Location: Council Chamber, Daneshill House
Present: S.K. Speller (Mayor), S. Batson, CC, G. Clark, R.A. Clark, D.W. Cullen, CC, M. Downing, CC, P.E.J. Gallagher, J. Gardner, B.P. Hall, L. Harrington, R.J. Henry, J. Hollywell, B. Jackson, P.D. Kissane, M.A. Mason, S.M. Myson, M. Notley, R.G. Parker, CC, M.P. Patston, J.A. Pickersgill, J.R. Raynor, D. Royall, R.J. Smith, MBE, DL, G. Snell, Mrs L.G. Strange, P. Stuart, S. Taylor, J. Thomas, A.T. Turner, K. Vale,
Others:
Duration:
Start Time: 7.00 pm
End Time: 7.40 pm
Status: Noted
Business:
Decision: Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors T.G.M. Kent, Mrs J.E. Lloyd, Mrs Ann Webb.
Apologies were also submitted on behalf of Councillors E. Knight, C. Latif, J. Lloyd, CC, and B.G. Underwood who, as SHL Board members had been advised that it would not be appropriate to vote on item 4 - Setting the Rent.There were no declarations of interest.
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th December 2006, having been circulated, be taken as read, confirmed and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8th January 2007 having been circulated, be taken as read, confirmed and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.
Status: Agreed
Business: Council considered a report referred from the Executive regarding the proposed rent increase for 2007/08 in respect of HRA dwellings. The decisions made by the Executive at its meeting on 24th January 2007 concerning this report had been circulated on a supplemental agenda as item 4A.A motion was moved by Councillor Sharon Taylor and seconded by Councillor Brian Hall.Following debate, Councillor Sharon Taylor advised the Council that there had been extensive consultations with FOSTA regarding the increase.
Decision: Upon being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED:
1.That the rents of HRA dwellings be increased, with effect from the week commencing 2nd April, 2007, by 2.94% and increased or decreased by the Rent Restructuring figure determined for each dwelling in accordance with the Government's Revised National Rent Restructuring Formula, subject to the Government's caps and limits applicable to each property, as detailed in paragraph 4.2 of the SHL report appended to the circulated report;
2.That the Government's Cap on the combined increase in rent and un-pooled Service Charges for an individual property, as detailed in paragraph 4.2.5 of the SHL report appended to the circulated report be applied.
Status: Noted
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 1-7 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.
Status: Agreed
Business: The Chief Executive presented a report and recommendation from the Council's Appointments Committee on the appointment to the post of the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service. The Chief Executive advised that no objections to the appointment had been received from Members of the Executive.
A motion was moved by Councillor Sharon Taylor and seconded by Councillor Robin Parker.
Individual Members took the opportunity to speak in tribute to Ian Paske for his hard work over the 10 years that he had been Chief Executive.
Decision: Upon being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that the appointment of Mr Peter Ollis to the post of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service be approved.
Status: Agreed
Business: The Chief Executive presented a report that advised Members of the position with the Council's Strategic Directors following the Executive's decisions on Strategic Organisational Review taken on 13th December 2006 and the appointment of an external candidate to the post of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.
The Council agreed that the use of the word 'dismissal' was unfortunate but understood that this was a technical term that had to be used even though Bill Welch had volunteered for redundancy. Bill Welch's many achievements were acknowledged, which included the excellent support he had provided for the Chief Executive and his in depth knowledge of Human Resources and Constitutional matters and his work in establishing the area committees.
A motion was moved by Councillor Sharon Taylor and seconded by Councillor Reg Smith.
Decision: Upon being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED:
1.That the dismissal of Strategic director Bill Welch by reason of redundancy on the terms set out in the report be approved;
2.That the appointment of Scott Crudington as Strategic Director be approved.