Minutes for Council meeting, Feb 18 2010, 7.00PM official page

The meeting was opened by prayers by the Reverend Canon David Naumann on behalf of the Lord Mayor’s Chaplain.

It was proposed by Councillor Gilbey, seconded by Councillor Mrs Law, and

RESOLVED – That the council agree to the audio recording of this meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carnell, Eden-Green, Parry, Seath and Steed.

Councillors Gilbey, A Perkins and Wratten each made a statement on behalf of the Members of their respective groups that any interests, which had been declared by their Members, as set out in previous meetings in so far as they related to the business for this meeting, were deemed to be declared again for this meeting.

Councillor Calvert-Mindell declared a personal interest in the item regarding East Kent Joint Housing Landlord Services because of her position as a leasholder of council accommodation.

TO RECEIVE any announcements from the Lord Mayor, the Leader, members of the Executive or the Chief Executive.

(a)         The Lord Mayor reported that his Chaplain, Reverend Canon Norman Woods, had a hip operation last week. The Lord Mayor mentioned that he had visited him earlier today and that he was in good spirits and had indicated that should the council meeting go over to next Thursday 25 February at 7pm, he hoped to attend. The Lord Mayor remarked how good his recovery had been since the operation.

(b)         The Lord Mayor remarked that he was delighted to see so many people from the Canterbury District who were at the meeting to share and listen to the debate at the meeting, although he emphasised that apart from the petitioners, the public could not speak at the meeting.

(c)         The Lord Mayor drew attention to an email which had been sent by the Chief Executive to Members advising them of the large Agenda for the meeting and indicating that when the Budget had been dealt with, the Lord Mayor would look at the remaining time for the meeting. If at that time the council felt it could finish the agenda this evening, it would do so. If not the meeting would be adjourned to the 25 February.

(d)         The Leader reported that the Planning Inspector had found the Herne Bay Area Action Plan sound, meeting all the legal requirements of the regulations.

The Leader mentioned that the Inspector had supported the three main development sites - Central Development Area, Beach Street and the Bus Depot. The Inspector had deemed that a formal hearing was not necessary and any points of clarification could be dealt with by written representation.

The Leader advised that the Inspector’s report was binding and it would be reported to the Executive in April before publication. The report would come to the council in April and would support the work being carried out by the contractor in progressing our ideas.

(e)         The Chief Executive reported that there were fewer people in attendance than expected, but if more people arrived he drew attention to the Fire Exits should it become necessary for everyone to leave the building in the event of an emergency.

(a)       Mr Long will present another petition at the meeting about the proposal for the closure of Westgate Hall, Canterbury.

(b)            Marjorie Lyle will present a petition calling on the Council to immediately drop plans to close the Roman Pavement and the Westgate Towers museums as the museums are assets to our city and should be kept open for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.

Any further notifications about other petitions to be presented at the meeting, which are received within the prescribed time limit, will be reported at the meeting.

The Lord Mayor advised the council that there were three petitions to be presented at the meeting. The Lord Mayor mentioned that the petitions would be received without debate and that they would be borne in mind when the council made its decisions on the budget proposals later in the meeting.

As the council had agreed earlier in the meeting to an audio recording of the meeting, the Lord Mayor asked each petitioner, in turn, if they were happy to be recorded. Each petitioner indicated that they were happy for their comments to be included in the recording.

The council then received petitions from the following persons who each addressed the council about the issues specified :-

(a)       from Mr B Long about the proposal for the closure of Westgate Hall, Canterbury;

(b)               from Professor D Birmingham, on behalf of the petitioner Marjorie Lyle, about the budget proposals for the Roman and Westgate Towers museums;

The Lord Mayor declared a personal interest in this item because he knew Professor Birmingham;

(c)        from Mr B Buggins about the proposal for the closure of Westgate Hall, Canterbury.

(1)               The Leader delivered his priorities speech.

(2)               Councillor A Perkins then replied, on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group, and during his reply he moved amendments to the Budget proposals. He requested that a separate vote be taken on each amendment.

(3)               In the absence of the Leader of the Labour Group, the Lord Mayor allowed Councillor Wratten to reply on behalf of the Labour Group.

(4)               The Leader then replied to the speeches by the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and by Councillor Wratten for the Labour Group.

(a)   That the council approves the net revenue budget amount to

£22,549,200 which incorporates the variations mentioned in sections 4 and 5 of this report.

(b)   That the council approves a Council Tax for Band D of £178.65

(c)   That the council approves the projections for 2011/12 to 2013/14 as the basis for the budget in each of those years with the projected Council Tax being limited to not more than 3% approximately.

(d)   That the council agrees that the windfall income from H M Revenues and Customs be transferred from its reserve to cover the currently assessed shortfall in the return of monies held in Icelandic banks.

(e)   That, in order to demonstrate the necessary robustness in the projections

i)         the council commits to a further programme of budget prioritisation so as to make savings in 2011/12 and beyond and

ii)          Management Team deliver further efficiency savings with the intention that these measures be expected to achieve reductions in staffing budgets of at least the equivalent of 5% per annum over the projection period.

(f)     That the charges set out in Appendix 7 of the report be approved.

(g)   That the asset disposals programme approved in February 2008 be revised in line with Management Team’s latest schedule (as at December 2009).

(1)   It was proposed by Councillor A Perkins and seconded by Councillor Dixey that no parking charge increases be introduced this year and that all on-street and off-street parking charges be frozen. (Revenue neutral).

(2)   Following a debate the foregoing amendment was then put and LOST

(3)   It was proposed by Councillor A Perkins and seconded by Councillor Dixey that the council cancel the £20,000 contribution to the Open Golf at Sandwich and use that money to reinstate £20,000 of the funding withdrawn from Age Concern and Northgate Over 60’s. (Revenue neutral).

Following a request, pursuant to the Council Procedure Rules, a record of the voting on the foregoing amendment was taken as follows

For the amendment

Councillors Berridge, Bright, Calvert-Mindell, Dixey, Dye, M Flaherty,

R Flaherty, Flanagan, Hando, Linfield, MacCaul, Matthews, Parsons,

A Perkins, Staley, Vickers, Vye and Wratten (18)

Against the amendment

Councillors Anderson, Austin, Bissett, Davis, Doyle, Ellis, Fisher, Gilbey, Harrison, Mrs Law, Lee, McCabe, McMahan, Patterson,

J Perkins, Pickersgill, Samper, Sharp, Sonnex, A Taylor, H Taylor, Thomas, Todd, Vickery-Jones and Windsor (25)

Abstained from voting

Councillors Cragg and Reuby (2)

Absent from the meeting

Councillors Carnell, Eden-Green, Parry, Seath and Steed (5)

The foregoing amendment was declared LOST.

(4)   It was proposed by Councillor A Perkins and seconded by Councillor Dixey that the council cancel the closure of the Westgate Hall. Set up a trust formed from the hall users to manage the building. (Capital:) Provide £450,000 for hall refurbishment by cancelling the proposed £600,000 move of Canterbury market  - return the remaining £150,000 to balances. (Revenue:) Provide year on year revenue funding for the Westgate Hall by way of grant using the £56,000 currently being added to reserves from the surplus rent from a High Street property.

This proposal affected both revenue and capital budgets and the Lord Mayor allowed a vote to be taken on the amendment at this point.

Following a request, pursuant to the Council Procedure Rules, a record of the voting on the foregoing amendment was taken as follows

For the amendment

Councillors Berridge, Bright, Calvert-Mindell, Dixey, Dye, M Flaherty,

R Flaherty, Flanagan, Hando, Linfield, MacCaul, Matthews, Parsons,

A Perkins, Staley, Vickers, Vye and Wratten (18)

Against the amendment

Councillors Anderson, Austin, Bissett, Davis, Doyle, Ellis, Fisher, Gilbey, Harrison, Mrs Law, Lee, McCabe, McMahan, Patterson,

J Perkins, Pickersgill, Reuby, Samper, Sharp, Sonnex, A Taylor,

H Taylor, Thomas, Todd, Vickery-Jones and Windsor (26)

Abstained from voting

Councillor Cragg

Absent from the meeting

Councillors Carnell, Eden-Green, Parry, Seath and Steed (5)

The foregoing amendment was declared LOST.

(5)   It was proposed by Councillor A Perkins and seconded by Councillor Dixey that the council cancel the closure/transfer of ALL 3 Museums. (Roman, Westgate and Herne Bay). Seek to set up a trust from the Friends of the Museums, The Archaeological Trust, The Guild of Guides and the two local Universities to run the district’s smaller museums.  Fund this year from the £74,600 museums transfer fund already set up by the Executive on 4^{th  ...  view the full minutes text for item 619a}

(a)               That the Capital Programme and Strategy presented in the report be approved. 

(b)               That authority be given to officers by section 2.6 of financial regulations (previously minute 871(a)(iv)1997/98) to incur expenditure on schemes brought into the 2010/11 and 2011/12 programme since the council meeting in February 2009.

(c)               That for those major schemes listed in section 3, expenditure on each new stage of these may only proceed with the express approval of the council.

(d)               That the capital strategy set out at Appendix 2 be adopted.

(1)       See Minute No. 619(a) (4) regarding an amendment to both the capital and revenue budgets, which was proposed by Councillor A Perkins and seconded by Councillor Dixey, and when put to a vote was LOST.

(2)       It was proposed by Councillor Gilbey, seconded by Councillor Mrs Law, and

RESOLVED – That the council approve the following recommendations at Minute No. E193 of the Executive meeting held on 21 January 2010-

(a)   That the Capital Programme and Strategy presented in the report be approved.

(b)    That authority be given to officers by section 2.6 of financial regulations (previously minute 871(a)(iv)1997/98) to incur expenditure on schemes brought into the 2010/11 and 2011/12 programme since the council meeting in February 2009.

(c)   That for those major schemes listed in section 3, expenditure on each new stage of these may only proceed with the express approval of the council.

(d)   That the capital strategy set out at Appendix 2 be adopted.

(a)       That the proposals set out in Appendix A of the report be approved subject to the assumptions set out in the body of the report.

(b)       That the draft and revised revenue and capital budgets and programme of works set out at Appendices B – H be approved.

It was proposed by Councillor Gilbey, seconded by Councillor Mrs Law, and

RESOLVED – That the council approve the following recommendations at Minute No. E191 of the Executive meeting held on 21 January 2010 -

(a)       That the proposals set out in Appendix A of the report be approved subject to the assumptions set out in the body of the report.

(b)       That the draft and revised revenue and capital budgets and programme of works set out at Appendices B – H be approved.

TO CONSIDER the recommendations to Full Council at Minute No. E207 of the Executive meeting on 4 February 2010 (see attached details) and the report of the Director of Corporate Services (to follow).

The Director of Corporate Services circulated at the meeting a report, which advised on the decision by the county council earlier today regarding its precept for the Council Tax for 2010/11. The paper set out an amended  resolution, which the council was now asked to approve for the Council Tax for 2010/11.

The council considered the report.

It was then proposed by Councillor Gilbey, seconded by Councillor Mrs Law, and

RESOLVED – That the council approve the following recommendations in the report of the Director of Corporate Services -

1          That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2010/11 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

a)         £93,262,798 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(2) (a) to (e) of the Act.

b)         £70,146,100 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(3) (a) to (c) of the Act.

c)         £23,116,698 being the amount by which the aggregate 1(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 1(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Act, as its budget requirement for the year.

2            £13,270,036 being the aggregate of the sums which the Council estimates will be payable for the year into its general fund in respect of re-distributed non-domestic rates and revenue support grant adjusted by the amount of the sums which the Council estimates will be transferred in the year to/from its general fund from/to its collection fund in accordance with Section 97(3) and Section 98(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

3            £189.58 being the amount at 1(c) above less the amount at (2) above, all divided by the Council Tax base (51,938) calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year.

4            £567,898 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.

5            £178.65 being the amount at (3) above less the result given by dividing the amount at (4) above by the Council Tax base (51,938) calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

6          Part of the Council’s area

Adisham

26.73

Hardres Upper

20.16

Barham

35.64

Herne & Broomfield

28.35

Bekesbourne with Patrixbourne

14.67

Hoath

21.96

Bishopsbourne

26.73

Ickham

19.89

Blean

23.13

Kingston

18.99

Bridge

36.45

Littlebourne

41.40

Chartham

50.67

Petham

30.60

Chestfield

39.24

Sturry

46.80

Chislet

28.71

Thanington Without

29.25

Fordwich

33.12

Waltham

19.17

Hackington

16.56

Westbere

47.97

Harbledown and Rough Common

34.83

Wickhambreaux

20.07

Hardres Lower

17.01

Womenswold

23.22

being the amounts given by adding to the amount at (5) above the amounts of the special item of items relating to dwellings in these parts of the City Council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 619d

At this point, the Lord Mayor asked Members to consider whether an extension of time should be considered to complete the remaining business for the meeting

Some Members commented on the issue and indicated that they did not wish to support an extension of time for the meeting.

In these circumstances the meeting was adjourned until Thursday 25 February at 7pm at The Guildhall.