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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Tewkesbury Borough Council Offices, Severn Room

Contact: Democratic Services Tel: 01684 272021  Email:  democraticservices@tewkesbury.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

61.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

61.1           Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K J Berry, J Greening and P E Stokes.  

62.

Declarations of Interest

Pursuant to the adoption by the Council on 26 June 2012 of the Tewkesbury Borough Council Code of Conduct, effective from 1 July 2012, as set out in Minute No. CL.34, Members are invited to declare any interest they may have in the business set out on the Agenda to which the approved Code applies.

Minutes:

62.1           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.

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

63.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 185 KB

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2018.

Minutes:

63.1           The Minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2018, copies of which had been circulated, were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

64.

Announcements

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.

Minutes:

64.1           The evacuation procedure, as noted on the Agenda, was advised to those present.

64.2           The Mayor welcomed the members of the Independent Remuneration Panel to the meeting and indicated that they were in attendance for Item 7 on the Agenda, Member Allowances Scheme 2019/20.

65.

Items from Members of the Public

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 23 January 2019).

 

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

Minutes:

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

66.

Member Questions properly submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rules

To receive any questions submitted under Rule of Procedure 13. Any items received will be circulated on 29 January 2019.

 

(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).

Minutes:

66.1           There were no Member questions on this occasion.  

67.

Member Allowances Scheme 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 145 KB

To determine the Scheme of Allowances to take effect on 1 April 2019 until 31 March 2020 having regard to the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.   

Additional documents:

Minutes:

67.1           The report of the Head of Democratic Services, circulated at Pages No. 9-12, asked Members to determine a Scheme of Allowances to take effect on 1 April 2019 until 31 March 2020 having regard to the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel set out in their report at Appendix 1 Pages No. 13-22.  

67.2           The Mayor invited the Chair of the Panel to address the Council. The Chair thanked the Council for inviting the Panel to introduce their report. He explained that this was the fourth time the Panel had addressed the Council and indicated that, since its appointment, it had met with nearly all of the Councillors. He felt this was extremely important in helping them to understand the hard work and level of commitment shown by Members to both their local communities and the Council.  The Panel had analysed a large amount of comparison data over the last four years and this had resulted in increases in the Special Responsibility Allowances but the Council’s Basic Allowance was consistently found to be one of the highest in the country; as such the Panel had found it impossible to recommend an increase in that regard. Overall, the Panel had not felt a cut in allowances to be appropriate but neither was an increase.

67.3           A Member questioned what data the Panel had looked at and, in response, the Panel Chair explained that they had looked at the Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances across the country as well as in the South West region. The Panel was independent and therefore its work was not restricted by the Council’s budget; however, there was an increase allowed to the overall Members’ budget within the Medium Term Financial Strategy – this was usually in line with what it was believed Officers would get - so, in the current Medium Term Financial Strategy, there was a notional 2% available. In recent years this had been frozen in line with the Panel’s recommendation and the subsequent resolution of the Council.

67.4           The Leader of the Council thanked the Panel members for their hard work in reaching the conclusions which had been placed before the Council and, accordingly, it was

                  RESOLVED          That the Scheme of Member Allowances, with no change to the                        financial remuneration for Members, attached at Annex A to the                             report, be ADOPTED effective from 1 April 2019 until 31 March                            2020.

68.

Appointment of Civic Heads for the Municipal Year

To recommend the appointment of Civic Heads for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

 

1.    Mayor  

 

It is usual practice that the current Deputy Mayor be appointed Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year.

 

2.    Deputy Mayor

 

To receive nominations for the appointment of Deputy Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year.  

Minutes:

Mayor

68.1           Upon being proposed and seconded, it was

                  RESOLVED          That Councillor Gill Blackwell, be appointed Mayor for the                                  ensuing Municipal Year.

                  Deputy Mayor

68.2           Upon being proposed and seconded, it was

                  RESOLVED          That Councillor Phil Awford be appointed as Deputy                                            Mayor for the ensuing Municipal Year.

69.

Recommendations from Executive Committee

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

69a

Medium Term Financial Strategy pdf icon PDF 236 KB

At its meeting on 16 January 2019 the Executive Committee considered the Medium Term Financial Strategy and RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that it be ADOPTED.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

69.1           At its meeting on 16 January 2019, the Executive Committee had considered the Medium Term Financial Strategy and recommended to Council that it be adopted. 

69.2           The report which was considered by the Executive Committee had been circulated with the Agenda for the current meeting at Pages No. 23-47.

69.3           The Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee proposed the recommendation which was seconded by the Lead Member for Finance and Asset Management.

69.4           Referring to Page No. 47 of the report, a Member questioned whether the amount of reserves the Council had to support the budget and meet any redundancy costs was at the right level and how it compared to the amount other Councils had in reserve. In response, the Head of Finance and Asset Management explained that, taken in context with the Council’s working balances, it had around £1.4 million in unallocated balances which was reasonable; if a surplus was generated throughout the year he would recommend that some was set aside to ‘top up’ the unallocated balances.

69.5           The Leader of the Council thanked the Members and Officers involved in putting together the Medium Term Financial Strategy and, accordingly, it was   

                  RESOLVED          That the Medium Term Financial Strategy be ADOPTED.

69b

Treasury and Capital Management pdf icon PDF 145 KB

At its meeting on 16 January 2019 the Executive Committee considered a suite of reports in respect of Treasury and Capital Management and RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL that the Capital Strategy 2019/20; the Investment Strategy 2019/20; the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement 2019/20; the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20; and the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Policy 2019/20 be ADOPTED.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

69.6           At its meeting on 16 January 2019, the Executive Committee had considered a suite of strategies and policies in respect of Treasury and Capital Management and recommended to Council that the Capital Strategy 2019/20; the Investment Strategy 2019/20; the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement 2019/20; the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20; and the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Policy 2019/20 be adopted. 

69.7           The report which was considered by the Executive Committee had been circulated with the Agenda for the current meeting at Pages No. 48-82.

69.8           The Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee proposed the recommendation, which was seconded by the Lead Member for Finance and Asset Management, and it was   

                  RESOLVED          That the Capital Strategy 2019/20; the Investment Strategy                                2019/20; the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement 2019/20;                               the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20; and the Flexible                                     Use of Capital Receipts Policy 2019/20 be ADOPTED.

70.

Schedule of Meetings 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 134 KB

To adopt a Schedule of Meetings for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.   

Additional documents:

Minutes:

70.1           The report of the Head of Democratic Services, circulated at Pages No. 83-86, set out the proposed Schedule of Meetings for 2019/20. Members were asked to adopt the Schedule as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.  

70.2           The Leader of the Council proposed that the Schedule be adopted with an amendment to the timing of Planning Committee to commence at 10am rather than 9am. Upon being seconded, it was

                  RESOLVED          That the Schedule of Meetings for 2019/20, as set out at                                     Appendix 1 to the report, be ADOPTED, subject to an                                             amendment to the timing of Planning Committee to commence                               at 10am rather than 9am. 

71.

Royal Garden Party

To agree the nominations for the Council’s representation at the Royal Garden Party in May 2019.

 

The dates provided are Wednesday 15 May, Tuesday 21 May and Wednesday 29 May 2019.

 

Nominations MUST be made by Friday 1 February 2019 at the latest. 

Minutes:

71.1           It was 

                  RESOLVED          That Councillor Terry Spencer and guest accompany the Mayor                        and her Consort as the Council’s nominees at the Royal                                          Garden Party in May 2019.

71.2           It was agreed that Councillor John Hesketh be nominated as a reserve to attend in the event that Councillor Spencer should be unable to make the date.