Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bosshard, Boughey, Evans, Fortune, Grainger, Humphrys, Lymer and Tickner. Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Samaris Huntington-Thresher.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bosshard, Boughey, Evans, Fortune, Grainger, Humphrys, Lymer and Tickner. Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Samaris Huntington-Thresher.

Minutes confirmed, subject to correction of the minutes of the annual meeting on 16^th May 2012 to list Cllr Adams on the Environment Committee, rather than Cllr McBride.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 26^th March 2012, the special meeting held on 16^th May 2012 and the annual meeting held on 16^th May 2012 were confirmed, subject to correction of the minutes of the annual meeting to list Cllr Adams on the Environment Committee, rather than Cllr McBride.

Councillor Douglas Auld declared an interest in agenda item 5 (Petitions) as his wife was an employee of the Council.

Councillor Nicholas Bennett declared an interest in agenda item 6 (Oral Questions) as he had a tenant in receipt of housing benefit.  

Councillor Douglas Auld declared an interest in agenda item 5 (Petitions) as his wife was an employee of the Council.

Councillor Nicholas Bennett declared an interest in agenda item 6 (Oral Questions) as he had a tenant in receipt of housing benefit.  

One question was addressed to the Environment Portfolio Holder – he agreed to meet any charity representatives to discuss recycling of textiles.

One question was addressed to the Environment Portfolio Holder, details of which are attached as Appendix A to the minutes.

(i) Localised Pay and Conditions of Service: No further action until the consultation period is complete.

(ii) Scope Clothing Banks: No further action.   

(A) Scope Clothing Banks:

A petition was received in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme from Scope objecting to the removal of its clothing banks from Council owned land. Julie Warburton of Scope addressed the meeting in support of the petition.

A motion to take no further action on the petition was duly proposed and seconded.

An amendment to refer the matter to the Environment PDS Committee for further consideration was moved by Councillor Fookes and seconded by Councillor McBride. The amendment was LOST.

On being put to the vote, the original motion to take no further action was CARRIED.

(B) Localised Pay and Conditions of Service

A petition was received in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme on behalf of Council staff calling on the Council to “drop their plans to remove all council staff from the national terms and conditions for local government workers.”  Glenn Kelly, Staff-side Secretary, addressed the meeting in support of the petition 

A motion to take no further action on the petition until the consultation period was complete was duly proposed and seconded. The motion was CARRIED.

Ten questions were asked.

Oral and written questions from Members of the Council are attached as Appendices B and C.

No statements were made.

There were no statements made at the meeting.

Annual Report received as recommended.

A motion to accept the Annual PDS Report for 2011/12 was duly proposed and seconded. The motion was CARRIED.

Dr Simon Davey, independent Chairman of the Standards Committee, addressed the meeting.

Amended recommendations agreed as follows –

(1) New Code of Conduct for Councillors agreed to take effect on 1^st July, based on the DCLG model but retaining the need to register all interests presently registered, to register any changes with 28 days, and to register gifts and hospitality above the existing £25 threshold;

(2) Amendment of Council Procedure Rules to allow Councillors with a disclosable pecuniary interest to address a Committee in certain circumstances;

(3) Richard Allen, Dr Simon Davey and Nicholas Marcar appointed as Independent Persons under the Localism Act for a transitional period of up to one year;

(4) Council retains a Standards Committee, with amended terms of reference and membership of Councillors Adams, Dean, Fookes, Norrie and Tickner.)

(5) Requests for dispensations be considered by the Urgency Committee.

Dr Simon Davey, independent Chairman of the Standards Committee, addressed the meeting. It had been a year of transition for the Standards Committee, with no formal complaints against Councillors, but the Committee had provided advice and support to officers. He supported the proposals for the new standards regime, and offered his particular thanks to his Vice-Chairman, Mr Richard Allen, Councillors Peter Dean and Peter Fookes, and to Mr Mark Bowen and Mrs Sheila Bennett.

Councillor Steven Carr thanked Dr Davey and his fellow independent Members for their service on the Committee. 

Amended recommendations had been circulated as follows –

(1) That a Code of Conduct as recommended by the Executive, based on the model code produced by the Department of Communities and Local Government, be approved to take effect on 1^st July 2012, the Code to retain (i) the need to register all interests presently registered, (ii) to register any changes within 28 days and (iii) to register gifts and hospitality above the existing £25 threshold.

(2)  That the Council Procedure Rules be amended to:

(a)  require a Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest to leave any Council meeting where that interest is being considered unless they have a dispensation, but that if possible a general dispensation should be granted:

(i)   where a member of the public would be entitled to speak or address the Committee, provided that the Member should not be able to vote or participate in the Committee debate in those circumstances;  and

(ii)   that a Member who is appointed by the Council as a Director of any body may speak on an item relating to that body but may not vote on it,

subject in both cases to the right of Council to exclude the Member where it considered it appropriate to do so.

(3) That Mr Richard Allen, Dr Simon Davey and Mr Nicholas Marcar be appointed as Independent Persons under the Act for an interim period of up to one year.

(4) That the Council retains a Standards Committee and that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 17 of the local Government & Housing Act 1989, the political balance rules be waived for the Committee to comprise the current five members (Councillors Adams, Dean, Fookes, Norrie and Tickner) and that the amendments to the Constitution (Article 9) recommended by the Standards Committee on 19^th June 2012 be agreed.

(5) That requests for dispensations by members of the Council be considered by the Urgency Committee, and this be added to the Committee’s terms of reference. 

A motion to adopt these changes to the Standards regime as amended was duly proposed and seconded. The motion was CARRIED.

Decisions of the Urgency Committee noted as recommended.

A motion to note the decisions of the Urgency Committee was duly proposed and seconded. The motion was CARRIED.

The following members were appointed –

(i) SACRE: Cllr Adams;

(ii) Executive & Resources PDS: Cllr Ellie Harmer;

(iii) Local Joint Committee: Cllrs  Ellie Harmer and Colin Smith

The following Members were nominated to fill various vacancies –

(i) SACRE: Cllr Adams;

(ii) Executive & Resources PDS Committee: Cllr Ellie Harmer;

(iii) Local Joint Committee: Cllrs  Ellie Harmer and Colin Smith

A motion to approve these appointments was duly proposed and seconded. The motion was CARRIED.

Two motions were considered.

(i) Breaches of Security at Bethlem Royal Hospital

(Moved by the Councillor Tim Stevens and seconded by Councillor Douglas Auld)

The motion was amended to read –

“This Council expresses its deepest concern regarding the number of breaches of security at the Bethlem Royal Hospital during the last six years and the apparent lack of urgency, determination and drive to get to the root causes of these incidents. It is noted that the Chief Executive has resigned and this Council will seek a meeting with his replacement at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, the Council demands that full security and staff training process reviews are carried out within the next three months with the results being made known to the Council.

Further this Council calls for a proper agreed information protocol to be put in place by the end of July 2012.

Should there be a failure to comply with the above requests the Council will write to the relevant Government Minister asking for action to be taken.”

The motion as amended was unanimously agreed.

(ii) Housing Need 

(Moved by Councillor Peter Fookes and seconded by Councillor Katherine Bance)

The motion was amended to read -

“This Council resolves that the Care Services PDS Committee and the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee should set up a Housing Working Party to address the increasing problems of housing need in this borough.”

The motion as amended was unanimously agreed.

Notice of two motions had been received and these were dealt with as follows:

(A) Breaches of Security at Bethlem Royal Hospital

The following motion was moved by the Councillor Tim Stevens J.P. and seconded by Councillor Douglas Auld –

“This Council expresses its deepest concern regarding the number of breaches of security at the Bethlem Royal Hospital during the last six years and the apparent lack of urgency, determination and drive to get to the root causes of these incidents. The Council demands that full security and staff training process reviews are carried out within the next three months with the results being made known to the Council.

Further this Council calls for a proper agreed information protocol to be put in place by the end of July 2012.

Should there be a failure to comply with the above requests the Council will write to the relevant Government Minister asking for action to be taken.”

An amendment was moved by Councillor Stevens and seconded by Councillor Auld to read –

“This Council expresses its deepest concern regarding the number of breaches of security at the Bethlem Royal Hospital during the last six years and the apparent lack of urgency, determination and drive to get to the root causes of these incidents. It is noted that the Chief Executive has resigned and this Council will seek a meeting with his replacement at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, the Council demands that full security and staff training process reviews are carried out within the next three months with the results being made known to the Council.

Further this Council calls for a proper agreed information protocol to be put in place by the end of July 2012.

Should there be a failure to comply with the above requests the Council will write to the relevant Government Minister asking for action to be taken.”

On being put to the vote this motion as amended was CARRIED unanimously.

(B) Housing Need 

The following motion was moved by Councillor Peter Fookes and seconded by Councillor Katherine Bance -

“This Council resolves that the Executive/Care Services PDS Committee should set up a Housing Working Party to address the increasing problems of housing need in this borough.”

An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Judi Ellis, and Councillor Fookes indicated that he accepted the amendment. The amended motion read -

“This Council resolves that the Care Services PDS Committee and the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee should set up a Housing Working Party to address the increasing problems of housing need in this borough.”

The motion as amended was CARRIED unanimously.

The Mayor announced that his charity was the Darwin Unit at the PRUH.

The Mayor thanked those councillors who were attending his first fund raising event at Con Amore and reported that this event was now sold out.

The Mayor would be hosting a charity appeal dinner at the RAF club on Tuesday 20^th November 2012 – details would be sent out in due course.

The Mayor thanked those who had attended the flag-raising for Armed Forces Day, including veterans, local MPs, staff and Councillors.

There have been sporting victories for the golf and cricket teams, while the bowls team had won one and lost one.

The Mayor presented a scroll to the past Mayor, Councillor David McBride, comprising the resolution of thanks that was agreed at the annual meeting.  

The Mayor announced that his charity was the Darwin Unit at the PRUH.

The Mayor thanked those Councillors who were attending his first fund raising event at Con Amore and reported that this event was now sold out.

The Mayor would be hosting a charity appeal dinner at the RAF club on Tuesday 20^th November 2012 – details would be sent out in due course.

The Mayor thanked those who had attended the flag-raising for Armed Forces Day, including veterans, local MPs, staff and Councillors.

There have been sporting victories for the golf and cricket teams, while the bowls team had won one and lost one.

The Mayor presented a scroll to the past Mayor, Councillor David McBride, comprising the resolution of thanks that was agreed at the annual meeting.