Agenda and minutes

City Council - Monday 1 March 2010 2.00 pm

Venue: COUNCIL HOUSE, PLYMOUTH (next to the Civic Centre)

Contact: Nicola Kirby, Senior Democratic Support Officer (Cabinet)  Email: nicola.kirby@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

98.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members will be asked to make declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct from Members in relation to items under consideration at this meeting.

  

99.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2010.  

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2010 were signed as a correct record.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS - CHIEF EXECUTIVE

100.

Appointments to fill vacancies on Committees etc.

(a)       To receive announcements from the Lord Mayor or the Chief Executive;

 

(b)       To receive announcements from the Leader, Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs.

Minutes:

The City Council was advised that the proposal relating to the Devon and Cornwall Housing Association had been withdrawn. 

 

Resolved that –

 

(1)

 the following appointments are approved -

 

 

Organisation

 

Term of Office

Appointments / Nominations

 

 

Fostering Panel

Continuing until such time as the officer resigns or is replaced by Council

 

Councillor Stark to fill vacancy

 

Plymouth Racial Equality Council

Continuing until such time as the officer resigns or is replaced by Council Resignation of Cllr Fox

Councillor Dr Mahony to replace Councillor Fox

 

 

 

 

(3)

 

the following change of Committee membership, notified to the Monitoring Officer, is noted -

 

 

 

Committee

Change of Membership

 

 

Planning Committee

CouncillorMrs Foster to replace Councillor Fox

 

101.

QUESTIONS BY THE PUBLIC

To receive questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters which, in the opinion of the Lord Mayor, are relevant to the business of the meeting in accordance with paragraph 10 of the Constitution.

Minutes:

There were no questions received from the public for this meeting.

102.

TO DEAL WITH ANY BUSINESS FROM THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, IF ANY

Minutes:

There was no outstanding business from the last meeting of the City Council.

103.

BUDGET AND CORPORATE PLAN pdf icon PDF 20 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

CouncillorMrs Pengelly moved, and Councillor Thompson seconded, the following motion -  

 

?

that there would be one debate on agenda items 7 (d) to (g);

 

?

seeking approval in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14(n) of the Constitution, to suspend Rule of Debate 1.5(b) (which limits the speech of any mover to 5 minutes) for the item referred to in the bullet point above, in relation to the Leader and Leader of the Opposition.

 

Following a vote, it was Resolved that –

 

(1)

there would be one debate on agenda items 7 (d) to (g) relating to -

 

 

?

 the reports of the Director for Corporate Support on the Budget 2010/11 – agenda item 7(d);

 

 

?

Cabinet minutes 126, 127 and 128: Corporate Asset Management Plan 2005-2015 incorporating the capital programme 2010/11 – 2014/15 – agenda item 7(e);

 

 

?

Cabinet minute 127: Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy 2010/11 and 2010/11- agenda item 7(f);

 

 

?

Cabinet minute 128: Budget (Revenue and Capital) – agenda  item 7(g)); 

 

(2)

 

in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14(n) of the Constitution, Rule of Debate 1.5(b) (which limits the speech of any mover to 5 minutes) is suspended for the item referred to in (1) above in relation to the Leader and Leader of the Opposition.

 

104.

Audit Committee minute 42 on the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy 2010/11; pdf icon PDF 23 KB

To view the Audit Committee report, please click on the following link:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000249/M00003953/AI00041432/TreasuryManagementStrategyStatementandInvestmentStrategy2.pdf

Minutes:

Councillor Sam Leaves presented Audit Committee minute 42 on the Committee’s scrutiny of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy 2010/11, for noting.  Councillor James seconded the proposal.   

 

Following a debate, the motion was put to the vote and it was Resolved that

minute 42 of the Audit Committee is noted.

105.

Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on the Budget and Corporate Plan Scrutiny 2010; pdf icon PDF 675 KB

To view the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board reports, please click on the following links:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000911/M00003686/AI00041570/$OverviewReport.docA.ps.pdf

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000911/M00003686/AI00041536/$DraftCorporatePlan.docA.ps.pdf

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000911/M00003686/AI00041536/DraftCorporatePlan201013.pdf

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000911/M00003686/AI00041537/OverviewandupdateofPeopleICTandAccommodationStrategies.pdf

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000911/M00003686/AI00041538/CorporateAssetManagementPlan.pdf

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000911/M00003686/AI00041568/TreasuryManagementStrategyStatementandInvestmentStrategy2.pdf

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000911/M00003686/AI00041569/20102011BudgetRevenueandCapital.pdf

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000911/M00003686/AI00041534/FinalReport100209BudgetUpdate.pdf

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor James presented the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board’s budget and corporate plan scrutiny meeting and moved that the recommendations be referred to the appropriate bodies as set out in the report.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Mrs Watkins.

 

Following a debate, the motion was put to the vote and it was Resolved that the recommendations are referred to the appropriate bodies as set out in the scrutiny report.

106.

Draft Corporate Plan 2010 - 2013; pdf icon PDF 18 KB

To view the Cabinet report, please click on the following link:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000254/M00003628/AI00041178/$DraftCorporatePlan.docA.ps.pdf

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000254/M00003628/AI00041178/DraftCorporatePlan201013.pdf

 

Minutes:

The Leader presented the draft Corporate Plan for approval (Cabinet minute 124 referred).  The motion was seconded by Councillor Fry.

 

Following a debate, the motion was put to the vote and it was Resolved that the Corporate Plan 2010 – 2013 is adopted subject to minor amendments and editorial changes being delegated to the Chief Executive and the relevant portfolio holder.

107.

Reports of the Director for Corporate Support on the Budget 2010/11; Corporate Asset Management Plan; Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy 2010/11; 2010/2011 Budget (Revenue and Capital)(including the 2010/11 Council Tax Rates). pdf icon PDF 19 KB

To view the Cabinet reports, please click on the following links:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000254/M00003628/AI00041181/20102011BudgetRevenueandCapital.pdf

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mgInternet/Published/C00000254/M00003628/AI00041164/FinalReport100209BudgetUpdate.pdf

 

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor reminded the Council of the decisions that had been taken earlier in the meeting, referred to in minute 103 above.

 

The update report of the Chief Executive and the Director for Corporate Support (referred to in agenda item 7(d)) -  

 

 (i)

outlined proposals to reduce net revenue spend by £0.410m to

£202.216m through proactive treasury management action

which would reduce the Council’s overall capital financing

costs;

 

(ii)

proposed final amendments to the Revenue Budget 2010/11,

including a review of the reserves position, as a result of the

latest monitoring of the 2009/10 budgets.  

 

Councillor Mrs Pengelly moved, and Councillor Bowyer seconded, agenda items 7 (d) to (g) for approval (Cabinet minutes 126, 127 and 128 referred) and commended to the Council, for approval, the 2010/11 Council tax rates.

 

The Leader indicated that the budget before the City Council would mean a Council Tax increase of 2.89%.  

 

She also thanked the Director for Corporate Support and his Finance Team for their hard work and the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board for their thorough and challenging scrutiny exercise.

 

At the conclusion of the debate, the Assistant Director for Democracy and Governance indicated that it was proposed to take the votes on items 7 (d), (e), (f) and (g) together and, following a vote, it was Resolved that –

 

(1)

the Corporate Asset Management Plan 2005 – 2015 (incorporating the capital programme for 2010/11 – 2014/15) is approved (Cabinet minute 126 refers);    

 

(2)

the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy 2010/11 is noted (Cabinet minute 127 refers) and approval is given to -  

 

 

(a)

the authorised borrowing limits of £347m, £337m and £324m for the period 2010/11 to 2012/13;

 

 

(b)

the Operational Boundary of £295m, £295m and £293m for 2010/11 to 2012/13;

 

 

(c)

the prudential indicators as set out in the Appendix to the report of the Director for Corporate Support (submitted to Cabinet on 9 February 2010), on the 2010/11 budget update;

 

 

(d)

the amendment of the statutory borrowing limits for 2009/10 as follows -

 

 

 

?

authorised limit - £495m;

 

 

?

operational boundary - £465m;

 

 

(e)

the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2010/11.

 

(3)

 

the proposals contained in the update report of the Director for Corporate Support are approved as follows -  

 

 

(a)

to reduce net revenue spend by £0.410m to £202.216m

through proactive treasury management action to reduce

the Council’s overall capital financing costs; and

 

 

(b)

final amendments to the Revenue Budget 2010/11 as set

out in the report, including a review of the reserves

position, as a result of the latest monitoring of the 2009/10

budgets;  

 

 (4)

approval is given to the proposed target budget requirement (capital and revenue) for 2010/11 (Cabinet minute 128 refers, as amended by resolution (3) above);

 

(5)

with a net budget of £201.825m the Band D Council Tax for Plymouth City Council purposes will be £1,244.67. The total Band D Council Tax after taking account of the precept from the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority of £156.60 and of the precept  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

108.

MOTIONS ON NOTICE

To consider motions from Members in accordance with paragraph 13 of the Constitution.

Minutes:

There were no motions on notice.

109.

CONSIDER ANY OTHER BUSINESS SPECIFIED IN THE SUMMONS TO THE MEETING, OR MATTERS TAKEN AS A MATTER OF URGENCY BY THE PERSON PRESIDING INCLUDING CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS FROM THE CABINET IN RELATION TO THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET AND POLICY FRAMEWORK AND REPORTS OF THE SCRUTINY COMMITTEES FOR DEBATE

Minutes:

There were no other items of business.

QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS

110.

General Questions

Questions to the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs covering aspects for their areas of responsibility or concern by Members in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Constitution;

Minutes:

In accordance with paragraph 12 of the constitution, the following questions were asked of the Leader, Cabinet Members and Committee Chairs covering aspects of their areas of responsibility -

 

 

From

To

Subject

1

CouncillorRennie

CouncillorBrookshaw

Implementation of the Licensing Act and new rules and regulations governing lap dancing clubs

 

2

CouncillorGordon

CouncillorWigens

 

Repairs to potholes

 

3

CouncillorWheeler

CouncillorMonahan

Early years provision at Barne Barton

 

4

CouncillorMcDonald

Councillor Michael Leaves

 

Funding for Hoe and foreshore improvements, West Hoe pier and Devils Point, including the toilets

 

5

CouncillorMrs Aspinall

CouncillorBowyer

Recruitment process for teaching posts with regard to taking up references

 

6

CouncillorEvans

 

Letters of complaint re conduct of Cabinet Members

 

7

CouncillorRennie

CouncillorMrs Pengelly

 

Offensive websites

 

8

CouncillorMrs Aspinall

CouncillorMonahan

 

Publication of the report following a serious case review on the issues arising from the Vanessa George case

 

With regard to question (1) above, Councillor Brookshaw undertook to advise Councillor Rennie when proposals came forward on the implementation of that part of the Licensing Act.

 

With regard to questions (3) and (5) above, written responses would be provided to the questioners.

 

With regard to question (6), the Chief Executive and the Assistant Director for Democracy and Governance responded.

111.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 158 KB

The Leader will introduce the Forward Plan.

 

Members may ask questions specific to the Forward Plan of the Leader/Cabinet Members.

Minutes:

The Leader introduced the Forward Plan and indicated that item FP 50 09/10 should be amended to read ‘Corporate Plan’.

 

Questions were asked of the Leader and Cabinet Members as follows –

 

 

From

To

Subject

1

 Councillor Evans

 

 

 

Impact of purdah on the programme of planned decisions, and seeking advice given in previous years by the former Monitoring Officer

 

2

CouncillorWildy

 

CouncillorFry

 

Growth agenda: governance arrangements – availability of documents for consultation process

 

3

CouncillorWildy

 

 

CouncillorFry

 

Local Development Framework: Adoption of the City Centre and University Area Action Plan – need for consultation to be detailed in light of completion of Inspector’s hearing 

 

4

Councillor Smith

Councillor Jordan

Plymouth Sports Facility Strategy - confirmation of decision date

 

A further question was asked by Councillor Gordon to Councillor Jordan on Plympton swimming pool.

 

With regard to question (1), the Assistant Director of Democracy and Governance responded indicating that the Council’s business would continue largely as usual but that special consideration must be given to publicity arrangements.