Decisions

There were none.

The Committee requested more information be provided on what was being done within the Business Improvement District to encourage shoppers to return to Staines Town Centre and use Spelthorne Borough Council owned car parks.

The Committee resolved to note the parking services update from the Parking Services Operational Manager.

There were none.

There was none.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

The Committee resolved to note the update on cemetery capacity within the borough given by the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services.

The Committee requested more information be provided in relation to the variance related to Pollution Control Assessments.

The Committee resolved to note the draft forecast outturn for 2021/22 as at 30 September 2021 and the aggregate variances by cost centre reported Appendix A.

There were none.

The Committee resolved to note the Forward Plan, subject to the following amendments:

1.  Parking Services Update be amended to reflect that it was not a key decision;

2. Cashless Parking will be amended to reflect it is a Key Decision;

3. Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Car Parks to be scheduled for the 3 March 2022 meeting;

4. Committee Services to circulate an updated version of the Forward Plan with the minutes.

The Committee resolved to note the verbal report given by the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services on the updated litter poster campaign in the borough.

In accordance with Standing Order 16 the Council received three written Notices of Motions.

Motion 1 – Government planning reforms

In the forthcoming government planning reforms, this council believes that planning works best when developers and the local community work together to shape local areas and deliver necessary homes, and therefore calls on the government to protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications.

Proposer: Councillor R Sider BEM

Seconder: Councillor C Barnard

The motion was carried

Motion 2 – Decision of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee on 5 July 2021, as detailed in minute 214/21.

This motion is in relation to the decision by Corporate Policy and Resources Committee on 5 July quoted from the Publicly available Minutes Point 214/21, title “Establishment of Task Group” with related announcement in a Spelthorne News Release on 20 August titled “Update on Waterfront Inquiry” the following Points being subject of this motion:

“3.  in consultation with the Review Group, to authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the terms of reference for the inquiry which are to be based upon the terms of reference set out in the report at Appendix B;

4.   in consultation with the Review Group, to authorise the Chief Executive to amend the terms of reference as considered appropriate as the inquiry develops or as recommended by the investigator;

5.   in consultation with the review group, to authorise the Chief Executive to appoint the investigator; and

6.   in consultation with the Review Group, to authorise the Chief Executive to appoint any replacement investigator if the original investigator appointed can no longer act.”

This motion is in three parts, with the request that each part be subject to a recorded vote:

a)    The Terms of Reference for the independent investigation that formed part of the announcement on 20 August 2021 are not comprehensive enough to guarantee that all possible aspects are fully investigated. The Review Group, comprising Cllrs Nichols, Barnard and Noble, are instructed to revise the Terms of Reference to incorporate all the points requested by the Councillors for Staines, Staines South and Riverside and Laleham and detailed in their email dated 24 September 2021. The Council further notes that the Independent Investigator is prepared to accept these additions and requires that the revised Terms of Reference are published without delay.

b)    The Review Group are instructed to ensure that the Chief Executive shall have no involvement in the conduct of the Inquiry or its Terms of Reference, and will ensure that the Principal Lawyer undertakes the cooperation with all requests for information and cooperation from Council staff. The Councill notes the public concern that is associated with the Chief Executive having any involvement in the Inquiry, other than to give evidence to it, given his central role in the Waterfront Development Project which is the subject of this Waterfront Inquiry.

c)    The person appointed to conduct the independent investigation shall have access to any or all documentation and/or personnel he/she feels would be relevant to his/her investigations without encumbrance.

Proposer: Councillor S Mooney

Seconder: Councillor V Siva

Supported by (in accordance with Standing Order 20.1): Councillor M Beecher, Councillor C Bateson, Councillor J Vinson, Councillor D Saliagopolous, Councillor M Gibson, Councillor I Beardsmore, Councillor J Boughtflower, Councillor N Islam, Councillor M Attewell and Councillor T Lagden.

Council agreed to accept the alterations to the motion as advised by Councillor Mooney.

Councillor H. Harvey left the meeting.

It was proposed by the Mayor and agreed by Council that one vote would be taken to cover all three parts of the Motion.

For – 32

Against – 0

Abstain – 2

The motion was carried

Motion 3 – WHO guidelines for air pollutants

“Spelthorne Borough Council shall advocate the new World Health Organisation guidelines for maximum average annual levels of air pollutants, that is to say, for PM2.5 a maximum level of 5 microgrammes per cubic-metre, for PM10 a maximum level of 15 microgrammes per cubic-metre, and for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) a maximum level of 10 microgrammes per cubic-metre, in all council air quality measurements, reviews and assessments.”

Proposer: Councillor M Beecher

Seconder: Councillor V Siva

Council agreed to accept the alterations to the motion as advised by Councillor M. Beecher.

The motion was carried.

The Council considered a report on proposed amendments to the Spelthorne Joint Committee Constitution following decision by Surrey County Council.

It was proposed by Councillor L. Nichols and seconded by Councillor J. Sexton and

resolved that the amendments to the Spelthorne Joint Committee Constitution as set out in the report be approved.

The Council considered the recommendation of the Audit Committee to adopt the proposed changes to the Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy for adoption.

It was proposed by Councillor J. Boughtflower and seconded by Councillor T. Fidler and

resolved that the proposed changes to the Counter Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Strategy be adopted.

1.    The Council considered a request from Margaret Pope Education Charity (MPEC) to appoint a representative trustee.

It was proposed by Councillor J. Boughtflower and seconded by Councillor T. Mitchell and

resolved that Councillor S. Mooney be appointed as a Council representative trustee to serve on the Margaret Pope Education Charity.           

2.    The Council considered a request from the Ashford Relief In Need Charities (ARIN) to withdraw the Council’s appointed trustees.

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

resolved that the Council withdrew their appointed trustees after the current appointments of Councillor R. Sider BEM and Councillor T. Harman ended.

It was proposed by Councillor T. Fidler and seconded by Councillor N. Gething and

resolved that a letter be issued from the Council to the Ashford Relief in Need Charities expressing the Council’s continued support.

Council considered the adoption of the Local Government Association Model Code of Conduct, as recommended by the Members’ Code of Conduct Committee on 4 February 2021.

It was proposed by Councillor R. Sider BEM and seconded by Councillor T. Fidler and

resolved that adopt the Local Government Association Model Code of Conduct.

It was proposed by Councillor L. Nichols and seconded by Councillor H. Harvey and

resolved to appoint Councillor S. Mooney and Councillor S. Buttar to the Development Sub-Committee, following their nomination at the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee on 4 October 2021.

The Council considered the following amendments to the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2021/22:

1.    To pay a Special Responsibility Allowance of £2000 each, to the members of the Development Sub-Committee; and

2.    To remove the ‘one Special Responsibility Allowance only’ rule from the Scheme.

It was proposed by Councillor L. Nichols and seconded by Councillor H. Harvey that the Council only vote on Part 1 of the recommendations and defer a decision on Part 2. This was agreed.

Councillor Boughtflower asked for a recorded vote on the motion to pay the Special Responsibility Allowance of £2000 each to the members of the Development Sub-Committee.

For – 20

Against – 11

Abstain – 5

Resolved that a Special Responsibility Allowance of £2000 to be paid to each member of the Development Sub-Committee.

The Committee received an update from the Development Manager on the current development projects and

resolved to note the update.

The Committee agreed to note the Forward Plan.

There were no urgent actions to discuss.

There were no ward issues raised.

There were no questions from members of the public.

Councillors Helen Harvey, Doran and Noble advised the Committee that they were Planning Committee members and therefore would not be making comment on any applications due to come before the Planning Committee.

Councillor Helen Harvey advised that due to the recent Conservative Association targeting of the Mayor and USG on social media, in which the White House Hostel was referred to in what she perceived as a threatening manner, she felt intimidated and any comments she made regarding item 9, White House Residential, should be considered within this context.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2021 were agreed as a correct record of proceedings subject to the following amendment under ‘Disclosures of Interest’:

‘Councillor Helen Harvey advised that due to the recent Conservative Association targeting of the Mayor and USG on social media, in which the White House Hostel was referred to in what she perceived as a threatening manner, she felt intimidated and any comments she made regarding item 9, White House Residential, should be considered within this context.’

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mooney and Smith-Ainsley.

The Committee considered the new letting of Charlton Village Hall, Hetherington Road, Shepperton, TW17 0SP and resolved to:

1.    approve the officer’s recommendation to award the grant of a new 5 year lease to Applicant A at a rent of £12,000 per annum; and

2.    agree that a positive clause be included within the lease that would stipulate a minimum number of hours per week that the hall was to be hired out to local community groups.

There was no urgent business to discuss.