Agenda and minutes

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Edwards and Galloway.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held on 15 October 2014.

Proposed by Councillor Keast and seconded by Councillor Sceal, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 15 October were approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

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

To receive any declarations of interests from Members.

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

The Mayor reported on the various charity and other events that she had attended since the last meeting of the Council, including various commemorative events across the Borough marking the start of the First World War.

The Leader encouraged members of the Council to support a charity Christmas gift collection for underprivileged children in the Borough.

To receive and consider the following Notice of Motion, proposed by Councillor Francis and seconded by Councillor Ponsonby:

“The Council recommends that we explore the possibility of becoming

a living wage employer.  This would give a lead to businesses in our area to follow our example.  Over 80 other Councils, including Portsmouth and Brighton and Hove are already committed to this.

Notes:

1             Under the new pay scales, which begin in January, 16 of our employees will not be on the Living Wage.

2          Some of these employees are having to moonlight to support themselves and their families.

3          A typical rent for a two bedroom  house in Leigh Park is £700 per month; a substantial deposit (often equal to  two  months rent) is usually required.” 

The Council considered the following Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor Francis and seconded by Councillor Ponsonby:

“The Council recommends that we explore the possibility of becoming

a living wage employer.  This would give a lead to businesses in our area to follow our example.  Over 80 other Councils, including Portsmouth and Brighton and Hove are already committed to this.

Notes:

1          Under the new pay scales, which begin in January, 16 of our           employees will not be on the Living Wage.

2          Some of these employees are having to moonlight to support           themselves and their families.

3          A typical rent for a two bedroom  house in Leigh Park is £700 per

            month; a substantial deposit (often equal to  two  months rent) is

            usually required.”

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Branson and seconded by Councillor Cheshire:

“The Council recommends that officers continue to work with UNISON to raise our lowest levels of pay to the rate of £7.85 per hour”

Following the vote, the Mayor declared the amendment carried.  The Mayor then put the substantive motion to the Council and it was

RESOLVED that the Council recommends that officers continue to work with UNISON to raise our lowest levels of pay to the rate of £7.85 per hour.

To approve the draft Calendar of Meetings for 2015-16.

Proposed by Councillor Buckley and seconded by Councillor Blackett, it was

RESOLVED that the Calendar of Meetings for 2015/16 be approved.

The Mayor asked the Cabinet Leads if there were any matters they wished to add to their published reports.

Councillor Branson reported that, following lengthy negotiations with UNISON, consultations with staff would be undertaken during January and February 2015 on proposed new terms and conditions of employment.

Councillor Guest reported that the planning peer review had now been completed and a report was expected within the next few weeks.

Councillor Fairhurst was pleased to report that in a recent residents’ survey of local authorities, Havant Borough Council had been ranked top in the responses to ‘are you satisfied with Council services?’ and ‘are you satisfied with the value for money that your Council delivers?’

Councillor Weeks provided an update on grant funding for Front Lawn Recreation Ground.

Councillor Briggs provided an update on cycling infrastructure and changes to pedestrian crossings in the Borough, the information to be made available on the Council’s website for members’ information.

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

(A)         Recommendation arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 19 November 2014 relating to the Council Tax Support Scheme (Cabinet minute 111/11/14 refers):

RECOMMENDED to full Council that:

(1)  the 2014/15 Council Tax Support Scheme is retained for 2015/16 but with the following amendments:

(i) the Allowances and Premiums used in determining entitlement for  working age claims are changed as set out in paragraph 6.3 of the        Cabinet report;

(ii) the Non-Dependant deductions used in determining entitlement for working age claims are changed as set out in paragraph 6.4 of the Cabinet report; and

(2)  that the Service Manager (Revenues & Benefits) makes the necessary amendments to the Council Tax Support Scheme document and arranges for its publication in accordance with Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 13A(2).

(B)         Recommendation arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 19 November 2014 relating to the Polling Districts Review (Cabinet minute 112/11/14 refers):

RECOMMENDED to full Council that

(1)   the polling districts designated for the purposes of Sections 18A and 31 of the Representation of the people Act 1983 (as amended) be and remain as recorded in the current Register of Electors for the Borough of Havant; and

(2)   there be no changes made to the currently designated polling places or action taken in relation to allocated polling stations save that the “Proposed Actions” set out in Paragraph 7.5 to the Cabinet report be noted and approved.

(C)         Recommendation arising from the Licensing Committee meeting held on 12 November 2014 relating to proposed Hackney Carriage Fare Increase (Licensing Committee minute 22/11/2014 refers):

RECOMMENDED to Council that

(1)       The following increases be advertised:

(i)        No increase in the ‘flag drop’ but change the mileage ‘for the first 17 metres or part thereof’ to ‘first 154 metres’ and ‘For each succeeding 210 metres’ to ‘189 metres’;

(ii)       The waiting time be increased from 20 pence for each period of 60 seconds to 25 pence;

(2)       Any objections to the above proposals following the advertisement be considered by the Licensing Committee; and

(3)       If there are no objections then the increase be implemented 28 days from the date the proposed fare increases were first advertised.

(D)         Recommendation arising from the Licensing Committee meeting held on 12 November 2014 relating to proposed Taxi Licensing fees (Licensing Committee minute 23/11/2014 refers):

RECOMMENDED to Council that:

(1)        The variations to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licence fees as set out in the appendix to Licensing Committee minutes (minute 23/11/2014 refers) be advertised; and

(2)        If no objections to the proposed variations are received they be implemented on 1 April 2015.

(E)         To consider the following recommendation to Council arising from the Governance and Audit Committee meeting held on 2 December 2014 (Governance and Audit minute no 38/12/2014 refers):

RECOMMENDED that the amended Corporate Surveillance Policy be adopted by the Council subject to the last sentence of paragraph 10.1 on page 17 being amended to read “Authorisations have to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 44.

The Council considered the following Cabinet and Committee recommendations:

(A)       Recommendation arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 19 November 2014 relating to the Council Tax Support Scheme (Cabinet minute 111/11/14 refers).  Proposed by Councillor Briggs and seconded by Councillor Blackett it was:

RESOLVED that:

(1)          that the 2014/15 Council Tax Support Scheme is retained for 2015/16 but with the following amendments:

(i)        the Allowances and Premiums used in determining entitlement  for working age claims are changed as set out in paragraph 6.3 of this report;

(ii)       the Non-Dependant deductions used in determining entitlement for working age claims are changed as set out in paragraph 6.4 of this report.

(2)          that the Service Manager (Revenues & Benefits) makes the necessary amendments to the Council Tax Support Scheme document and arranges for its publication in accordance with Local Government Finance Act 1992 Section 13A(2)

(B)       Recommendation arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 19 November 2014 relating to the Polling Districts Review (Cabinet minute 112/11/14 refers).  Proposed by Councillor Branson and seconded by Councillor G Shimbart it was:

RESOLVED that

(1)       the polling districts designated for the purposes of Sections 18A and 31 of the Representation of the people Act 1983 (as amended) be and remain as recorded in the current Register of Electors for the Borough of Havant; and

(2)       there be no changes made to the currently designated polling places or action taken in relation to allocated polling stations save that the “Proposed Actions” set out in Paragraph 7.5 to the Cabinet report be noted and approved.

(C)      Recommendation arising from the Licensing Committee meeting held on 12 November 2014 relating to proposed Hackney Carriage Fare Increase (Licensing Committee minute 22/11/2014 refers).  Proposed by Councillor G Shimbart and seconded by Councillor Sceal it was:

RESOLVED that

(1)          the following increases be advertised:

(i)            No increase in the ‘flag drop’ but change the mileage ‘for the first 171 metres or part thereof’ to ‘first 154 metres’ and ‘For each succeeding 210 metres’ to ‘189 metres’;

(ii)       the waiting time be increased from 20 pence for each period of 60 seconds to 25 pence;

(2)       any objections to the above proposals following the advertisement be considered by the Licensing Committee; and

(3)       if there are no objections then the increase be implemented 28 days from the date the proposed fare increases were first advertised.

(D)      Recommendation arising from the Licensing Committee meeting held on 12 November 2014 relating to proposed Taxi Licensing fees (Licensing Committee minute 23/11/2014 refers).  Proposed by Councillor Wade and seconded by Councillor K Smith it was:

RESOLVED that:

(1)       the variations to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licence fees as set out in the appendix to Licensing Committee minutes (minute 23/11/2014 refers) be advertised; and

(2)       if no objections to the proposed variations are received they be implemented on 1 April 2015.

(E)       Recommendation arising from the Governance and Audit Committee meeting held on 2 December relating to Changes to Corporate Surveillance Policy and Procedure 2014 (Governance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

(i)                the Leader and Portfolio Holders to answer questions on matters within their Portfolio.

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

The Cabinet Leads all answered questions within their remit.  There were no questions for the Committee Chairmen.

To receive any questions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 23.4(a)

There were no questions under Standing Order 23.4(a).

To receive any urgent questions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 23.4(b)

There were no urgent questions under standing order 23.4(b)

To receive the following minutes of meetings held since publication of the last Council agenda:

Development Management Committee – 16 October 2014

Licensing Committee – 12 November 2014

Scrutiny Board – 18 November 2014

Cabinet – 19 November 2014

Proposed by Councillor Mrs E Shimbart and seconded by Councillor Keast, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of Committees held since the last meeting of the Council be accepted.