northlincs.gov.uk

Present

THE MAYOR – Councillor Armitage

Councillors Ali, Bainbridge, Barker, B Briggs, J Briggs, Bunyan, Carlile, Cawsey, Clark, Collinson, Davison, Eckhardt, Ellerby, England, L Foster, T Foster, Glover, Gosling, Grant, Jawaid, Kirk, O’Sullivan, Poole, Regan, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs M Sidell, Mrs Simpson, Smith, Stewart, Swift, K Vickers, P Vickers, Waltham, Wardle, Wells, Whiteley and Wilson.

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

1781 MAYOR’S REMARKS – The Mayor welcomed fellow councillors, officers and members of the public to the meeting.

The Mayor then referred to the sad news that Councillor Liz Redfern’s husband Gordon had passed away. The thoughts and prayers of the council were with Liz and her family at this very sad time. The Mayor also referred to Councillor Darrell Barkworth who was currently sick and on behalf of the council wished Darrell a full and speedy recovery from illness.

The Mayor then reported that the council had achieved Investors in People (IIP) and was especially pleased with the excellent feedback the council had received about many of its management practices. It was also a tribute to how hard council employees worked to provide the best possible services for residents in North Lincolnshire. The Mayor then presented the council’s Chief Executive Simon Driver with the IIP Certificate.

1782 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS – Declarations of personal interests were indicated as follows –

Councillor P Clark declared a personal and prejudicial interest in relation to the Notice of Motion on Post Offices.

1783 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the council held on 23 September 2009, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the Mayor with the exception of minute 1779.

1784 (11) CONSTITUTION – The Service Director Legal and Democratic submitted a report which proposed some changes to the council’s Constitution in relation to the council’s current working arrangements.

The Local Government Act 2000 required the council to adopt a Constitution which was a “living document” and which required frequent amendment to keep up with changes made by the council to its management structure and procedures. It was now necessary to consider changes in the Constitution as regards the powers and duties of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Planning and the Service Director Highways and Planning, in anticipation of civil parking enforcement to be introduced in early 2010 following the transfer of enforcement powers from the police to the council. Details of the proposed changes were set out within the report.

Resolved – That the changes to the Constitution as set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report be approved and adopted with the addition of the words “and ongoing operation” etc and the Constitution amended accordingly.

1785 (12) LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME – The Head of Strategic Regeneration, Housing and Development submitted a report informing members of the issues involved in preparing a revised local development scheme and asked council to consider approving such a revised scheme.

The Local Development Scheme (LDS) was the project plan for the delivery of the North Lincolnshire Local Development Framework (LDF). The current LDS had been approved by council at its meeting on 21 January 2009. However, following legislative changes resulting from the Planning Act 2008, as well as the need to gather further evidence, the LDS required revision.

Since the approval of the previous LDS there had been a number of issues that had impacted on its deliverability and would require the timetabling to be amended accordingly. These were the need to ensure that the LDF was underpinned by a robust and credible evidence base and therefore the need to complete several important studies had recently been highlighted by the government. These studies would be vital in supporting the core strategy in particular and to assist in overcoming key objections from the Environment Agency regarding the overall spatial strategy and the need to develop an urban extension on the western edge of the Scunthorpe urban area. Without these documents the core strategy would not progress to public examination and subsequent adoption. The report set out details of the key studies which were –

• A Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)
• An Employment Land Review (ELR)
• A Sequential Test/Exceptions Test

In addition, following the introduction of Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 12 : Local Spatial Planning in 2008, there was now a requirement for local planning authorities to include an infrastructure delivery plan as part of their LDF. There had also been some difficulty in obtaining accurate and useable data to help prepare the evidence base for the Minerals and Waste Development Plan Document and at present there was a lack of data and evidence from the National and regional levels due to delays in its gathering and interpretation. This was an additional piece of work. Finally, as the LDF process had moved on it had become clear that there was a need for a number of other documents to assist in the delivery of policies which would be contained in the core strategy when it was adopted.

Taking all this into account, a revised LDS had been drafted that reflected the concerns and issues detailed in the report and this was attached as appendix 1.

Resolved – That the revised LDS attached as an appendix to the report be approved and adopted.

The SCI sets out the council’s policy and standards for involving the community, its businesses, local residents, land owners, statutory agencies and interest groups in the planning process in North Lincolnshire. It also deals with community involvement both in the preparation and review of the planning policy document and plans making up the Local Development Framework (LDF) and in the consideration of planning applications.

The original North Lincolnshire SCI had been adopted in April 2006 after examination by an independent inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate. The SCI had been prepared with contributions and involvement from elected members, individual residents, voluntary and community groups, local businesses and a range of interested organisations. Since the examination and subsequent adoption of that SCI the Planning Act 2008 had streamlined the SCI production process and as such an independent examination was no longer required. Furthermore, the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 came into force on 27 June 2008. Both of these have changed the requirements for consultation on Development Plan Documents (DPDs). The SCI Review, presented within the report, reflected these changes and would ensure that the SCI remained fit for purpose.

The report also referred to other changes to regulations and planning policy statements and indicated that the SCI Review reflected all the changes in government policy by removing out of date material in the original April 2006 SCI. Whilst this did not constitute a full review of the SCI it would continue to be monitored on an annual basis as part of the North Lincolnshire LDF Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) which the council was required to submit to government each year. The council had produced a revised SCI which followed all the principles set out within the report and which would ensure that the involvement of the public in preparing DPDs would follow the approach set out in the SCI. A copy of the revised SCI document was attached as an appendix to the report for formal consultation.

Resolved – That the Statement of Community Involvement Review be approved for public consultation for a period of 6 weeks.

Councillor Kirk declared a personal interest in (iv) and (v) as the owner of a tenanted property.

1789 LICENSING COMMITTEE – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Committee held on 10 and 15 September, 1 and 7 October 2009 be received.

1790 STANDARDS COMMITTEE – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 24 September 2009 be received.

1791 AUDIT COMMITTEE – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 30 September 2009 be received.

1792 SAFER AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES SCRUTINY PANEL – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel held on 15 and 29 September, 13, 20 and 27 October 2009, be received, approved and adopted.

1793 HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES AND OLDER PEOPLE’S SCRUTINY PANEL – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Healthier Communities and Older People’s Scrutiny Panel held on 20 October 2009 be received with the exception of minute 185.

1794 CLOSURE OF THE LINDSEY HEALTH CARE SUITE AT SCUNTHORPE GENERAL HOSPITAL – With regard to excepted portion (a) it was –

Moved by Councillor Barker and seconded by Councillor Wells –

That the minute be received.

Motion Carried

1795 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 14 September and 12 October 2009 be received.

1796 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S SCRUTINY PANEL – Resolved – That the minutes of the meetings of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel held on 21 September, 5 October and 2 November 2009 be received.

1797 SCRUTINY CO-ORDINATING PANEL – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Panel held on 7 October 2009 be received, approved and adopted.

Question – Mr J Curry

“Why is the pool at The Pods 25 metres in length when the local swimming clubs urged the council to build one 50 metres in length.”

The Leader responded to that question as follows –

“The council undertook a detailed review of community sports facilities, including swimming pools, prior to replacing Baysgarth Leisure Centre and developing The Pods. The review set out clear options about the provision of swimming facilities in the Scunthorpe and Barton areas. None of the options highlighted a need for a 50 metre swimming pool. The review set out the need for the following core facilities:

Scunthorpe and Bottesford Urban Area – Swimming Pool 25 metres x 6 lane

Barton Area – Swimming Pool 20 metres x 4 lane

Cabinet at its meeting on 3 June 2004 had approved an 8 lane 25 metre swimming pool at The Pods.

During the review local sports clubs, including the swimming clubs, were given the opportunity to contribute to the work.

It was also noted that in the north of England the only 50 metre pools were based in major centres of population e.g. Leeds, Sheffield and Sunderland. North Lincolnshire did not have the population to support a 50 metre pool.”

1799 NOTICE OF MOTION – FINANCES –

Moved by Councillor J Briggs and seconded by Councillor England –

“In view of the unprecedented adverse financial situation and in keeping with other councils throughout the country, this council will undertake an urgent review of services and finances to allow the public to be consulted regarding what actions should be taken to enable the council to continue providing essential frontline services, should government funding be significantly reduced in the 2011/2012 municipal year.

Further, the council will meet to discuss the unprecedented challenges that lay ahead and requests that the Service Director Finance presents the relevant meeting of council with outline options to meet the challenges of potential reductions in funding from central government ranging from 10% to 15%.”

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

“This council recognises the need to deliver a responsible budget without slashing front line services. In doing so the council gives a commitment to keeping any council tax increases below the 4.6 per cent average of the previous Conservative administration and to avoid the 600 job losses revealed in their 2009/10 budget.

Council notes that budgets are reviewed on a daily basis by senior council officers and members of the controlling group and have been since Labour took control of the council in 2007.

Council is reminded of the lack of public consultation events during the previous Tory administration, as seen by the demonstrations and protests at the closure of vital public services such as The Screen, the Baths Hall and South Leys School, alongside the catastrophic failure of the Tory leadership to fulfil their pre-election promise to give all residents a £40 council tax rebate.

Furthermore, this council recognises the will of the electorate to dump the Conservative council in May 2007 in favour of a more responsible administration made up of more Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent members with fewer Tories.”

At the request of members and in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.23(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the amendment are as follows –

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

AGAINST: Councillors J Briggs, Bunyan, Clark, Eckhardt, England, T Foster, I Glover, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs Sidall, Stewart, K Vickers, P Vickers, Waltham, Wardle and Wells.

ABSTAINING: Councillors B Briggs and Poole

Amendment Carried

Substantive Motion Carried

1800 NOTICE OF MOTION – FREE SWIMMING

Moved by Councillor O’Sullivan and seconded by Councillor Wilson –

“This council welcomes the success of the free swimming scheme for the under 16s and over 60s. This council gives thanks to the thousands of local residents who have participated in the programme at all of North Lincolnshire’s pools.

Furthermore this council notes work on The Pods has now begun and welcomes the creation of 150 new jobs as part of the project.”

Moved by Councillor Eckhardt and seconded by Councillor England as an amendment –

“This council acknowledges the success of the free swimming scheme for the under 16s and over 60s and congratulates the many local residents who have participated in the programme at all of North Lincolnshire’s pools.

The council calls upon the government to confirm its intention to provide adequate funding to ensure continued improvement in the fitness of all participants.

Furthermore, this council notes that work on the Pods has now begun and welcomes the creation of 150 new jobs as part of the project and will re-assess the replacement of the Baths Hall by including this scheme on the same site as the prestigious Sports Academy.”

At the request of members and in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.23(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the amendment are as follows –

FOR: Councillors J Briggs, Bunyan, Clark, Eckhardt, England, T Foster, Glover, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs Sidell, Stewart, K Vickers, P Vickers, Waltham, Wardle and Wells.

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

ABSTAINING: Councillor Poole

Amendment Lost

At the request of members and in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.23(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the motion are as follows –

FOR: Councillors Ali, Armitage, Bainbridge, Barker, B Briggs, J Briggs, Bunyan, Carlile, Cawsey, Clark, Collinson, Davison, Eckhardt, Ellerby, England, L Foster, T Foster, Glover, Gosling, Grant, Jawaid, Kirk, O’Sullivan, Regan, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs Sidell, Simpson, Smith, Swift, K Vickers, P Vickers, Waltham, Wardle, Wells, Whiteley and Wilson.

AGAINST: Councillor Stewart

ABSTAINING: Councillor Poole

Motion Carried

(Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following matter, minute 1801 refers, Councillor Clark left the meeting).

1801 NOTICE OF MOTION – POST OFFICES –

Moved by Councillor B Briggs and seconded by Councillor Poole –

“This council welcomes the government’s confirmed plans to allow Post Offices to offer Banking and Financial Services.”

Moved by Councillor J Briggs and seconded by Councillor England as an amendment –

“This council welcomes the government’s plans to allow Post Offices to offer Banking and Financial Services.

Nevertheless, the council notes that this is too little and too late for some two thousand five hundred of our Post Offices which have been lost forever. The council urges the government to seek additional initiatives, such as those proposed by the Conservative Party, which would provide valuable banking facilities to some of the most vulnerable members of society, whilst also ensuring those Post Offices which remain have a more secure future.”

At the request of members and in accordance with procedure rule 1.23(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the amendment are as follows –

FOR: Councillors J Briggs, Bunyan, Eckhardt, England, T Foster, Glover, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs Sidell, Stewart, K Vickers, P Vickers, Waltham, Wardle and Wells.

AGAINST: Councillors Ali, Armitage, Bainbridge, Barker, B Briggs, Carlile, Cawsey, Collinson, Davison, Ellerby, L Foster, Gosling, Grant, Jawaid, Kirk, Poole, Regan, Simpson, Smith, Swift, Whiteley and Wilson.

ABSTAINING: Nil

Amendment Lost

Motion Carried Unanimously