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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 http://www.hastings.gov.uk/my_council/cm/?video=214636258 and http://www.hastings.gov.uk/my_council/cm/?video=214636437.
Items No. Item Additional documents:
Minutes:
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Full Council meeting held on 15 February 2017 and the Budget Council meeting held on 22 February 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
Fitzgerald
Cabinet, 6 March 2017
78 – Potential Sports Village Development
Prejudicial – his partner works for the Education Futures Trust
Forward
Cabinet, 6 March 2017
78 – Potential Sports Village Development
Prejudicial – she is a Trustee of the Education Futures Trust
Rankin
Council, 19 April 2017
62 – Motion (Rule 14)
Personal – his son attends a local academy
Announcements from the Mayor and Leader
Minutes:
The Mayor announced that the council would be trialling a new layout of the council chamber for Full Council. Any comments on the new layout from members were to be forwarded to the Mayor in the first instance.
Questions from a member 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 Mr C Hurrell regarding Ecclesbourne Glen. Councillor Chowney, the Leader of the Council, answered the question. Mr Hurrell had submitted a supplementary question by email, and the Leader of the Council would respond in writing.
Questions from Councillors under Rule 12
Minutes:
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
Change of Parking Arrangements will the Leader of the Council agree to investigate changes to parking arrangements at Pelham Place car park? Charges in the car park have been extended from 6.00pm until 9.00pm and this has adversely affected volunteers working at St Mary in the Castle.
Councillor Chowney replied that the changes to the parking arrangements had been included as part of the budget proposals approved by Full Council in February. No comments had been made objecting to the proposals at the time the budget was set. He added that it would not be possible to reinstate the previous arrangements, without achieving savings elsewhere, which would affect council services.
Chowney
Wincott
Stade Saturdays what events will be taking place in Hastings over the summer on Saturday evenings?
Councillor Poole replied that the Stade Staurdays programme would begin again on Saturday, 3 June. The ambitious programme of events included live music, a jazz festival, circus acts and a range of other performances. The team had compiled the programme using very little funding from the council. A range of other events would also be taking place across the summer, in addition to the Stade Staurdays programme, including the Seafood and Wine Festival and Fish Fair.
Poole
Patmore
Rock-a-Nore Road the car parking arrangements at Rock-a-Nore Road are chaotic and causing disruption to people using the car park. Will the Leader of the Council agree to work with all stakeholders to find a solution?
Councillor Chowney replied that work was already underway to find a solution to the delays on Rock-a-Nore Road. He explained that traffic management and dealing with illegally parked cars was primarily the responsibility of East Sussex County Council and the Police. Councillor Chowney had written to the District Commander regarding this matter and arranged for a site visit from a senior officer at East Sussex County Council.
Chowney
Cooke
Heritage Strategy many aspects of the council’s new Heritage Strategy are to be welcomed, but will the lead member provide an assurance that no parking spaces will be lost in the seafront car parks?
Councillor Poole replied that there was no intention to remove any car parking spaces from the seafront car parks as a result of the new Heritage Strategy. She added that many of the seafront car parks were owned by the Foreshore Trust, not the council.
Poole
Lee Clark
Fresh Water Tap in the response to a previous question, the Leader of the Council advised that a fresh water tap located at Harold Place public toilets would be relocated if the conveniences were closed. Now the toilets have been closed, will the Leader of the Council confirm where this well-used resource will be relocated to?
Councillor Chowney confirmed that the tap could be relocated. He suggested that it may be possible to site the tap ... view the full minutes text for item 61.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Street to propose, seconded by Councillor Forward, that:
“This council notes that the Government’s promise to maintain school funding per pupil in cash terms during this Parliament will lead to real-terms cuts in school budgets. The impact of inflation and extra costs such as higher employer National Insurance and pension contributions means that the actual value of funding per pupil in real terms will fall by as much as 8 per cent or more. The National Audit Office has said that, as a result, schools will have to make £3 billion in cuts by 2020. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee agrees.
According to calculations published recently, in East Sussex this would mean budget cuts totalling £22 million, an average of £311 per pupil, the equivalent of 590 teachers. In Hastings, it would mean cuts averaging £360,000 for each secondary, equivalent to £389 per pupil or the loss of 10 teachers and £90,000 for each primary, equivalent to £248 per pupil or 3 teachers.
The council calls on the Government to put extra money into education to protect schools and colleges against real terms cuts per pupil and compensate them for additional costs created by Government policy such as increased employer National Insurance and pension contributions. We further call on the Government to conduct an urgent, independent, objective, comprehensive and transparent assessment of the resources needed by our schools and colleges that is unconstrained by the current inadequate funding envelope.
The council instructs the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Education, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Amber Rudd MP to express these views and also to share them with other interested parties to include local media, schools, teachers’ associations and school governors.”
Minutes:
Councillor Street proposed a motion, as set out in the resolution below, which was seconded by Councillor Forward.
RESOLVED (by 24 votes for, to 0 against, with 8 abstentions) that:
This council notes that the Government’s promise to maintain school funding per pupil in cash terms during this Parliament will lead to real-terms cuts in school budgets. The impact of inflation and extra costs such as higher employer National Insurance and pension contributions means that the actual value of funding per pupil in real terms will fall by as much as 8 per cent or more. The National Audit Office has said that, as a result, schools will have to make £3 billion in cuts by 2020. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee agrees.
According to calculations published recently, in East Sussex this would mean budget cuts totalling £22 million, an average of £311 per pupil, the equivalent of 590 teachers. In Hastings, it would mean cuts averaging £360,000 for each secondary, equivalent to £389 per pupil or the loss of 10 teachers and £90,000 for each primary, equivalent to £248 per pupil or 3 teachers.
The council calls on the Government to put extra money into education to protect schools and colleges against real terms cuts per pupil and compensate them for additional costs created by Government policy such as increased employer National Insurance and pension contributions. We further call on the Government to conduct an urgent, independent, objective, comprehensive and transparent assessment of the resources needed by our schools and colleges that is unconstrained by the current inadequate funding envelope.
The council instructs the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Education, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Amber Rudd MP to express these views and also to share them with other interested parties to include local media, schools, teachers’ associations and school governors.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Webb to propose that:
“This council condemns the closure of St Leonards Crown Post Office and the decision of the Post Office to downgrade the status and service of the St Leonards Crown Post Office by attempting to franchise it into retail business. We are also concerned that for branches where the Post Office cannot find a franchise partner, it is now seeking to introduce the scaled back Post Office Locals service in its place. The council notes the opposition to these proposals by the residents of St Leonards and Hastings and believes that this proposal would lead to:
· The downgrading of vital services to the community.
· The loss of dedicated highly skilled knowledgeable workers.
· A detrimental impact on local businesses and the local economy in St Leonards.
We call upon the Leader of the Council to:
· Instigate the scrutiny committee to approach the Post Office for full details as to the reasons for the closure of the St Leonards Crown Post Office with a view to developing a proposal to keep the current Crown Office open.
· Write to Margot James, Government Minister BEIS with responsibility for Post Offices, to raise our concerns about the potential franchise of the St Leonards Crown Post Office.
· Write to the Chief Executive of the Post Office, Paula Vennells, requesting that the Post Office reverse its decision, by protecting and investing in our cherished St Leonards Crown Post Office.
The terms of this motion will be sent to the local press.”
Minutes:
Councillor Webb proposed an amended motion, as set out in the resolution.
The amendment reflected that Full Council would call upon the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee to approach the Post Office as to the reasons for the closure.
The council would call upon the Leader of the Council to write to the Government Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Chief Executive of the Post Office.
Councillor Lee seconded the amended motion.
RESOLVED (unanimously) that:
This council condemns the closure of St Leonards Crown Post Office and the decision of the Post Office to downgrade the status and service of the St Leonards Crown Post Office by attempting to franchise it into retail business. We are also concerned that for branches where the Post Office cannot find a franchise partner, it is now seeking to introduce the scaled back Post Office Locals service in its place. The council notes the opposition to these proposals by the residents of St Leonards and Hastings and believes that this proposal would lead to:
· The downgrading of vital services to the community.
· The loss of dedicated highly skilled knowledgeable workers.
· A detrimental impact on local businesses and the local economy in St Leonards.
We call upon the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee in the new municipal year to instigate the scrutiny committee to approach the Post Office for full details as to the reasons for the closure of the St Leonards Crown Post Office with a view to developing a proposal to keep the current Crown Office open.
We call upon the Leader of the Council to:
· Write to Margot James, Government Minister BEIS with responsibility for Post Offices, to raise our concerns about the potential franchise of the St Leonards Crown Post Office.
· Write to the Chief Executive of the Post Office, Paula Vennells, requesting that the Post Office reverse its decision, by protecting and investing in our cherished St Leonards Crown Post Office.
The terms of this motion will be sent to the local press.
Motion (Rule 14)
Councillor Edwards to propose, seconded by Councillor Clarke, that:
“The council notes the absence of any public conveniences in the immediate town centre where there is an established demand from amongst many others, the elderly and disabled and, recognising its civic responsibility, will seek to make such a vital facility available at the earliest possible date.”
Minutes:
Councillor Edwards proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Martin Clarke, that the council notes the absence of any public conveniences in the immediate town centre where there is an established demand from amongst many others, the elderly and disabled and, recognising its civic responsibility, will seek to make such a vital facility available at the earliest possible date.
During the debate, Councillor Wincott proposed a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Street, that the council proceed to the next business.
RESOLVED (by 23 votes, to 9 against, with 0 abstentions) that the council proceed to the next business.
A vote then took place on the motion proposed by Councillor Edwards. The proposed motion was lost by 9 votes in favour to 22 against, with 1 abstention.
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 announced that Councillor Davies had resigned from Cabinet. Councillor Chowney thanked Councillor Davies for his efforts during his time as Lead Member for Environment and Place.
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 Fitzgerald be appointed as Lead Member for Environment and Place, and;
2. Councillor Beaney be appointed as Chair of Charity Committee, in place of Councillor Fitzgerald
Reports of Committees PDF 80 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 MARCH 2017
77.
Local List of Heritage Assets
Poole
78.
Potential Sports Village Development
Chowney
79.
Hastings Off-Street Parking Infrastructure Improvements
Fitzgerald
80.
Public Space Protection Order for Hastings
Fitzgerald
81.
Improving the Hastings Street Scene
Fitzgerald
CABINET - 3 APRIL 2017
84.
12 / 13 York Buildings
Chowney
87. (E)
Update on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Procurement
Chowney
88. (E)
12 / 13 York Buildings
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 8a) above. Any such discussion shall be deferred until item 9 on the agenda.
Additional documents:
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, 6 March 2017
78 – Potential Sports Village Development
Beaver
Cabinet, 6 March 2017
80 – Public Space Protection Order for Hastings
Westley
Cabinet, 6 March 2017
81 – Improving the Hastings Street Scene
Lee
Cabinet, 3 April 2017
84 – 12/13 York Buildings
Patmore
Cabinet, 3 April 2017
88 (E) – 12/13 York Buildings
Patmore
Councillors Forward and Fitzgerald, having declared a prejudicial interest in minute 78 of Cabinet on 6 March 2017, Potential Sports Village Development, left the chamber during the debate on this item.
Minute number 88 of Cabinet on 3 April 2017 was an exempt item. When this minute was reached, Councillor Street proposed a motion for the exclusion of the public from the meeting, seconded by Councillor Lee, and unanimously agreed as follows:
RESOLVED that the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of minute number 88 of the Cabinet meeting held on 3 April 2017, 12/13 York Buildings, 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 paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 referred to in the relevant report.
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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