Meeting documents

Council
Wednesday, 23 February 2011

Date: Wednesday 23 February 2011
Time: 7:00pm
Place: Council Chamber, Daneshill House, Danestrete, Stevenage
Contact: Jackie Cansick
Tel: 01438 242216

Agenda

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Summary of decisions arising from this meeting

PART I

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
  2. MINUTES - 6 OCTOBER 2010
    To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Wednesday, 6 October 2010.
    Minutes attached
  3. MINUTES - 8 DECEMBER 2010
    To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 8 December 2010.
    Minutes attached
  4. MINUTES - 26 JANUARY 2011
    To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 26 January 2011.
    Minutes attached
  5. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS
    To receive any communications that the Mayor may wish to put before Council.
  6. MAIN DEBATE - 2011/2012 COUNCIL TAX AND BUDGET 
    The Main Debate is to consider the officer report entitled '2011/2012 Council Tax and General Fund Budget' (attached as item 6), together with Item 14 below 'Matter referred from the Executive - 2011/2012 Capital Forward Plan and 5 Year Capital Strategy'. 
    Additionally, as item 8 below relates to the 2011/2012 Budget the Chief Executive has indicated that it should be considered in conjunction with this Main Debate.
    Report attached
    Appendix A
    Appendix B
    Appendix C
    Appendix D
    Appendix E
    Appendix F
    Appendix G
    Appendix H
  7. PETITIONS AND DEPUTATIONS
    None received.
  8. QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
    The following question was received from Mrs C.J.Saint-Leitner of Silam Road -
    • 'I know we all have to save money and the people of Stevenage will understand the Council will have to make big cuts in the Budget, like many other Councils of England.
      Does Stevenage really need 39 Councillors?  This takes a large amount of the Council Tax!  Some Members of the Council are  there for 15-20 years -  how about retire gracefully and make room for younger Members and also a reduced annual cost.
      I read in the paper that hardest hit will be the Museum, this would be rather short sighted.  Lots of people and children use the Museum, as do different organisations!  What about the Holiday Play Scheme and school lessons?  Also the great history of the town - a showcase for the people and visitors would be lost.  How about charging a small fee for the Museum visit?  I can assure you a lot of Stevenage people share my view!'
      NOTE:  As this the issues raised relate to the 2011/2012 Budget the Chief Executive has indicated that it should be considered in conjunction with the Main Debate at item 6 above.
  9. LEADER OF THE COUNCIL'S UPDATE
    In accordance with Standing Order 11, the Leader of the Opposition shall be given the opportunity to raise one matter relevant to the Borough that has arisen since the last meeting of the Council.
    The Leader of the Council shall then have the opportunity to advise the Council of matters relevant to the Borough that have arisen since the last meeting.
  10. NOTICE OF MOTIONS
    None.
  11. CHAIRS / PORTFOLIO HOLDERS
    None.
  12. MATTER REFERRED FROM EXECUTIVE - TREASURY  MANAGEMENT STRATEGY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY - MID-YEAR REVIEW REPORT  2010/11
    The report attached as item 12 was considered by the Audit Committee and  Executive at their meetings on 13 and 15 December 2010 when it was agreed that Council be recommended -
    1. That the 2010/11 Mid-year Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy Review be approved.
    2. That the increased borrowing requirement for 2010/11, in respect of the general fund capital programme be approved. An additional borrowing requirement of £800,000 has been identified.
    3. That the updated Treasury and Capital Prudential Indicators as shown in Section 8 and in the revised Appendix A of the report be  approved.  The changes are in respect of borrowing (increase £800,000), counterparty limits (amended down to £5m from £7.5m) and the limit for variable rate investments be revised to £25m (from £20m).
    4. That in the event of any future breach of the Strategy (however minor) the Portfolio Holder for Resources and the Chair of the Audit Committee be notified immediately.
      Report attached
      Appendix A
  13. MATTER REFERRED FROM EXECUTIVE - PRUDENTIAL CODE  INDICATORS AND TREASURY MANAGEMENT
    The report attached as item 13 was considered by the Executive at its meeting on 8 February 2011 when it was agreed that Council be recommended -
    1. That the 2011/12 Treasury Management Strategy as detailed in Appendix A be adopted.
    2. That the Prudential Code Indicators as detailed in Appendix A, attachment six be adopted.
      This report is also to be considered by a Special Audit Committee meeting on 17 February.  Any comments from that Committee will be  reported directly to Council.
      Report attached
      Appendix A
      Appendix A1
      Appendix A2
      Appendix A3
      Appendix A4
      Appendix A5
      Appendix A6
  14. MATTER REFERRED FROM THE EXECUTIVE - 2011/12 CAPITAL FORWARD PLAN AND 5 YEAR CAPITAL STRATEGY
    This matter is to be considered in the Main Debate at item 6 above.
    The report attached as item 14 was considered by the Executive at its meeting on 8 February 2011 when it was agreed that Council be recommended -
    1. That the Comments of the Scrutiny Overview Committee be noted and that that Committee be informed that the Executive share its  concerns for the ongoing viability of the Capital Programme over the coming years and that the Leader's Services Priority Group (Capital Programme) will continue to review the situation.
    2. That the revised 2010/11 and the 2011/12 General Fund capital programme, as detailed in Appendix A to the report be approved.
    3. That the revised 2010/11 and the 2011/12 Housing Revenue  Account (HRA) Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix A to the report be approved.
    4. That the updated forecast of resources as summarised in the  Appendix A to the report be approved.
    5. That the ongoing work of the Corporate Capital Review Group (CCRG) and Members, to bring the 5 year Capital Strategy into balance, be noted.
    6. That a Contingency Sum in the Budget and Policy Framework for 2011/12 of £250,000 (relating to schemes funded from capital receipts  or borrowing) for the Capital Programme be approved
    7. That a deminimus level of £5,000 for expenditure qualifying as capital.be approved.
      Report attached
      Appendix A
      Appendix B
      Appendix C
  15. MATTER REFERRED FROM THE GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MISCELLANEOUS  PROVISIONS) ACT 1982 ADOPTION OF AMENDED SCHEDULE 3 PROVISIONS (BY WAY OF THE POLICING AND CRIME ACT 2009)
    The report attached as item 15 was considered by the General Purposes Committee at its meeting on 31 January 2011 when it was agreed that Council be recommended -
    1. That the amendments to schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 made by section 27 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009, be adopted in addition to the existing adopted provisions of Schedule 3, as was originally approved by Committee on the 12th October 1982, and then by Council on the 26th October 1982.
    2. That where relevant objections have been received the General Purposes Committee be given delegated powers to determine sexual entertainment venue licences and sex establishment licences under schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982; where no relevant representations are received this be delegated to the designated Head of Service.
    3. That the following fees for sexual entertainment licence applications be approved:
      (1) application for the grant of licence: £4,530
      (2) renewal of a licence: £2,405
      (3) transfer and/or major variation of a licence: £645
      (4) minor variation to a licence: £89
    4. That the licensing department consults with existing sex establishments within Stevenage, the nominated responsible authorities as stated under the Licensing Act 2003, and holders of Licensing Act 2003 premises licences/club premises certificates that  permit the consumption of alcohol on the premises as to the proposed policy set out in Appendix I and report any responses received to the  General Purposes Committee before having the policy formally  adopted. 
      Report attached
      Appendix A
  16. OFFICER REPORT - CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION
    To consider the attached officer report (item 15) concerning proposed changes to the Council's Constitution.
    Report attached
    Appendix 1
    Appendix 2
    Appendix 3
    Appendix 4
  17. OFFICER REPORT - MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES SCHEME  2011/2012
    To consider the attached officer report that recommends a Members' Allowances Scheme for 2011/2012.
    Report attached
    Appendix A
  18. AUDIT COMMITTEE - PART I DRAFT MINUTES - 13 DECEMBER 2010
    To note the draft Part I Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 13 December 2010.
    Minutes attached
  19. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
    To consider the following Motion -
    1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1-7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.
    2. That Members consider the reasons for the following report being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

PART II BUSINESS

  1. PART II OFFICER REPORT - SENIOR OFFICER APPOINTMENTS
    To consider a Part II Officer report concerning Senior Officer Appointments.
  2. AUDIT COMMITTEE - PART II DRAFT MINUTES - 13 DECEMBER 2010
    To note the draft Part II Minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 13 December 2010.

Agenda Published 15 February 2011