Agenda and minutes

To sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 27 October 2022.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 27 October 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adamson, Bray, Chester, Harp, Elbourne, Humphreys, Moses, Torra and Walsh.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were none.

To consider any urgent business.

There was no urgent business for Council to address.

To consider any questions received from members of the public under Council Procedure Rule 2.14.

A question was asked by Mr Christopher Whinney about the retrofitting of insulation. A response was given by Councillor Lewanski, the Executive Member for Corporate Policy and Resources, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.14.

Note: For more information on the response to Council questions, please see the following page on the Council’s website:

https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13260

To consider any questions received from Members of the Council under Council Procedure Rule 2.15.

Ten questions with notice were received from Members of the Council. Following the publication of the addendum to the agenda, the question to receive an oral response from Councillor Sinden was redrafted with the Councillor’s consent. Councillor Chester was unable to ask her question and asked Councillor Proudfoot to deputise on her behalf. One question was additional from Councillor Sinden. Councillor Torra was not in attendance at the meeting and therefore unable to ask her question. Oral responses were therefore received at the meeting to eight questions with a written response provided to questions eight and ten in accordance with Procedure Rule 2.15.8.

Note: For more information on the response to Council questions, please see the following page on the Council’s website:

https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/ecCatDisplay.aspx?sch=doc&cat=13260

To receive and consider the recommendations of the Council’s Executive, Committees and Sub-Committees for decision including:

Executive meeting held on 17 November 2022

·       Minute 40 – Governance of the Council’s charitable trusts

Related Committee agenda, reports and minutes are available here.

RESOLVED: that the recommendations of the Executive, from its meeting on 17 November 2022, (Minute 40/Governance of the Council’s Charitable Trusts), be adopted.

To receive any statement from the Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive, Chairmen of Committees or the Managing Director.

Councillor Sachdeva, the Executive Member for Leisure & Culture, provided Council with a statement on reducing the Council’s environment impact through her portfolio. This included the use of LED lighting across leisure centres, The Harlequin and when illuminating the Town Hall. Reusable cups at The Harlequin and the provision of free water re-fill stations. The temperature had been reduced by a degree in all six of the Council’s swimming pools. Food waste was being reduced and recycled at The Harlequin. Leisure activities were being developed locally to limit the travel needed by residents to participate. The Councillor was proud of the steps taken so far and had asked officers to work on new options with higher impact. This included exploring the installation of photovoltaic panels on buildings within her portfolio and how to make a positive change to the energy usage at The Harlequin. A programme would also be developed to implement the findings of the Energy Audit Study once completed. 

The Managing Director provided Council with a statement in remembrance of Jim Mellor, a Tree Officer in the Planning Team. A tree would be planted in his honour. Respects were paid to his family and his colleagues.

For Council to approve a Council Tax Base for 2023/24 for the pupose of setting the Collection Fund budget.

Councillor Schofield, the Deputy Leader, in his capacity as the Executive Member for Finance & Governance, introduced the report on the Council Tax Base for 2023/24. It was noted that Council was statutorily required to determine the Council Tax Base by 31 January 2023. The proposals provided included those for Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council and Horley Town Council and all reflected the growth in the area.

RESOLVED:

1.    To approve a Council Tax Base for 2023/24 for the purpose of setting the Collection Fund budget of 63,495.31 Band D equivalents, this being a net increase in the Tax Base compared to 2022/23 of 1.96%; and

2.    To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance & Governance, to make further adjustments to the final Tax Base where necessary to reflect any changes in the underlying assumptions and report the outcome to Executive in January 2023.

For Council to receive recommendations for approval on amendments to the Constitution and Scheme of Delegation.

Councillor Schofield, the Deputy Leader, in his capacity as the Executive Member for Finance & Governance, introduced the report on the update to the Constitution. It was emphasised that the Council was under a duty to ensure that its Constitution was kept up to date, including the Scheme of Delegation. The report was based on a review conducted by the Monitoring Officer with the specific proposals set out in the annex to the report. The changes reflected changes to the management structure, addressed errors and improved the accessibility of the Constitution. 

The Managing Director informed Council that the date featured in the footer of the background papers to the report was in error and would be amended when adopted.

RESOLVED to agree the changes to the Constitution as set out in Annex 1 to the report.

To receive any announcements by the Leader of the Council.

Councillor Brunt, the Leader of the Council, provided Council with his announcements. Councillor Eddy Humphries was the Council’s nominee to the position of Mayor for 2023/24. Nominations to the position of Deputy Mayor for 2023/24 were being sought. 

On behalf of Council, the Leader wished all staff the best for the festive season. It was noted that it was important to put on record gratitude to staff. Specific thanks were given to the Managing Director, Director and all the Senior Management Team for the support they had provided to the Leader and the Executive during the year.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor gave thanks for the successful Remembrance events held in Redhill, Banstead and Horley as well as the unveiling of the ensign of HMS Ark Royal. It was highlighted that the Reigate & Banstead Sport Awards for 2023 were open for nominations with the closing date on Thursday 8 January 2023. Applications to the Together Fund were encouraged. Small grants of up to £5,000 were available with Friday 31 March 2023 the deadline for applications. One of the Mayor’s chosen charities, The Include Choir, was participating in the Big Give matched-funding campaign. Any donations given between Tuesday 29 November and Tuesday 6 December 2022, would be doubled as a result.

All Council staff were invited to join the Mayor at a Christmas Open House event in the Parlour from 2pm until 5pm on Wednesday 14 December 2022. The Civic Carol Service would take place on Sunday 17 December 2022 at Holy Trinity Church in Redhill. Refreshments were to be served from 6pm with the service commencing at 7pm.

The Burns Night Supper and Mayoress’ Lunch fundraising events were not going ahead but the Mayor looked forward to hosting the Dress to Impress Ball on Saturday 13 May 2023.