Leader proposed an additional recommendation as set out at recommendation 28 below.

The Leader also pointed out an error within recommendation 5, the correct year should be 2021/22 not 2020/21 which has been corrected below.

1.         the Vision Statement, Priority Themes, Corporate Priorities and Outcomes for 2021/22 (Appendix A);

2.         the proposed revisions to Service Revenue Budgets (Policy Changes) (Appendix C);

3.         the sum of £60,376 be applied from Council Tax Collection Fund surpluses in reducing the Council Tax demand in 2021/22 (Appendix E);

4.         the sum of £7,137,191 be applied to Business Rates Collection Fund deficits in 2021/22, in part offset by a transfer from the Business Rates reserve of £6,876,350 (Appendix E);

5.         that on 3^rd December 2020, the Cabinet calculated the Council Tax Base 2021/22 for the whole Council area as 22,366 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")];

6.         that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2021/22 is £4,179,982 (Appendix E);

7.         the following amounts as calculated for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

a.    £54,121,642 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act (Outgoings excluding internal GF Recharges);

b.    £49,941,660 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act (Income excluding internal GF Recharges);

c.    £4,179,982 being the amount by which the aggregate at 7(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 7(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (Item R in the formula in Section 31A(4) of the Act);

d.    £186.89 being the amount at 7(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (at 5 above), calculated by the Council,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

Councillor J Oates was nominated for Leader of the Council.

There was no other nominations.

On a Vote being taken Councillor J Oates was elected Leader of the Council

(Moved by Councillor B Price and seconded by Councillor A Farrell)

Councillor J Oates advised Council that Councillor R Pritchard will remain as Deputy Leader, and advised of the changes to the Cabinet Portfolio structure which are detailed below.

Commendations then followed and were given to Councillor D Cook outgoing Leader and to Councillor J Oates incoming Leader from Councillors B Price, A Farrell, Dr S Peaple, R Claymore, S Peaple, S Doyle, S Goodall, M Cooke, T Clements and S Pritchard with comments of Thanks and Congratulations.

Councillor D Cook advised Council of his intention to resign as Leader of the Council with immediate effect.