Meeting documents

To receive a presentation from The Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Francis Habgood, who will also be accompanied by the LPA Commander, Supt Yvette Hitch and Anthony Stansfeld Police and Crime Commissioner.

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 an annual overview of Policing in the Thames Valley.

As part of its annual inspections into police effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy (PEEL) the inspection assessed how effective the force is at keeping people safe and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. The inspection focused on four aspects of policing:

·         preventing crime and anti-social behaviour;

·         investigating crime and managing offenders;

·         protecting vulnerable people and supporting victims;

·         and tackling serious and organised crime.

Forces are assessed and given graded judgments. The categories are outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate. The Thames Valley was rated as follows:

Effectiveness – Good

•       Protecting vulnerable people is a high priority

•       Good at identifying vulnerability and assessing risk

•       Wide range of functions use to prevent crime and ASB

•       Strengthened how we identify repeat and vulnerable victims of ASB and work well with partners.

Efficiency – Good

•       Good at using resources to meet demand

•       Good track record of delivering savings – over £70m

•       Delivered one of the biggest reductions in recorded crime and ASB

•       Maintained high levels of public satisfaction

Legitimacy – Good

•       Clear vision of an ethical, cultured and inclusive workforce

•       Neighbourhood officers and staff engage well with communities

•       Wide range of channels used to share information

•       The Force is ‘Well led’ – open, professionally competent, with approachable leadership

The presentation spoke about the Commitment of the force:

•       An emergency service that keeps people safe and brings offenders to justice

•       Working together to build stronger, more resilient communities

•       A modern police force that meets the needs of our communities

•       A skilled and trusted workforce

The Police and Crime Commissioner updated members on the challenges and issues for 2016 and beyond which included:

•       PCC Election

•       The new political team nationally

•       The Finances

•       Special Capabilities

•       The threat at a national level

•       The local threat

•       5-Year Plan Consultation

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. One such question was regarding accident hotspots and speeding drivers along the A412, near George Green: during questioning, it emerged that police had been unaware of a speeding problem on this particular stretch of road, but would now be monitoring this.

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

The Chairman paid tribute to ex Councillor Maureen Royston, who passed away on 29 June.  Maureen Royston was first elected to the Council in 2003 – 2015.  Maureen had served as Chairman of the Council in 2008 and 2009 and will be remembered as a well-respected Councillor.  The meeting stood for one minute’s silence, as a tribute to her memory.

The Chairman reported on recent functions and events he had attended on behalf of the Council which included:

The Chairman reminded members of the Chairman’s Charity Golf Day being held on 16 September at The South Buckinghamshire.  Currently 24 teams had entered, with Audi sponsoring the hole-in-one event.  Donations and sponsorship are still being accepted.   

To confirm the minutes of the ordinary and annual meeting of the Council held on:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council and Annual Council held on 10 May 2016 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To answer the following question from a Member of the public:

"SBDC council have appointed one of their Cllrs as the Armed Forces Champion since signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012, a highly commendable initiative and one that has helped Armed Forces members and their families across the country. I would like to ask the following questions:

1. Please highlight the role of the Armed Forces Champion and what responsibilities they have?
2. What process of selection was used to identify the Cllr who would become the Armed Forces Champion for SBDC?"

The following question was asked of the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities by Mr Iqbal in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10:

SBDC council have appointed one of their Cllrs. as the Armed Forces Champion since signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2012, a highly commendable initiative, and one that has helped Armed Forces members and their families across the country. I would like to ask the following questions:

1.      Please highlight the role of the Armed Forces Champion and what responsibilities they have?

2.    What process of selection was used to identify the Cllr. who would become the Armed Forces Champion for SBDC?

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder, Mr Kelly, replied as follows:

In June 2012 the Council resolved to sign up to the Buckinghamshire Armed Forces Community Covenant, and formally signed up in July 2012.  The Covenant was part of a national initiative that seeks to redress the disadvantages that the armed forces community may face in comparison to other citizens, and to recognise sacrifices they have made.

The commencement of the Covenant was marked by an Armed Forces Flag-Raising event on 25 June 2012, where the Council was represented - as would be normal in such circumstances - by the Chairman of the Council, Cllr. Alan Walters MBE.

Cllr. Walters enthusiastically embraced the concept of the Covenant, attending a number of related events and championing its aspirations within the Council.  The committed way in which Cllr. Walters supported the Covenant led to the Leader requesting him to continue in this role after his term as Chairman ended. It is not a role that requires formal annual approval to the position under the Council’s Constitution.

As a champion, Cllr. Walters has sought to ensure that the authority helps members of the armed forces community to have the same access to services as any other resident, and that we do not disadvantage serving armed forces personnel, or their families or veterans. In doing so, he has championed the Council to consider how it can deliver against the Buckinghamshire Covenant Action Plan, for example:

·         Support Buckinghamshire Mind to raise awareness of the need for mental health resilience amongst the armed forces community by service providers

·         Raise awareness in schools of the pastoral Pupil Premium which could benefit service personnel children to access leisure and after school opportunities.

·         Promote the covenant to businesses to consider how they can support the armed forces community

·         Liaise with the Service Families Officer to raise awareness of employment and leisure opportunities

·         Foster stronger links between the Council and armed service organisations

·         Review the Bucks Home Choice Allocation policy to enable members of the Armed Forces Community to register for social housing

·         Ensure the Council’s Discretionary Council Tax Support Scheme properly recognises the situation faced by War Widows and Disabled Service Personnel. 

·         Make fellow Councillors aware of events being run to acknowledge and support the work of the armed forces.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on:

The Leader, Mr Bagge, presented the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 24 May, 28 June and 4 July 2016. 

The following minutes were the subject of a recommendation to Council

Minute 11 (c) – Delegated Authority for the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015.

RESOLVED

·         To include the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and subordinate Regulations within the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.

·         That authority be delegated to the Head of Healthy Communities to appoint officers for all purposes in connection with the above legislation and to give the authority to officers to exercise any of the powers specified with the legislation.

·         To authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to amend Part E of the Constitution accordingly.

Minute 16(a) – Gerrards Cross Police Station Site.

RESOLVED to allocate monies as detailed in the part II report from the Capital Programme to this scheme.

And

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 May, 28 June and 4 July 2016 be received.

The Leader sought permission from the Chairman to update members of the High Court decision on Pioneer House, Stoke Poges. The High Court’s decision is to allow Khalsa Secondary Academy to remain in Stoke Poges.  Counsel’s advice is that the Council doesn’t have a strong enough argument to appeal this decision.

The minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 13 April, 10 May, 11 May, 8 June and 6 July 2016 were presented.

RESOLVED that the minutes be received.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on:

The minutes of the meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 10 May and 30 June 2016 were presented.

RESOLVED that the minutes be received.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on:

The minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 10 May and 29 June 2016 were presented.

Following consideration of the recommendation in Minute 7 – Film Classification and Reclassification under the Licensing Act 2003.

RESOLVED that

1.     The Head of Healthy Communities be authorised to determine the classification and re-classification of films including appeals under the licensing legislation in accordance with Policy.

2.     All cases not determined by the Head of Healthy Communities under delegated authority be dealt with by the Licensing Sub-Committee.

3.     The level of fee for the classification of films to be set at £47, plus £1 per minute of the full length of the submitted film, plus any costs associated with the hire of any associated venue or equipment costs.

4.     And the minutes of the meeting 10 May and 29 June be received.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on:

The minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 10 May and 28 June 2016 were presented.

Following consideration of the recommendation in Minute 11 – Proposed Amendment to the Financial Procedure Rules

RESOLVED that the

1.    Financial Procedure Rules are amended to allow the Parking Manager to approve the write-off of irrecoverable penalty charge notices up to £150.

2.    Minutes of the meeting held on 10 May and 28 June 2016 be received.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Personnel Committee held on:

The minutes of the meeting of the Personnel Committee held on 10 May and 27 June 2016 were presented.

RESOLVED that the minutes be received.

The meeting received the reports of Mr Pepler on Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee held in May 2016 and Bucks Healthcare Trust Report held on 25 May 2016.

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."

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 of Schedule 12A to the Act Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4.

Part II Personnel minutes

The part II minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2016 were received.

Gerrards Cross Police Station Site

Members received the part II report relating to agenda item 6.