POLICY (CORPORATE SERVICES AND REGENERATION) COMMITTEE
Minutes
Wednesday, 16th June 2004
Minute No. Item No. & Title Agenda Page No
61 PRESENT :
Councillor A Hughes in the Chair; Councillors A R Bowlas, D G R Buckle, E I Hunter, J D Lockie, R J Patterson, L W Robson and J E Smith.
62 IN ATTENDANCE :
Pat Thynne, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) Liaison Officer.
63 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors G M Elliott, G P Horsburgh, C M Liddell-Grainger and D McClymont.
64 1. MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS OF REFERENCE 1
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to agree the Membership and Terms of Reference for Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee for the ensuing year.
[Note: The Mayor, Councillor A Hughes, in the Chair.]
65 2. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN 2
DECISION: To note that Councillor R J Patterson be and was hereby elected Committee Chairman for the ensuing year.
[Note: Councillor R J Patterson thereupon took the Chair.]
66 3. ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN 2
DECISION: To note that Councillor A Hughes be and was hereby elected Committee Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.
67 4. DECLARATION OF INTEREST 2
[Notes : (a) Councillor J D Lockie declared an interest in Item 25: Disability Discrimination Act 1996 DDA; and (b) Councillor L W Robson and the Borough Secretary declared an interest in Item 32: Shielfield Park Stadium.]
68 5. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF POLICY (CORPORATE SERVICES AND REGENERATION) COMMITTEE HELD ON 14TH APRIL 2004 2
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee held on 14th April 2004.
[Note: the Regeneration Manager updated Members on Minute 733: Lyons Review, with particular reference to the implementation of a regional approach to inward investment and the engagement of regeneration officers.]
69 6. NOTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CAR PARKING REVIEW WORKING GROUP HELD ON 4TH MAY 2004 2
DECISION: To note and endorse the Notes of the Meeting of the Car Parking Review Working Group held on 4th May 2004.
70 7. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MEMBERS’ COMPLAINTS PANEL HELD ON 11TH MAY 2004 3
DECISION: To note and endorse the Minutes of the Meeting of the Members’ Complaints Panel held on 11th May 2004.
71 8. CONSTITUTION AND APPOINTMENT OF SUB-COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS 3
(a) Fundamental Budget Review Sub-Committee
DECISIONS: (i) To constitute the Fundamental Budget Review Working Group (not Sub-Committee) for 2004/05 as follows, in accordance with political balance requirements:
• Conservatives 4 seats
• Liberal Democrats 2 seats
• Independents 1 seat
• New Labour Independents 1 seat
• Tweedmouth Alliance 1 seat
9 seats
(ii) to request that Group Leaders notify the Borough Secretary of their respective nominations by Monday, 28th June 2004; (iii) to agree the proposed terms of reference for the Working Group; and (iv) to agree to convene the first meeting of the Working Group at 6.00pm on Thursday, 15th July 2004.
(b) Car Parking Review Working Group
DECISIONS: (i) That the Car Parking Review Working Group will comprise the following Members for the ensuing year:
• Councillor A R Bowlas (Independent)
• Councillor A H Murray (Conservative)
• Councillor R J Patterson (Conservative)
• Councillor J N Simpson (Tweedmouth Alliance)
• Liberal Democrat representative to be confirmed by the Group Leader and notified to the Borough Secretary by 28th June 2004;
(ii) to agree the terms of reference for the Car Parking Review Working Group for the ensuing year; and (iii) to agree meetings arrangements for the Working Group for 2004/05.
(c) Staff Appeals Sub-Committee
DECISION: That the Staff Appeals Sub-Committee will comprise the following Members for the ensuing year:
• Councillor D G R Buckle (New Labour Independent)
• Councillor E I Hunter (Liberal Democrat)
• Councillor R J Patterson (Conservative)
Substitutes:
• Councillor A R Bowlas (Independent)
• Councillor G P Horsburgh (Liberal Democrat) (subject to confirmation)
(d) Members’ Complaints Panel
DECISION: That the Members’ Complaints Panel will comprise the following Members for the ensuing year:
• Councillor A R Bowlas (Independent)
• Councillor A Hughes (Conservative)
• Councillor E I Hunter (Liberal Democrat)
Substitutes:
• Councillor G M Elliott (Conservative)
• Councillor C M Liddell-Grainger (Conservative)
• Councillor R J Patterson (Conservative)
(e) Cultural and Arts Working Group
DECISIONS: (i) That the Cultural and Arts Working Group will comprise the following Members for the ensuing year:
• Councillor A R Bowlas (Independent)
• Councillor A E Breckons (Liberal Democrat)
• Councillor D G R Buckle (New Labour Independent)
• Councillor D McClymont (Tweedmouth Alliance)
• Councillor F I Simpson (Conservative)
• Councillor J E Smith (Liberal Democrat)
(ii) to agree the terms of reference for the Working Group for the ensuing year; and (iii) to agree meetings arrangements for the Working Group for 2004/05.
(f) Local Plan Working Group
DECISIONS: (i) That the Local Plan Working Group be constituted as a Sub-Committee for 2004/05, comprising the following Members:
• Councillor D G R Buckle (New Labour Independent)
• Councillor J D Lockie (Independent)
• Councillor G E Miller (Independent, Chairman of Planning Committee)
• Councillor L W Robson (Conservative, Vice-Chairman of Planning Committee);
(ii) to disapply political balance requirements; (iii) to agree the terms of reference for the Sub-Committee for the ensuing year; (iv) to award the Sub-Committee delegated powers, details of which will be reported to the Ordinary Meeting of Council to be held on 24th June 2004 for approval; and (v) to convene a meeting of the Sub-Committee at 4.30pm on 29th June 2004 for the purposes of considering the implications of the EIP report and a draft interim Housing Policy Statement.
(g) Staff Appointments Sub-Committee
DECISION: That the Staff Appointments Sub-Committee will comprise the following Members for the ensuing year:
• Councillor A E Breckons (Group Leader, Liberal Democrats)
• Councillor D G R Buckle (Group Leader, New Labour Independents)
• Councillor G M Elliott (Conservative, Deputy Leader of the Council)
• Councillor A Hughes (Conservative, Leader of the Council)
• Councillor D McClymont (Group Leader, Tweedmouth Alliance)
• Councillor G E Miller (Group Leader, Independents)
(h) Changes to Administrative Support arrangements for Working Groups
DECISION: To agree that, with immediate effect:
• The notes of Working Group meetings will no longer be included on the agenda of the parent Committee
• Any significant issues arising from the business of Working Groups will be the subject of reports to be included on the agenda of the parent Committee; and
• Administrative support to Working Groups will be sourced by the nominated lead officer for each Working Group.
72 9. AMENDMENT TO RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION POLICY 10
DECISION: To amend the Council’s Recruitment and Selection Policy on the basis set out in the report with effect from 1st July 2004.
73 10. AMENDMENT TO RELOCATION AND TRAINING POLICIES 10
DECISIONS: (i) To amend the Council’s Relocation Scheme and Training and Development Policy with effect from 1st July 2004 by introducing a clause requiring beneficiaries to repay an equal proportion over a 3-year period from the date of financial support from the Council; and (ii) to agree that, in the case of the Training and Development Policy, this clause will only apply to nationally recognised qualifications.
74 11. LOCAL PLAN - UPDATE 11
DECISIONS: (i) To accept the Housing Market and Housing Supply Research Report by Roger Tym and Partners; (ii) to consider the Panel report on the Northumberland County Council and National Park Joint Structure Plan; and (iii) to convene a meeting of the Local Plan Sub-Committee at 4.30pm on 29th June 2004 to consider the implications of the EIP report and a draft interim Housing Policy Statement.
75 12. NORTHUMBERLAND COAST AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY MANAGEMENT PLAN 2004- 2009 14
DECISIONS: (i) To welcome the publication of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2004-2009, Public Consultation Draft; (ii) to endorse the new integrated partnership approach, its vision for the area and the policy principles which underpin its delivery; and (iii) to authorise officers to submit detailed comments on individual policies to the partnership by 9th July 2004, these comments being copied to members of Policy CSR Committee as part of the consultation process.
76 13. RESPONSE TO CPA – CREATING A NEW DIRECTOR POST 17
DECISIONS: (i) To defer any decision on the staffing proposal pending consideration of that proposal at the meeting of the Fundamental Budget Review Sub-Committee to be held on 15th July 2004, with the Sub-Committee being asked to pay particular attention to the financial implications, risk factor and capacity-building elements of the proposal; and (ii) to request that officers prepare a report for consideration at the Ordinary Meeting of Council to be held on 29th July 2004, taking account of the views of Fundamental Budget Review Sub-Committee and also addressing those issues raised in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) report, whether a change in structure is required to deal with those issues, and how that change is to be costed and resourced.
77 14. ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT AND PRESENTATION OF AUDIT OPINION 2003/04 22
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to consider whether there are any issues requiring further investigation in order to fulfill responsibilities in relation to Corporate Governance.
78 15. BROADBAND ACCESS : MEMBERS’ USE OF LAPTOPS 24
DECISIONS: To agree to provide those 14 Members already within range to receive a broad-band enabled telephone exchange, and to subscribe other Members to the service as it is ‘rolled out’ to the areas in which they live.
79 16. IMPLEMENTING ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT (EIP) SPEND – ROUNDS 1 AND 2 25
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report on IEG 1 and 2 spend; and (ii) to continue to support the development of ICT services within the Council by offering suggestions on how the £350,000 of IEG 3 monies might be spent.
80 17. DECRIMINALISATION OF CAR PARKING 27
DECISION : To not proceed with the decriminalisation of car parking enforcement.
81 18. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 29
DECISIONS: (i) To agree, for an initial period of one year, to the extension of the current post of part-time administrative assistant from three days per week to five days, to be reviewed at the end of that one year period; and (ii) to agree that the cost of this reorganisation be met by virement between income and expenditure over the year.
82 19. SALE AND LEASES OF LAND : COUNCIL LEGAL FEES : DELEGATED POWER 31
DECISIONS: (i) To agree that the Director of Environment’s delegated powers be extended to enable the postholder to agree sales of Council land up to a value of £10,000 and to grant leases for the term of up to 21 years; and (ii) to agree that a standard fee of £150 in respect of the Council’s legal costs be imposed on prospective purchases of Council land up to a value of £5,000 and leases with a term of years of up to 21 but otherwise, including transactions where the Borough Solicitor is of the opinion that given either the complexity, or the amount of work involved in the processing, of a transaction the standard fee should not apply, the Borough Solicitor be given delegated authority to make such charges as the postholder considers reasonable in the circumstances.
83 20. BENEFITS OFFICER 33
DECISIONS: (i) To agree to take on the Reviews Module of the Verification Framework as phase 1; (ii) to approve the replacement of the part time post with a full time post; and (iii) to take a further report to members with regard to phasing in the remaining two modules once Phase 1 is fully operational.
84 21. PROFESSIONAL VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES 34
DECISIONS: (i) To congratulate the employee named in the above report on her success; and (ii) agree to award one increment effective from the date of confirmation of her success in achieving the said qualification being 10 May 2004.
85 22. BELFORD BURN 35
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; and (ii) to make a ‘one off’ payment of £5000 to the Environment Agency (on condition that the Environmental Maintenance Manager obtains a guarantee from the Agency that they are willing to accept the ‘one-off’ payment) to enable the responsibility for the watercourse to be transferred.
86 23. A1 DUALLING UPDATE 37
DECISIONS: (i) To continue to pursue the need to complete the dualling of the A1 trunk road on both sides of the Border; and (ii) to request that the Environmental Maintenance Manager investigates whether the West Mains to Haggerston stretch of the A1 trunk road is still contained in the upgrade programme.
87 24. COACH UPLIFT/SET DOWN AREA 39
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; (ii) to continue to work with English Heritage regarding improvements to an extended area at Castlegate Car Park; (iii) to approve the proposal to consult on the designation of an area in Walkergate as a temporary coach uplift/set down area for a trial period of 12 months; and (iv) to approve the decision taken by the Leader, Deputy Leader and Chairman of the Fundamental Budget Review Working Group to meet the costs of this work from the Capital Programme Budget.
DECISIONS: (i) To note the report; (ii) to agree the ‘Access Strategy and DDA Policy’ statement; (iii) to agree the actions as set out in Schedules 1 and 4; and (iv) to request the Asset Management Group give further consideration to Schedule 2 before reporting back to Policy (Environment) Committee.
89 26. SUPPORT FOR LOCAL REGENERATION INITIATIVES 42
DECISIONS: (i) To agree to the Motivate project being contractually delivered by the Borough Council; and (ii) to agree to defer a decision on providing financial support to the Wooler MTI pending confirmation that a virement can be identified by the end of June 2004, with details to be reported to the July meeting of Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee.
90 27. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC 44
DECISION: To exclude under Section 100 A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and the public from the Meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act:
Minutes 91 - 97 : Paragraph 9: Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to this authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.
Minutes 98 and 99 : Paragraph 8: The amount of any expenditure proposed or to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or services.
91 28. TOFT’S LANE, HORNCLIFFE : GRANT OF EASEMENT – SEWER CONNECTION 44
DECISION: To agree a grant of easement rights in respect of a sewer connection to the owner of a building plot at Toft’s Lane, Horncliffe, in return for the payment of a capital sum to be determined by the Council’s valuer.
92 29. SALE OF LAND AT EAST ORD GARDEN CENTRE 44
DECISION: To agree to sell to the owner of East Ord Garden Centre a small area of land (as shown on the plan circulated with the report) for a sum considered to be market value by the Council’s valuer.
93 30. LEASES OF 19 AND 36 WEST STREET, BERWICK-UPON-TWEED 44
DECISION: To approve the renewal of the existing seven year leases of 19 and 36 West Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed at agreed market rates.
94 31. LAND ADJACENT TO 15 THE MEADOWS, BELFORD 45
DECISION: To approve, subject to contract, the sale of land identified in the report to the owners of 15 The Meadows, Belford.
95 32. SHIELFIELD PARK STADIUM 45
DECISION: To establish a Working Group comprising the following Members to meet with stakeholders to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest:
• Councillor R J Patterson, Chairman, Policy CSR Committee
• Councillor A Hughes, Vice-Chairman, Policy CSR Committee
• Councillor A R Bowlas
• Councillor D G R Buckle
• Councillor E I Hunter
• Councillor J N Simpson (subject to clarification re declaration of interest)
[Note: Having declared an interest, Councillor L W Robson and the Borough Secretary left the meeting during consideration of the item set out above.]
DECISION: To grant a twenty year lease of the Lookout Tower at Magdalene Fields, Berwick-upon-Tweed, to Coastwatch (Berwick) at a peppercorn rent.
97 34. SALE OF LAND ADJACENT TO 12 WEST AVENUE, SCREMERSTON 45
DECISION: To agree the sale of land adjacent to 12 West Avenue, Scremerston (as shown on the plan circulated with the report) for the sum proposed in the report.
98 35. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH COMPUTER SYSTEM 45
DECISION: To agree that funds (£67,000 from the IEG budget) be carried forward from 2003/04 and made available for the purchase of the FLARE software system due to the timing of this particular IT procurement.
99 36. SEAHOUSES TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE WORKING GROUP REPORT 46
DECISIONS: (i) To agree Option 2 as the preferred Option for developing the Tourist Information Centre at Seahouses; (ii) to agree that the expenditure required to meet the additional costs of delivering this extended service be put before the Fundamental Budget Review Working Group as part of the budgetary process for the 2006/07 financial year; and (iii) to note that should this be agreed, the new extended opening period for the TIC would be implemented from Easter 2006 onwards prior to the planned opening of the new Coast Centre in 2006.
