Prayers were taken by the Reverend Dean Hendley Rector for Campton, Clophill & Haynes and Assistant Rural Dean for Ampthill and Shefford Deanery.

To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 11 September 2014.     

(attached pages 7 to 14)

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 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. 

A member of the public made a statement under the Public Participation provisions set out at Annex 1 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

Mr Konstandinidis spoke about Agenda Item 11, Treasury Management Outturn and made a number of observations.

The Executive Member for Corporate Resources undertook to provide a written response to Mr Konstantinidis.

No petitions were received.

The Chairman advised that Agenda Item 13, Leave of Absence had  been withdrawn from the agenda due to the attendance of Councillors Egan and Woodward at the meeting

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·         The Chairman had hosted her Civic Reception and Forget Me Not Awards on 4 November.

·         The Central Bedfordshire Charity Calendar was now on sale. All profits made would be donated to The Alzheimer’s Society.  All the pictures had been taken by local residents of places in Central Bedfordshire. 

·         The Chairman had attended the opening of the Flitwick Football Centre.

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

The Leader welcomed new appointee Sue Harrison, Director of Children’s Services to Central Bedfordshire Council.

The Leader announced:

·         that he would be attending the opening of Prologis new warehouse in Dunstable on 28 November 2014.

·         that he had attended an event to mark the start of construction works for a new leisure facility in Flitwick.

·         significant improvements in GCSE and Key Stage 2 results across Central Bedfordshire.

·          Significant progress had been made on the A1/A5 Link Road.

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 M Jones and Stay.

Councillor Spurr, Executive Member for Community Services reported on work within his portfolio including:

·         crime statistics in Central Bedfordshire

·         visitor numbers to Central Bedfordshire libraries

·         examples of Sport England Grants

·         the success of inspections carried out on firework retailers

·         examples of good service in respect of waste management collection

·         examples of projects and work in Countryside Access

·         results of an assessment of roads which had rated Central Bedfordshire as second best in the of East of England

·         examples of good service provision in Transportation and Building Control.

Councillor Spurr responded to questions.

Councillor Jones, Executive Member for Corporate Resources reported on work within his Portfolio including:

·         the Council’s annual Statement of Accounts for 2013/14 had been signed off by the required deadline of 30th September.

·         financial pressures in the current year 2014/15 especially in Adult Social Care.

·         Work being carried out on the budget setting process

·         examples of good performance in the Revenues and Benefits team

·         Council Tax collection was on target whilst Business Rates collection was lower as a result of the Government’s decision to allow payments to be spread over 12 months instead of 10.

·         examples of the latest CIPFA benchmarking results for the quarter ending 30 June 2014  which showed that the Council’s average rate of return on investments at 1.06% was higher than the benchmarked local authority average of 0.89%.

Councillor Jones responded to questions.

To consider recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 14 October 2014and answer questions asked under Rule No. 13.1. in respect of Fees and Charges 2015.

(attached page 15)

Fees and Charges

The Council considered a recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 16 October 2014 which proposed the revised fees and charges for 2015.

RESOLVED

1.      that the response to the consultation with Overview and Scrutiny, as set out in Appendix C to the Executive report, be noted;

2.      that the fees and charges for 2015, as set out in the Executive report, be approved and that the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources be authorised to determine the schedule of charges for Registration Services following formal responses from Luton or Bedford Borough Councils; and

3.      that the Fees and Charges Policy, as set out in the Executive report, be approved.

To consider recommendations from a meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 12 November 2014 and ask questions under Rule No 13.1.

(i)            The Licensing Act 2003.                                  

(attached pages 17 to 38)

(ii)          Adoption of updated model byelaws for the regulation of acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis.                            

 (attached pages 39 to 56)

(i)            The Licensing Act 2003

The Council considered recommendations from the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 12 November 2014 which sought  adoption of The Licensing Act 2003 Licensing Policy.

RESOLVED

(1)  that the Licensing Policy as set out in the submitted report be adopted;

(2)  that the Director for Community Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, be given delegated authority to undertake any necessary minor amendments to the policy prior to publication.

(ii)          Adoption of Updated Model of Byelaws

The Council received and considered recommendations from the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 12 November 2014 seeking adoption of the updated byelaws for the regulation of acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis.

RESOLVED

1)        That the Council apply its adoptive powers in Part VIII of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 to revoke the existing legacy byelaws and adopt harmonised updated byelaws.

2)        that  affixing of the Council’s Common Seal to the new byelaws be authorised

3)        that the appropriate officer carry out the necessary procedure including applying to the Secretary of State for confirmation.

To consider a report of Councillor Maurice Jones, Executive Member for Corporate Resources on Treasury Management Outturn.

(attached pages 57 to 80)

The Council received and considered a report of the Deputy Leader, Executive Member for Corporate Resources which provided a review of the performance of the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential indicators for the six month period ending 30 September 2014.

RESOLVED

1.            that the satisfactory performance on Treasury Management and Prudential Indicators for the 6-month period ending 30^th September 2014 and the single breach of investment counterparty limits (as detailed in paragraph 37 of the report submitted) be acknowledged.

2.            that a revision to the minimum investment credit rating criteria for acceptable investment counterparties to BBB+ (or Moody’s equivalent of Baa1), from A- (or Moody’s equivalent of A3), in order to allow the Council flexibility to continue to invest with the major UK banks and building societies in the event of further downgrades in credit ratings ( paragraphs 30-33 of the report now submitted) be approved

3.         that an increase in the non-specified cash limit for total investments rated below a credit rating of A- (or equivalent) from £15m to £30m (paragraph 34 of the report submitted) be approved

4.            that a reduction in the investment counterparty limit for any single organisation (or group of organisations under the same ownership) from £15m to £7m ( paragraph 34 of the report submitted) be approved

5.         that the revisions to the Treasury Management Strategy set out at Appendix C to the report submitted be approved.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council regarding payment of allowances for certain roles on the Police and Crime Panel.

(attached pages 81 to 90)

The Council received and considered a report of the Leader of the Council proposing that an allowance be paid from the Home Office grant for certain roles on the Police and Crime Panel.

RESOLVED

That the following recommendations made by Bedford Borough Council’s Independent Review Panel (IRP) be approved:

(1)  that an annual allowance of £5,050 be paid to the Chairman of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel;

(2)  that an annual allowance of £500 be paid to the Vice – Chairman of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel;

(3)  that each of the Panel’s Lay Members be paid an annual allowance of £750;

(4)  that if a Lay Member is elected as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel, they be paid both the Chairman or Vice-Chairman’s allowance as applicable, and also the Lay Member’s allowance;

(5)  that the proposed allowances set out in recommendations 1-3 above be payable with effect from 1 April 2014.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council seeking approval of leave of absence.

(attached pages 91 to 94)

Due to the attendance of Councillors Egan and Woodward at this meeting the report was withdrawn.

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

(attached pages 95  to 98)

Council received an update from Councillor McVicar on the activities of the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority.

Councillor McVicar responded to questions.

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

No Motions had been received.

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

No Written questions had been received.

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

The Chairman invited the 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 asked a question about the disposal of office furniture as a result of moving all Council staff into two main buildings.

The Executive Member for Corporate Resources indicated that he would look into this and provide a written answer.

2.Councillor Aldis commented on the new plant pots located in the car park and made suggestions for their planting.

The Executive Member for Corporate Resources responded.

3.Councillor Aldis asked a question about the measures that could be undertaken to help a resident who was being affected in her home by the new LED lights in the Council car park.

The Executive member for Sustainable Communities commented on a solution available.

4. Councillor Chapman asked a question about mental health provision in relation to Integrated Offender Management.

The Executive Member for Partnerships commented on partnership work that was being undertaken on mental health support in respect of offender management.

5. Councillor Zerny asked a question about the provision of Superfast Broadband in his ward.

The  Deputy Executive Member for Corporate Resources provided an update on the programme of works for Superfast Broadband.

6. Councillor Murray asked a question about the timing of housing development on redundant garage sites.

The Executive Member provided examples of sites where development had commenced and that were due to start shortly.

7. Councillor Nicols asked a question about the lack of involvement of ward representatives in the licensing of Street Traders.

The Executive Member for Community Services would undertake to look into this issue.

8.Councillor Aldis asked a question about recycling performance and the level of contaminated recyclables.

The Deputy Executive Member for Community Services provided statistics for both recycling and contaminated recyclables.

9.Councillor Zerny asked a question about the procurement process for the Superfast Broadband project.

The Deputy Executive Member for Corporate Resources provided information on the procurement process.