Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C D Huckerby, J Ridgway, M Roe and L Stone. 

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. 

Councillors K Bone, P Bone, S Clough, M Potts and N Whitehead declared an interest in Item 14 (Killamarsh Sports Centre) and confirmed that they would withdraw from the meeting during Council’s consideration of it.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the attached Minutes of the Extraordinary Council held on 12 October 2020 and the Ordinary Council held on 16 November 2020.                              

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 12 October 2020 and 11 November 2020 were approved as a true record (by acclamation).

To receive any announcements the Chair may wish to make at the meeting.

The Chair of the Council, Councillor P Antcliff, informed Members of her charitable fund-fund raising work during recent weeks.

RESOLVED - That Council noted the announcements of the Chair of the Council, Councillor P Antcliff (by acclamation).

To receive any announcements the Leader may wish to make at the meeting.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor A Dale, expressed his continuing thanks to the Council’s staff and the staff of Rykneld Homes Limited (RHL) for all their hard work in adapting and responding to the challenges of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

The Leader of the Council reiterated his thanks for the contribution made by Councillors from all political groups in helping the Council respond effectively to the virus outbreak. In particular, he emphasised the valuable contribution which the cross-party VIPER meetings had continued to make in helping support North East Derbyshire and its communities.

Councillor A Dale explained how the Council had worked to support vulnerable people during the virus outbreak. In this context he thanked those who had supported the Care at Christmas appeal, which aimed to provide presents for young people in residential accommodation. He also explained how the Council was helping the Coronavirus (Covid 19) vaccination programme to take place. It was currently exploring how additional Council owned venues might be used for this, in order to speed up the delivery of vaccinations to local people.

Members heard about the support offered to to local businesses affected by the outbreak.  In particular, he explained that £1.3M of grant aid had been allocated to businesses since the District had first entered into the Coronavirus ‘Tier Two’ restrictions, in October 2020. 

RESOLVED – That Council noted the announcements of the Leader of the Council, Councillor A Dale (by acclamation).

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.

Council was informed that no questions from the public had been received.

Report of Councillor P Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Council considered the Annual Audit letter for the 2019-20 financial year from its external Auditors. The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Paul Parkin, explained the work which the Auditors had carried out during the year and how they had given an ‘unqualified opinion’ on the way in which the Council had managed its finances. In particular, the Auditors had identified no significant financial risks and concluded that proper arrangements had been in place to secure economy, efficiency and effective use of resources during the year.

RESOLVED – That Council noted the Audit letter prepared by its external Auditors for the 2019-20 year (by acclamation).

Report of Councillor D Ruff, Elected Member Champion for Mental Health

Members received an update report from Councillor D Ruff, the Council’s Elected Member Mental Health Champion, on the work of the Mental Health Action Group and what it had done to promote mental health. 

Council discussed the report. In particular, Members considered the role of the newly-trained Mental Health First Aiders. They also discussed how Councillors might contribute to the Mental Health Action Group by sharing their own experiences of dealing with people with mental health issues.

Members considered how the Council could work with other organisations to ensure greater support, especially on more complicated mental health issues, to both its own staff and to the wider community. Members were keen to explore how they and might be able to help identify potential problems, so that appropriate support could then be provided. They noted that this would be similar to the role which Members already played in identifying safeguarding issues involving adults and young people.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Council made clear that it welcomed the work of the Mental Health Action Group in promoting and addressing mental health issues and looked forward to further progress.

RESOLVED – That Council noted the progress of the Mental Health Action Group (by acclamation).

Report of Councillor A Dale, Leader of the Council

Report of the Head of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer

Council considered a report on decisions made under the Council’s scheme for Emergency Delegations since March 2020 in response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. The report listed the decisions which had been taken under these delegated powers. It explained that one of the first decisions taken was to extend the delegations in order to ensure the normal business of the Council could continue in the absence of formal Member meetings, as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown restrictions.

Council was informed that there was no legal or constitutional requirement to report these decisions, but that they had been made available on the website, should Members wish to consider them.  

Council discussed the report. As part of this, Members considered and expressed concern about the delays in presenting the information on Delegated Decisions. As part of this, they highlighted specific decisions. Council also heard of the difficulties which some Members had experienced in accessing decision documents, using the electronic links provided.

Councillor A Dale and Councillor C Cupit moved and seconded the recommendations as set out in the report.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

RESOLVED - That Council noted the decisions made under emergency delegated powers.

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.

There were no questions from Members under Procedure Rule No. 9.2

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.

Motion proposed by Councillor C Cornwell – seconded by Councillor Barker 

This Council notes that: 

·                  The charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK is encouraging venues providing accessible toilets to install new signage.  This is to help stop stigma and discrimination towards people with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis and other invisible conditions. 

·                  There have been instances nationally where such individuals using an accessible toilet have been accused by staff members of being ineligible to use them. 

·                  The charity signs have two standing figures and a wheelchair user with the words Accessible Toilet and the logo ‘Not every disability is visible’. 

?The Government has decided recently that large accessible toilets for severely disabled people - known as Changing Places - will be made compulsory for large new buildings, such as shopping centres, supermarkets, sports and arts venues 

Council resolves to: 

·                  Ensure that accessible toilets on Council premises bear these signs. 

·                  Ask town and district centre retailers and leisure outlets to do likewise with their accessible toilets. 

·                  Seek advice from the charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK on the information and training we should provide to council staff members. This is so they understand these conditions and to prevent potential embarrassment for those who suffer with them. 

·                  Ensure that any Changing Places toilets in our buildings are properly signposted for visitors. 

The Chair to move:-

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

RESOLVED -

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following item of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006). 

Report of Councillor J Kenyon, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Transformation and Climate Change

(Paragraphs 1, 2 & 3)

Councillors K Bone, P Bone, S Clough, M Potts and N Whitehead left the meeting during Council’s consideration of this item.

Council received a report from Councillor J Kenyon, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Transformation and Climate Change, on the future of the Killamarsh Sports Centre.  This set out Cabinet’s preferred approach on the future operation of the centre. Members considered the report, discussed the Cabinet’s preferred approach and other possible options.

At the conclusion of the discussion Councillor J Kenyon and Councillor A Dale moved and seconded the recommendations as set out in the report.

At the request of three Members, (Councillor O Gomez Reaney, M Foster and K Tait) a recorded vote was called for.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

For the motion: 24

Councillors P Wright, R Welton, M Thacker, K Tait, D Ruff, C Renwick, A Powell, P Parkin, H Liggett, B Lewis, J Kenyon, A Hutchinson, O Gomez Reaney, J Funnell, M Foster, A Foster,  M Emmens, P Elliot, L Deighton, A Dale, C Cupit, A Cooper, W Armitage and P Antcliff.

Against the motion: 3 

Councillors P Windley, R Shipman and D Hancock.

Abstained: 15

Councillors B Wright, K Rouse, T Reader, S Pickering, G Morley, J Lilley, P Kerry, M Jones, P Holmes, E Hill, L Hartshorne, S Cornwell, J Birkin, J Barry and N Barker.

RESOLVED -

(1)          That Council note the decision of Cabinet and the recommendations to be presented to Council in February 2021.

(2)          That Council supported Cabinet’s decision and the impending recommendations for its implementation.

Report of Councillor A Dale, Leader of the Council

(Paragraphs 1 and 2)

Councillors K Bone, P Bone, S Clough, M Potts and N Whitehead re-entered the meeting at this point.

The relevant senior officers left the meeting during Council’s consideration of this item.

Members were reminded that in March 2020 Council agreed to a new Senior Management Structure. As part of its decision, Council requested a further review be undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the new structure. The report of Councillor A Dale, Leader of the Council, explained what progress had been made with this review and made specific follow-on recommendations relating to senior posts.

During the discussion Councillor N Barker suggested that the proposed report on the future of the role of the Head of Paid Service post be submitted to Council before the end of the current municipal year. Councillor A Dale agreed that this be incorporated into the motion.

Councillor A Dale and C Cupit moved and seconded the motion:

The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

RESOLVED -

(1)          That the Council agree to continue with the current Senior Management arrangements, which had in place since March 2020

(2)          That Council agreed the specific proposals relating to the senior post holders identified in the report.

(3)          That a further report be presented to Council before the end of the current municipal year on the role of the Head of Paid Service.

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

Members discussed the ways in which the Chair’s charitable appeal and other activities could be promoted by the Council.