In the absence of the Chairman the Vice Chairman took the chair.

Prayers were taken by Father Frank.

To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 1 May 2014.       .

(Attached pages 5  to 21)

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 May 2014 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

To receive any questions, statements and deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.  (This session will be held at the Chairman’s discretion and will normally last no longer than 15 minutes.)

No questions, statements or deputations were received.

To receive and discuss petitions if any, in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of part A4 of the Constitution.

No petitions were received.

The Chairman to announce any matters of communication.

The Chairman welcomed Councillors Egan and Woodward to the meeting following their absence due to ill health.

The Chairman announced that he intended to vary the order of business and consider item 12 prior to item 10 recommendation from the General Purposes Committee.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·         The Chairman’s charity for municipal year 2014/15 was the Alzheimer’s Society;

·         Recent civic events he had attended, including the Armed Forces Sunset evening.   

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

The Leader reported upon:

·         the opening of Center Parcs, Woburn Forest on 6 June 2014;

·         launch of the Academy of Children’s Social Workers;

·         the commencement of works on the A1/M5 link and Woodside Link;

·         Regional awards covering Building Control.

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 Councillors Mrs Turner and Versallion.

Councillor Mrs Turner, Executive Member for Economic Partnerships reported on work within her portfolio including:

·         The Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes Healthcare Review.  The Bedfordshire Clinical Group and others were involved in a wide ranging review;

·         The Better Care Fund. Funding had been allocated which would enable 4 agreed projects within the model to deliver services to residents.

Councillor Mrs Turner responded to questions.

Councillor Versallion, Executive Member for Children’s Services reported on work within his portfolio including:

·         The challenges facing the care of children.

·         The creation of an Academy, one of the first of its kind, which would assist in the recruitment, retention and training for children’s social workers.

Councillor Versallion responded to questions.

To consider recommendations from the meeting of the Executive, 27 May 2014 and answer questions asked under Rule No. 14.1.

(a)       Development Strategy – Revised Pre-submission Version

(b)       Superfast Broadband Extension Programme

(Attached pages 23  to 26)

(a)  Development Strategy – Revised Pre-Submission Version

The Council considered recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 27 May 2014 concerning the Development Strategy – Revised Pre Submission Version.  The Strategy was an overarching planning policy document that set out the overall approach to new development in Central Bedfordshire for the period up to 2031, including new homes, job and infrastructure and detailed policies to guide decisions on planning applications.  The Strategy had been revised following comments received from the public consultation and a changed policy context.

RESOLVED

1.         that the draft revised Pre-Submission Development Strategy attached at Appendix A to the Executive report be approved for the purposes of Publication and Submission to the Secretary of State; and

2.         that  the Director of Regeneration and Business, in consultation with the Executive Member for Regeneration be authorised, to make any minor amendments to the Development Strategy:

(i)      prior to Publication;

(ii)     after Publication but before Submission; and

(iii)    during the Examination process.

3.         that the draft revised Pre-submission Development Strategy, be endorsed  for Development Management guidance purposes for use in the south of Central Bedfordshire prior to its formal adoption.

(b)        Superfast Broadband Extension Programme

The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of Executive held on 27 May 2014 proposing that Central Bedfordshire participate fully in the Broadband Delivery UK  (BDUK) Superfast Extension Programme.

RESOLVED

that an additional £500,000 capital funding to fully match Broadband Delivery UK allocations for the delivery of superfast broadband infrastructure be approved.

To consider motions by Members of the Council under Rule No. 17 in the order received.

1.     Notice of Motion from Councillor Mark Smith –

With local council elections occurring in 2015, Central Bedfordshire Council wishes to attract the widest cross-section of candidates to stand for election.  Currently, overview and scrutiny meetings are held during the day.  This policy prevents those in employment from fully participating in the democratic processes of the Council.  The majority of meetings in our neighbouring authorities commence between 6 and 7pm.

Commencing January 1, 2015 my motion to Council is that all overview and scrutiny meetings should take place after 6pm in the evening.

Notice had been received from Councillor Smith of a Motion under Procedure Rule No 17 as follows:

“With local council elections occurring in 2015, Central Bedfordshire Council wishes to attract the widest cross-section of candidates to stand for election. Currently, overview and scrutiny meetings are held during the day. This policy prevents those in employment from fully participating in the democratic processes of the Council.  The majority of meetings in our neighbouring authorities commence between 6 and 7pm.

Commencing January 1, 2015 my motion to Council is that all Overiew and Scrutiny meetings should take place after 6pm in the evening.”

In accordance with paragraph 21.5 of Part B5 of the Council’s Constitution ‘Full Procedure Rules’, a recorded vote was requested and granted.

Upon being put to the vote, those in favour of the motion were:

Councillors: Aldis, Egan, Goodchild, Graham, Murray, Shingler, Smith, Williams and Zerney.

Those against the motion were:

Councillors: Barker, Bastable, Berry, Birt, Blair, Bowater, Brown, Chapman, Clark, Clarke, Collins, Costin, Dodwell, Drinkwater, Duckett, Gurney, Hegley, Jamieson, Janes, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, Matthews, McVicar, Mustoe, Nicols, B Saunders, J Saunders, Shadbolt, Sheppard, Sparrow, Spurr, Stay, A Turner, P Turner, Versallion, Wells, Wenham, Woodward and Young.

Councillor Coleman abstained from voting.

The motion was lost.

To consider recommendations from the General Purposes Committee held on 29 May 2014

(i)        Revised Calendar of Meetings – Eight Week Cycle

(Attached pages 27 to 30)

Revised Calendar of Meetings

The Council considered a recommendation of the General Purposes Committee seeking approval of the proposed revisions to the Calendar of Meetings 2014/15 as set out at Appendix A.

RESOLVED

that the revised Calendar of Meetings 2014/15 as set out at Appendix A, to the submitted report, be approved.

To receive and consider the reports of the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and answer questions asked under Rule No. 13.1

(Attached pages 31 to 33)

The Council received and considered a report of the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service following its meeting held on 2 May 2014.

RESOLVED

that the report of the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service be noted.

To answer written questions from Members of the Council if any under Rule No. 13.2.

No written questions were received.

To receive the annual report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

(Attached pages 35 to 62)

The Council received the Overview and Scrutiny Annual report 2013/14 which summarised the activities of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees during the last twelve months.

RESOLVED

that the Overview and Scrutiny Annual report 2013/14 be noted.

To receive a report from the Chairman of the Audit Committee on the Committee’s activities.

(Attached pages 63 to 67)

The Council received the annual report from the Audit Committee for 2013/14 which presented a summary of the Committee’s activities during the last twelve months.

RESOLVED

that the Audit Committee Annual Report 2013/14 be noted.

To answer Open Questions asked by Members of the Council under Rule No. 13.7

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

1.    Councillor Murray sought assurance about new council houses being built.

The Executive Member for Social Care Health and Housing reported on the housing schemes that were  in construction or planned. 

2.    Councillor Aldis invited the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities to comment on the problem of grass cutting being undertaken on waste collection day in his ward.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities commented that it was not common practice for services to be scheduled on the same  day and that he would undertake to look into this incident.

3.    Councillor Sparrow asked a question about the level of Blue Badge fraud prosecution in Central Bedfordshire.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities advised that to date there had been no prosecutions relating to Blue Badge fraud in Central Bedfordshire.

4.    Councillor Sparrow referred to the planned programme of events to mark the 100^th anniversary of World War 1, including  an invitation to local authorities  to turn off their lights for one hour, 22.00 – 23.00  on 4 August 2014.

The Leader of the Council advised that the Council would be publicising and supporting this event to include the turning off of lights where appropriate.

5.    Councillor Murray referred to the Dunstable Master Plan and asked

 when a new shopping centre would be built.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities, Strategic Planning and Economic Development advised that issues relating to the ownership of the current shopping centre had to be resolved prior to moving forward with the plan.

6.    Councillor Murray asked a question about the UTC which had been assessed as failing.

The Deputy Member for Children’s Service’s provided a detailed response setting out measures in place.

7.    Councillor Egan asked a question about a number of outstanding works on the Luton, Houghton Regis and Dunstable Busway.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities commented that the works referred to were not the responsibility of Central Bedfordshire Council.

8.    Councillor D Lawrence asked a question about the viability of a holistic study of Biggleswade being undertaken in respect of transport, parking and planning.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities, Strategic Planning and Economic Development commented that comprehensive studies in respect of transport, parking and planning in Biggleswade were being undertaken and that the ward representatives would be consulted.