Location: Council Chamber, Daneshill House, Danestrete
Present: Members: Councillors, Mrs L.G. Strange (Mayor), B. Jackson (Deputy Mayor), G. Clark, R.A. Clark, D.W. Cullen, M. Downing, CC, P.E.J. Gallagher, J. Gardner, B.P. Hall, R.J. Henry, J. Hollywell, T.G.M. Kent, CC (from 7.45pm), P.D. Kissane, L. Knight, C. Latif, M.A. Mason, A.J.R. McCarthy, S.M. Myson, M. Notley, R.G. Parker, R.J. Smith, MBE, DL, CC, G. Snell, S.K. Speller, P. Stuart, S. Taylor, H.C.L. Tessier, A.T. Turner, B.G. Underwood, K. Vale, Mrs P.A Webb, CC and D. Webb.
Others:
Duration:
Start Time: 7.00pm
End Time: 9.50pm
Status: Noted
Business: Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors B.G. Dunnell, L. Harrington, Mrs. J.E. Lloyd, D.F. Monaghan, M.P. Patston,
J.R. Raynor, D. Royall, CC and J. Thomas.
There were no declarations of interest.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11th June 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read, confirmed and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.
Status: Noted
Business: The Mayor drew attention to the seating plan enclosed in the Agenda papers for the meeting, and asked Members to note that Councillor R.G. Parker should be shown as Leader of the Opposition. This was the second time this error had occurred and the Officers had asked the Mayor to convey their apologies to Councillor Parker for this oversight.
The Mayor announced that she had attended 63 engagements since the previous meeting of the Council. These had included the First Day of Fun for Children at the King George V Playing Fields; Broadwater Day; the Fuschia Society Annual event; the Stevenage Annual Flower and Vegetable Show; and the Annual Aquatic Challenge, held at Fairlands Valley Park.
The Mayor stated that she would be undertaking a sponsored swim for her chosen charities on 5th October 2003, and hoped that she could rely on Members' generosity in supporting her in this venture.
At this point the Mayor advised that she had to leave the meeting in order to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Stevenage and North Herts Child Contact Centres.
Councillor B. Jackson (Deputy Mayor) took the Chair.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business: The Council considered a presentation from the Customer Services Manager regarding the recently opened Customer Service Centre. Copies of the presentation, which included the latest statistics regarding numbers of visitors and telephone calls received by the Centre, were circulated at the meeting.
Decision: After a full debate, during which contributions were made by the Executive Councillor (Resources) and other Members, it was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that the Council welcomes the new arrangements for providing services to its customers and looks forward to the further development of the Customer Service Centre.
Status: Noted
Business: No petitions or deputations were received.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: One question had been received, which was detailed in the Agenda. In view of the fact that the questioners were not present at the meeting, the Deputy Mayor requested the Executive Councillor for Environment, in consultation with the Director of Environmental Services, to provide a written response to Mr and Mrs Price.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business: The Leader of the Council and appropriate Members updated the Council in respect of the latest position regarding payments at the Post Office; the recent success of Stevenage in the Anglia in Bloom awards; Summer Holiday sessions for children at Shephall Leisure Centre; Government award of £17,500 to Stevenage Rugby Club (sponsored by the Council) for the employment of a full-time coach; Museum exhibitions on East African art and the artistic work of disadvantaged local young people; the Stevenage District Plan Second Review Inspector's report; Stevenage and North Herts Primary Care Trust Opportunities Day; Filey Road Youth Project; Personal Safety Alarms; reduction in disorder by young people; and external funding update.
Decision: In respect of payments at the Post Office, and following a debate about the recent decision of the Post Office to close the Office at Chells, it was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that this Council condemns the decision of the Post Office to close Chells Post Office, the inadequate consulation and lack of information regarding the closure; and supports the town's Member of Parliament, Barbara Follett, and Ward Councillors in their continuing efforts to oppose the closure. That this decision to be conveyed to Barbara Follett, the local press, the Post Office and Postwatch (the regulatory body).
In accordance with Standing Order 11(c), the Leader of the Oppostion raised the matter of the action being taken by the Council to resolve the issue of the part of Great Ashby within the boundary of North Hertfordshire being 'transferred' to Stevenage. The Leader of the Council commented that extensive approaches had been made to the Boundary Committee of the Electoral Commission for a boundary review, with the response that there were no plans to review the Stevenage/North Herts boundary outside of the next formal review of Hertfordshire District boundaries, the date for which had yet to be agreed, but was unlikely to be in the near future.
Status: Noted
Business: No notices of motion were received.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: There were no questions to Committee Chairs/Portfolio Holders.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business: The Council considered a report and recommendations from the Executive meeting held on 3rd September 2003 regarding the Statement of Accounts for 2002/03.
Decision: It was RESOLVED:
(i) that the 2002/03 Statement of Accounts be approved.
(ii) that usable capital receipts of £11.666m be applied to meet expenditure for capital purposes in 2002/03.
Status: Agreed
Business: The Borough Solicitor submitted a report seeking approval to proposed changes to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers and other related amendments within the Council's Constitution.
The Deputy Chief Executive drew Members' attention to some minor typographical amendments in the recommendations to the report.
Decision: It was RESOLVED:
(i) that the revisions to the Council's Constitution set out in Paragraph 2.4.6 and in the Appendix to the report be adopted.
(ii) that the Chief Executive be the Proper Officer for the purposes of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001.
(iii) that the Terms of Reference of the Appointments Committee be amended in the form set out in Paragraph 2.4.7 of the report.
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED 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 1-15 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.
Status: Agreed
Business: The Council considered a Part II report and recommendation from the Executive meeting held on 3rd September 2003 regarding the Decent Homes Programme.
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Executive on the Decent Homes Programme, as detailed in the Part II Agenda papers, be approved.
Status: Agreed
Business: Prior to the consideration of this item, all Officers withdrew from the meeting, with the exception of the Deputy Chief Executive, Borough Solicitor and Constitutional Services staff.
The Council considered a Part II report and recommendations from the Executive meeting held on 3rd September 2003 regarding a temporary departmental re-organisation.
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Executive on the temporary departmental re-organisation, as detailed in the Part II Agenda papers, be approved.
Status: Agreed
Business: The Chief Executive submitted a Part II report seeking the approval of a supplementary capital estimate in respect of the new Housing IT System.
The Deputy Mayor explained that this item had not been circulated 5 clear days before the meeting, but that he had accepted it as urgent as the project was scheduled to go live on 10th November 2003, and a decision on the matter was therefore requried before the next Council meeting, which was not until 26th November 2003.
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the recommendation contained in the report on a supplementary estimate for the Housing IT System be approved.
VOTE OF THANKS
The Deputy Mayor concluded the meeting by offering on behalf of the Council a Vote of Thanks to Brian Mew, Director of Resources, who was attending his final Council meeting prior to taking up his new post as Deputy Chief Executive at Kettering Borough Council.