Location: Council Chamber, Daneshill House, Danestrete
Present: Members: Councillors: B. Jackson (Deputy Mayor - presiding), G. Clark, R.A. Clark, D.W. Cullen, M. Downing, CC, B.G. Dunnell, P.E.J. Gallagher, J. Gardner, B.P. Hall, L. Harrington, R.J. Henry, T.G.M. Kent, CC (from 7.30pm), P.D. Kissane, C. Latif (from 7.25pm), Mrs J.E. Lloyd, D.F. Monaghan, S.M. Myson, M. Notley, R.G. Parker, M.P. Patston, D. Royall, CC, R.J. Smith, MBE, DL, CC, G. Snell, S.K. Speller, Mrs L.G. Strange, S. Taylor, H.C.L. Tessier, J. Thomas, A.T. Turner, K. Vale, J.M. Wallis Price (from 7.15pm), Mrs P.A. Webb, CC, D. Webb.
Others:
Duration:
Start - 7.00pm
End - 10.02pm
Status: Noted
Business: Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Her Worship The Mayor, Councillor P. Stuart and Councillors J. Hollywell, L. Knight,
A.J.R. McCarthy, M.A. Mason and B.G. Underwood. There were no declarations of interest.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 29th January 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read, confirmed and signed by the Deputy Mayor as a correct record.
Status: Noted
Business: On behalf of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor (presiding) prsented a Pride in Our Town Certificate to Kerry Mannell. The nomination for the award had come from the community at Stoneyhall, who wished to show their appreciation of Kerry as a truly good neighbour. Despite being busy in raising her own three children, Kerry had been described as a 'brilliant' neighbour. She assisted other families by taking their children to and from school, often went shopping and undertook errands for others in the community and, recently, when a neighbour had been taken ill, it was Kerry who had contacted his family to let them know he had been hospitalised. It gave the Deputy Mayor great pleasure in presenting a certificate to Kerry.
The Deputy Mayor announced that, in the absence of Tom Hulley, the Mayor's Civic Poet, Councillor H.C.L. Tessier would be reading a poem. Councillor Tessier read a poem, written by Tom Hulley, entitled 'Conflict is a male preserve'.
The Deputy Mayor stated that he had agreed to re-order the remaining itemd of business so that Question 6(A) would be taken first, followed by Item 10 - the Council's Budget for 2003/04, and then Question 6(B) would be taken in conjunction with Item 8 - Notice of Motion regarding Council housing.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: As the Council's Budget for 2003/04 was to be considered at the meeting, on this occasion there was no Main Debate item.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: There were none received.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: At this juncture, the Deputy Mayor invited the Leader of the Council to make a statement regarding a question received from the Stevenage Stop the War Coalition. The Leader referred to the fact that this question had not been allowed to be asked at the meeting (see page 2 of Council Agenda), however, he offered the Stop the War Coalition the use of the Council Chamber in the near future for a full discussion and debate on this important issue.
A Member raised a point of order, expressing the view that there had been a breach in the provisions of Standing Order 13 concerning the non-inclusion on the Agenda of the above question. The Deputy Mayor advised that the Chief Executive would respond to the Member, in writing, on this issue.
Two questions were received from members of the public.
The first question, submitted by Beth Shaughnessy (aged 10), Claire and Joanne Roney (both aged 11), related to the creation of a Friendship Garden in the Fishers Green area. A response was given by the Executive Councillor (Environment).
The Deputy Mayor announced that, as the second question related to an identical matter to the Notice of Motion submitted by a Member, namely the support of the Council for the House of Commons Early Day Motion 116 on Council Housing, this question would be considered in tandem with the Notice of Motion later in the meeting (see Minute 8).
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: The Leader of the Council and appropriate Members of the Executive updated the Council in respect of payments at the Post Office; new Council website; movement of Payment Centre; the Housing Consultation Exercise; Customer Relations Section; Pilot Scheme for full Postal Voting; Youth Council; Bedwell Community Centre 'Messy Play' Day; 'Brainy' Play Day; Stevenage Leisure Centre Fitness Suite; Fly-tipping; Local Strategic Partnership; and Peer Review.
Under the provisions of Standing Order 11(c), the Leader of the Opposition expressed his disappointment that the All Member Seminar on 'Investing in Your Health' scheduled for 5th March 2003 had been cancelled due to the fact that the Beds and Herts Strategic Health Authority had delayed the publication of its consultation document on this matter.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business: As referred to earlier in the meeting, the Deputy Mayor invited Mr P. Nickolay to speak on his question submitted to the Council seeking support for House of Commons Early Day Motion 116 on Council Housing.
At this juncture, and in accordance with Standing Order 15(f), a procedural motion was moved by Councillor P.D. Kissane and seconded by Councillor A.T. Turner. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED that the motion submitted by Councillor P.D. Kissane at Item 8(i) on the agenda be considered at this meeting.
Councillor P.D. Kissane spoke in support of the motion at 8(i) on the agenda, as did his seconder, Councillor A.T. Turner.
A number of other Members spoke in support of the motion, including the Executive Councillor (Housing), who responded to the question submitted by Mr. Nickolay.
Decision: The motion was put to the vote, and it was RESOLVED that the Member of Parliament for Stevenage, Barbara Follett, be congratulated for adding her name to the Early Day Motion 116 on Council Housing, and that motion, which has the full support of the Federation of Stevenage Tenants Association, be endorsed.
Status: Noted
Business: There were no questions to Committee Chairs/Portfolio Holders.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business: The Chief Executive advised Council of two typing errors contained in Appendix F to the report on the Council's Budget, which required the substitution of the figures £2,035,262 for £2,010,702 in Item 1c and £10,664,778 for £10,664,338 in Item 3a.
At this juncture, it was moved, seconded and RESOLVED that Standing Order 18(c)(iii), concerning the time allowed for Members to speak, be waived for this item.
The Leader delivered his budget speech for 2003/04. As part of his speech, he proposed the following Capital Initiatives, as additions to the 2003/04 Capital Programme, totalling £192,500:-
(i) Ridgemond Park - Swimming Pool - £120,000
(ii) CCTV - upgrade to digital system - £7,500
(iii) Pavilions (General) - Improvements - Feasibility Study - £50,000
(iv) Hampson Park Pavilion - New Pavilion - Feasibility Study - £15,000
The Leader of the Council then proposed the following Revenue Initiatives, as additions to the 2003/04 General Fund Revenue Budget, totalling £77,500:-
(i) Junior Warden Scheme - £5,000
(ii) Children's Leisure activities - £5,000
(iii) Sish Lane Area Friendly and Enterprising Group (SAFE) - £2,000
(iv) Symonds Green Youth Group - £2,000
(v) Stevenage Youth Council - £5,000
(vi) Personal Alarms - £2,000
(vii) Symonds Green Friendship Trail - £5,000
(viii) Bulbs planting outside schools - £15,000
(ix) Special floral display on roundabout - £12,000
(x) Gateways Project - £5,000
(xi) Green Community Fund - £3,000
(xii) Rock in the Park - £5,000
(xiii) Summer Concerts in Parks - £1,500
(xiv) Sports Festival - £10,000
Decision: Following further debate, it was RESOLVED:-
(A) GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2003/04
1. That the Budget summarised in Appendices A, B and C to the report, as amended by the addition of the Revenue Initatives outlined above, be the Council's General Fund Budget 2003/04.
2. That a General Fund Budget Requirement for 2003/04 of £12,777,540, use of balances of £2,112,762 and a Band D Council Tax of £152.22 be approved.
3. That a General Fund Revenue Account Contingency Sum in the Budget and Policy Framework for 2003/04 of £500,000 be approved.
4. That the Capital Programme summarised in Appendices G(1) and G(2) to the report, as amended by the addition of the Capital Initiatives outlined above, be the Council's Capital Budget 2003/04.
5. That a contingency sum in the Budget and Policy Framework for 2003/04 of £2,000,000 for the Capital Programme be approved.
6. That the Borrowing Limits for 2003/04 be agreed as follows:-
(a) Overall Borrowing Limit - £15 million
(b) Short-term Borrowing Limit - £15 million
(c) Variable Interest Proportion Limit - 100%
(B) FORMAL COUNCIL TAX RESOLUTION 2003/04
1.a. That the probable revenue estimates for the year 2002/03 amounting to £11,055,220 and the revenue estimates for 2003/04 amounting to £12,777,540 be approved;
b. That the contribution from balances of £783,799 in 2002/03 be approved;
c. That the contribution from balances totalling £2,112,762 in 2003/04 be approved.
2. That it be noted that at its meeting on 29th January 2003 the Council calculated the amount of 27,352.52 Band D equivalent properties as its council tax base for the year 2003/04 in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
3. That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2003/04 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:
a. £10,664,778 - Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(2)(a) to (e) of the Act, less the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(3)(a) to (c).
b. £6,376,440 - Being the aggregate of the sums which the Council estimates will be payable for the year into its general fund in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates and revenue support grant.
c. £124,737 - Being the utilisation of the Council's share of the estimated surplus totalling £787,900 as calculated in accordance with Sections 97(3) and Section 98(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.
d. £152.22 - Being the amount at 3a above less the amounts at 3b and 3c above, all divided by the amount at 2. above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year.
e. Valuation Bands
A £101.48
B £118.39
C £135.31
D £152.22
E £186.05
F £219.87
G £253.70
H £304.44
Being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 3d. above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.
4. a. That it be noted that for the year 2003/04 Hertfordshire County Council have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:
Valuation Bands
A £566.49
B £660.91
C £755.32
D £849.74
E £1,038.57
F £1,227.40
G £1,416.23
H £1,699.48
b. That it be noted that for the year 2003/04 Hertfordshire Police Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and amended by Section 27 of the Police and Magistrates' Court Act 1994, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below:
Valuation Bands
A £65.52
B £76.44
C £87.36
D £98.28
E £120.12
F £141.96
G £163.80
H £196.56
5. That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 3e. and 4a. and b. above, the Council in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts for council tax for the year 2003/04 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:
Valuation Bands
A £733.49
B £855.74
C £977.99
D £1,100.24
E £1,344.74
F £1,589.23
G £1,833.73
H £2,200.48
Status: Agreed
Business: The Council considered a report and recommendations from the Executive meeting held on 12th February 2002, in respect of further proposed changes to the Stevenage District Plan Second Review.
Decision: It was RESOLVED:
(i) That the Further Proposed Changes made to the District Plan under the delegated powers given to the Director of Environmental Services on 29th May 2002 be agreed and adopted for development control purposes.
(ii) That the responses to the Further Proposed Changes be agreed.
Status: Agreed
Business: The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking an extension to the terms of reference of the Standards Committee.
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the terms of reference of the Standards Committee be extended to cover the following matters, subject to any minor textual changes considered necessary or desirable:-
(i) To deal with any matters referred from the Full Council or any other body.
(ii) To consider reports and other communications from external and internal audit relating to good governance and the ethical standards of the Authority. Without any limitation on the statutory powers of the Standards Committee, to make recommendations to the Executive or a Committee of the Council following such consideration.
(iii) To review aspects of the Constitution relating to other terms of reference for this Committee, including matters covered by the ethical governance audit.
(iv) To receive and consider general reports and communications from the Ombudsman and, at the discretion of the Committee, to report and make recommendations to the appropriate body.
(v) To review and make recommendations on protocols and employment contract conditions dealing with ethical standards for officers' behaviour.
(vi) To consider and make recommendations as appropriate on all protocols affecting the conduct of Members and officers.
(vii) To review the register of members' interests at such times and in such a manner as the Committee feels appropriate.
Status: Agreed
Business: The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking the appointment of an independent member to a vacancy on the Standards Committee.
Decision: It was RESOLVED that Mr Stewart Gillies be appointed as an independent member of the Standards Committee.