Meeting documents

Prior to the commencement of the formal business of the meeting all those present stood in silent tribute to Councillor Kevin Hewson, Member of the Council for the Quainton Ward since 2015, who had sadly passed away suddenly that morning.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 31 January, 2018, copy attached as an appendix.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 31 January 2018, be approved as a correct record.

Members to declare any interests.

The Chairman of the Council informed Members that to enable full and proper consideration of item 10 on the Council agenda (New Notice of Motion: Tackling Homelessness in the Vale (using Empty Dwelling Management Orders) (EDMOs)) the Lead Legal and Monitoring Officer had, in accordance with the authority given to him, granted a dispensation to all Members of the Council in accordance with Section 33 of the Localism Act, 2011, to enable them to participate fully in the debate and vote on this item.

The following Members declared interests in relation to item 10:-

Personal Interest:  Councillors Mrs J Blake, Bond, Bowles, B Chapple, Fealey, Hussain, Khan, Mordue, Mrs Paternoster, Waite and Mrs Ward.

Personal and Prejudicial Interest:  Councillors N Blake, Mrs Brandis, A Cole, Mrs Macpherson, Rand and Mrs Renshell.

By the Chairman of the Council.

By the Leader/Cabinet Members.

(a)          Chairman of the Council

The Chairman of the Council extended best wishes for a speedy recovery to Councillor Bateman who had been unwell recently.

(b)          Cabinet Member for Growth Strategy

The Cabinet Member for Growth Strategy informed Members that a very successful Parish / Town Council conference had been held at the Gateway offices on Tuesday evening, 20 February.  The conference had concentrated on planning issues and had been well attended.  The Cabinet Member also thanked Officers who had attended and supported the event.

There were none.

Three written questions were submitted by Members during January 2018.

Members’ Written Questions and Answers can be accessed at http://democracy.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=441

Three written questions had been submitted during January, 2018 and could be viewed on the Council’s web site as follows:-

 http://democracy.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=441

Councillor Mordue

Cabinet Member for Resources, Governance and Compliance

To consider the report attached as an appendix.

The Council received a report on the amounts of Council Tax that would be payable by residents of the District during 2018/2019, based upon the approved budgets set by the relevant local authorities and the Police and Fire Authorities which made up the total Council Tax bill.

At the time of issuing the Council agenda, only the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, of the major precepting bodies had formally agreed their precepts.  Therefore, because Bucks County Council and the Bucks and Milton Keynes Fire precepts had been unresolved, the figures in the report had been provisional. However, these figures had now been confirmed.

The Council had determined income and expenditure plans for 2018/2019 that would result in a precept requirement for District expenditure of £10,807,500.  This represented a District Council Tax of £149.06.  The Aylesbury Special Expenses requirement was £864,400.  The Tax base for 2018/2019 was again based upon actual levels of Council Tax discount and housing growth, and had increased by 1.97%.

The following amounts for the year 2018/2019 had been determined under delegated powers in accordance with Regulations made under Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992:-

(A)          The Council tax Base for 2018/2019 for the whole Council area as 72,507 being the amount calculated by the Council in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) 1992.

(B)          The amounts calculated by the Council in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its Council Tax Base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items related, as detailed in Appendix B to these Minutes.

It was brought to Members’ attention that at Appendix D (page 24), points 2.1 (a) to (h) inclusive should read points 3.1 (a) to (h) inclusive, which aligned with the recommendations to Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Mordue and seconded by Councillor Rand that the report recommendations be approved and adopted.

As required by Council Procedure Rules and Statutory Regulations, a recorded vote was taken on the Council Tax Setting resolutions and the voting was as follows:-

FOR:  Councillors B Adams, C Adams, N Blake, Mrs J Blake, Bond, Mrs Bloom, Bowles, Mrs Brandis, Branston, B Chapple, Mrs Chapple, Chilver, Christensen, A Cole, S Cole, Collins, Cooper, Everitt, Fealey, Foster, Mrs Glover, Hawkett, Hussain, Huxley, Irwin, Mrs Jarvis, Mrs Jenkins, Khan, King, Mrs Macpherson, Mills, Monger, Moore, Mordue, Newcombe, Mrs Paternoster, Poll, Rand, Mrs Renshell, Mrs Russel, Smith, Stamp, Sir Beville Stanier, Strachan, Stuchbury, Town, Waite, Mrs Ward, Whyte and Winn.

AGAINST:  None.

ABSTENTIONS:  There were none.

RESOLVED –

(1)          That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2018/2019 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992:-

Councillor Mordue

Cabinet Member for Resources, Governance and Compliance

To consider the report attached as an appendix.

Consideration was given to a report, also submitted to the Finance and Services Committee on 5 February, 2018 (and detailed in the Minutes of that meting), regarding the Council’s Treasury management Policy Statement, Treasury Management Strategy Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2018/19.

The Committee had expressed some concerns that the Panel proposed to be established to approve expenditure under the Commercial Property Strategy approved by the Council had not yet been finalised.  However it was noted that the Government had introduced additional controls for Council borrowings since the Strategy had been approved and the Council was awaiting clarification around this particular aspect.  The Committee had also asked that any borrowings above the authorised limits should by considered by the Committee before being submitted to full Council for approval.  Otherwise, the Committee felt that the Strategy could be submitted to Council for approval.

It was brought to Members’ attention that at the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (page 45), Fixed Rate and Notice Account Investments at Investments should read as £56.129m.

Proposed by Councillor Mordue, seconded by Councillor Winn and

RESOLVED –

That the updated Treasury Management Strategy for 2018/2019, Prudential Indicators (detailed in Appendix A2) and the Minimum Reserve Provision Policy Statement (detailed in Appendix A5), be approved.

Councillor N Blake

Leader of the Council and Chairman of the General Purposes Committee

To consider the report attached as an appendix.

The Council was required to review and publish its Pay Policy annually.  Council received a report similar to that submitted to the General Purposes Committee on 5 February, 2018, and summarised in the Minutes of that meeting, reviewing the current policy.  The updated policy was attached to the report to that Committee, which in turn had been attached to the Council report.

The updated policy had been discussed with the Trades Unions and Staff Side representatives, who had made no comments.

Proposed by Councillor N Blake, seconded by Councillor Mrs Glover and

RESOLVED –

That the updated Pay Policy, 2018, be approved.

To consider the new Notice of Motion attached as an appendix.

The following had been submitted by Councillor Stuchbury and was seconded by Councillor Christensen:-

"Empty houses cause significant problems to neighbouring residents.  They attract anti-social behaviour, dumping, vermin and have a detrimental effect on house prices.

·                     This Council undertakes to develop a robust policy for the use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs), to assist with the growing pressures on younger people in our community and their ability to find affordable accommodation, by bringing empty properties back onto the housing market.

·                     To make use of the EDMO powers for properties that have been empty for a period of 6 months across the District, to end the scandal of empty homes during this period of house shortages.

·                     That a report is drafted to examine the extent of this problem in each Ward within the District and to provide options, costs and benefits of the local authority adopting such a policy.  This report is submitted to the Environment and Living Scrutiny Committee for consideration and make recommendations for policy implementation."

In accordance with Council Procedure Rules, the Chairman had agreed that the Motion should be dealt with at this meeting.  Councillor Stuchbury explained to the meeting that he had been made aware that the Notice of Motion in the form circulated did not comply with current legislation.  In the circumstances, rather than amend the motion, he stated that he would be willing to withdraw it if the Cabinet Member could give an undertaking to the following effect, and which he believed would achieve the objectives of the motion:-

"That the Cabinet Member gives an undertaking to review and update the current empty homes policy to ensure that it supports the effective use of a range of options for Officers to bring long term empty dwellings back into use, including the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders and Empty Dwelling Management orders.

Also, the Cabinet Member undertakes to ensure that the proposed policy is submitted to the Environment and Living Scrutiny Committee for consideration to enable recommendations to be made to Cabinet."

The Cabinet Member for Civic Amenities, on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Communities, gave an undertaking to review and update the Council’s empty homes policy in line with Councillor Stuchbury’s request.

With the consent of Council and the agreement of the seconder, the mover then withdrew the Notice of Motion.

NOTE:  Members had been informed earlier in the meeting that the Lead Legal and Monitoring Officer had granted a dispensation to all Members for this item, in accordance with Section 33 of the Localism Act, 2011.  In response, a number of Members had declared interests.  Councillor Mrs Macpherson, having earlier declared a personal and prejudicial interest, left the Council Chamber whilst this matter was considered.

There will be an opportunity for Members to ask questions of individual Cabinet Members and Committee Chairmen.

The Chairman of the Council informed Members that as a mark of respect to Councillor Hewson it had been agreed to put off holding the Question Time of individual Cabinet Members and Committee Chairmen at tonight’s meeting.