Prayers were taken by Reverend Michael Trodden.

To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 24 November 2011.

(Attached pages 5 to 36)

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2011 be confirmed and signed as a correct record, subject to the following amendments:-

·        C/11/52 insert the words “by Mr George Konstantinidis” after the words “the representations” so the sentence reads “The Council took into account the representations made by Mr George Konstantinidis under the Public Participation Scheme”.

·        C/11/56 question 13 remove the ‘e’ from Cllr Mrs S Clark’s name.

To receive from Members any declarations and their nature in relation to:-

(a)    Personal Interests in any agenda item

(b)    Personal and Prejudicial Interests in any agenda item

The Chairman to announce any matters of communication.

The Chairman reported the recent sudden death of Mrs Celia Hanbury, wife of the former High Sheriff Daniel Hanbury. The Council stood in silent tribute to her memory.

The Chairman also reported the following  matters:

·        there would be a trial process under ‘Leader’s Announcements’ whereby two Executive Members would provide a five minute update on recent matters of interest in their areas.  Members would then be invited to ask questions for up to ten minutes of each Executive Member on their reports. In view of this trial, the Open Questions session would be reduced to 30 minutes.  The trial would be reviewed at the Constitution Advisory Group meeting to be held on 27 January 2012.

·        the order of the agenda would be varied to consider item 12 – Motions - after Item 8 – Recommendations from the Executive. 

·         a charity concert  billed as ‘Let’s Face the Music’ would be held on Sunday 29 January at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable.  The concert would be in aid of the Chairman’s declared charitable interests.

The Leader of the Council to announce any matters of communication, including:

(a)       to invite the Executive Member for Social Care, Health & Housing to      provide an update on recent matters of interest; and

(b)       to invite the Executive Member for External Affairs to provide an update on recent matters of interest.

The Leader asked the Executive Members for External Affairs and Social Care, Health & Housing to report to the Council on recent matters within their portfolios.

Cllr Stay, Executive Member for External Affairs provided an oral update on activities with which he had been involved recently.

Cllr Stay responded to questions.

Cllr Hegley, Executive Member for Social Care, Health & Housing, provided an update on recent developments within her portfolio.

Cllr Hegley answered a number of questions and undertook to circulate to Members information on the Step Up Step Down pilot project.

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.)

Questions and statements were put by a member of the public under the Public Participation provisions set out at Annex 1 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

(a)         Mr G Konstantinidis made a statement in relation to questions he had raised previously where he remained dissatisfied with the answers he had received. 

(b)         In addition, Mr G Konstantinidis asked for clarification on a Freedom of Information request that he had submitted. 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources responded to Mr Konstantinidis.

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 had been received.

To consider recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 10 January 2012 and answer questions asked under Rule No. 12.1.

(a)       Treasury Management Policy          (to follow)

(b)       Treasury Management Strategy      (to follow)

(c)        Metal Theft Prevention                      (to follow)

(i) Treasury Management Strategy (including the Treasury Management

 Policy)

The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Executive held on 10 January 2012, seeking adoption of the Treasury Management Strategy and the Treasury Management Policy, as set out in the Executive report.

RESOLVED

that the Treasury Management Policy and the Treasury Management Strategy, as set out in the Executive report, be adopted as part of the Council’s Treasury Management Framework.

(ii) Metal Theft Prevention

The Council considered a recommendation from the meeting of the Executive held on 10 January 2012, seeking support for an initiative designed to tackle metal theft, as set out in the Executive report.

The Deputy Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Services proposed an amendment to the recommendation which was seconded and duly agreed.

RESOLVED

that the Local Government Association be asked  to develop a national scheme for the licensing of scrap metal dealers to which Central Bedfordshire Council, among others, could subscribe and to explore all options for a local licensing solution if that can be achieved.

To consider motions by Members of the Council under Rule No. 16 in the order received.

Notice had been received from Councillor Mark Versallion of a Motion under Procedure Rule 17 as follows:-

“This Council, with unanimous support across all parties and independent Members, expresses its deep concern at the very low level of per pupil funding received by Central Bedfordshire schools.

In support of the efforts already made by the Executive Member for Children’s Services to redress this inequity, this Council requests both the Leader and Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Education seeking an urgent review of Central Bedfordshire’s schools funding.”

Further to debate the motion was duly amended by the deletion of the word unanimous and it was:

RESOLVED

that this Council, with support across all parties and independent Members, expresses its deep concern at the very low level of per pupil funding received by Central Bedfordshire schools.

In support of the efforts already made by the Executive Member for Children’s Services to redress this inequity, this Council requests both the Leader and Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Education seeking an urgent review of Central Bedfordshire’s schools funding.

To receive and answer questions.

Councillor Hollick, representative for the Police Authority, answered questions about matters relating to the functions of the Bedfordshire Police Authority.

There were no questions on the functions of the Bedfordshire and Luton Combined  Fire Authority.

To answer written questions, if any, from Members of the Council under Rule No. 12.2.

No written questions had been received from Members of the Council under Rule No 13.2.

To answer Open Questions asked by Members of the Council under Rule No. 12.7.

The Chairman presided over Open Questions asked of Executive Members and Deputy Executive Members under Procedure Rule 13.7:-

1.                  Councillor McVicar asked for confirmation that the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera cars were now operational and about the effect on the volume of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)  issued.

The Deputy Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development confirmed that the ANPRs began working since 11th January and on average, six times more PCNs could be issued each day than by traffic wardens.

2.                  Councillor Dr Egan asked why the salaries of Senior Officers working though agencies were not published on the website.

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources indicated that he would provide a written reply.

3.                  Councillor Blair asked for an update on the BEaR project.  Prior to the answer being provided Councillors Hegley, Matthews and Stay withdrew from the Chamber owing to their membership of The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Committee, a Committee of the Executive.

The Deputy Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Services confirmed that four contractors had been shortlisted and that a shortlist of two would be announced in February, with the contract being awarded in November 2012.  It was anticipated that the facility would be in place by 2016.

(Councillors Hegley, Matthews and Stay rejoined the meeting).

4.                  Councillor Murray asked what the Council was doing or planning to do to support the Government’s proposals against late night opening of pubs and bars and the scope for Councils to charge for policing.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Services confirmed that the Council would follow the Government’s direction.

5.                  Councillor Gurney asked when the funding for the bus shelter in Eyeworth would be available.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Services undertook to provide a written answer.

6.                  Councillor D Jones asked for confirmation that the Council adhered to policies promoting sustainability in connection with renewable energy when determining applications at the Development Management Committee.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development explained that each application was determined on its merits.

7.                  Councillor Dr Egan asked what efforts were being made to keep the Houghton Regis Leisure Centre open and viable.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Services explained the recent tendering process.

8.         Councillor Murray asked about the Council’s response to the outcome of consultation on  the amalgamation of special schools in Dunstable and Houghton Regis and  an issue before the Traffic Management Meeting scheduled for 25 January 2012.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services confirmed that the Council took into account the outcome of public consultation.

9.                  Councillor Aldis asked how a 60% recycling rate would be achieved in the next few years considering that glass was not collected at the kerb side.

The Deputy Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Services explained the plans for improving recycling still further.

10.             Cllr Mrs Clark asked for a comment on the recent Key Stage 2 results  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

To approve the Central Bedfordshire Housing Strategy 2011-2016.

(Attached pages 37 to 96 )

The Council considered a report of the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development concerning the development of the proposed Housing Strategy for Central Bedfordshire. 

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development highlighted three minor changes to be made to the Housing Strategy as follows:-

·        page 60 of the agenda – remove item 4

·        page 64 of the agenda – add the words ‘private and’  before the word ‘council’ in the third bullet point under ‘Delivery and Outcomes for Strategic housing, planning, housing delivery and assets review’.

·        page 47 of the agenda – in the last paragraph of the forward add the word ‘relatively’ before the word ‘new’ in the first sentence.

RESOLVED

that the Housing Strategy 2011/2012 – 2015/2016, which was attached at Appendix A to the report and amended as above, be adopted.