Councillors J K G Allen, D M Beith, J A Davidson, D W Donaldson, A B Douglas, W F Grant, P Herdman, A G Houghton, E I Hunter, J G Hutchinson, G O’Connell, R J Patterson, J A Robertson, A S Rogerson, F I Simpson, D S Stewart, T J Tyler, J Waterhouse, R J D Watkin, P S Watts and D Wilson.
158.
1. Declaration of Interest
The following declarations of interest were made by Members:
b) Item 7: East Coast Main Line Rail Utilisation Strategy Study
• Councillor G O’Connell – Personal Interest
c) Item 9: Vision and Priorities
• Councillor G O’Connell – Personal Interest
d) Item 12: Proceedings of Committee (Planning Committee Minutes)
• Councillor D Wilson – Personal Interest
e) Item 15: The Maltings
• Councillor D M Beith – Personal and prejudicial interest.
• Councillor F I Simpson – Personal and prejudicial interest.
• Councillor D S Stewart – Personal and prejudicial interest.
f) Item 16: Restructure Update
• Councillor P Herdman – Personal Interest.
3
159.
2. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors H Bettison, BPE Gibson, RE Hutchinson, AH Murray, RT Pearson, JD Peggs and JE Smith.
3
160.
3. Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 28th June 2007.
DECISION: To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 28th June 2007, Minutes 69 to 86 and pages 1 – 10.
3
161.
4. Mayor’s Communications
a) Mayor’s Sunday: 8th July 2007
The Mayor announced that the traditional Mayor’s Sunday event had been extremely successful and thanked all who took part, making particular reference to the Mayor’s Secretary, Sergeant-at-Mace and Halberdiers, who made significant contributions to the organisation of the event.
b) The Royal Garden Party: 17th July 2007.
The Mayor related the Civic Party’s experiences at the Royal Garden Party and thanked Baroness Maddock for conducting the Civic Party on a tour of the Houses of Parliament.
c) Other Events
The Mayor reported that he had attended the following events since the June meeting of the Council:
• Minden Day Parade, 28th July
• The 125th Anniversary Service for the Newcastle Diocese, 29th July.
• Flodden Day, 9th August.
The Mayor also gave Members notice of the following events:
• Meeting of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee Select Committee to discuss a review of the Council’s gardening and grass-cutting service on 14th August; and
• All-Member Briefing – 15th August.
4
162.
5. Draft Statement of Principles
(Gambling Act 2005)
The Mayor advised Members that this report had been withdrawn, having been considered at a previous meeting of the Council.
Decisions: (i) To agree that former Councillors AR Bowlas, D Buckle and current Councillor DS Stewart should continue to serve on the Shadow Board of Berwick Borough Housing; and; (ii) to appoint Councillor WF Grant to the Shadow Board of Berwick Borough Housing to fill the vacancy created following the resignation of former Councillor KA Thorburn from the Shadow Board.
4
164.
7. East Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy Study.
Decisions: (i) To welcome the East Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy Study; (ii) to welcome the creation of a new even-interval timetable which would give a better spaced calling pattern at Berwick Station which must not reduce the current level of service provided; (iii) to register support for the proposed station at Reston, and to enter into talks with Scottish Borders Council to consider how both communities will benefit from opening a station at Reston; and (iv) to continue to pursue the opening of a station at Belford.
4
165
8. Appointments to Outside Bodies
Decisions: (i) To appoint Councillor WF Grant as the Council’s representative on Northumberland County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Working Group on the provision of affordable housing; and (ii) to appoint Councillor JE Smith as the Council’s representative on the Arts Council England North East Regional Arts Board.
4
166.
9. Vision and Priorities
Decisions: (i) To regard the report as an interim report, but to agree the adoption of the priorities presented as an appendix to the report for use in the annual cycle for the Council; (ii) to agree that a review of current priorities should be undertaken and the result presented to the Council as part of the 2008/09 annual cycle; and (iii) to amend proposed action No.3 under “Influencing Transport Improvements” by adding “. . . . and other parts of the Borough”.
4
167
10. Local Government Reorganisation
Decisions: (i) To endorse the following statement by the Leader of the Council:
“This Council is seriously disappointed that the Government has decided to reject the District Councils’ submission for two unitary authorities for Northumberland. At the same time, we want to retain local delivery of quality services and continue to meet the needs of our communities”; (ii) to agree to pursue legal advice and appropriate action, if any, in conjunction with the other Districts in Northumberland; (iii) to agree to work to retain locally delivered high quality services for individuals and communities in this Borough; (iv) to agree to work to develop a refined and local Sustainable Community Strategy to reflect the current and emerging strategic needs and aspirations of this Borough; (v) to agree to retain as much local government employment as possible within this Borough in the interests of the local economy, the local talent pool and individual employees; (vi) to agree to delegate those appropriate actions to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Mayor and the Leader of the Council, provided no item of expenditure exceeds £10,000 and actions are reported to the Council Meeting following the actions being taken; and (vii) to agree to call an Extraordinary Meeting of Council if any when the need arises”.
5
168
11. Countywide Sustainable Community Strategy
Decision: To agree to endorse the content of the Countywide Sustainable Community Strategy in principle, but without agreeing the concept of ‘Communities’ as defined in the Strategy document.
5
169
12. Proceedings of Committees:
Decision: That the recommendations of Committee be approved and the Minutes adopted as proceedings of the Council in respect of:
a) Planning Committee: 3rd July 2007, Minutes 87 – 93
b) Licensing Committee: 4th July 2007, Minutes 94 – 105
c) Overview and Scrutiny Committee: 12th July 2007, Minutes 106 – 116.
d) Policy Committee: 25th July 2007, Minutes 117 – 137;
(Note: Members agreed the specific recommendations to the Council contained in the Minutes detailed below :
- M124: Planning Fees and Development Control Costs
- M133: Policy Committee Work Programme 2007/08
- M134: The Berwick Roll and Other Documents
- M137: Asset Disposal – Mitchell MemorialHall – (it was agreed that this item be deterred until the 20th September 2007 Meeting of Council)
5
170
13. Questions:
No questions had been received for consideration under this item.
5
172
14. 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 85 to 86 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.
Minutes 173 and 174: Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
5
173
15. Council Representation on the Maltings Trustees
Decisions (i) To request a written apology from the Trustees of The Maltings to Councillor DS Stewart for their unacceptable behaviour; (ii) to request a written apology from the Trustees of The Maltings to the Council for acting in breach of their own constitution; (iii) to request that the Trustees of The Maltings provide written confirmation that Councillor DS Stewart will be a director of The Maltings Trustees’ Board, in accordance with the articles of Association of the Maltings (Berwick) Trust.
(Part B: Council Funding for The Maltings Theatre and Arts Centre)
(iv) to note the correspondence from both The Maltings Trustees and the Arts Council England (North East) in connection with this matter; and (v) to agree to provide further grant aid to The Maltings in the sum of £17,195 for the current financial year only, with that funding sourced from reserves, subject to outstanding issues being satisfactorily resolved and that a high-level meeting between Council and Maltings representatives be arranged to consider these and other relevant issues.
6
174
16. Restructure Update
Decisions: (i) To agree to the creation of a fully accessible reception point either in the main building or in the annexe, bringing together reception and cashier services and staff, using our Customer Services Management system and creating private interview spaces; (ii) to agree that in order to facilitate swift achievement of that goal, the Chief Executive be authorised £100,00 in addition to any existing budgets which can be applied and in consultation with the Mayor and Group Leaders; (iii) to agree that defined one-off tasks be identified and reported to the next Council meeting; (iv) to agree that the tasks of:
־ Risk Management
- Contract Register
- Business Continuity
be resourced adequately as soon as possible with delegation to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Improvement Programme Board in relation to Project Brief and funding requirements; (v) to agree that the Trade Unions be consulted about these measures and that the original restructure will not now continue; and (iv) to request that progress be reported to the next meeting of Council, together with any discrete proposals which will preserve future service delivery in this Borough.
