Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Ara, Braidwood, Coleman-Cooke, Crittenden (who arrived later in the meeting), Farrance, Paul Moore and Pugh.  It was noted that apologies were not required from former Councillor Constantine as she had recently resigned from her position as a District Councillor.

2.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 138 KB

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 5 December 2019, copy attached.

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice Chairman and agreed, that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 5 December 2019 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

 

3.

Announcements

To receive any announcements from the Chairman, Leader, Members of the Cabinet or Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2 (iv).

Minutes:

No announcements were made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2 (iv).

4.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 87 KB

To receive any declarations of interest.  Members are advised to consider the advice contained within the Declaration of Interest advice attached to this Agenda.  If a Member declares an interest, they should complete the Declaration of Interest Form 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.  The Monitoring Officer advised that there was a general dispensation available to all Members to allow consideration of the Members Allowances Scheme item.

5.

2020-21 Treasury Management Strategy pdf icon PDF 403 KB

  • View the background to item 5.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was proposed by Councillor Yates, seconded by the Leader and Members agreed that the recommendation set out in the report be agreed, namely:

 

“That Council approves this report and annexes”

 

 

6.

2020-21 Budget pdf icon PDF 374 KB

  • View the background to item 6.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was noted that in accordance with council procedure rule 17.6, a recorded vote would be taken on the motion or any amendments and substantive motions.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Yates and seconded by the Leader, that the recommendations set out in the report be agreed, namely:

 

“Council approves the recommendation from Cabinet as follows:

 

1. That the General Fund revenue budget estimates for 2020-21 are approved, assuming a £4.95 increase in Council Tax for a Band D.

 

2. That the HRA budget estimates for 2020-21 are approved, assuming a CPI+1% (i.e. 2.7%) increase in social rents and a freeze in affordable rents for relevant council properties.

 

3.  That the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account capital programmes

(Annexes 1&2) for 2020-24 are approved.

 

5. That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for 2020-21 as shown in Annex 3 is approved.

 

6. That the Section 151 Officer’s Assurance Statement as set out in section 14 of this report is approved.

 

7. That subject to funding availability, a resource be identified to support coastal projects.

 

The Monitoring Officer conducted a recorded vote on the motion as follows:

 

24 Members voted in favour the motion: Councillors Albon, Bailey, Campbell, Currie, Dennis, Duckworth, Everitt, Garner, Hopkinson, Huxley, Keen, Pat Moore, Ovenden, L Piper, S Piper, Potts, Rawf, Roper, Rusiecki, Scobie, Taylor, Whitehead, Wing, Yates.

 

No Members voted against the motion.

 

23 Members abstained from voting on the motion: Councillors Ashbee, Bambridge, J Bayford, R Bayford, Boyd, Day, Dexter, Fellows, Game, Green, Gregory, Hart, Kup, Parsons, Rogers, D Saunders, M Saunders, Savage, Scott, Shrubb, Tomlinson, Towning, Wright.

 

The motion was carried.

 

 

 

 

7.

Members Allowances Scheme 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

  • View the background to item 7.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman, that Members agree the recommendation as shown in the report, namely:

 

To adopt the proposed 2020/21 Members allowances scheme as set out at annex 1 to this report and to refer the scheme to EKJIRP for them to consider, with any amendments being reported back to Council.”

 

Councillor S. Piper proposed an amendment to the  motion, seconded by Councillor Rusiecki, that there should be a £2000.00 per annum special responsibility allowance for the chair of the General Purposes Committee.

 

Upon being put to the vote this amendment was declared lost.

 

Following further debate, the substantive motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

 

Councillor Crittenden joined the meeting during consideration of this item.

 

8.

Standing Orders in Relation to Staff pdf icon PDF 180 KB

  • View the background to item 8.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Game, that recommendations ‘a’ to ‘e’ as set out in the report be agreed, namely:

 

a) to create an Investigation and Disciplinary Sub-Committee and a Disciplinary Appeals Sub-Committee as sub-committees of the General Purposes Committee , as set out in Annex 1;

b) to appoint an Independent Persons Panel, agree its terms of reference, as set out in Annex 1, and agree that it should comprise three Independent Persons;

c) to agree to pay a fee to Independent Persons appointed to the Independent Persons Panel equal to the agreed rate paid in respect of their role in advising Council on Councillor Conduct issues;

d) to amend the Employment Rules, as set out in Annex 2;

e) to delegate to the Committee Services Manager authority to invite and appoint members to serve on the Independent Persons Panel as set out in paragraph 5 of the report.’

 

And that recommendations ‘f’ and ‘g’ be returned to the Standards Committee for consideration, namely;

 

f) to delegate authority to the Chief Executive (in consultation with the Leader or Chairman of the Investigation and Disciplinary Sub-Committee) to immediately suspend the Monitoring Officer or Section 151 Officer where their remaining presence at work poses a serious risk to an investigation, to the health and safety of others, or to the resources, information or reputation of the council. The General Purposes Committee shall review the suspension as soon as is practicable and in any event no later than two months following the original decision to suspend.

g) to delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer (in consultation with the Leader or Chairman of the Investigation and Disciplinary Sub-Committee) to immediately suspend the Chief Executive, where their remaining presence at work poses a serious risk to an investigation, to the health and safety of others, or to the resources, information or reputation of the council. The General Purposes Committee shall review the suspension as soon as is practicable and in any event no later than two months following the original decision to suspend”.