Meeting documents

The Chairman welcomed Bob Smith to his first Council meeting as the Acting Chief Executive. The Chairman went on to report on recent functions and events he had attended on behalf of the Council which included:

·       20 June 2015 – Armed Forces Day in Aylesbury.

·       29 June 2015 – Pride of Bucks at Stoke Park.

·       30 June 2015 – pollarding event at Burnham Beeches followed by London’s Mayor Lunch at Dorneywood.

·       1 July 2015 – a citizenship ceremony at Taplow Court which was performed by HRH Duke of Gloucester.

·       9 July – an annual reception held by the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in Milton Keynes.

The Chairman also reminded Members that the Chairman’s Charity Golf Event would be taking place on 18 September and that any donations for prizes and raffles would be appreciated.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 May 2015.

Cllr Harding expressed concern that minute 8  (Appointments of Committees/Groups and Appointments to Outside Bodies) failed to record comments made by Cllr Sandy about the position of a long serving member of the Council and he proposed that minute 8 be amended to include these comments. This motion was seconded by Councillor Chhokar. Following a short debate the proposed amendment to minute 8 was put to the vote but it was not carried. The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 May 2015 were therefore confirmed as originally circulated and signed by the Chairman.

No questions had been received under Council Procedure Rule 10.

To receive a presentation by the Chief Constable.

The Chairman welcomed the Chief Constable, Francis Habgood OPM, and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfeld.

The meeting received a PowerPoint presentation from the Chief Constable providing information on a wide range of issues including:

·              PEEL

o   Programme - an annual assessment of the performance of the force and policing as a whole. The first assessment was published on 27 November 2014.

o   Effectiveness - Good.  The force has low overall crime levels and maintains high levels of victim satisfaction.

o   Efficiency - Good. Thames Valley Police on track to achieve its required savings of £58.9m over this spending review period.

o   Legitimacy - The force is acting to achieve fairness and legitimacy in most of the practices that were examined.

• 2014/15 figures showing Thames Valley having the second largest reduction of criminal offences across all regions in England and Wales.

• Details of the following six Delivery Plan Aims 2015/16 including targets and how they will be achieved:

Ø  Cutting crimes that are of most concern to the community

Ø  Increasing the visible presence of the Police Special Constables

Ø  Protecting communities from the most serious harm

Ø  Improving communication and use of technology to build community confidence and cut crime 

Ø  Increase the professionalism and capability of our people tackling bureaucracy and developing the professional skills of all staff

Ø  Reduce costs and protect the frontline

During the question and answer session that ensued a number of issues were clarified/explained by the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner including the following:

·        Cuts regarding neighbourhood policing –  Neighbourhood policing is seen as a critical role. The Police Crime Panel recently conducted a review which includes neighbourhood policing and the challenges to develop and improve the forces response to cyber crime.  Regarding cuts, any decision regarding cuts would be a difficult one, which would form part of a consultation.

·        Crimes such Child Sex Exploitation and Female Genital Mutilation – A Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) service has been set up in Aylesbury which brings together key partners.  Information is shared quickly and effectively, this approach assists in identifying risk at an earlier stage.  Questions to ask at a district level: What are you doing regarding safeguarding?  What links can be established between MASH and the district?

·        LPA – very important and will continue to protect front line services.

·        Regular speed surveillance in suspected problem areas – before setting up such surveillance, contact is made with local residents/businesses to seek a solution.  If the problem persists, speed surveillance is carried out.

The Chairman thanked the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner for their attendance and the presentation.

To note the following appointments made under delegated authority by the Chief Executive since the last Council meeting on 26 May 2015:

The Council noted the following appointments made under delegated authority by the Acting Chief Executive. 

RESOLVED that the following members be appointed to the Committees and Outside Bodies listed below:

Part I of the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 July 2015

The Leader, Cllr Bagge, presented the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 July 2015. 

In reference to Minute 7 - Support to the Thames Valley Police & Crime Panel - Cllr Bagge congratulated Cllr Egleton on his election as Chairman of the Police Crime Panel.

RESOLVED that the minutes be received.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on

·       22 April 2015

·       26 May 2015

·       27 May 2015

·       24 June 2015

The minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 22 April, 26 May, 27 May and 24 June 2015 were presented.

RESOLVED that the minutes be received.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on

·       26 May 2015

·       22 June 2015

The minutes of the meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 26 May and 22 June 2015 were presented.

RESOLVED that the minutes be received.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Licensing Committee held on

·       26 May 2015

·       01 July 2015

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 26 May and

1 July 2015 were presented.

RESOLVED that the minutes be received.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Audit Committee held on

·       26 May 2015

·       18 June 2015 and consider the recommendation in Minute 7 - Proposed Amendments to the Financial Procedural Rules (report attached as an appendix)

The minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 26 May and 18 June 2015 were presented.

In relation to Minute 7 – Proposed Amendments to the Financial Procedural Rules

The Council received a report on the proposed amendment to the Financial Procedure Rules relating to debt write offs. The changes would harmonise these rules across the two authorities.

RESOLVED that the

1.     Financial Procedure Rules are amended to bring the financial limits applying to the write off of irrecoverable debts in line for both Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council, as detailed below:

2.     minutes be received.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the Personnel Committee held on

·       26 May 2015

·       29 June 2015

The minutes of the meeting of the Personnel Committee held on 26 May 2015 and 29 June 2015 were presented.

RESOLVED that the minutes be received.

To receive any reports from members.

No reports were received from Members.

To consider updated report of the Acting Chief Executive.

Members received a report seeking Council’s agreement to the submission of a further petition following the publication of an Additional Provision to the Hybrid Bill for the construction by HS2, in respect of replacement sidings for the Heathrow Express (HEX) at Langley in Slough Borough Council area and associated works within South Bucks District. The deadline for the submission of the petition is 14th August 2015.

Prior to the Council meeting members had received a presentation from HS2 on the relocation of the Heathrow Express Depot at Langley.

Having considered the serious impacts of the proposed sidings and associated works, together with the concerns of local members, and with an additional request for consideration that HS2 provide a financial contribution for the provision of a road bridge over the Great Western Main Line near Thorney Business Park, it was:-

RESOLVED that

1.     the Council opposes the Additional Provision to the HS2 Hybrid Bill relating to replacement sidings for the Heathrow Express (HEX) at Langley in Slough Borough Council area and associated works within South Bucks District for the reasons set out in the report and submits the necessary petition under section 239 of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.     the Council petition to ensure that the road access to the sidings alongside the railway is transferred to Bucks County Council when works are complete to provide an HGV haul route to relieve the current routing of HGV’s in the Iver area through Iver village or through Richings Park.

3.     the Council petition to ensure that the proposed works do not hinder the delivery of Western Rail Access.

4.     HS2 take account of the impacts of the proposals on the local community, which cumulatively together with the large number of major infrastructure proposals will have a major adverse impact affecting Iver residents and businesses, and work with the Council to ameliorate the adverse effects.

5.     the Council petition that the proposed works and subsequent activities are mitigated against to ensure any adverse effects are minimised for the existing residents in Richings Park, Mansion Lane caravan park, Hollow Hill Lane and Langley Park Road in terms of noise, vibration and lighting etc.

6.     the Council petition to ensure that no HGV’s involved in the construction of the sidings are routed via Iver Village or Richings Park (Richings Way).

7.     the Council petition to ensure that all adequate measures are taken to prevent adverse impacts during construction within a known contaminated site.

8.     the Council petition to ensure that the proposed works within an area at risk of flooding has no adverse impact on surrounding residents or businesses.

9.     the Council petition to ensure that the proposed works do not adversely affect Thorney Business Park, one of the Council’s important employment sites.

10.  authority be delegated to the Acting Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and the Head of Legal & Democratic Services to agree the precise wording and form of the deposited version of the petition and to take all necessary steps to carry the Council’s decision to submit a further petition into effect.

11.  the appointment of Mrs Ifath Nawaz of Ivy Legal Solicitors as the Council’s Roll B Parliamentary Agent be approved and that she advises and /or represents the Council in respect to the Petition before the Select Committee in either or both Houses of Parliament, and that the Agent shall be authorised to sign the petition if appropriate.

Following the consideration of the recommendation of the Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee on 20 July in respect of the Business Case for a shared Business Support Service, it was

The Chairman to move the following resolution:-

"That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act."

Relevant paragraph of Act referred to under each item heading.

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I, paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act

Paragraph 3

To receive the Part II minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 July 2015.

The Part II minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 July were presented.

RESOLVED that the minutes be presented.

Paragraphs 1 and 3

To consider the private appendix referred to in item 15.

The Council noted the private appendix setting out the business case for a Business Support Shared Service.