Agenda and minutes

          That the Council records its appreciation for the work undertaken by Councillors Roderick Bluh, Mark Dempsey, Neil Heavens and Nicky Sewell following their decision not to stand as candidates in the forthcoming Local Government elections and offers its best wishes for their future endeavours.

The Mayor advised the meeting that she intended, in accordance with Section 100 B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to take an additional urgent item concerning Joint Commissioning Board Minute 18 (Minute for Confirmation – NHS Act 2006 Section 75 Agreements 2015). The reason for the urgency was to allow Council to make a decision on the extension of the existing contract prior to the expiry of the current contract at the end of April 2015. 

With the consent of the Council it was agreed that the additional item would be considered as Agenda Item 6(3) (Minute 108 refers).

          Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Ballman, Roderick Bluh, Brian Mattock, Carol Shelley, Steve Wakefield and Keith Williams.

The Chief Executive reported that no communications had been received.

          Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th March 2015, 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. 

Councillor Kevin Parry made a personal and non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of Agenda Items No. 6(1) and 6(3) in his capacity as a Governor of Great Western Hospital (Minutes 108(1) and 108(3) refer).

(1) To consider a Minute for Confirmation from the Health and Wellbeing Board.

·       Minute 42(1) (Terms of Reference of the Board)

(2) To consider a Minute for Confirmation from the Licensing Committee.

·       Minute 28(1) (Statement of Gambling Principles)

          (1) Councillor David Renard moved and Councillor Fionuala Foley seconded:

“That Minute 42(1) of the Health and Wellbeing Board (Terms of Reference of the Board) be confirmed and adopted.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

          (2) Councillor Vera Tomlinson moved and Councillor Eric Shaw seconded:

“That Minute 28(1) of the Licensing Committee (Statement of Gambling Principles) be confirmed and adopted.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

          (3) Councillor Fionula Foley moved and Councillor David Renard seconded:

“That Minute 18 of the Joint Commissioning Board (Adults and Children) (NHS Section 75 Agreements 2015) be confirmed and adopted.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Nicky Sewell will move:

“Swindon Borough Council notes:

1. That currently 1.5 million 16 and 17 year olds are denied the vote in public elections in the UK.

2. That the campaign to lower the voting age is supported by thousands of young people across the UK and that the Votes at 16 Coalition consists of a wide range of youth and democracy organisations.

This Council believes;

1. 16 and 17 year olds are knowledgeable and passionate about the world in which they live and are as capable of engaging in the democratic system as any other citizen;

2. Lowering the voting age to 16, combined with strong citizenship education, would empower young people to better engage in society and influence decisions that will define their future;

3. People who can consent to medical treatment, work full-time, pay taxes, get married or enter a civil partnership and join the armed forces should also have the right to vote.

This Council resolves:

1. To write to the incoming Prime Minister after the May 2015 election expressing the support of this Council for the lowering of the voting age to 16;

2. To write to the Swindon South and Swindon North MPs after the May 2015 election to encourage them to support the lowering of the voting age to 16;

3. To promote this policy through its communications.”

          Councillor Nicky Sewell moved and Councillor Mark Dempsey seconded:

“Swindon Borough Council notes:

1. That currently 1.5 million 16 and 17 year olds are denied the vote in public elections in the UK.

2. That the campaign to lower the voting age is supported by thousands of young people across the UK and that the Votes at 16 Coalition consists of a wide range of youth and democracy organisations.

This Council believes;

1. 16 and 17 year olds are knowledgeable and passionate about the world in which they live and are as capable of engaging in the democratic system as any other citizen;

2. Lowering the voting age to 16, combined with strong citizenship education, would empower young people to better engage in society and influence decisions that will define their future;

3. People who can consent to medical treatment, work full-time, pay taxes, get married or enter a civil partnership and join the armed forces should also have the right to vote.

This Council resolves:

1. To write to the incoming Prime Minister after the May 2015 election expressing the support of this Council for the lowering of the voting age to 16;

2. To write to the Swindon South and Swindon North MPs after the May 2015 election to encourage them to support the lowering of the voting age to 16;

3. To promote this policy through its communications.”

          The Motion was put to the vote and declared lost.

Councillor Jim Grant will move:

“This Council notes that:

• Cash-In-Transit drivers are made contractually liable by their employers for fines for parking on double yellow lines.
• Cash-In-Transit driver drivers are operate in a dangerous job where they need to park as close as possible to those institutions they are collecting the money from.
• Other highways authorities include an exemption for Cash-In-Transit vehicles (referred to as “bullion vehicles”) from receiving Fixed Penalty Notices whilst loading or unloading large quantities of money.

Council believes it is unfair for these drivers who are in low paid jobs to be potentially liable for such fines when they are just doing their jobs in a potentially dangerous environment and requests the Cabinet Member for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills to bring a report to Cabinet detailing how the Council could specifically exempt cash-in-transit drivers from Penalty Charge Notices when loading or unloading large quantities of money.”

          Councillor Jim Grant moved and Councillor Garry Perkins seconded:

“This Council notes that:

·     Cash-In-Transit drivers are made contractually liable by their employers for fines for parking on double yellow lines.

·     Cash-In-Transit driver drivers are operating in a dangerous job where they need to park as close as possible to those institutions they are collecting the money from.

·     Other highways authorities include an exemption for Cash-In-Transit vehicles (referred to as “bullion vehicles”) from receiving Fixed Penalty Notices whilst loading or unloading large quantities of money.

Council believes it is unfair for these drivers who are in low paid jobs to be potentially liable for such fines when they are just doing their jobs in a potentially dangerous environment and requests the Cabinet Member for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills to bring a report to Cabinet detailing how the Council could specifically exempt cash-in-transit drivers from Penalty Charge Notices when loading or unloading large quantities of money.”

          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, 2015/16.

The Director of Law and Democratic Services submitted a report setting out the proposed dates for meetings of the Council, the Cabinet, Committees and Other Swindon Borough Council Bodies for the Municipal Year, 2015/16.

          Councillor David Renard moved and Fionuala Foley seconded:

“(1) That, subject to (a) the removal of the Children’s Trust Board and Joint Commissioning Board (Adults and Children), and (b) moving the first meeting of Locality West to a June date, the Timetable of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2015/16, 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 meetings of the Cabinet held on 4^th February and 18^th March 2015, 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 no Standing Order 15 Questions had been received.