To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 6 October 2011 (copy attached).

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 6 October 2011 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

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

(a)    personal interests in any agenda item;

(b)    personal and prejudicial interests in any agenda item.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

None.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

No petitions were received from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

To receive any questions, statements or 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.

The Committee received statements from three members of the public with regard to Item 7 (Community Governance Review – Stotfold Parish (Area of Fairfield)).  The statements were presented in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

The first member of the public addressed the Committee as Chairman of the Fairfield Community Action Group.  He drew Members’ attention to the high level of support for the creation of a Fairfield Community Council expressed through both the petition originally submitted by the Action Group to the Committee at the latter’s meeting on 4 August 2011 and the results of Central Bedfordshire Council’s subsequent consultation with Stotfold Parish residents, members of the public and interested organisations between August and November 2011.  The speaker urged the creation of the proposed community council as quickly as possible to ensure that the precept raised could be used to fund much needed investment in local facilities, in particular for young people and the provision of a community centre.  The Chairman of the Action Group concluded by explaining why the Group opposed the alternative boundary option (Option 1) proposed by the Town Council.

The second member of the public addressed the Committee as a private resident of Fairfield Park.   He emphasised that Fairfield had now evolved as a separate community as illustrated by the development of distinct local events.  He also referred to the view expressed by some residents that they had moved to Fairfield Park and not to Stotfold.  The speaker then commented that Fairfield residents had fully accepted that they were required to pay both a service charge and the Town Council precept and that criticism of the Town Council had arisen because it had failed to spend any of its precept on the Fairfield area.  The member of the public stressed the need for investment in local facilities before commenting that the Town Council had chosen to focus on how detrimental the loss of income would be to the remaining residents of Stotfold should Fairfield gain its own community council whilst ignoring the effect on Fairfield of the Town Council’s inaction.

The final speaker addressed the Committee as the Mayor of Stotfold Town Council.   He first commented that most of the Town Council’s views had been set out within its submission (dated October 2011) in response to the consultation organised by Central Bedfordshire Council.  He then referred to the Action Group’s letter (dated 3 November 2011) in which the Action Group had stated that the Town Council had knowingly deceived the residents of the town by using inaccurate and misleading precept figures.  The speaker stressed that the figures, which had been based on data supplied by Central Bedfordshire Council, had been clearly marked as estimates and until the actual figure could be confirmed would remain valid.  The speaker next referred to the Action Group’s claim that Fairfield residents ‘subsidised’ the remainder of Stotfold because the Town Council did not provide services in that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To consider an update on the progress of the Community Governance Review currently being undertaken for the area of Fairfield within the Parish of Stotfold.

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services which provided Members with an update on the progress of the Community Governance Review for the area of Fairfield within the Parish of Stotfold.

The meeting noted that, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, Central Bedfordshire Council had been required to consult the local government electors for the area under review together with any other person or body who appeared to have an interest in the review.  The meeting further noted that, in order to comply with the legislation, every household within the Parish of Stotfold had been consulted over a 12 week period together with a range of interested parties, a list of which was attached as an appendix to the report.  The results of the consultation, including a full analysis of the comments received and the full reproduction of the comments, was also attached as an appendix to the report.  The Committee noted that 73% of those responding supported the creation of a new community council for the area of Fairfield.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services then explained the Committee’s role following the outcome of the consultation and the range of options available to it.  He stressed that, whilst the Committee should have regard to the results of the consultation and the representations which had been received, it was also required to consider the impact of any decision regarding the creation of a new parish council on community cohesion within the locality.  Further, it was open to the Council to make a recommendation which was different from that the petitioners wished the review to make.

In response to queries by the Vice-Chairman the Head of Legal and Democratic Services drew Members’ attention to the maps contained within Stotfold Town Council’s consultation response document, attached as an appendix to his report, which set out three boundary options which the Town Council had identified.  To assist Members further the Democratic Services Manager circulated copies of maps illustrating possible areas of local development over the next ten years.

Full discussion then took place on the outcome of the consultation and the role of the management companies and the Town Council in providing facilities within the area of Fairfield.  The Committee sought clarification on a number of related issues from both the Chairman of the Action Group and the Mayor who outlined the constraints acting upon the management companies and Town Council respectively.   The Committee recognised the financial inequity created by the current ‘double taxation’ experienced by Fairfield residents and discussed how this situation could be rectified.

The Committee next considered the composition of the current Town Council and the possibility of creating a separate Fairfield ward within the Parish as an alternative to the creation of a separate community council for the Fairfield area.  It was noted that the allocation of seats to a separate Fairfield ward would be four out of a current total of fifteen. 

Arising from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

To consider whether to pass a resolution under section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the Press and Public from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED

that in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the  likely disclosure of exempt information under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

Market Rate Supplement Payments Update.

To consider an update on the current application of market rate supplements to posts across Central Bedfordshire Council.

The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive – People and Organisation which provided an update on the current application of market rate supplements to posts across Central Bedfordshire.  The meeting noted that the Executive Member for Corporate Resources had reviewed an updated summary list of the payments as at 1 November 2011 which included start dates and review dates.  An overview summary of the payments as at 1 November 2011 was attached at Appendix A to the Assistant Chief Executive’s report.

Arising from his review the Executive Member confirmed that the market rate supplements for the posts outlined in the overall summary were all required.

Whilst acknowledging the need to attract and retain the right employees through the payment of such supplements Members expressed their support for a regular annual review by the Committee.  The meeting was aware that such a review had been approved at a previous meeting of the Committee (minute GPC/10/18 refers).

The meeting discussed matters relating to pay levels and the various determining factors which were experienced.

NOTED

the update on the current application of market rate supplements to posts across Central Bedfordshire.