Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Lynn Cain Email: l.cain@ashfield.gov.uk
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Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary or Personal Interests and Non Disclosable Pecuniary/Other Interests Minutes: No declarations of interest were made. |
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Election of Chairman of the Council Minutes: RESOLVED that Councillor Andy Meakin be elected Chairman of the Council until the next Annual Meeting.
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Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the Chairman Minutes: The newly elected Chairman subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Chairman pursuant to the provisions of Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972 and thanked Members of the Council for his appointment. |
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Vote of thanks to the Late Retiring Chairman Minutes: The Leader of the Council delivered a heartfelt eulogy and tribute in honour of the former Chairman, Councillor Tony Brewer, who tragically died at the beginning of April 2020 having succumbed to the Covid-19 virus.
The following Members also offered their condolences and tributes:
Councillors Samantha Deakin Andy Meakin David Hennigan John Wilmott Daniel Williamson Phil Rostance John Smallridge Tom Hollis Helen-Ann Smith Andrew Harding Keir Morrison Sarah Madigan. |
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Election of Vice Chairman of the Council Minutes: RESOLVED that Councillor Arnie Hankin be elected Vice Chairman of the Council until the next Annual Meeting.
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Declaration of Acceptance of Office by the Vice Chairman Minutes: The newly elected Vice Chairman subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Vice Chairman pursuant to the provisions of Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972 and thanked Members of the Council for his appointment.
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Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 13 February and 5 March 2020, as now submitted, be received and approved.
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Chairman and Head of Paid Service Announcements Minutes: The Head of Paid Service and Leader of the Council both spoke with regard to the efforts being made by the Council and all its committed employees and volunteers, to continue to deliver essential services whilst the Covid-19 lockdown remained in place.
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Composition of the Council's Executive (Scheme of Delegation to be circulated separately) Minutes: RESOLVED that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 1.1(viii) and (ix), Council notes the unchanged composition of the Executive for the coming year, as advised by the Leader of the Council:-
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Appointments of Committees, Panels and Working Groups Accordingly, the Council is requested to appoint the following Committees, Panels and Working Groups (including appointment of Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and membership seats):-
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Scrutiny Panel A Scrutiny Panel B Planning Committee Licensing Committee Audit Committee Local Joint Consultative Committee Chief Officers’ Employment Committee Standards and Personnel Appeals Committee Charites Committee Local Plan Working Group (Schedule of committee memberships to be circulated separately)
Minutes: Council was requested to determine the appointment of Committees, Panels and Working Groups including Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and membership seats for the ensuing year as per the Committee Membership Schedule as appended to the agenda.
RESOLVED that a) in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 1.3 (i) and (iv), the following Committees be appointed for the ensuing year:-
· Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Scrutiny Panel A · Scrutiny Panel B · Planning Committee · Licensing Committee · Audit Committee · Local Joint Consultative Committee · Chief Officers’ Employment Committee · Standards and Personnel Appeals Committee · Charities Committee · Local Plan Working Group
b) as a result of (a) above, the following appointments for Chairmen, Vice Chairmen and membership seats be approved:-
Overview and Scrutiny Committee (7) (6 Ashfield Independents, 1 Conservative) Jim Blagden Dale Grounds (Vice Chairman) Andrew Harding David Hennigan (Chairman) Phil Rostance David Walters Caroline Wilkinson
Scrutiny Panel A (7) (6 Ashfield Independents, 1 Labour) Ciaran Brown Andrew Harding (Chairman) Trevor Locke Lauren Mitchell Warren Nuttall John Smallridge (Vice Chairman) David Walters
Scrutiny Panel B (7) (6 Ashfield Independents, 1 Conservative) Jim Blagden Christian Chapman (Chairman) Melanie Darrington (Vice Chairman) Sarah Madigan Phil Rostance David Walters Caroline Wilkinson
Planning Committee (11) (9 Ashfield Independents, 1 Conservative, 1 Labour) Chris Baron Ciaran Brown (Vice Chairman) Samantha Deakin Tom Hollis Rachel Madden Sarah Madigan (Chairman) Lauren Mitchell John Smallridge Helen Ann-Smith Daniel Williamson Jason Zadrozny
Licensing Committee (11) (10 Ashfield Independents, 1 Labour) Keir Barsby Jim Blagden Ciaran Brown Dale Grounds Arnie Hankin Trevor Locke Rachel Madden Lauren Mitchell Warren Nuttall (Chairman) Caroline Wilkinson John Wilmott
Audit Committee (7) (6 Ashfield Independents, 1 Conservative) John Baird Jim Blagden Christian Chapman Arnie Hankin Kevin Rostance Dave Shaw (Chairman) David Walters
Charities Committee (7) (6 Ashfield Independents, 1 Labour) Jim Blagden Dale Grounds Lauren Mitchell Dave Shaw John Smallridge David Walters Caroline Wilkinson (Chairman)
Chief Officers’ Employment Committee (7) (6 Ashfield Independents, 1 Conservative) Chris Baron Tom Hollis Dave Shaw Helen-Ann Smith David Walters (Chairman) Daniel Williamson Jason Zadrozny
Standards and Personnel Appeals Committee (7) (6 Ashfield Independents, 1 Conservative) Jim Blagden Christian Chapman Warren Nuttall Phil Rostance Helen Ann-Smith David Walters Lee Waters (Chairman)
Local Plan Working Group (11) (9 Ashfield Independents, 1 Conservative, 1 Labour) Keir Barsby Samantha Deakin Tom Hollis Rachel Madden (Chairman) David Martin Keir Morrison Matthew Relf Kevin Rostance Helen-Ann Smith Daniel Williamson Jason Zadrozny
Local Joint Consultative Committee (7) (Not subject to political balance rules) Samantha Deakin Tom Hollis David Martin Matthew Relf Helen-Ann Smith Daniel Williamson Jason Zadrozny
(Following consideration of this item, the meeting adjourned for a comfort break at 11.20am and reconvened at 11.38am.) |
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Schedule of Council, Cabinet and Committee Meetings 2020/21 Minutes: Council was requested to approve the updated Schedule of Council, Cabinet and Committee Meetings for 2020/21 as appended to the agenda.
RESOLVED that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 1.1(x), the Schedule of Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for 2020/21, as appended to the agenda, be approved.
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Annual Constitution Review Minutes: Council was requested to consider and approve the proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution as presented including an addition to the Council’s Procedure Rules to ensure that all amendments to be tabled at virtual Council meetings, are sent in writing 24 hours prior to the meeting taking place.
, to enable all parties are clear as to the intention and wording of such amendment.
RESOLVED that the proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution, as outlined in the report, be received and approved subject to an addition to Council Procedure Rules (Part 4) as follows:-
“in the event and only if a Council meeting is to take place virtually, all amendments to motions be duly sent in writing to the Chief Executive, 24 hours prior to commencement of the meeting. This will enable all interested parties (Members, officer and public) to have adequate sight of the proposed textual amendments being tabled at the meeting and to give due consideration as required.”
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Additional documents: Minutes: Council were requested to consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel regarding the review of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances and approve the recommendations as outlined in the report.
The Leader of the Council took the opportunity to convey his appreciation to Declan Hall and his team for undertaking the review.
RESOLVED that a) the Performance Special Responsibility Allowance be discontinued and the Basic Allowance be reset to £6,717;
b) the Basic Allowance continues to cover the cost of ‘incidental’ expenses Members may incur while carrying out their duties, such as telephone calls from their home landlines, calls on personal mobile phones, using broadband from home, and printer and IT consumables;
c) the Basic Allowance continues to be deemed to cover in-authority travel and subsistence costs that Members may incur in carrying out their Council duties;
d) the Leader of the Council’s Special Responsibility Allowance remains at £19,852;
e) there be no change to the following Special Responsibility Allowances:
f) the Special Responsibility Allowance for the two Deputy Leaders be maintained at 75% of the Leader’s Special Responsibility Allowance (£19,852), which equates to £14,889;
g) the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Chairs of Scrutiny Panels A and B is reset at 30% of the Leader’s SRA (£19,852), which equates to £5,956;
h) the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Vice Chairs of Scrutiny Panels A and B is reset at £1,687;
i) the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Leader of the Main Opposition Group is reset based on two group sized bandings as follows:
? 7 or more Members - £7,941 (40% of Leader’s SRA) ? 2-6 Members - £4,963 (25% of Leader’s SRA);
j) if there are two Main Opposition Groups of equal size, then the Main Opposition Group Leader’s higher Special Responsibility Allowance be divided equally between each Main Opposition Group Leader, regardless of group size, which equates to £3,713 with the same principle being extended should there be more than two Main Opposition Groups;
k) the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Deputy Leader of the Main Opposition Group be paid only when the Main Opposition Group has seven or more Members:
? 7 or more Members - £1,191 (15% of Group Leader’s SRA) ? Less than 7 Members – no SRA payable;
l) If there are two Main Opposition Groups of equal size, then the Main Opposition Group Deputy Leader’s SRA be divided equally between each Main Opposition Group Deputy Leader, regardless of group size, which equates to £595 with the same principle being extended should there be more than two Main ... view the full minutes text for item C.13 |
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Corporate Peer Challenge Update Minutes: Council was requested to consider the findings from the recent Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Challenge.
RESOLVED that a) the draft summary outcomes of the Corporate Peer Challenge visit as outlined in the report, be noted;
b) the progress made in respect of the draft recommendations to date and the next course of action, be endorsed;
c) In accordance with one of the recommendations of the Corporate Peer Challenge feedback report, the post of Political Assistant be established under the terms of section 9 of the Local Government Act 1989 with effect from this Annual Council (23 April 2020) until the next Annual Council meeting following full district council elections in 2023, and is allocated to the Ashfield Independents and the Conservatives, the posts being pro rata as set out in the report;
d) the Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer) be authorised to amend the Constitution and the Standing Orders contained therein in order to provide for the establishment of Political Assistants in accordance with the legislation;
e) the Leaders of the Ashfield Independents and the Conservatives be requested to advise the Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer) of their wishes concerning the filling of the posts;
f) the 2020/21 budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) be increased to reflect the additional cost of these posts with the 2020/21 net budget increase of circa £31k (full year effect) being funded from the General Reserve.
(Following consideration of this item, Councillor Melanie Darrington left the meeting at 1.30pm.)
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Recommendations from Cabinet to Council Additional documents: Minutes: Council considered the following recommendations:-
Minute No. CA.61 Cabinet – 23 March 2020 2019/20 Forecast Outturn for General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital Programme as at January 2020
RESOLVED that approval be given for the use of up to £400k of the Corporate Transformation Reserve to facilitate expedient progression of the Digital Services Transformation Programme, as outlined in Section 4 of the attached Cabinet report.
Cabinet – 23 March 2020 Addition to the Capital Programme
RESOLVED that an amount of £312k be added to the Capital Programme to meet the costs of undertaking essential external health and safety works required for the Urban Road offices, funded from prudential borrowing (this recommendation was not included in the financial monitoring report to Cabinet on 23rd March, as the costs had not been confirmed at that time.)
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Appointments to Outside Bodies (Schedule of appointments to outside bodies to be circulated separately) Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED that the following representatives be appointed to the under-mentioned bodies:-
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