Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on:

The minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Council held on 6^th December 2017 and the Extraordinary meetings of 6^th December 2017, 19^th December 2017 and 25^th January 2018 were approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Council, the Leader, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive

The Vice-Chairman of the Council, in the Chair:

·        Reminded Members that this was the last meeting of full Council Tom Crowley would be attending as Chief Executive, as he was retiring on 9^th April 2018 after almost 13 years in post.  All Members joined the Vice-Chairman in thanking Mr Crowley for his long, loyal and valuable service and in wishing him well for his future ventures.  Tom Crowley responded, thanking Members for their good wishes.

·        Thanked the emergency services for their response to a number of incidents in the District over the preceding weekend.  He indicated that he would be writing to the relevant services to express the Council’s gratitude.

·        Referred to the recent death of Roger Wilton, a member of the Council from 2003 to 2007 and a member and past chairman of North Horsham Parish Council.

The Cabinet Members for Community & Wellbeing and Planning & Development referred to the Vice-Chairman’s earlier announcement and added their thanks for the contributions made by the local communities in their respective wards (specifically Barns Green and Southwater) in dealing with the incidents that had occurred over the weekend.

The Cabinet Member for Community & Wellbeing advised Members of progress being made in respect of increasing the number of areas covered by Neighbourhood Warden schemes.

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Cleansing:

·        Reported that the Horsham Repair Café had been nominated by Jeremy Quin MP for a Green Heart Hero Award.  The award winners would be announced on 13^th March 2018.

·        Advised Members that the introduction of the new waste and recycling service was going well so far.  He paid tribute to the Waste Services team and all other officers involved in the implementation of the service for the effective way in which it had been achieved.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection advised that the Council had been nominated for an IESE Public Sector Transformation Award for its Virtual Reality for Health initiative.  The award winners would be announced on 6^th March 2018.

Councillor Liz Kitchen gave a brief update regarding the Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee (GATCOM), with particular reference to ongoing work and consultation on airspace changes.

To receive questions from the public under Rules 4a.2(f) and 4a.8-18

No questions relevant to the business of the meeting had been received.

To receive questions from Members under Rules 4a.20(b)-25

No questions had been received.

(a)        CenSus Joint Committee – 8^th December 2017

Councillor Brian Donnelly, a Member of the Committee, moved the recommendation contained in Minute No. 6 of the meeting of the CenSus Joint Committee held on 8^th December 2017 proposing the dissolution of the Joint Committee with effect from 1^st April 2018.  Councillor David Coldwell seconded the proposal.

            RESOLVED

            That the dissolution of the Census Joint Committee from 1^st April 2018 be approved and that it be removed from the Constitution from that date.

            REASON

            Given the small work programme, on technology services only, still covered by the shared services it is no longer necessary for the Councils to have a formal Constituted Joint Committee to oversee this work or set strategic direction.

(b)        Audit Committee – 13^th December 2017

Councillor Stuart Ritchie, Chairman of the Committee, moved the recommendations contained in Minute AAG/76 of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 13^th December 2017 proposing the approval of the Treasury Management Strategy and Treasury Management Indicators for 2018/19.  Councillor John Chidlow seconded the proposal.

            RESOLVED

(i)         That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2018/19 be approved.

(ii)        That the Treasury Management Indicators for 2018/19 be approved.

REASONS

(i)         The council has adopted the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice 2011 Edition (the CIPFA Code) which requires the Council to approve a treasury management strategy before the start of each financial year.

(ii)        The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) issued revised guidance on local authority investments in March 2010 that requires the Council to approve an investment strategy before the start of each financial year.

Please note the attached addendum to the original report to Cabinet

 (The report of the Director of Corporate Resources to Cabinet on the 2018/19 Budget and the Medium Term Financial Strategy is online at: Cabinet_agenda )

(a)        Budget for 2018/19

Further to the detailed consideration of the Budget for 2018/19 by the Cabinet, Councillor Brian Donnelly, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets introduced this item; presented the recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of the 2018/19 budget; and moved that they be approved. Councillor Stuart Ritchie seconded the proposal.

Councillor Donnelly reminded Members that Council had approved the Medium Term Financial Strategy at its meeting on 6^th December 2017 (Minute No. CO/48 refers).  He also thanked the Director of Corporate Resources and her team for their hard work in briefing Members at a number of meetings and producing the budget report.

Councillor David Skipp, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group noted that planning for the future in the current uncertain financial situation was very difficult.  He also expressed his appreciation of the work undertaken by officers in producing the budget now before Members. He particularly supported plans to spend commuted sums on providing much needed affordable housing.

Members raised a number of points including varying viewpoints regarding Council Tax increases; concerns about the many uncertainties in respect of the future financial situation including the reduction in Government Grant and the future of New Homes Bonus; and the need for the provision of more affordable housing.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Protection advised Members that work was currently being undertaken to look at the most effective way for the Council to ensure the delivery of affordable housing.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Development reported on the successful delivery of affordable housing in recent years and on proposals for the future

Having been moved and seconded, the substantive motion was put.

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the voting in respect of the motion was recorded and was as follows:

FOR THE MOTION: Councillors: John Bailey, Andrew Baldwin, John Blackall, Toni Bradnum, Karen Burgess, Peter Burgess, John Chidlow, Philip Circus, Paul Clarke, David Coldwell, Roy Cornell, Christine Costin, Leonard Crosbie, Brian Donnelly, Matthew French, Billy Greening, Tony Hogben, David Jenkins, Nigel Jupp, Liz Kitchen, Adrian Lee, Tim Lloyd, Christian Mitchell, Mike Morgan, Godfrey Newman, Connor Relleen, Stuart Ritchie, Kate Rowbottom, Jim Sanson, David Skipp, Ben Staines, Simon Torn, Claire Vickers, Michael Willett, Tricia Youtan

AGAINST: None

ABSTAIN: None

ABSENT: Councillors: Alan Britten, Jonathan Chowen, Roger Clarke, Jonathan Dancer, Ray Dawe, Gordon Lindsay, Paul Marshall, Josh Murphy, Brian O’Connell

The motion was declared CARRIED and it was:

            RESOLVED

(i)         That the level of Council Tax for 2018/19 be increased from £140.60 by £5 (3.56%) to £145.60 at Band D.

(ii)        That the net revenue budget for 2018/19 of £10.714m be approved, as submitted.

(iii)       That Special Expenses of £284,762 and a Band D charge of £24.60 be agreed in respect of the unparished area for 2018/19, as submitted.

(iv)       That the capital programme for 2018/19 be approved, as submitted, and that the indicative capital budgets in the programme for future years be noted.

(v)        That the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CO/66

To consider a request from Councillor Roger Clarke for exemption from attendance at Council meetings

The Chief Executive reported that a request had been received from Councillor Roger Clarke for exemption from attendance at Council meetings.  Councillor Clarke had not been able to attend any Council or Committee meetings since 18^th October 2017, due to illness, including hospital admissions and he had indicated that it was likely that he would not be able to attend any meetings in the near future.

Council approval of Councillor Clarke’s continued absence was required under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 otherwise he would cease to be a Member if he was unable to attend any meetings before 18^th April 2018.  This was the last scheduled Council meeting before that date.

RESOLVED

That the current absence from all Council and Committee meetings of Councillor Roger Clarke, due to his ill-health, be authorised and approved for a further period of six months ending on 18^th October 2018, or until he resumes attendance if that is sooner, in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

REASON

To comply with the provisions of Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

To indicate who shall, subject to formal appointment at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 22^nd May 2018, be the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2018/19

RESOLVED

That, subject to formal election at the annual meeting, it be noted that Councillor Peter Burgess will be Chairman and Councillor Kate Rowbottom will be Vice-Chairman for the municipal year 2018/19.

To consider matters certified by the Chairman as urgent

There was no urgent business.