Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Appletree Court, Lyndhurst

Contact: 023 8028 5588 - ask for Melanie Stephens  Email:  melanie.stephens@nfdc.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

Apologies

Cllrs Davies, Tungate and Ward.

22.

Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2018 as a correct record.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2018 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

23.

Declarations Of Interest

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.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by members in connection with an agenda item.

24.

Public Participation

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

Minutes:

No issues were raised during the public participation period.

25.

Returning Officers' Fees and Expenses pdf icon PDF 51 KB

To consider the Returning Officers’ Fees and Expenses for 2018-19.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the fees and expenses for Returning Officers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to conduct local elections. These were recommended by a Working Party of representatives of Hampshire County Council and other Local Authorities in the area.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the fees and expenses for Returning Officers for 2018/19, as set out in

Appendix 1 to these minutes, be approved.

26.

Pay 2018 Update pdf icon PDF 52 KB

To agree the proposed changes to the Council’s pay award for 2018.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the basis of the Council’s local pay arrangements to take effect from 1 April 2018.

 

The two main proposals were a minimum hourly rate of £8.50 at spinal column point 12, and a 2% cost of living rise for all other grades.

 

It was noted that the national pay offer of 2% was still being negotiated, but it was proposed that the Council would adopt this figure for pay in 2018, subject to national agreement.

 

The Committee supported the intention to offer a cost of living rise to employees with effect from 1 April 2018 in lieu of the ongoing discussion over the national pay offer.

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

That the proposed changes to the local pay arrangements, as set out in Appendix 2 to these minutes, be approved and implemented from 1 April 2018.

27.

Statutory Financial Officer Role with the Management Structure pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To note the changes to the Council’s management structure and agree subsequent changes to the Council’s salary scales.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the role of the Statutory Financial Officer (Section 151) within the Council’s management structure.

 

It was proposed that the current Accountancy and Audit Service Manager role be titled Head of Financial Services, and include Section 151 responsibilities.  The Council Tax and Business Rates Collection and Benefits sections would now come within the responsibility of the Section 151 Officer.  The Housing and Community Services Manager (new title Revenue and Benefits Services Manager) would in future be responsible for Revenues, Council Tax and Business Rates collection, Housing Benefits, and would oversee the transition to Universal Credit, reporting directly to the Council’s Section 151 Officer.  The changes would be implemented from 1 February 2018 and a new pay band to reflect the duties of the Head of Financial Services was proposed. The Committee supported the proposals.

 

A proposed new pay scale (10A) had been arrived at following an external consultant’s recommendation.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)          That the creation of a new band 10A within the Council’s existing salary structure be agreed; and

 

(b)          That the changes to the role of Statutory Financial Officer be supported.

 

 

28.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy pdf icon PDF 49 KB

To consider changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the proposed changes the Council’s current Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy (Taxi Policy).

 

The proposed amendments reflected changes in relevant legislation, changes in technology, social climate and vehicle specifications. 

 

The policy would be subject to public consultation during 1 April – 31 June 2018. The Committee would consider any comments received at their meeting on 7 September 2018. The final policy would be submitted to the full Council for adoption on 10 December 2018.

 

In discussing the suggested changes, members were particularly pleased to see that the driver knowledge test would now include knowledge of issues pertinent to the New Forest such as livestock and animals. Members also requested that the number of tests that an applicant could re-sit should be reduced to three (not four as suggested in the report).

 

Members requested that officers examine whether the use of child safety locks could be regulated, as some members had concerns regarding the safety of passengers and the potential for people being held against their will.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)          That the proposed key changes to the taxi policy be noted; and

 

(b)          That the proposed changes be subject to public consultation between 1 April – 31 June 2018.

29.

Cosmetic Piercing and Semi-permanent Makeup - Proposed Changes to Registration Fees and Byelaws pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To consider proposed charges to cosmetic piercing registration and relevant byelaws and make recommendations to the Council.

Minutes:

The Committee considered proposals to extend the existing registration fees for premises and practitioners undertaking cosmetic piercing and semi-permanent skin- colouring as well as the introduction of new byelaws for the regulation of acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis.

 

The proposals had been brought forward in order to comply with changes in legislation and new, updated byelaws produced by the Department of Health which included the newer practices of semi-permanent skin-colouring and cosmetic piercing.

 

To ensure that residents of the District were visiting registered practitioners, members requested that the Council’s website and social media signpost residents the relevant information regarding practitioners before undertaking treatments. 

 

RECOMMENDED:

 

(a)             That the proposed fees, as set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report to the Committee, for the registration of premises and of practitioners undertaking cosmetic piercing and semi-permanent makeup in line with the current fees charged for tattooing, electrolysis and acupuncture, be approved;

 

(b)             That the proposed changes to the fees and charges, take effect on 1 May 2018; and

 

(c)             That the single consolidated byelaws for the regulation of acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis for New Forest District Council, be adopted and that existing byelaws be revoked.