Agenda and minutes

None

The minutes of the meeting held on 26^th November 2014 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor M Gant and seconded by Councillor S Peaple)

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. 

There were no Declarations of Interest.

Announcement by the Mayor

I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and I hope that 2015 is a good year for everyone.

We will be losing two members of staff, I wish Lara all the very best. Jane Eason has been a help to many of us in a variety of different ways. I hope she enjoys her new role with the fire service.

A long standing ex Councillor Chippie Lees is unwell and in Sunningdale Nursing Home.

Announcement by Councillor D Cook

I’d like to re-iterate the email that I’ve already sent. I advised back in August that I would review the Cabinet structure. The structure that was emailed became effective from Wednesday 10 December as per the notice given to the Chief Executive. According to the rules in the constitution, I have also the following champions:

            Councillor J Chesworth – Digital Champion

            Councillor J Goodall – Skills Champion

            Councillor M Greatorex – Heritage Champion

(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

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL                NO.1

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor C Cooke will ask the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Education, Councillor S Claymore, the following question:-

“Could the portfolio holder for redevelopment of the Kerria  and Tinkers Green redevelopment please tell me how many tenants have been decanted from the Tinkers Green and Kerria redevelopment scheme so far and the breakdown (as far as is known) as to what housing they have decanted into (that is into council housing, registered social landlord housing, or other type of accommodation).”

Councillor S Claymore gave the following reply:

Phase 1 (bungalows at Cottage & Leisure Walk)

14 affected tenants who were all decanted to Council properties

Phase 2 (Hastings Close)

33 affected tenants of which 26 have been decanted to other council properties and 7 decanted to Registered Provider properties.  All have therefore been provided with a alternative Social Housing.

Supplementary Question

41 people decanted in total, putting a strain on available housing and useable Council stock.  Would it have been better done as a phased development to reduce the strain on the housing stock?

Councillor S Claymore gave the following reply:

The simple answer is no it wouldn’t.

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL                NO.2

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor C Cooke will ask the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor S Peaple, the following question:-

“1100 houses are set to be built on the Golf Course and this has been integrated into the New Draft Local Plan – apparently done so well before any decision was due to be taken on closing the Golf Course. Like the Anker Valley site, the Golf Course is even being labelled as a “strategic” housing development site. So, once it is accepted and established within the Local Plan, it will bind planning councillors and be virtually impossible to change even if Labour do take power in Tamworth next year.  How will this affect the Labour Group’s declared policy of using the Golf Course land for leisure purposes?”

Councillor S Peaple gave the following reply:

The policy of the Labour Group remains unchanged.  We voted to remove the golf course from the local plan and continue to believe that the housing that might be built there does not serve the needs of the residents of Tamworth but rather the demands of the National House Builders Federation and other powerful interest groups driven by the motive of profit.  Given his views on the Amington development, I believe that Councillor Cooke was mistaken in voting for Councillor Daniel Cook to be Leader of the Council in 2013 and 2014.

Supplementary Question

Isn’t it true that if Labour accepts figures of housing needs in Tamworth then they are accepting the policy.

Councillor S Peaple gave the following reply:

I appreciate and hope you are enjoying your final year as an independent conservative.  The serious point is that you have decided you can’t do anything about it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

(Report of Portfolio Holder for Operations and Assets)

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Operations and Assets to advise Members of the results and feedback from the recently undertaken consultation on the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 2015/16 and that the Scheme for working age customers for 2015/16 should include an uprating to Applicable Amounts was considered.

As a result of a named vote it was:

Named Vote for Amendment

FOR                                        AGAINST                                    ABSTAIN

Councillor J Chesworth        Councillor M Clarke       Councillor C Cooke

Councillor S Claymore         Councillor M Couchman

Councillor T Clements          Councillor J Faulkner

Councillor D Cook                Councillor D Foster

Councillor S Doyle                Councillor G Hirons

Councillor M Gant                 Councillor J Jenkins

Councillor J Goodhall           Councillor T Madge 

Councillor M Greatorex        Councillor M McDermid

Councillor A James              Councillor K Norchi

Councillor R Kingstone         Councillor Dr S Peaple

Councillor A Lunn                  Councillor T Peaple

Councillor M Oates               Councillor P Seekings

Councillor R Pritchard          Councillor P Standen

Councillor E Rowe

Councillor M Thurgood

A motion was made to make the following amendments:

a)        That recommendation 4 be deleted and replaced with a new recommendation 4 with the inclusion of child maintenance.

(Moved by Councillor M Couchman and seconded by Councillor S Peaple)

This motion was not carried.

(Report of Portfolio Holder for Operations and Assets)

The Report of the Portfolio Holder for Operations and Assets presenting to Members the Mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy was considered.

(Report of Portfolio Holder for Environment and Waste Management)

The Report of the Portfolio Holder Environment and Waste Management seeking consideration of the Revised Statement of Licensing Policy 2015-2020 and refer to Council for adoption on 16 December 2014was considered.

(Report of Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer)

The Report of the Solicitor & Monitoring Officer seeking to inform Members of the outcome of the visit from the Office of Surveillance Commissioner on 6th October 2014 and to advise Members of the proposed changes to the RIPA policy was considered.