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Modern Gov
Agenda and minutes
Venue: Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY
Contact: Michael Courts on 01424 451764 email mcourts@hastings.gov.uk
Note: The recording of this meeting is available to view online at www.hastings.gov.uk/my_council/cm/?video=207133250
Items No. Item Additional documents:
Minutes:
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 14 December 2016 and the Special Council meeting held on 18 January 2017 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record of the proceedings
Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
The following Councillors declared their interest in the minutes indicated: -
Councillor
Committee
Minute
Interest
Bacon
Full Council, 15 February 2017
50 – Motion (Rule 14)
Personal – he used to teach at a local academy
Batsford
Full Council, 15 February 2017
50 – Motion (Rule 14)
Personal – his children attend a local academy
Cooke
Full Council, 15 February 2017
50 – Motion (Rule 14)
Personal – his two sons attend an academy in Hastings
Davies
Full Council, 15 February 2017
50 – Motion (Rule 14)
Prejudicial – he is a teacher at a local school
Fitzgerald
Cabinet, 6 February 2017
65 – The Firs Former Football Ground
Prejudicial – his wife is employed by the Education Futures Trust
Forward
Cabinet, 6 February 2017
65 – The Firs Former Football Ground
Prejudicial – she is a Trustee of the Education Futures Trust
Poole
Full Council, 15 February 2017
50 – Motion (Rule 14)
Prejudicial – she is a Governor of an academy in Hastings
Rankin
Full Council, 15 February 2017
50 – Motion (Rule 14)
Personal – his son attends an academy in Hastings
Roberts
Full Council, 15 February 2017
50 – Motion (Rule 14)
Prejudicial – he is Chair of Governors at a local academy
Turner
Full Council, 15 February 2017
50 – Motion (Rule 14)
Personal – his two grandsons attend a local academy
Announcements from the Mayor and Leader
Minutes:
The Mayor announced that the Deputy Mayor was representing the council at a ceremony in Hastings, Sierra Leone to mark the 10th Anniversary of it’s twinning with Hastings.
Questions from a member of the public under Rule 11
a) Members of the public under Rule 11
b) Councillor under Rule 12
Minutes:
A written question had been received from Mr C Hurrell regarding Ecclesbourne Glen. Councillor Chowney, the Leader of the Council, 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 Lee Clark regarding the provision of a fresh water tap at Harold Place public conveniences. Councillor Chowney, the Leader of the Council, 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
Harold Place Public Conveniences the decision at Budget Cabinet to delete the closure of Ore Village public conveniences from the draft budget proposal is to be welcomed. Is it not possible to extend this, so that the public conveniences at Harold Place can also remain open?
Councillor Chowney replied that this was a matter for the Budget Council meeting to decide. He added that, given the severity of reductions to its funding, it wold be necessary for the council to take some difficult decisions over the coming years.
Chowney
Roberts
Fisheries Local Action Group 2 (FLAG 2) will the lead member update on plans for FLAG 2 and explain the benefits the first programme brought to the town?
Councillor Poole explained that the FLAG was EU funded initiative which aimed to secure the long term sustainability of the town’s fishing fleet. The project undertaken during the first round of funding included improvements to the wynch road and the development of Classroom on the Coast. The second round of funding, which had been announced last week, was worth approximately £800,000. Eight initial ideas had been developed, including the purchase of a new ice-maker and a number of new environmental research projects. The projects would benefit both the local fishing fleet and tourism to the town.
Poole
Street
Public Conveniences at Priory Meadow the decision not to close Ore Village public conveniences has been welcomed by the local community. Priory Meadow recently closed a set of public toilets, what measures can the council put in place to ensure they are re-opened?
Councillor Chowney said that the council had contacted the operator of Priory Meadow and had been advised that the closure of these toilets was temporary. A notice would be placed on the toilets to confirm this.
Chowney
Clarke
Office of National Statistics (ONS) findings will the Leader of the Council join with him in welcoming the recent findings by the ONS that the local economy in East Sussex has grown by 5.2%. Would he also confirm what the council is doing to contribute to this growth?
Councillor Chowney welcomed these findings. He added that all the local authorities in East Sussex worked closely together to support economic growth. This included the Team East Sussex initiative, which enabled the area to secure funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The council also supported local business, a new factory unit was recently built for BD Foods, which would enable the expansion of the company. The council also contributed to Locate East Sussex, which encouraged businesses to relocate to ... view the full minutes text for item 49.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Chowney to propose that:
“This council notes with concern the continued conversion of all schools in Hastings to academies. We believe that by taking schools out of local authority control, and reducing the powers and responsibilities of governing boards, educational performance are not necessarily improved and a less rewarding educational experience for students can be created through a narrower curriculum.
There are now currently only two schools left in Hastings that have not converted to academies, and at one of these, Castledown Primary, there is now a proposal to convert this school to an academy too.
Parents are concerned about this for two reasons: firstly, because many parents chose Castledown because it was not an academy, and the conversion of this school to an academy reduces further the choice available to parents; and secondly, because only one academy sponsor chain is being considered, which again limits any choice parents might wish to make over the future of the school.
This council therefore supports parents in their campaign to oppose the academisation of Castledown School without any alternatives being presented, and calls for the current plans to be to be halted immediately so that parents, governors, staff, and other stakeholders can explore all possible options to improve standards and effectiveness of teaching at the school. We further call upon the Leader of the Council to write to Amber Rudd MP and the Lead Member for Children's Services at ESCC to raise these concerns, and ask ESCC if further support can be given to Castledown to restore the high standards and good Ofsted results it had in the recent past.”
Minutes:
Councillor Chowney proposed a motion, as set out in the resolution below, which was seconded by Councillor Rankin.
Councillors Davies, Roberts and Poole, having declared a prejudicial interest in this matter, left the chamber during the debate.
RESOLVED (24 votes for, to 2 against, with 0 abstentions) that:
This council notes with concern the continued conversion of all schools in Hastings to academies. We believe that by taking schools out of local authority control, and reducing the powers and responsibilities of governing boards, educational performance are not necessarily improved and a less rewarding educational experience for students can be created through a narrower curriculum.
There are now currently only two schools left in Hastings that have not converted to academies, and at one of these, Castledown Primary, there is now a proposal to convert this school to an academy too.
Parents are concerned about this for two reasons: firstly, because many parents chose Castledown because it was not an academy, and the conversion of this school to an academy reduces further the choice available to parents; and secondly, because only one academy sponsor chain is being considered, which again limits any choice parents might wish to make over the future of the school.
This council therefore supports parents in their campaign to oppose the academisation of Castledown School without any alternatives being presented, and calls for the current plans to be to be halted immediately so that parents, governors, staff, and other stakeholders can explore all possible options to improve standards and effectiveness of teaching at the school. We further call upon the Leader of the Council to write to Amber Rudd MP and the Lead Member for Children's Services at ESCC to raise these concerns, and ask ESCC if further support can be given to Castledown to restore the high standards and good Ofsted results it had in the recent past.
Membership of Committees
To give effect to any request received from a political group for a change in their representation on committee(s)
Minutes:
No motions for a change in representation on committees were proposed by either group leader.
Reports of Committees
PDF 45 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 – 7 NOVEMBER 2016
49. (E)
Commercial Property Purchase – Retail Park
Chowney
CABINET – 5 DECEMBER 2016
55. (E)
Land at Churchwood Drive
Chowney
CABINET – 9 JANUARY 2017
56.
East Sussex Building Control Shared Service
Forward
58.
Housing Renewal Enforcement Policy
Forward
59.
Community Partnership Funding 2017-19
Forward
60. (E)
Resource Planning
Chowney
61. (E)
Procurement of Cleaning Contracts
Chowney
CABINET – 6 FEBRUARY 2017
64. (C)
External Auditor Appointment
Chowney
65.
The Firs Former Football Ground
Chowney
66. (C)
Pay Policy Statement
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 7a) above. Any such discussion shall be deferred until item 8 on the agenda.
Additional documents:
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Extract from Minutes (05 12 16) , item 52.
PDF 39 KB
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Minutes Public Pack, 09/01/2017 Cabinet , item 52.
PDF 80 KB
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Minutes Public Pack, 06/02/2017 Cabinet , item 52.
PDF 61 KB
Minutes:
The Mayor having called over the minutes set out in the agenda, the undermentioned minutes were reserved for discussion.
RESOLVED under rule 13.3 that the reports and minutes of committees set out in the agenda be received. Only those items which were reserved were discussed, as follows: -
Meeting
Minute
Councillor
Cabinet, 7 November 2016
49(E). Commercial Property Purchase – Retail Park
Patmore
Cabinet, 6 February 2017
65. The Firs Former Football Ground
Turner
Councillors Forward and Fitzgerald, having declared a prejudicial interest in minute 65 of Cabinet on 6 February 2017, The Firs Former Football Ground, left the chamber during the debate on this item.
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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Extract from Minutes (05 12 16) , item 52.
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Modern Gov
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