Agenda and minutes

Before the start of the meeting the Mayor reminded all present that this meeting of the Council would be webcast live on the Council’s website.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 7 February 2019.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 7 February 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M.A. Brunt, F. Kelly, A.M. Lynch, D.T. Powell and Mrs A. Tarrant. Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor S.T. Walsh.

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

To consider any urgent business.

None.

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

Two questions were asked and responses given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.14 and the Order Paper circulated at the meeting. The details were as follows:

Note: For more information on responses to Council questions please see this 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 public under Council Procedure Rule 2.15.

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

Note: For more information on responses to Council questions please see this 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.  

The Council received 18 Recommendations arising from the Executive’s meeting on 18 March 2019.

These had been set out in the report presented under Minute 114/216-217 (Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20), Minute 117/220-224 (Governance Task Group – Constitution), and Minute 119/225-226 (Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2019/20).  

In relation to Recommendations from the Governance Task Group – Constitution (Minute 117/220-224), moved by Councillor J.E. Durrant and seconded by Councillor K. Foreman, the Council was informed that Councillor S.T. Walsh and Councillor D. Allcard had given notice of an Amendment to be moved at the meeting (which had been provided to Members in advance and was tabled at the meeting).

Councillor Walsh moved and Councillor Allcard seconded an Amendment that proposed Recommendations (v) and (vi), sub items (a) and (b), of the Executive meeting dated 18 March 2019 (Minute 117/220-224) be omitted and the proposed changes to the Constitution that flowed from these proposals not be made.

Upon being put to the Council the Amendment was carried and formed the substantive proposal which was adopted by Council accordingly.

The Council therefore determined each of the Recommendations from the Executive as set out below.

RESOLVED:

(i)            That the Recommendation of the Executive set out under Minute 114/216-217 (Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20) be adopted;

(ii)          That Recommendations (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv) and (xvi), set out under Minute 117/220-224 (Governance Task Group – Constitution) be adopted;

(iii)         That recommendations (v) and (vi.a)/(vi.b) set out under Minute 117/220-224 (Governance Task Group – Constitution), concerning the role of Ward Members at Planning Committee, be not adopted and the proposed changes to the Constitution that flowed from these proposals not be made. 

(iv)         That the Recommendation of the Executive set out under Minute 119/225-226 (Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2019/20) be adopted.

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

None.

To receive any announcements by the Leader of the Council.

In the Leader’s absence, Councillor G.J. Knight, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Housing and Benefits, thanked all Members and Officers for their support during the Municipal Year. The Deputy Leader paid tribute to those Councillors not standing at the forthcoming local Elections on 2 May 2019 and thanked them all, including the Mayor, for their services and wished them well for the future. Councillor Knight also reported on:

·         Modern Members, a project that would give Members better access to information and help achieve paperless meetings through the roll out of tablet devices supporting modern and digital ways of working; and

·         Member Learning and Development for 2019/20, including information about a Member Induction Day which would take place at the Town Hall, Reigate on Saturday 11 May 2019.    

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor reported on the following:

·         The successful unveiling of Guardsman Hill Drive at a ceremony on Friday 8 March 2019. It was highlighted that this was in recognition of a former resident of the Borough, Guardsman James Hill, who had been killed in the Afghanistan conflict in 2009.

·         The Mayor’s Charity Cabaret Night. It was noted that this would be held at the Harlequin Theatre and Cinema on Saturday 27 April 2019.

The Mayor paid tribute to the many years of service offered to residents by retiring Members of the Council, Councillors L. Ascough, V.W. Broad, G.P. Crome, G. Curry, J.E. Durrant, J.M. Ellacott, J. Godden, Dr L.R. Hack, G. Owen, R.C. Newstead, D.T. Powell, M.J. Selby, B.A. Stead, J.M. Stephenson and Mrs A. Tarrant. 

Members were also informed that discussions relating to Brexit had delayed a decision on whether the UK would hold European elections in May 2019. It was explained that if the elections did take place the Annual Council Meeting would move from Thursday 23 May to Wednesday 29 May.

On conclusion of the meeting the Mayor highlighted that David Duke, Mayor’s Chauffer and Support Officer, was leaving the Council. On behalf of the Council, the Mayor placed on record her thanks to Mr Duke for his help and support.