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Agenda and minutes
Venue: This meeting will be streamed online on our website
Contact: Democratic Services on 01424 451484 email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies received from Councillor Louise and Councillor Charman
To approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting PDF 396 KB
Additional documents:
- Minutes Public Pack, 23/02/2021 Full Council , item 173. PDF 188 KB
- Minutes Public Pack, 17/02/2021 Full Council , item 173. PDF 360 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 10th February 2021 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record of the proceedings.
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 17th February 2021 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record of the proceedings.
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd February 2021 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record of the proceedings
Declarations of Interest
Minutes:
None received.
Announcements from the Mayor and Leader
Minutes:
The Mayor held a minute’s silence in tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Mayor gave thanks to councillors which are standing down next month. Councillor Fitzgerald, Councillor Lee, Councillor Charman, Councillor Levane, Councillor Louise and Councillor Sabetian.
Councillor Sinden proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Rogers, as follows:
RESOLVED that in order for the Managing Director to update the Full Council, under Rule 16(14) of council procedure the council proceed as if in committee.
The Managing Director provided a brief update on the Covid-19 pandemic. Hastings is currently 311 out of 315 lower tier authorities in England for COVID-19 cases. East Sussex weekly rolling average rate is 7.4. The weekly rate for Hastings is 3.2.
Restart grants are now being paid out to non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses. The Council has received 802 applications and has already paid out £2m of the grant. It is taking longer to process these applications because the government requires additional anti-fraud checks for all payments before they are made.
Council officers are also planning for a very busy summer starting with the May Day weekend. Although the main events have been cancelled, this is traditionally a popular time to visit Hastings so contingency plans are being put in place if large numbers do visit.
The meeting returned to Full Council mode.
Questions (if any) from:
a) Members of the public under Rule 11
b) Councillors under Rule 12
Minutes:
a) Members of the public under Rule 11
Questioner
Subject
Reply given by
Mr Struys
Obviously, we're all hoping the vaccine roll-out and the Government's Road Map will enable us to all come out of full lock-down as planned in June. However, if this happens it's almost inevitable that in the summer months thousands of people from outside the town will want to visit for weekend breaks or longer 'staycations' and many local people, who normally would be away in the summer, may not venture abroad this year.
The temporary significant increase in population, whilst excellent for local businesses will likely put a tremendous strain on our infrastructure, for example public toilets, car parking etc., In addition, sadly there will inevitably be an impact on the cleanliness of our streets, parks and beaches.
What plans has the local council considered or put in place for mitigating the unfortunate negative impacts of this likely scenario?Councillor Barnett:
Last Summer the council experienced some increased demand along the lines you describe, and service managers have already given this some consideration ahead of this Summer. For example, late last Summer we trialled an extended operating schedule for our street and beach cleansing team along the seafront, and we will be rolling this out again this Summer. The Parks service will also be monitoring pressure on our parks and open spaces, such as in relation to litter bin emptying, and responding accordingly. We will also continue to use social media to urge and encourage residents and visitors to the town to deal with the waste they generate responsibly.b) Councillors under Rule 12
Subject
Reply given by
Councillor Foster
Disabled Facilities Grant Could the Councillor please confirm how many Disabled Facilities Grant applications have been made in the past 12 Months and how many, if any, of those did not attract grant funding after means testing?
Councillor Batsford replied for the 2020/2021 year there were 75 referrals from ESCC of which all but one resulted in an application for a DFG being successful. The one which was later closed was as a result of inaccurate information initially being provided by the applicant.
Councillor Batsford
Councillor Lee
Hastings Housing company Is there a councillor on the board of Hastings housing company?
In reply, Councillor Batsford acknowledged that his statement to the last council meeting was incorrect, and whilst there had previously been a councillor on the board, there is not one now.
Councillor Batsford
Councillor Bishop
Safety in the park Please update on safety in the park and the petition which has been circulated.
Councillor Evans advised she is working with the petitioners and the petition had over seventeen thousand signatures. Work is underway with council officers to explore options and planning to meet again in late May/June. The key proposal is an indigo path which would be an identified safe route through the park. The main theme is to make the park safe and welcoming for everybody.
Councillor Evans
Councillor Sabetian
Restart ... view the full minutes text for item 176.
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 informed the Council in leadership of the Conservative Group – Councillor Patmore is now the new Leader and Councillor John Rankin the new Deputy Leader.
Councillor Lee gave thanks to officers and councillors for his time as a councillor.
RESOLVED that the council notes the following arrangements for the
membership of committees:
1. Councillor Patmore is the new leader of the Conservative Group
Constitutional Amendments PDF 262 KB
Minutes:
Cllr Rogers reported during the Covid Pandemic the Government removed the legal requirement for Local Authorities to hold public meetings in person thereby enabling remote meetings. The emergency legislation which was passed only applies to meetings held before 7thMay 2021.
The report updated Councillors on the provisions regarding remote meetings and requested that Full Council reinstate the emergency powers given to the Managing Director to enable decision making in emergency situations.
Councillor Rogers proposed approval of the recommendations, seconded by Councillor Roberts.
Councillor Patmore proposed to go into committee mode, seconded by Rankin.
The Mayor proposed to go into committee mode.
Councillor Beaver proposed an amendment to recommendation one, that would change the duration of time the emergency powers were granted from twelve to six months, this was seconded by Councillor Foster. Councillor Rogers accepted the amendment, which then included as part of the substantive motion.
The council debated the merits of virtual meetings.
The Mayor proposed that the meeting return to Full Council mode which was agreed.
RESOLVED (votes for 29, votes against 1)
Recommendation(s)
1. Full Council agrees to reinstate the emergency powers given to the Managing Director as set out in the Paragraph 8 of this Report with immediate effect for a period of no more than 6 months.
2. Full Council adopts the amendments to Paragraph 26.22 of Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution.
Reasons for Recommendations
During the Covid 19 Pandemic it has been necessary to adapt our procedures to be able to continue the Council’s business.
The Mayor stopped the meeting for a comfort break.
Reports of Committees
a) To receive and consider the recommendations and any decisions of the following committees.
Subject
Cabinet Member / Chair
CABINET – 11 FEBRUARY 2021 – EMERGENCY DECISION
317.
Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) Scheme
Chowney
CABINET – 23 FEBRUARY 2021 – EMERGENCY DECISION
319.
Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) Scheme Policy (Tranche 2)
Chowney
CABINET – 1 MARCH 2021
323.
Reducing Rough Sleeping
Batsford
324.
Transfer of the Joint Waste and Recycling Committee Administering Authority from Rother District Council to Wealden District Council
Barnett
325.
Proposals to make public space protection orders in relation to alley gating to address serious community safety issues raised by members of the local community
Barnett
CABINET – 5 MARCH 2021 – EMERGENCY DECISION
329.
Council Tax – Discretionary Hardship (Covid-19) Policy
Chowney
Notes:1. The Mayor will call over the minutes and members will rise and indicate those items which they wish to have discussed.
Minutes:
The Mayor having called over the minutes set out in the agenda; the following minutes were reserved for discussion.
RESOLVED that under rule 13.3 the reports and minutes of committees set out in the agenda, including those items on which a council decision was required, be received and agreed. Only those items which were reserved were discussed as follows:
Meeting
Minute
Councillor
Cabinet, 11th February 2021
317. Local Restrictions Support Grant
(Open) Scheme
Chowney
Cabinet, 23rd February 2021
319. Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) Scheme Policy (Tranche 2)
Chowney
Cabinet, 1st March 2021
323. Reducing Rough Sleeping
Batsford
Cabinet, 1st March 2021
324. Transfer of the Joint Waste and
Recycling Committee Administering
Authority from Rother District Council
to Wealden District Council
Barnett
Cabinet, 1st March 2021
Proposals to make public space protection orders in relation to alley gating to address serious community safety issues raised by members of the local community
Barnett
Cabinet, 5th March 2021
329. Council Tax – Discretionary Hardship
(Covid-19) Policy
Chowney
Councillors debated minutes 319 of Cabinet on 23rd February 2021. These matters did not require approval of Full Council.
Councillors debated minutes 323 and 325 of Cabinet on 1st March 2021. These matters did not require approval of Full Council.
Councillors debated minutes 329 of Cabinet on 5th March 2021. These matters did not require approval of Full Council
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