Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Democratic Services 01827 709264
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: None |
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Mayor's Cadet To inaugurate the Mayor’s Cadet for 2014/15 Minutes: Matthew Feenan was inaugurated as the Mayor’s Cadet for 2014/15. |
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To elect a Mayor Minutes: Councillor R Kingstone was elected as Mayor and proposed a vote of thanks for Councillor John Garner’s year as Mayor.
(Moved by Councillor A James and seconded by Councillor M Gant) |
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To elect a Deputy Mayor Minutes: Councillor M Gant was elected as Deputy Mayor.
(Moved by Councillor T Clements and seconded by Councillor A Lunn) |
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To elect the Leader of the Council Minutes: Councillor D Cook was elected as Leader of the Council.
(Moved by Councillor S Claymore and seconded by Councillor M Greatorex) |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (pecuniary and non-pecuniary) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.
When Members are declaring a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they have dispensation, they should specify the nature of such interest. Members should leave the room if they have a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation. Minutes: There were no Declarations of Interest. |
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To receive the Minutes of the previous meetings Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the meetings held on 18th March 2014 were approved, subject to amendments to the supplementary answers at Question Time, and signed as a correct record.
(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard) |
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To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive Minutes: Tributes were paid to the late Gerald Pinner.
Councillor J Oates
I’ve spent the last few days realising how privileged I am as I knew Gerry at his best. He looked after me and took me under his wing when I was first elected and we shared some fantastic times. I remember a leaflet drop in 2002, cutting across peoples’ gardens and Gerry fell on his face after tripping over a wire fence. We had a chuckle and cracked on. We spent a lot of time chatting and he always had a story to tell. It’s a shame a lot of people in the room have only known him since he’s been ill. He was a fantastic chap. I feel guilty I’ve not spent more time with him. He’s had a massive influence on me and he will be missed.
Councillor K Norchi
I’m very proud to say that Gerry and I became friends very quickly. We shared many a drink together at Bolehall Swifts. He was a great character. The night he was elected he wore a wonderful waistcoat and a bright tie. I was in Bulgaria and the phone rang. It was Gerry and he’d forgotten I was there, the call ended very quickly! On Friday 30 I had a phone call to say he was going into hospital. I feel very bad that I missed a call from his daughter on the Monday night. I feel very proud to have known the man and will miss him.
Councillor M Oates
I’ve known Gerry for over 30 years and had very few arguments with him. He was a great character and his loyalty was fantastic. One night I was at the flats canvassing and he told me ‘you won’t get many votes here’, and he was right too! Let’s celebrate his life, it’s a privilege to have known and worked with him.
Councillor M Clarke
I can’t claim to have been drinking with him! We had a hotspot for antisocial behaviour in Stonydelph and Gerry asked my husband if he could join me to sit with youngsters and just listen to them. He was a gentleman.
Councillor A James
I first met Gerry in 1996 when I first joined the Conservative Group. He had many words of advice; I listened to some of it, not all of it! I remember his bright waistcoats, he was a character. He ran the south side of the town with Ronnie Cook. He was a gentleman and will be missed. |
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Question Time: (i) To answer questions from members of the public pursuant to Procedure Rule No. 10.
(ii) To answer questions from members of the Council pursuant to Procedure Rule No. 11
Minutes: QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO.1 Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor M Couchman asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor D Cook, the following question:-
"I understand that you have stated that there will be no provision for Social Housing as part of your proposed sale of the golf course. Is this correct?"
Councillor D Cook gave the following reply:
Yes.
Supplementary question:
On this side we remain committed to no additional housing development on the Golf Course, but if as it seems, you are determined to push ahead with housing, are you trying too late to appease some Amington residents?
Councillor D Cook gave the following reply:
No I’m not trying to appease anyone. There is a need for Social Housing and these will be built on old garage sites. We have to be realistic and there will be affordable housing on the site as we have to move with the market. We are committed to using assets so the people of Tamworth get the best we can give them.
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO.2 Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor M Couchman asked the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor R Pritchard, the following question:-
"Last year the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme had to make a saving of £700,000. Can you tell us if the scheme has made a surplus or deficit and by how much?"
Councillor R Pritchard gave the following reply:
I can confirm that £5.38 million was the net amount paid out in 2012/13 for Council Tax Benefit. For 2013/14 under the new scheme it was £4.48 million which indicated a £200,000 surplus as the accounts were not closed.
Supplementary question:
Will you now look again at removing child maintenance payments from the scheme which last year affected 152 householders making them at least £250 worse off and only saved the Council £10,000 thereby no longer being the Tamworth Tories taxing toddlers?
Councillor R Pritchard gave the following reply:
The policy is reviewed every year and until we know the output for the year we won’t know how much surplus there is, if any.
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO.3 Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor S Peaple will ask the Leader of the Council, Councillor D Cook, the following question:-
"In the light of the recent Peer Review when will the controlling Conservative group agree to a scrutiny committee being chaired by a member of the opposition as is done elsewhere?"
Councillor D Cook gave the following reply:
Thank you Mr Mayor,
I am pleased Councillor Peaple has raised last year’s Peer Review in this Chamber. I wonder if he also noted the section that praised the Political leadership of this Council as being very strong.
If I understand the question correctly, Councillor Peaple would like me to give the Labour group something that is quite simply not mine to give. I am entirely sure that nominating Scrutiny chairman is not within my gift as Leader of this ... view the full minutes text for item 9. |
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Appointment of Cabinet and Allocation of Responsibilities To receive the membership of Cabinet for 2014/15 which will be circulated at the meeting Minutes: The membership of Cabinet for 2014/15 was received and circulated at the meeting as follows:
The Leader of the Council paid tribute to Councillor Jeremy Oates as former Leader and former Cabinet Member and thanked him for his work in these roles. |
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Appointment of Committees To receive the constitution and membership of committees for 2014/15 which will be circulated at the meeting Minutes: The constitution and membership of Committees for 2014/15 was received and circulated at the meeting as follows:
CONSTITUTION OF COMMITTEES 2013/14
CABINET
Councillors Danny Cook Leader with Portfolio Robert Pritchard Deputy Leader/Operations & Assets Portfolio Michelle Thurgood Environment & Waste Management Portfolio Stephen Doyle Community Development & Voluntary Sector Portfolio Steven Claymore Economy & Education Portfolio Michael Greatorex Public Housing & Vulnerable People Portfolio
ASPIRE & PROSPER SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
Councillors Tina Clements Garry Hirons Joy Goodall Andrew James Matthew McDermid Tony Madge Jeremy Oates Michael Oates Patrick Standen
HEALTHIER & SAFER SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
Councillors John Chesworth Marion Couchman John Faulkner Andrew James Joan Jenkins Allan Lunn Michael Oates Tom Peaple Evelyn Rowe
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Councillors John Chesworth Steven Claymore Margaret Clarke Chris Cooke Marion Couchman Michael Greatorex Ken Norchi Jeremy Oates Michael Oates Tom Peaple Evelyn Rowe Patrick Standen Michelle Thurgood
AUDIT & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Councillors John Chesworth Marion Couchman John Faulkner Maureen Gant Richard Kingstone Jeremy Oates Peter Seekings
LICENSING COMMITTEE
Councillors Margaret Clarke Tina Clements Danny Cook Stephen Doyle Maureen Gant Joy Goodall Garry Hirons Andrew James Joan Jenkins Allan Lunn Matthew McDermid Tom Peaple Peter Seekings
APPOINTMENTS AND STAFFING COMMITTEE
Councillors Danny Cook Chris Cooke Michael Greatorex Simon Peaple Robert Pritchard
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
Councillors Margaret Clarke Tina Clements Joy Goodall Tony Madge Evelyn Rowe
CHIEF OFFICER CONDUCT COMMITTEE
Councillors David Foster Joan Jenkins Richard Kingstone Allan Lunn Simon Peaple
CABINET (GRANTS) SUB COMMITTEE
Councillors Steven Claymore Stephen Doyle Robert Pritchard
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(Report of the Leader of the Council) Minutes: The Report of the Leader of the Council seeking to advise Members of the particulars of each urgent executive decision and a summary of the matters in respect of which the decision was made under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) Regulations 2012 Regulation 19 was considered.
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Review of the Constitution and Scheme of Delegation (Report of the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer) Additional documents: Minutes: The Report of the Leader of the Council and Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer seeking to obtain Council comments, endorsement and approval of the reviewed Constitution and Scheme of Delegation was considered.
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Regulation of Members' Conduct (Report of the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer) Minutes: The Report of the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer advising Members on the number of complaints received for the period 01 May 2013 until 30 April 2014 in relation to alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct arsing from implementation of Part 1 Chapter 7 of the Localism Act 2011 which introduced provisions to assist with the regulation of standards of conduct for elected and co-opted Councillors was considered.
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Calendar of Meetings To receive the Calendar of Meetings for 2014/15 Minutes: The Calendar of Meetings for 2014/15 was received and circulated at the meeting.
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Fees and Charges Policy (Report of the Portfolio Holder for Operations and Assets) Additional documents:
Minutes: The Report of the Portfolio Holder for Operations and Assets seeking approval from Council to adopt the Fees and Charges Policy as part of the Council’s Financial Regulations was considered.
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Exclusion of Press and Public RESOLVED: That members of the press and public be now excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that the business involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1, of Part 1 to Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).
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Localism Act 2011 Independent Person (Report of Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer) Minutes: The Report of the Solicitor of the Council and Monitoring Officer providing the outcome of the discussions between the Leader and the selection panel following Council on 18 March 2014 was considered. Three members of Audit and Governance Committee formed a panel and interviewed applicants for the position and appointment of an Independent Person and a reserve Independent Person in terms of the Localism Act 2011. The appointments require recommendation from Council. The report also advises of the allowances and expenses for the Independent Person role.
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