The Reverend Janet Humphries Assistant Priest for Northill with Caldecote and Old Warden took prayers.

To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 November 2014.

(Attached pages 5 to 12)

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2014 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman 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 Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.

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 made the following announcements:

·           The Chairman had undertaken the appropriate training to be a Dementia Champion.  Members were invited to contact the Chairman if they wanted her to run an information session on becoming a Dementia Friend.

·           The Chairman would be hosting an event at the Grove Theatre Dunstable on 10 May 2015 called ‘Lets hear it for the Boys’, The West Ends Leading Men, live at The Grove Theatre, Dunstable.

The Chairman asked members to join her for another incredible night of entertainment featuring some of the most successful leading men in Musical Theatre, direct from London’s West End.  This follows the success of Here Come The Girls last year.  West End star Louise Dearman would also be hosting this event with all the proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Society.

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

The Leader made the following announcements:

·           the Heritage and Big Lottery Fund had awarded a grant to restore Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis

·           funding had been secured through SEMLEP for various projects throughout Central Bedfordshire including support for Millbrook Park & Technology facilities, the A1/A5 Link Road and upgrading of the A1

·           An event to recruit, celebrate and award the work undertaken by volunteers would be held at the Grove Theatre in June 2015.

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 Stay and Mrs Turner.

Councillor Stay Executive Member for External Affairs reported on work within his portfolio including:

·           progress made on the Supported Families Programme (Troubled Families) including identifying 305 families for entry onto the programme and already achieving measures of success for 245 of those families

·           the expansion of the Supported Families Programme which would commence from 1 April 2015, which would include families with a broader range of problems.

Councillor Stay responded to questions

Councillor Mrs Turner, Executive Member for Economic Partnerships reported on work within her portfolio including an update of the Central Bedfordshire Together Board (CBT)

In response to the need for CBT meetings to become more streamlined a conference was held in September 2014.

The conference was successful in achieving consensus on the key challenges facing Central Bedfordshire and how they should be tackled. The need for improved partnership working and greater collaboration in the future was recognised.  The need for a collective view on the way  combine and use our resources to achieve our shared ambitions was achieved

The outcomes from the event will inform the ongoing work of our statutory and strategic partnerships for community safety, health and economic growth

Councillor Mrs Turner responded to questions.

To consider a recommendation from the meeting of the Executive held on 9 December 2014and answer questions asked under Rule No.13.1

(i)        Council Tax Support Scheme

(attached pages 13 – 14)

(i)        Council Tax support Scheme

The Council considered a recommendation from a meeting of the Executive held on 9 December 2014, concerning the Council Tax Support Scheme.

RESOLVED

That the current Council Tax Support Scheme be extended for a further year (2015/16), subject to “uprating” as set out in the Executive report.

Councillor Murray requested that his name be recorded as having voted against the decision.

To consider the recommendations from the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 15 January 2015 and answer questions asked under Rule No. 13.1

(i)        Pay Policy

(ii)       Councillor Code of Conduct Complaints

(To Follow)

(i)        Pay Policy Statement 2015/16

The Council considered recommendations from a meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 15 January 2015 seeking approval of the draft Pay Policy Statement 2015/16 as set out at Appendix A  to the submitted report.

RESOLVED

1.         that the draft Pay Policy Statement 2015/16, as set out at Appendix A, be approved and adopted;

2.         that the Pay Policy Statement 2015/16 be published on the Council’s website.

(ii)       Councillor Code of Conduct Complaints

The Council considered a recommendation from a meeting of  the General Purposes Committee held on 15 January 2015 seeking approval of amendments to Part F2 of the Constitution as set out at Appendix A(i), and to the Councillor Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure Flowchart, as set out at Appendix A(ii).

RESOLVED

that the proposed amendments to Part F2 of the Constitution, as set out at Appendix A(i), and to the Councillor Code of Conduct Complaints Procedure Flowchart, as set out at Appendix A(ii) of the submitted report, be approved and adopted.

To consider the proposed Calendar of Meetings for the municipal year 2015-2016.

(attached pages 15 to 20)

The Council considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources seeking approval of the proposed Calendar of Committee meetings for the municipal year 2015- 2016.

RESOLVED

that the draft Calendar of Council and Committee meetings for the period May 2015 to May 2016 as set out at Appendix A to the submitted report be approved.

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

No motions were received.

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

No written questions were received.

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 asked a question about a 20 mph speed limit that had been introduced in Dunstable.

Councillor Murray asked a supplementary question about who was monitoring the driving speeds and the number of convictions since the implementation of the speed limit.

The Executive Member for Community Services indicated that he would look into this a provide a written answer.

2.     Councillor Aldis asked a question about the Council Tax Support Grant.

The Deputy Leader, Executive Member for Corporate Resources outlined the challenges faced by the Council in setting a balance budget.

3.     Councillor Murray asked a question about a public car park in Dunstable and the extent to which it was being used by staff.

The Deputy Leader, Executive Member for Corporate Resources would look into this.

4.     Councillor Aldis asked a question about the procedure for reporting missed waste collections.

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