Decisions

The retiring Mayor, Councillor Alfred Friday, welcomed all members and guests to the Annual Meeting of the Council. He extended a special welcome to visitors from Spelthorne’s twin town in Mauritius, Grand Port; Mr. Shyam Teeluck, Chief Executive and Mr Nirmal Domah, Chairperson. He thanked the officers of the Council and in particular the Chief Executive, Roberto Tambini and the Mayor’s secretary, Mrs Sheila Kimpton, for their hard work and support during his Mayoral year.

Councillor Alfred Friday reported on his year as Mayor and the many enjoyable and entertaining events he had attended which had raised over £24k for his chosen charities. He was pleased to report that during his Mayoral year, the Mayor’s Charity had been registered with the Charity Commission as a charitable fund and he thanked all those who had helped to set this up. He wished the new Mayor and Mayor’s Consort happiness and success in the coming year. Finally, he presented a gift to his secretary, Mrs Sheila Kimpton and a bouquet of flowers to his wife, Mrs Kaye Friday, as a small token of appreciation for their support.

It was moved by Councillor R.W. Sider BEM and seconded by Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley and

Resolved that Councillor Vivienne Jane Leighton be appointed Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017-2018.

A short adjournment took place to hand over the robes and badge of Office to the new Mayor during which a performance of three solo pieces was played on the saxophone by Isabella Bartlett.

Councillor Vivienne Jane Leighton made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Mayor of the Borough of Spelthorne and took the Chair. She thanked her proposer and seconder and the Council for supporting her in her election as Mayor. She presented Councillor Alfred Friday with the past Mayor’s badge and a scrapbook commemorating his time in office.

The outgoing Mayoress, Mrs Kaye Friday presented the Mayor’s Consort badge to the new Mayor’s Consort, Mr Chris Leighton, and he in turn presented Mrs Kaye Friday with a past Mayoress badge.

The Mayor paid tribute to Councillor Alfred Friday for his excellent service as Mayor.

The Mayor said that she hoped to appeal to different interests and different parts of the community and wanted to celebrate the river and its environment, support the frail and older, involve young people and celebrate their talents.

The Mayor thanked the Staines Business Improvement District for securing funding for the use of the Royal rowbarge Glorianaat the next Staines-upon-Thames day. She also thanked BP for agreeing to the use of their Links building for the Mayor’s Ball.

The Mayor announced that she had appointed a Chaplain for her Mayoral Year, the Reverend Chris Swift, Rector of St. Nicholas’, Shepperton. The Mayor presented Reverend Swift with the Chaplain’s badge.

During her term as Mayor, Councillor Leighton announced that she will be supporting the following charities:

·         Spelthorne Dementia Support (Purple Angels) : helping to raise awareness of dementia-related illnesses and giving assistance to Alzheimer’s sufferers and their carers;

·         Impossible Dream: providing river trips for wheelchair users;

·         Swan Sanctuary: a rescue centre and registered veterinary practice specialising in waterfowl.

It was moved by Councillor A.E. Friday and seconded by Councillor M. Francis that Councillor J.M. Pinkerton OBE be appointed Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017-2018.

It was moved by Councillor S.A. Dunn and seconded by Councillor Q. Edgington that Councillor I.J. Beardsmore be appointed Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017-2018.

Resolved that Councillor J.M. Pinkerton OBE be appointed Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017-2018.

Councillor Jean Marian Pinkerton made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office as Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Spelthorne.

The Mayor’s Consort, Mr Chris Leighton, presented the Deputy Mayor’s Consort Badge to the Deputy Mayor’s Consort, Mrs Linda Burton.

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jean Pinkerton, briefly addressed the Council and thanked her proposer and seconder for their support. She said it was a great honour and she looked forward to providing support to the Mayor in her Mayoral year.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 April 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

South West Middlesex Crematorium Board

It was moved by Councillor I.T.E. Harvey and seconded by Councillor A.C. Harman and

Resolved that Councillors R. Chandler and D. Patel be appointed as the Council’s representative and deputy representative respectively on the South West Middlesex Crematorium Board.

Surrey Police and Crime Panel

It was moved by Councillor I.T.E. Harvey and seconded by Councillor A.C. Harman and

Resolved that Councillor N. Gething be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Surrey Police and Crime Panel.   

Details of the Committees and their size were circulated on the agenda for the meeting. The political allocation of seats (revised Appendix A) and the members to serve on the various Committees (revised Appendix B) were laid round at the meeting.

It was moved by Councillor I.T.E. Harvey and seconded by Councillor A.C. Harman and

Resolved that:

a)    The appointment of the Committees shown at Agenda Item 8 of the size indicated and with the terms of reference and functions set out in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution.

b)    The allocation of seats as shown on revised Appendix A.

c)    The Councillors to serve on Committees as shown on revised Appendix B.

d)    That Mr. Murray Litvak and Miss Sue Faulkner be appointed as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the Members’ Code of Conduct Committee.        

It was proposed by Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley and seconded by Councillor M. Francis and:

Resolved that Councillor H. Thomson be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee for the forthcoming Municipal Year 2017/2018.

It was proposed by Councillor R.W. Sider and seconded by Councillor C. Barnard and:

Resolved that Councillor R.A. Smith-Ainsley be appointed Chairman of the Planning Committee for the forthcoming Municipal Year 2017/2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 May 2017 were approved as a correct record.

It was proposed by Councillor R.W. Sider and seconded by Councillor M.J. Madams and:

Resolved that Councillor R.O. Barratt be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the forthcoming Municipal Year 2017/2018.

It was proposed by Councillor R.O. Barratt and seconded by Councillor K. Flurry and:

Resolved that Councillor R.W. Sider BEM be appointed Chairman of the Licensing Committee for the forthcoming Municipal Year 2017/2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2016 were approved as a correct record.

It was proposed by Councillor M.J. Madams and seconded by Councillor H. Williams and:

Resolved that Councillor D. Patel be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Audit Committee for the forthcoming Municipal Year 2017/2018.

It was proposed by Councillor D. Patel and seconded by Councillor H. Williams and:

Resolved that Councillor M.J. Madams be appointed Chairman of the Audit Committee for the forthcoming Municipal Year 2017/2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2017 were approved as a correct record.

Cabinet considered a report on the Government Consultation on the Draft Airports National Policy Statement.

The report explained that the Government was consulting on the Draft Airports National Policy Statement and the UK Airspace Policy document.  Two exhibition events have been held locally; at Stanwell Moor Village Hall (Tuesday 28 February) and in Egham (Monday 20 February) at which detailed information on both documents was available.  The consultation period closes 25 May 2017.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

·         Not to respond to the consultation.

Resolved to:

1.    Respond to the Draft Airports National Policy Statement as per Appendix 1 of the report;

2.    Support the proposed formation of an Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise, in response to the UK Airspace Policy document.

Reason for the decision:

Cabinet supports the expansion of Heathrow subject to noise, air quality and transport issues being resolved.  It is therefore important to respond to these consultation documents as they will influence the way in which detailed proposals for expansion are assessed.

Cabinet considered a report on Knowle Green Estates Ltd.

The report explained that the Company has been set up in part as a response to the challenge the Council faces to substitute the removal of the Revenue Support Grant by 2017/18 and to address emergency and affordable accommodation pressures both in terms of supply and impact on the Revenue Budget.

Resolved to:

1.    Note the incorporation and initial activities of Knowle Green Estates Ltd (“the Company”), as described in this report;

2.    Note progress towards the first business plan;

3.    Exercise the Shareholder function of the Council at Cabinet;

4.    Exercise the Council’s shareholder rights to pass a special resolution of the Company to adopt the revised Articles of Association;

5.    Delegate Reserved Matters under the Shareholder Agreement to the Leader of the Council, and where the Leader deems the matter of controversy or requiring further discussion, he may ask Cabinet to deal with the Reserved Matter;

6.    Authorise the Head of Corporate Governance to finalise and document the following arrangements between the Council and the Company:

a.   The draft Shareholder Agreement

b.   The draft Loan and Drawdown Agreement

c.   The draft Resourcing Agreement for the Company to use Council staff and facilities in furtherance of its business

Reason for the decision:

To document the relationship between the Council and the Company and to provide a source of funds to the Company so that it can undertake various projects for the Council which will help achieve the Council’s Corporate Plan objectives of (a) providing another source of income for the Council and (b) providing more housing in the Borough.   

Cabinet considered a report on the Single Allocation Policy and Search Moves Partnership agreement.

The Search Moves partnership agreement and the contract with Locata Housing Services both expire in July 2017. Search Moves partners have been in discussion since Autumn 2016 to explore options for ongoing partnership arrangements.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

·         Retain the status quo

Resolved to:

1.    Undertake a public consultation on proposed changes to Spelthorne’s Housing Allocations Policy to reflect changes to the Search Moves partnership agreement;

2.    Extend and revise the Search Moves Partnership agreement to July 2020;

3.    Extend the I.T. contract between Locata Housing Services and the Search Moves partnership to July 2020.

Reasons for the decision:

1.    To ensure best use of social housing resources within Spelthorne by adopting an independent Allocations Policy which takes into account the local housing situation and legislative and case-law changes.

2.    To provide continuity and contractual clarity between the partners and the I.T. provider.

Cabinet considered a report on an update to the Large-Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) agreement.

Resolved to:

1.    Delegate authority to the Housing Portfolio Holder and the Joint Heads of Community Wellbeing to commence negotiations with A2D, to vary the 1996 LSVT agreement between the Council and Spelthorne Housing Association (now A2D); and

2.    Agree the recommendations in the report.

Reason for the decision:

To secure Spelthorne Council’s position to ensure the best use of social housing resources as a result of changes to the housing market and to Spelthorne Housing Association since 1996.

Cabinet considered the recommendation from the Audit Committee following a review of the Corporate Risk Register.

Resolved that Cabinet approves the Corporate Risk Register as submitted.

Reason for the decision:

Cabinet noted that the Corporate Risk Register accurately reflected the high level risks affecting the Council as well as the progress made on actions previously proposed by the Audit Committee.