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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Aquila House, Breeds Place, Hastings, TN34 3UY
Contact: Michael Courts on 01424 451764 email mcourts@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Additional documents:
Minutes:
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 18 May 2016 and the Special Council meeting held on 15 June 2016 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record of the proceedings
Questions from members of the public under Rule 11
(a) Members of the public under Rule 11
(b) Councillors under Rule 12
Minutes:
A written question had been received from Ms B Rogers regarding the cost of a new cycle route in Alexandra Park. Councillor Davies, the Lead Member for Environment and Place, answered the question. Copies of the question and the reply were circulated at the meeting.
Ms Rogers asked Councillor Davies a supplementary question regarding the costs of additional safety measures identified during the public consultation on the proposed cycle route, including the cost of extra signage in the park. Councillor Davies welcomed the responses received during the public consultation and agreed to provide Ms Rogers with a written response to her supplementary question.
Questions from Councillors under Rule 12
Minutes:
No written questions have been received from Councillors.
Questions to the Leader, Deputy Leader and other Lead members were asked and answered in accordance with Rule 12.1 as follows: -
Questioner and Councillor
Subject
Reply Given By Councillor
Lee
New Home Secretary would the Leader of the Council join with him in congratulating our local MP on her appointment as Home Secretary?
Councillor Chowney congratulated Amber Rudd MP on her new appointment, and explained that he had emailed her shortly after her new role was announced. He explained that he met with Ms Rudd regularly to discuss issues of local concern.
Chowney
Rankin
Addressing Street Drinking given the importance of inward migration and tourism to the local economy, what is the council doing to tackle street drinking in Hastings town centre?
Councillor Chowney replied that addressing street drinking was primarily a matter for the Police, he continued that as a result of reductions to policing budgets, crimes were now assessed based on potential threat, harm and risk. Councillor Chowney had met with the newly appointed Chief Inspector for Hastings and put forward that street drinking should also be considered as an economic threat. The council also worked proactively with a range of other partners on this issue and was considering the implementation of Public Space Protection Orders to help tackle the issues experienced in the town centre.
Chowney
Westley
European Funding Opportunities Hastings has benefited considerably from European funding in the past, what will the impact on the financial position of the town be after the vote to leave the European Union?
Councillor Chowney responded that it was likely the town would have significantly fewer resources than previously, although there were still many unknown impacts of the decision to leave the European Union. It was likely that the council would also find it increasingly difficult to find other European partners to bid for new projects. Councillor Chowney added that the council, in partnership with Amicus Horizon, had recently successfully obtained European funding for the SHINE initiative to help tackle fuel poverty. The council was also pursuing a bid for Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) 2 funding. Previous funding opportunities through Community Led Local Development (CLLD) may also now be limited from a 5 year programme, to 1 year.
Chowney
Cooke
Missed Bin Collection a number of reports of missed bin collections have been received from residents around the town, what action is being taken with the contactor to improve performance?
Councillor Davies replied that the council continued to work with the other members of the Joint Waste Committee and through officer contacts to address areas of under performance in the contract and support improvements to services.
Davies
Scott
Green Flag Award for Alexandra Park can the lead member advise if Alexandra Park will retain its Green Flag accreditation for another year?
Councillor Davies said he was pleased to announce that Alexandra Park had been awarded a Green Flag accreditation for another year. The Green Flag Award was a national scheme, ... view the full minutes text for item 16.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Turner to move, seconded by Councillor Forward, that:
“Hastings Borough Council believes that the Government's plans threaten patient access to pharmacies and pharmacy services in Hastings. Our local pharmacies are at risk of closure or being forced to cut services such as free delivery of prescription drugs, family planning advice and advice on medicines. This will put more pressure on GPs and hospitals and impact social services and is at odds with the local Clinical Commissioning Group's desire to increase the use of pharmacists to ease pressure on GPs.
We therefore call on the Government to abandon these cuts and maintain a fully-funded community pharmacy service and request the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Health, NHS England and Hastings and Rother Clinical Commissioning Group expressing this view"
Minutes:
Councillor Turner proposed a motion, set out in the resolution below, seconded by Councillor Forward.
RESOLVED (by 28 votes for to 1 against) that Hastings Borough Council believes that the Government’s plans threaten patient access to pharmacies and pharmacy services in Hastings. Our local pharmacies are at risk of closure or being forced to cut services such as free delivery of prescription drugs, family planning advice and advice on medicines. This will put more pressure on GPs and hospitals and impact social services and is at odds with the local Clinical Commissioning Group’s desire to increase the use of pharmacists to ease pressure on GPs.
We therefore call on the Government to abandon these cuts and maintain a fully-funded community pharmacy service and request the Leader of the Council write to the Secretary of state for Health, NHS England and Hastings and Rother Clinical Commissioning Group expressing this view
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Bacon to move, seconded by Councillor Webb, that:
“Hastings Borough Council condemns discrimination in all its guises. The council fears that recent national events could leave many individuals and communities feeling isolated and fearful. We reassure all people living in Hastings and St Leonards that this council will use every opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity and to promote equality.
Furthermore, Hastings Borough Council will continue its long-term commitment to dealing with the multiple causes of hate crime. We will not allow hate to become acceptable. We will continue to invest in projects to both tackle the causes and support the victims of such crime, including domestic violence and abuse.
Finally, Hastings Borough Council will continue to deliver on its corporate commitment to community cohesion and a tolerant and inclusive Borough.
Hastings Borough council therefore resolves to:
1. Maintain and build on our long-term commitments to fight hate crime and promote community cohesion
2. Write to each of our schools, charities and faith groups to request that they promote the message of “One Hastings, Many Voices”
3. Write to the Police and Crime Commissioner for an assurance that budget cuts will not adversely impact on the ability of the police to both investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of such crime
4. Work closely with our local police to maintain a community approach to the prevention of hate crime and supporting its victims
5. Seek clarification from our MP of the detail of additional funding for tackling hate crime recently announced
Minutes:
Councillor Bacon proposed a motion, set out in the resolution below, seconded by Councillor Webb:
RESOLVED (unanimously) that Hastings Borough Council condemns discrimination in all its guises. The council fears that recent national events coild leave many individuals and communities feeling isolated and fearful. We reassure all people living in Hastings and St Leonards that this council will use every opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity and to promote equality.
Furthermore, Hastings Borough Council will continue its long term commitment to dealing with the multiple causes of hate crime. We will not allow hate to become acceptable. We will continue to invest in projects to both tackle the causes and support the victims of such crime, including domestic violence and abuse.
Finally, Hastings Borough Council will continue to deliver on its corporate commitment to community cohesion and a tolerant and inclusive Borough.
Hastings Borough Council therefore resolves to:
1. Maintain and build on our long-term commitments to fight hate crime and promote community cohesion
2. Write to each of our schools, charities and faith groups to request that they promote the message of “One Hastings, Many Voices”
3. Write to the Police and Crime Commissioner for an assurance that budget cuts will not adversely impacts on the ability of the police to both investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of such crime
4. Work closely with our local police to maintain a community approach to the prevention of hate crime and supporting its victims
5. Seek clarification from our MP of the detail of additional funding for tackling hate crime recently announced
Membership of Committees
To give effect to any request received from a political group for a change in their representation on committee(s)
Minutes:
Councillor Lee proposed a motion regarding the membership of committees, as set out in the resolution below.
RESOLVED that the council adopt the following arrangements for the membership of committees: -
1. Councillor Edwards be appointed to the vacant seat on Licensing Committee
Annual Audit Report 2015/16 to Council PDF 127 KB
(Report of the Chief Auditor)
Minutes:
The report of the Chief Auditor, from the Audit Committee, on the annual review of the effectiveness of internal audit was submitted. Under regulation 6 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations (England) 2015, local authorities are required to publish a statement of internal control each year, with the authority’s financial statements. The findings of the annual review of the council’s internal control had been considered by the Audit Committee. The report set out the review of internal control and assurance gathering process.
Under rule 13.3 the report was approved without being called for discussion.
RESOLVED that the Audit Committee report 2015/16 to Council be accepted
The reason for this decision was:
Regulation 6 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations (England) 2015 requires relevant bodies to conduct an annual review of the effectiveness of its systems of internal audit and for a committee of the body to consider the findings.
Reports of Committees PDF 120 KB
a) To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of any items considered while the public were excluded by the relevant committee because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 referred to in the minutes of the relevant committee
b) To receive and consider the recommendations and any decisions of the following committees: -
Minute No.
Subject
Cabinet Member / Chair
CABINET – 6 JUNE 2016
2.
CPO Long Term Empty Street Properties
Forward
3.
Hastings Town Centre Business Improvement District
Poole
4.
Corporate Customer Complaints Policy Review
Cartwright
5. (C)
The Street Trading and Highway Licensing Policy
Davies
6.
Mobile Phone Installations on Council Owned Land
Chowney
8.
1066 Anniversary Community Grants
Poole
9.
Cabinet Appointments to Committees, Working Groups and Partnerships etc.
Chowney
12. (E)
CPO Long Term Empty Street Properties (Part II)
Forward
CABINET – 4 JULY 2016
14. (C)
Housing Strategy
Forward
15.
Customer First Communication Strategy and Action Plan
Cartwright
16.
Corporate Plan retrospective report on performance during 2015/16 and proposed performance Indicator targets for 2016/17
Forward
17.
Income Generation
Chowney
18. (C)
Updates to the Council’s Constitution
Cartwright
(C) – Council Decision
(E) – Exempt
Notes:
1) The Mayor will call over the minutes and members will rise and indicate those items which they wish to have discussed
2) No discussion shall take place at this stage upon any part II minute covered by resolution 9 a) above. Any such discussion shall be deferred until item 10 on the agenda
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1 - Planning Protocol , item 21. PDF 121 KB
- Appendix 2 - amended Planning Protocol with track changes , item 21. PDF 118 KB
- Minutes Public Pack, 06/06/2016 Cabinet , item 21. PDF 190 KB
- Minutes Public Pack, 04/07/2016 Cabinet , item 21. PDF 70 KB
Minutes:
The Mayor having called over the minutes set out in the agenda, the under mentioned minutes were reserved for discussion.
RESOLVED under rule 13.3 that the reports and minutes of committees set out in the agenda be received, including minute number 5 of Cabinet on 6 June 2016 and minute number 18 of Cabinet on 4 July 2016 which were matters for Council decision. Only those items which were reserved were discussed, as follows: -
Meeting
Minute
Councillor
Cabinet, 6 June 2016
8 – 1066 Anniversary Community Grants
Street
Cabinet, 4 July 2016
14 (C) – Housing Strategy
Forward
Cabinet, 4 July 2016
15 – Customer First Communication Strategy and Action Plan
Webb
Cabinet, 4 July 2016
17 – Income Generation
Clarke
Minute number 14 of Cabinet on 4 July 2016 was a matter for Council decision. Councillor Forward moved approval of the minute, seconded by Councillor Lee and agreed unanimously.
No motions for reference to Overview and Scrutiny Committee or reference back to Cabinet were approved in respect of the items reserved for discussion and they were, therefore, received.
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