Meeting documents

To receive apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Honorary Aldermen: N B Oram and Mrs K M Peatey. Councillors: K Ahmed, Z Ahmed, D A Anson MBE, M C Appleyard, D H G Barnes, A C Collingwood, C A Ditta, W J Bendyshe-Brown, M Hussain JP, Maz Hussain, N B Marshall, Ms M L Neudecker, Ms S Manir, J L Richards, C Shafique and R Wilson.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of Council held on 28 April and the Special and Annual Council meetings held on 12 May 2014.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 28 April and the Special and Annual Council meeting held on 12 May 2014 be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any disclosure of disclosable pecuniary interests by Members relating to items on the agenda. If any Member is uncertain as to whether an interest should be disclosed, he or she is asked if possible to contact the District Solicitor prior to the meeting.

Members are reminded that if they are declaring an interest they should state the nature of that interest whether or not they are required to withdraw from the meeting.

Councillor A R Green declared an interest in minute 21 as a Council appointed Member of the Wycombe Trust.

To receive such communication as the Chairman of the Council may wish to make.

(a)       Civic Service for WW1

The Chairman announced that this was scheduled to take place on 3 August at 9.45 at the Parish Church.  Members’ attendance was encouraged.

(b)      Lights Out

The Chairman reported on the UK wide event of Lights Out organised by 14-18 NOW, commemorating the centenary of the start of World War 1 on 4 August. Everyone was encouraged to switch off their lights between 10-11pm leaving on a single light or candle for a moment of reflection.  A number of organisations had agreed to mark the event.

(c)       All Saints Parish Church

Members were informed that a reflection service would be held at the church on 4 August at 9.45pm.

Other Events

The Chairman continued her announcements by reporting on some of the events she had taken part in since taking office:-

·           Raising of the Armed Forces Flag

·           Visit to the Out of the Dark Furniture Project

·           Flower Festival at All Saints Church

·           Visit to John Lewis on Employee Ownership Day

·           Community Carnival on The Rye

The Chairman closed her announcements by informing the Council of the new edition of District Guide. It contained useful maps of the area and information about the economy, education, shopping and leisure. This was available free of charge at various pick up points.  Poppy pin badges were also available commemorating WW1.

Mr Roger Budd conducted a presentation on the Chairman of the Council’s chosen charity for the current year.

Members were informed that Kidsinsport had been founded in 2007, and had awarded £208,000 in over 60 grants to benefit local disadvantaged children, within a 30 miles radius.

Mr Budd explained that the charity actively sought out youngsters who may be otherwise excluded, with a focus on helping local children enjoy sport on a regular basis.  Following initiation of a sports grant the aim was to continue with it in future years.

Members were encouraged to provide assistance by making donations through their ward budgets.

Mr Budd was thanked for his presentation, and for the valuable work he had undertaken.

This item was withdrawn.

Written questions may be asked of the Leader or any Cabinet Member.  If submitted by 12 noon on Thursday 24 July 2014.  Questions will be submitted in the order in which they are received.

Any questioner may put one supplementary question without notice.  No question or answer may exceed 3 minutes.

(a)       Question from Dr L Derrick to the Cabinet Member for Community

"WDC is required under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, to advance equality of opportunity and to foster good relations for people.  WDC has published a Public Sector Equality Duty (PESD) Statement on its website which I assume is intended to show how WDC is fulfilling its requirements. 

I have to say that I could not understand most of this undated statement but I take it WDC has a duty to do these things for people with "protected characteristics".  And it appears that being a woman is a protected characteristic.

So I looked to see what WDC was doing to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation for women, to advance equality of opportunity for women and to foster good relations with women. 

And there on page 13 of the 16 page statement is the section showing what WDC is doing to fulfil its requirements towards women. 

Perhaps it is over generous to call it a section.  It actually says "Periodic equal pay health checks are undertaken (the most recent being 2007) and a Pay Policy Statement has been agreed by Council".

It seems to me that carrying out a pay health check in seven years ago is not a serious response to the problems of discrimination, harassment and victimisation of women.  

Wouldn’t you agree that WDC is doing virtually nothing to fulfil its duties towards women under the Equality Act 2010?"

Response from Councillor Mrs J Adey (Cabinet Member for Community)

"Thank you for your question.  No, I don’t agree with your comment that the Council is doing nothing to fulfil its duties towards women under the Equality Act 2010.  We are taking a number of positive steps, both as an employer and through service delivery, to ensure gender equality.  For example:

•     The Council has an Equal Pay Statement which is published on the Equalities section of the Council’s website. We also monitor against the protected characteristics including gender, we conduct analysis of recruitment, turnover, training and development and pay and reward and publish the results in our annual Establishment Review (also available on the website)

•       The Council has a range of people management policies and procedures which are equality impact assessed to ensure they comply with the requirements of the Public Sector Equality Duty, again these assessments are available for public view on the Council’s website.

•       An employee survey is sent out every two years, part of which is to check with staff if they have experienced any inappropriate behaviour and how this has been addressed and to seek suggestions on how the Council can support staff across the protected characteristics and foster good relations between those who share them and those who do not.

•       Our Sports Development service has run targeted schemes for girls and women, and

•       Community Safety run an annual awareness raising event for White Ribbon Day – for female victims of domestic abuse

Equality Impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Questions to the Leader or any Cabinet Members must be submitted by Thursday 24 July 2014.  Questions will be taken first from Leaders of the political parties in order of number of Members. 

Other Members will be called upon in the order in which questions have been received.  Every Member asking an oral question is permitted to ask one supplementary question without notice provided that it introduces no new matter.  The appropriate Member will respond to any questions remaining unanswered at the expiry of 30 minutes in writing.

Any question remaining unanswered after 30 minutes will be answered within 10 working days in writing after the meeting by the appropriate Member and appended to the minutes of the meeting.

a)        Question from Councillor B Pollock to the Cabinet Member for Environment

"Now that the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) system is operational or about to become operational across most car parks operated by Wycombe District Council, can the Cabinet Member tell me how many Blue Badge applications have been received from residents and how many of these have involved the issuing of cards for use at pay machines?"

Response from Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Mrs J Teesdale

"Parking services currently have 1370 disabled registrations and each registration has the ability of the disabled persons own vehicle to be registered, plus a card to use in the machines for those occasions where they are being transported by a carer/family member/friend to use in conjunction to displaying their blue badge on the dashboard."

Supplementary Question

"Could you clarify whether residents issued with a blue badge need to pay to exit car parks at hospital outside of Wycombe?"

Supplementary Response

"We take issues regarding disabled people very seriously, and are working hard to make it as easy and accessible as we can, please send me an email of your question and I will look into it answering it."

b)        Question from Councillor A Turner to the Leader of the Council

"At a previous Council meeting it was clearly stated that there was no need for a High Wycombe Town Council, as the Cabinet always agreed to proposals put forward by the High Wycombe Town Committee. How is it then; that a recent request from the Town Committee for an enhanced payment of CIL monies, 25%, rather than the mandatory 15%, was refused by Cabinet?"

Response from the Leader of the Council, Councillor R J Scott

"I am rather intrigued by the members from Princes Risborough taking such a keen interest in the activities of High Wycombe Town Committee. Can I assume that this is nothing to do with the possibility of Princes Risborough looking to establish a Neighbourhood Plan, thus making more CIL monies potentially available to that Council?

Specifically though, I refer you to my reply to Councillor Hall at the Council meeting on 28 April, 2014, which is printed in full in the Minutes. It clearly states that my Cabinet looks to (and has a history of) approving all recommendations of the Committee, unless there is a wider District interest that needs to be considered. This issue was a case in point with this particular decision."

Supplementary Question

"Wycombe Town Committee’s inability to make financial decisions without Cabinet permission defeats the whole ethos of Localism. Unless the Cabinet approve funding for a neighbourhood plan it would be impossible for the Town Committee to meet the criteria for increased CIL payments. Therefore, how are you intending to redress this inequality and give them a fairer "bite of the cake?"

Supplementary Response

"The Town Committee is not a Town Council, we are where we are".

c)        Question from Councillor M Knight to the Cabinet Member for Planning & Sustainability

"We are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

(i)        Council to receive any petition from a member of the public or from a Councillor on behalf of a member of the public as notified by the deadline of 5pm on Monday 21 July 2014.

(ii)       Council to consider any petition already received that meets the required number of signatures to qualify for a debate by Full Council.  (The petition organiser will have 5 minutes to present the petition and then Council will debate the matter for a maximum of 15 minutes and decide how to respond to the petition.

Petition Against the M40 junction 3a Plans.

A petition was received from Councillor Ms K Wood, who briefly outlined the contents of the petition, which contained 1617 signatories.

The signatories were concerned over the closure and possible demolition of Cobbles Farm. This is was a valued local business providing a home for many horses, many of whom have been rehomed by the RSPCA and Horsewatch.

In addition it was believed that the preservation of the Countyside is important providing a green barrier between High Wycombe and Flackwell Heath.

The Cairman received the petition and stated that it would be validated against the Council`s Petition Scheme.  Members would be informed outside of the meeting on how the petition would be administered.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meetings:

Cabinet                      16 June 2014

Cabinet                      14 July 2014

Special Cabinet       28 July 2014 (to follow)

Minute 4 – Cemetery Site Options Appraisal

A Member emphasised the need for public consultations with regard to any future proposals relating to cemetery site options.  The Member was assured that this would be the case in future.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 16 June be received.

Minute 15 – Community Infrastructure Levy Funding in Unparished Wards

A Member reiterated that the High Wycombe Town Committee had requested an increase in CIL funds by 10% and questioned the Leader as to how this could be secured.

He was informed that there were no grounds on which to increase the allocation, and as such would remain at its current rate.

Minute 17 – Wycombe Museum

A Member enquired as to whether there would be space for a new public toilet in the Queen Victoria offices now that the museum would not be moving there. Members were informed that this would not be the case.

Another Member suggested that as a district facility, the Museum should be relocated to Court Garden in Marlow, which would enhance the museum in terms of its general appeal, helping to build up the tourist trade

The Leader stated that the Council had previously looked at a number of alternative suggested sites, but that due to the change in the economic situation, it was decided to remain at the current location.

Councillor A R Green declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item in his capacity of member of the Wycombe Arts Trust, and took full part in the discussion held.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 14 July 2014 be received and the recommendations as set out at minute numbers 16 and 17 be approved and adopted.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Special meeting of the Cabinet held on 28 July 2014 be received and the recommendations as set out in minute numbers 24 and 25 be approved and adopted.  

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendation from the following meeting:

Standards Committee                     3 June 2014

Councillor D J Carroll rose to present the minutes of the meeting in the absence of Councillor A D Collingwood.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 3 June 2014 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendation from the following meeting:

Improvement and Review Commission               18 June 2014

Minute 4 – Health and Safety Update

A member questioned the issue relating to the appointment of a Health and Safety Officer.  He was informed that this was a staffing issue, and therefore outside this remit.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Improvement and Review Commission held on 18 June 2014 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Audit Committee                  26 June 2014

Councillor D Watson rose to present the minutes in the absence of Cllr M C Appleyard.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 26 June 2014 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

High Wycombe Town Committee             10 June 2014  

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the High Wycombe Town Committee held on 10 June 2014 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Personnel & Development Committee                23 June 2014

Cllr S Lacey rose to present the minutes in the absence of Cllr D Barnes.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Personnel and Development Committee held on 23 June 2014 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendation from the following meetings:

Planning Committee                       9 April 2014

Planning Committee                       7 May 2014

Planning Committee                       4 June 2014

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings of the Planning Committee held on 9 April, 7 May and 4 June be received

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee held on 9 June 2014 be received and the recommendations as set out at minute number 5 be approved and adopted.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meetings:

Regulatory & Appeals Committee                         9 June 2014

Special Regulatory & Appeals Committee          21 July 2014 (to follow)                              

Minute 10 – Standing Orders – Questions at Full Council

A number of Members rose to express their dismay at the recommendation before Council which proposed that the time allocated per question be reduced to 1 minute, and the response to a supplementary be reduced to 2 minutes. This was viewed as a restriction on the democratic freedom of Councillors, and the taxpayers within the district.  It was felt that the time devoted to both public and member questions should be extended, not reduced.

It was stated that question time served to provide information to members and the public, and as a scrutiny body of the executive.

Others spoke in favour stating that the recommendations presented a valuable opportunity for members to provide succinct and well thought out questions, a duty which was incumbent upon all.  As such the recommendations were supported.

Following some debate, an amendment to the original recommendation was proposed by Councillor Pollock.  This amendment sought a change to the wording to allow 3 minutes to be allocated towards a supplementary question and response. This was duly seconded by Councillor A Turner, but upon being put to a vote was lost.

 A second amendment was then proposed by Councillor R Farmer which stated that:

"Questions should take 1 hour in total, but that any time remaining from the public questions if less than 30 minutes be added as time allowed for Members questions"

This was duly seconded by Councillor T Snaith, but upon a vote being taken, the amendment was lost.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Special meeting of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee held on 21 July 2014 be received and the recommendations as set out at minute numbers 10 and 11 be approved and adopted.

To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted by the deadline of noon on Thursday 17 July 2014.

The following Notice of Motion is submitted by Councillor A R Green and seconded by Councillor J E Teesdale:

 This Council welcomes the recent report by the Buckinghamshire Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee into urgent care provision in Buckinghamshire but believes that additional work is required to fully understand the effect the changes at Wycombe Hospital have had on the residents of Wycombe District.

This Council therefore requests the Improvement and Review Commission to undertake further work on Urgent Care provision in Wycombe that includes:

·         A public listening event in Wycombe District to hear from the general public, stakeholders and users of the A&E and Minor Injuries and Illness Unit.

·         More evidence on the Emergency Medical Centre at High Wycombe, Transportation between Wycombe district and Stoke Mandeville, and the situation of the frail elderly and hard to reach groups.

The following notice of motion was proposed by Councillor A R Green and seconded by Councillor Mrs J E Teesdale:

"This Council welcomes the recent report by the Buckinghamshire Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee into urgent care provision in Buckinghamshire but believes that additional work is required to fully understand the effect the changes at Wycombe Hospital have had on the residents of Wycombe District.

This Council therefore requests the Improvement and Review Commission to undertake further work on Urgent Care provision in Wycombe that includes:

·           A public listening event in Wycombe District to hear from the general public, stakeholders and users of the A&E and Minor Injuries and Illness Unit.

·           More evidence on the Emergency Medical Centre at High Wycombe, Transportation between Wycombe district and Stoke Mandeville, and the situation of the frail elderly and hard to reach groups."

In proposing the motion, Councillor Green stated that the Council had been rightly concerned with the services received by residents of the district. As the Council’s representative on the County’s Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee, he reported that a recent investigation had been conducted into urgent care provision but it was felt that this had not gone far enough in examining the experiences of users.  Meetings were restricted to providers rather than recipients.  Councillor Green suggested that as the majority of the Committee had been unprepared to widen the investigation to include the effects of the service on recipients in Wycombe it was proposed that Wycombe District Council take on this important piece of work, via the Improvement and Review Commission.

Councillor Green also emphasised that many people were unsure of which hospital they needed to be treated at, in the case of minor incidents/illness.

It was highlighted that the people of Wycombe deserved an urgent care service that could deal with the issues presented, including the need to deal with the requirement to carry out x-rays at night within Wycombe.

A number of Members across the floor rose to speak in agreement with the comments made, and re-emphasised the views and principles of the proposed action.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED: That this Council welcomes the recent report by the Buckinghamshire Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee into urgent care provision in Buckinghamshire but believes that additional work is required to fully understand the effect the changes at Wycombe Hospital have had on the residents of Wycombe District.

This Council therefore requests the Improvement and Review Commission to undertake further work on Urgent Care provision in Wycombe that includes:

·           A public listening event in Wycombe District to hear from the general public, stakeholders and users of the A&E and Minor Injuries and Illness Unit.

·           More evidence on the Emergency Medical Centre at High Wycombe, Transportation between Wycombe district and Stoke Mandeville, and the situation of the frail elderly and hard to reach groups.

To receive details of any written questions submitted before the deadline of 12 noon on Thursday 24 July 2014.

There were none.

To note the following changes to Committee membership in accordance with Standing Order 18(9):

Since the last meeting Councillor Ms J D Wassall and Cllr M E Knight have resigned as Members of the Lib Dem Group. They are now Members of East Wycombe Independent Group. As a result there have been a number of changes to Committee Membership. 

The revised political composition of the Council is as follows:

Councillor Ms P L Lee comes off the Improvement & Review Commission

Cllr M E Knight becomes a member of the Improvement & Review Commission with Cllr Ms J D Wassall as Standing Deputy

Councillor B R Pollock replaces Cllr Ms J D Wassall on the Standards Committee,

Cllr A Slater replaces Cllr M E Knight on the Personnel & Development Committee,

Councillor T Snaith replaces Cllr M E Knight as standing deputy of the Regulatory & Appeals Committee,

Cllr P L Lee replaces Cllr M E Knight as standing deputy of the Joint Staff Committee,

The new Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Group, and the new standing deputy of the JNC Staffing Matters Committee replacing Cllr M E Knight will be Cllr T Snaith.

Other changes include:

Cllr Ms J A Adey to replace Cllr J M Gibbs as Cabinet Member for Community,

 Cllr J M Gibbs to replace Cllr Ms J A Adey as Deputy Cabinet Member for Community and Health.                                                     

The following changes to Committee membership were noted in accordance with Standing Order 18(9):

Since the last meeting Councillor Ms J D Wassall and Cllr M E Knight had resigned as Members of the Lib Dem Group. They were now Members of East Wycombe Independent Group. As a result there had been a number of changes to Committee Membership. 

The revised political composition of the Council was as follows:

Councillor Ms P L Lee had come off the Improvement & Review Commission

Cllr M E Knight had become a member of the Improvement & Review Commission with Cllr Ms J D Wassall as Standing Deputy

Councillor B R Pollock replaced Cllr Ms J D Wassall on the Standards Committee,

Cllr A Slater replaced Cllr M E Knight on the Personnel & Development Committee,

Councillor T Snaith replaced Cllr M E Knight as standing deputy of the Regulatory & Appeals Committee,

Cllr P L Lee replaced Cllr M E Knight as standing deputy of the Joint Staff Committee,

The new Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Group, and the new standing deputy of the JNC Staffing Matters Committee replacing Cllr M E Knight would be Cllr T Snaith.

Other changes included:

Cllr Ms J A Adey had replaced Cllr J M Gibbs as Cabinet Member for Community,

 Cllr J M Gibbs had replaced Cllr Ms J A Adey as Deputy Cabinet Member for Community and Health.                                                           

The following individual decisions have been published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council held on 28 April 2014.

1)        Variation to method of setting pest control charges paid by the public

2)        Approval of  the update of the Community Facilities Strategy

3)        Deferral of consideration of the application to relocate Wycombe Museum by the Heritage Lottery Fund

4)        Agreement of the implementation of the Rent Deposit and Homelessness prevention Fund Protocol

5)        Appointment of Councillor I L McEnnis and Councillor J Richards as the Council`s representatives on the Red Kite Board.

The individual decisions published since the last meeting of the Council were noted.