Agenda and minutes

A minute’s silence was held in respect for all those who had lost their lives as a result of discrimination and related issues throughout history.

The Worshipful The Mayor reported that Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, made a visit to the Civic Offices on Monday 6^th July 2020 to see first-hand how the Live Well Hub has been making a difference to residents in Swindon who have been shielding due to COVID-19. Whilst there, the Duchess helped to pack the 1,000th food parcel to be delivered to vulnerable residents and thanked volunteers and staff from Children’s Services, the Homelessness Team and the Register Office, who have all been helping to keep some of the Council’s vital services running.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adorabelle Shaikh and Vera Tomlinson.

The Chief Executive reported that no communications had been received.

            Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd May 2020, be confirmed and signed.

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.  No declarations were made.

Councillors Claire Crilly, Robert Jandy and Roger Smith made personal declarations of interest in respect of agenda item 11 (Stratton St Margaret Neighbourhood Plan) in their capacity as Parish Councillors on Stratton St. Margaret  Parish Council.

Councillor Stan Pajak made a personal declaration in respect of agenda item 9(d) (Motion - COVID 19 Frontline Workers) as he worked in the retail sector.

Mr Trish Philpot submitted a public question regarding the opening of public toilets at Lydiard and Coate. The Leader of the Council responded that a written response had been tabled.

(1) It is anticipated that a Minute for Confirmation regarding Councillors' Allowances 2020/21 - Recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel will arise from the meeting of the Cabinet to be held on 1^st July 2020.

The report relating to this item is attached and is available on the Council’s website.  A copy of the Minute of the Cabinet will be circulated under separate cover following the Cabinet meeting.        

(2) To consider a Minute for Confirmation from the Health and Wellbeing Board:

·         Minute 6 (A Local Outbreak Management Plan for Swindon)

The report relating to this item is attached and is available on the Council’s website.  A copy of the Minute of the Health and Wellbeing Board will be circulated under separate cover.        

               .

(1) Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Russell Holland seconded That Minute 12 of the Cabinet (Allowances 2020/21 - Recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel) be confirmed and adopted.

Councillor Stan Pajak moved and Councillor Andy Spry Seconded:

“That Minute 12 of the Cabinet be amended to include a 10% cut in Members’ Allowances.”

The amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

The Substantive Resolution (Cabinet Minute 12) was put to the vote and declared carried.

(2) Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Brian Ford seconded that Minute 6(1) (A Local Outbreak Management Plan for Swindon) be confirmed and adopted.

The resolution was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Russell Holland seconded:

“That the number of Members to serve on Swindon Borough Council’s Committees for the Municipal Year 2020/21, be as follows:

Appeals Committee – 25 Members

Appointments Committee – 21 Members

Audit Committee – 7 Members

Licensing Committee – 15 Members

Planning Committee – 15 Members

Special Committee – 13 Members

Scrutiny Committee – 13 Members

Health and Wellbeing Board – 6 Members

Standards Committee – 13 Members

Adults’ Health, Adults’ Social Care and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 9 Members

Children’s Health, Social Care and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 9 Members

Communities and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 9 Members

Growing the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 9 Members

Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 9 Members

Health and Wellbeing Board – 6 Members.”

The Resolution was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Russell Holland seconded:

“(1) That, having carried out a review under Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Council continues to apply the political balance provisions under the Act.

(2) That Committees and other relevant Council Bodies be reminded of their duty to carry out a review under Section 15 of the Local Government Housing Act 1989, as appropriate, and recommends that having carried out that review they continue to apply the political balance provisions.

(3) That the Council’s waiving of the political balance arrangements on the Standards Committee and Special Committee be confirmed and these Committees comprise 13 Councillors on the basis of 7 Conservative Group Members, 4 Labour Group Members, 1 Liberal Democrat Group Member and 1 Independent Tories Group Member.

(4) That Councillors be appointed to serve on the Council’s Committees for the Municipal Year 2020/21, as set out as in Appendices to the Minutes on the Council’s website, be approved.

(5) That the arrangements relating to the Council’s Standards Committee, as set out in Paragraph 3.10 of the report of the Chief Legal Officer, be approved.

(6) That Chairs and Vice-Chairs be appointed to the Council’s Committees for the Municipal Year 2020/21, as set out in the Appendices to the Minutes be approved.

(7) That representatives be appointed to serve on Other and Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2020/21, be as set out in the Appendices to the Minutes.”

The Resolution was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Stan Pajak will move:

“That this Council reduces the amount of total councillor allowances (£767,000) by 10% which would give £76,700 which would pay for two additional parking enforcement officers (£57,000) and additional new parking regulations implementation.”

Councillor Stan Pajak moved and Councillor Andy Spry seconded:

“That this Council reduces the amount of total councillor allowances

(£767,000) by 10% which would give £76,700 which would pay for two

additional parking enforcement officers (£57,000) and additional

new parking regulations implementation.”

In accordance with Standing Order 9 the Motion was deferred to Cabinet without discussion.

Councillor Bazil Solomon will move and Councillor Robert Jandy will second:

“This Council Re-affirms that:

·         “Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is simply about the way we work. It supports our thinking and our actions; it is embedded in everything we do”.

·         Swindon has a rich tradition of attracting and welcoming people from all backgrounds regardless of their place of origin, race, religion, beliefs, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability. We are proud of our Town’s diversity with its strong community relations reflected in events such as Pride, the Mela, Polish Day, the Goan Festival, Nepalese festival & Bangladeshi festival, and also the Indian and Caribbean festivals.

This Council sets an example in our Borough by:

• Representation: The Elected Members of the Council welcomes and includes people from a variety of backgrounds, is diverse and provides opportunities for members of all our communities to ensure everyone has a voice.
• Developing and encouraging opportunities: A refreshed foster carer recruitment campaign, focusing on myth- busting to encourage more individuals from diverse backgrounds to consider fostering – generated more than 400 new enquiries since May 2019.
• Working directly with communities: The Revised customer complaints procedure, incorporated feedback from community representatives, with specific customer service training on equality, diversity and inclusion.

This Council believes that:

·         It is important that people continue to have the right to peaceful protest but, equally, the traditions of our Country should be respected and the rule of Law upheld. Criminal damage and violence do not help any cause.

·         It is deeply concerning to witness injustices around the world or closer to home. Nevertheless, we continue to ensure that diversity is celebrated, everyone has equal opportunities and that all are treated equally.

 This Council resolves to:

• Welcome peaceful protest especially on matters of injustice and inequality 
• Support the Police in their role of upholding the Law of the Land
• Welcome the Government’s announcement to set up a Commission looking into inequalities 
• Ensure that we set a benchmark in implementing the Equality Act 2010  and exhort other organisations to do the same
• Ensure all views are heard and everyone is treated equally.”

Councillor Bazil Solomon moved and Councillor Robert Jandy seconded:

“This Council Re-affirms that:                               

·      Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is simply about the way we work. It supports our thinking and our actions; it is embedded in everything we do”.

·         Swindon has a rich tradition of attracting and welcoming people from all backgrounds regardless of their place of origin, race, religion, beliefs, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability. We are proud of our Town’s diversity with its strong community relations reflected in events such as Pride, the Mela, Polish Day, the Goan Festival, Nepalese festival & Bangladeshi festival, and also the Indian and Caribbean festivals. This Council sets an example in our Borough by:

o  Representation: The Elected Members of the Council welcomes and includes people from a variety of backgrounds, is diverse and provides opportunities for members of all our communities to ensure everyone has a voice.

o  Developing and encouraging opportunities: A refreshed foster carer recruitment campaign, focusing on myth- busting to encourage more individuals from diverse backgrounds to consider fostering – generated more than 400 new enquiries since May 2019.

o  Working directly with communities: The Revised customer

complaints procedure, incorporated feedback from community representatives, with specific customer service training on  equality, diversity and inclusion.

This Council believes that:

·         It is important that people continue to have the right to peaceful

protest but, equally, the traditions of our Country should be

respected and the rule of Law upheld. Criminal damage and

violence do not help any cause.

·         It is deeply concerning to witness injustices around the world or

closer to home. Nevertheless, we continue to ensure that diversity is celebrated, everyone has equal opportunities and that all are treated equally.

This Council resolves to:

·         Welcome peaceful protest especially on matters of injustice and

Inequality.

·         Support the Police in their role of upholding the Law of the Land

·         Welcome the Government’s announcement to set up a Commission looking into inequalities.

·      Ensure that we set a benchmark in implementing the Equality Act 2010 and exhort other organisations to do the same.

·       Ensure all views are heard and everyone is treated equally.”

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Barbara Parry will move and Councillor Russell Holland will second:

“This Council:

·         Believes that Children’s mental health is everyone’s business.

·         Note with concern that mental health problems amongst young people have for some time, been on the increase nationally, with a rising demand on services and increasing complexity of need and that COVID19 and the resultant uncertainty for young people including the uncertainty, the anxiety, the fear of becoming ill or seeing a loved one become ill, the loss of our normal routines, the difficulties of social connection, and in many cases the disruption to education will have exacerbated the issue.

·         Welcomes the fact that Government has made mental health a priority and the NHS is urged to give mental health parity with physical health in the COVID Recovery Plan.

 This Council further:

·         Recognises that, despite increased investment in, and policy focus on, mental health services for children and young people, the numbers of children and young people requiring support are going up. Direct access and universal services at the point of need are available, however thresholds for accessing some services mean that waiting times can be long.

·         Notes that the Trailblazer is providing good support from those schools who are part of the scheme but that we still have a number of young people, desperately unhappy and in need of support, some of them urgent support.

 This Council requests that:

·         The Leader of the Council in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services Council write to Central Government to lobby for the much needed additional funding to support mental health services to young people and the earliest possible intervention to remove waiting lists and ensure that young people, and those caring for them, are able to get EARLY help quickly and easily.

·         The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services conduct a review and brings a report to the September Children’s OS committee setting out the current position, scope and progress to date by the council and its partners with recommendations to the January 2021 Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting to ensure that there is a robust mental health strategy covering prevention, self-help, treatment and support. This should include:

o   Improved partnership working between TAMHS and CAMHS to continue to reduce waiting times and that any young person has their needs met by one of the organisations

Councillor Barbara Parry moved and Councillor Russell Holland

seconded:

“This Council:

·         Believes that Children’s mental health is everyone’s business.

·         Note with concern that mental health problems amongst young

people have for some time, been on the increase nationally, with a rising demand on services and increasing complexity of need and that COVID19 and the resultant uncertainty for young people

including the uncertainty, the anxiety, the fear of becoming ill or

seeing a loved one become ill, the loss of our normal routines, the

difficulties of social connection, and in many cases the disruption to education will have exacerbated the issue.

·         Welcomes the fact that Government has made mental health a

priority and the NHS is urged to give mental health parity with

physical health in the COVID Recovery Plan.

This Council further:

·      Recognises that, despite increased investment in, and policy focus on, mental health services for children and young people, the numbers of children and young people requiring support are going up. Direct access and universal services at the point of need are available, however thresholds for accessing some services mean that waiting times can be long.

·         Notes that the Trailblazer is providing good support from those

schools who are part of the scheme but that we still have a number of young people, desperately unhappy and in need of support, some of them urgent support.

This Council requests that:

·         The Leader of the Council in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services Council write to Central Government to lobby for the much needed additional funding to support mental health services to young people and the earliest possible intervention to remove waiting lists and ensure that young people, and those caring for them, are able to get EARLY help quickly and easily.

·      The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services conduct a review and brings a report to the September Children’s OS committee setting out the current position, scope and progress to date by the council and its partners with recommendations to the January 2021 Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting to ensure that there is a robust mental health strategy covering prevention, self-help, treatment and support. This should include:

o Improved partnership working between TAMHS and  CAMHS to continue to reduce waiting times and that any young person has their needs met by one of the organisations

o   Innovative ways to promote the benefits of young people

engaging with sport and the performing arts

o   Working with schools to improve the current training given to staff working directly with young people so that they can spot the signs of poor mental health in children and know who and where to get help and extending specialist training to all support staff to equip them to deal with low level issues and provide support at the earliest stage.”

The Motion was put the vote and declared carried.

(Councillor Bob Wright made a personal declaration in respect of this item as a family member was accessing services referred to in the Motion.)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Councillor Steve Allsopp will move:

“The Covid 19 emergency has led to many front line workers previously taken for granted to be seen by the community at large as essential in maintaining a civilized society during lockdown. Among those workers have been those in the food retail sector. Alex Norris MP has been using the 10 minute bill process to enhance protection for these workers against assault in the course of their duties. We request that the Chief Executive write to our MPs to ask that they recognise the special contribution provided by this group of people by supporting the measures set out in the Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill 2019-21.”

Councillor Steve Allsopp moved and Councillor Bob Wright seconded:

“The Covid 19 emergency has led to many front line workers previously

taken for granted to be seen by the community at large as essential in

maintaining a civilized society during lockdown. Among those workers have been those in the food retail sector. Alex Norris MP has been using the 10 minute bill process to enhance protection for these workers against assault in the course of their duties. We request that the Chief Executive write to our MPs to ask that they recognise the special contribution provided by this group of people by supporting the measures set out in the Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill 2019-21.”

With the agreement of the mover and seconder the Motion was amended to read:

“The Covid 19 emergency has led to many front line workers previously

taken for granted to be seen by the community at large as essential in

maintaining a civilized society during lockdown. Among those workers have been those in the food retail sector. Alex Norris MP has been using the 10 minute bill process to enhance protection for these workers against assault in the course of their duties. We request that the Leader of the Council write to our MPs to ask that they recognise the special contribution provided by this group of people by supporting the measures set out in the Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill 2019-21.”

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

(Councillor Stan Pajak made a personal declaration in respect of this item as he worked in the retail sector.)

Councillor Kevin Small will move:

“This Council commends the Local Resilience Forum and its Partners in the local management of the emergency created by the Covid Pandemic. It commends the whole hearted support shown by our staff in particular for their flexibility and adaptability in ensuring vital services were kept operating at the height of the emergency and the most vulnerable protected.

It notes that on the onset of the emergency the Prime Minister stated that Local Authorities would be given whatever support was required to manage its impact at the local level .This message has now weakened from the Secretary of State to” a need to share the pain”.

This Council further notes that the current emergency is not over and it is highly probable thatfurther action may be required later in the year .Unless a firm guarantee can be given that fullTreasury funding will be provided to cover additional costs and reduction of income to date theneed for continued reduction in our base line budget cannot be avoided. Such an outcome would be a betrayal of our local community and the staff who serve them .

We call on the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State to press the case for fullreimbursement of all costs and lost income incurred to date and ensure Local Government is fully protected now and for future costs of the emergency.”

Councillor Kevin Small moved and Councillor Russell Holland seconded:

“This Council commends the Local Resilience Forum and its Partners in the local management of the emergency created by the Covid Pandemic. It commends the whole hearted support shown by our staff in particular for their flexibility and adaptability in ensuring vital services were kept operating at the height of the emergency and the most vulnerable protected.

It notes that on the onset of the emergency the Prime Minister stated that Local Authorities would be given whatever support was required to manage its impact at the local level .This message has now weakened from the Secretary of State to” a need to share the pain”.

This Council further notes that the current emergency is not over and it is

highly probable that further action may be required later in the year Unless a firm guarantee can be given that full Treasury funding will be provided to cover additional costs and reduction of income to date the need for continued reduction in our base line budget cannot be avoided. Such an outcome would be a betrayal of our local community and the staff who serve them.

We call on the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State to press the case for full reimbursement of all costs and lost income incurred to date and ensure Local Government.”

With the agreement of the mover and seconder the Motion was amended to read:

“This Council would like to thank the Swindon community for everything they have done as part of responding to the covid-19 pandemic.  The Council commends the Local Resilience Forum and its Partners in the local management of the emergency created by the Covid Pandemic. It commends the whole hearted support shown by our staff in particular for their flexibility and adaptability in ensuring vital services were kept operating at the height of the emergency and the most vulnerable protected.

This Council welcomes the Government funding which has been provided to Local Authorities, businesses and individuals, as well as the Government's comments at the start of the emergency that Local Authorities would be given whatever support was required to manage the impact at a local level.

It further notes, that in common with all Local Authorities, that Swindon Borough Council is facing additional costs pressures and loss of revenue arising out of the covid-10 pandemic and welcomes the Government’s commitment to not returning to austerity measures to pay for the crisis.

In view of this the Council asks the Government to provide the funding needed to cover the Council’s additional costs and reduction in income and agrees that the Leader of the Council continues to work with the Government to ensure that Swindon Borough Council receives its fair share of Government funding in order to ensure the long term financial viability of the services it provides."

            The amended Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Jim Grant will move and Councillor Stan Pajak will second:

“We note the economic recovery plan recently passed at cabinet. We further note the recovery plan recently produced by the Labour group. In light of both of these plans we call upon this council to implement a cross party working group, using both these plans as starting point, to seek to come to a consensus as to the best way forward for both Swindon council and the town itself to recover from Covid-19 pandemic. There are many merits in both plans and we feel that the people of Swindon would want all their local representatives to work together during this time of crisis to produce a way forward which sustains both the economic, social and environmental future of the town as well as the financial future of the council.”

Councillor Jim Grant moved and Councillor Stan Pajak seconded:

“We note the economic recovery plan recently passed at cabinet. We further note the recovery plan recently produced by the Labour group. In light of both of these plans we call upon this council to implement a cross party working group, using both these plans as starting point, to seek to come to a consensus as to the best way forward for both Swindon council and the town itself to recover from Covid-19 pandemic. There are many merits in both plans and we feel that the people of Swindon would want all their local representatives to work together during this time of crisis to produce a way forward which sustains both the economic, social and environmental future of the town as well as the financial future of the council.”

The Motion was put to the vote and declared lost.

The Council considered a report of the Chief Legal Officer setting out uses of special or urgency decision making powers in the Constitution in the Municipal Year 2019/20, and informing Council about the use of the additional powers for the Covid-19 emergency period.

Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Russell Holland seconded:

“(1) That the use of special or urgency powers on 16th October 2019 (Investment Opportunity Stratton St Margaret) and 7th May 2020 (Kimmerfields) be noted.

(2) That it be noted that the Chief Legal Officer (Monitoring Officer) has not made any recommendations that Members change the urgency process at this time.

(3) That the Chief Executive’s use of Delegated Authority under Article 14.06.02 of the Constitution, in consultation with both the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, regarding the issue of Local Authority Discretionary Grants as part of the response to Covid-19 be noted.”

The Resolution was put to the vote and declared carried.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Infrastructure, Transport and Planning submitted a report (a) inviting Council to approve the Decision Statement relating to the Stratton St Margaret Neighbourhood Development Plan following the issuing of the independent Examiner’s Report, and (b) seeking Council’s approval to proceed with a referendum on the adoption of the Stratton St Margaret Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Councillor Gary Sumner moved and Councillor Robert Jandy seconded:

“(1) That the Stratton St Margaret Neighbourhood Development Plan Decision Statement as set out in the Appendix 1to the report be approved.

(2) That the Director of Strategic Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services be authorised, subject to the Neighbourhood Plan being modified in accordance with Examiners Report, to take all appropriate actions to progress the Stratton St Margaret Neighbourhood Development Plan to referendum in accordance with regulations set out in The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendum) Regulations 2012.

(3) That the Counting Officer be authorised to undertake the referendum on 6 May 2021; or sooner should revised regulations allow.”

The Resolution was put to the vote and declared carried.

(Councillors Claire Crilly, Robert Jandy and Roger Smith made personal declarations of interest in respect of this item in their capacity as Parish Councillors on Stratton St. Margaret  Parish Council.)

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Infrastructure, Transport and Planning submitted a report (a) inviting Council to approve the Decision Statement relating to the Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Development Plan following the issuing of the independent Examiner’s Report, and (b) seeking Council’s approval to proceed with a referendum on the adoption of the Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Councillor Gary Sumner moved and Councillor Robert Jandy seconded:

“(1) That the Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Development Plan Decision Statement as set out in the Appendix 1to the report be approved.

(2) That the Director of Strategic Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services be authorised, subject to the Neighbourhood Plan being modified in accordance with Examiners Report, to take all appropriate actions to progress the Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Development Plan to referendum in accordance with regulations set out in The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendum) Regulations 2012.

(3) That the Counting Officer be authorised to undertake the referendum on 6 May 2021; or sooner should revised regulations allow.”

The Resolution was put to the vote and declared carried.

The Council considered (a) the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 5^th February, 22^nd April and 7^th May 2020, (b) questions to the Cabinet Members regarding their portfolio responsibilities and answers received, and (c) Cabinet Member Decision Notices.

The Council (a) received the minutes set out in the “Minutes of Other Council Bodies” circulated with the Agenda, and (b) considered questions to Chairs relating to the work of their Committees and other bodies and answers received.

The Chief Legal Officer reported that a Standing Order 15 Questions had been received from Councillors Steve Allsopp, Oliver Donachie and Kevin Parry. Written answers were provided and no supplemental questions were asked.