The Leader of the Council, Councillor E I Hunter in the Chair;
Councillors J A Davidson, W F Grant, P Herdman, A G Houghton, A H Murray, G O’Connell, R J Patterson, J A Robertson, A S Rogerson and J E Smith.
193.
In attendance:
Councillor F I Simpson.
[Note : Prior to the commencement of business, the Chairman proposed and it was agreed that :
(a) Item 7 : Budget Variation Report (Employment Tribunal and Legal Fees) be moved to Part Two of the agenda; and
(b) Item 16 : General Fund Financial Statements be moved to Item 7 on the agenda.
Members were also advised that Item 11 : Request for Supplementary Funding – Improvements to the Borough Museum and education work by the Museum had been withdrawn and would be included on the agenda for the Policy Committee meeting to be held on 26th September instead].
194.
1. Apologies for Absence
None received.
2
195.
2. Declaration Of Interest
The following officers declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 19 : Severance Policy :
• Neil Brown, Town Centres Manager
• David Cook, Borough Secretary
• Liam Henry, Borough Solicitor
• Tim Kirton, Head of Regeneration
• Charles Oakley, Head of Finance
[Note : Following advice from the Borough Solicitor, it was agreed that the Personnel Officer and Director of Regeneration and Development should remain in the meeting during consideration of this item as the report author and senior officer in attendance, respectively].
2
196.
3. Minutes of the Meeting of the LSVT Working Group held on 14th May 2007
DECISION: To note and endorse the Minutes of the Meeting of the LSVT Working Group held on 14th May 2007.
2
197.
4. Minutes of the Minutes of the LSVT Working Group held on 27th June 2007
To note and endorse the Minutes of the Meeting of the LSVT Working Group held on 27th June 2007.
2
198.
5. Minutes of the Meeting of Policy Committee held on Wednesday 25th July 2007
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Policy Committee held on 25th July 2007.
3
199.
6. Minutes of the Meeting of the Corporate Services Sub-Committee held on 22nd August 2007
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Services Sub-Committee held on 22nd August 2007.
200.
16. General Fund Financial Statement
The Head of Finance warned that, if the request for financial provision as detailed in Item 7 : Budget Variation Report (Employment Tribunal and Legal Fees) was approved, the expected contribution from reserves in 2007/08 would increase to approximately £880,000, adjacent to the £900,000 ‘line in the sand’, beyond which the Council would be exposed to severe financial risk.
If the notional limit was reached, the Head of Finance explained to Members that each contribution from reserves would have to be reviewed through the mechanisms of regular financial clinics and the Corporate Services Sub-Committee.
DECISION : To note the current financial position.
4
201.
8. Statement of Internal Control
DECISIONS : (i) To approve the Statement of Internal Control for inclusion within the 2006/07 final accounts; and (ii) to record the Committee’s thanks to the Senior Auditor for his work in producing this document.
3
202.
9. National Non-Domestic Rate Relief
DECISION: To agree the application for discretionary rate relief for the period from 14th – 29th September 2007, as detailed in the substantive report.
3
203.
10. Internet Payment Enhancement
DECISION : To recommend to Council to approve the request for supplementary funding to implement ASIX Veri Secure plus the purchase of two years’ support.
3
204.
11. Request for Supplementary Funding: improvements to the Borough Museum and education work by the Museum
This item was withdrawn and will now be considered at the Policy Committee Meeting to be held on 26th September 2007.
3
205.
12. Request for Supplementary Funding: Northumberland Sport
DECISION: To recommend to Council to agree supplementary funding for £7000 for the annual partnership funding contribution to Northumberland Sport.
4
206.
13. Request for Supplementary Funding – J4B ‘Advisor’ Grants and funding - finder software
DECISION: To recommend to Council to agree funding of £1000 for this annual subscription.
[Note : Following advice from the Borough Solicitor, Councillor A G Houghton declared a personal and prejudicial interest and left the meeting during consideration of the item set out above].
4
207.
14. Developing Town Centres: Strategic Plan 2007-2010
DECISIONS: (i) To adopt the following principles contained within the strategic plan :
• Managed and co-ordinated town centres;
• Accessible town centres;
• Safe & welcoming town centres;
• Attractive and quality town centres;
• Marketed and promoted town centres;
• Towns for development and investment;
• Towns for leisure & culture;
(ii) to note and support, in principle, the actions contained in the Strategic Plan; and (iii) to agree to submit comments to the Town Centres Manager on any issues raised in the report.
4
208.
15. Walled Town of the Year
DECISIONS: (i) To agree to support this bid for World Walled Town Award for 2011 through working in partnership with the community and all other relevant partners on this over the remaining life of the Council; and (ii) to agree to lobby for any successor Council to continue this work and provide the appropriate level of resources to achieve this.
4
209.
17. Application to Register Land at Tweedmouth Green, Dock Road, Tweedmouth, as a Town or Village Green
DECISION : To raise no representation or objection to the application to register land at Tweedmouth Green, Dock Road, as a town or village green.
4
210.
18. 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 Item 5 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.
Minutes 211 and 212: Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
5
211.
7. Budget Variation Report (Employment Tribunal and Legal Fees)
DECISION: To recommend to Council to agree the additional financial resources detailed in the report.
3
212.
19. Severance Policy
DECISIONS: (i) To agree the change in policy title from Redundancy Policy to Severance Policy; and (ii) to agree to insert the words “up to” in the number of weeks used when calculating the severance payment.
5
[Note : Having previously declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item, the following officers left the meeting prior to consideration of the item and did not return :
