Agenda and minutes

Prior to the formal business of the meeting the Mayor led Council in a minute of silence to remember the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Darryl Holt, provided a thought for the day.

Apologies were received from Councillors Roxanne Ellis, Greensmith and Weisz.

Members of the Youth Council will give a presentation that they are delivering in Gedling Schools during National Anti - Bullying Week which runs from the 16th to  20th November 2015.

The Mayor invited members of the Gedling Youth Council to make a presentation to members about National Bullying Week which included a video that had been commissioned to show in local schools. The Mayor thanked the Youth Councillors for their attendance and the very informative presentation.

The Mayor also updated Councillors on recent engagements that he had attended including the official opening of the new headquarters for his chosen charity (We R Here), the opening of Nottingham’s Goose Fair and various remembrance events. In particular he had been very moved by events at the national Holocaust Memorial Centre’s anniversary and the service recently held in Calverton in recognition of the Polish airmen who were lost over Calverton during the Second World War.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record.

None.

None received.

None received.

None received.

Report of the Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive that updated Council on progress made towards a devolution deal for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Note the progress towards a devolution deal for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire;

2)    Delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Leader of the Opposition to continue negotiations and to sign the devolution deal, subject to ratification of the deal by the Full Council;

3)    Ask the Chief Executive to continue to provide regular updates to all Councillors on the progress of the deal; and

4)    Agree that a report to consider the final agreement of the deal will be brought to Full Council after the necessary changes in legislation and conclusion of a detailed deal document.

Report of the Service Manager, Elections and Members’ Services.

Consideration was given to a report of the Service Manager Elections and Members’ Services that proposed changes to the membership of committees.

RESOLVED to make the following changes to Committee Membership:

1)    Councillor Roxanne Ellis is replaced by Councillor Collis on the Environment and Licensing Committee and the Licensing Act Committee;

2)    Councillor Wilkinson is appointed as substitute member for the Environment and Licensing Committee and the Licensing Act Committee;

3)    Councillor Hewson is replaced by Councillor Bisset on the Joint Consultative and Safety Committee; and

4)    Councillor Hewson is appointed as substitute member for the Joint Consultative and Safety Committee.

Report of the Service Manager, Planning.

Council is asked to consider the following recommendations:

1)    To approve the revised version of the Gedling Borough Council Code of Practice for Councillors in dealing with Planning Applications for insertion into the Constitution; and

2)    To approve the revised arrangements for the Planning Delegation Panel for insertion into the Constitution.

Consideration was given to the recommendations made by the Planning Committee concerning the updated Planning Committee protocol, revised Code of Practice for Councillors in dealing with Planning Applications and the Planning Delegation Panel arrangements.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve the revised version of the Gedling Borough Council Code of Practice for Councillors in dealing with Planning Applications for insertion into the Constitution;

2)    Approve the revised arrangements for the Planning Delegation Panel for insertion into the Constitution; and

3)    Request that a comprehensive review be undertaken of the role, responsibilities and operation of the Planning Delegation Panel as part of the Planning Improvement Plan and that a report with recommendations from the review be submitted to Full Council before the end of the current civic year.

Report of the Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, which sought Council approval to establish an Independent Panel for the purpose of advising the Council on matters relating to the dismissal of the Council’s statutory officers.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Constitute the Appeals and Retirements Committee along with the required inclusion of Independent Persons as an advisory committee under Section 102 of the Local Government Act 1972 and for the purposes of fulfilling the 2015 Regulations outlined in the report.

2)    Delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer (or Deputy Monitoring Officer where the Monitoring Officer is subject of the dismissal) to convene the Independent Panel and invite and appoint relevant Independent Persons to the Panel as set out in the report.

Consideration was given to a report of the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer which sought approval for amendments to the Contract Standing Orders in the Constitution.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve the revised Contract Standing Orders attached as Appendix 1 to the report; and

2)    Authorise the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer to make the appropriate amendments to the Constitution to incorporate the Standing Orders.

In accordance with Standing Order 11.1, a number of comments were made and responded to by the appropriate Cabinet Member or Committee Chair.

None received.

None received.