Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 17 December 2015 were confirmed as a correct record.

The minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 2 February 2016 were confirmed as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from Councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor invited all councillors to the Mayor’s Ball on 9 April 2016, starting at 6.15pm, at the Runnymede Hotel.

The Mayor also informed councillors that there will be a St. George’s day charity ladies lunch, organised by his wife the Mayoress, at Ashford Manor golf club on 26 April 2016 at 12.30 for 1pm. The name of the guest speaker is yet to be confirmed.

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

Councillor Harvey, Leader of the Council, made the following four announcements:

·         He thanked all the staff for their support since becoming the Leader on 2 February 2016.

·         The Towards a Sustainable Future (TaSF) programme will be re-started with the process for the Group Heads appointments.

·         Good progress has been made on asset-related arrangements.

·         New Cabinet appointments and portfolios as follows:

a.    As well as the strategic co-ordination of Council Policy, the Leader’s portfolio will also include strategic assets.

b.    Councillor Harman, the Deputy Leader, will have Towards a Sustainable Future (TaSF) and Communications within his portfolio.

c.    Councillor Barnard will have the Corporate Management portfolio.

d.    Councillor Mitchell will have the Environment and Compliance portfolio.

e.    Councillor Pinkerton will have the Housing portfolio.

f.     Councillor Attewell will have the Community and Wellbeing portfolio.

g.    Councillor Gething will have the Planning and Economic Development portfolio.

h.    Councillor Williams will have the Finance and Customer Services portfolio.

i.      The Leader is keeping the final portfolio vacant for now whilst taking stock of the main challenges facing the Council.

To receive any announcements from the Chief Executive.

There were none.

The Leader, or their nominee, to answer any questions raised by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 14.

The following question has been received from Mr. Andrew McLuskey:

“Given that, according to government figures, Spelthorne is the unhealthiest Council area in Surrey, and also the 132nd in England’s health league, and given also that Surrey has pointed out that we have pockets of deprivation in particular areas of the Borough, what does the Council intend to do to remedy this unhappy situation?”

In accordance with Standing Order 15.3 (c) of the Constitution, the Mayor directed that the following public question and answer be circulated in writing at the meeting without being read aloud:

Question from Mr Andrew McLuskey

“Given that, according to government figures, Spelthorne is the unhealthiest council area in Surrey , and also the 132st in England’s health league, and given also that Surrey has pointed out that we have pockets of deprivation in particular areas of the Borough what does the Council intend to do to remedy this unhappy situation.”

Response from Cllr. Jean Pinkerton OBE, former portfolio holder for Housing, health, wellbeing, Independent Living and leisure

Thank you for your question, Mr McLuskey.

The health and wellbeing of Spelthorne residents is a key priority for the Council and we dedicate significant resources to ensuring that residents of all ages have opportunities to stay physically and mentally active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. There is a huge choice of sporting and leisure activities in the Borough and many of these are provided free of charge.

It is not uncommon for Spelthorne to compare less than favourably in health statistics when compared with other Surrey Boroughs. The Borough lies to the south west of London and has a demographic which makes it more comparable with some outer London boroughs than the rest of Surrey. 

Surrey is one of the healthiest counties in the UK and Spelthorne also fares well in the majority of health measures when compared with the national picture and that of our neighbouring boroughs. However, the Council is not complacent and recognises the key role it plays in helping to improve the health and wellbeing of residents, particularly those in areas of greater deprivation where certain health issues are more prevalent.

A Spelthorne Health and Wellbeing Strategy is being written in liaison with partner organisations, which includes several health related actions. The local strategy is aligned to the NW Surrey CCG Prevention Plan and the prevention element of the Surrey Health and Wellbeing Strategy. It contains a number of initiatives all aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of residents, looking at local needs and evidence of what has worked well in the past.

Current initiatives include:-

• Surrey County Council commissioned Weight Management courses are currently running at Spelthorne Leisure Centre and Stanwell Rose Centre.

·         Food premises can take part in the Surrey wide ‘Eat Out Eat well’ award scheme.

·         Surrey County Council have commissioned Quit 51 to provide a Surrey Wide Stop Smoking Service and Spelthorne recently took part in the smoke free playground project.

·         Spelthorne work very closely with Active Surrey, schools and local sports clubs to promote opportunities for sport within Spelthorne. Free sports sessions for young people will start in April as part of the Surrey Youth Games and a `Sports week’ will take place in the summer holidays for young people.

·         There are several free opportunities for people of all ages to keep active including four skate/BMX parks, tennis courts, basketball  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34/16

To receive any petitions from Councillors or members of the public.

There were no petitions.

The Council considered the recommendation of the Cabinet on the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2016-2017.

RESOLVED that Council approves the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2016-2017.

The Council considered the recommendation of the Cabinet on the Pay Policy Statement for 2016-17.

RESOLVED that Council approves the Pay Policy Statement for 2016-17.

The Council considered the recommendation of the Cabinet on the Draft Capital programme for 2016-17 to 2019-20.

RESOLVED that Council approves:

·         The Capital Programme for 2016-17 to 2019-20.

·         The Prudential Indicators for 2016-17 to 2019-20.

The Budget Book (green cover) accompanies the Council agenda and reflects the recommendations to be considered at the meeting of the Cabinet on 24 February 2016.

The Council considered the recommendation of the Cabinet on the detailed Revenue Budget for 2016-17 and the proposed Council Tax for 2016-17. The Mayor referred councillors to the Budget Book (green cover) reflecting the decisions and recommendations made by the Cabinet on 24 February 2016, including the precepts being levied by Surrey County Council and the Surrey Police.

The outgoing portfolio holder for Finance, Councillor Tim Evans, made a statement on the Budget and the Council Tax and moved the recommendations on the detailed Budget for 2016-17 as set out in the Budget Book (green cover). This was seconded by Councillor Ian Harvey, Leader of the Council. The Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor Ian Beardsmore, also made a statement.

Copies of Councillors Evans and Beardsmore’s speeches are attached to these minutes as Appendices A and B.

The Mayor explained that under the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, relevant authorities are required to record in the minutes of the proceedings, immediately after any vote is taken at a budget decision meeting of an authority, the names of the persons who cast a vote for the decision or who abstained from voting.

The voting was as follows:

RESOLVED:

1. To approve the growth and savings items as set out in the report’s appendices.

2. The Council tax Base for the whole council area for 2016-17. [Item T in the formula in Section 31b (3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “act”)] should be 38,308.40 band D equivalent dwellings and,

2.1 Calculate that the Council tax requirement for the Council’s own purpose for 2016-2017 is £187.44 per Band D equivalent dwelling.

3. To approve a 2.7% increase in the Spelthorne Borough Council element of the Council tax for 2016-17. Moreover:

a) The revenue estimates as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

b) No Money, as set out in this report is appropriated from General Reserves in support of Spelthorne’s local Council tax for 2016/17.

c) To agree that the council tax base for the year 2016/17 is 38,308.40 band D equivalent dwellings calculated in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council tax base) Regulations 1992, as amended, made under Section 35(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

That the following sums be now calculated by the Council for the year 2016/17 in accordance with Section 31 to 36 of the Local Government Act 1992.

To receive reports from the Leader of the Council on the work of the following meetings:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ian Harvey, presented the reports of the following meetings:

The Leader’s decision meeting held on 18 January 2016.

The Cabinet meeting held on 27 January 2016.

The Cabinet meeting held on 24 February 2016.

Both Cabinet reports outlined the matters which the Cabinet had decided since the last Council meeting.

To receive the report from the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the work of his Committee.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Alfred Friday, presented his report which outlined the matters the Committee had decided since the last Council meeting.

To receive the report from the Chairman of the Planning Committee on the work of his Committee.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Councillor Richard Smith-Ainsley, presented his report which outlined the matters the Committee had decided since the last Council meeting.

To receive any motions from Councillors or members of the public.

There were none.

The Leader, or their nominee, to answer questions from Councillors on issues in their Ward, in accordance with Standing Order 15.

There were none.

The Leader, or their nominee, to answer questions from Councillors on matters affecting the Borough, in accordance with Standing Order 15.

The following question has been received from Councillor Quentin Edgington:

“What was the total cost of the Special Council Meeting on Tuesday

2 February 2016.”

Under Standing Order 15, Councillor Quentin Edgington asked the following general question:

“What was the total cost of the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on Tuesday 2 February 2016?”

Response from the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Tony Harman

Thank you for your question, Councillor Edgington.

In actual cash terms, the cost of the meeting was £166, being the Committee attendance allowance paid to two members of the Committee Services team and the cost of printing and posting out the agendas.

However, the reputational cost to the Council was much higher, especially as the meeting would not have been necessary had you chosen to step down as the Leader of the Council following the selection of Councillor Ian Harvey as the Leader of the Conservative Group at its meeting held on 18 January 2016.

To consider the re-appointment of the following representative Trustees:

a)         Mr. Matthew Calvert, Trustee of Laleham Charities – Village Hall and          Recreation Ground, for a further 4-year term until February 2020.

b)         Mrs. Marion Bushnell, Trustee of Ashford relief in need Charity, for a          further 4-year term until October 2020. (We received a request from the    Charity to extend Mrs. Bushnell’s term to October 2020 in order to align       her appointment with the other two Trustees).

Resolved that:

a.    Mr. Matthew Calvert be re-appointed as a Council representative Trustee to serve on the Laleham Charities – Village Hall and Recreation Ground for a further 4-year term until February 2020.

b.    Mrs. Marion Bushnell be re-appointed as a Council representative Trustee to serve on the Ashford Relief in need Charity for a further 4-year term until October 2020.