Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday 22 September 2010 6.45 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 22nd September, 2010
Time:
6.45pm
Place:
Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
27 OPENING PRAYERS.
Business for item 27
 
28 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Business for item 28
 
29 MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Business for item 29
 
30 TO APPROVE AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 7 JULY 2010.
 RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
31 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Business for item 31
 
32 TO DEAL WITH QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE PUBLIC UNDER STANDING ORDER NO.8.
Business for item 32
 
33 TO DEAL WITH QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN UNDER STANDING ORDER NO.9(1)(A) ON ANY MATTER IN RELATION TO WHICH THE COUNCIL HAS POWERS OR DUTIES.
Business for item 33
 
34 TO CONSIDER AND, IF APPROVED, ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CABINET AND COMMITTEES: -
Business for item 34
 
35 TO CONSIDER COMMENTS UNDER STANDING ORDER NO.11(1) UPON ANY MATTER DEALT WITH BY THE EXECUTIVE OR BY A COMMITTEE OR SUB-COMMITTEE.
Business for item 35
 
36 TO CONSIDER COMMENTS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN UNDER STANDING ORDER NO.11(3)(A) UPON ANY MATTER IN RELATION TO WHICH THE COUNCIL HAS POWERS OR DUTIES OR WHICH SPECIFICALLY AFFECT THE DISTRICT OTHER THAN ANY MATTER WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECOMMENDATION OF A COMMITTEE.
Business for item 36
 
37 NOTICE OF MOTION
Business for item 37
 
The meeting closed at 7.50pm.

Attendance Details

Present:
P.M. Blandamer (Mayor), P.A. Andrews, P.G. Barnes, S.J. Barnes, C.P. Barnfather, A.G. Barton (a), D.N. Beeston (a), A.S. Bexon, F.J.D. Boot (a), V.H. Bradley, G.V. Clarke, W.J. Clarke, E.J. Collin, S.M. Creamer (a), R.T. Day, W.H.F. Doe, M.S. Dunkin, A.M. Ellwood, P. Feeney, G. Fullwood, A.J. Gillam (a), W.H. Golland, R.J. Goodwin, P.A. Hughes, R.G. Kempster, D.I.A. Kumarasiri, H. Maddock (a), S. Mason-Kempster, B.S.R. Miller, R.J. Nicholson, J. O'Riordan, J.M. Parr, W.A. Peet, T.J. Pepper, V.C. Pepper (a), C.J. Powell, R.A. Poynter (a), C.N.F.W. Pratt, S.J. Prew-Smith, D.E. Pulk, M. Roach, M.A. Shepherd, J.J. Spencer, M.S. Spencer (a), R.F. Spencer, R.J. Tait, J.O. Tanner, G.G. Tunnicliffe, G.E. Withers, M.A. Wright

Business

Business
ItemBusiness
27Prayers were said at the start of the meeting.
28Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barton, Beeston, Boot, Creamer, Maddock, Gillam, V C Pepper, Poynter and M S Spencer.
29The Mayor informed Members of her activities undertaken since the date of the last meeting.
31Councillor W J Clarke declared a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda item no.11, Notice of Motion.
32No questions had been received.
33Question received in the name of Councillor Withers:
As the current 1st Opposition Group (The Labour Party) have already indicated that it is their intention to abolish the Parish Revenue Support Grant, on the spurious grounds that supposedly poor urban areas should not be supporting the so-called leafy suburbs, will the Leader of the Council please ask the appropriate Officers to calculate exactly what the overall impact would be on GBC Ratepayers if all the Parish Councils were to actually opt for dissolution, with particular reference to:
a) Which Services/Facilities, currently provided by each individual Parish Council would still have to be provided by Gedling Borough Council and at what specific cost and
b) Which Services/Facilities, currently provided by each individual Parish Council would no longer be provided.

Councillor R F Spencer replied in the following terms:-

Madam Mayor, could I thank Councillor Withers for his question. It might be the intention of the Labour Group to abolish parish aid but that is certainly not the intention of the Conservative Group that is running this Council.
The £255,000 a year that we allocate to parishes enables them to provide a wide range of services. If we ended this support and Parish Councils opted to dissolve, it would be wrong to think that we would suddenly be £255,000 a year better-off as some, if not all, of the services being provided by parishes are things we would want to continue.
Last year, we carried out a review of parish aid and concluded that we were getting value for money and that Parish Councils made an important contribution to their local communities. Over the past year, Council representatives have met on a regular basis with Parish Councils to build good working relationships and we want to continue to do this.
Parish Councils understand the difficult financial circumstances that we are in and they know that we may be facing further cuts. However, I've made it clear to them that we will try to minimise any impact on them. As the Conservative Group has no intention of abolishing parish aid, I hope that Councillor Withers will now agree that it is not necessary for me to ask officers to work out what would happen if Parish Councils dissolved.

Question received in the name of Councillor J J Spencer:
There are lots of rumours about Mapperley Golf Club circulating around our area, could the Leisure Portfolio holder make a statement as to the future of the club.

Councillor Golland replied in the following terms:-

I can reassure Councillor Spencer that there is no intention to sell any part of the golf course. I am well aware of all the uses that the course is put to and how much it is valued. It is designated as R4 in the Local Plan to protect the land. The Club is very successful and offers membership without discrimination. It is well run with a flourishing youth element. The club also improves the environment. The Council receives substantial income from the club and we are lucky to have this open space. I can reassure Members that there are no plans to dispose of it.
34i) Personnel & Resources 28 June 2010, Minute 6 - Petitions (adjourned at previous Council).

In respect of minute 6 of the meeting of the Personnel & Resources Committee held on 28 June 2010, which pursuant to Standing Order 29 had stood over without debate from the previous meeting after it had been moved and seconded, the Mayor put the proposition to the meeting and declared the same carried and it was:-

RESOLVED:

1. That the Petition Scheme be adopted.

2. That the Petition Scheme be incorporated in the Council's Constitution and the amendments to Procedural Standing Orders as set out in the report be approved.

ii) Cabinet, 5 August 2010, Minute 25 - Annual Treasury Activity Report 2009/10

In respect of minute 25 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 5 August 2010 it was moved by Councillor R F Spencer and seconded by Councillor Tait that:

The Annual Treasury Activity Report for 2009/10 together with its appendices be approved.

The Mayor put the proposition to the meeting and declared the same carried and it was:-

RESOLVED:

To approve the Annual Treasury Activity Report for 2009/10 together with its appendices.

iii) Standards Committee, 9 September 2010, Minute 7 - Standards Committee Report 2009/10

In respect of minute 7 of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 9 September 2010 it was moved by Councillor R F Spencer and seconded by Councillor Tait that:

The Standards Committee Report for 2009/10 be approved and that the Council thank the Committee and its Chair for their work.

The Mayor put the proposition to the meeting and declared the same carried and it was:-

RESOLVED:

To approve the Standards Committee Report for 2009/10 and to thank the Committee and its Chair for their work.

iv) Personnel & Resources 13 September 2010, Minute 11 - SMT Reorganisation

In respect of minute 11 of the meeting of the Personnel & Resources Committee held on 13 September 2010 it was moved by Councillor R F Spencer and seconded by Councillor Tait:

1. That following the decision of the Retirements Sub-Committee with regard to the retirement of the Chief Executive:

(i) An Appointments Sub-Committee be established comprising Councillors R F Spencer, J J Spencer, Tait, Barnfather, Gillam, W J Clarke and Withers.

(ii) Applications for the post of Chief Executive be restricted to the Deputy Chief Executive.

(iii) The Council confirms that it would support the appointment of the Deputy Chief Executive to the post of Chief Executive in the event of the Appointments Sub-Committee agreeing that he meets the requirements of the post.

(iv) If the Deputy Chief Executive is appointed to the post of Chief Executive, the current post of Deputy Chief Executive be deleted from the establishment with effect from the date on which that appointment takes effect.

2. That following the decision of the Retirements Sub-Committee with regard to the Head of Democratic and Community Services, the post of Head of Democratic and Community Services be deleted with effect from 1 July 2011.

3. That subject to the approval of recommendations (1) and (2) above, the consequential arrangements set out in paragraph 3 of the report be approved.

4. That the Chief Executive be authorised to designate a Head of Service to deputise for the Chief Executive.

The Mayor put the proposition to the meeting and declared the same carried and it was:-

RESOLVED:

1. That following the decision of the Retirements Sub-Committee with regard to the retirement of the Chief Executive:

(i) An Appointments Sub-Committee be established comprising Councillors R.F. Spencer, J.J.Spencer, Tait, Barnfather, Gillam, W.J. Clarke and Withers.

(ii) Applications for the post of Chief Executive be restricted to the Deputy Chief Executive.

(iii) The Council confirms that it would support the appointment of the Deputy Chief Executive to the post of Chief Executive in the event of the Appointments Sub-Committee agreeing that he meets the requirements of the post.

(iv) If the Deputy Chief Executive is appointed to the post of Chief Executive, the current post of Deputy Chief Executive be deleted from the establishment with effect from the date on which that appointment takes effect.

2. That following the decision of the Retirements Sub-Committee with regard to the Head of Democratic and Community Services, the post of Head of Democratic and Community Services be deleted with effect from 1 July 2011.

3. that subject to the approval of recommendations (1) and (2) above, the consequential arrangements set out in paragraph 3 of the report be approved.

4. That the Chief Executive be authorised to designate a Head of Service to deputise for the Chief Executive.
35Comments were made at the meeting.
36No due notice of comments had been received.

(Councillor W J Clarke left the meeting)
37Upon a Notice of Motion received in the name of Councillor P.A.Hughes, a proposition was moved by Councillor Hughes and seconded by Councillor R F Spencer in the following terms:-

" This Council welcomes the Government's announcement of its intention to allow local authorities to sell excess energy that they generate back to the National Grid.

Council therefore resolves to explore the potential to generate renewable energy using its land and buildings and to task the appropriate Portfolio holder, after considering the conclusions of the Policy Review Scrutiny Committee with regard to the steps being taken to reduce its Carbon Footprint, to present a report to Cabinet by 31st March 2011."

The Mayor put the proposition to the meeting and declared the same carried and it was:-

RESOLVED:

This Council welcomes the Government's announcement of its intention to allow local authorities to sell excess energy that they generate back to the National Grid.

Council therefore resolves to explore the potential to generate renewable energy using its land and buildings and to task the appropriate Portfolio holder, after considering the conclusions of the Policy Review Scrutiny Committee with regard to the steps being taken to reduce its Carbon Footprint, to present a report to Cabinet by 31st March 2011.