Agenda and minutes

Council - Monday, 8th March, 2021 3.00 pm

Venue: on the Zoom meeting platform. Access credentials to the meeting will be sent to you under separate cover.

Contact: Nicola Calver  01246 217753

Items
No. Item

COU/102/20-21

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors L Hartshorne, E  Hill, P Holmes, C Huckerby, J Ridgway and P Windley.

COU/103/20-21

Declarations of Interest

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. 

Minutes:

Councillor H Liggett declared an interest in Item 8, Annual Pay Policy Statement 2021-22, as the spouse of a Council employee.  She intended to remain in the meeting during Council’s consideration and determination on this matter.

 

COU/104/20-21

Minutes of Last Meeting pdf icon PDF 413 KB

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the attached Minutes of the Council meeting held on 1 February 2021.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Council meeting, held on 11 February 2021, be approved as a true record, subject to clarification on Minute: COU/100/20-21. Council had agreed that a letter be sent to former Councillor Clive Hunt, thanking him for the valuable contribution which he had made to the Council and wishing him well for the future (by acclamation).

 

COU/105/20-21

Chair's Announcements (if any)

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

Minutes:

The Chair of the Council made no announcements.

COU/106/20-21

Leader's Announcements

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

 

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor A Dale, expressed his thanks to all those who had helped reduce the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the District, by observing social distancing guidance and the lockdown restrictions. He explained that as a consequence of this effort, North East Derbyshire now had one of the lowest infection rates in the County and was significantly below the national average. He urged everyone to continue to play their part in preventing the spread of the virus, so that infection rates could be reduced still further.

 

Councillor A Dale highlighted the ongoing support which the Council had given to the NHS during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. He praised the work of the Sharley Park and other vaccination centres in the District, highlighting the positive reaction which they had received from local communities and their success in vaccinating so many people. In this context, Council was informed that more than 350,000 people across Derbyshire had now received their first vaccination treatment. Council welcomed this.

 

The Leader of the Council offered his thanks and congratulations to the Clay Cross Town Board, and those officers supporting it, for their successful application to the Government’s Town Fund programme. Council heard that they had been awarded more than £24M from the programme. This funding would now be used to help implement the ‘Clay Cross Town Investment Plan’. He believed that such substantial grant aid would benefit local communities and businesses in Clay Cross and also North East Derbyshire as a whole.

 

Council A Dale praised the action taken by the Council to ensure that the household waste recycling service in the District continued to operate, with minimal disruption, after the former contractor went into administration.  He emphasised that by taking this action the Council had not only protected the service, but also the jobs of those who delivered it.

 

The Leader of the Council explained that additional funding had been secured from the Green Homes Scheme. This would contribute to the extensive improvements planned for 320 Council properties in the District. These improvements would benefit tenants, reduce carbon emissions and help to tackle locally the Climate Emergency.

 

Finally, the Leader of the Council thanked Members and officers for their support to the Chair of the Council and especially their support for her charitable appeals, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the National Deaf Children’s Society.

 

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

 

COU/107/20-21

Public Participation

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.

Minutes:

No questions had been submitted by the public.

COU/108/20-21

Level of Council Tax 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 257 KB

Report of Councillor P Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor P Parkin, reminded Members that under the Localism Act 2011 the Council was responsible for calculating the total Council Tax requirement for the North East Derbyshire area. This calculation included the requirements of the other preceptors as well as those of the Council. The other preceptors were Derbyshire County Council, the Derbyshire Police Authority, the Derbyshire Fire Authority and the Parish Councils within the District.

Members discussed the report.  They heard about the way in which the Council Tax requirement had been calculated. They were also informed about the Council Tax collection rates during the current financial year and how, despite the impact of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, these had remained high.

Councillor P Parkin and Councillor W Armitage moved and seconded the recommendation as set out in the report. As required by law the motion was put to a recorded vote and was carried

 

For the motion (45):

 

Councillors P Wright, B Wright, N Whitehead, R Welton, M Thacker, K Tait, L Stone, R Shipman, D Ruff, K Rouse, M Roe, C Renwick, T Reader, A Powell, M Potts, S Pickering, P Parkin, G Morley, H Liggett, B Lewis, P Kerry, J Kenyon, M Jones, A Hutchinson, D Hancock, R Hall, O Gomez Reaney, J Funnell, M Foster, A Foster, M Emmens, P Elliot, L Deighton, A Dale, C Cupit,  S Cornwell, A Cooper, S Clough, P Bone, K Bone, J Birkin, J Barry, N Barker, W Armitage and P Antcliff

 

No Members voted against the Motion and no Members abstained.

 

RESOLVED

 

That Council formally approved the Council Tax for the Financial Year 2021/22, as set out in the report.

 

 

 

COU/109/20-21

Annual Pay Policy Statement 2021-22 pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Report of Councillor M Foster, Portfolio Holder for Council Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor P Parkin, reminded Council of its obligation under the Localism Act 2011 to publish annually a Pay Policy Statement, setting out its policy for both senior managers and other employees. Members heard how this annual statement also included a range of specific organisational information, which the Council was required to publish under the Local Government Transparency Code 2015. This organisational information included service organisation structures, the grading of senior staff, and the salary ratio between the highest paid employees and the median (average) pay.

 

Members discussed the Pay Policy Statement. They reflected on the restructure of the Council’s Senior Management, which had taken place in 2020. They noted the significant savings which the Senior Management restructure had achieved and how these savings continued to be monitored.

Councillor M Foster and Councillor A Dale moved and seconded the recommendation as set out in the report. The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

RESOLVED - That Council supported the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2021/22

 

 

COU/110/20-21

Agile Working Policy pdf icon PDF 327 KB

Report of Councillor M Foster, Portfolio Holder for Council Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report to Council asked Members to support the Agile Working Policy. This had been developed in conjunction with service managers and Trade Unions. In this context, the Council Joint Consultative Group (CJCG) had endorsed the Agile Working Policy and agreed that it be recommended to Council for approval.

 

Councillor M Foster and Councillor A Dale moved and seconded the recommendation as set out in the report.

 

Members were reminded by the Portfolio Holder for Council Services, Councillor M Foster, of how Services had made widespread use of Agile Working during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. This was partially a response to the social distancing rules which had been put in place, but also because Agile Working had enabled the Council to meet the needs of local communities in difficult, circumstances. He explained that by adopting the Policy, Council would be able to build on what had already been achieved through Agile Working, so that it could continue to successfully adapt and meet the challenges facing it.

 

Council discussed the Policy. Cllr D Hancock felt that it ought to be amended. He argued that following consultation by management about Agile Working proposals, employees should able to decide if they did not want to work from home.  He highlighted the possible personal, financial and health reasons why they might not want to do this.

 

In response, the Portfolio Holder stressed that this provision would be implemented in line with the supportive approach to staff, which characterised the Policy as a whole. Councillor M Foster, reiterated his belief that the Policy, as proposed, would enable the Council to work in new and more flexible ways through the sensitive use of Agile Working and so should be supported.

 

During the discussion, Councillor N Barker suggested that the Agile Working Policy be reviewed annually. He believed that an annual review would make it easier to assess the impact of the Policy on staff.  He also asked that the aims of the Policy be clarified, to emphasise that in promoting a culture of agile working, the Council supported fully employee wellbeing. Both of these suggestions were agreed. The Organisation and Development Manager was asked to make the necessary changes to the Policy text.

 

Councillor D Hancock and Councillor R Shipman moved and seconded an amendment to the motion supporting the Policy, subject to a revision that would allow employees to decline home working, if they so wished.

 

The amendment was put to the vote and was defeated.

 

The substantive motion, as moved and seconded by Councillor M Foster and Councillor A Dale, was then put to the vote and was approved.

 

RESOLVED That Council supported the implementation of the Agile Working Policy.

 

COU/111/20-21

Calendar of Meetings 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 353 KB

To consider the proposed Calendar of Meetings for the 2021/22 municipal year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered the proposed calendar of meetings for the 2021-22 municipal year. Members heard that changes might be required to the suggested dates for some meetings. Members also heard about the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus (Covid 19) outbreak. They noted that any alterations to scheduled meetings, as a result of legislation relating to the virus outbreak, would be made by the Governance Manager. She would make these changes in consultation with the relevant Chairs.

 

Councillor A Dale and W Armitage moved and seconded the recommendations as set out in the report. The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(1)          That Council noted the Calendar of Meetings for the 2021-22 municipal year, as appended to the report; 

 

(2)          That Council delegated authority to the Governance Manager, following consultation with the Chairs of the relevant Committees / Working Groups to amend the Calendar of Meetings 2021/22 as and when required, in accordance with the regulations of the Coronavirus Act 2020 or any subsequent applicable legislation.

 

COU/112/20-21

To answer any questions from Members asked under Procedure Rule No 9.2

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.

Minutes:

No questions had been submitted by Members.

COU/113/20-21

To consider any Motions from Members under Procedure Rule No 10

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. 

 

No motions have been submitted under Procedure Rule No 10 for this meeting.

Minutes:

No Motions had been submitted by Members.

COU/114/20-21

Chair's Urgent Business

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

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.