A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Council and councillors

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP

Contact: Governance  Email: governance@rutland.gov.uk

Link: Audio recording

Items
No. Item

300.

APOLOGIES

To receive any apologies for absence from Members.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Ms Burrows, Mrs Harvey and Ms MacCartney.

301.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

The Chairman congratulated Councillor Richard Coleman on their recent election to the Ward of Ryhall & Casterton and welcomed them to the Council and their first Full Council Meeting.

 

The Chairman welcomed the new Governance Manager, Mrs Emma Powley.

 

The Chairman advised that the list of engagements had been circulated.

302.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE LEADER, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET OR THE HEAD OF PAID SERVICE

Minutes:

The Leader read out a positive comment from a member of the public regarding the RCC Annual Report stating that it was a smart and detailed document with impressive achievements. It was noted that distribution of the report was encouraged to be online and there was a plain text large print version available on the website.

 

The Deputy Leader reminded Councillors there was a visit to the Casepak recycling centre on Tuesday 26 November 2019. If Councillors wished to attend they should contact the Communications Team.

 

Mrs Stephenson provided an update on the water leak by the Manton Bridge from Preston through to Oakham. Severn Trent had been investigating the leak since June and stated it would be complicated to fix. The Highways Team at RCC had been putting a lot of pressure on Severn Trent as it was now October and the winter months were approaching. It was also noted that the Council runs a Snow Warden Scheme where members of the community receive training and equipment. If members of the community were interested in becoming a Snow Warden they should contact their Town or Parish Clerk.

 

Mr Walters provided an update on the Rutland Hub Project. The project board had considered detailed reports on the possibility of incorporating not only health and social care within one site, but also to incorporate any or all blue light services, and Council services. The outcome was that it was not viable to incorporate the extra services into the project at the present time, but that any resulting proposal should leave options open for the future.

 

303.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any disclosable interests under the Code of Conduct and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were received.

304.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

To confirm the Minutes of the 284th meeting of the Rutland County Council District Council held on 9 September 2019.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the 284th meeting of the Rutland County Council District Council held on 9 September 2019 were confirmed by the Council and signed by the Chairman.

305.

PETITIONS, DEPUTATIONS AND QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

To receive any petitions, deputations or questions received from members of the public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 28. The total time allowed for this is 30 minutes.  Petitions, deputations and questions will be dealt with in the order in which they are received and any which are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting.

Minutes:

No petitions, deputations or questions from members of the public had been received.

306.

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL

To receive any questions submitted from Members of the Council in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules 30 and 30A.

Minutes:

Miss Jones

 

My question concerns the St. George’s Barracks working groups that have been created to look at issues around transport, employment and design. I understand these groups are comprised mainly of members of the St. George’s Barracks Advisory Group. Whilst I recognise the importance of the advisory group and the vital consultative role it plays in including parish councillors in the decision-making processes going forward. I question the validity of restricting membership of these working groups to representatives of the advisory group.

 

How is RCC going to ensure diversity of input and are there any plans to include representatives from all socio-economic groups and a younger demographic going forward - particularly given that part of the aim is to provide housing and employment for young people?

 

Response provided by Mr Hemsley (Portfolio Holder for One Public Estate):

 

It’s helpful to have an opportunity to update Members on the ongoing work on the St George’s Project. The project board now actually has approved five sub-groups, all with agreed Terms of Reference including membership and advisors to those groups covering the following areas: Design, employment, lifelong learning, health & dementia friendly, highways & transportation.

 

The sub-groups are intended to be working groups and as such it is important that each of these groups does not become too large, clearly it is also important that the sub-groups have the ability to seek advice beyond its membership. As an example, when reviewing the terms of reference for the health & dementia sub-group at the most recent board it was agreed that it was essential that the Rutland Access Group were invited at the appropriate time to advise and engage with the process.

 

For each of the sub-groups and indeed the overall projects it is anticipated that there will be key stages where wider consultation and engagement will be essential, some of this may be through focus groups targeted at for example young people and families etc. Young people and their families are our future and we will continue to work hard to engage and consult with them on the St George’s Project. We will do this in an accessible way that will encourage the widest possible involvement.

 

Of course, as the project progresses there will be statutory consultations through the planning process and as well the opportunity for the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Committee to consider the work that has been undertaken. In relation to the advisory group, this group was established in 2018 and includes representatives from the surrounding Parish Councils and Parish Meeting in Normanton. It also includes two Market Towns and Ward Members from Normanton and the immediate surrounding wards as members of this group.

 

There are still some vacancies on the sub-groups as nominations have not been forthcoming from the advisory group and particular from the Parish Councils as they feel it is premature at this time to be involved in this work. As we have said at some stage, there will be a development on this brownfield site and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 306.

307.

REFERRAL OF COMMITTEE DECISIONS TO THE COUNCIL

To determine matters where a decision taken by a Committee has been referred to the Council in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 110.

Minutes:

No Committee decisions had been referred.

308.

CALL-IN OF DECISIONS FROM CABINET MEETINGS DURING THE PERIOD FROM 6 SEPTEMBER 2019 to 11 OCTOBER 2019 (INCLUSIVE)

To determine matters where a decision taken by the Cabinet has been referred to Council by the call-in procedure of Scrutiny Panels, as a result of the decision being deemed to be outside the Council’s policy framework by the Monitoring Officer or not wholly in accordance with the budget by the Section 151 Officer, in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules 206 and 207.

Minutes:

No call-ins were received.

309.

REPORT FROM THE CABINET pdf icon PDF 50 KB

To receive Report No.155/2019 from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to the Council for determination and to note the Key Decisions taken at its meeting held on 17 September 2019.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report No. 155/2019 from the Cabinet was received, the purpose of which was to consider the Key Decisions made by Cabinet since the publication of the agenda for the previous ordinary meeting of the Council held on 9 September 2019.

 

RESOLVED

 

Council NOTED the Key Decisions made by Cabinet since the publication of the agenda for the previous ordinary meeting of the Council on 9 September 2019, as detailed in Appendix A of this report.

310.

REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL

a.    To receive reports from Committees on matters which require Council approval because the Committee does not have the delegated authority to act on the Council’s behalf.

b.    To receive reports from Council Committees on any other matters and to receive questions and answers on any of those reports.

Minutes:

There were no reports from Committees of the Council.

311.

REPORTS FROM SCRUTINY COMMISSION / SCRUTINY COMMITTEES pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To receive the reports from the Scrutiny Commission / Scrutiny Committees on any matters and to receive questions and answers on any of those reports.

 

1.    Biodiversity Task and Finish Group Proposal – Report No.164/2019

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report No. 164/2019 was received from the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Committee, the purpose of which was to request that Council approves the formation and direction of the Task and Finish Group in accordance with Procedure Rule 15 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

 

Miss Waller introduced and moved the recommendations in the report. Mr Oxley seconded the recommendations.

 

During debate the following points were noted:

 

      i.        Mr Cross questioned the financial cost to the Council in setting up the group. It was confirmed that officer time and any potential site visits would be the only cost.

    ii.        The work of the group would inform the Biodiversity Strategy that Cabinet members and officers were working on.

   iii.        The first task of the group would be to set up milestones.

 

RESOLVED

 

That Council:

 

      i.        AGREED to the formation of a time limited, cross-party Task and Finish Group to review and develop the Council’s Biodiversity Strategy.

    ii.        APPROVED the Terms of Reference

 

312.

JOINT ARRANGEMENTS AND EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS

To receive reports about and receive questions and answers on the business of any joint arrangements or external organisations.

Minutes:

      i.        Mr Dale - Rural Community Awards

 

Mr Dale stated that Mr Baines and the Lord Lieutenant accompanied him to the Rural Community Awards. The category for unsung hero had two nominations out of five that were from Rutland. Joyce Bird from Rutland won the award. The Council would send their congratulations to Joyce Bird and nominee Tracey Stewart.

 

    ii.        Mr Bool – Combined Fire Authority

 

A visit to the Oakham Fire and Rescue Station for members of the Council was planned for Thursday 17 October 2019.

 

   iii.        Miss Waller – LLR Joint Health Scrutiny

 

There is to be an additional meeting towards the end of the year as the Leicester Hospital Trust was one of the ones in the most recent Government announcements for potential funding. Once told they can have money, they would then start formal consultation.

 

   iv.        Mr Oxley – Rutland Fairtrade Steering Group

 

The Fairtrade Steering Group were pleased to hear that the Council supports Fairtrade across the county. The application has gone to the Fairtrade Foundation to renew Rutland’s Fairtrade status.

 

    v.        Mr Lowe – East Midlands Councils Scrutiny Conference

 

Seven Councillors and one officer attended the conference which was very informative. Further details would be circulated to members.

 

   vi.        Miss Jones – Rutland Access Group

 

Attended a meeting of the Rutland Access Group where a wide range of topics were covered, with long discussions on public and private transport to hospitals for people with accessibility issues. It was acknowledged that even though there was information out there it was found to be difficult to find and suggested information could be linked on the Council’s website.

 

It was also found that there was limited information regarding to accessibility on the Discover Rutland website. Wheelchair accessible hotels were listed but not necessarily those who had other accessibility features.

 

  vii.        Mr Baines – Rutland Water Partnership

 

At the meeting on 27 September 2019 there were two main items. Local opinion on parking at Rutland Water had been taken into consideration and will be fed into RCC’s parking review.

 

The Rutland Water area had not been looked at in 10 years. The alterations that were being suggested follow topographical features in the landscape.

 

viii.        Mr Baines – The Welland Catchment Partnership

 

The partnership now had full funding for the officer involved. If anyone was interested in becoming a local river warden, training would be available to them

 

   ix.        Mr Baines – Environment Agency Flood Defence

 

The impact of climate change was raised at the meeting and was debated considerably. Mr Baines hoped that the Environment Agency Flood Defence would come under the remit of the Biodiversity Task and Finish Group.

 

    x.        Mr Walters – Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) - Partnership Group (Shadow Board)

 

The purpose of the board was to support the good governance of the STP, providing non-executive and lay oversight and challenge to the delivery of the STP. The Terms of Reference had been drafted by the group and when finalised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 312.

313.

NOTICES OF MOTION pdf icon PDF 44 KB

To consider the Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Gordon Brown and seconded by Councillor Oxley in accordance with Procedure Rule 34, the text of which can be found in the agenda pack.

Minutes:

The Notice of Motion submitted by Mr G Brown in accordance with Procedure Rule 34 was received.

 

Mr Brown introduced the motion and moved the recommendation below. Mr Oxley seconded the motion.

 

During debate the following points were noted:

 

  1. Miss Waller proposed that all Scrutiny Committees should consider the impact of climate change and the environment when reviewing Council policies and strategies, rather than only the Growth Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Committee as stated in the motion. The amendment was accepted by Mr G Brown and Mr Oxley.
  2. Mr Baines noted it was an ambitious motion and that it was right to be cautious regarding dates and implementation by having longer deadlines than other authorities.
  3. Mr Baines hoped that within the review of Council activity, the acceptable level of temperature in Council buildings would be included.
  4. It was raised that there needed to be big engagement with young people so that they drove the strategy and not those that who would see least benefit.

 

RESOLVED

 

That Council:

 

AGREED to support the motion with the following amendment to the seventh commitment listed in the motion that would now read:

 

“Request that Scrutiny Committees consider the impact of climate change and the environment when reviewing Council policies and strategies.”

 

---oOo---

In accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 10, paragraph 6 – Recording of Votes – Mr Cross requested that his vote against the above resolution be recorded.

---oOo---

 

314.

REVIEW OF POLITICAL BALANCE pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To receive Report No.160/2019 from the Monitoring Officer.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report No. 160/2019 was received from the Monitoring Officer, the purpose of which was to review the political balance of Committees and request the Council to approve the allocation of seats in accordance with the statutory requirements concerning political balance.

 

Mr Hemsley introduced the report and moved the recommendations. Mr Woodley seconded the recommendations in the report.

 

During debate the following points were noted:

 

      i.        The Conservative Group would gain a seat on the Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Committee, Conduct Committee, and the Planning and Licensing Committee.

    ii.        Mr Oxley would come off Growth, Infrastructure and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

   iii.        Mr A Brown would take the Independent Group seat on Adults and Health Scrutiny Committee and would come off Conduct Committee.

 

RESOLVED

 

That Council:

 

      i.        APPROVED the revised political balance calculation as per paragraph 2.6 of the report.

    ii.        NOTED the current allocation of seats to Political Groups shown at paragraph 2.8 and the membership of each committee as set out in Appendix A.

   iii.        DECIDED which committee seat should be reallocated in accordance with the revised political balance calculation.

 

315.

APPOINTMENT TO THE OAKHAM TOWN PROJECT GROUP pdf icon PDF 55 KB

To receive Report No.157/2019 from the Strategic Director for Resources.

Minutes:

Report No. 157/2019 was received from the Strategic Director for Resources, the purpose of which was to appoint two members of Council to the Oakham Town Project Group.

 

Mr Hemsley introduced the report and moved the recommendations. Mrs Stephenson seconded the recommendations.

 

RESOLVED

 

That Council:

 

      i.        APPOINTED Mrs Fox and Mr Woodley to the Oakham Town Project Group

316.

AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF FULL FIBRE (GIGABIT CAPABLE) NETWORK UPGRADES TO PUBLIC SECTOR BUILDINGS IN RUTLAND pdf icon PDF 97 KB

To receive Report No.156/2019 from the Chief Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report No. 157/2019 was received from the Strategic Director for Places, the purpose of which was to seek approval of the Council to award the contract supporting the delivery of the Digital Rutland Local Full Fibre Networks (DR LFFN) project.

 

Mr Hemsley introduced the report and moved the recommendations. Mr G Brown seconded the recommendations of the report.

 

During debate the following points were noted:

 

      i.        The project would enable local small areas to access the internet when they previously couldn’t, and would improve the ability for residents to work from home.

    ii.        Miss Waller could not see that benefits of the project. Residents in the more rural areas of her ward would not be able to benefit from the project and officers had not yet come back with a solution. Miss Waller also had concerns with the financial impact on Rutland with the creation of a capital budget, and if there was any problems with government funding, what the effect would have on the Council’s cost.

   iii.        Mr A Brown stated that Glaston had originally declined the opportunity to sign up to the project, however after the project was explained by Karl McGrory, Digital Rutland LFFN Project Manager, they changed their mind and signed up.

   iv.        Mr G Brown reassured the Council that the provider would be able to deliver within the timescales detailed in the report and were financially viable.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Council:

 

1.    APPROVED the award of contract for the Digital Rutland Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) project.

2.    APPROVED the creation of a capital budget for the Digital Rutland LFFN project as outlined in Exempt Appendix B. Including the match funding requirement from the Council of £446,000.

3.    NOTED the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) funding award of £1,783,000 and the potential further £500,000 funding available from DCMS.

4.    DELEGATED authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder and the Section 151 Officer to accept any additional funds from the DCMS in respect of the Digital Rutland LFFN project.

5.    NOTED the specified outcomes and project timetable in paragraph 3 and 4. Further detailed in Exempt Appendix A.

6.    AUTHORISED the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with portfolio for Rutland One Public Estate & Growth, Tourism & Economic Development, and Resources to execute the contract award on receipt of DCMS Gate C assurance letter.

 

 

---oOo---

In accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 10, paragraph 6 – Recording of Votes – Miss Waller requested that her vote against the above resolution be recorded.

---oOo---

 

317.

ANY URGENT BUSINESS

To receive items of urgent business which have been previously notified to the person presiding.

Minutes:

No matters of urgent business were received.