Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cllrs Clarke, Davies, Frampton, Harrison, Mrs McEvoy and Miss Sevier.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2015 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2015 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.

Cllrs Mrs Beeton, Mrs Carpenter, Kendal and Mrs Rostand in respect of minute No. 38, Item 1 of the Report of the Cabinet dated 7 October 2015.

The Chairman referred to the fact that this was the last meeting of the Council that Mr Yates would attend prior to his retirement on 23 October. The Chairman wished to mark the occasion and to thank Mr Yates for his hard work and outstanding achievements during his 15 years of service, including the Council’s current sound financial position, of which he should be proud.

Cllr Kendal spoke of his experience of working with Mr Yates during his time as Leader of the Council. He said that the Council had had to face significant challenges during that time. Cllr Kendal made particular mention of the Audit Commission Assessment when Mr Yates had meticulously prepared the Council’s submission which had resulted in the Council achieving an ‘excellent’ rating. He said that Mr Yates had also played a significant and instrumental role when the New Forest National Park Authority had been created, when he had demonstrated great skills of leadership and diplomacy. Mr Yates should be proud of these remarkable achievements. He was a very likeable, friendly and personable individual who would be missed.

Cllr Beck, on behalf of the New Forest Association of Local Councils, conveyed the parish councils’ sincere thanks and gratitude to Mr Yates for his support and advice and wished him well upon his retirement.

Other members spoke of their appreciation and gratitude to Mr Yates for his friendly and fair approach. All members wished him good luck for the future.

In reply, Mr Yates said that he was very grateful for having had the honour and pleasure to be the Council’s Chief Executive. He felt that the Council was in a good position to meet the challenges that lay ahead. He was confident that his successor, Bob Jackson, would prove to be an excellent Chief Executive.

All those present stood and applauded Mr Yates to express their appreciation.

The Chairman’s engagements undertaken since the last meeting of the Council were reported in the monthly Information Bulletin.

Lord Montagu

On Thursday 10 September the Chairman, along with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, had attended the funeral of Lord Montagu at Beaulieu Abbey. The service had highlighted the great achievements of Lord Montagu during his lifetime and his love and commitment to the New Forest.

Hampshire & IOW Village of the Year Awards

The Chairman reported that Sway Parish Council had been awarded third prize at this year’s Hampshire & IOW Village of the Year event on 7 October. She announced that at the same event, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Rickman, had also been presented with a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award for years of service and of delivering improvements to Sway village.  The Chairman congratulated Sway Parish Council and Cllr Rickman.

Civic Day

The Chairman reported that her Civic Day on 6 October had been a great success. Members’ had visited St Barbe Museum, Lymington, and the Southampton Football Club training ground at Marchwood. Between those visits an excellent lunch had been prepared by the students of Brockenhurst College at their MJs Restaurant. The Chairman thanked all involved in the organisation of the day, especially Donna Langfield.

Jamie Burton

The Chairman highlighted the great work by the Council’s Sport & Play Development Officer, Jamie Burton in helping to set up a wheelchair rugby club. This had involved acquiring 11 sport wheelchairs free of charge.  The team now trained at Solent University and had some players who could be selected for the 2016 para Olympic rugby team. This had been a great achievement of which the Council should be proud.

There were none.

Audit Committee                                             25 September 2015 (Pages 5 – 7)

General Purposes & Licensing Committee     11 September 2015 (Pages 9 – 24)

Cabinet                                                            7 October 2015 (Pages 25 – 26)

The recommendations arising from the meetings of the Cabinet on 7 October, the Audit Committee on 25 September and the General Purposes and Licensing Committee on 11 September were agreed.

Report of Audit Committee

Cllr O’Sullivan, Chairman of the Audit Committee, presented the report of the meeting held on 25 September 2015.

On the motion that the report be received and the recommendations adopted, it was

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations be adopted.

Report of General Purposes and Licensing Committee

Cllr Puttock, Vice-Chairman of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee, presented the report of the meeting held on 11 September 2015.

On the motion that the report be received and the recommendation adopted, it was

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendation be adopted.

Report of Cabinet

The following Cllrs declared interests in Item 1 – Beach Huts at Milford on Sea, of the report of the Cabinet dated 7 October 2015: -

Cllr Mrs Beeton – a non-pecuniary interest as a member of Milford on Sea Parish Council which had commented on the matter. She concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent her from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllr Mrs Carpenter - a non-pecuniary interest as a member of the Beach Hut Board. She concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent her from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

Cllr Kendal - a pecuniary interest as the development site for the new beach huts could be seen from his home. He did not speak or vote.

Cllr Mrs Rostand - a pecuniary interest as a beach hut owner. She had received a dispensation to speak from the Proper Officer of the Council, but did not speak or vote.

The Leader of the Council, as Chairman of the Cabinet, presented the report of the meeting held on October 2015.

On the motion that the report be received, it was:

RESOLVED:

That the report be received.

Under Standing Order 22.

There were none.

To ask questions of Portfolio Holders. Questions received will be tabled at the meeting. (Members are reminded that questions must be submitted to the Chief Executive or to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services by no later than noon on Friday 16 October 2015.)

Cllr Harrison had submitted a question to the Housing & Communities Portfolio Holder but was unable to attend the meeting. The question would be put to the next Council meeting on 7 December 2015.

To consider any changes to the membership of Committees or Panels that might be proposed by the political groups.

No changes to committees or panels were proposed by the political groups.