Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors J Barry, C Cornwell, B Hill, C D Huckerby, P Holmes and J Kenyon.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any items on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time. 

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time. 

No declarations of interest were made at this meeting.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8 to allow members of the public to ask questions about the Council’s activities for a period up to fifteen minutes.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting.

No questions have been submitted under Procedure Rule No 8 for this meeting.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8 members of the public were allowed to ask questions about the Council’s activities for a period of up to 15 minutes.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting.

No questions from the public had been submitted.

Report of the Joint Head of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer

Council considered a report of the Joint Head of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer, which provided an annual update to Members on use of the Joint Whistleblowing Policy.

Members heard that the Whistleblowing Policy had been reviewed in February 2021, and no changes were recommended other than housekeeping amendments which were outlined in Appendix 1. Council noted that no instances of Whistleblowing had been made since the 2020 Annual Review of the Policy.

RESOLVED – That Council:-

(1)            Agrees the current Joint Whistleblowing Policy is fit for purpose; and

(2)            Note that no instances of Whistleblowing have been made since the 2020 Annual Review of the Joint Whistleblowing Policy.

Report of Councillor C Renwick, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Councillor C Renwick, presented a report which outlined the North East Derbyshire Draft Growth Strategy 2021-2024.

Council heard that the strategy recognised the importance of economic growth to the overall wellbeing and prosperity of the District. There were a number of priority areas which included employment and skills, the visitor economy, and town centre regeneration.

Councillor N Barker was supportive of the Strategy, and argued that some of the work had been initiated by the previous administration.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor A Dale congratulated Councillor C Renwick and officers on the Strategy. He stated that it was a comprehensive document that covered all aspects of growth in the District, and that previous Strategies had focused on growth in respect of housing.

Councillor A Hutchinson also thanked the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth for her work in producing the Strategy, and that it set a prosperous vision for North East Derbyshire and its residents.

Councillor J Birkin enquired about consultancy costs and what could be done to involve local universities.

Councillor J Funnell considered the costs of the Growth Strategy and how funding was going to be delivered.

Councillor R Shipman commented that the Strategy contained little in regards to the environment.

RESOLVED –

(1)            That Council notes the contents of the report.

(2)            That Council note the North East Derbyshire Growth Strategy 2021-2024.

(3)            That Council note that delegated authority has given to the Director of Growth and Economic Development to make none substantive amendments to the documents in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Economic Development subject to approval at Cabinet on the 22nd April 2021.

(Director of Growth and Economic Development)

At this point, Councillor P Elliott left the meeting.

Report of the Joint Head of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer

Council considered a report of the Joint Head of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer that advised Members of the outcome of the recent recruitment exercise and appoint Amanda Orchard and David Richardson to the position of Independent Persons to assist the Standards process for a period of four years.

Members noted that the Monitoring Officer was of the opinion that an additional two Independent Persons were required, and that the additions would add resilience and flexibility to the Standards process. Council heard that a letter of thanks would be sent to Stuart Hooton who had stated his intention to resign.

RESOLVED – That Council agrees to appoint Amanda Orchard and David Richardson as Independent Persons to assist with the Standards process until the end of May 2024.

(Monitoring Officer)

At this point, Councillor P Elliott returned to the meeting.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 9.2 to allow Members to ask questions about Council activities.  The replies to any such questions will be given by the Chair of the Council or relevant Committee or the appropriate Cabinet Member.  Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

No questions have been submitted under Procedure Rule No 9.2 for this meeting.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 9.2 to allow Members to ask questions about Council activities. The replies to any such questions will be given by the Chair of the Council or relevant Committee or the appropriate Cabinet Member. Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting.

No questions had been submitted under Procedure Rule No 9.2 for this meeting.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 10 to consider Motions on notice from Members.  Motions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting. 

(a)      Motion proposed by Councillor R Shipman

North East Derbyshire District Council is committed to making our District a safer place for everyone.

Council notes:

·                 Public sexual harassment is the most common form of violence against women and girls, restricting their freedom of movement and expression;

·                 That in surveys, two-thirds of women and girls report they have faced street harassment in the UK;

·                 That street harassment in the UK is not covered by any specific offence, unlike in Portugal, Belgium and France;

·                 That stopping street harassment would be a powerful step in tackling inequality and keeping women safe;

·                 The incredible work of Our Streets Now, and their petition which has attracted over 200,000 signatures to make street harassment a specific crime;

·                 That, according to a report by Our Streets Now, only 14% of pupils have been taught about public sexual harassment at school; and that 47% of them would not report an incident of public sexual harassment to their school because they were afraid or feared they would not be taken seriously by staff.

Council believes:

·                 That we must create an environment where street harassment is seen and policed as a crime, and where girls feel safer on our streets;

·                 That we need to work together with our schools to ensure that anyone who is harassed will feel confident that their report will be treated with the respect, care and seriousness that is required;

·                 That changing the law, and education for our young people, are key planks in combating street harassment, establishing safer streets and delivering equality.

Council resolves to:

·                 Promote the Our Streets Now campaign to make street harassment a crime, and encourage all elected members, and residents to sign the petition;

·                 Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the two MPs who cover the District to ask them to show their support for this campaign by signing the petition and by lobbying ministers to make street harassment a specific crime;

·                 Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Home Secretary to ask her to make street harassment a particular crime; 

·                 Ask schools and academies within the District to each develop a clear policy on tackling harassment, separate to their bullying policy;

·                 Ask local schools to include education and around public sexual harassment as part of their PHSE education;

·                 Ensure that the recommendations of the Our Schools Now report are communicated to schools with a view to implementing their recommendations.

(b)      Motion proposed by Councillor D Hancock – Seconded by Councillor R Shipman

Council notes that:

·              According to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation, 30.2% on North East Derbyshire live in some form of poverty;

·              According to the Office of Budget Responsibility, Unemployment as more than tripled during the coronavirus pandemic, with this figure likely to rise;

·              Results  ...  view the full agenda text for item COU/25/21-22

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 10 to consider Motions on notice from Members. Motions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting.

Three motions had been submitted, however motion A had been withdrawn.

Motion submitted by Councillor D Hancock

“Council notes that:

·                 According to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation, 30.2% on North East

          Derbyshire live in some form of poverty;

·                 According to the Office of Budget Responsibility, unemployment has more than tripled during the coronavirus pandemic, with this figure likely to rise;

·                 Results from a Finnish trial of Universal Basic Income (UBI) in 2017-18

          showed improvements in employment and wellbeing for the group who

          participated;

·                 A network of UBI Labs has been set up and works with local authorities across the UK developing UBI proposals to address poverty, inequality, discrimination and environmental damage, long-term and immediately, in relation to coronavirus.

Council believes that:

·                 This year more than any other has shown that when unexpected events take place, the precarious nature of low-paid, insecure employment is a major fault-line in the resilience of our economy;

·                 A UBI could help alleviate poverty, opening the door to opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach, and liberate people from the anxiety of job insecurity through a monthly income regardless of employment status, wealth, or marital status;

·                 A UBI will prevent the need for short term emergency financial supports in moments of crisis, such as a pandemic or financial crash;

·                 There are many potential benefits to a UBI including:-

o      More flexible workforce and greater freedom to change jobs;

o      Supporting a caring economy to value unpaid work;

o      Removing the negative impacts of means testing, benefit sanctions and conditionality;

o      Enabling greater opportunities for people to work in community and cultural activities or to train or reskill in areas that will be needed to transition to a lower-carbon economy

·                 This is the right time to trial Universal Basic Income.

Council resolves to:

·                 Write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, calling for a fully evaluated and fully-funded trial of basic income in our district, as a result of the effects of the Covid pandemic;

·                 Work with other local authorities to help test UBI in Derbyshire.”

Members considered the motion submitted by Councillor D Hancock in respect of poverty in the District.

Council had a wide ranging debate on the motion, in particular, the merits of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) trial in North East Derbyshire.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor A Dale, spoke against the motion and argued that the concept of UBI was imbalanced as public money should be reserved for those who need it most, not provided irrespective of wealth. Council heard that the scheme would be costly and add to the national debt at a time when public finances were under significant strain. Councillor A Dale argued that the Government had offered generous support to  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU/25/21-22

The Chair to move:-

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following items of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).  [The category of exempt information is stated after each item]. 

The Chair to move:-

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following items of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006). [The category of exempt information is stated after each item].

Report of the Joint Head of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer.

(Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3)

Council passed on its best wishes and support to Councillor C Huckerby and family.

RESOLVED – That:-

(1)            Councillor Huckerby is granted a six month dispensation, commencing on Monday 26 April 2021 and expiring on Tuesday 26 October 2021; and

(2)            Council requests for Councillor Huckerby to be informed of Council’s decision on this matter.

(Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3)

(Monitoring Officer)

Report of Councillor A Dale, Leader of the Council

Council was updated on the Senior Management Review and that the Review was still in progress following a period of consultation. Cabinet at North East Derbyshire District Council and Executive at Bolsover District Council were due to consider the response of the consultation. A further update would be provided to Council in due course.

RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

(Paragraph 2)

(Leader of the Council)

To consider any other matter which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business discussed at this meeting of Council.