Agenda and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 1 November 2018.  

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 1 November 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L.S. Ascough, V.W. Broad, G.P. Crome, J.E. Durrant, S. McKenna, D.T. Powell, S.T. Walsh and J.F. White.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor H. Brown.

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 13.

One question was received and answered 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 Council under Council Procedure Rule 14.

Two 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 and Employment Committee.

Report to Follow

The Council received Recommendations arising from the Executive (8 November 2018 and 29 November 2018) and Employment Committee (5 December 2018).  

RESOLVED that:

(i)            the Recommendations of the Executive (Minute 66) from its meeting on 8 November 2018 (Half Year Treasury Management Performance Report) be adopted;

(ii)          the Recommendation of the Executive (Minute 67) from its meeting on 8 November 2018 (Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2019/20) be adopted;

(iii)         the Recommendations of the Executive (Minute 78) from its meeting on 29 November 2018 (Replacement of the Council’s Fleet of Domestic Refuse Collection Vehicles) be adopted; and  

(iv)         the Recommendation of the Employment Committee (Minute 25) from its meeting on 5 December 2018 (Appointment of Head of Legal and Governance – Monitoring Officer) be adopted.

To receive a report on the Council Tax base for 2019/20.

Council received a report on the Council Tax base for 2019/20.

The Council Tax base was the measure of the relative taxable capacity of each of the three different tax-raising areas of the Borough (the Borough as a whole, the Parish Council area and the Town Council area). It had to be determined before 31^st January each year and reported to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The report set out relevant statutory powers, background, information on the Council Tax base calculation, and the collection rate. The report also set out options, legal, financial and equalities implications, risk management considerations, the position on consultation and policy framework factors.

The report was introduced by the Executive Member for Finance (Councillor T. Schofield) who moved the Recommendation set out. This was seconded by Councillor V.H. Lewanski whereupon it was

RESOLVED that in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the Council Tax base for 2019/20 for each of the Council’s areas shall be as follows:

Reigate & Banstead Council as a whole:           60,243.0

Horley Town Council area:                                    9,843.2

Salfords & Sidlow Parish Council area:             1,409.3

To receive a report on the proposals for polling districts and polling places following the recommendations of the Local Boundary Commission for England for new and revised local government electoral arrangements for the borough.

Council received a report on proposals for polling districts and polling places following the Local Government Boundary Commission’s review of the Council’s electoral arrangements.

The report was presented by the Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer. It was noted that the Local Government Boundary Commission had published its final recommendations in October 2018 and it was explained that Reigate and Banstead would be represented by 45 councillors, have 15 wards and that all ward boundaries would change as a result of the review.

The Mayor (Councillor Mrs. D.A. Ross-Tomlin) invited the Leader of the Council (Councillor M.A. Brunt) to the move the recommendations. In doing so the following points were highlighted:

·         The draft Electoral Changes Order was laid before Parliament on 3 December 2018 and was due to become law at the end of January 2019.

·         The Order would be implemented at the next local elections, scheduled for 2 May 2019.

Councillor M.A. Brunt informed Council that as part of the implementation process, Officers had undertaken a review of polling districts and places. It was noted that the polling districts had been illustrated on maps set out in Annex B to the report and that details of the proposed polling stations had been provided in Annex A. It was highlighted that all ward councillors had been consulted on the proposals.

The Leader of the Council explained that a couple of suggestions had been submitted for alternative polling stations for RDW5. It was noted that these had been received towards the end of the consultation period and were still being assessed for suitability.

As a result of these developments, Councillor M.A. Brunt moved adjustments to the recommendations to reflect these outstanding assessments. This was seconded by Councillor G.J. Knight whereupon it was

RESOLVED

1.    To note that the recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), for new ward boundaries within the borough of Reigate and Banstead, would be implemented and take effect from the local government elections due to be held on 2 May 2019, subject to Parliamentary approval as follows:

·         Reigate and Banstead would be represented by 45 councillors

·         Reigate and Banstead would have 15 wards

·         The boundaries of all wards would change

2.    That the revised schedule of polling districts and polling places set out in Annex A be approved, subject to any changes arising from the outstanding consultation (dealt with under Resolution 3 below).

3.    That the (Acting) Returning Officer, in consultation with Ward councillors, be delegated authority to designate any polling places following further assessment.

To receive a report by the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel on its review of Members’ Allowances together with a covering report by the Director of Finance and Organisation.

The Chief Executive introduced a report concerning a review of Members’ Allowances by the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP).

The report set out the relevant statutory powers and background. Appended to the report was the IRPs nineteenth report on Members’ Allowances including its recommendations together with the financial implications.

The Mayor (Councillor Mrs. D.A. Ross-Tomlin) invited the Leader of the Council (Councillor M.A. Brunt) to speak. In doing so, Councillor M.A. Brunt thanked Members of the IRP for their report and noted that it covered a number of issues, including: 

-       The importance of providing clarity on the role of elected members.

-       Encouraging people from the widest possible range of backgrounds to serve as councillors and how the allowances scheme could assist with this objective.

-       Options for updating the Carers’ Allowance to ensure this reflected the actual cost of care;

-       Matters highlighted for future reviews, including the importance of assessing the impact of recommendations made by the Local Government Boundary Commission, concerning new ward boundaries, once these had been implemented.     

The Leader of the Council also made reference to various issues relating to the wider economic landscape and to data, set out in the IRP’s report, concerning Members’ Allowances across Surrey. The Leader of the Council emphasised that while he supported many of the IRP’s recommendations he was unable to support them in full.

As a result, Councillor M.A. Brunt moved, and Councillor G.J. Knight seconded, adjustments to the IRP’s recommendations. During the debate that followed a number of issues were considered and it was

RESOLVED

The Council is informed that Councillor J.C. White (Nork Ward) resigned from the Council on 3 December 2018.

An election will be held at the forthcoming local elections on 2 May 2019 and the outcome reported to the Annual Council Meeting on 23 May 2019.

The Mayor informed Council that Councillor J.C. White, Member for Nork Ward, had resigned from the Council on 3 December 2018.

It was noted that an election would take place as part of the local elections on 2 May 2019 and that the outcome would be reported to the Annual Council meeting on 23 May 2019.

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.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor M.A. Brunt:

·         Reported that the Mayor Elect for 2019/20 would be Councillor K. Foreman.

·         Thanked all staff for their hard work and achievements throughout the year.

·         Wished all present a very Happy Christmas.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

The Mayor provided feedback on the success of various Remembrance Sunday events which had taken place in November 2018 to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War. Following this update, the Mayor informed the Council:

·         Of a Christmas Carol Service that would take place on Sunday 16 December 2018 at Reigate Park Church.

·         That a charity Ghost Walk would take place through Reigate on Friday 11 January 2019. This event would be followed by supper at the Town Hall. 

·         That a service to mark Holocaust Memorial Day would take place on Wednesday 30 January 2019 at the Town Hall.

·         Of the various film events that would take place during February 2019 for charity.

·         That the Harlequin Theatre and Cinema Warwick Quadrant, Redhill would host a charity Cabaret Night on Saturday 27 April 2019 to raise money for the Mayor’s charities (the Born Free Foundation and George and the Giant Pledge).   

The Mayor concluded the meeting by offering her best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone present.