Agenda and minutes

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Buckley, Cheshire, Pike, Rees and Mrs Shimbart.

To receive any declarations of interests from Members.

There were no declarations of interests from any of the members present.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 27 July 2016.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 27 July 2016 were agreed as a correct record subject to the inclusion of Councillors Branson and Quantrill in the attendance list.

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

To receive questions from, and provide answers to, the public, provided they have been submitted in accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 13.4(f).

There were no public questions.

There were no questions in connection with the Mayor’s published report.

RECOMMENDED to full Council that, in accordance with section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972, Mr Craig Smith be appointed as the Council’s Chief Finance Officer.

RESOLVED  that, in accordance with section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972, Mr Craig Smith be appointed as the Council’s Chief Finance Officer.

To consider any recommended minutes from the Cabinet and any of the Boards or Committees (electronic links to committee reports are included).

8(A)    Pay Policy Statement

            To consider the following recommendation to Council arising from the meeting of the Joint Human Resources Committee held on 12 September 2016 (the agenda and reports for this meeting can be viewed via the following weblink):

https://havantintranet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g10252/Public%20reports%20pack%2012th-Sep-2016%2016.30%20Joint%20Human%20Resources%20Committee.pdf?T=10

            RECOMMENDED to full Council that the Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 be approved and adopted.

(A)         Pay Policy Statement

Councillor Branson presented a recommendation to Council arising from the Joint Human Resources Committee meeting held on 12 September 2016 on the Council’s Pay Policy Statement.

Proposed by Councillor Branson and seconded by Councillor K Smith, it was:

RESOLVED that the Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 be approved.

The Council received the published report of the Leader of the Council.

The Council noted the appointment of Mr James Hassett as Director of Operations.

The Mayor gave the Cabinet Leads an opportunity to provide updates on their published reports.

Councillor Briggs provided a verbal update to Council on key current issues within his portfolio as Cabinet Lead for Operations and Environmental Services on the delivery of operational services and projects being taken forward under the new joint venture company with NORSE.

Councillor Guest reported on the progress with the Local Plan.

(i)                the Leader and Cabinet Leads to answer questions on matters within their respective reports.

(ii)           Chairmen to answer questions on minutes since the last Council meeting

The Cabinet Leads and Committee Chairmen answered questions from members in relation to their reports to Council.

To receive questions from Councillors in accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 23.4(a).

The Council received the following question to Councillor Briggs submitted by Councillor Francis in accordance with Standing Order 23:

"Since the imposition of a charge of £38  for the clearance of rodents, I have become aware of the anxiety of a resident who suffers from regular infestations emanating from a next door property and now finds that she is having to pay for her neighbour’s lack of care.  Are the numbers of premises being treated this year similar to those being cleared in previous years or must we fear that the rodent population is being allowed to increase? Might it be possible to release this very important service from payment with funds from this year’s forecast budget surplus, or to reconsider  this fee in the budget of 2017?"

In response, Councillor Briggs advised that, to date, these charges had not been imposed but reminded that these fees were included in the budget approved by Council. He recommended that in this particular case the neighbour should report the problem to Environmental Health, who could take action against the owner of the land from which the problem was emanating.

To receive urgent questions from Councillors submitted in accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 23.4(b).

There were no urgent questions.

(A)         To receive the following Motion proposed in accordance with Standing Order 14 by Councillor Perry and seconded by Councillor Davis:

“The Council notes the 2016 EU Referendum result in which Havant voted 62.4% if favour of leaving the European Union.  This motion calls upon the Council to cease displaying the European Union Flag and remove reference to the European Union flag at the annual Mayor Making ceremony.”

(B)         To receive the following Motion proposed by Councillor Francis under Standing order 14 and seconded by Councillor Perry:

“That the Council's Constitution be amended as follows:

Council Standing Orders

            SO 23             Questions at Council

            SO 23.2          Remove the words "Subject to Order 23.4"

            SO 23.3          Remove the words "Subject to Order 23.4"

            SO 23.4          Deleted”

The Mayor reported that two motions had been received in accordance with Standing Order 14

(A)         The Council considered the following Motion proposed by Councillor  Perry and seconded by Councillor Davis:

              “The Council notes the 2016 EU Referendum result in which Havant voted 62.4% in favour of leaving the European Union.  This motion calls upon the Council to cease displaying the European Union Flag and remove reference to the European Union flag at the annual Mayor Making ceremony.”

              Councillor Perry presented his Motion to the Council.

              Following the vote the Mayor declared the motion lost

(B)            The Council considered the following motion proposed by Councillor Francis and seconded by Councillor Perry

“That the Council's Constitution be amended as follows:

        Access to Information Standing Orders

        SO 32   Notices of Meetings

                      Insert the word "working" to read "the  Council will give at least five clear working days notice … "

              SO 33   Access to Agenda and Reports before the Meeting

                            Insert the word "working" to read: "The Council will make copies of the agenda and reports open to the public available for inspection at the designated office at least five clear working days before the meeting."

                            Add the following additional wording at the end of SO33 after "and sent to all Councillors":  Except for in a case of emergency, it is required that Portfolio Reports be available at the same time to enable Councillors and the Public to be prepared"         

              Councillor Francis presented her motion to the Council.

              In light of advice received during the debate the motion was amended by Councillor Francis with the agreement of Councillor Perry to read:

              “That the Council's Constitution be amended as follows:

              Access to Information Standing Orders

              SO 33   Access to Agenda and Reports before the Meeting

                            Add the following additional wording at the end of SO33 after "and sent to all Councillors":  Except for in a case of emergency, it is required that Portfolio Reports be available at the same time to enable Councillors and the Public to be prepared"         

              The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Hart and seconded by Councillor Davis

              “That the Constitution be further amended as follows

              Council Standing Orders

              SO 23  Questions at Council

              SO 23.2 - Remove the words "Subject to Order 23.4"

              SO 23.3  -Remove the words "Subject to Order 23.4"

              SO 23.4  -Deleted”

              Councillor Hart presented his amendment to the Council.

              Following a vote the Mayor declared the amendment lost

              The amendment having been lost, the Mayor took the vote on he motion

              Following a vote the Mayor declared the motion lost

              In view of the matters raised during the debate, the Council considered that the Scrutiny Board should be requested to add a review of the Council’s Standing Orders to its work programme.

To receive the following minutes of Committees held since the last meeting of the Council:

Scrutiny Board – 19 July 2016

Development Management Committee – 18 August 2016

Cabinet – 7 September 2016

Joint Human Resources Committee – 12 September 2016

Governance and Audit Committee – 21 September 2016

Licensing Committee – 28 September 2016

The minutes of Committees held since the last meeting of the Council were received.