Meeting documents

COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on

14 December 1998

PRESENT

Cllr E H Collins (in the Chair)

(Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs C D Bates, I B Campbell, D J Carroll, Mrs K M Draper, A Dunn, Mrs E M Lay and Miss D A Lewis)

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 October 1998 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman extended to the Members and Officers his best wishes for a Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year.  

The Chairman reminded Members that the Council meeting was to be televised by Thames Valley Television.  

Members’ attention was drawn to the lights used to time speeches now being suspended from the ceiling in the Council Chamber.

The Vice-Chairman of the Council informed Members that the National Dahlia Society had awarded its prestigious gold medal to the Chairman of the Council, Councillor E H Collins for his service to the Dahlia.  The gold medal would be presented to Cllr Collins at the Society’s AGM at Pershore Horticultural College in mid March 1999.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 23 November 1998 were submitted.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 23 November 1998 be received.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 30 November 1998 were submitted.

Minute No 54 – Joint Staff and Equal Opportunities Committee – 17 November 1998

Minute No 18 – Pay Grading and Performance Review

The Chairman of the Joint Staff and Equal Opportunities Committee reported that following the consideration of any outstanding matters by the Chief Officers’ Group, the Policy and Resources Committee Briefing Group or the three leaders would be asked to consider any outstanding issues.

Minute No 60 – Wycombe District Council’s International Agenda

A Member welcomed the progress made by the Thames Valley European Forum and complimented the work being undertaken by Cllr S H Graham and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Association.

Another Member referred to her recent visit to Kelkheim, and informed Members that a conference on the environment was to be organised in Kelkheim next autumn.  She suggested that the Council should consider presenting a paper on “Transportation” to this conference, and hoped that other international representatives would be attending the conference.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 30 November 1998 be received and the recommendations contained therein be approved and adopted.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Housing and Economic Development Committee held on 2 November 1998 were submitted.  

Minute No 26 – Economic Development Consultation Document 1999/2000

Reference was made by a Member to the presentation made at a recent meeting by Mr Roy Knott, Chief Executive of Thames Valley Enterprise.  It was suggested that a seminar for Members should be arranged and that Mr Knott be invited to update the Council on training and employment.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Housing and Economic Development Committee held on 2 November 1998 be received.

Minute No 32 - Service Enhancement Bids 1999/2000 to 2001/2002 and Capital Programme Review 1999/2000 to 2002/2003

A Member drew attention to the possible closure of the Princes Risborough Day Centre Scheme by March 1999 if funds did not become available to keep the centre open.  He expressed his hope that the Centre would be able to continue and that financial provision could be earmarked for this.  The Chairman of the Community and Leisure Committee indicated that the scheme would need to be reconsidered by the Community and Leisure Committee.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Community and Leisure Committee held on 9 November 1998 be received.

Minute No 40 – Off-Street Car Parks Annual Review

Reference was made to the entry and egress arrangements for vehicles at the Newland Multi Storey Car Park and the long queues of vehicles which developed at peak times since the pay on foot scheme was introduced.  It was suggested that the signs at the entrance to the car park which indicated the anticipated queuing time were not helpful and could discourage people from shopping in High Wycombe.

Another Member referred to the proposed introduction of a pay on foot scheme at the Easton Street Multi Storey Car Park, and suggested that insufficient time had elapsed since the scheme at the Newland Multi Storey car park had been introduced to analyse any problems which might have arisen.

The Chairman of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee advised Members that in a survey 85% of users had indicated satisfaction with the pay on foot scheme and he considered the Council’s action an unqualified success.  In response to a question from a Member it was agreed that details regarding the decision to introduce a pay on foot scheme at the Easton Street Multi Storey Car Park would be forwarded to him by the Director of Property and Housing.

Motion No 1

The following Notice of Motion was formally proposed by Cllr A Gielgud and seconded by Cllr Mrs F W Alexander:

“Wycombe District Council welcomes the advent of the “Euro” on 1 January 1999, and the benefits it will bring to the people of our District”.

     In accordance with SO 7.5 it was:-

RESOLVED:  That the Motion be debated and determined at this meeting.

A Member referred to a recent article in the Bucks Free Press which had outlined the benefits of the “Euro”.  The Member criticised the list of benefits identified as superficial and asked the proposer whether he had considered the effects, which the advent of the “Euro” would have on the Council.   It was proposed by Cllr R B Colomb seconded by Cllr A D Collingwood that the following amendment be made to the Notice of Motion: “Wycombe District Council notes the advent of the “Euro” in certain EC Member states from 1 January 1999 and supports the new Labour Government’s stance to take no action for the time being to take the United Kingdom into the single European currency, as this is in the best interests of the people of our District”.

The Chairman of the Council ruled that, following advice from the officers he could not accept the proposed amendment.

Members speaking in favour of the Notice of Motion drew attention to the need to prepare the residents of the District for the advent of the “Euro”, and for it to be successful the need for transparency of costs and stability.  Eleven countries were entering into economic and monetary union  with effect from 1 January 1999 and it would be helpful if the Council helped to raise the profile of the “Euro” within the District as support for the introduction of the Euro would benefit the whole Country in the long term and everyone should prepare to meet the challenges which would arise.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Members opposed to the Notice of Motion acknowledged that possible benefits to the Business Community of the District might arise although there would be a cost to these businesses. However there were disadvantages to the proposals which should not be overlooked.  It was suggested that a “wait and see” policy was more appropriate in the circumstances, and accordingly the Notice of Motion being considered was premature at the present time.

The proposer of the Notice of Motion re-emphasised that the advent of the “Euro” was an event of great importance and would affect everyone.  The countries who were entering into economic and monetary union were long-standing allies and committed to democracy and good standards of living.   Collaboration with them was required instead of a situation whereby less co-operation resulted.  

RESOLVED:  That the Wycombe District Council welcomes the advent of the “Euro” on 1 January 1999, and the benefits it will bring to the people of our District.  

The following Notice of Motion was formally proposed by Cllr Mrs P Priestley and seconded by Cllr P J Cartwright:

“This Council deplores the Labour Government’s decision to omit from the Queen’s Speech plans to improve transportation, which is of great concern to our residents.  Despite earlier detailed consultation on transport issues, the Labour Government has decided to use valuable parliamentary time on matters, which are of less immediate relevance to the people of Wycombe District.  We therefore resolve to write to the Deputy Prime Minister outlining our concerns”.

In presenting her Notice of Motion the proposer referred to the White Paper presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and to the Government’s intention to give transportation a high priority.  The Queen’s Speech had in her opinion demoted the importance of transportation and she expressed concern that the Government was appearing inactive in promoting improved transport initiatives.  Limited resources would continue to restrict local authorities and she considered it would have been more useful and advantageous if the importance of pursuing an integrated transport policy had been emphasised at the recent visit by the Parliamentary under Secretary of State DETR.  In seconding the Notice of Motion the seconder drew attention to the public’s expectations on transport having been raised by the speech by the Deputy Prime Minister, and to comments made by Members of the public at the Local Area Public Forums.  He considered that the Notice of Motion would assist in helping the Deputy Prime Minister to raise this issue to a much higher profile in the Government’s list of priorities.  

RESOLVED:  That under the provisions of Standing Order 7.5 the Notice of Motion be referred to the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee for consideration.

The following Notice of Motion was formally proposed by Cllr Mrs C C Martens and seconded by Cllr M B Oram:

RESOLVED: that the Motion be debated and determined at this meeting.

RESOLVED: (i) This Council welcomes the publication of the Local Government Bill which ends Compulsory Competitive Tendering and the end to crude universal capping of expenditure;

(ii)     This Council takes up the challenge of Best Value and pledges itself to seek the delivery of value for money services to the benefit of all local residents;

(iii)     This Council welcomes the Government’s fair Revenue Support Grant settlement;

(iv)      This Council welcomes the Lords initiative to settle amicably the modernisation of the House of Lords enabling the Transportation Bill to be brought forward into this session of Parliament.

Section 67 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 directed that certain functions of an authority could only be discharged by full Council.  One of these functions was the calculation of the Council Tax base by billing Authorities under Sections 33 and 34 of the Act.

The report before the Council laid down the calculations and information which was required in order for the Council to pass the necessary resolution to discharge this responsibility.

RESOLVED:  (i)  That the report of the Director of Corporate Services for the calculation of the Council Tax Base for the Wycombe District Council area for 1999/2000 be approved;

(ii) that pursuant to the report and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount calculated by Wycombe District Council;  (a) as its Council Tax Base for the whole of its area for the year 1999/2000 shall be 64,480.27 and (b) as the Council Tax Base for each of the parts of its area for the year 1999/2000 shall be:-

The report presented to the Council set out details of the action taken since this matter was considered at the meeting of the Council on 13 July 1998.

Members noted the various courses of action recommended by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance to safeguard the Council in future in the event of any similar problems arising.

A Member referred to the recent provision of a mezzanine area at this property and to potential problems due to the height of the ducting.  The officers undertook to investigate this matter.

RESOLVED:   That the report submitted including the courses of action recommended by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance be received.

(The meeting commenced at 6.30pm and concluded at 8.42pm)

     __________    

     CHAIRMAN

The following officers were in attendance at the meeting:

Mr R J Cummins     –      Chief Executive and Director of                Finance

Mr H Potts     –      Director of Property and Housing

Mr P F Ricketts      –     Director of Corporate Services

Mr C A Swanwick     –     Director of Planning, Transport and                Development

Mrs J E Clements      –     Head of Corporate and Committee                Administration

Mr D M Dongray     –     District Solicitor

Mr I Westgate     –     Head of Environmental Services

Mr R G Key      –     Principal Administrator Committee                Services

Miss C Andrew     –     Trainee - Committee Services