Prayers were taken by the Reverend Paul Niemiec, Community Minister, Leighton Buzard.

To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 21 May 2015.

(attached pages 7 to 31)

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2015 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.  (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.

No petitions were received.

The Chairman reported upon his attendance at the following events:

·                The University of Bedfordshire Graduation Ceremony;

·                The 75^th Anniversary day for the Army Intelligence Corps.  The day had been attended by HRH Duke of Edinburgh;

·                The Bedfordshire Games for people with Disabilities Learning Difficulties.

The Chairman advised that Melanie Clay, would be leaving the Council to take up a new role at Tower Hamlets Borough Council.  He  thanked her for her services in her position as Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer and expressed best wishes on behalf of the Council.

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

The Leader made no announcements or communications.

To receive reports from up to three Executive Members on recent matters of interest and ask questions on matters contained within the reports.  The following are expected to report:

(i)        Cllr Jones, Executive Member for Health

(ii)       Cllr Wenham, Executive Member for Corporate Resources

Councillor Jones, Executive Member for Health reported on work within his portfolio area including:

·           The challenges facing Public Health, including the growth of an ageing population;

·           Joint plans for the Better Care Fund;

·           Increased responsibility for children’s health;

·           Expansion of the Health Visiting Services;

·           The Drugs and Alcohol Services in Central Bedfordshire had been ranked in the top quartile in the country;

·           Teenage pregnancy in Central Bedfordshire is now at its lowest since Central Bedfordshire Council was established.

Councillor Jones responded to questions.

Councillor Wenham, Executive Member for Corporate Resources reported on work within his portfolio area including:

·         Preparation for the Medium Term Financial Plan;

·         The budget setting cycle for the next financial year and challenges of delivering services alongside the increase demand in Adult Social Care and Children’s Services;

·         A new project to transform working practices and oversee a further major reduction in the number of buildings the Council occupied;

·         Key improvements in IT, including, better Wi-Fi to be rolled out in Priory House and Watling  House and in other Council buildings, particularly those with public access;

·           The ‘Paper light’ Strategy and the associated trial involving elected Members using an electronic application to access agendas was now underway. The intention was to roll out this approach to all Members to significantly reduce the need for printing committee papers;

·           Projects  to enable electronic access to the Registrar Services and Housing Services;

·           Plans for enabling missed bin reporting electronically.

Councillor Wenham in his role as Executive Member for Corporate Resources which included Legal Services recorded his best wishes to Melanie Clay, Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer who would be leaving the Council in August 2015.

Councillor Wenham responded to questions.

To consider recommendations from a meeting of the General Purposes Committee, 25 June 2015 and answer questions asked under Rule No 13.1.

(1)          The Local Authorities (Standing Orders)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2015          (pages 33 to  42)

(2)          Constitution Update                  (pages 43 to 48)

(i)            The Local Authorities (Standing Orders)(England) (Amendment) Regulations 2015

The Council considered recommendations from the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 25 June 2015 concerning advice on recent legislative changes to Local Authority Standing Orders relating to the dismissal of statutory officers.

RESOLVED

1.    that the Independent Panel designated to deal with the dismissal of Statutory Officers be the Appointments Sub-Committee;

2.    that the Officer Employment Procedure Rules contained at Part H4 of the Constitution and the General Purposes Committee terms of reference contained at Part E2 be amended, as set out in Appendices A and B respectively to these minutes, to reflect the requirements set out in the Local Authorities (Standing Orders)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2015;

3.    that the current relevant Independent Persons appointed to the Council be invited to join the Appointments Sub-Committee when dealing with the dismissal of the Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service), Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) and Chief Legal and Democratic Services Officer (Monitoring Officer); and

4.    that the composition and remit of the Appointments Sub-Committee remain as currently constituted save that in the case of dismissal of the Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service), Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) and Chief Legal and Democratic Services Officer (Monitoring Officer) the Sub-Committee may only make a recommendation to Council.

(ii)          Constitution Update

The Council considered recommendations from a meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 25 June 2015 proposing an amendment to Part K of the Constitution, Members’ Allowances Scheme.

RESOLVED

that the provision for Members’ ICT allowances be included in Part K of the Constitution, Members’ Allowances Scheme, as set out at Appendix C to these Minutes.

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

Notice of motion received from Cllr Stay:

Planning Enforcement in Central Bedfordshire

This Council moves a referral of the Planning Enforcement Service to the Sustainable Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee to consider the effectiveness of the service, its capacity to meet the current and future needs of Central Bedfordshire and make any appropriate recommendations to the Director of Regeneration & Business Support.

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

“This Council moves a referral of the Planning Enforcement Service to the Sustainable Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee to consider the effectiveness of the service, it’s capacity to meet the current & future needs of Central Bedfordshire and make any appropriate recommendations to the Director of Regeneration & Business Support.”

The Executive Member for Regeneration advised the Council that the Chairman of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed to add to the Committee’s work programme the Planning Enforcement Service.

In view of this, Councillor Stay withdrew the motion.

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

Any written question submitted under Rule No. 13.2 will be circulated in advance of the meeting.

No written questions were received.

The Leader will report orally outlining policy priorities for the forthcoming year.

The Leader presented his annual report celebrating successes over recent years and outlining plans for the future.

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

(attached pages 49 to 54)

The Council received the annual report from the Audit Committee for 2014/15 which presented a summary of the Committee’s activities during the last twelve months.

RESOLVED

that the Audit Committee Annual Report 2014/15 be noted.

To note the attached report referred from Bedford Borough Council.

(attached pages 55 to 72)

The Council considered the annual report of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel.

RESOLVED

That the report of the Bedfordshire Police and Crime Panel be noted.

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 Zerny asked if the Executive Member for Community Services would write on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council to the Transport Minister setting out its support of The Guide Dogs for the  Blind, Pavement Bill.

The Executive Member for Community Services outlined the problems associated with parking on pavements throughout Central Bedfordshire and that he would support the Guide Dogs for the Blind, Pavement Bill initiative by writing to the Transport Minister.

2.         Councillor Versallion sought reassurance that stakeholders with the most experience of Gypsy and Traveller sites are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and input into the new Gypsy and Traveller Plan.

The Executive Member for Regeneration advised that public knowledge and expertise would be welcome in the formation of the new Gypsy and Traveller Plan.

3.         Councillor Zerny asked a question about devolution and what plans Central Bedfordshire Council had in place to build strong links with neighbouring authorities.

The Leader of the Council advised of discussions that were underway with neighbouring authorities and confirmed that the devolution issue was under active consideration.