Full Council – 25 June 2008

Present

THE MAYOR – Councillor Jawaid

Councillors Ali, Appleyard, Armitage, Bainbridge, Barker, Barkworth, Berry, B Briggs, J Briggs, Mrs Bromby, Carlile, Cawsey, Clark, Collinson, Davison, Eckhardt, Ellerby, England, L Foster, T Foster, Gosling, Grant, Kirk, O’Sullivan, Poole, Mrs Redfern, Regan, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs Sidell, Mrs Simpson, Smith, Stewart, Swift, Vickers, Waltham, Wells, Whiteley and Wilson.

The Council met at Pittwood House, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe.

1592  MAYOR’S REMARKS – The Mayor welcomed fellow councillors, officers and members of the public to his first full council meeting since becoming Mayor.

The Mayor indicated that it had been a busy but enjoyable first six weeks when he had attended 43 engagements.  He referred to the first anniversary of the 25 June 2007 floods and to a major report which had been published nationally which the council would consider in great detail.  However, the council had during the past year done a great deal of work in relation to flooding.

The Mayor then referred to the 90th birthday next month of Nelson Mandela and asked that all members join with him in sending the council’s best wishes to Mr Mandela.

The Mayor then referred to the very busy agenda and number of motions/amendments.  He asked that in order to make progress on the full agenda members be mindful of the time and to the changes made at the annual meeting in relation to the time limits for contributions.  He then asked the council’s Service Director Legal and Democratic to explain the position.

1593  DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS – Declarations of personal interests were indicated as follows –

Member Subject/Minute
Councillor M Ali

Councillor S Armitage

Councillor J Briggs

 

Councillor L Cawsey

Councillor W Eckhardt
Councillor T Ellerby

Councillor L Foster

Councillor I Jawaid

Councillor M Kirk

Councillor N Poole

Councillor N Sherwood

Councillor D Stewart

Councillor K Vickers

Councillor D Wells

Licensed Hackney Carriage Driver

Humberside Fire Authority – Member

Humberside Fire Authority – Member

North Lincolnshire Homes – Board Member

North Lincolnshire Homes – Board Member

Notice of Motion – Swimming – Personal Interest as a member of the Epworth Pool Management Committee

Small Business Proprietor

North Lincolnshire Homes – Board Member

Humberside Police Authority – Member

Yorkshire Forward – Board Member

Small Business Proprietor

Small Business Proprietor

Notice of Motion – Swimming – Member of the Epworth Pool Management Committee

Small Business Proprietor

Small Business Proprietor

1594  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting and the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council held on 19 March and the Annual Meeting held on 14 May 2008 having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the Mayor, subject to the substitution of the words “moved by Councillor S Swift and seconded by Councillor M Kirk” in place of “moved by Councillor M Kirk and seconded by Councillor L Foster” in minute 1588 of the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 14 May 2008.

1595  (4)  REVIEW OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – REPORT OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SCRUTINY PANEL – The Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel submitted a report in connection with its recent review of Child and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in North Lincolnshire.  The report included a number of conclusions and detailed recommendations.

Resolved – That the recommendations contained in the report be received and referred to Cabinet for consideration.

1596  (5)  OBESITY IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – REPORT OF THE HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES AND OLDER PEOPLE SCRUTINY PANEL – The Healthier Communities and Older People Scrutiny Panel submitted a report in connection with a recent report into obesity in North Lincolnshire.  The report included a number of conclusions and detailed recommendations.

Resolved – That the recommendations contained in the report be received and referred to Cabinet for consideration.

1597  (6)  REVIEW OF COUNCIL MEDIA AND ADVERTISEMENTS – REPORT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CORPORATE ISSUES SCRUTINY PANEL – A report was submitted by the Economic Development and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Panel into a review of council media and advertisements.  The report included a number of conclusions and detailed recommendations.

Resolved – That the recommendations contained in the report be received and referred to Cabinet for consideration.

1598  (7)  BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2007/2008 – The Chief Executive submitted a report which considered the Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI) outturn figures for 2007/2008.

Appendix 1 to the report detailed the council’s BVPI outturn figures for 2007/2008 and compared the council’s performance for that year with the previous year.  It identified that 69.5% of indicators improved performance over the last year or had retained maximum performance.  The report also indicated that the Best Value Performance Framework had ceased to exist from 31 March 2008 and identified those performance areas that were to be carried forward to the new performance framework.  The Best Value Performance information was required to be published before 30 June 2008.

Resolved – (a) That the report be noted, and (b) that action plans be produced and monitored for indicators that are showing reduced performance or that are in the bottom quartile and that are being carried forward to the new performance framework.

1599  (8)  TREASURY MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2007/2008 – The Service Director Finance submitted a report informing members of the performance of the Treasury Management Function for the financial year 2007/2008.  The report also referred to the Treasury Management Policy approved for 2007/2008 by council, the adoption of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management and the Regulations so as to comply with the prudential code under part 1 of the Local Government Act 2003 under which performance is reported to members on an annual basis.  The report contained details of the Treasury Management position, estimates, outcomes, the council investment strategy, its borrowing strategy and specified prudential indicators for external debt and treasury management.

Resolved – That the Treasury Management annual report for 2007/2008 be noted.

1600  CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT – The Chief Executive referred to the anniversary of the 2007 floods and to the recent publication of the Pitt Review.  He also referred to the amount of work undertaken by the council in the 12 months since the floods.  In particular he referred with some sadness to the fact that a number of people were still not back within their homes and to the fact he had written to them offering any further assistance that the council could provide.

1601  FORWARD PLAN FOR THE COUNCIL – Councillor Mark Kirk, Leader of the Council introduced his Forward Plan for the period July to October 2008, as required by the Local Government Act 2000 and the council’s Constitution.  He then invited and answered questions on the plan’s contents.

Subject Subject raised by Response by
(i) Budget Review June 2008

 

 

 

 

(ii) Procurement 2008 – 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

(iii) Budget Review June 2008

 

 

 

(iv) Delivering Efficiency on Local Services – Past Success and Future Challenges

 

 

 

 

 

 

(v) Decriminalisation of street parking enforcement

 

 

 

 

(vi) Budget Review June 2008

 

 

(vii) Waste Management Services Contracts

Councillor D Stewart

 

 

 

 

Councillor C O’Sullivan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Councillor W Eckhardt

 

 

 

Councillor A Davison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Councillor N Poole

 

 

 

 

Councillor T Foster

 

 

 

Councillor T Barker

Leader of the Council – referred to the need to provide for contingencies such as the floods which had occurred in June 2007 and to building in arrangements for any unforeseen circumstances.

 

Leader of the Council – asked the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services to comment on this matter.  The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services referred to the Joint Procurement Unit between North and North East Lincolnshire Councils being nominated for a National Award in relation to procurement.

 

Leader of the Council – referred to the normal further review in September of the year when consideration would be given to the revised estimates.

 

Leader of the Council asked the Cabinet Member for Highways and Planning to respond.  The Cabinet Member for Highways and Planning referred to the need to reduce energy costs by 40%, to the levels of capping of CO2that organisations such as North Lincolnshire could produce and to the Climate Change Action Plan and the attendant pressures in relation to that.

 

Leader of the Council – indicated that discussions in relation to this matter were ongoing and that further information would be available in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Planning in due course.

 

Leader of the Council referred to regular budget updates and monitoring.

 

Leader of the Council asked the Deputy Leader as Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood and Environment to respond.  The Cabinet member for Neighbourhood and Environment indicated that none of the council’s household waste disposal sites would close.

1602  PLANNING COMMITTEE – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 26 March, 23 April, 2 and 21 May 2008 be received, approved and adopted with the exception of minutes 1034, 1037 and 1040(i).

1603  HUMBER FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY – With regard to excepted portion (a) It was –

Moved by Councillor Collinson and seconded by Councillor Whiteley –

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

1604  CONSULTATION AND ADOPTION OF A LOCAL VALIDATION CHECK LIST FOR PLANNING APPLICATIONS – With regard to excepted portion (b) it was –

Moved by Councillor Collinson and seconded by Councillor Whiteley –

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

1605  APPLICATION 08/0345 – With regard to excepted portion (c) it was –

Moved by Councillor Collinson and seconded by Councillor Whiteley –

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

1606  LICENSING COMMITTEE – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Committee held on 11 and 27 March, 9 April, 6 and 22 May 2008 be received with the exception of minute 683.

1607  APPEALS SUBMITTED TO THE MAGISTRATE’S COURT – With regard to excepted portion (a) it was –

Moved by Councillor Barkworth and seconded by Councillor Swift –

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

1608  AUDIT COMMITTEE – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 17 April 2008 be received.

1609  STANDARDS COMMITTEE – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 5 June 2008 be received.

1610  SAFER AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES SCRUTINY PANEL – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel held on 25 March, 21 April and 19 May 2008 be received.

1611  HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES AND OLDER PEOPLE SCRUTINY PANEL – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Healthier Communities and Older People Scrutiny Panel held on 10 March, 7 April and 6 May 2008 be received.

1612  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CORPORATE ISSUES SCRUTINY PANEL – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Economic Development and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Panel held on 27 February and 17 March 2008 be received with the exception of minute 48.

1613  REVIEW OF SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – With regard to excepted portion (a) it was –

Moved by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor T Foster –

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

1614  CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE SCRUTINY PANEL – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel held on 3 March and 28 April 2008 be received.

1615  SCRUTINY CO-ORDINATING PANEL – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Panel held on 15 April 2008 be received.

1616  QUESTIONS ON THE DISCHARGE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE HUMBERSIDE POLICE AUTHORITY – Councillor T Foster asked the following question of the nominated representative of the Humberside Police Authority – Councillor Ishaq Jawaid.

“Could the police representative inform council of the total number of full time Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) actively carrying out their full duties in each of our five neighbourhood areas?”

Councillor Jawaid responded to that question.

Councillor K Vickers asked the following question of the nominated representative of the Humberside Police Authority – Councillor Ishaq Jawaid.

“There is an increasingly widespread recognition of the fact that the words “tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime”, has actually translated into placing a straight jacket of red tape upon Police Officers.  This is coupled with a failure to recognise that it is impossible to be “tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime”, whilst consistently reducing punishment for the causes of crime.  Can the Lead Member on the Police Authority inform council of what actions have been taken locally to free up the amount of police time spent investigating and preventing crimes as opposed to completing paperwork?”

Councillor Jawaid responded to that question.

1617  NOTICE OF MOTION – SWIMMING

Moved by Councillor C O’Sullivan and seconded by Councillor P Carlile –

“This council welcomes the government’s announcement to provide free swimming for the people of North Lincolnshire by 2012, furthermore the authority welcomes any initiative to keep local residents fit and healthy and has already signed up to the ‘Active Futures, Active Choices’ scheme and made a commitment to keep Riddings Pool open.  With the building of two new swimming pools and a number of others already in operation, this council urges the government to allow as many local people as possible to be able to swim for free”.

Moved by Councillor Mrs Redfern and seconded by Councillor J Briggs as an amendment –

“This council welcomes the government’s announcement to provide free swimming, for North Lincolnshire residents over 60 years of age by 2012.  Furthermore, the authority welcomes any initiative to keep all residents fit and healthy and to this end, agrees to the government’s “challenge funding” suggestion, for the provision of free swimming for the under 16’s of North Lincolnshire.

Having signed up for the Active Future, Active Choices Scheme and committed to keep the Riddings Pool open, whilst also building two new pools, this council not only encourages the government to allow as many people as possible to be able to swim for free, but agrees to fund the government’s desire to see the provision of free of charge swimming for the under 16’s of North Lincolnshire, in any suitable pool within the district.”

Moved by Councillor Stewart and seconded by Councillor B Briggs as an amendment –

“This council welcomes the government’s announcement to provide free swimming for the people of North Lincolnshire by 2012, furthermore the authority welcomes any initiatives to keep local residents fit and healthy and has already signed up to the “Active Futures, Active Choices” Scheme and made a commitment to keep Riddings Pool open.  With the building of two new swimming pools and a number of others already in operation, this council urges the government to allow as many local people as possible to be able to swim for free.  The council also urges the government to consider the way this initiative is to be funded and suggests centrally funded scheme with the government working closely with local authorities to ensure its success.”

Second Amendment Lost
First Amendment Lost
Motion Carried

1618  NOTICE OF MOTION – FINANCE AND PRIORITISATION OF SCHEMES – Moved by Councillor Mrs Redfern and seconded by Councillor J Briggs –

“That in these economically uncertain times, this council must give urgent recognition to the increasing financial hardships faced by the residents of North Lincolnshire and confirm that front line services and financial measures to mitigate hardship, will be prioritised above pet schemes, that will serve only to increase the financial burden upon the local taxpayer.”

Moved by Councillor Kirk and seconded by Councillor L Foster as an amendment –

“This council recognises the hard work ongoing in North Lincolnshire to bring in more than £270m of new investment and the creation of hundreds of new jobs since the start of the new year.  This council also welcomes any initiative which contributes positively to the local economy and is keen to protect front line services which were shut, removed or reduced without proper consultation by the previous Tory administration.”

Moved by Councillor Stewart and seconded by Councillor Poole as an amendment –

“That in these economically uncertain times, this council must give urgent recognition to the increasing financial hardships faced by the residents of North Lincolnshire and confirm that front line services and financial measures to mitigate hardship, that will serve only to increase the financial burden upon the local taxpayer.  As a good example the council also urges the two main political groups to consider their spiralling group office support costs with a view to reducing these costs.”

At the request of members and in accordance with procedure rule 23(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the amendment moved by Councillor Stewart and seconded by Councillor Poole are as follows –

FOR:  Councillors B Briggs, Poole and Stewart

AGAINST:  Councillors Ali, Appleyard, Bainbridge, Barker, Barkworth, Berry, J Briggs, Mrs Bromby, Carlile, Cawsey, Clark, Collinson, Davison, Eckhardt, Ellerby, England, L Foster, T Foster, Gosling, Grant, Jawaid, Kirk, O’Sullivan, Mrs Redfern, Regan, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs Sidell, Simpson, Smith, Swift, Vickers, Waltham, Wells, Whiteley and Wilson.

ABSTAINING:  Nil. 

Second Amendment Lost

At the request of members and in accordance with procedure rule 23(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the amendment moved by Councillor Kirk and seconded by Councillor L Foster are as follows –

FOR:  Councillors Ali, Bainbridge, Barker, Barkworth, Carlile, Cawsey, Collinson, Davison, Ellerby, L Foster, Gosling, Grant, Jawaid, Kirk, O’Sullivan, Regan, Simpson, Smith, Swift, Whiteley and Wilson.

AGAINST:  Councillors Appleyard, Berry, B Briggs, J Briggs, Mrs Bromby, Clark, Eckhardt, England, T Foster, Poole, Mrs Redfern, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs Sidell, Stewart, Vickers, Waltham, and Wells.

ABSTAINING:  Nil. 

First Amendment Carried

At the request of members and in accordance with procedure rule 23(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the substantive motion are as follows –

FOR:  Councillors Ali, Bainbridge, Barker, Barkworth, Carlile, Cawsey, Collinson, Davison, Ellerby, L Foster, Gosling, Grant, Jawaid, Kirk, O’Sullivan, Regan, Simpson, Smith, Swift, Whiteley and Wilson.

AGAINST:  Councillors Appleyard, Berry, B Briggs, J Briggs, Mrs Bromby, Clark, Eckhardt, England, T Foster, Poole, Mrs Redfern, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs Sidell, Stewart, Vickers, Waltham, and Wells.

ABSTAINING:  Nil.

Substantive Motion Carried

1619  TIME OF MEETING – PROCEDURE RULE D.107 – GUILLOTINE – In accordance with procedure rule D.107, the Mayor declared the meeting closed.