Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Corbridge, Harrison, Holding, Murray and Osborne.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 April 2019 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 April 2019, be confirmed.

To receive 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 any disclosable pecuniary interests, or any other interests by Members.

The Leader of the Council proposed that a vote of thanks be extended to the outgoing Chairman, Cllr Kendal, for the admirable way in which he had carried out the duties of Chairman during the past year.  The motion was seconded by Cllr E Heron.

Other Members of the Council spoke in support of the motion, in recognition of the 24 years of service Cllr Kendal had given to the New Forest District, alongside the charity work and fair way Council meetings had been chaired during the past year.

RESOLVED:

That the thanks of this Council be extended to Cllr Kendal for the admirable way in which he has carried out the duties of Chairman during the past year.

The Chairman will address the Council, after which he and his consort will be presented with badges of their past offices.

The Chairman thanked Members for their kind words and reported on the charity work undertaken in the past year for the Oakhaven Hospice in Totton.  A final figure of £19,741 was raised and the Chairman invited the Chief Executive of Oakhaven Hospice, Andrew Ryde to say a few words.

Mr Ryde expressed sincere thanks to the Chairman and the Council for the level of support during the past year.  The Council noted that Oakhaven Hospice expanded into Totton in April 2018 which had resulted in an approximate increase of 30% to the overall activity of the charity.

The Chairman expressed his thanks to Members and Officers for their support and assistance and spoke fondly of a number of highlights including work with the MENCAP Society and civic events such as Remembrance Day and the visit of Princess Anne to Calshot.

To elect a Chairman of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting in 2020.

Cllr Allan Glass has been nominated as Chairman for the ensuing year.

Cllr Harris moved that Cllr Glass be elected Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.  The motion was seconded by Cllr Andrews.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Glass be elected Chairman of the Council for the 2019/20 municipal year, until his successor is elected at the Annual Council meeting in May 2020.

Cllr Glass signed the declaration of acceptance of office, which was formally witnessed by the Monitoring Officer.  He was then invested with the Chain and Badge of Office before taking the chair.

The newly-elected Chairman will address the Council.

The Chairman thanked Members of the Council for electing him and in doing so paid tribute to the outgoing Chairman, Cllr Kendal and his wife for their year in office.

He announced that his charities for the year would be New Forest Disability Information Service and Solent Dolphins.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Council to hold office until the Annual Meeting in 2020.

Nominations will be made at the meeting.

Cllr Glass moved that Cllr Tipp be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.  The motion was seconded by Cllr Russell.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Tipp be elected Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2019/20 municipal year, until his successor is elected at the Annual Council meeting in May 2020.

Cllr Tipp signed the declaration of acceptance of office, which was formally witnessed by the Monitoring Officer.  He was then invested with the Chain and Badge of Office.

To appoint a Leader of the Council for the four year period until May 2023.

Cllr E Heron moved that Cllr Rickman be appointed Leader of the Council for the four year period until May 2023.  The motion was seconded by Cllr Cleary.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Rickman be appointed Leader of the Council for the four year period until May 2023.

The Leader of the Council will inform the Council of:

(a)     the name of the councillor he has appointed Deputy Leader of the Council;

(b)     the number and content of the Portfolios;

(c)     the name of the councillor he has appointed to each Portfolio; and

RECOMMENDED:

That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any consequential changes to the Constitution arising from the above.

The Leader of the Council informed the Council that:-

(a)        He had appointed Cllr E Heron as Deputy Leader of the Council and Vice-Chairman of the Cabinet.

(b)        The Cabinet Portfolio Holders and their respective Portfolios would be as follows:-

            1 – Leader and Corporate Affairs – Cllr Rickman

            2 – Deputy Leader and Planning and Infrastructure – Cllr E Heron

            3 – Housing Services – Cllr Cleary

            4 – Community Affairs – Cllr Andrews

            5 – Finance, Investment and Corporate Services – Cllr J Heron

            6 – Leisure and Wellbeing – Cllr Steele

            7 – Environment and Regulatory Services – Cllr Hoare

            8 – Economic Development – Cllr Harris

(c)        The full content of each Portfolio would be circulated to all Members in due course.

RESOLVED:

That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any consequential changes to the Constitution arising from the above.

To receive the report of the Returning Officer on the elections held on Thursday 2 May 2019.

RESOLVED:

That the report of the Returning Officer on the elections held on Thursday 2 May 2019, be received and noted.

To report that the political composition of the Council following the District Elections held on Thursday 2 May 2019 is:-

Conservative Group 46 (76.67%)

Liberal Democrat Group 13 (21.67%)

Independent 1

RESOLVED:

That the political balance of the Council following the District Elections held on Thursday 2 May 2019, be noted as follows:-

Conservative Group 46 (76.7%)

Liberal Democrat Group 13 (21.67%)

Independent 1

 RECOMMENDED:

a.     To approve the following Committees and Panels and the number of seats on each body:-

Committee/Panel                                                       Number of Seats

Appeals Committee                                                                 20

Audit Committee                                                                     8

General Purposes and Licensing Committee                         15

HR Committee                                                            8

Planning Committee                                                                20

Community and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Panel           10

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel                                 10

Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel                             10

Housing Overview and Scrutiny Panel                                    10

b.     To agree the terms of reference of the HR Committee and minor amendments to the General Purposes and Licensing Committee.

c.      To authorise the Monitoring Officer to make any consequential changes to the Constitution arising from the above.

Cllr Glass moved the recommendations for the Council’s new Committee and Panel structure.  Cllr Tipp seconded the motion.

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the following Committees and Panels and the number of seats on each body, be approved:-

Committee/Panel                                                      Number of Seats

Appeals Committee                                                                20

Audit Committee                                                                     8

General Purposes and Licensing Committee                         15

HR Committee                                                                        8

Planning Committee                                                               20

Community and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Panel         10

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel                               10

Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel                           10

Housing Overview and Scrutiny Panel                                  10

(b)        That the terms of reference of the HR Committee and minor amendments to the General Purposes and Licensing Committee, as circulated with the agenda, be approved.

(c)        That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any consequential changes to the Constitution arising from the above.

To agree the allocation of seats to the political groups on those Committees and Panels to which the political balance rules apply, and to approve the appointment of Members to Committees and Panels.

Cllr Glass moved the adoption of the recommendations contained within the report by the Democratic Services Manager, which asked the Council to make appointments to committees and panels in accordance with the principles for the allocation of seats to political groups as set out in Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, except in those cases where it is decided, without any Member voting against, not to apply the principles of proportionality.  Cllr McEvoy seconded the motion. 

Cllr Glass asked the Council to consider whether it wished to allocate a seat(s) to the Member not aligned to a political group on such Committee(s) as the Council wished to determine.  The wishes of the political groups were tabled at the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Members be appointed to the Committees and Panels as set out in table 4.2 of the report, giving effect to the wishes of the political groups, for the four year period commencing 20 May 2019.  The wishes of the political groups, as tabled, are attached to these minutes.

The terms of office of the Independent Persons, Mr David Hewitt and Mr David Nottage, appointed for the purpose of Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 to give views on allegations that District or Parish/Town councillors have failed to comply with their authority’s code of conduct, will expire in May 2019.  Both have developed an excellent understanding of the duties and responsibilities of District and Parish Councillors and the application of the code to Councillors. They have proved to be effective as Independent Persons, and it is recommended that they be appointed for a further term. Both have indicated that they are willing to serve for an additional term.

RECOMMENDED:

That Mr David Hewitt and Mr David Nottage be appointed to serve as Independent Persons for the purposes of Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 for a four year period commencing 20 May 2019.

Cllr Glass moved the re-appointment of Mr David Hewitt and Mr David Nottage as Independent Persons for the purposes of Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011.  Cllr Carpenter seconded the motion.

RESOLVED:

That Mr David Hewitt and Mr David Nottage be re-appointed to serve as Independent Persons for the purposes of Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 for a four year period commencing 20 May 2019.

In accordance with Standing Order 21, Cllr M Wade will move the following motion:-

Council notes:

1.    Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October 2018 gave us 12 years to implement changes to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees in order to avoid widespread drought, food scarcity, heat related deaths and loss of biodiversity including insects and vital food crop pollinators.

2.    At present the world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050. In order to reduce the chance of runaway global warming and limit the effects of climate breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO₂eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible.

3.    Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, and infrastructure to make low carbon living easier and the new norm.

4.    Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption.

5.    New Forest District Council has already made some positive progress, but this is not enough.  More can and must be done. The Independent Panel on Climate Change in its Oct. 2018 report was very clear that action from all parts of society is necessary and local government has a responsibility to lead the way.

6.    Councils around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and taking action to address this emergency.

Council believes that:

1.    All levels of government (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate breakdown. Local councils that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies.

2.    The New Forest is a unique environment and this district council has a duty to protect it.  The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are potentially so severe that preventing this from happening must be a number one priority.

3.    Bold local climate action can deliver economic and social benefits in terms of new green jobs, economic savings and market opportunities, as well as much improved well-being for New Forest residents – for example through reducing fuel poverty and energy bills, encouraging healthy, active travel and improving green spaces and access to nature.

This Council therefore calls on the Cabinet to:

1.    Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

2.    Pledge to make the New Forest district carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

3.    Report to full Council within six months setting out the immediate actions the Council will take to address this emergency and a plan to measure annual countywide progress towards meeting the 2030 target.

4.    Work with partners across the district  ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.

In accordance with Standing Order 21, Cllr M Wade moved the following motion:-

Council notes:

1.    Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October 2018 gave us 12 years to implement changes to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees in order to avoid widespread drought, food scarcity, heat related deaths and loss of biodiversity including insects and vital food crop pollinators.

2.    At present the world is on track to overshoot the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit before 2050. In order to reduce the chance of runaway global warming and limit the effects of climate breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO₂eq (carbon equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible.

3.    Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, and infrastructure to make low carbon living easier and the new norm.

4.    Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption.

5.    New Forest District Council has already made some positive progress, but this is not enough.  More can and must be done. The Independent Panel on Climate Change in its Oct. 2018 report was very clear that action from all parts of society is necessary and local government has a responsibility to lead the way.

6.    Councils around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and taking action to address this emergency.

Council believes that:

1.    All levels of government (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate breakdown. Local councils that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies.

2.    The New Forest is a unique environment and this district council has a duty to protect it.  The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are potentially so severe that preventing this from happening must be a number one priority.

3.    Bold local climate action can deliver economic and social benefits in terms of new green jobs, economic savings and market opportunities, as well as much improved well-being for New Forest residents – for example through reducing fuel poverty and energy bills, encouraging healthy, active travel and improving green spaces and access to nature.

This Council therefore calls on the Cabinet to:

1.    Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

2.    Pledge to make the New Forest district carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

3.    Report to full Council within six months setting out the immediate actions the Council will take to address this emergency and a plan to measure annual countywide progress towards meeting the 2030 target.

4.    Work with partners across the district and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To note that Council meetings for the 2019/20 Municipal Year will take place on the following dates, all commencing at 6.30 pm:-

8 July 2019

9 September 2019

14 October 2019

9 December 2019

24 February 2020

6 April 2020

RESOLVED:

That the following Council meeting dates for the 2019/20 Municipal Year, all commencing at 6.30 pm, be noted:-

8 July 2019

9 September 2019

14 October 2019

9 December 2019

24 February 2019

6 April 2020