Minutes of Council Meeting Held on 20 February 2013
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WARWICK DISTRICT COUNCIL Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 20 February 2013, at the Town Hall, Royal Leamington Spa at 6.05 pm. PRESENT: Councillor Kinson (Chairman); Councillors Barrott, Mrs Blacklock, Boad, Brookes, Mrs Bunker, Caborn, Coker, Copping, Cross, Davies, Ms De- Lara-Bond, Dean, Doody, Edwards, Mrs Falp, Mrs Gallagher, Gifford, Gill, Mrs Goode, Guest, Hammon, Heath, Mrs Higgins, Illingworth, Kirton, MacKay, Mobbs, Pittarello, Sawdon, Shilton, Mrs Syson, Vincett, Weed, Wilkinson, Williams and Wreford-Bush. Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Bromley, Mrs Grainger, Mrs Knight, Mrs Mellor and Weber. 70. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. 71. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23 January 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. At the request of the Chairman Councillor Doody, Leader of the Executive responded to two previous questions which he had been unable to respond to at the time: (a) In response to the question regarding the low lighting level in the Chamber, the Leader explained that this had been caused by engineers servicing the lighting and failing to reset the lights to the correct level; and (b) In response to the question from Councillor Rhead regarding the sustainability plan and Manager he informed Council he had responded to Councillor Rhead in writing and would circulate the response to all Councillors. 72. COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman made the following announcements and communications: (1) The Chairman reminded all Councillors about the roll out from 1 April and encouraged them to attend one of the recycling roadshows; and (2) The Chairman informed the Council that the Warwick School Under 18s and Under 15s Rugby teams had both reached the semi final of the national school championships. (The Chairman explained that there had been no submissions for consideration under agenda: item 5, Public Interest Debate; item 6, Petitions; item 7 Notices of Motion; item 8, Public Submissions; item 9, Questions to Committee Chairmen; and item 10, Questions to Portfolio Holders.) 34 73. LEADER’S AND PORTFOLIO HOLDERS’ STATEMENTS Councillor Vincett, Portfolio Holder for Housing & Property Services, updated Council on the delivery of the Housing and Property Services strategic objectives as laid out in the Housing Business Plan of delivering more affordable homes and continuing investment in existing housing – both Council owned and private sector. In 2012 22 new affordable homes had been completed in Leamington, and a further 95 new homes were planned for completion across the District by the end of 2013. In addition to the W2 Joint Venture and working with other registered providers, the Housing & Property Services Department had also embarked on a project with PWC to find out how to accelerate and increase the number of new homes to be delivered by the Business Plan. As well as new build, Housing & Property Services had a variety of work streams which were increasing the availability of housing in the District. For example, they had released 24 under occupied bedrooms via the Tenants Incentive Grant scheme and brought back 47 private sector empty properties into use. As well as maintaining the existing Council portfolio to a high standard, they were embarking on ambitious and exciting energy efficiency projects including installing 170 PV Panels and 26 Biomass Boilers which they had won an award for. They were supporting customers and residents to sustain their tenancies and to continue to live in safe and comfortable environment. Customers were at the heart of what they did and having just completed the largest ever customer satisfaction survey, they had achieved an overall satisfaction score from tenants of 87%. This had all been achieved and more, whilst out performing the Business Plan which was currently forecasting a surplus over 50 years of around £9m. Councillor Shilton, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services, made two announcements: (i) He reminded Council that the new major contracts started from 1 April 2013 and that there was a briefing for all Councillors about this on 4 March 2013, before Group meetings; and (ii) He informed Council that he had received a letter of thanks from the Chairman of Warwickshire County Council, Councillor Doody, for the work undertaken by Warwick District Council and its contractors to keep the Town Centres clear of snow during the recent adverse weather. 74. QUESTIONS FOR THE LEADER Councillor Boad asked the Leader of the Council: “If he knew that Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service would be hardwiring fire alarms to Council properties and that it was not acceptable for District Councillors to find out about this via a tweet from Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service” In response, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Doody, explained that he was not aware of this and agreed with sentiment that District Councillors should not have found out through a tweet by Fire & Rescue Service. 35 Councillor Barrott asked the Leader of the Council: “If in relation to recommendation 2.8 of the budget papers regarding the Job Skills and Economic Delivery Plan that there will be consideration to a Local Enterprise Zone in the Sydenham Estate?” In response, Councillor Doody explained that he had visited this site as part of the Local Plan coach trip for Councillors. It was envisaged that this site was likely to be within the Local Plan, possibly for housing, because it was a brown field site, or as part of an enterprise zone, however, the Council would have to wait to see any proposals in the Local Plan in a couple of months time. 76. SETTING OF THE COUNCIL TAX 2013/14 (A) It was moved by Councillor Mobbs and duly seconded that the recommendations contained in the minute headed “Budget 2013/14 and Council Tax Revenue and Capital” as set out in the report of the Executive meeting held on 13 February 2013, be approved and adopted. The original proposal was then put and RESOLVED that the recommendations contained in minute 145 headed “Budget 2013/14 and Council Tax Revenue and Capital” as set out in the report of the Executive meeting held on 13 February 2013, be approved and adopted. (B) It was moved by Councillor Mobbs, duly seconded and RESOLVED that the following recommendations set out in the report of the responsible Financial Officer be approved and adopted: (i) Warwick District Council Budget That the following, as set out in the budget reports and Estimates Book ((a) the revenue estimates for 2013/14 and (b) the capital programme for 2013/14), be approved:- (ii) Warwick District Tax Base The Council notes the following amounts for the year 2013/14 in accordance with regulations made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:- (a) £48,530.30 being the amount calculated, in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 as amended, as its council tax base for the year; 36 (b) Part of the Council's Area PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL Band D Equivalents Baddesley Clinton £76.27 Baginton £294.70 Barford, Sherbourne & £767.65 Wasperton Beausale, Haseley, Honiley & £320.44 Wroxall Bishops Tachbrook £951.16 Bubbenhall £312.26 Budbrooke £741.51 Burton Green £429.51 Bushwood £10.73 Cubbington £1,440.17 Eathorpe, Hunningham, £287.62 Offchurch, Wappenbury Hatton £929.99 Kenilworth £9,372.31 Lapworth £940.86 Leamington Spa £14,856.25 Leek Wootton £525.68 Norton Lindsey £214.50 Old Milverton & Blackdown £189.94 Radford Semele £784.56 Rowington £528.07 Shrewley £414.52 Stoneleigh & Ashow £512.16 Warwick £10,665.45 Weston -under -Wetherley £191.07 being the amounts calculated, in accordance with regulation 6 of the Regulations as amended, as the amounts of its council tax base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area; (iii) Calculation of Warwick District Council Council Tax, including parish/town council precepts That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2013/14 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended:- (a) £91,497,695 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) (a) to (f) of the Act ( Gross Expenditure including parish/town council precepts ); (b) £83,248,240 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) (a) to (d) of the Act ( Gross Income ); 37 (c) £8,249,455, being the amount by which the aggregate at (iii) (a) above exceeds the aggregate at (iii) (b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax Requirement for the year; (d) £169.99, being the amount at (iii) (c) above divided by the amount at (ii) (a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year ( Average Warwick District Council Tax, including parish/town precepts ); (e) £1,122,295, being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act ( Total parish/town council precepts ); (f) £146.86, being the amount at (iii) (d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (iii) (e) above by the amount at (ii) (a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates ( Warwick District Council Tax excluding parish/town council