Minutes for Council meeting, Dec 15 2009, 6.00PM official page

To receive announcements by the Chairman of the Council, if any, and any communication she may desire to lay before the Council.

The Chairman reported on recent functions and events attended on behalf of the Council and highlighted attendance at a Remembrance Sunday Service at Burnham, a successful Chairman’s Community and Volunteer Awards evening, and the Beaconsfield Festival of Lights.  The Vice-Chairman also reported attending a splendid concert given by the Taplow Youth Choir.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 3 November 2009.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 3 November 2009 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To receive an address from Sara Thornton QPM, Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Sara Thornton QPM, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, who addressed the meeting on the current policing issues.  The Chief Constable was accompanied by Chief Inspector Paul Cook, the Local Police Area (LPA) Commander for South Bucks. 

The Chief Constable began by outlining the strategy for policing in the Thames Valley for 2008 – 2011.  The three year strategy had seven objectives as follows:-

1.      Strengthen neighbourhood policing to respond to local need and increase public confidence

2.      Develop our partnerships to reduce crime and disorder

3.            Improve the service provided to victims, witnesses and the public

4.      Protect communities from the threat of terrorism and organised crime

5.      Use information and intelligence to be more effective

6.            Develop our people to give the best service

7.            Improve the use of our resources

The Chief Constable went on to describe the actions being taken to implement the objectives, illustrating these by reference to a number of presentation slides.  The following were most notable:

·        Neighbourhood policing was the key approach – there were 263 neighbourhoods across Thames Valley, with 782 priorities and 26 priority themes.  All Neighbourhood details, including local priorities were set out on the TVP website.

·        There were 9 neighbourhoods in South Bucks – each with up to 3 priorities.  The most common were speeding, ant-social behaviour and parking.

·        Total serious acquisitive crime across South Bucks was 16.6% down in the current year compared to 2008/09 – burglary from a dwelling was down 23%.

·        South Bucks figures on “assault with less serious injury” were down 4.8%.

·        The satisfaction survey among victims and witnesses was showing a marked improvement in the last year compared to previous years.

·        A range of measures had been developed and taken to protect communities from terrorism and organised crime.

·        There had been big improvements in information and intelligence through provision of mobile data terminals.  1100 Neighbourhood Police Officers now had Blackberrys which had led to more arrests and car seizures.

·        Staffing levels were good, with 4,254 police officers (the highest ever in Thames Valley, 2,753 support staff and 515 PCSOs.

·        A new approach to customer service called “Serving with Pride and Confidence” had been launched emphasising leadership, professional values and greater use of discretion.

·        TVP had a revenue budget of £368m for the current year, being the third of a 3 year plan for cash savings.  The squeeze on public spending would constrain Authority spending in the next and following years.

Following the presentation Members posed a number of questions to the Chief Constable of which prior notice had been given.  The following arose from the answers given and the discussion that ensued:-

·        It was a challenge for all concerned that performance indicators and the Inspection regime did not get in the way of effective policing.  It was important that the Chief Inspector of Constabulary had emphasised his full support of neighbourhood policing and accountability.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

Part I of the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1 December 2009.

(Note:     Reports referred to in recommendations in the Cabinet minutes were circulated to all members with the agenda for the Cabinet meeting and have not been re-printed/re-circulated).

The Leader, Mr Busby, presented the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1 December 2009.  Each minute of the Cabinet was introduced by the relevant Portfolio Holder respectively.

With reference to minute 54 [Capital Budgets 2010/11 – 2013/14] the Leader explained that while the report put forward had contained some useful suggestions for reductions, it had been agreed to defer the approval of a revised capital programme pending a further critical review in conjunction with final decisions about revenue budgets and the Council tax to be set.

With reference to minute 60 [Performance Management Quarterly Report] the Council noted some additional background information in relation to the economic activity indicators reported.

With reference to the meetings proposed for the Cabinet on 12 January 2010 and Council on 19 January 2010, the Chief Executive explained that these were required to consider (in addition to some routine business) reports relating to the next stage of the Buckinghamshire Pathfinder Support Services Project.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted.

(1)                Report of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 21 October 2009.

(2)                Report of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 18 November 2009.

The reports of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 21 October and 18 November 2009 were presented.

RESOLVED that the reports be received and adopted.

Report of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 16 November 2009.

The report of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 16 November 2009 was presented.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted.

Report of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 11 November 2009.

(Note:     The Statement of Principles recommended for adoption in minute 38 [Gambling Act 2005 Licensing Statement of Principles – 2009 Revision] has not been re-printed/re-circulated.  A copy is available in the Members Room and is viewable from the Licensing Committee agenda page on the website).

The report of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 11 November 2009 was presented.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted.

To receive reports from members on Outside Bodies (annexed separately).

The Council received reports from Members comprising a number of Outside Body reports first presented to the Health and Housing PAG on 19 November.  Mrs Woolveridge added to her report referring to the likely overspend against budget for NHS Buckinghamshire (the re-named Buckinghamshire PCT) due in part to deficits absorbed when the three separate PCTs in the County were merged.  She asked Members to report to her (or Mrs Maureen Royston) any issues of concern relating to Heatherwood and Wexham Park hospitals.

Members’ Allowances 2010/11 – to consider report of the Director of Services (annexed separately).

The Council considered a report of the Director of Resources setting out the main points and recommendations of the report of the Independent Panel reviewing Members allowances.  The full report of the Independent Allowances Panel was also appended. 

Having compared the Council’s major special responsibility allowances and basic allowance with those paid by comparable South East authorities and found them to be at a reasonable level, the Panel had taken the view that was appropriate to propose an increase only in line with inflation to maintain the value of allowances.  The Panel had recommended an increase equal to the amount allowed for South Bucks DC staff salaries in the draft budget for 2010/11 (1½%). 

The Leader suggested that the Panel’s recommendation needed to be considered in the light of the Council’s overall financial position and proposed that no increase in allowances should be agreed for 2010/11.  It was noted that the car mileage allowances rates had been capped at 40p per mile since September 2009.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)    The report of the Independent Members Allowances Panel be noted and the Panel be formally thanked for the work done in producing the report.

(2)    No increase in allowances be made for the 2010/11 year.

(3)    A Members Allowances Scheme for 2010/11 be approved incorporating the existing levels of allowances.

The Chairman to move the following resolution:-

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.”

Part II report of:

Cabinet – 1 December 2009 (reasons set out in minute 62)

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Cabinet Meeting (Part II) – 1 December 2009 – reasons set out in minute 62.

Part II of report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1 December 2009.

The Part II report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1 December 2009 was presented.

With reference to minute 63 [Environment Portfolio Holder Report – New Grounds Maintenance Contract] it was reported that Bucks County Council had yet to confirm its decision on whether to fully fund highway verge maintenance work for inclusion in the new contract.  A final decision was promised shortly.

RESOLVED that the report be received and adopted.