Agenda and minutes

Venue: New Council Chamber - Town Hall, Reigate. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services (01737 276182)  Email: Democratic@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

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Items
No. Item

19.

Minutes

To sign the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 24 May 2018.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 24 May 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed.

20.

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M. Blacker, Mrs N.J. Bramhall, V.W. Broad, M.A. Brunt, J.Godden, A.C.J. Horwood, J. King, G.J. Knight, Mrs R. Mill, D.T. Powell, Mrs A. Tarrant, S.T. Walsh, C.T.H. Whinney and J.C. White.

21.

Declarations of interest

To receive any declarations of interest.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

22.

Urgent business

To consider any urgent business.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

23.

Public questions

To consider any questions received from members of the public under Council Procedure Rule 13.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

24.

Questions by Members

To consider any questions received from Members of the Council under Council Procedure Rule 14.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Three questions were asked and responses given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.15 and the Order Paper circulated at the meeting. Details were as follows:

 

Question by

Answered by

Subject

Councillor

S. McKenna

Councillor K. Foreman, Executive Member for  Planning Policy

The National Planning Policy Framework and Garden Village Principles

 

Councillor

H. Brown

Councillor K. Foreman, Executive Member for  Planning Policy

 

Redhill Aerodrome

Councillor

J.C.S. Essex

Councillor M.A. Brunt, Leader of the Council, nominated Councillor T. Schofield, Executive Member for Finance, to respond

 

Pathway for Care

 

Note: For more information on responses to Council questions please see this page on the Council’s website:

 

http://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/downloads/download/441/full_council_questions_and_observations

25.

Statements

To receive any statement from the Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive, Chairmen of Committees or the Head of Paid Service.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

26.

Motion: Single Use Plastics

Councillor G. R. Curry will move and Councillor R. W. Coad will second the following Motion:

 

The devastating impact that single use plastics are having on the world’s environment is well understood and although not a new threat, it is becoming increasingly obvious that more needs to be done at a local and individual level. Practical initiatives that the Council, businesses and residents can easily embrace within the area of Reigate and Banstead are required and therefore I request the Council approves the following actions and initiatives:

 

1.    That the Chief Executive be requested to undertake an audit of the Council’s purchasing with respect to single use plastics and to report the findings of this review to the Executive with appropriate recommendations for their reduction;

2.    That the Chief Executive be requested to take action to immediately eliminate the use of single use plastics in the Town Hall complex, liaise with satellite facilities such as the Earlswood Depot, Harlequin, leisure centres and businesses within the Councils commercially rented properties to work towards this goal on a practical timescale.

3.    That the Chief Executive works with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services to prepare an awareness campaign of the need to reduce single use plastics within our local community; and

4.    That the Chief Executive be requested to develop a system that would promote achievement levels through a voluntary rating system for local businesses (and other organisations, e.g. schools) to highlight those doing the most to eliminate single use plastics, reduce general disposable and single use items and working to increase their recycling rates.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor G.R. Curry moved and Councillor R.W. Coad seconded the following Motion, concerning single use plastics:

 

1.    That the Chief Executive be requested to undertake an audit of the Council’s purchasing with respect to single use plastics and to report the findings of this review to the Executive with appropriate recommendations for their reduction;

 

2.    That the Chief Executive be requested to take action to immediately eliminate the use of single use plastics in the Town Hall complex, liaise with satellite facilities such as the Earlswood Depot, Harlequin, leisure centres and businesses within the Council’s commercially rented properties to work towards this goal on a practical timescale;

 

3.    That the Chief Executive works with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services to prepare an awareness campaign of the need to reduce single use plastics within our local community; and

 

4.    That the Chief Executive be requested to develop a system that would promote achievement levels through a voluntary rating system for local businesses (and other organisations, e.g. schools) to highlight those doing the most to eliminate single use plastics, reduce general disposable and single use items and working to increase their recycling rates.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.17.3 of the Constitution the Motion upon being moved and seconded was referred without discussion to the Executive for consideration.

27.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council: Boundary Review Submission (Ward Boundaries)

To receive and consider a response to the boundary review consultation, regarding ward boundary patterns, as set out in Annex 1 of the report and recommended by the Member Working Group.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Councillor J. Durrant, Executive Member for Community Safety and Chairman of the Boundary Review Member Working Group, informed the Council that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) had, earlier in the year, announced proposals to reduce the council size from 51 to 45 as part of its review of Reigate and Banstead’s size, electoral arrangements and ward boundaries.

 

Councillor J. Durrant explained that the LGBCE had published proposed ward boundaries, following an initial consultation, in June 2018. It was noted that LGBCE had been consulting on these proposals and the deadline for commenting on warding patterns and names was 13 August 2018.

 

Councillor J. Durrant explained that the Council had established a cross-party, Member Working Group, which had supported the Council’s activities in relation to the LGBCE review. It was highlighted that the response to the consultation, set out in Annex 1 of the report, represented the collective work of all Members. Cllr J. Durrant placed on record his thanks to Members, and the Working Group in particular, for their time and effort and paid tribute to officers for their support and guidance.

 

In drawing ward boundaries it was noted that the LGBCE needed to balance the following statutory criteria: delivering electoral equality; reflecting local community interests and identities; and promoting effective and convenient local government.

 

Councillor J. Durrant informed the Council that the discussions at Working Group meetings had been very positive and had allowed Members to use their combined local knowledge to better realise the affinities local residents had and to suggest appropriate changes to the proposals put forward by the LGBCE.

 

It was noted that the Working Group had identified some areas of significant concern, such as the splits in Kingswood and Woodmansterne. However, it was also highlighted that many smaller changes had been identified to help better reflect local communities.

 

It was explained that the following minor amendments would be made to the Council’s response prior to submission:

 

-       The addition of Burgh Heath to the Kingswood, Chipstead and Woodmansterne ward name.

 

-       The estimated population for Banstead Village would be amended to 7,645. This was in accordance with the forecast electorate numbers calculated on the boundary mapping tool used to map the proposed amendments.

 

-       The correction of typos in relation to Horley East and Salfords.               

 

Cllr J. Durrant moved the Recommendations set out in the report which was seconded by Councillor K. Foreman.

 

During the discussion that followed a number of issues were considered, including:

 

-       The cross-party support for work carried out by the Member Working Group and the response to the boundary review consultation, set out in Annex 1 of the report. 

 

-       That feedback from the local community had helped inform the Council’s response and that Councillors had undertaken various community engagement activities.

 

-       The importance of promoting the LGBCE consultation and encouraging all residents to provide a response to help ensure the final proposal, due in October 2018, best reflected communities across the borough. 

 

In addition  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Appointments to the Independent Remuneration Panel for the 2018/19 Period

In accordance with the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England)  Regulations 2003, the Council is required to appoint an Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) to report and make recommendations on Members Allowances. The IRP must comprise at least three members and Council is requested to consider appointments for the 2018/19 period.

 

The membership for 2017/18 was:

 

IRP Member

First Appointed

Term of Office

Mrs Tracey Jessup

Jul 2013

Expired

Mr Paul Whitehouse

May 2015

Expired

Mr Colin Woods

Nov 2017

Until 2020

 

Between them, Mrs Jessup, Mr Whitehouse and Mr Woods, have significant experience across central and local government, parliamentary procedures, the wider public sector, human resources, management, professional services and charity work. They have built a considerable understanding and knowledge (both local and national) on member allowances and various related issues. They are independent of any political party, have no connections with the Council and have all indicated they are willing to continue for the 2018/19 period.  

 

The next IRP review will commence in July 2018. This will involve undertaking research into the roles of Councillors and interviews with Members, including a questionnaire. The outcome of this work, including recommendations for the members allowance scheme for 2019/20, will be presented to Council in December 2018.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

1.    That Mr Colin Woods continues as an IRP Member until 2020. 

 

2.    That Mrs Tracey Jessup be re-appointed as an IRP Member, for an extra one year term, until 2019 to ensure consistency and transfer of knowledge.

 

3.    That Mr Paul Whitehouse be re-appointed as an IRP Member, for an extra one year term, until 2019 to ensure consistency and transfer of knowledge.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that:

 

1.    Mr Colin Woods continue as an IRP Member until 2020.

 

2.    Mrs Tracey Jessup be re-appointed as an IRP Member, for an extra one year term, until 2019 to ensure consistency and transfer of knowledge.

 

3.    Mr Paul Whitehouse be re-appointed as an IRP Member, for an extra one year term, until 2019 to ensure consistency and transfer of knowledge.

29.

Leader's announcements

To receive any announcements by the Leader of the Council.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None.

30.

Mayor's announcements

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor reported on the success of the Mayoral Facebook account. It was highlighted that the account, set up for the new Mayoral team, had received positive ratings of over 86%. It was noted that this facility had allowed the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to reach out to many people across the community and had been used to promote upcoming events.

 

The Mayor also informed the Council that:

 

·         The Heritage Open Day was being held on Saturday 15 September at the Town Hall, Reigate.

 

·         A Ladies Lunch was being held on Tuesday 20 November at the Redhill and Reigate Golf Club. It was noted that Virginia McKenna, from the Born Free Foundation, would be guest speaker.

 

The Mayor closed the meeting by inviting Members and guests to the Parlour for light refreshments after the meeting.