Council Meeting
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COUNCIL MEETING Date: 19 July 2010 Venue: East Northamptonshire House, Cedar Drive, Thrapston Time: 7.30 pm Present: Councillors:- Sue Homer (Chairman) Andy Mercer (Leader of the Council) David Bateman Steven North David Brackenbury Brian Northall Pauline Bradberry JP Sarah Peacock Albert Campbell Ron Pinnock Richard Gell Roger Powell Roger Glithero JP Rupert Reichhold Glenvil Greenwood-Smith John Richardson MBE Philip Hardcastle Anna Sauntson Glenn Harwood MBE Ron Silver Marian Hollomon Robin Underwood Sean Lever Pam Whiting Richard Lewis Clive Wood Peter MacGovern Also Present: Graham Blagden (Chairman of the Standards Board) Father Grant Brockhouse, St. Marys Church, Higham Ferrers 100. PRAYERS Before the commencement of business, at the invitation of the Chairman, prayers were conducted by Father Grant Brockhouse of St. Mary’s Church, Higham Ferrers. 101. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Councillors Peter Bedford, Tony Boto, Sylvia and Dudley Hughes, Barbara Jenney, Eloise Lucille Gill Mercer, Phillip Stearn and Colin Wright sent their apologies. 102. MINUTES The minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 12 May 2010 were approved and signed by the Chairman. 103. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor Roger Powell declared a personal interest in item 11(b) (Manor Park, Rushden) as a resident of Rushden. The following Members declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the items indicated and were not present during the discussion and voting on these items:- Council Meeting – 19 July 2010 Page 109 Members/Co-opted Members Item Nature of Interest Mr Graham Blagden 10(b) Person the subject of the appointment Councillors Marian Hollomon, 11(b) Members of Rushden Town Council Richard Lewis, Andy Mercer, Steven North, Sarah Peacock, Ron Pinnock, Robin Underwood and Clive Wood 104. CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman sought support for the following events:- Civic Service - 5 September 2010 at 11.15 am at St. Mary’s Church, Rushden New York Night - 30 October 2010 (in aid of the Chairman’s charities). 105. LEADER’S ADDRESS There was no address from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Andy Mercer, on this occasion. 106. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES (a) Development Control Committee – 19 May, 9 June and 30 June 2010 The reports of the above Committee, presented by the Chairman, Councillor Pauline Bradberry, were received. (b) Special Licensing Committee – 26 May 2010 The report of the above Committee, presented by the Chairman, Councillor Glenn Harwood, was received. (c) Policy & Resources Committee – 7 June and 5 July 2010 The reports of the above Committee, presented by the Chairman, Councillor Robin Underwood, were received. RESOLVED: That the recommendations in the following minutes be approved:- 35 (7 June 2010) - Waste & Recycling Working Party (Site Waste Management Plans) 55 (5 July 2010) - Delegation to Officers – Closure of Licensed Premises. Council Meeting – 19 July 2010 Page 110 (d) Planning Policy Committee – 14 June 2010 The report of the above Committee, presented by the Chairman, Councillor David Brackenbury, was received. RESOLVED: That the recommendation in minute 55 (Appointment of Councillor Roger Glithero to the Rockingham Masterplan project board) be approved. (e) Scrutiny Committee – 16 June 2010 The report of the above Committee, presented by the Vice-Chairman, Councillor Glenvil Greenwood-Smith, was received. He commented on the Committee's work during the current meetings cycle. (f) Audit & Risk Management Committee – 29 June 2010 The report of the above Committee, presented by Councillor Steven North, was received. He commented on the Committee's work during the current meetings cycle. (g) East Northamptonshire Standards Board – 7 July 2010 The Chairman, Graham Blagden, presented the report of the above meeting and commented on the Board’s work during the current meetings cycle. 107. OTHER REPORTS (a) Representation on Outside Bodies There were no reports. (b) Licensing Panels The minutes of the following Panel meetings were received:- Liquor & Gambling – 22 April 2010 Taxi and Miscellaneous – 13 May, 8 June and 29 June 2010. 108. MOTIONS There were no motions. 109. APPOINTMENTS (a) Knowledge Skills & Behaviours – Councillors Members decided that the suggested Working Party should not be appointed at this stage. Council Meeting – 19 July 2010 Page 111 (b) East Northamptonshire Standards Board – Mr Graham Blagden RESOLVED: That Mr Graham Blagden continue to serve as an Independent member on the Standards Board for a second term of 4 years. (c) Remuneration Working Group Further to minute 38 of the Policy and Resources Committee (7 June 2010), it was RESOLVED: That Councillors Eloise Lucille, Sarah Peacock and John Richardson be appointed to serve on the Remuneration Working Group. 110. BUDGET UPDATE (a) Medium Term Financial Strategy The Chief Finance Officer (CFO) presented a report on the significant changes to local government and public sector finance since the election of the new Government, and the impact of these and other changes on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The salient points in the report were:- • A number of grants and funding streams had been abolished with immediate effect, including the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant and the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme together with the LAA reward grant from 2011/12; these reductions in Government grant all impacted on the MTFS and increased the Council’s budget deficit. • The Government had committed to a Council tax freeze for at least one year • The Comprehensive Area Assessment together with the Organisation, Use of Resources and Managing Performance assessments had been abolished with immediate effect, and this should result in a small expenditure saving to the Council in terms of reduced audit fees. • The Government would make £17bn of cuts in departmental spending by 2014/15 so ‘unprotected departments’ such as Communities and Local Government faced an average cut of around 25% over four years; this compared to an assumed 15% cut over three years in the MTFS • Interest rates remained subdued and the returns on interest in the MTFS would need to be reduced • A further reduction in the Formula (General) Grant from Government would increase the loss in 2011/12 from about £333k to some £665k • The transfer of responsibility for concessionary fares to NCC would result in loss of grant Council Meeting – 19 July 2010 Page 112 • Changes in the cost of borrowing for Manor Park and a more realistic management fee would increase the revenue burden. The changes outlined above had the effect of increasing the deficits on the budgets for the next four years to the following levels:- Financial Year Deficit £ 2010/11 1,553,000 2011/12 2,516,000 2012/13 2,486,000 2013/14 2,651,000 The CFO emphasised the need to bring forward proposals to balance the budget over the life of the MTFS and to maintain adequate reserves. Members recognised the challenge ahead but believed the savings could be identified and decisions made after reasoned argument without serious consequences to staff or to critical or essential services delivered by the Council. The work already undertaken by the Budget Review Group in identifying revenue savings of about £1m over the past fifteen months or so and the measured approach being followed were welcomed and acknowledged, and it was confirmed that a further meeting of the Group would be held on 26 July to recommend the areas for further savings. RESOLVED: That the increase in budget deficits be noted and that the Budget Review Group continue to identify and bring forward budget savings to balance the budget over the next four years. (b) Manor Park, Rushden Further to minute 218(b) of the Council meeting in 2 November 2009, Members considered a report from the Chief Finance Officer setting out the risks and likely consequences of proceeding, or not proceeding, with the Manor Park Leisure Project, bearing in mind the current financial and economic climate, and the need for the Council to make further substantial savings as outlined in minute 110(a) above. It was noted that there remained uncertainty over grant funding for the project. Councillor Philip Hardcastle, the Council’s representative on the project board, believed that the Council’s aims of securing cost-effective leisure facilities in the south of the District and facilitating the regeneration of Rushden remained valid, but in the light of the current economic landscape and the consideration of options for cost savings it would not be appropriate to continue at this stage with the competitive dialogue with shortlisted contractors. Members generally felt that the Council had no choice but to bring a halt to the current process towards securing the provision of the Manor Park Leisure Centre in view of the changed financial and economic circumstances since the decision taken in November. However, they reiterated their support for the regeneration of Rushden and expressed the hope that funding could be secured for the achievement of this objective. Council Meeting – 19 July 2010 Page 113 It was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED: That the Council disengage from the competitive dialogue with shortlisted contractors for the Manor Park Leisure Project and that the Project be postponed and reconsidered when the economic situation improves. Chairman Council Meeting – 19 July 2010 Page 114 DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE Date: 21 July 2010 Venue: East Northamptonshire House, Cedar Drive, Thrapston Time: 7.30pm Present: Councillors: - Pauline Bradberry JP (Chairman) Andy Mercer (Leader of the Council) Wendy Brackenbury Roger Powell Albert Campbell John Richardson MBE Roger Glithero JP Anna Sauntson Glenn Harwood MBE Pam Whiting Brian Northall Clive Wood Ron Pinnock 111. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2010 were approved and signed by the Chairman. 112. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Councillors Lisa Costello, Sylvia Hughes, Gill Mercer (Vice Chairman) and Robin Underwood sent their apologies. 113. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST AND INFORMAL SITE VISITS No declarations of interest or informal site visits were made. 114.