Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Rev. Ken Shill, Vicar of St Mary’s Church Arnold, delivered the opening prayer.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Allan, R Allan, Boot and Hewson.

The Mayor paid tribute to former councillor Vic Bradley who had died recently. A number of councillors paid tribute to Vic praising his 24 years of dedicated service to the community he served. Council paused for a minute of silence in his honour.

The Mayor reported that since the last meeting he and the Mayoress had attended 62 engagements and had very much enjoyed meeting a range of people that volunteer their time for the good of the Borough. He commented on the recently held Christmas Carol concert which raised around £600 for his chosen charity and the civic reception for those involved in community work. The Mayor also informed members about forthcoming events such as the Spring Concert and Civic Dinner which would be particularly significant as Gedling Borough Council would be celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year.

The Mayor informed Council that his Chaplin, Reverend Shill, was attending his last council meeting due to an impending sabbatical. He thanked the Reverend for his support during the year.

Finally the Mayor spoke about National Holocaust Memorial Day which would be taking place on 27 January. He urged all present to pause and reflect on the importance of learning from past mistakes and how compassion was essential in all the Council does.

RESOLVED:

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

 None.

None.

None.

Report of Service Manager Revenues and Benefits.

Consideration was given to a report of the Service Manager Revenues and Benefits recommending a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for the coming financial year.

RESOLVED:

To adopt the Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Report of Corporate Director (Stephen Bray).

Consideration was given to a report of Stephen Bray, Corporate Director, which presented the findings of the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel for the next financial year.

RESOLVED:

1)    To agree the recommendations of the independent remuneration panel as follows:

a.    That the Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowances and Co-optees Allowances should remain as agreed in February 2011, but should be increased by any percentage pay award awarded to staff in the current year should such an award be made (in the case of any differential award, allowances should be adjusted in line with any Senior Management award as outlined in paragraph 3.2.4 of the panel’s report).

b.    That, when carrying out its proposed Strategic Review of Members Allowances, the Council considers setting out role description or similar type documents to set out clearly the roles expected of members in various roles, in turn using these to inform decisions on appropriate levels of remuneration.

2)    To agree the schedule of members’ allowances for 2014/15 as attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

3)    To authorise the Council Solicitor and Monitoring Officer to make appropriate amendments to Part 6 of the Constitution to reflect any changes to members' allowances agreed.

Report of Service Manager, Parks and Street Care.

RESOLVED:

That an addition to the capital programme in the amount of £270,100 is made for works to Gedling Country Park as described in the report, for the Stage 1 work, financed by S106 Contributions.

In accordance with Standing Order 11.01, a number of comments were made and responded to by the appropriate Cabinet Member or Committee Chair.

None.

Recognising that 670,000 people in England now live with dementia and this number will double within 30 years, this Council commits to becoming a dementia friendly organisation and to leading Gedling towards becoming a dementia friendly community. In doing so, the Council will take an active and lead role with partners to raise awareness about dementia and encourage a responsive and sensitive response, in order to improve the lives of those affected by this disease and the carers who support them.

Proposer: Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth

Seconder: Councillor Roxanne Ellis

Upon a notice of motion received in the name of Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth a proposition was moved by Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth and seconded by Councillor Roxanne Ellis in the following terms:-

Recognising that 670,000 people in England now live with dementia and this number will double within 30 years, this Council commits to becoming a dementia friendly organisation and to leading Gedling towards becoming a dementia friendly community. In doing so, the Council will take an active and lead role with partners to raise awareness about dementia and encourage a responsive and sensitive response, in order to improve the lives of those affected by this disease and the carers who support them.

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

RESOLVED that:

Recognising that 670,000 people in England now live with dementia and this number will double within 30 years, this Council commits to becoming a dementia friendly organisation and to leading Gedling towards becoming a dementia friendly community. In doing so, the Council will take an active and lead role with partners to raise awareness about dementia and encourage a responsive and sensitive response, in order to improve the lives of those affected by this disease and the carers who support them.