Agenda and minutes

To receive and record any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Edwards, Gibb-Gray and Weeks.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 July 2015 and the extraordinary meeting held on 2 September 2015.

The minutes of the meetings of the Council  held on 22 July and 2 September 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the previous minutes.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

To receive and record any declarations of interests from Members.

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

The Mayor’s report was circulated with the agenda and the Mayor advised of a minor amendment confirming the date of the Halloween Quiz as 30 October.

The Leader provided an update on the ongoing discussions surrounding the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Devolution proposal, confirming that the Borough Council was fully engaged and its interests represented at all levels of the negotiations.

The Leader also confirmed that, in addition to the existing channels of communication for keeping Councillors informed on matters coming forward for Cabinet consideration, relevant ward Councillors would also be given an opportunity to comment on Cabinet reports with specific ward-related implications.

Circulated Separately.

The Mayor invited the Cabinet Leads to provide updates on their reports to Council since publication.

Councillor Briggs reported that the planning application for 40 new beach huts referred to in his report had been withdrawn following a number of objections and comments expressing concern about the proposal.  The Mayor took the opportunity to thank Councillor  Briggs for this decision.

Councillor Briggs also reported that the business case for the proposed Joint Venture Company for Operational Services was being taken forward with a start date of April 2016.

In Councillor Weeks’ absence, Councillor Shimbart provided an update to her report in relation to the delivery of 9 affordable homes on the former Brewmaster site in Hart Plain Avenue by March 2016.

(A)         To consider the following recommendation to Council from the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 16 September in relation to Charges for Combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver Licencing (minute 18/09/2015 refers):

The report to the Licensing Committee and its associated appendices can be viewed by following the link below:

http://havant.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s13439/Charges%20for%20Combined%20Hackney%20CarriagePrivate%20Hire%20Vehicle%20Driver%20Licensing.pdf

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the charges set out in Appendix A to the report to the Licensing Committee be approved.

(B)              To consider any recommendations to Council arising from the meeting of the Cabinet to be held on 8 October 2015 (circulated separately).

(A)         Councillor David Smith presented a recommendation to Council arising from the Licensing Committee meeting held on 16 September 2015, in relation to Charges for Combined Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver Licensing (Licensing Committee minute 18/09/2015 refers);  Proposed by Councillor David Smith and seconded by Councillor Gerald Shimbart, it was:

RESOLVED that the charges set out in Appendix A to the report to the Licensing Committee be approved.

(B)         Councillor Guest presented a recommendation to Council arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 7 October 2015 in relation to the draft Enforcement Plan.  Proposed by Councillor Guest and seconded by Councillor Cheshire, it was:

RESOLVED that the Enforcement Plan be approved and adopted.

(C)              Councillor Wilson presented a recommendation to Council arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 7 October 2015 in relation to the draft Councillor Competency Framework.  Proposed by Councillor Wilson and seconded by Councillor Buckley, it was:

RESOLVED that the Councillor Competency Framework be approved and implemented, to ensure that there is a clear understanding of what is expected of Councillors in their role.

(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

Questions to the Leader and Cabinet Leads were taken and responses given.  In the absence of Councillor Weeks, questions in relation to her report were noted for responses to be circulated after the meeting.

There were no questions for the Committee Chairmen.

In response to Councillor Cousins, Councillor Briggs provided an update on the current scheme for green waste collection and provided details of the income received through textile collections and litter fines.

In response to Councillor Cousins, the Leader confirmed that information on appointments to outside organisations was available to Councillors through the Council’s intranet.

There were no urgent questions.

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

Cabinet - 31 July 2015

Development Management Committee - 13 August 2015

Cabinet - 2 September 2015

Development Management Committee - 3 September 2015

Licensing Committee - 16 September 2015

Governance and Audit Committee - 23 September 2015

The minutes of meetings held since the last meeting of the Council, with the exception of the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee on 23 September which would be taken to the next meeting of the Council, were received.

The Mayor had agreed to this matter coming forward as an urgent item in view of the need to make these statutory appointments.  Proposed by Councillor Mrs Blackett and seconded by Councillor Gerald Shimbart, it was:

RESOLVED that Mr Nick Leach be appointed as the Council’s Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.