Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T Madge and Councillor M Thurgood

The minutes of the meeting held on 24^th February 2015 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor D Cook 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 made by Councillor S Peaple with regards to the retirement of Councillor D Foster and Councillor J Jenkins:-

Dave Foster is not standing this time. He has served wonderfully and was a past Mayor. He has always given sound advice and has made many contributions and pays careful thought to everything. I would like to thank him for his service to the town.

Joan Jenkins was a past Mayor and has contributed marvellously to the Committees. She has contributed in a thoughtful manner and been very active within the party.

Councillor D Foster replied:-

Thank you for your kind words. I bid you a fond farewell. I have not been as active due to work priorities. Please continue to carry on the good work on both sides of the chamber. Maybe I will come back and join you one day! I wish you all the best for the future. Thank you.

Councillor J Jenkins replied:-

Thank you for having me. I took the place of Brian Beale through illness. I will be spending more time playing my cello and piano and spending time with my dogs. I will still be around Wilnecote.

Announcement made by Councillor D Cook with regards the retirement of Councillor C Cooke retiring:-

Chris Cooke is retiring. I would love to say I’ll miss him and the conversations around fluoridation. I would like to convey a mutual respect between us.

You were very good at resolving issues. Thank you for all your years of service.

Councillor C Cooke replied:-

I was not expecting another party member to comment but I do get on well with Councillor Cook. I have never been a past Mayor being Independent and this announcement may be a little premature. I have enjoyed my time at the Council and I am pleased that I have been recognised by Danny and his party. Best wishes to all members. Thank you

Announcement made by Councillor D Cook with regard to the Licensing Policy:-

The proposal to revise the Licensing Policy to extend the Cumulative Impact Area to Lichfield Street has been reviewed by the Police and there is no requirement to extend the Cumulative Impact Area.

Motion carried under rule 4.13 (c) to move Agenda item 9 to item 6

(Moved by Councillor P Standen and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

(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 PUBLIC NO. 1

Under Procedure Rule No 10, Alice Couchman will ask the Portfolio Holder for Operations and Assets, Councillor R Pritchard, the following question:-

“How much money had the Council saved by removing staff from the public toilets in the Castle Grounds?”

Councillor R Pritchard gave the following reply:-

Thank you for your question, I do not have the information to hand thus a written response will be supplied.

Supplementary Question:-

“Given that the toilets in the Castle Grounds are now closed due to vandalism can you say that this cost of unstaffed toilets was worth the saving?”

Councillor R Pritchard gave the following reply:-

I cannot agree this could have happened with staff in place.

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL NO. 1

Under Procedure Rule No 11, Councillor M Couchman will ask the Leader of the Council, Councillor D Cook, the following question:-

“As you are aware a considerable number of healthy mature trees have been cut down in Hayle and Medway. Can you tell me what environmental works are to be undertaken to improve the eyesore that residents have to endure?”

Councillor D Cook gave the following reply:-

Councillor Couchman you will already know that the Head of Landlord Services along with Senior Managers from Street Scene met with yourself on the 6^th February to discuss and agree a series of actions in relation to Belgrave.

Actions included, which are now completed included:-

1. Overhanging trees in Hayle – Street Scene have confirmed that 9 Ash trees have been removed following community consultation

2. Preventative tree works in Medway are planned for today (Tuesday 17^th March) and involve removal - again as highlighted by the Councils arboriculturist following community concerns.

In addition as you are aware the planned/preventative tree maintenance programme for 2014/15 has already been communicated and completed.  For Belgrave this included the works identified above.

Supplementary Question:-

“I have been told by officers that there is no budget for any environmental works, would you not agree that there should have been a plan and this is just not good enough for the residents?”

Councillor D Cook gave the following reply:-

Over the last few years the Council has seen a marked increase in tree related requests from residents predominately within HRA estates throughout the Borough.

Many of these estates were built between the mid 1970’s through to the mid 1980’s with the associated landscaping undertaken following construction work. Unfortunately this included dense tree planting in many cases, inappropriate tree species such as Oak, Ash, Plane, Lime, Sycamore, Alder etc which now almost 40 years on are resulting in issues for both Council tenants and property owners.

Following felling, tree stumps remain which is not unusual and in this area has not posed any health and safety issues. In some areas the stumps will be ground out to prevent trip hazards but only where this is assessed as necessary.

Officers are currently reviewing, under the HRA planned environmental works,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

(Petition to be presented by the petition organiser Carol Dean)

A motion proposed by the Mayor and was seconded by Councillor D Cook under Rule 4.13 (n) to restrict the length of the speeches to three minutes as opposed to ten minutes under Rule 4.14.4 was approved

A motion proposed by Councillor P Standen and seconded by Councillor S Peaple under Rule 4.13 (n) to extend the time for debate on the petition to one hour as opposed to 15 minutes was defeated.

Petition presented by the petition organiser Carol Dean

(Report of the Chair of Audit & Governance Committee) (To Follow)

The Report of the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee advising members on the action taken by the Audit and Governance Committee for the municipal year 2014/2015 was considered.

(Report of the Chair of Aspire and Prosper Scrutiny Committee) (To Follow)

(Report of the Chair of Healthier and Safer Scrutiny Committee) (To Follow)

The Annual Report of the Chair of Aspire and Prosper Scrutiny Committee were received.

The Annual Report of the Chair of Healthier and Safer Scrutiny Committee were received.

The Report of the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer to advise Council of the recommendations of the Members Independent Remuneration Panel who have recently undertaken a review of Members Allowances in accordance with regulations was considered.

A motion proposed by Councillor S Peaple and seconded by Councillor M Couchman to reduce all Special Responsibility Allowances by 50% (with the exception of the Mayor) was defeated.

(Report of the Leader Of The Council)

The Report of the Leader of the Council to approve the Council’s Pay Policy Statement was considered.

(Report of the Chief Executive)

The Report of the Chief Executive to advise Members of the need to relocate the polling place for the TR4 and TR5 polling districts from Dosthill Primary School to Dosthill Boys Club as the preferred alternative location following appeal and subsequent review by Officers and the Electoral Commission was considered.