To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2016 (C.15 - C.22), attached.

THE DECISION:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2016 (C.15 - C.22), previously circulated, be signed as a correct record.

Date of Meeting                          Minute Nos

10 January 2017                         CA.58

7 February                                  CA.64 to CA.72

The Leader moved Cabinet minutes CA.58 and CA.64 to CA.72, subject to CA.64 (3) being amended to read “£100,000”.  The Leader did not make a statement to Council.

THE DECISION:

That the reports, resolutions and recommendations as amended, of the following meetings of the Cabinet be received, approved and adopted:-

Note:Councillor G W Dadd wished it to be recorded that he voted against minute CA.70

(a)     Councillor P R Wilkinson, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Finance made a statement regarding arrangements for a Members Seminar on the 10 year Financial Strategy which would take place on Tuesday, 23 May 2017 at 1.00pm; the Annual Business Conference scheduled to take place on 19 May 2017 at Easingwold regarding Vibrant Market Towns and sought expressions of interest for a newly formed Members’ advisory group for Community Safety.

(b)     Councillor Mrs B S Fortune, Portfolio Holder for Leisure made a statement on the Tour de Yorkshire; Sowerby Sports Village; Community Awards 2017; Weight Management Services; Hambleton Leisure Centre project and the Swim Local Pilot and Sport England.  Councillor Fortune wished to give credit to all the leisure staff for their hard work arranging all of the different activities and increasing gym usage.  A number of questions were asked regarding road safety for cyclists and the refurbishment of the Hambleton Leisure Centre which were responded to at the meeting.

(c)     Councillor N Knapton, Portfolio Holder for Governance made a statement ICT and the Green Waste Subscription Service; completion of the new server room; Customer Service Govemetrix; newly completed secure storage area for refuse; refurbishment of the ramp at the Civic Centre and Electoral Services.

(d)     Councillor B Phillips, Portfolio Holder for Planning made a statement regarding the current position of the Local Plan, including arrangements for further Members’ Seminars.

(e)     Councillor S Watson, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, Waste and Recycling made a statement regarding recycling; Route Optimisation; Green Waste Collection and Environmental Health Enforcement.  Further information was requested regarding prosecutions for dog fouling which would be provided following the meeting.  A number of questions were asked regarding charging for green waste and the annual litter pick which were responded to at the meeting.  Councillor Watson was asked to pass on thanks to all the staff involved in the annual litter pick for their hard work.

To consider the Motion as set out in pursuance to Minute CA.69

An addendum to the report had been circulated prior to the commencement of the meeting.  It was moved by the Leader and seconded by the Deputy Leader that the Notice of Motion at Item 9 on the agenda be approved in pursuance of Minute CA.69.

THE DECISION:

That pursuant to Minute CA.69:-

(1)     That it be noted that on 15 January Council calculated the Council Tax Base 2017/18:-

(a)     for the whole Council area as 35,639.62  [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")]; and

(b)     for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates as in the attached Annex A1. 

(2)     That the Council has calculated the Council Tax requirement for the Council's own purposes for 2017/18 (excluding Parish precepts) as £3,545,429.40

(3)     That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2017/18 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:-

(a)     District/Parish Gross Expenditure

          £46,065,606.16        being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils

(b)     District/Parish Gross Income (including Government Grants, use of Reserves and Collection Fund Surpluses etc)

          £41,119,430.86        being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act

(c)     District/Parish Net Expenditure

          £4,946,175.30          being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act)

(d)     Basic Amount of Tax (including average Parish Precepts)

          £138.7831                being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R) all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish precepts)

(e)     Parish Precepts

          £1,400,745.90          being the aggregate of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per Annex ‘A’)

(f)      Basic Amount of Tax (Unparished Areas)

          £99.4800                  being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 4(e) above by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish precept relates

(4)     Major Precepting Authorities That it be noted that the North Yorkshire County Council, the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority and the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire have issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council's area and is indicated in the table  ...  view the full minutes text for item C.26

Report of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking approval of the Statement of Pay Policy for the year commencing on 1 April 2017.  The Council was required to adopt the Statement of Pay Policy each year.

THE DECISION:

That the Statement of Pay Policy be adopted with effect from 1 April 2017.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive submitted a report regarding the Members’ Allowances Scheme which in line with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 required the Council to consider its Allowances Scheme before the beginning of each year.  The Chief Executive reported that an amendment was required to the proposed scheme at Appendix C of the report which removed Section 8.0 regarding Pensions as Members of the Council were no longer eligible to be part of the Pensions Scheme.  It was also noted that the proposals regarding the payment of Attendance Allowances would come into effect from 1 April 2017 and cover the year 2017/18.

The report also asked Council to consider recommendations made from the Independent Remuneration Panel following a full review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

THE DECISION:

That the Members’ Allowances Scheme attached at Appendix C of the report be approved subject to the deletion of Section 8.0 regarding Pensions and the effective date of the payment of Attendance Allowances being amended to 1 April 2017 for the year 2017/18.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Council approval to the Terms of Reference for a Community Governance Review for the parishes of Aiskew and Bedale.  A copy of the Terms of Reference was appended to the report.

THE DECISION:

That:-

(1)     the Terms of Reference for a Community Governance Review (as set out in Annex A to the report) in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3 of Part 4 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 be approved;

(2)     the publication of the Terms of Reference in respect of the Community Governance Review, including the proposed timetable, as set out in Annex A to the report be approved;

(3)     the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to conduct the Community Governance Review on the Council’s behalf and to take all necessary action to comply with the Council’s statutory obligations in that regard.

Note: Councillors M A Barningham, C A Les and J Noone declared a non-pecuniary personal interest as Members of the Bedale Town Council.