Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew Bennett, Alan Bishop, Doreen Dart, Fay Howard, Marty Martin, Ellen Osa and Steve Wakefield.

            The Deputy Mayor, on behalf of the Council, thanked The Worshipful The Mayor for her service during the Year and for her management of Council meetings.

The Chief Executive reported that no communications had been received.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23^rd February 2012.

            Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd February 2012, be confirmed and signed.

(Councillor Michael Dickinson made a personal declaration of interest in respect of Agenda Item 6 (Minute For Confirmation – Adult Learning Plan) as he was an employee of New College Swindon.)

(Councillor Ray Fisher made a personal declaration of interest in respect of Agenda Item 7 (Petition – Queensfield Experimental traffic Order) as he had been consulted by the lead petitioner.)

            Mr. David Cox submitted written questions regarding Parking Enforcement. A written response was tabled at the meeting.

            Ms Kareen Boyd asked the Leader of the Council to explain why some issues were deemed to be single ward issues whilst others were deemed to be multi-ward or Borough-wide issues for the purposes of the Council’s Petition Scheme.

            The Leader of the Council indicated that Ms. Boyd would be provided with a written response.

            Ms. Kareen Boyd asked the Leader of the Council what he thought was his greatest achievement and legacy from his period as Leader of the Council?

            The Leader of the Council responded at the meeting.

            Ms. Kareen Boyd asked the Leader of the Council a question relating to the Swindon Wi-Fi project and the accounts of Digital City UK Ltd. and whether these accounts would be made available to the public?

            The Leader of the Council indicated that Ms. Boyd would be provided with a written response.

            Mr. Tim French asked the Leader of the Council if he was aware that the lifts at the windon Bus Station Car Park were not working and enquired when these would be repaired?

            The Leader of the Council indicated that Mr. French would be provided with a written response.

            Mr. Steve Thompson asked the Leader of the Council a question regarding the sale of land in Gorse Hill.

The Leader of the Council responded at the meeting.

Mr. Steve Thompson asked the Leader of the Council if he was

aware that he had asked the local Member of Parliament to intervene in the proposed sale of land at Gorse Hill?

The Leader of the Council responded at the meeting.

(1)  To consider Minutes for Confirmation arising from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21^st March 2012 (to be circulated under separate cover).

(2)  To consider Minutes for Confirmation from the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Sub-Committee:

·         Minute 8(1) – Review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Upper Age Limits.

            (1) Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Roderick Bluh seconded:

“That Minute 108(1) of the Cabinet (Adult Learning Plan 2012) be confirmed and adopted.”

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

(Councillor Michael Dickinson made a personal and prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of this item as he was an employee of New College Swindon and left the room during its discussion.)

            (2) Councillor Roderick Bluh moved and Councillor Jim Grant seconded:

“That, subject to Polling Districts GPC and GPE being moved from the North Central to North East Locality, Minute 113 (1) of the Cabinet (Reference from Corporate Governance Review Working Group), as set out below, be confirmed and adopted.”

LOCALITIES 2012

      The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

(Councillor Andy Harrison requested that his vote against this Motion be recorded.)

            (3) Councillor Roderick Bluhmoved and Councillor Jim Grantseconded:

“That Minute 113(2) of the Cabinet (Reference from Corporate Governance Working Group – Standards Committee) be confirmed and adopted.”

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

            (4) Councillor Roderick Bluhmoved and Councillor Jim Grantseconded:

“That Minute 113(3) of the Cabinet (Reference from Corporate Governance Working Group – Scheme of Delegations) be confirmed and adopted.”

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

            (5) Councillor Richard Hurleymoved and Councillor Vera Tomlinsonseconded:

“That Minute 8(1) of the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Sub-Committee (Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Upper Age Limits) be confirmed and adopted.”

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

            The Council considered a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services concerning the receipt of a petition containing 385 signatures asking for the immediate suspension of the Queensfield Experimental Traffic Order and for a public meeting to clarify the views of local residents and road users and for local residents to be advised of the current traffic statistics and sound reasons for the imposition of the Order.

            The Council received the comments of Mr. Vickery, on behalf of the petitioners, introducing the petition and debated the way in which the Council could most appropriately respond to the concerns raised.

            Councillor Peter Greenhalgh moved and Councillor Sinead Darker seconded:

“This Council resolves to:

a)    Thank the petitioners for their petition and comments, and for their tolerance during the experimental traffic order trial period.

b)    Acknowledge that opinion on this problem is divided within the Queensfield community.

c)    Continue the experimental Traffic Order for the duration of its trial period to allow data collection to continue.  After six months’ operation (July 20^th 2012), officers will review the data in consultation with ward members so that an informed decision can be made.”

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

(Councillor Ray Fisher made a personal declaration of interest in respect of this item as he had been consulted by the lead petitioner and left the room during its discussion.)

The Worshipful The Mayor will move and the Deputy Mayor will second:

This Council supports the Armed Forces Military Covenant and asks the Chief Executive, in consultation with colleagues in the Health Sector, to report to Cabinet on this matter in order that a Community Pledge can be signed when the Royal Yeomanry take up the Freedom of the Borough 21st October 2012.

            The Worshipful The Mayor moved and the Deputy Mayor seconded:

“This Council supports the Armed Forces Military Covenant and asks the Chief Executive, in consultation with colleagues in the Health Sector, to report to Cabinet on this matter in order that a Community Pledge can be signed when the Royal Yeomanry take up the Freedom of the Borough 21st October 2012.”

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Jim Grant will move and Councillor John Ballman will second:

“This Council opposes in principle any development on land designated as green open space as defined by the Proposals Map, Swindon Borough Local Plan 2011 as adopted in July 2006.”

            At the request of the Mover and Seconder, and with the agreement of the Council, this Motion was withdrawn.

To consider the Minute for Confirmation arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 21^st March 2012 (circulated under separate cover).

            The Council considered a joint report of the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Corporate Services and the Group Director, Business Transformation, on the requirement, under Section 38 of the Localism Act 2011, for the Council to agree and publish a Pay Policy Statement by 1^st April each year, and setting out the Council’s proposed Pay Policy Statement for consideration.

            Councillor Roderick Bluh moved and Councillor Garry Perkins seconded:

“That the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2012/13, as set out in Appendix A of the tabled papers be approved and adopted.”

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

To consider and recommend to Annual Council the dates for meetings of the Council, the Cabinet, Committees and other Swindon Borough Council Bodies for the Municipal Year, 2012/13.

The Director of Law and Democratic Services submitted a report setting out the proposed dated for meetings of the Council, the Cabinet, Committees and Other Swindon Borough Council Bodies for the Municipal Year, 2012/13.

Councillor Roderick Bluh moved and Garry Perkins seconded:

“(1) That the Timetable of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2012/13, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services be approved for formal adoption by Annual Council.

(2) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to vary the dates for meetings of the Council, the Cabinet, Committees and Other Swindon Borough Council bodies should this prove necessary for the efficient discharge of Council business.”

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

            The Council considered (a) the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11^th January and 15^th February 2012, (b) decisions taken by Cabinet Members relating to delegated decisions taken under their portfolio responsibilities, and (c) questions to the Cabinet Members regarding their portfolio responsibilities and answers received.

            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 regarding the work of their Committees and other bodies and answers received.

            The Director of Law and Democratic Services reported that Standing Order 15 Questions had been received from Councillors Jim Grant and Dale Heenan.

            Councillor Dale Heenan thanked the Cabinet Member for a Safer and Stronger Borough and Customer Services for his written response and asked when the report referred to in his answer would be submitted to the Cabinet?

            The Cabinet Member responded that he would expect the report to be submitted to the Cabinet within six months.

The Worshipful The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, thanked all those Members not standing in the forthcoming Borough Council elections for their service to the Council.

            The Worshipful The Mayor, also wished all candidates standing in the forthcoming elections good luck.

            Councillors Roderick Bluh, Jim Grant and Stan Pajak supported the comments of the Mayor on behalf of their political groups.