Venue: Civic Suite, Pathfinder House, St Mary's Street, Huntingdon PE29 3TN
Contact: Ms C Deller, Democratic Services Manager, Tel No 01480 388007/e-mail: Christine.Deller@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
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PRAYER Minutes: Prior to commencement of formal proceedings, the Reverend A Milton, Team Rector for Huntingdon Ministry invited those present to join him in Prayer. |
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CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Minutes: (a) Councillor P M D Godfrey
The Chairman paid tribute to former Councillor P M D Godfrey who passed away on 2nd April 2012 after a long illness. Councillor Godfrey had represented Earith Ward since 2006 and was elected Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) in May 2009.
Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader, described Councillor Godfrey as a man of courage and conviction who was devoted to serve those he represented in his Ward and Parish. Councillor Ablewhite announced that the Conservative Group had agreed to fund a memorial bench which would be placed in Samian Court in memory of Councillor Godfrey.
As Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor P J Downes expressed his admiration for the way in which Councillor Godfrey had conducted himself during his illness and for the manner in which he had Chaired the Overview and Scrutiny Panel. He added that Councillor Godfrey had been an asset to the Council and would be sadly missed.
On the conclusion of further tributes to Councillor Godfrey made by Councillors K M Baker, Mrs M Banerjee, P L E Bucknell, D B Dew, D Harty and T V Rogers, the Council stood for a few moments in memory of their former colleague.
(b) Equality and Diversity Award
The Chairman was pleased to announce that the Council had been awarded “Achieving Status” by the Local Government Association against the “Equality Framework for Local Government” following an external review.
(c) Chairman’s Fundraising
The Chairman announced that he had raised a total of £7,400 for his chosen charities – Alzheimer’s Society (Huntingdonshire), Parkinson’s UK (Huntingdonshire), Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre (Huntingdonshire) and St. John’s Ambulance (Huntingdonshire).
The Council also was advised that the Chairman had awarded grants to charities and organisations across the District amounting to approximately £3,500.
(d) Chairman’s Correspondence
Having reminded Members that he had, on their behalf, congratulated Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of her accession to the throne, the Chairman reported that he had subsequently received a response in which the Queen had sent her good wishes to the Council for a memorable and enjoyable Diamond Jubilee Year.
(e) Awards to the Chairman
Councillor Mrs B E Boddington, Vice-Chairman of the Council drew the Council’s attention to two awards which had recently been presented to the Chairman, Councillor J J Dutton.
Members joined in a round of applause on the appointment of Councillor Dutton as a Member of the President’s Club, in recognition of the support he had offered to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Outward Bound Association and for his admission as a Serving Brother in the Order of St. John with effect from 4th April 2012.
(f) Membership of the Council
The Chairman referred to the impending retirement of Councillors Mrs J A Dew, P Godley, P A Swales, P Ward and J S Watt, all of whom had indicated that they were not seeking re-election to the District Council in May 2012. The Council recorded their ... view the full minutes text for item 63. |
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 22nd February 2012. Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22nd February 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. Actions: 2 minutes |
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MEMBERS' INTERESTS To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda Item. Please see Notes 1 and 2 below. Minutes: Councillors I C Bates, K Churchill, S J Criswell, P J Downes, J J Dutton, R S Farrer, N J Guyatt, D Harty, P D Reeve and R J West declared a personal interest in Minute No. 70(a), Item No. 72 by virtue of their membership of Cambridgeshire County Council. Actions: 2 minutes |
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972: SECTION 87 - EARITH WARD To report that a by-election will be held in the Earith Ward following the death recently of Councillor P M D Godfrey. The by-election will be called once the appropriate requisition has been received. Minutes: The Chairman reported that the by-election to be held in the Earith Ward following the recent death of Councillor P M D Godfrey would be called once the appropriate requisition had been received. |
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GENERAL POWER OF COMPETENCE AND FREEDOM TO PRAY The Council will be aware that, the High Court recently issued a ruling that 'the saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a Council is not lawful under Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972".
As a consequence of this ruling and the public response which it generated, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government chose to make available, with effect from 21st February 2012, to all principal local authorities in England, the general power of competence contained in the Localism Act 2011. This enables the District Council to “do anything that individuals generally may do”, provided such act is not outside the law.
The Secretary of State considers that this new flexibility could include the 'freedom to pray'. As the ruling in the case is now subject to an appeal, the Head of Legal and Democratic Services has advised that it would be prudent for the Council to consider how they would wish this matter to be dealt with at future meetings.
The options are –
(i) not to have prayers; (ii) to have prayers, but before and not as part of the formal meeting; or (iii) to have prayers as part of the formal meeting. Minutes: Having regard to the recent High Court ruling that “the saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a Council is not lawful under Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972”, a subsequent appeal against the ruling in the case and advice received from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services as to how the Council would wish the matter to be dealt with at future meetings, it was moved by the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite, duly seconded and
RESOLVED
that the saying of prayers be held as part of the formal meeting of the Council with effect from the Annual Meeting on 16th May 2012. |
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To consider a report by the Head of Legal & Democratic Services. Minutes: By way of a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Council was advised that the NJC for Local Government Staff Services had decided not to offer local government employees a pay award in 2012. Given that this mechanism also is used to adjust Members’ allowances annually, the Council noted that, in these circumstances, there would be no increase in Members’ allowances with effect from 16th May 2012 ie. the date of the Annual Council Meeting. Actions: 5 minutes |
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"What will localism mean to our Parish Council?" To invite the Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor with responsibility for Localism, Councillor N J Guyatt to open the debate. Minutes: The Chairman reminded Members of the decision by the Council to suspend Council Procedure Rule 11 (Rules of Debate) to enable headline debates and “White Paper” proposals to be discussed by Members in an open manner. The Council, therefore,
RESOLVED
that Council Procedure Rule 11 (Rules of Debate) be suspended for the duration of the discussion on Minute No. 69 during which time the Common Law Rules of Debate be observed by Members and applied by the Chairman.
At the invitation of the Chairman, the Deputy Executive Leader and Executive Councillor with responsibility for localism, Councillor N J Guyatt welcomed County Councillor L W McGuire and all representatives of Town and Parish Councils to the meeting. Councillor Guyatt was pleased to invite Mr I Dewar, Chief Executive of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Association of Local Councils to open the debate on “What Will Localism Mean to our Parish Council”.
Mr Dewar explained the role of the Association in offering guidance and support to Town and Parish Councils. In his view, whilst the Localism Act would present a serious challenge to the Sector, in reality the Act had only formalised what Parish Councils may already have been doing for many years. Referring specifically to the Act, Mr Dewar mentioned the “community right to bid” for local assets of community value and the “community right to challenge”. However, he was concerned at the limited detail available on the new rights and powers for communities and commented that the Act was short in the explanation of terminology and the definition of terms. Mr Dewar questioned whether a local council could deliver services in a sustainable or cost-effective way. He also expressed concern at the suggested “community right to build” and whilst accepting that this power could give a local community the opportunity to deliver affordable housing, questioned how this could be achieved in a sustainable way.
Mr Dewar also expressed interest in how the general power of competence would develop. He reported that he had given presentations on the Act to a number of Parishes, several of which had not expressed any interest in further development whilst others had wished to see increased employment and housing opportunities but found it difficult to understand how this could be achieved. He looked forward to the assistance that the local planning authority might offer in this connection.
Mr Dewar indicated his disappointment at the proposed changes to the Standards regime and was unclear whether the intentions of the Act in this respect would be of any benefit to the parish sector or indeed any other tier of local government.
At present, Mr Dewar reported that he was looking at the various issues arising from the Act with a group of Councils in Cambridgeshire to decide how best Councils could organise themselves. It was his intention to record the outcome of this work to assist other Councils in the future. The Group was considering the expectations of their communities, the capacity of Parish Councils to undertake new ... view the full minutes text for item 69. Actions: 60 minutes |
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Reports of the Cabinet, Panels and Committee Additional documents:
Minutes: (a) Cabinet
Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader of the Council and Chairman of the Cabinet presented the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 28th February, 22nd March and 19th April 2012.
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In connection with Item No. 61 and in response to a question from Councillor S Greenall, Councillor Ablewhite confirmed that savings arising from the deletion of the post of Housing Services had not been included in the budget or Medium Term Plan.
On the same subject and in response to a question from Councillor P J Downes, Councillor Ablewhite was confident that the deletion of the post of Head of Housing Services would not impact upon the delivery of the front line housing service.
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In connection with Item No. 62 and in response to a question from Councillor P D Reeve, Councillor Ablewhite indicated that he was unable, in the current financial climate and in the absence of future Government guidance on this issue, to commit to a position whereby the Authority would not approve the development of wind farms on District Council land.
On the same subject and in response to a further question from Councillor Reeve, Councillor Ablewhite confirmed that he was not presently aware of any proposal to develop a wind farm on District Council owned land.
On the same subject and in response to a question from Councillor J A Gray, Councillor Ablewhite assured the questioner that there would be full consultation with Town and Parish Councils at the time when the District Council decided to update its current supplementary planning guidance on wind power.
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In connection with Item No. 66 and upon being moved by the Chairman, Councillor J J Dutton and duly seconded by Councillor N J Guyatt, it was
RESOLVED
(a) that the Huntingdonshire Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule 2012, the CIL Instalment Policy and the CIL Regulation 123 Infrastructure List be approved for implementation from 1st May 2012; and
(b) that subject to the approval of the above, the “correctable error” for the Charging Schedule referred to in paragraph 4.2 of the report of the Head of Planning Services now submitted be approved as a point of legal clarification.
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In connection with Item No. 70 and in response to a question from Councillor P J Downes on the review of the Neighbourhood Forums, Councillor S J Criswell reported that a draft Constitution recommending a new method of operation had been sent to Town and Parish Councils that day, that it had been proposed that the Forum should operate within revised geographical boundaries and that they should involve all County, District and Town and Parish Council representatives; copies of the consultation document had been issued to all Members and he was hopeful that the Council would take the opportunity to respond.
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In connection with Item No. 71 and in response to a question from Councillor D B Dew, Councillor Ablewhite advised the Council that progress had been made in seeking to secure an ... view the full minutes text for item 70. Actions: 30 minutes |
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ORAL QUESTIONS In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (Section 8.3) of the Council's Constitution, to receive oral questions from Members of the Council Minutes: In accordance with the Council Procedure Rules (Paragraph 8.3 of the Rules), the Chairman proceeded to conduct a period of oral questions addressed to Executive Councillors and Panel Chairmen as follows:-
Question from Councillor R J West to the Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities, Councillor T D Sanderson
In response to a question regarding the successful outcome of the Diversity Peer Challenge, Councillor Sanderson confirmed that he had congratulated the Members and Officers involved for their enthusiasm and effort in securing the award.
Question from Councillor P J Downes to the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite
In response to a question regarding the content of literature distributed by the Conservative Party ahead of the forthcoming District Council elections, Councillor Ablewhite considered that it was inappropriate to comment on the content of political party leaflets at the Council meeting.
Question from Councillor R S Farrer to the Executive Leader, Councillor J D Ablewhite
In response to a question regarding charges for car parking at the Riverside Car Park, St. Neots, Councillor Ablewhite confirmed that car parking charges currently were under review and that he would welcome the contributions of the questioner and his colleagues in St. Neots to this process. Councillor Ablewhite added that he was aware that there were car parks in the District, including the Riverside Car Park that appeared to be under-used and that he would expect any review to address this issue and the current marketing of the District’s car parking facilities.
Question from Councillor M F Shellens to the Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities, Councillor T D Sanderson
In response to a question regarding the potential closure of Dairy Crest in Fenstanton and the impact this might have on the budgets of local families and on the local economy, Councillor Sanderson was of the view that it was not necessary to review the timing of the project to invest in One Leisure, St Ives and undertook to respond in greater detail to the questioner in writing to explain the reasons why.
Question from Councillor R J West to the Executive Councillor for the Environment, Councillor D M Tysoe
In response to a question regarding the necessity for the Flood Forum during a period of drought, Councillor Tysoe confirmed that it continued to be important to discuss the readiness of flood prevention measures as well as the impact of water levels on the District and that, in the event that rain fall continued to remain low, he was of the view that the Forum might have a role in discussing the storage of water and the designation of new reservoir areas.
The meeting ended at 9.40pm. |