Minutes of meeting of the FULL COUNCIL held on Wednesday, 22 February, 2017 in Civic Community Hall, Vicarage Lane, HAILSHAM (10.00 a.m. to 11.18 a.m.) PRESENT: Councillors C Hardy (Chairman), P Doodes (Vice-Chairman), D Angel, J Bentley, B Bowdler, L Clark, N Collinson, N Coltman, P Dixon, P Ede, H Firth, J Fox, R Galley, R Grocock, J Hollins, P Holloway, T Illingworth, S Isted, M Lunn, P Lunn, B Marlowe, R Moore, K Moss, D Murray, A Newton, A O'Rawe, M Pinkney, C Reynolds, G Rose, Dr B Redman, P Roundell, R Reed, W Rutherford, D Shing, O L Shing, S Shing, A Snell, R Standley, S Stedman, R Thomas, J Towey, C Triandafyllou, P Waldock, N Waller, G Wells, D White and J Wilton. APOLOGIES: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K Balsdon, B Dashwood-Morris, D Dear, C Dowling, J Dunk, J Howell and R Shing. 17/38 MINUTES' SILENCE AND TRIBUTE At the commencement of the meeting the Chairman paid tribute to Karen Avard (Customer Services Officer), who had sadly passed away following a short illness. He stated: “Karen started working for the Council on 30 January 1997 as a temporary receptionist for the Lagoon Leisure Centre. Even if you did not meet Karen personally you may well have spoken to her on the phone as she moved to a permanent position in telephony in December 1998, back in the days when we had switchboard operators. She worked as part of a small but dedicated team along with Lindsey Cole and Rena Goodchild. Following the adoption of a contact centre, Karen moved to Customer Services where she spent the past five years. Karen always had time for people whether customers or colleagues and would be happy to chat about her favourite team, Liverpool. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Karen’s husband - Tony, daughter - Nicole and granddaughter – Jessica at this very difficult time. Karen will be greatly missed by all of her colleagues.” The tribute was followed by Members of the Council standing in silence for one minute in memory of Karen. 17/39 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting. 17/40 MINUTES RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2016, as printed and circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 17/41 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chairman of the Council made the following announcements: (1) It was highlighted that one of his charities, the JPK Sussex Project, was working to provide a supported living centre for people with a learning disability in the Eastbourne and the South Wealden area, and was currently building a centre in Eastbourne. This would comprise 8 semi- independent flat-lets and 16 en suite studio apartments, an activity centre and a community training centre. He asked Members to help him support this and his other charity, at the Chairman’s reception to be held on 14 July 2017 at Herstmonceux Castle. (2) The Chairman advised that this was the last day at Wealden for Amanda Hodge, the Head of Policy and Community Services, before taking up her new role as a Director at Sussex Housing and Care in March. He spoke of her excellent work since first joining the Council in 2000, and that she had been the driving force behind some amazing achievements in the Council’s housing service over the past ten years, including two phases of new council house building, revamping of the Council’s retirement living provision and the launch of a commercial housing company, Sussex Weald Homes. He thanked Amanda for her fantastic contribution to the work of the Council, and wished her all the best in her new job. (3) The Chairman reminded Members that there would be an additional Full Council meeting at 10 am on 22 March 2017 to consider the draft Local Plan. (4) It was noted that at the last meeting it had been indicated Michael Ensor (Chairman of East Sussex County Council) would be attending this meeting. Unfortunately he was away in Israel and had sent his apologies, but the Chairman would extend a further invitation in due course. (5) The Chairman congratulated Councillor Daniel Shing and his wife Cleverley on the birth of their daughter Adelina. 17/42 PETITION Paul Humphreys attended the meeting to present a petition to the Chairman, of which notice had been received pursuant to Part 4, Council Procedure Rule 5 of the Council’s Constitution, that “We the undersigned petition the Council to Ensure that the Cuckoo Trail is developed, extended and protected as the main ‘traffic free’ route in South Wealden”, which had received 18 signatures. The Chairman confirmed that it would be reported to the next appropriate meeting of the Local Plan Sub-Committee. 17/43 UNRESERVED ITEMS FROM THE LEADER’S REPORT ON BEHALF OF THE CABINET RESOLVED to receive the following paragraphs of the Leader’s Report and note and agreed the recommendations therein: Items dealt with under delegation by the Cabinet: 1. Performance Report - Quarter 2 2016/17 (CAB 59/2016-LGF) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 1) 2. Financial Management 2016/17 - Quarter 2 Forecast to Year End (CAB 60/2016-LGF/HB) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 2) 3. Annual Report for 2016 on Equalities, Health and Safety and Workforce Matters (CAB 63/2016-CLHR) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 5) 4. Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk (CAB 64/2016-CLHR) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 6) 5. Fees and Charges 2017/18 (CAB 6/2017-LGF) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 7) 6. Annual Audit Letter 2015/16 (CAB 7/2017-LGF) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 8) Items dealt with under delegation by Individual Portfolio Holders: 7. The Unauthorised Deposit of Waste (Fixed Penalties) Regulations 2016 (IND 57/2016-PD) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 9) 8. Response to Highways England Consultation on improvements to the A27 East of Lewes (IND 58/2016-PD) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 10) 9. Calculation of the Council Tax Base 2017/18 (IND 65/2016-HB) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 11) 10. Local Plan Annual Monitoring Report 2015/16 (IND 66/2016-PD) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 12) 11. Adoption of the Wealden Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Policy (IND 67/2016- PD) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 13) 12. Consultation Response to 'Funding for Supported Housing' (IND 01/2017- HB) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 14) 13. Estimate of Collection Fund Surplus for Distribution (IND 2/2017-LGF) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 15) 14. Wealden Community Grants Programme under £25,000 (IND 09/2017- PHCS) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 16) 15. Approval of NNDR1 Form 2017/18 (IND 11/2017-HB) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 17) Item containing recommendations to Council by Cabinet: 16. Members' Allowances 2017/18 (Recommendation to Council) (CAB 8/2017-CLHR) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 21) Item containing recommendations to Council by Individual Portfolio Holders: 17. Bid to DCLG - Wealden CAB Community Advice Project (Recommendation to Council) (IND 12/2017-PHCS) (Leader’s Report Paragraph 23) (Note: Councillor Moore arrived at the meeting at 10.13 am during this item). 17/44 GENERAL FUND AND COUNCIL TAX RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL 2017/18 Councillor Standley proposed and Councillor Collinson seconded acceptance of the recommendation for the Council's General Fund Budget and Council Tax for 2017/18. Councillor Standley introduced the budget as follows: "First thanks to the Finance Team for the work that goes into formulating the budget. Last year I started the budget speech with assurances to members that the finances of the Council were on a firm financial standing, and I am pleased to say that is still the case. The last 12 months has seen the Council produce a surplus on the General Fund Account, despite the continued but expected reduction in Central Government funding. In 2015/16 the Revenue Support Grant was £2.3m and in 2016/17 this reduces to £288k, and zero in the following years. The budget before you today predicts a deficit in the next year of £704k, with smaller deficits in the following two years. These deficits will be covered by a transfer from reserves of £950k with a balanced budget from 2019/2020 onwards. The decisions we have taken in recent years means we have sufficient reserves to cover that deficit. The Medium Term Financial Strategy to 2021/2022 required income generation or savings of totaling £650k. Whilst the Council has always taken a prudent approach to finance and has rightly not presumed income will be generated, I am reasonably confident that the housing company and more particularly the crematorium will give increased income over the MTFS period to cover the majority of the savings/ income target over the next few years. I have always been an advocate for less state control and low taxation but that has to be balanced with the need to provide the services to our residents and encourage economic prosperity. The increase proposed in the Council Tax this year is £5 a year for a Band D household. Given some respondents to the consultation thought that the increase only applied to a Band D, I should emphasise that all Council Tax banding are converted to a Band D equivalent. The proposed increase is approximately 10p a week for Band D is therefore 20p a week for Band H, 7 pence a week for Band A. For the most disadvantaged there is as Council Tax support scheme in place. Turning to capital spend and in particular to the New Homes Bonus. New Homes Bonus has given this Council a significant amount of funding for capital.