To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 19 July 2018.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 19 July 2018 be approved as a correct record.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

None were declared.

To receive any questions, statements and deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.  (This session will be held at the Chairman’s discretion and will normally last no longer than 15 minutes.)

The Chairman invited the public speakers to make their statements in accordance with the Public Participation Scheme.

Houghton Regis North Site 1

Mr Sansom, Campaign to Protect Rural England Bedfordshire (CPRE), was concerned that there had been a delay in the building of new homes as part of Houghton Regis North 1 (HRN1) despite the opening of the A5-M1 Link Road and the Woodside Link.  He requested a response to the questions contained in his letters to the Leader and that the issue of land banking at HRN1 be debated at a future Council meeting.

The Leader explained that the Council had not delayed the development at HRN1.  The Council’s role was to determine planning applications and it was the developer’s role to determine when those houses were built.  He sought CPRE’s help in influencing Government to provide powers to local authorities to enable them to hold developers to account so that developments like HRN1 were not delayed. 

Gypsy and Travellers

Mrs Dimmock, Village Focus Group, commented on the issues she had raised at the last Council meeting about the impact the gypsy and traveller sites on the local community.  She felt that the Council was not addressing residents’ concerns to help the settled community live harmoniously with the gypsy and traveller community. The Village Action Group was asking the Council to set up a Stakeholder Steering Committee to put in place strategies to help tackle the issues.

Mr Gibson, Village Focus Group, felt that the Council was being complacent when dealing with enforcing planning conditions and it was leaving Central Bedfordshire open to illegal gypsy and traveller encampments.  He also requested that a Stakeholder Steering Committee be set up and that the Council enforce all breaches of planning.

Ms Sutton, Village Focus Group, also requested that the Council set up a Stakeholder Steering Committee to help resolve the problems that were taking place in the south of Central Bedfordshire due to the lack of enforcement.  She requested that the Council use their funding and resources carefully to help alleviate the problems. 

Mr Cotterel, Village Focus Group, was concerned that the Local Plan submitted to the Planning Inspector was deficient in relation to gypsy and travellers sites.  He did not feel it was appropriate for the Council to rely on windfall sites and contended that sites should be fairly spread across Central Bedfordshire.

A member of the public who wished to remain anonymous raised concern about the education of children living on gypsy and traveller sites.  She was concerned that if a caravan was unlicensed the children would go unnoticed.

The Leader of the Council acknowledged the strength of feeling and confirmed that the community’s views were being taken seriously.  The engagement with residents in Billington was working well and the Council would look to set up similar arrangements with the Village Action Group.

The Executive Member for Community Services confirmed that the Council was committed to strengthening its enforcement capacity to help tackle issues such as planning enforcement.  He  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To receive and discuss petitions if any, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.

No petitions were received.

The Chairman to announce any matters of communication.

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman had attended the opening of the extensions to Arnold Academy, Barton-le-Clay and Redbourne Upper School, Ampthill.

The Chairman had attended an award ceremony at BBC Three Counties Radio where she had had the opportunity to speak to volunteers and hear about their work.

She also had the opportunity to present certificates to the young people at the National Citizens Service.

The Leader of the Council to announce any matters of communication.

The Leader had attended a business engagement event in Woburn with local businesses.

To receive reports from up to three Executive Members on recent matters of interest and ask questions on matters contained within the reports.

Reports are anticipated from:

·         Councillor Dixon, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children

·         Councillor Wenham, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources

Councillor Dixon, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children provided an update on the activities within his portfolio:

·         Everton Heath Primary School had converted to an academy as part of a multi-agency trust, without the Council having to amend its decision that the responsibility of any unpaid teacher pension payments would be transferred to the trust;

·         he congratulated the education providers and students for this year’s GCSE and A level results.  The results would be verified and circulated to Members;

·         work on the Schools for the Future programme was progressing;

·         the Council had received a grant of £170,000 from the Healthy Pupil Capital Fund and the Council would be working with schools to enhance children’s health;

·         the Council was recruiting in-house foster carers; and

·         the Children in Care Council had produced a list of aspirations and he would be speaking to Members to help make their wishes come true.  A representative of the Children in Care Council was co-chairing the Corporate Parenting Panel.

Councillor Wenham, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources provided an update on the progress made on the apprenticeship levy:

·         the Council had taken a long term approach and had planned strategically to maximise the benefits to the organisation;

·         the scheme was being used as a pipeline to help the Council to grow its own staff and also using the opportunity to upskill existing staff;

·         an agile apprenticeship programme had been introduced where each apprentice would have several placements during their training to enable them to slot into full-time employment; and

·         one of the Council’s apprentices had been designated Apprentice of the Year by the Public Sector Managers’ Association.

In response to a question, the Executive Member explained that the length of the apprenticeships depended on the course in question.

To consider a recommendation from the meeting of the Executive, 7 August 2018and answer questions asked under Part 4A, Rule No. 13.1 of the Council’s Procedure Rules.

a)    Central Area Growth Board

The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Executive held on 7 August 2018, proposing that Central Bedfordshire become a full member of the Central Area Growth Board.

RESOLVED

1.      that Central Bedfordshire Council become a full member of the Central Area Growth Board by adopting the Terms of Reference, as set out in Appendix A to the Executive report;

2.      that the creation of the Central Area Growth Board as a joint committee under section 101(5), 102 Local Government Act 1972 and section 9EB of the Local Government Act 2000 and pursuant (where applicable) to the Local Authorities (Arrangement for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012 be approved;

3.      that the additions to the Constitution, as set out in Appendix B to the Executive report, be approved; and

4.      that the Executive Member for Regeneration be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Central Area Growth Board.

Upon being put to the vote 43 Members voted in favour, 1 Member voted against and no Members abstained against the resolution.

To consider recommendations from the meeting of the General Purposes Committee, held on 23 August 2018 and answer questions asked under Rule No. 13.1.

a)    Central Area Growth Board Terms of Reference

b)    Health and Wellbeing Board Membership

c)    Consultation on the Community Governance Review

The Council considered recommendations from the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 23 August 2018.

a)      Central Area Growth Board Terms of Reference

To seek approval to include the Central Area Growth Board and its Terms of Reference in the Constitution.

RESOLVED

that the Central Area Growth Board and its Terms of Reference, as set out at Appendices A and B to the report, be included in the Constitution.

b)      Health and Wellbeing Board Membership

          To seek approval to amend the membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board and amend the Constitution accordingly.

RESOLVED

that the proposed changes to the membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board, as set out in the report, be approved and the Constitution be amended accordingly.

Upon a) and b) being put to the vote 43 Members voted in favour, 1 Member voted against and no Members abstained against the resolution.

c)      Consultation on the Community Governance Review

To seek approval of the final recommendations for each town and parish council within Central Bedfordshire and to authorise the Monitoring Officer to create any orders necessary for the implementation of those proposals which receive the support of Council.

In response to a question, the Chairman confirmed that the parish of Caddington would be referred to as Caddington and not Caddington, Hyde and Slip End.

RESOLVED

1.         that the final recommendations for each town and parish council within Central Bedfordshire, as set out in the final recommendations (revised) at Appendix C to the General Purposes Committee minutes, be approved and adopted; and

2.         to authorise the Monitoring Officer to create any orders necessary for the implementation of those proposals which receive the support of Council (and any consequential matters thereby required).

The decision was unanimous.

The purpose of this report is to provide a review of Treasury Management activities for the year ended 31 March 2018 in compliance with relevant codes of practice adopted by Central Bedfordshire Council.

Council considered a report that reviewed the Treasury Management activities for the year ending 31 March 2018.

RESOLVED

that the Treasury Management and the Prudential Indicators performance for the year ending 31 March 2018 be noted.

To consider motions by Members of the Council under Part 4A, Rule No. 17 of the Council’s Procedure Rules in the order received.

No motions were received.

To answer written questions from Members of the Council under Part 4A, Rule No. 13.2 of the Council’s Procedure Rules.

No written questions were received.

To answer Open Questions asked by Members of the Council under Part 4A, Rule No. 13.7 of the Council’s Procedure Rules.

The Chairman invited the Minority Group Leaders to ask a question, prior to the consideration of questions that had been placed in the Open Question receptacle.

(1)     Councillor Zerny commented on Members’ attendance during 2017/18.

The Leader confirmed that most Members in the Conservative Group had attended a high percentage of Council meetings.

Councillor Zerny asked a supplementary question regarding Councillor Walker’s attendance and Register of Interest form.

The Leader did not have the formal authority to require any Member to resign.

(2)     In the absence of Cllr Ryan, Cllr Swain confirmed that the Labour Group did not have any questions to ask.

(3)     Councillor Mrs Goodchild commented on the roll out of Universal Credit and asked how the Council was supporting organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and the Disability Resources Centre.

          The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources explained that as well as supporting individual claimants the Council also supported the CAB by providing them with detailed guidance.  As Universal Credit was rolled out the Council would monitor and seek to respond appropriately to cases of financial hardship. 

(4)     Councillor Maudlin asked if residents in Sandy would be consulted on proposals affecting sports facilities in the area.

          The Executive Member for Community Services explained that leisure services in Sandy needed to be put on a more sustainable footing.  The public would be consulted on what and how the Council might provide leisure services in the area.

(5)     Councillor Stock asked what leisure facilities would remain in Sandy following the consultation?

          The Executive Member for Community Services confirmed that the gym and the athletics track would remain and the school had offered to continue with the netball club.  All other facilities would be included as part of the consultation.

(6)     Councillor Stock asked whether there was a link between Sandye Place Academy closing and the possible withdrawal of leisure facilities at the secondary school in Sandy.

          The Executive Member for Families, Education and Children confirmed that there was no link between these two issues.  He explained that Sandy Place Academy was held by the Department for Education (DfE) on a 125 year lease.  The Council was in discussion with the DfE to release the site to enable the Council to start consulting residents on its future.

(7)     Councillor Maudlin asked if the facilities at Sandye Place Academy would remain open after September 2019 and were there any plans for the site?

          The Executive Member for Families, Education and Children confirmed that nothing would take place with the site until the Department for Education had released it.  He acknowledged that the site was critical to the town centre.  Once the Council was in a position to consider the site’s future, residents would be consulted.