Agenda and minutes

21.1           Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R A Bird, G F Blackwell (Deputy Mayor), S E Hillier-Richardson, V D Smith, T A Spencer and R J E Vines.  

22.1           The Committee’s attention was drawn to the Tewkesbury Borough Council Code of Conduct which was adopted by the Council on 26 June 2012 and took effect from 1 July 2012.

22.2           There were no declarations of interest made on this occasion.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 and 15 May 2018.

23.1           The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 and 15 May 2018, copies of which had been circulated, were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.  

1.   When the continuous alarm sounds you must evacuate the building by the nearest available fire exit. Members and visitors should proceed to the visitors’ car park at the front of the building and await further instructions (during office hours staff should proceed to their usual assembly point; outside of office hours proceed to the visitors’ car park). Please do not re-enter the building unless instructed to do so.

      In the event of a fire any person with a disability should be assisted in leaving the building.  

2.   To receive any announcements from the Chair of the Meeting and/or the Chief Executive.

24.1           The evacuation procedure, as set out on the Agenda, was advised to those present.  

24.2           The Mayor welcomed the Director of Public Health from Gloucestershire County Council to the meeting and indicated that she was in attendance for Item 7, Public Health Annual Report 2016/17.

a)   To receive any questions, deputations or petitions submitted under Council Rule of Procedure.12.

(The deadline for public participation submissions for this meeting is 18 July 2018).

b)   To receive any petitions submitted under the Council’s Petitions Scheme.

25.1           There were no items from members of the public on this occasion.  

To receive any questions submitted under Rule of Procedure 13. Any items received will be circulated on 24 July 2018.

(Any questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services by, not later than, 10.00am on the working day immediately preceding the date of the meeting).

26.1           There were no Member questions on this occasion.  

To receive a presentation on the Public Health Report.

27.1           The Director of Public Health from Gloucestershire County Council was invited to make her presentation:

·         The Public Health Annual Report 2016/17 covered: why childhood matters; key issues affecting Gloucestershire’s children, young people and families; and focussed on inequalities – ensuring every child fulfilled their potential.

·         The report sought to present the data in a user-friendly way. The report looked at ‘if Gloucestershire were a town of 100 children what that would mean’: nine would have been born to mothers who smoked in pregnancy; 77 would have been breastfed at birth; 14 would live in poverty; 67 would have the basic skills needed to start school at age 5, meaning 33 would not; seven would have reported that they had self-harmed at age 15; 66 pupils would have achieved A*-C in English and Maths GCSE, meaning 34 would not; three pupils from Years 8 and 10 would have reported they used illegal drugs regularly; only 87 of five year olds were fully vaccinated against Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR), meaning the population was not protected; eight pupils from years 8 and 10 would have reported that they smoked tobacco regularly; and, of Year 6 pupils, one would be underweight, 67 would be a normal weight, 14 would be overweight and 18 would be obese. Children would make up 20% of the population of Gloucestershire: 14 in the Forest of Dean; 19 in Stroud; 21 in Gloucester; 19 in Cheltenham; 14 in Tewkesbury and 14 in Cotswold. Based on life expectancy at birth for a child born in 2016 the richest boy in the town would live until 83 years and the richest girl until they were 85 and a half; the poorest boy would live until 74 years and the poorest girl until they were 79.

·         Adverse childhood experiences were traumatic events occurring before the age of 18. If experienced they were associated with negative impacts on a child’s future. Adverse childhood experiences did not define people; they were simply a tool to understand the potential risks an individual or population may face, and it was possible to interrupt the cycle of adversity. Adverse experiences could include maltreatment i.e. verbal, physical and sexual abuse; or household issues such as parental separation, domestic violence, mental illness, alcohol abuse, drug use or incarceration.

·         It was easy to have negative discussions over adverse childhood experiences but there were things that could be done to overcome them such as: reduce the sources of stress; support responsive relationships; and strengthen core life skills. Those principles could be applied at every level from policy proposals to individual practice and across multiple sectors. The model provided a simple, practical tool to drive unified, system-wide change that improved outcomes for all children, young people and families.

·         Smoking in pregnancy was a huge inequality issue. Almost one in 10 babies born in Gloucestershire had an increased risk of still or premature death, low birth weight, sudden unexpected death in infancy and increased risk of childhood respiratory illness due to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

To approve the Council’s submission to the consultation on Vision 2050 – The Big Conversation.

28.1           The report of the Chief Executive, circulated at Pages No. 42-70, and separately at Page No. 1, sought approval of the Council’s formal response to the Vision 2050 Big Conversation.

28.2           In proposing the draft response, a Member indicated that it had been drafted on the basis of Member workshops and a seminar. The additional paper included a number of proposed amendments which had taken into account the recent seminar, along with suggestions from the Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing in terms of the ‘healthy and happy’ ambition. Members had welcomed the opportunity to comment and had worked through the vision and outcomes carefully to ensure a full response. Upon being seconded and voted upon, it was

                  RESOLVED          That the draft response, attached at Appendix 2 to the report,                             along with the suggested amendments, circulated separately,                                  be submitted to the Vision 2050 Big Conversation consultation.

To consider making the Alderton Neighbourhood Development Plan part of the Development Plan for Tewkesbury Borough; and todelegate to the Head of Development Services, in agreement with the Parish Council acting as the Qualifying Body, the correction of any minor errors such as spelling, grammar, typographical or formatting errors that do not affect the substantive content of the plan.

29.1           The report of the Planning Policy Manager, circulated at Pages No. 71-171, advised Members of the result of the referendum on the Alderton Neighbourhood Development Plan and asked the Council to resolve that the Plan be made part of the Development Plan for Tewkesbury Borough as well as to delegate to the Head of Development Services, in agreement with the Parish Council acting as the Qualifying Body, the correction of any minor errors such as spelling, grammar, typographical or formatting errors that did not affect the substantive content of the Plan.

29.2           In proposing the recommendation, the Lead Member explained that the Alderton Neighbourhood Plan had been subject to independent examination from January to March 2018 and the examiner’s report had recommended a number of modifications to be made before it could procced to referendum. The referendum had taken place with a turnout of just under 60% and just over 90% of those voting in favour.

29.3           Upon being seconded, and voted upon, it was

                  RESOLVED          1.  That the Alderton Neighbourhood Development Plan be                               made part of the Development Plan for Tewkesbury                                              Borough.

                                                2.  That authority be delegated to the Head of Development                                         Services, in agreement with the Parish Council acting as the                                   Qualifying Body, to correct any minor errors such as                                           spelling, grammar and typographical or formatting errors                                 that do not affect the substantive content of the Plan.

Councillor Cromwell will propose and Councillor Greening will second, the following Motion:

“This Council notes with concern that:

·         300 million tonnes of new plastic is made each year, half of which is for single use plastics such as packaging and convenience food.

·         in many cases, such as plastic straws, take away food containers and coffee cups, there are practical alternatives available that are either reusable or sustainable.

·         in 2016, the ‘Ellen MacArthur Foundation’ estimated that by weight there could be more plastic in our oceans than fish, as soon as 2050 as plastics are durable and strong they will stay in our environment for up to an estimated six hundred years. (Columbia University).

·         marine plastic leads to coastal/offshore dead zones, entanglement, death through ingestion, toxic transfer and, once degraded into micro plastics, contamination of the food chain including our own.

This Council welcomes:

·         the significant increase in recycling achieved in the Borough during the last decade through improvements to doorstep recycling.

·         the success of the plastic bag levy introduced through the coalition government which has led to an 85% reduction in disposable plastic bag usage.

·         the Conservative government’s recently announced ‘25 year green plan’ which pledges to stop all avoidable plastic waste by 2042.

·         the impact that the BBC documentary ‘Blue Planet’ has had on public awareness and concern for this crisis. ”

In view of the above, this Council RESOLVES: 

1.    That all single use plastics within buildings and facilities managed by the Council be eliminated by 2020 and efforts be made to encourage the elimination of single use plastics within the Council’s supply chain by 2025.

2.    That the work of the Gloucestershire Joint Waste Partnership in promoting the reduction of single use plastics across the County be supported and any opportunities to lobby central government be taken through the Partnership.

30.1           The Mayor referred to the Notice of Motion set out on the Agenda and indicated that, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, it was necessary for the Council firstly to decide whether it wished to debate and determine the Motion at the evening’s meeting, or whether it wished to refer the Motion, without debate, to a Committee for consideration with authority either to make a decision on the matter or to bring a recommendation back to Council. Upon being put to the vote, it was agreed that the Motion would be determined at the current meeting.

30.2           In proposing the Motion, Councillor Cromwell explained that he was extremely concerned about the effect of single-use plastics on the planet; in fact he had just heard in the press that authorities were not always sure that plastics which went abroad for processing were actually recycled. The Member felt that the statistics set out within the Motion were frightening and showed how imperative it was that something was done about the problem of pollution from single-use plastics. The Member considered that there may be a need to change the way recycling was measured in future as the move to lessen the use of plastics would mean a drop in recycling rates; however, in his view this would be a small price to pay. The Motion included a timescale to 2020 for the elimination of single-use plastics within buildings and facilities owned by the Council which he felt was enough time for Officers and Councillors to change their habits so the Motion was achievable. He was of the view that, if plastics were not used so much, manufacturers would not need to produce them and largely this would be a good thing. The Member hoped the Council would be able to support the Motion.

30.3           In seconding the Motion, Councillor Greening indicated that momentum was growing for the elimination of single-use plastics so she felt the Motion was timely and, by supporting it, the Council was acknowledging that it had an important part to play. She understood that change was needed across the whole of society but felt that small everyday acts would collectively achieve the result of there being no plastics in the oceans etc. She was of the view that practical alternatives needed to be provided wherever possible and she hoped the Council would support the important Motion.

30.4           During the ensuing debate, Members generally felt the Motion was absolutely correct and that it should be supported. One Member, whilst fully endorsing the Motion, questioned whether it could go further in ensuring the recyclate that was sent abroad from the County was actually recycled and not sent to landfill. In response, the Head of Community Services indicated that, whilst this would be admirable, once the recylate material had gone to the recycling plant it was out of the control of the Borough Council and he could not therefore guarantee where it would end up. In addition, the Chief Executive explained  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.1           The Mayor proposed, and it was

RESOLVED          That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act                               1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following                              items on the grounds that they involve the likely discussion of                                     exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the                               Act.

The Council is asked to consider and determine separate recommendations of a policy nature arising from the Executive Committee as follows:-   

(Exempt –Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 – Information relating to any individual) 

At its meeting on 11 July 2018 the Executive Committee considered a report which detailed the review of Community Services. The Executive Committee made a number of recommendations to Council to take those proposals forward.

(Exempt –Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 – Information relating to any individual) 

32.1           The Council considered the recommendations of the Executive Committee made at its meeting on 11 July 2018 and agreed the way forward in terms of the review of Community Services.