Agenda and minutes

The meeting of the Council will be called to order to receive Her Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The meeting of the Council was called to order to receive Her Worship The Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

To receive apologies for absence from Members to determine the quorum of the meeting in accordance with Rule 7 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

An apology for absence was received from Councillors H E Darling, D A Gamble, C S Gore and R E R Morris.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

None.

To read, confirm and approve the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 19 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 22 February 2024 be taken as read, confirmed and approved.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting.

There was no Action List arising from the previous meeting.

To consider any Motions on Notice in accordance with Rule 14 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

To receive any Petitions, Deputations and, or, to answer any Questions by Members or the Public in accordance with Rule(s) 11, 12, 13 and 10 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Petitions Procedure Rules respectively.

None.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor in accordance with Rule 2 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The list of Official Engagements attended by The Mayor and/or Deputy Mayor be noted.

To receive any statement from the Leader of the Council in accordance with Article 2.9.2(ii) of Part 2 of the Constitution.

The Leader of the Council presented a statement outlining her recent work and the meetings she attended, the administration’s plans and an overview of recent decisions taken since the previous meeting of the Council.

Report of the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Service

The Council gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 16 - 18 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it to approve the appointment of a Chief Finance Officer / Section 151 Officer.

It was moved by Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor P Joshi and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The appointment of Colleen Warren as the Council’s Chief Finance Officer / Section 151 Officer be confirmed with effect from 1 July 2024; and

(ii)      The Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer arrange for the Constitution to be reviewed and amended as appropriate.

Report of the Interim Strategic Director

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 19 - 36 of the agenda reports pack) which provided the Council with the results from the OFLOG self-assessment undertaken against the Best Value Standards.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the report and appendix be noted.

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 37 - 46 of the agenda reports pack) which asked it to consider and adopt a Members’ Allowance Scheme for the municipal year 2024/25.

It was moved by the Deputy Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor C J R Martin and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Council adopt the Scheme of Member’s Allowances for 2024/25 as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) set out in paragraph 1 of the report (Appendix 1) save for the Basic Allowance which is not to be increased and to remain at £4,750 for 2024/25.

Report of the Senior Democratic & Electoral Services Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 47 - 69 of the agenda reports pack) which asked Members to recommend the draft Schedule for approval at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 14 May 2024.

It was moved by Councillor G A Boulter, seconded by Councillor G G Hunt and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The draft Schedule of Council and Allied Meetings for 2024/25 (as set out at Appendix 1 and 2 to this report) be recommended to Full Council for approval and adoption at its AGM scheduled on Tuesday, 14 May 2024;

(ii)      The draft Schedule of Council and Allied Meetings for 2024/25 (as may be recommended) be circulated to all Members and Officers ahead of the AGM; and

(iii)    The proposed dates, times and venues of meetings for 2024/25 be provisionally entered onto the Council’s meeting management application accordingly.

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer

The Council gave consideration to the report (as set out at pages 70 - 72 of the agenda reports pack) which asked for approval to amend the list of matters reserved to the Development Control Committee for decision.

It was moved by Councillor L M Broadley, seconded by Councillor J Kaufman and

RESOLVED THAT:

The additional reserved matter (as set out in paragraph 1.8 of the report) be approved and the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer be authorised to make the consequential amendments to the Constitution accordingly.

Votes For                  21

Votes Against          0

Abstentions             1

The press and public are likely to be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

By general affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Exempt Information) during consideration of the item(s) below on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and, in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exempt item(s) outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt Report of the Head of Built Environment

The Council gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 73 - 111 of the private agenda reports pack and pages 2-4 of the private agenda update pack) which asked it to note the information provided in the exempt report at recommendation A and approve recommendations B and C.

It was moved by Leader of the Council, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       Recommendation A be noted;

(ii)      Recommendation B be approved; and

(iii)    Recommendation C be approved.