Agenda and minutes

            Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Rex Barnett, Alan Bishop, Michael Dickinson, Dale Heenan, Des Moffatt and Nicky Sewell.

The Chief Executive reported that a letter had been received from Justin Tomlinson M.P., dated 16^th July 2012 regarding Youth Unemployment (Agenda Item 7(a) (Motion – Apprenticeships)) and from Robert Buckland M.P., dated 18^th July 2012 regarding Youth Unemployment (Agenda Item 7(a) (Motion – Apprenticeships)).

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20^th June 2012.

            Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th June 2012, be confirmed and signed.

            Councillor Jim Robbins made a personal declaration of interest in respect of Agenda Item 7(a) as he was employed by Churchfields Academy.

Councillor Emma Faramarzi made a personal declaration of interest in respect of Agenda Item 7(a) as she was a Member of The Federation of Small Businesses which was involved in some of the schemes referred to in the letter submitted to the Council by Justin Tomlinson M.P.

            Mr. Chris Watts submitted a written question to the Leader of the Council regarding Government funding for Council staff earning less than £21,000.

            A written answer was tabled at the meeting.

            Mr. Brian Cockbill submitted a written question to the Leader of the Council regarding the Mechanics’ Institute and the minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 18^th May 2012.

            A written answer was tabled at the meeting.

            Mr. Brian Cockbill asked a supplemental question in respect to the recovery of costs associated with the Mechanics Institute and a response was given at the meeting.

            Mr. Stuart Hibbard submitted a written question regarding planning conditions in force at the Stagecoach Depot in Swindon.

            A written answer was tabled at the meeting.

            Mr. Hibbard asked a supplemental question regarding the accuracy of the response tabled and the Chair of the Planning Committee indicated he would investigate the comments made by Mr. Hibbard.

(1) To consider Minute 8 of the Cabinet (Wiltshire and Swindon Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations Development Plan Document).

(2) To consider Minutes for Confirmation arising from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11^th July 2012.  It is anticipated that reports relating to “One Swindon – Annual Report – First Year”, and “A Community Infrastructure Levy for Swindon”, will be submitted to Council for Confirmation.

A copy of these reports are appended to the agenda (a copy of the appendices to these reports are available on the Council’s website or from Committee and Member Services).                               .

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

 “That Minute 8 of the Cabinet (Wiltshire and Swindon Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations Development Plan Document) be confirmed and adopted.”

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

            (2)  Councillor Russell Holland moved and Councillor Roderick Bluh seconded:

“That Minute 21(1) of the Cabinet (One Swindon – Annual Report – First Year) be confirmed and adopted.

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

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

“That Minute 22(1) of the Cabinet (A Community Infrastructure Levy for Swindon) be confirmed and adopted.

            The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Mark Dempsey will move and Councillor Jim Robbins will second:

“This Council notes the devastating effects of high levels of youth unemployment. This Council also notes that Swindon has been identified as a youth unemployment hotspot, with the second highest rate of youth unemployment in the South West. This Council is concerned by the lack of any meaningful action by its two MPs to highlight and tackle this issue.

This Council also notes that in April 2009 it resolved to instruct Cabinet to investigate the creation of a scheme whereby organisations awarded a contract by Swindon Borough Council would be encouraged to take on apprenticeships. This Council also notes the Cabinet report of October 2011 on Strategic Commissioning, which sought to provide employment opportunities for young trainees and unemployed people through its procurement system.

With this in mind Council would like to reaffirm its commitment to encourage the creation of more work experience, apprenticeship and training opportunities and asks the relevant Cabinet Member to bring a report to Cabinet, detailing how the Council can meet these commitments, with a view to:

• Promoting apprenticeships and work experience opportunities though conditions imposed by the Council via planning applications;
• Promoting more apprenticeships and work experience opportunities through the Council procurement system;
• Seeking to get a voluntary commitment from existing contractors to create more apprenticeships and other training opportunities”.

            Councillor Mark Dempsey moved and CouncillorJim Robbins seconded:

            “This Council notes the devastating effects of high levels of youth unemployment.  This Council also notes that Swindon has been identified as a youth unemployment hotspot, with the second highest rate of youth unemployment in the South West. This Council is concerned by the lack of any meaningful action by its two MPs to highlight and tackle this issue.

            This Council also notes that in April 2009 it resolved to instruct Cabinet to investigate the creation of a scheme whereby organisations awarded a contract by Swindon Borough Council would be encouraged to take on apprenticeships. This Council also notes the Cabinet report of October 2011 on Strategic Commissioning, which sought to provide employment opportunities for young trainees and unemployed people through its procurement system.

            With this in mind Council would like to reaffirm its commitment to encourage the creation of more work experience, apprenticeship and training opportunities and asks the relevant Cabinet Member to bring a report to Cabinet, detailing how the Council can meet these commitments, with a view to:

·         Promoting apprenticeships and work experience opportunities though conditions imposed by the Council via planning applications;

·         Promoting more apprenticeships and work experience opportunities through the Council procurement system;

·         Seeking to get a voluntary commitment from existing contractors to create more apprenticeships and other training opportunities”.

            Councillor Garry Perkins moved and Councillor Roderick Bluh seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

            “This Council also notes that in April 2009 it resolved to instruct Cabinet to investigate the creation of a scheme whereby organisations awarded a contract by Swindon Borough Council would be encouraged to take on apprenticeships. This Council also notes the Cabinet report of October 2011 on Strategic Commissioning, which sought to provide employment opportunities for young trainees and unemployed people through its procurement system.

            This Council also notes the work undertaken by the Council and its One Swindon partners to provide apprenticeships and monitoring through Plan 500.

            With this in mind, Council would like to reaffirm its commitment to encourage the creation of more work experience, apprenticeship and training opportunities through:

·         Promoting apprenticeships and work experience opportunities though the Council procurement system;

·         Seeking to get a voluntary commitment from existing contractors to create more apprenticeships and other training opportunities.”

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

            “This Council also notes that in April 2009 it resolved to instruct Cabinet to investigate the creation of a scheme whereby organisations awarded a contract by Swindon Borough Council would be encouraged to take on apprenticeships. This Council also notes the Cabinet report of October 2011 on Strategic Commissioning, which sought to provide employment opportunities for young trainees and unemployed people through its procurement system.

            This Council also notes the work undertaken by the Council and its One Swindon partners to provide apprenticeships and monitoring through Plan 500 and that more should be done.

            With this in mind, Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Councillor Julian Price will move and Councillor Jim Grant will second:

“This Council is disappointed that the unapproved Core Strategy published last year has been taken as a material consideration for determining two significant outline planning applications in the Borough, at Commonhead and Tadpole Farm.

This Council also asks the Lead Member for Strategic Planning to ensure the following strategic borough priorities are included within the next version of the Core Strategy proposals:

• The re-instatement of the Purton-Iffley Relief Road as designed.

• That the A419 be deemed as a major economic artery for Swindon and that a Spine Road link the A419 to the Tadpole Farm development.

• That Oakhurst Way not be shown as the principle access to the Tadpole farm development.”

Councillor Julian Price moved and Councillor Jim Grant seconded:

            “This Council is disappointed that the unapproved Core Strategy published last year has been taken as a material consideration for determining two significant outline planning applications in the Borough, at Commonhead and Tadpole Farm.

            This Council also asks the Lead Member for Strategic Planning to ensure the following strategic Borough priorities are included within the next version of the Core Strategy proposals:

·         The re-instatement of the Purton-Iffley Relief Road as designed.

·         That the A419 be deemed as a major economic artery for Swindon and that a Spine Road link the A419 to the Tadpole Farm development.

·         That Oakhurst Way not be shown as the principal access to the Tadpole Farm development.”

            Councillor Keith Williams moved and Councillor Roderick Bluh seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

            “This Council notes that the draft Core Strategy, considered and approved by Council on 25^th February 2008 (Minute 108), 16^th July 2009 (Minute 19) and 17th February 2012 (Minute 19) has been taken as material consideration for determining two significant outline planning applications in the Borough, at Commonhead and Tadpole Farm.

            This Council asks the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Sustainability if the draft Core Strategy can take into consideration the following:

·        That the Council should negotiate with the Department for Transport to determine if the Purton-Iffley Relief Road, which was removed from the Haydon 3 Section 106 agreement by Planning Committee because the previous Government could not commit to the £100million funding, can be reinstated.

·        That the A419 be deemed as a major economic artery for Swindon and that a Spine Road link the A419 to the Tadpole Farm development.

·        If Oakhurst Way is the primary access to Tapole Farm, and detail all the proposed traffic management measures secured for the Tadpole farm development to ensure that the highway is fit for purpose.”

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

            “This Council notes that the draft Core Strategy, considered and approved by Council on 25^th February 2008 (Minute 108), 16^th July 2009 (Minute 19) and 17th February 2012 (Minute 19) has been taken as material consideration for determining two significant outline planning applications in the Borough, at Commonhead and Tadpole Farm.

            This Council asks the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Sustainability if the draft Core Strategy can take into consideration the following:

·        That the Council should negotiate with the Department for Transport to determine if the Purton-Iffley Relief Road , which was removed from the Haydon 3 Section 106 agreement by Planning Committee because the previous Government could not commit to the £100million funding, can be reinstated.

·        That the A419 be deemed as a major economic artery for Swindon and that a Spine Road link the A419 to the Tadpole Farm development.

·        Whether or not Oakhurst Way should be the primary access to Tadpole Farm, and all the proposed traffic management measures secured for the Tadpole Farm  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Members have the opportunity to raise questions with the relevant Cabinet Member in respect of Cabinet minutes (which are not reserved to Council for decision) and in respect of individual Cabinet Member delegated decisions.

            The Council considered (a) the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 21^st March and 1th June 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 a Standing Order 15 Question had been received from Councillor Mark Dempsey and a written answer had been tabled.

            There was no supplemental question.