Meeting Details

Council
21 Feb 2018 - 18:00 to 21:00
Occurred
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Part A
1 Welcome and Announcements (Council)
The Mayor will welcome members of the public and Councillors and will ask the Chaplain to say a prayer. The Mayor will also remind everyone to use microphones at all times when they are speaking, explain action required in the event of an emergency, mobile phones switched to silent and audio-recording of the meeting.
2 Have Your Say! (Council)
The Mayor will invite members of the public to indicate if they wish to speak or present a petition on any item included on the agenda or any other matter relating to the business of the Council.  Please indicate if you wish to speak at this point if your name has not been noted by Council staff.

243
Jo Hayes addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6(5) about air quality in Colchester.  She had been contacted in 2012 by a resident whose health had been harmed by air pollution, but had asked her to prevent harm to younger generations.  She was seeking to raise awareness of the sources of air pollution, such as leaving car engines idling unnecessarily, and of the seriousness of the risk to health it posed.   The town centre was an Air Quality Management Area and this behaviour only made the pollution worse. In 2013 Essex County Council Portfolio Holder had cancelled a scheme to reduce traffic in the town centre, which suggested he was unaware of the health risk posed by air pollution. The motion she had proposed to Council in 2015 for a clean air zone had been blocked by the Conservative group, again due to a lack of knowledge on the issue.  Air quality was monitored and the data published, which showed the extent of the problem. Did the Portfolio Holder agree that a campaign to raise public awareness of the exhaust pollution issue would be beneficial?

Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy thanked Jo for her work on this issue.  The Portfolio Holder was committed to addressing this issue and was working with Essex County Council to obtain grants to ensure buses were fitted with green technology to reduce emissions.

Sir Bob Russell addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 6(5).  He noted the contents of the proposed Strategic Plan 2018-2021 in particular the Wellbeing priority to “Support those who need most help” and to “Target support to the most disadvantaged residents and communities”.  He drew attention to the fact that there were 30,900 residents of retirement age in the borough.   These were the generations that had been born during or after the Second World War and had known real adversity and austerity.  Today’s society had been built through their efforts and the taxes they had paid.  Some were very vulnerable.  In this context, the Council should give a grant of £25,000 grant to Age Concern from its reserves in order to ensure the continuation of their valuable welfare rights service. 


Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, thanked Sir Bob Russell for his comments.  The administration had maintained its support for the voluntary sector. It was difficult to balance the needs of the many groups that requested support from the Council.  He understood that Age Concern had previously used their own reserves to maintain this service and he thanked them for doing so. 

Mark Goacher addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 6(5).  The Green Party had been undertaking monitoring of air quality in Castle Ward.  The results were alarming and demonstrated that pollution levels were above legal limits at a number of places, including the bottom of East Hill, on North Station Road and at the bottom of Mersea Road.  These were dangerous levels of air pollution.  He was not seeking to criticise Colchester Borough Council, who monitored air quality and he appreciated that members of all groups wanted to address the issue. However, more could be done to reduce emissions. For instance idling car engines was illegal and action should be taken to enforce this.  Electric charging points should be provided in all car parks.  The planting of grass and plants on walls also helped reduce pollution by up to 30% and this should trialled at an appropriate site, such as at the bottom of Mersea Road.

Councillor Lilley, Portfolio Holder for Public Safety and Licensing, responded and explained that he believed that radical action, such as pedestrianizing the High Street and the introduction of electric buses, was needed to tackle the issue. The Council was looking at setting aside some car parking spaces in its car parks for charging points, and he had discussed with a taxi firm the possibility of their taxi drivers using electric vehicles and how this could be incentivised.

Mr Orton addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 6(5) about the condition of the town centre.  Members of the public did not understand the divisions of responsibility between Essex County Council and Colchester Borough Council and were of the view that the problems in the town centre were for the Council to deal with.  They just wanted to see someone take responsibility and action taken to address some of the issues in the town centre.  Nothing was being done to tackle issues such as dirty lifts, the traffic lights in Osborne Street not working and the condition of the underpass. 

Councillor Lilley. Portfolio Holder for Public Safety and Licensing, explained that he discussed these issues regularly with Mr Orton.  He had also recently met with officers from Essex County Council and would be drawing up an action plan to improve the pavements and the street furniture in Colchester town centre.

Isobel Merry addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 6(5).  Gosbecks Archaeological Park was a site of major historical importance, but it was underutilised and needed to be promoted more. Whilst it was appreciated that resources were tight, more could be made of Colchester’s Roman history. It was often hard for visitors to access Colchester’s Roman sites and to appreciate their significance.  A more joined up approach needed to be taken to Colchester’s history. This would increase visitor numbers and boost Colchester’s economy.

Councillor Bourne, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities, agreed that Colchester’s Roman history was very important.  Gosbecks Archaeological Park was a stunning site, and she was looking at opportunities for the site.  She anticipated that she would report on the issue later this year.  Councillor T. Young, Portfolio Holder for Business and Culture, stressed that tourism was very important and the administration continued to invest to support it.   

Emmanuel Blondell addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 6(5) about universal credit. He was part of group of concerned Colcestrians who had recently been speaking to residents about universal credit.  Some of the concerns and issues that had been raised with them included the five week period after claiming in which no payment would be made, and how claimants could obtain an advance payment.  There were also concerns that it could result in tenants being made homeless.  There was a lack of information about how it would work alongside other benefits, and how claimants could protect themselves.

Dr Nicholas Blondell addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 6(5).  He was a general practitioner who had been working in Colchester for the past three years. He was concerned by the number of patients he saw who were presenting because their mental and physical health was being affected through not being able to pay for essentials such as rent and food. Thousands of people in Colchester were worried that they wold not be able to pay rent once universal credit was introduced. The Council should guarantee that no one be made homeless as a result of universal credit. 

Victoria Weaver addressed Council pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 6(5). Experience elsewhere had shown that claimants elsewhere had had to wait unacceptably long times in order for universal credit payments to be made, or had been mistakenly removed from the system.  They has spoken to many residents about Universal credit and there was considerable anxiety about its introduction. Other Councils were diverting funds to help claimants.  She queried how much funding the Council was putting into the transition scheme, and asked whether the scheme would ensure that there were no evictions as a result of arrears. In addition there was concern that there no work coaches, who were important in advising people on Universal credit, in Colchester. In their absence then the Council should be proactive in informing people, and do all it could to protect the homeless and those threatened with homelessness. 

Jasmin Stone addressed the Council pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 6(5).  She was on Universal credit and it was a difficult experience.  She had previously lived in Croydon, and her work coach was still in Croydon, which made complying with some of the procedures difficult. Support needed to be put in place for those being transferred onto universal credit. Studies had shown a significant rise in the use of foodbanks in areas where universal credit was rolled out.  The roll out of universal credit was causing significant social issues, such as rises in physical and mental health issues, and increases in borrowing and debt.  It was essential that a safety net be put in place for those affected.

Camille Barbagallo addressed the Council pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 6(5).  Universal credit was casing a social crisis. It was deeply concerning that in such a prosperous country that hundreds of thousands of people were turning to foodbanks, and that diseases such as rickets were being seen.  The Council had a responsibility to ensure that people were supported and consideration needed to be given to what the Council could do to alleviate this social crisis. 

Councillor Bourne, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities, responded to the speakers on universal credit.  It was incorrect to portray the Council as uncaring. Councillors across the political spectrum were very concerned with ensuring the welfare of Colchester residents.  The Council had an experienced team, used to dealing with changes to welfare provision.  It worked with partners in the clinical commissioning group, Essex County Council, housing associations and the voluntary sector in order to help its residents. In December, Council had unanimously agreed a motion on universal credit which set out how the Council would respond to the introduction of universal credit. Full service had been delayed until July 2018 which gave a longer period to prepare, and a number of changes to universal credit had been agreed in December. Full service only affected new claimants, and it would be counterproductive to be too alarmist as this would only cause unnecessary anxiety. A proper implementation plan would be prepared together with partners and building on the experience of previous welfare reforms and other authorities where it had already been introduced.  Whilst the administration did not support universal credit, it had an excellent relationship with the Department of Work and Pensions.  The Council would ensure Councillors were trained to help residents on universal credit and refer them to the appropriate sources of help.  If other groups were speaking to residents they had an obligation to ensure they had the necessary expertise, and were aware of the support that was available. 

Councillor Cory, Portfolio Holder for Resources, explained tht £300,000 had been invested in the Welfare Team to ensure that the Council was prepared for the welfare reforms that were being proposed.   The Council had received a grant from the Department of Work and Pensions which was being used to create two new posts who would help those on universal credit to find work. 
 
3 Minutes of the Previous Meeting (Council)
A... Motion that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2017 be confirmed as a correct record.
244
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2017 be confirmed as a correct record.
4 Declarations of Interest
Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the agenda about which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the item or participating in any vote upon the item, or any other pecuniary interest or non-pecuniary interest.
5 Mayor's Announcements
The Mayor to make announcements.
245
Parish Councillor John Gili-Ross, Vice Chairman of the Local Council Awards Scheme addressed Council about the Local Council Awards Scheme.  The Mayor presented Councillor Allan Walker, Chairman of Marks Tey Parish Council and Steve Marriott, Clerk of Marks Tey Parish Council, with Marks Tey Parish Council's certificate of accreditation at the Foundation Level of the Local Council Awards Scheme. 

The Mayor announced the following events:-

A comedy night on 25 February 2018 at the Headgate Theatre;
“Colchester Through the Ages” film night on 16 April at Firstsite;
Michael J Fitch cabaret night on 12 May 2018 in the Moot Hall.
 
6 Items (if any) referred under the Call-in Procedure (Council)
The Council consider any items referred by the Scrutiny Panel under the Call-in Procedure because they are considered to be contrary to the policy framework of the Council or contrary to, or not wholly in accordance with, the budget.
7 Recommendations of the Cabinet, Panels and Committees
Council will consider the following recommendations:-
B... Motion that the recommendation contained in draft minute 230 of the Cabinet meeting of 31 January 2018 be approved and adopted.
246
RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY) that the recommendation contained in draft minute 230 of 31 January 2018 be approved and adopted, subject to the inclusion of an additional priority under the Opportunity theme to read “Promote initiatives to help residents live healthier lives”.

C.... Motion that the recommendations contained in draft minute 232 of the Cabinet meeting of 31 January 2018 and the recommendations contained in the Assistant Director Policy and Place's report entitled "Precept and Council Tax Levels 2018-19" be approved and adopted. 

Please note that in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 15(3) any motion or amendment on the setting of the Council budget must be subject to a named vote. 

Main Amendment 

Proposer: Councillor Laws


That the recommendations contained in minute 232 of the Cabinet meeting of 31 January 2018 and the recommendations contained in the Assistant Director Policy and Corporate’s report entitled “Precept and Council Tax Levels 2018-2019” be approved and adopted, subject to the necessary amendments to give effect to the following:-

1.         To allocate £100,000 to 'deep clean' the Historic Old Town centre, return civic pride and challenge the 'broken window effect' cycle. Funded by reinvestment of savings from management restructuring into the front line. 

2.         To use the £92,000 Heritage Reserve to light up and enhance our historic Roman City Walls, Jumbo and historic monuments. To allocate £200,000 from the New Homes Bonus for the capital costs of installation. 

3.         To allocate £200,000 to introduce weekly black bag collections with a 2 bag limit per week to address residents storage and hygiene concerns. This will be delivered through efficiency savings, achieving income targets and allocated against the end of annual elections (£177k). 

4.         To use the £250,000 allocated to the RIF to prioritise investment into town centre regeneration schemes such as at St Nicholas Square and at the public realm around Jumbo. To urgently prepare for feasibility of such schemes. For example, an archaeological investigation of St Nicholas Square with potential schemes laid out to enhance the public realm. This will enhance and revitalise the historic town centre for residents and visitors, making it a more attractive experience day and night and see a tangible return to the council through the appreciation of assets - and potential further income opportunities. 

5.         To invest £200,000 into the Local Highway Panel to deliver safer roads, pathways and communities from the New Homes Bonus. 

6.         To ring fence the remaining New Homes Bonus and place it into an ‘Infrastructure and community facilities fund’ to help reduce congestion, improve connectivity and ensure a greener borough. 

 

 

247
Councillor Jowers (as Chair of the Essex Police and Crime Panel) declared a non-pecuniary interest in the following item pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 9(5).

RESOLVED that Council Procedure Rule 14(3) be suspended for this item only to allow the Portfolio Holder for Resources and the Leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Highwoods Groups to speak untimed on this item only.

It was proposed by Councillor Cory, Portfolio Holder for Resources, that the recommendation contained in draft minute 232 of the Cabinet meeting of 31 January 2018 and the recommendations contained in the Assistant Director, Policy and Corporate’s report entitled  “Precept and Council Tax Levels 2018-201 be approved and adopted.

It was proposed by Councillor Laws that the recommendation contained in draft minute 232 of the Cabinet meeting of 31 January 2018 and the recommendations contained in the Assistant Director, Policy and Corporate’s report entitled “Precept and Council Tax Levels 2018-201 be approved and adopted, subject to the main amendment the details of which were at page 2 of the Supplementary Information for the meeting.

On being put to the vote the main amendment was lost. 

In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 15(3) a named vote was taken and the voting was as follows:-

FOR: Councillors Arnold, Barber, Bentley, Chapman, Davies, A. Ellis, D. Ellis, Flores, Hazell, Jarvis, Jowers, Laws, Lissimore, Loveland, F. Maclean, J. Maclean, Moore, Willetts and the Deputy Mayor (Chillingworth).

AGAINST: Councillors Barlow, Barton, Bourne, Chuah, Coleman, Cope, Cory, Feltham, Fox, Goss, Graham, Harris, Higgins, Hogg, Liddy, Lilley, B. Oxford, P. Oxford, Pearson, Scordis, Scott, J. Scott-Boutell, L. Scott-Boutell, Smith, Warnes, J. Young and T. Young.

ABSTAINED FROM VOTING: The Mayor (Councillor G. Oxford). 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and the motion was carried.

In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 15(3) a named vote was taken and the voting was as follows:-

FOR: Councillors Barlow, Barton, Bourne, Chuah, Coleman, Cope, Cory, Feltham, Fox, Goss, Graham, Harris, Higgins, Hogg, Liddy, Lilley, B. Oxford, P. Oxford, Pearson, Scordis, Scott, J. Scott-Boutell, L. Scott-Boutell, Smith, Warnes, J. Young and T. Young.

AGAINST: None

ABSTAINED FROM VOTING: Councillors Arnold, Barber, Bentley, Chapman, Davies, A. Ellis, D. Ellis, Feltham, Hazell, Jarvis, Jowers, Laws, Lissimore, Loveland, F. Maclean, J. Maclean, Moore, Willetts, the Deputy Mayor (Chillingworth) and the Mayor (G. Oxford). 
 
D... Motion that the recommendation contained in draft minute 239 of the Cabinet meeting of 31 January 2018 and the recommendation contained in the report by the Assistant Director of Policy and Corporate entitled "Mandatory Member Development - Consultation with Independent Remuneration Panel" be approved and adopted.
248
It was proposed by Councillor Cory, Portfolio Holder for Resources, that the recommendation contained in draft minute 239 of the Cabinet meeting of 31 January 2018 and the recommendations contained in the report by the Assistant Director Policy and Corporate entitled “Mandatory Member Development – consultation with the Independent Remuneration Panel” be approved and adopted.

Following the debate, Councillor Cory, Portfolio Holder, Portfolio Holder for resources, indicated that he would alter the motion so that the recommendation from the Member Development Group be approved subject to the amendments incorporated below and to the recommendation being submitted to Council again once the all party Member Development Group had given further consideration to the period within which mandatory training should be completed.  

(a)     Training on Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity and Data Protection be made mandatory for all Councillors from May 2018.  

(b) All such training to be completed within a period to be defined by the all party Member Development Group. 

(c) All new Councillors elected post May 2018 to undertake Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity and Data Protection training within a period to be defined by the all party Member Development Group.

(d) Training in Chairing Skills for all Chairs newly elected to the Council’s Committees and Panels from May 2018 to be mandatory, unless the Monitoring Officer considers that the relevant Councillor had extensive experience of chairing meetings in a local authority environment.

(e) All such training to be completed within three months of election as Chair.

(f) The views on the Independent Remuneration Panel be sought on the principle of withholding payment of relevant allowances should relevant mandatory training not be undertaken.

The motion was then put to the vote and was carried (majority voted for).
 
8 Questions to Cabinet Members and Chairmen pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10

Cabinet members and Chairmen will receive and answer pre-notified questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10(1) followed by any oral questions (not submitted in advance) in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10(3).

(Note: a period of up to 60 minutes is available for pre-notified questions and oral questions by Members of the Council to Cabinet Members and Chairmen (or in their absence Deputy Chairmen)).

(i) Councillor Laws to Councillor Lilley, Portfolio Holder for Public Safety and Licensing 

Joy from Frinton visits Colchester often but she notes that Culver Square and Red Lion Walk have cleaner floor surface and less litter. I told Joy our Zones team work incredibly hard in what is often a thankless task. How can Council managed streets be of the same standard of cleanliness?

(ii) Councillor Laws to Councillor Lilley, Portfolio Holder for Public Safety and Licensing

 Julie from North Station Rd recently moved to the area, she has little option to travel to work by car but when she returns home she finds it difficult to park. Two years ago 124 permanent parking tickets were issued in the F2 Zone.  This year the figure has increased to 137, yet no additional space capacity has been made available. Can we keep an eye on the numbers of permanent parking tickets made available vs space allocation please? 

(iii) Councillor Laws to Councillor J. Scott-Boutell, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability

A young mother from Albert St told me last month that she and her two immediate neighbours have had no option but to visit the tip because they live in a property with no rear access and limited storage space but that they don't want wheelie bins - probably because they are unsightly and we don't want to end up looking like Ipswich. Can the Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability please assure residents in Castle Ward that there are no plans for a roll out of compulsory wheelie bins?

(iv) Councillor Barber to Councillor J. Scott-Boutell, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability

Does the Portfolio Holder think it is acceptable that around two dozen bags were left at a gate of a public footpath for three days? This is unsightly, reflects poorly on our town and was an environmental hazard close to a children’s playground. Please can she explain what she will do to ensure similar situations are not repeated in future across the borough?

(v) Councillor Scott to Councillor J. Scott-Boutell, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability

The problem of poor air quality in Colchester has been highlighted and is very clear from our own figures. We know that there is no safe level of nitrous oxide and hat micro particles from exhaust fumes are a modern plague causing disease and premature deaths in all demographics, from unborn children to very elderly people. 

Do you agree with me that Colchester needs to take back control of our air? 
Can you please tell me what CBC is doing to improve air quality, and to ensure that air pollution is taken into consideration in all planning decisions?

(vi) Councillor Goss to Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy

What is the latest situation regarding positive work with Essex County Council over congestion improvements at North Station and also Stanway and East Colchester please?

 
249

Questioner

Subject

Response

Pre-notified Questions

Councillor Laws

Joy from Frinton visits Colchester often but she notes that Culver Square and Red Lion Walk have cleaner floor surface and less litter. I told Joy our Zones team work incredibly hard in what is often a thankless task. How can Council managed streets be of the same standard of cleanliness?

Question withdrawn

Councillor Laws

Julie from North Station Rd recently moved to the area, she has little option to travel to work by car but when she returns home she finds it difficult to park. Two years ago 124 permanent parking tickets were issued in the F2 Zone. This year the figure has increased to 137, yet no additional space capacity has been made available. Can we keep an eye on the numbers of permanent parking tickets made available vs space allocation please?

 

Councillor Lilley, Portfolio Holder for Public Safety and Licensing, expressed his sympathy but the Council could not make further space available. In order to try and manage the number of permits issued, the Council limited permits to two per household. He would keep an eye on the issue.

Councillor Laws

A young mother from Albert St told me last month that she and her two immediate neighbours have had no option but to visit the tip because they live in a property with no rear access and limited storage space but that they don't want wheelie bins - probably because they are unsightly and we don't want to end up looking like Ipswich. Can the Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability please assure residents in Castle Ward that there are no plans for a roll out of compulsory wheelie bins? Could the Council look at the provision of additional collections of black rubbish sacks at peak times, such as Christmas.

Councillor J. Scott-Boutell, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability, indicated that there were no plan for a compulsory roll out of wheelie bins in Castle Ward. She would look into the issue of additional collections of black sacks at peak times.

Councillor Barber

Does the Portfolio Holder think it is acceptable that around two dozen bags were left at a gate of a public footpath for three days? This is unsightly, reflects poorly on our town and was an environmental hazard close to a children’s playground. Please can she explain what she will do to ensure similar situations are not repeated in future across the borough?

Councillor Lilley, Portfolio Holder for Public Safety and Licensing, explained that the issue had been reported on a Friday night, and cleared on the following Monday morning. The Zones Teams did not work on Saturdays and Sundays, so it had been cleared on the next working day. The bags had been traced to a retail unit and the owner had issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice and had been provided with advice on how to dispose of waste properly.

Councillor Scott

The problem of poor air quality in Colchester has been highlighted and is very clear from our own figures. We know that there is no safe level of nitrous oxide and that micro particles from exhaust fumes are a modern plague causing disease and premature deaths in all demographics, from unborn children to very elderly people.

 

Do you agree with me that Colchester needs to take back control of our air?

Can you please tell me what CBC is doing to improve air quality, and to ensure that air pollution is taken into consideration in all planning decisions?

Councillor J. Scott-Boutell, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability, responded. Nitrogen dioxide was the pollutant of particular concern in Colchester, and the high levels were a result of traffic emissions. It was recognised that there were no safe limits. Pollution levels were improving but some hot spots remained. The Council was working with Essex County Council and all park and ride busies had been retro fitted with filters to reduce emissions. The hackney carriage policy was being revised to encourage cleaner taxis. Further detail would be provided in a written response.

Councillor Goss

What is the latest situation regarding positive work with Essex County Council over congestion improvements at North Station and also Stanway and East Colchester please?

Councillor Smith, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, explained he had held a series of meeting with Councillor Bentley and the County Council Portfolio Holders. In the Stanway area Cllr Bentley had been working with the ward councillors to improve a junction and was confident the relevant action would be taken. To the east of Colchester, Essex County Council had put in a bid for a link road between the A133 and the A134. Work was also progressing in Mile End and Essex County Council were looking to improve the flow of traffic along Cowdray Avenue by redesigning the roundabouts at the junctions with Ipswich Road and Harwich Road. Concerns had been expressed about the limited provision for cyclists and pedestrians at these roundabouts.

 

Councillor Bentley was also invited to respond and indicated that in respect of the North Station Road area, a redesign was being looked at. This would be a very significant piece of work and would not be delivered quickly. Changes to the Park and Ride should also help reduce congestion in this area. He stressed the difference between undertaking design work and securing funding for the improvement works. Essex County Council and Colchester Borough Council were working positively together.

 

Council to note the Schedule of Portfolio Holder decisions for the period 29 November 2017 - 5 February 2018. 
250
RESOLVED that the schedule of Portfolio Holder decisions for the period 29 November 2017 - 5 february 2018 be noted.
10 Urgent Items (Council)
Council will consider any business not specified in the Summons which by reason of special circumstances the Mayor determines should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.
11 Reports Referred to in Recommendations
The reports specified below are submitted for information and referred to in the recommendations specified in item 7 of the agenda:
12 Exclusion of the Public (not Scrutiny or Executive)
In accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public, including the press, from the meeting so that any items containing exempt information (for example confidential personal, financial or legal advice), in Part B of this agenda (printed on yellow paper) can be decided. (Exempt information is defined in Section 100I and Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).
Prayers
241
The meeting was opened with prayers from the Mayor's Chaplain, the Reverend Hannah Cooper.
Apologies
242
Apologies were received from Councillors Buston, Davidson, Elliott and Wood. 
Part B

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

Visitor Information is not yet available for this meeting