Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Beeton and Binns.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2017 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 April 2017 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made by any member in connection with an agenda item.

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

No issues were raised in the public participation period.

To recommend to the Council the way in which the Community Housing Fund of £976,387, which has been allocated to this Council by the Department of Communities and Local Government, should be spent.

RESOLVED:

(a)   That the Council approve the spending of the Community Grant Fund allocation of £976,387 as set out in Section 3 of Report Item 4 to the Cabinet; and

(b)   That the Executive Head of Housing and Planning be authorised to take all such decisions and actions necessary to implement this decision.

The Cabinet was advised that the Council had secured a second tranche of government funding under the Community Housing Fund, in total amounting to £976,387.  This was in recognition of the high proportion of second homes in the District and also that the Council had demonstrated that it had developed proposals to implement such a scheme.

It was proposed to fund a full time, 2 year temporary post, to promote and develop community housing fund projects to parish and town councils and other community groups with an interest in community led housing.  In addition, grants and loans would be available for set up costs, professional fees etc; and to provide seed corn funding for community led housing projects.  An application process would need to be developed, together with assessment criteria and funding tiers.  This process would assist bids to be made for further government funding, paid directly to the community based project, following the first year in which funding was directed through local authorities.

This Council would need to work closely with the National Park Authority to ensure that all communities across the District that wished to benefit from this scheme could do so.

Members welcomed an initiative that could secure low cost housing for local people, in perpetuity, in settlements in the District.

RESOLVED:

(a)   That the Council approve the spending of the Community Grant Fund allocation of £976,387 as set out in Section 3 of Report Item 4 to the Cabinet; and

(b)   That the Executive Head of Housing and Planning be authorised to take all such decisions and actions necessary to implement this decision.

To consider the appointment of a Panel to undertake a review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme to apply from April 2018.

RESOLVED:

(a)             That an Independent Remuneration Panel be appointed, with the members to be recruited through a process, to include interviewing potential members and making recommendations to Cabinet, to be agreed by the Executive Head of Governance and Regulation in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel; and

(b)             That no change be made to the Terms of Reference of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as attached as Appendix 1 to Report Item 5 to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet considered the appointment of an Independent Remuneration Panel to review the Members’ Allowances Scheme, as required by the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003.  The Terms of Reference of the Independent Remuneration Panel were attached as Appendix 1 to Report Item 5 to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet considered whether to re-appoint the current Panel, or to amend the membership.  Members were advised of the experience and expertise offered by each of the current Panel members.  The Cabinet considered that it would be timely to bring new perspectives to this issue.  An appointments process should be initiated to recruit the members of the Panel.

In addition to reviewing this Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme, town and parish councils would be offered the opportunity for the Panel to review their schemes.  Any local council taking advantage of that offer would be expected to meet the costs involved.

RESOLVED:

(a)             That an Independent Remuneration Panel be appointed, with the members to be recruited through a process, to include interviewing potential members and making recommendations to Cabinet, to be agreed by the Executive Head of Governance and Regulation in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel; and

(b)             That no change be made to the Terms of Reference of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as attached as Appendix 1 to Report Item 5 to the Cabinet.

To appoint Cllr W G Andrews as this Council’s reserve representative on the Bournemouth International Airport Consultative Committee.  Cllr Dow will remain this Council’s main representative.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr W G Andrews be appointed as this Council’s reserve representative on the Bournemouth International Airport Consultative Committee; with Cllr Dow to remain this Council’s main representative.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr W G Andrews be appointed as this Council’s reserve representative on the Bournemouth International Airport Consultative Committee; with Cllr Dow to remain this Council’s main representative.

The Chairman reminded Members that this was the last meeting of the Cabinet that Mr Elliott would be attending prior to his retirement later in the month.  On behalf of the Council, the Chairman thanked Mr Elliott for his contribution to the work of the Council over the years and wished him all the best for the future.  All those present indicated their support for the Chairman’s thanks.