Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday 23 February 2011 6.45 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 23rd February, 2011
Time:
6.45pm
Place:
Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
62 OPENING PRAYERS.
Business for item 62
 
63 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Business for item 63
 
64 MAYORS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Business for item 64
 
65 TO APPROVE AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS HELD ON 15 DECEMBER 2010
RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meetings be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.
66 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Business for item 66
 
67 TO DEAL WITH QUESTIONS ASKED BY THE PUBLIC UNDER STANDING ORDER NO.8.
Business for item 67
 
68 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 68
 
69 TO CONSIDER AND, IF APPROVED, ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CABINET AND COMMITTEES:-
Business for item 69
 
70 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 70
 
71 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 71
 
The meeting closed at 7.55pm.

Attendance Details

Present:
P.M. Blandamer Mayor), P.A. Andrews, P.G. Barnes, S.J. Barnes, C.P. Barnfather, A.G. Barton, D.N. Beeston, A.S. Bexon, F.J.D. Boot, V.H. Bradley (a), G.V. Clarke, W.J. Clarke, E.J. Collin, S.M. Creamer (a), R.T. Day (a), W.H.F. Doe, M.S. Dunkin (a), A.M. Ellwood, P. Feeney, G. Fullwood, A.J. Gillam, W.H. Golland, R.J. Goodwin, P.A. Hughes, R.G. Kempster, D.I.A. Kumarasiri (a), H. Maddock, 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, C.J. Powell, R.A. Poynter, C.N.F.W. Pratt, S.J. Prew-Smith, D.E. Pulk (a), 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

Officers in attendance: J Robinson, S M Sale, M Kimberley

Business

Business
ItemBusiness
62Prayers were said at the start of the meeting.
63Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Creamer, Day, Dunkin, Pulk and M S Spencer.
64The Mayor informed Members of her activities undertaken since the date of the last meeting.
66None
67No questions had been received.
68Question received in the name of Councillor W J Clarke to the Leader of the Council:

Can the Leader tell us what the effect will be on the Borough Council from the Government and County Council spending cuts?

Can he provide an overview of the positive and negative impacts?

Councillor R F Spencer replied in the following terms:-

This Councils proposed budget was debated and agreed at Cabinet on the 17th February and will be subject to further debate at Budget Council next Wednesday. This identified the impact that funding changes will have on the borough council's services and I am sure the whole Council will agree that the proposed budget protects the front line services that the public value the most.
This Council reported early on the impact of the County Council proposals so that all Members would be aware of the potential effects; the report ‘Impact of Nottinghamshire County Council's service reviews in Gedling' was presented to Cabinet on the 13th January and identified both direct and indirect impacts on this council at departmental level. We recognise that the County Council has a significant task ahead of itself, having to deal with increased serviced demand, cuts to grants, and dealing with the previous administrations over inflated spending decisions.
So, this authority's proposed budget for next year recognises the cut in Direct Government support of just over £1Million with further reductions in the following year of £819,000 equating to a cut of just over 25% over the two years.
In addition specific grants For Safe & Stronger Communities (£103,000) and Regional Housing Board for improvement grants (£505,000) have been lost meaning spending in these area's will be reduced - although no schemes that relied upon ongoing funding to support ongoing commitments have been cut.
The only direct payments affected by the County's Budget proposals are in respect of Waste Performance credits, worth £50,000 per annum which will be withdrawn. There is the potential for indirect costs to arise from a range of proposals such as cuts to supporting people funding, loss of play budgets will reduce the Play days in Arnold and Carlton. ‘Top up' funding for the most expensive Disabled Facilities Home Improvements will put pressure on our funding pot and changes to emergency planning arrangements could increase our costs in the future.
We are also looking at bringing back in-house the management and maintenance work in respect of our own land holdings at Bestwood Country Park as there are significant cuts to the Rangers Services available across the county, this type of initiative coupled with cuts to voluntary sector grants, play support, coaching and youth support, and Anti-Social Behaviour prevention could have impact on our own activities and relevant officers will keep this under observation during the coming months.
On a positive note this Council is set to agree a nil increase to its Council tax for next year, it is able to do this thanks to a direct grant of £139,000 for this purpose from Central Government.
In October of this year Planning Fee's are set to be deregulated and it is therefore expected that this service will no longer be supported by the Council Tax Payer but will fully recover its costs by fees to customers.
Additional income is expected to build over the next 6 years as a result of the introduction of the ‘New Homes Bonus' which is set to become a significant and permanent source of funding for Councils - indeed we have already been advised that next year this will amount to £339,000 and could eventually reach a total figure of around £2million per annum - comparable to the cut in direct external government grant.
We will debate the details of our own budget next week but I am sure all will see that funding cuts were an inevitable consequence of the excessive spending and failures to act by the previous Labour administration in Central Government. And that as a well run, well managed and financially prudent organisation Gedling Borough Council will continue to be in a position to serve it residents with high quality services that they have rightly become accustomed to.

Supplementary question from Councillor W J Clarke:
Will these cuts affect the quality of life for people we represent?
Councillor R F Spencer replied in the following terms:-
These cuts are a result of the actions of the previous Labour government.
69i) Cabinet 4 November 2010 and Personnel & Resources Committee 22 November 2010 Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 - adjourned from Council 15 December 2010, Minute 33

In respect of minute 33 of the meeting of the Council held on 15 December 2010 it was moved by Councillor R F Spencer and seconded by Councillor Tait that:

article 7 of the Council's constitution be amended by the deletion of Article 7.03.01(a) and substituted by the insertion of the following
a) The expiry of four years from the date of his/her election to the office of Leader of the Council or until the first Council meeting after he/she stands for re-election as a Borough Councillor, whichever is the sooner, or ....

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

RESOLVED:

That article 7 of the Council's constitution be amended by the deletion of Article 7.03.01(a) and substituted by the insertion of the following
a) The expiry of four years from the date of his/her election to the office of Leader of the Council or until the first Council meeting after he/she stands for re-election as a Borough Councillor, whichever is the sooner, or ....

ii) Cabinet, 13 January 2011, Minute 68 - Prudential Code Indicators 2011/12 to 2013/14

In respect of minute 68 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 January 2011 it was moved by Councillor R F Spencer and seconded by Councillor Tait that:

To approve the Prudential and Treasury Indicators for 2011/12 to 2013/14.

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

RESOLVED:

To approve the Prudential and Treasury Indicators for 2011/12 to 2013/14.

iii) Environment & Licensing Committee 18 January 2011, Minute 56 - Control of Sex Establishments and Regulation of Sexual Entertainment Venues

In respect of minute 56 of the meeting of the Environment & Licensing Committee 18 January 2011 it was moved by Councillor Goodwin and seconded by Councillor Miller that:

1. Council adopts the amendments to Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 by Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 along with the Gedling Sex Establishments Policy, Procedures and Conditions document at Appendix A to the report.

2. Council sets the first appointed day as the 20th April 2011. This is the date from which the new provisions will come into force in the Gedling area.

3. Council delegates to the Environment and Licensing Committee all the Council's functions under Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009, save for those matters reserved to the Council by the Act.

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

RESOLVED:

1. Council adopts the amendments to Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 by Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 along with the Gedling Sex Establishments Policy, Procedures and Conditions document at Appendix A to the report.

2. Council sets the first appointed day as the 20th April 2011. This is the date from which the new provisions will come into force in the Gedling area.

3. Council delegates to the Environment and Licensing Committee all the Council's functions under Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 as amended by Section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009, save for those matters reserved to the Council by the Act.

iv) Personnel & Resources 14 February 2011, Minute 31 - Members Allowances

In respect of minute 31 of the meeting of the Personnel & Resources Committee 14 February 2011 it was moved by Councillor R F Spencer and seconded by Councillor Tait that:

To adopt the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

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

RESOLVED:

To adopt the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Councillors Barton and Withers voted against the resolution
70Comments were made at the meeting.
71No due notice of comments had been received.