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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Aquila House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY
Contact: Michael Courts on 01424 451764 email mcourts@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Council meeting held on 20 July 2016 PDF 78 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 20 July 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 Miss H Caglayan regarding compulsory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for Councillors. Councillor Cartwright, the Lead Member for Corporate Services, answered the question. Copies of the question and the reply were circulated at the meeting.
Questions from Councillors Under Rule 12
Minutes:
A written question had been received from Councillor Patmore regarding the Let’s Start Letting scheme. Councillor Forward, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Housing, Communications and Equalities, answered the question. Copies of the question and reply were circulated at the meeting.
Councillor Patmore asked Councillor Forward a supplementary question about the potential impact on the cost of the scheme if the additional £60.00 subsidy paid to Local Authorities as part of the Temporary Accommodation Management Fee (TAMF) was withdrawn. Councillor Forward replied that the government was currently reviewing temporary accommodation funding streams, as a precaution the council was not taking on any further leases until the review is complete. Councillor Forward agreed to keep Councillor Patmore updated on future plans for the scheme.
A written question had been received from Councillor Beaver regarding the Hastings Trust. Councillor Chowney, the Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Finance, answered the question. Copies of the question and reply were circulated at the meeting.
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
Let’s Start Letting the Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Housing, Communications and Equalities leases a property to the Let’s Start Letting Scheme. She declared a prejudicial interest in the matter at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 13 September 2016, but this is not reflected on her Register of Interest. Given this conflict of interest will she resign from her portfolio?
Councillor Forward replied that she would not resign from her portfolio and had taken legal advice with regard to managing any potential conflict of interest.
Forward
Street
Committee of Regions earlier this month a Committee of Regions seminar took place at St Mary in the Castle. The seminar included a number of excellent presentations by local speakers about initiatives taking place in the town. Will the Lead Member join with him in thanking Councillor Westley, who is a member of the Committee of Regions, for her efforts?
Councillor Poole thanked Councillor Westley for her efforts serving on the Committee of Regions. She added that excellent feedback had been received from the recent seminar, particularly from members of the local fishing community. The seminar attracted around 40 additional visitors to the town, which helped to support the local economy.
Poole
Rankin
Supporting Job Creation an article recently appeared in the local newspaper about a new factory unit the council was building for BD Foods. The Leader of the Council has previously stated that the council would pursue opportunities to create jobs locally. Therefore, why has the Leader not responded to an email from a software company, who is considering relocating to the area?
Councillor Chowney said that the council remained committed to supporting job creation opportunities in the town; he often met with companies who were considering moving to Hastings. Councillor Chowney added that he had not received the ... view the full minutes text for item 25.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Bacon to move, seconded by Councillor Batsford, that:
“Hastings Borough Council notes that:
• corporate tax evasion and avoidance are having a damaging impact on the world’s poorest countries to such a level that it is costing them far more than they receive in aid• this is costing the UK as much as £30bn a year
• this practice also has a negative effect on small and medium-sized companies who pay more tax proportionately.
Hastings Borough Council further notes that the UK Government has taken steps to tackle the issue of tax avoidance and evasion by issuing Procurement Policy Note 03/14 (PPN 03/14). This applies to all central government contracts worth more than £5m.
Hastings Borough Council also notes the existence of voluntary schemes promoting tax compliance such as the Fair Tax Mark, which can serve as an independent means of verification.
Hastings Borough Council notes the 2015 Public Contract Regulations which state (in section 4) that local government can choose to adopt Procurement Policy Note 03/14. This council believes that bidders for council contracts should be asked to account for their past tax record, using the higher standards in PPN 03/14.
Hastings Borough Council therefore calls for procurement procedures to be amended to require all companies bidding for service contracts worth more than £25,000 and for works contracts worth more than £25,000 to self-certify that they are fully tax-compliant in line with central government practice using the standards in PPN 03/14, applying to contracts of the size specified above.
This Full Council asks the Cabinet to publicise this policy and to report on its implementation annually.”
Minutes:
Councillor Bacon proposed a motion, set out in the resolution below, seconded by Councillor Batsford.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that Hastings Borough Council notes that:
• corporate tax evasion and avoidance are having a damaging impact on the world’s poorest countries to such a level that it is costing them far more than they receive in aid
• this is costing the UK as much as £30bn a year
• this practice also has a negative effect on small and medium-sized companies who pay more tax proportionately.
Hastings Borough Council further notes that the UK Government has taken steps to tackle the issue of tax avoidance and evasion by issuing Procurement Policy Note 03/14 (PPN 03/14). This applies to all central government contracts worth more than £5m.
Hastings Borough Council also notes the existence of voluntary schemes promoting tax compliance such as the Fair Tax Mark, which can serve as an independent means of verification.
Hastings Borough Council notes the 2015 Public Contract Regulations which state (in section 4) that local government can choose to adopt Procurement Policy Note 03/14. This council believes that bidders for council contracts should be asked to account for their past tax record, using the higher standards in PPN 03/14.
Hastings Borough Council therefore calls for procurement procedures to be amended to require all companies bidding for service contracts worth more than £25,000 and for works contracts worth more than £25,000 to self-certify that they are fully tax-compliant in line with central government practice using the standards in PPN 03/14, applying to contracts of the size specified above.
This Full Council asks the Cabinet to publicise this policy and to report on its implementation annually
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Dowling to move, seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald, that:
“This Council notes that hundreds of thousands of women including many residents in Hastings had significant pension changes imposed on them by the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011 with little or no personal notification of the changes. Some women had only two years notice of a six-year increase to their state pension age.
This Council:
• gives its full support to the campaign by Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) to address this problem;
• calls upon the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born between 6th April 1951 and 5th April 1953 who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification;
• instructs the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye to express this view and ask them to support WASPI's campaign and meet with their Hastings representatives.”
Minutes:
Councillor T Dowling proposed a motion, as set out in the resolution below, which was seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald.
RESOLVED (by 30 votes for, 1 against with 0 abstentions) that this Council notes that hundreds of thousands of women including many residents in Hastings had significant pension changes imposed on them by the Pensions Acts of 1995 and 2011 with little or no personal notification of the changes. Some women had only two years notice of a six-year increase to their state pension age.
This Council:
• gives its full support to the campaign by Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) to address this problem;
• calls upon the Government to reconsider transitional arrangements for women born between 6th April 1951 and 5th April 1953 who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification;
• instructs the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Member of Parliament for Hastings and Rye to express this view and ask them to support WASPI's campaign and meet with their Hastings representatives.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Atkins to move, seconded by Councillor Wincott, that:
“Hastings Borough Council believes the safety of our children is of paramount importance as they travel to and from school within our Borough. Parents parking irresponsibly and illegally at school time is a real danger to children’s safety across Hastings and it is our duty to ensure our children are safe.
We therefore urge every school to include reminders to parents in their weekly newsletters to parents about parking safely around the school, alongside calling the County Council to deploy more enforcement officers at school peak times to help prevent illegal and irresponsible parking and to explore every other enforcement option and safety policy at their disposal to maintain the safety of our children.”
Minutes:
Councillor Atkins proposed a motion, as set out in the resolution below, which was seconded by Councillor Wincott.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that Hastings Borough Council believes the safety of our children is of paramount importance as they travel to and from school within our Borough. Parents parking irresponsibly and illegally at school time is a real danger to children’s safety across Hastings and it is our duty to ensure our children are safe.
We therefore urge every school to include reminders to parents in their weekly newsletters to parents about parking safely around the school, alongside calling the County Council to deploy more enforcement officers at school peak times to help prevent illegal and irresponsible parking and to explore every other enforcement option and safety policy at their disposal to maintain the safety of our children.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Patmore to move, seconded by Councillor Lee, that:
“Hastings Borough Council will support the placing of a new Blue Plaque on 447 Bexhill Road, St. Leonards on Sea to commemorate Claude Nunney, the most decorated ordinary private soldier in the Canadian Army in World War 1 and the only Great War soldier who was born in this town to be awarded the Victoria Cross”
Minutes:
Councillor Patmore proposed a motion, set out in the resolution below, which was seconded by Councillor Lee.
During the debate it was noted that funds were already in place to complete the project, and the Blue Plaque would be installed at no cost to Hastings Borough Council.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that Hastings Borough Council will support the placing of a new Blue Plaque on 447 Bexhill Road, St. Leonards on Sea to commemorate Claude Nunney, the most decorated ordinary private soldier in the Canadian Army in World War 1 and the only Great War soldier who was born in this town to be awarded the Victoria Cross
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 Chowney 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 Webb to be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Audit Committee, in place of Councillor Clark
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 Atkins to be appointed to Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in place of Councillor Patmore
2. Councillor M Clarke to be appointed to Standards Committee, in place of Councillor Lee
3. Councillor Rankin to be appointed as Chair of the Audit Committee in place of Councillor Beaver
Appointment of Independent Persons PDF 112 KB
(Report of the Chief Legal Officer)
Minutes:
The report of the Chief Legal Officer on the appointment of Independent Persons was submitted. In accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011, the council had appointed two Independent Persons to assist with the Standards process. The term of office of the current Independent Persons expired on 31st October 2016. The report sought approval to re-appoint the Independent Persons for a further year, until 31st October 2017.
Under rule 13.3 the report was approved without being called for discussion.
RESOLVED to appoint Margaret Sandra and Andrew Colquhoun as Independent Persons to assist with the Standards process from 1st November 2016 to 31st October 2017
The reason for this decision was:
The Localism Act 2011 requires the council to appoint at least one Independent Person to assist with the Standards process. Further, changes in employment legislation requires and Independent Person to be involved in any disciplinary action against any of the three statutory officers, those being the Head of Paid Service, the Chief Finance Officer and the Monitoring Officer.
Reports of Committees PDF 63 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 – 8 AUGUST 2016
20.
European Maritime Fisheries Fund Community Led Local Development (Hastings FLAG( 2))
Poole
21.
Healthy Hastings & Rother Programme
Forward
22. (E)
Connecting Hastings and Rother Together – Community Led Local Development (CHART CLLD) (Part II)
Poole
CABINET – 5 SEPTEMBER 2016
25.
Planning Service Review Report
Forward
26.
Anti-Poverty Strategy Refresh
Forward
27.
Management Response to the Overview and Scrutiny Review of Community Safety
Davies
28.
Management Response to the Overview and Scrutiny Review of Digital Inclusion
Cartwright
29.
Community Partnership Fund 2017/19
Forward
30.
Final Accounts 2015/16
Chowney
31. (C)
Annual Treasury Management Report 2015/16
Chowney
32.
Coastal Medium Term Plans
Poole
33.
Energy Procurement
Chowney
34.
Procurement of Cleaning Contracts
Chowney
CABINET – 10 OCTOBER 2016
37.
Sustainable Housing in Inclusive Neighbourhoods (SHINE) Updated Bid
Forward
38.
Land on Churchfields Estate
Chowney
40. (E)
Land on Churchfields Estate
Chowney
(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 12a) above. Any such discussion shall be deferred until item 13 on the agenda
Additional documents:
- Minutes Public Pack, 05/09/2016 Cabinet , item 32. PDF 106 KB
- Minutes Public Pack, 10/10/2016 Cabinet , item 32. PDF 67 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 31 of Cabinet on 5 September 2016, which was a matter for Council decision. Only those items which were reserved were discussed, as follows: -
Meeting
Minute
Councillor
Cabinet, 8 August 2016
20 – European Maritime Fisheries Fund Community Led Local Development (Hastings FLAG 2)
Lee
Cabinet, 5 September 2016
25 – Planning Service Review Report
Lee
Cabinet, 5 September 2016
26 – Anti-Poverty Strategy Refresh
Lee
Cabinet, 5 September 2016
30 – Final Accounts 2015/16
Lee
Cabinet, 5 September 2016
32 – Coastal Medium Term Plans
Lee
Cabinet, 5 September 2016
34 – Procurement of Cleaning Contracts
Lee
Cabinet, 10 October 2016
38 – Land on Churchfields Estate
Scott
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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