Meeting documents

Council
Thursday, 6th October, 2011 7.30 pm

Date:
Thursday, 6th October, 2011
Time:
7.30 pm
Place:
New Council Chamber, Town Hall, Reigate
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor B.A. Stead (Mayor); Councillors R. Amiah, S.S. Banwait, Mrs. N.J. Bramhall, S.T. Bramhall, Mrs. J.S. Bray, V.W. Broad, M.A. Brunt, G.P. Crome, A.J. De Save, J.M. Ellacott, J.C.S. Essex, S.N. Farrer, Ms. S. Finch, Dr. L.R. Hack, Mrs. G. Harper-Adamson, R. Harper, N. Harris, N.D. Harrison, A.C.J. Horwood, A.J. Kay, G.J. Knight, S.A. Kulka, A.M. Lynch, R.S. Mantle, M.J. Miller, R.C. Newstead, G.L. Norman, Dr. R.J. Olliver, D.J. Pay, Mrs. C.E. Poulter, Mrs. R. Renton, Mrs. D.A. Ross-Tomlin, M.J. Selby, Mrs. J.M.A. Spiers, J.M. Stephenson, Mrs. A.F. Tarrant, Ms. B.J. Thomson, Ms. J. Tomlinson, Mrs. R.S. Turner, M.A. Vivona, S.T. Walsh and C.T.H. Whinney.
Min NoDescriptionResolution
Part I
39 MINUTES
 RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 28th July 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed.
40 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
 Councillors Mrs. L.J. Brunt, Mrs. G.M. Emmerton, F. Kelly, Mrs. S.F. King, Mrs. R. Mill and R.F.C Wagner.
41 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 Councillors Dr. L.R. Hack, N.D. Harrison and Mrs. D.A. Ross-Tomlin declared a personal interest in Minute 49 (Electoral Review of Surrey County Council) by virtue of their membership of Surrey County Council.
42 URGENT BUSINESS
 None.
43 PUBLIC QUESTIONS
 None.
44 QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS
 Three questions were asked and responses given by the Executive Member for Prosperous Borough - Councillor M.J. Miller (1) and the Executive Member for Safer Communities (2) in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14 and the order paper circulated at the meeting.
45 STATEMENTS
 The Leader of the Council (Councillor Mrs J.M.A. Spiers) made a statement on a number of key issues that the Council would be considering over coming months.

The Government consultation on a National Planning Policy Framework closed on 17 October 2011 and the Council would be responding in detail with some positive endorsement of certain proposals but equally with a number of major concerns.

The Leader also intended to make representations to the Borough's three Members of Parliament seeking their assistance in ensuring amendment of the Framework as currently drafted. The new Framework would come into force from April 2012 and it was therefore imperative that the Council's Local Development Framework was in place by this time.

The Leader also made reference to wide ranging changes that were proposed to the welfare system. Whilst simplification of the system was welcome, there were some concerns that the current proposals could lead to increased demand of the Council's statutory housing services. Again, the Borough's three MP's had been informed of concerns and the Leader hoped to meet with them to discuss the issues involved. The Leader had also made representations through the District Councils Network.

A provisional budget would be submitted to the November meeting of the Executive and this would reflect the Government's recent announcement on a scheme to freeze Council tax levels for 2012/13.

A part of her statement the Leader made reference to infrastructure investments by the Council; the young workers scheme and resolution of an encroachment of Council land by travellers in Horley.

The Deputy Leader (and Executive Member for Finance) - Councillor V.W. Broad - made a statement on the conclusion of a major land transaction (sale) by the Council in Horley. The Deputy Leader also reported on the creation of the "Jubilee Woodland" in Tadworth using a previously disused area of land.

The Executive Member for Partnership and Property (Councillor R.C. Newstead) made a statement regarding on-going and planned external refurbishment works at the Town Hall, Reigate. It was hoped that the works would be completed by early November 2011.

Finally, the Executive Member for Safer Communities (Councillor S.N. Farrer) reported that, following discussions with the Council, the Ministry of Justice had decided not to progress a proposal to establish leased housing in the Borough for ex-offenders.
46 SEALING OF DOCUMENTS
 RESOLVED to:

(i) authorise the sealing of any Orders, Deeds or Documents necessary to give effect to any matter contained in the Minutes of the meetings held between 21st July 2011 and 22nd September 2011 (2011/12 Volume 3) and any previous Minutes; and

(ii) ratify the sealing of documents referred to in entries 77/11 to 99/11 in the Seal Register.
47 MOTION: PROVISION OF SOLAR PANELS AT THE TOWN HALL, REIGATE AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY
 Councillor J.C.S. Essex moved and Councillor Ms S. Finch seconded the following Motion:
"This Council believes that it is important for the Council to lead the community to make the transition to a sustainable future locally. We demonstrated this with the commitment to invest in solar panels on the new Horley leisure centre and Earlswood depot in February 2011. This motion seeks to extend this commitment in a cost-effective manner by also installing solar panels on high profile public buildings including the Town Hall.
This Council notes that the Government's Feed in Tariff goes down from its optimum rate in April 2012 and if the Council is going to make the best use of council tax money it needs to fast track capital programmes to install solar panels. It will drop from its current rate of 43.4p for systems under 4kW by around 8% in April.
This Council notes the report to the Executive on 27 January this year which set out a sustainable yield of around 10% for such investment.
This Council asks the Leader of the Council (through her Executive) to instructs officers to invest any surplus under the Carbon Management Plan of this year's budget in solar panels to go on the roof of the Town Hall, like other Councils are doing up and down the country including Leeds, Sheffield, Kirklees, Brighton (1600 roofs of council buildings, schools and affordable housing) and Birmingham.
This Council further asks the Leader (again through her Executive) to instructs officers to establish an Energy Services Company (as has been delivered in Norfolk) to facilitate community and commercial investment in solar panels and put the first new systems in place before the April 2012 deadline. This community ESCO will create an effective way for the community to ‘invest to save' in environmental measures, with revenue each year going to community schemes."
The Motion related to an Executive function and consequently (in accordance with Part 3 of the Constitution - Responsibility for Executive Functions - and Council Procedure Rule 16.3) upon being moved and seconded it was referred without discussion to the Executive for consideration and recommendation to Council, if appropriate.
48 REVIEW OF POLLING DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES 2011

To receive a report with proposals for polling districts and polling places in the Borough following a statutory review undertaken under the Electoral Administration Act 2006.

Minute for Minute Number 48
RESOLVED that:

(i) the premises set out in Annex 1 to the submitted report be designated the polling places for the polling districts stated with effect from 1st December 2011; and

(ii) the Officers be asked to pursue the provision of ramps, where appropriate, to improve accessibility.
49 ELECTORAL REVIEW OF SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL

To receive a report on proposals by the Local Government Boundary Commission to increase the number of County Councillors in Reigate and Banstead from 9 to 10 and changes to the configuration of electoral Divisions to achieve electoral equality.

Minute for Minute Number 49
RESOLVED that the recommended response to the electoral review of Surrey County Council as set out in paragraphs 14 - 16 of the report be approved for submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
50 STANDARDS COMMITTEE - MEMBERSHIP 2011-12
 RESOLVED to approve the following change in respect of Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council representation on the Standards Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2011/12:

Mr S. Norton to replace Mrs J.A. Cook
51 APPROVAL OF NON-ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS OF THE AUTHORITY
 RESOLVED to approve the non-attendance of Councillor Mrs S.F. King at meetings of the Authority for the period 7th October 2011 to 25th May 2012 on grounds of ill-health in accordance with Regulation 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 (Part 2).
52 LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
 None.
53 MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
 The Mayor (Councillor B.A. Stead) reported that his Civic Church Service would be held on Sunday 9th October at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Church, Nork, Banstead.

This year's Mayor's Annual Volunteer Awards would take place on 18th October. There were to be 21 awards and citations would be in the Members Bulletin prior to the event for Ward Members information.

The Mayor would be holding a coffee morning in aid of Surrey Deaf Children's Society on 25 November and would welcome the support of Members at this event.

Finally, the Mayor announced that the Council's annual Community Carol Service would take place on Sunday 18th December at Reigate Park Church.
The meeting closed at 8.25 p.m.

Minute

Min NoMinute
48Council received a report on the outcome of a statutory review of polling districts and polling places in accordance with the Electoral Administration Act 2006.

The report set out relevant statutory powers, the review process, accessibility issues, information on a review of County electoral Divisions (see Minute 49 below), legal and resource implications and the consultation undertaken.

Arising from the review, the report had appended to it a schedule of existing and proposed polling places. It was noted that a further review would be required in March 2012 to take account of likely changes to the County Divisions.

The report was presented by the Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer and the recommendations, as set out, were then moved and seconded. The circumstances relating to a fall at Oakwood School would be investigated.
49In relation to an electoral review of Surrey County Council, a report was submitted to Council which outlined proposals by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) to increase the number of County Councillors in Reigate and Banstead from 9 to 10 and change the configuration of electoral divisions to achieve electoral equality.

The report set out relevant statutory powers, the proposals by the LGBCE (together with implications for Reigate and Banstead), a suggested response by the Council, legal, financial, equalities and other implications, consultation arrangements and policy framework considerations.

The report had appended to it the full text of the LGBCE proposals in relation to Reigate and Banstead and a schedule indicating changes to the naming and configuration of electoral divisions. Plans indicating boundary changes had been made available for inspection in the Members Room.

The report indicated that, in the light of representations received, the LGBCE would review their draft recommendations and consider whether they should be altered. The LGBCE would then publish their final recommendations. The changes would need to be approved by Parliament. The Order would provide for new electoral arrangements to be implemented at the next elections for Surrey County Council in 2013.

The Chief Executive introduced the report and the recommendation, as set out, was moved and seconded. A number of issues were discussed, following which it was