Agenda and minutes

          Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Emma Faramarzi, Nicky Sewell, Keith Williams and Dave Wood.

          The Chief Executive reported that no communications had been received.

          Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th November 2014, be confirmed and signed.

          The Mayor reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.

(In accordance with the Code of Conduct Councillors Steve Allsopp, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Andrew Bennett, Mark Dempsey, Neil Heavens, Cindy Matthews, Kevin Parry, Maureen Penny, Carol Shelly, Nick Martin, Gemma McCracken, Joe Tray and Nadine Watts made non prejudicial declarations of interest in respect of item 7 (b) (Motion – School Fines) as they were School Governors.)

(In accordance with the Code of Conduct Councillors Andrew Bennett, Nick Martin, Gary Perkins and Joe Tray made non prejudicial declarations of interest in respect of item 7 (d) (Motion – Firefighters Pensions) as they were Council appointed representatives on the Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority.)

(In accordance with the Code of Conduct Councillor Joe Tray made a non prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of item 7 (d) (Motion Firefighters Pensions) as he was in receipt of a Fire Authority Pension.)

          Mr David Parkinson submitted written questions regarding (a) documentation relating to Queen Elizabeth Drive, Swindon, and (b) funding to make Queen Elizabeth Drive, Swindon, suitable for bus usage. Written responses were tabled at the meeting.

          Mr David Parkinson asked supplemental questions seeking clarification on (a) lost documentation relation to Queen Elizabeth Drive and (b) spending to make Queen Elizabeth Drive safer.  The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport responded at the meeting.

          Mr Brian McLean submitted written questions regarding (a) incidents on Queen Elizabeth Drive involving road traffic collisions and/or buses, (b) guidelines used in the adoption of Queen Elizabeth Drive, and (c) the use of independent consultants inspecting problems associated with Queen Elizabeth Drive. Written responses were tabled at the meeting.

          Mr Brian McLean asked supplemental questions seeking clarification on (a) that Thamesdown Drive was considered safe and suitable for buses, (b) interpretation of guidelines used for the adoption of Queen Elizabeth Drive, and (c) whether a Freedom of Information request was required to gain information requested. The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport responded at the meeting.

          Mr Richard Symmonds asked a Public Question regarding an accident involving a mechanical road sweeper in Swindon Town Centre prior to Christmas.   The Cabinet Member for Streetsmart indicated that a written response would be provided.

          Mr Richard Symmonds asked a Public Question regarding a public meeting at Western Community Centre regarding Thamesdown Drive. The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport responded at the meeting.

          Mr Richard Symmonds asked a supplemental question regarding an extension to Thamesdown Drive. The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport responded at the meeting.

(1) To consider a Minute for Confirmation from Cabinet:
 

·       Minute 54 (Polling Districts and Polling Places Review)

(2) To receive Minutes for Note from Cabinet:

·       Minute 45 (Local Government Ombudsman Annual Review of Swindon)

·       Minute 52 (Recycling – Green Waste Services)

·       Minute 53 (Motion at Council – Car Parking on Grass Verges)

          (1) Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Jim Grant seconded:

“That Minute 54 of the Cabinet (Polling Districts and Polling Places Review) be confirmed and adopted.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

          (2) Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Jim Grant seconded:

“That Minute 45 of the Cabinet (Local Government Ombudsman Annual Review of Swindon) be noted.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

          (3) Councillor Brian Ford moved and Councillor David Renard seconded:

“That Minute 52(2) of the Cabinet (Recycling – Green Waste Services) be noted.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

          (4) Councillor Garry Perkins moved and Councillor David Renard seconded:

“That Minute 53(7) of the Cabinet (Motion at Council – Cars Parking on Grass Verges) be noted.”

          Councillor Mark Dempsey moved and Councillor Kevin Small seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council recognizes the frustrations of many local residents who suffer from messy grass verges in their neighbourhoods as a result of a lack of parking capacity on some of Swindon’s roads.  This Council requests the Head of Highways to bring a report to Cabinet detailing how the Council could establish a fund to increase parking capacity in residential areas suffering from severe parking congestion.”

          The Amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

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

Councillor Stan Pajak will move and Councillor Julie Wright will second:

“This Council believes in the need for local Councillors to be informed of new and changes to applications for alcohol sales and entertainment licenses or an application to review a current Premises Licence within their ward, and therefore calls for Ward Councillors to be informed by the Council’s Licensing Manager of the receipt of such applications and for this to become the adopted policy as is the case with planning applications in the Borough.”

          Councillor Stan Pajak moved and Councillor Anne Richards seconded:

“This Council believes in the need for local Councillors to be informed of new and changes to applications for alcohol sales and entertainment licenses or an application to review a current Premises Licence within their ward, and therefore calls for Ward Councillors to be informed by the Council’s Licensing Manager of the receipt of such applications and for this to become the adopted policy as is the case with planning applications in the Borough.”

          Councillor Vera Tomlinson moved and Councillor Emma Faramarzi seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council believes in the need for local Councillors to be informed of new and changes to applications for alcohol sales and entertainment licenses or an application to review a current Premises Licence within their ward, and therefore calls for Ward Councillors to be informed directly and in the Members’ Bulletin by the Council’s Licensing Manager of the receipt of such applications and for this to become the adopted policy as is the case with planning applications in the Borough.”

          The Amendment to the Motion was accepted by the Mover and Seconder and by Council becoming the Substantive Motion.

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

Councillor Stan Pajak will move and Councillor Dave Wood will second:

“This Council requests Swindon’s Members of Parliament to make representations to the Government in order to enable the money raised from fines for taking children out of school during term time to be allocated to the school concerned and not the Council. This Council further calls on the Government to press for reduced Holiday Company pricing during school holidays and consideration of a one fine policy for a pupil and not a fine for each parent.”

          Councillor Stan Pajak moved and Councillor Anne Richards seconded:

“This Council requests Swindon’s Members of Parliament to make representations to the Government in order to enable the money raised from fines for taking children out of school during term time to be allocated to the school concerned and not the Council. This Council further calls on the Government to press for reduced Holiday Company pricing during school holidays and consideration of a one fine policy for a pupil and not a fine for each parent.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared lost.

(In accordance with the Code of Conduct Councillors Steve Allsopp, John Ballman, Ray Ballman, Andrew Bennett, Mark Dempsey, Neil Heavens, Cindy Matthews, Kevin Parry, Maureen Penny, Carol Shelly, Nick Martin, Gemma McCracken, Joe Tray and Nadine Watts made non prejudicial declarations of interest in respect of this  item as School Governors.)

Councillor Toby Elliott will move and Councillor Mary Martin will second:

This Council notes:

·       Swindon has grown by more than 50,000 residents in the last 20 years.

·       Swindon will, according to forecasts, grow by an additional 50,000 residents in the next 20 years.

·       This additional housing places a strain on our transport networks; which is not always satisfied by Section 106 or Community Infrastructure Levy monies.

·       A one size fits all approach to transport infrastructure very rarely works and all options must be looked at.

·       Swindon has a deep rooted heritage in the formation of the railways

This Council resolves to invite the Scrutiny Committee to:

(i)              Establish a Future Transport Infrastructure Working Group comprised of members from the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which would report to the Scrutiny Committee.

(ii)             Ask that the new Working Group look into new transport. infrastructure opportunities & how they could be financed

(iii)            Ask that this work includes, but is not exclusive to, a new mainline or commuter railway station at Mouldon Bridge.

(iv)           Ask that the new Working Group invite partners including, but not limited to, Wiltshire Council, Network Rail, the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, First Great Western?, Swindon and Cricklade Railway to give evidence to the Working Group.

          Councillor Toby Elliott moved and Councillor Mary Martin seconded:

“This Council notes:

·       Swindon has grown by more than 50,000 residents in the last 20 years.

·       Swindon will, according to forecasts, grow by an additional 50,000 residents in the next 20 years.

·       This additional housing places a strain on our transport networks; which is not always satisfied by Section 106 or Community Infrastructure Levy monies.

·       A one size fits all approach to transport infrastructure very rarely works and all options must be looked at.

·       Swindon has a deep rooted heritage in the formation of the railways.

This Council resolves to invite the Scrutiny Committee to:

(i)         Establish a Future Transport Infrastructure Working Group comprised of members from the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Economy and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which would report to the Scrutiny Committee.

(ii)        Ask that the new Working Group look into new transport. infrastructure opportunities ad how they could be financed.

(iii)      Ask that this work includes, but is not exclusive to, a new mainline or commuter railway station at Mouldon Bridge.

(iv)      Ask that the new Working Group invite partners including, but not limited to, Wiltshire Council, Network Rail, the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, First Great Western?, Swindon and Cricklade Railway to give evidence to the Working Group.”

          Councillor Jim Grant moved and Councillor Bob Wright seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council notes:

·       Swindon has grown by more than 50,000 residents in the last 20 years.

·       Swindon will, according to forecasts, grow by an additional 50,000 residents in the next 20 years.

·       This additional housing places a strain on our transport networks; which is not always satisfied by Section 106 or Community Infrastructure Levy monies.

·       A one size fits all approach to transport infrastructure very rarely works and all options must be looked at.

·       Swindon has a deep rooted heritage in the formation of the railways.

This Council resolves to form a Future Transport Infrastructure Working Group comprising of the Leaders and Shadow Leads for Highways on the Council’s respective political groups.  This Working Group should:

·       Look at new transport infrastructure opportunities and how they could be financed.

·       Ask that the new Working Group invite key transport stakeholders for Swindon to give evidence to the Working Group.”

The Amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

          Councillor Des Moffatt moved and Councillor Peter Watts moved that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council notes:

·       Swindon has grown by more than 50,000 residents in the last 20 years.

·       Swindon will, according to forecasts, grow by an additional 50,000 residents in the next 20 years.

·       This additional housing places a strain on our transport networks; which is not always satisfied by Section 106 or Community Infrastructure Levy monies.

·       A one size fits all approach to transport infrastructure very rarely works and all options must be looked at.

·       Swindon has a deep rooted heritage in the formation of the railways.

This Council resolves to invite the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

Councillor Jim Grant will move and Councillor Steve Wakefield will second:

“"This Council notes:

• The Government's plans to increase firefighter pension contributions and raise the retirement age of all firefighters to 60.
• The breakdown in talks between the Government and the unions on this issue.
• Strike action on this issue has been avoided in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Council believes:

• The firefighters across Swindon and Wiltshire do a brave and heroic job putting at risk their own lives to protect our residents.
• The fire fighters should be rewarded for this service to the public with a fair pension settlement upon retirement.
• The current Government's plan to force all firefighters to remain in active service to the age of 60 will put the personal safety and mental wellbeing of firefighters at risk and jeopardises the safety of the public.
• That, if the Governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have negotiated a fairer deal the Government can do the same for England.

Council therefore resolves:

• To write to the Fire Minister urging her to enter in to negotiations with the Fire Brigades Union in England with a new offer over pension contributions.
• To write to the Members of Parliament for Swindon and urge them to support calls on the annulment of the Government's firefighter pension scheme.

Councillor Nick Martin moved and Councillor Tim Swinyard seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

This Council notes the breakdown in talks between the Government and the unions on this issue and that Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have avoided strike action.

Council accepts that firefighters will still get one of the most generous pension schemes in the public sector after the current reforms. However, firefighter pensions must be fair to both firefighters and the taxpayers.

Council further notes that:

·       The normal retirement age has been sixty since 2006.

·       The Government’s changes ensure that firefighters have the same pension age as the police and armed forces under their reforms.

·       The Government has made substantial changes to the Firefighters’ Pension Scheme 2015 since discussions began in 2011.

·       The average firefighter retiring at age 50 today is expected to live and draw a pension for 37 years in retirement after a career of 30 years.

·       A firefighter on £29,000 who retires at 60 after a full career will get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension.

·       For every pound a firefighter invests taxpayers are paying in an extra £5 into the pension pot. Last year that cost taxpayers over half a billion pounds (£557m).

·       A firefighter would need to double their level of contributions to get the same pension from a private provider.

Council believes:

·       The firefighters across Swindon and Wiltshire do a brave and heroic job putting at risk their own lives to protect our residents.

·       The fire fighters should be rewarded for this service to the public with a fair pension settlement upon retirement.

Council therefore resolves to request that the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety writes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Councillor Bob Wright will move and Councillor Steve Allsopp will second:

“This Council notes the frustrations of many motorists across the town over the recent extra traffic pressures as a result of major road works across the town. These frustrations from motorists include not being aware of diversion routes around major road works and the Council not taking enough measures to mitigate the traffic effects of major road works.

Council believes there is more it could do in order to help mitigate the effects of the major road works across the town.  Council requests the Head of Highways to bring a report to Cabinet detailing how the Council can improve how it mitigates the effects of major road works in the borough, including how the Council can more effectively communicate diversion routes around major road works for motorists and establishing panels of road stakeholders to recommend effective highways measures the Council can take to mitigate the traffic effects of major road works.”

          Councillor Bob Wright moved and Councillor Steve Allsopp seconded:

“This Council notes the frustrations of many motorists across the town over the recent extra traffic pressures as a result of major road works across the town. These frustrations from motorists include not being aware of diversion routes around major road works and the Council not taking enough measures to mitigate the traffic effects of major road works.

Council believes there is more it could do in order to help mitigate the effects of the major road works across the town. Council requests the Head of Highways to bring a report to Cabinet detailing how the Council can improve how it mitigates the effects of major road works in the Borough, including how the Council can more effectively communicate diversion routes around major road works for motorists and establishing panels of road stakeholders to recommend effective highways measures the Council can take to mitigate the traffic effects of major road works.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared lost.

Councillor Mark Dempsey will move and Councillor Junab Ali will second:

“This Council believes there is a significant opportunity to install solar panels on Council houses by establishing a Swindon Solar Cooperative, as it could:

• Help cut fuel poverty
• Reduce residents energy bills by an estimated £300 per year from lower energy bills

• Provide a return on investment for the Council through the Feed in Tariff estimated at around 6-7% which could boost the revenue budget.
• Help boost our economy and create local jobs, restoring Swindon as an economic powerhouse.

Therefore this Council requests the Chief Executive to bring a report to Cabinet on how this proposal could be delivered, and how it could maximise the benefits of this proposal to Council tenants, the community, and the Council including:

• How the Council could install solar PV systems for residents in Council owned homes.
• How the Council could extend this opportunity to residents in privately owned properties.
• How the Council could establish a Swindon Solar Cooperative and provide a return on investment for taxpayers and attract community investment.
• How the Council could benefit from each proposal.”

          Councillor Mark Dempsey moved and Councillor Junab Ali seconded:

“This Council believes there is a significant opportunity to install solar panels on Council houses by establishing a Swindon Solar Cooperative, as it could:

• Help cut fuel poverty,
• Reduce residents energy bills by an estimated £300 per year from lower energy bills.

• Provide a return on investment for the Council through the Feed in Tariff estimated at around 6-7% which could boost the revenue budget.
• Help boost our economy and create local jobs, restoring Swindon as an economic powerhouse.

Therefore this Council requests the Chief Executive to bring a report to Cabinet on how this proposal could be delivered, and how it could maximise the benefits of this proposal to Council tenants, the community, and the Council including:

• How the Council could install solar PV systems for residents in Council owned homes.
• How the Council could extend this opportunity to residents in privately owned properties.
• How the Council could establish a Swindon Solar Cooperative and provide a return on investment for taxpayers and attract community investment.
• How the Council could benefit from each proposal.”

          Councillor Toby Elliott moved and Councillor Oliver Donachie seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council believes there is a significant opportunity to install solar panels on Council houses by establishing a Swindon Solar Cooperative, as it could:

·       Help cut fuel poverty.

·       Reduce residents energy bills by an estimated £300 per year from lower energy bills.

·       Provide a return on investment for the Council through the Feed in Tariff estimated at around 6-7% which could boost the revenue budget.

·       Help boost our economy and create local jobs, restoring Swindon as an economic powerhouse.

This Council notes that  Cabinet agreed in September 2014 to the formation of a Community Renewable Investment Scheme with partners that have the necessary skills and expertise to deliver the scheme, to allow residents to benefit from potential return on investments of 6+%”

Therefore this Council requests the Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety, reports to Cabinet when practicable after consultation with Members and the Housing Advisory Forum about:

(1)   Whether a proposal has the support of Council tenants;

(2)  How the Council could install solar PV systems for residents in Council owned homes;

(3)  How to extend this opportunity to residents in privately owned properties;

(4)  How the Council could establish a Swindon Solar Cooperative and provide a return on investment for taxpayers after increasing Council debt to attract community investment; and

(5)  How the Council could benefit from each proposal.

          With the agreement of the mover and seconder and Council the Amendment was accepted becoming the Substantive Motion.

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

          The Council considered (a) the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 22^nd October and 10^th December 2014, and (b) 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 relating to the work of their Committees and other bodies and answers received.

          The Director of Law and Democratic Services reported that a Standing Order 15 question had been received from Councillor Derique Montaut.

          Councillor Derique Montaut asked a supplementary question regarding the use of the budget allocation for Village Centre Regeneration. The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport responded at the meeting.