Councillors S J Anderson, H Bettison, A R Bowlas, A E Breckons, W N Ferguson, C G Hallam-Baker, E I Hunter, J G Hutchinson, J D Lockie, G E Miller, J M F Nesbit, R J Patterson, L W Robson, F I Simpson, J E Smith, J W Stephenson, D S Stewart, J Waterhouse, W G R Weeks and M J Young.
653.
Councillor G M Elliott
Following statements from the Mayor and the Leader of the Council, Members, Officers and others in attendance observed a minute’s silence in remembrance of Councillor G M Elliott, who died suddenly on 20th April 2007.
654.
1. Declaration of Interest
No declarations were made.
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655.
2. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors D G R Buckle, H E Elliott, A Hughes, C M Liddell-Grainger and D McClymont.
3
656.
3. Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 27th February 2007
DECISION: To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 27th February 2007, Minutes 542 to 555, pages 1 to 6.
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657.
4. Mayor’s Communications
(a) Berwick Rangers Football Club
On behalf of the Council, the Mayor congratulated Berwick Rangers Football club on winning the Scottish Third Division title, and announced his intention to hold a civic reception for the team in the Guildhall on the afternoon of Sunday 13th May 2007.
(b) Borough and Parish Council Elections : Thursday 3rd May 2007
The Mayor informed Members of the Verification and Count arrangements for the Borough and Parish Council elections scheduled to be held on 3rd May.
(c) Informal Meeting of the Council : Tuesday 8th May 2007
The Mayor advised Members that the Informal Meeting of the Council - the purpose of which is to formulate recommendations to the Annual Meeting of the Council – would be held in the Council Chamber at 6.00pm on Tuesday 8th May 2007.
(d) Thirty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Council : 17th May 2007
The Mayor announced that the Thirty-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Council would be held in the Council Chamber at 12noon on Thursday, 17th May 2007.
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658.
5. Annual Inspection and Audit Letter (2006/07)
Members received brief presentations from Geoff Norris (Audit Commission), Alan Fendle (Deloittes) and Catherine McNaught (Deloittes) respectively on the key messages for the Council as contained in the Annual Audit and Inspection Letter circulated as an appendix to Item 5 on the Summons.
Following the presentations, Members were invited to put questions to Messrs. Norris, Fendle and McNaught.
On behalf of the Council, the Mayor thanked Mr Norris, Mr Fendle and Ms McNaught for their presentations and ongoing work in support of the Council.
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659.
6. A Sustainable Community Strategy for Northumberland
Prior to making decisions on this item, Members considered a tabled paper prepared by the Chief Executive following her attendance at a meeting of the Northumberland Strategic Partnership Executive on 24th April, at which substantial and significant changes were revealed to to the Sustainable Communities Strategy.
Therefore a series of different recommendations to those contained in the substantive report were made to Members.
DECISIONS : (i) To welcome news that the Sustainable Communities Strategy has been further refined following widespread consultation; (ii) to express regret at the lack of opportunity to consider the latest draft of the Sustainable Communities Strategy; and (iii) to defer endorsement of the final draft pending proper consultation in the new municipal year when full consideration can be given, in light of decisions about the future structure of local government in Northumberland.
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660.
7. Improvement Progress Report
DECISIONS : (i) To adopt the Data Quality Policy; and (ii) to accept the revised terms of reference for the Improvement Board.
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661.
8. Corporate Service Plan 2007/08
DECISION : To endorse the final Corporate Service Plan for 2007/08.
5
662.
9. Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2006/07
DECISIONS : (i) To welcome the production of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2006/07; (ii) to approve its publication as detailed in paragraph 3.3 of the substantive report; and (iii) to commend the Senior Democratic Services Officer for her work in supporting Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
5
663.
10. Gambling Act 2005 – Fee Setting
DECISIONS : (i) To set, in pursuance of the powers under section 212 of the Gambling Act 2005, the level of fees in respect of all classes of application and all annual fees at the maximum level permitted by such regulations made from time to time by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; (ii) to delegate, under the power contained in section 154(2)(b) of the 2005 Act, to Licensing Committee the power hereafter to determine the fees under section 212 of the Gambling Act 2005; and (iii) to direct Licensing Committee to keep under review the income and costs of providing the services to which the fees relate to ensure, as nearly as possible, that the income from fees equates to the costs of providing the service to which the fees relate and, in that regard:
(a) to undertake such a financial review as soon as possible after the accounts for the years 2007 / 2008 and 2008 / 2009 are available and make such changes to the levels of fees as may then be necessary to meet the requirements of section 212 of the 2005 Act, including any guidance that may have then been issued in that regard by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; (b) to undertake subsequent financial reviews annually, making such changes to the levels of fees as may be necessary; and (c) to undertake additional financial reviews at any time that it appears necessary and appropriate to do so, having regard to the requirements of section 212 of the Act.
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664.
11. Gambling Act – Scheme of Delegations
DECISION : To adopt the Scheme of Delegations as set out in Appendix 1 to the substantive report.
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665.
12. Political Structure : Policy Committees – Public Consultation
DECISION : To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to confirm the decision of the Council to reduce the number of Policy Committees from two to one with effect from the commencement of the new municipal year, subject to her consideration of the outcome of the public consultation exercise.
5
666.
13. Minutes of the Proceedings of Committee
DECISION: That the recommendations of Committee be approved and the Minutes adopted as proceedings of the Council in respect of :
(a) Overview and Scrutiny Committee : 1st March 2007, Minutes 556 – 568;
(i) Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee : 18th April 2007, Minutes 632 – 641; and
(j) Town Committee : 19th April 2007, Minutes 642 – 651.
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667.
14. Questions
No questions were received under this item.
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668.
15. Exclusion of the Press and Public
DECISION: To exclude under Section 100A(4)of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public from the Meeting during consideration of Minute 553 to 555 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.
Minute 669 : Paragraph 5 – Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.
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669.
16. Venue for Council Meetings – Disability Discrimination Act 1995
DECISION : To accept the report but defer any decision until the outcome of the Local Government Review is announced in July 2007, and to continue discussions with the Freemen Trustees in connection with this matter.
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[Note : Councillor J D Lockie requested that it be recorded in the Minutes of the Meeting that he voted against the continuation of meetings in the Town Hall while the building remained non-DDA compliant].
