Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs McEvoy, Reid, Ring and Thorne.

Cllr Lane left the meeting at 7.05 pm.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2019 as a correct record.

Cllr Rackham asked if in future, supplementary questions and answers in respect of Portfolio Holder Questions could be recorded in the minutes.  The Chairman confirmed that this would be the case.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2019, be confirmed.

To receive any declarations of interests made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interests 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 Chairman reported on the following recent engagements:-

September

4          Attended the presentation of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at the National Coastwatch Institution at Calshot

October

1          Attended the annual public meeting of New Forest Disability Information Service, one of the Chairman’s chosen charities

3          Attended the launch of the Olivia Inspires charity

The full list of engagements would be available to view in the upcoming Council Information Bulletin.

The Leader of the Council reported on the following:-

Local Plan Review

Members were reminded that the draft Local Plan was agreed and submitted to Government in 2018 and went through its independent examination in the Summer.

The Leader was pleased to report that the planning inspectorate had supported the strategy for the future of the area, having confirmed that the new Local Plan could be made ‘sound’ with the inclusion of some minor changes.

The inspectorate agreed with the broad spatial strategy for development, on the overall scale and locations for housing and employment land provision. 

In turn, this was confirmed as an endorsement of the high priority the Council has placed on protecting the Green Belt and finding the right balance between meeting housing needs and protecting the environment.

Looking ahead, the Council and the planning inspectors would now agree a timetable to make the changes to the Local Plan and publish them before Christmas 2019.  The inspectors would then consider the consultation feedback and issue a final written report before the new Local Plan could be adopted around Spring 2020.

Once adopted, the new Local Plan would become the statutory basis for making planning decisions in the New Forest District outside of the National Park.  Policies in the emerging Local Plan already had significant weight for planning decision making as a result of this.

To consider the report of the Cabinet dated 2 October 2019.

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 2 October 2019, and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr E Heron seconded the motion.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations be adopted.

To consider the report of the General Purposes & Licensing Committee dated 13 September 2019.

Cllr Clarke presented the report of the General Purposes and Licensing Committee meeting held on 13 September 2019, and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr Tungate seconded the motion.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations be adopted.

To consider the report of the HR Committee dated 19 September 2019.

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the HR Committee meeting held on 19 September 2019, and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr Steele seconded the motion.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations be adopted.

To consider the report of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel dated 19 September 2019, with regard to the Climate Change Motion referred to the Panel by Council.

Cllr Rippon-Swaine presented the report of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 19 September 2019, and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr Bennison seconded the motion.

Cllr M Wade, who had moved the original motion relating to Climate Change, expressed his disappointment that the Council looked not to declare a Climate Emergency.  A number of other Members spoke in support of declaring a Climate Emergency.

A number of Members highlighted the importance of tracking the future progress made against the proposed Environment Action Plan and supported this particular recommendation arising from the Task and Finish Group and Panel.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations be adopted.

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 Executive Head of Governance and Regulation by no later than 12.00 noon on Friday 11 October 2019.

Questions were put and answered under Standing Order 22A as follows:-

·         Cllr M Wade to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regulatory Services, Cllr Hoare, on a Climate Emergency.

·         Cllr Rackham to the Portfolio Holder for Community Affairs, Cllr Andrews, on Modern Slavery.

·         Cllr M Clark to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regulatory Services, Cllr Hoare, on Cold Ironing.

·         Cllr Harrison to the Leader of the Council, Cllr Barry Rickman, on Post-Brexit Emergency Funding.

·         Cllr Dowd to the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Investment and Corporate Services, Cllr J Heron, on Universal Credit.

·         Cllr Osborne to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regulatory Services, Cllr Hoare, on Recycling.

·         Cllr A Wade to the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Investment and Corporate Services, Cllr J Heron, on Funding Cuts announced by Hampshire County Council.

·         Cllr Brand to the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure, Cllr E Heron, on Section 106 Funds.

·         Cllr Blunden to the Portfolio for Finance, Investment and Corporate Services, Cllr J Heron, on Council Tax Exemptions for Care Leavers.

·         Cllr Carpenter to the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure, Cllr E Heron, on Green Credentials.

Note – a copy of the full questions and replies are appended to these minutes.

In accordance with Standing Order 21, Cllr J Davies will move the following motion:-

This Council notes that:

This Council operates on a Cabinet System with Overview and Scrutiny Committees providing scrutiny of decisions made by the Cabinet Members and Officers.

The Chairs of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee are appointed by the Ruling Administration.

This always leads to the Chairs of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee being from the Ruling Administration.

This Council believes that:

The ability of those members of the council who do not represent the ruling administration to effectively scrutinise the decisions of the ruling administration is vital to ensuring representative and effective decision-making.

The most effective way of ensuring proper scrutiny of decisions made by the ruling administration is for Overview and Scrutiny Committees to be chaired by councillors not from the ruling administration. There are many examples of these such arrangements, such as: Stratford-upon-Avon District Council, Swale Borough Council, and Warwickshire County Council.

With Opposition Members chairing scrutiny committees, the Council can ensure that any issues with this Council’s decisions can be raised before a decision is made rather than after the decision has been enacted.

This Council calls for:

The Chairs of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be proposed by the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Leader/s of the Opposition Group/s with the Chairs of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee being members of the Opposition Group/s.

Note:

Under the provisions of Standing Order 41, the above motion, after being proposed and seconded (without speeches), should stand referred to the Cabinet, or to the Cabinet or such Committees or Panels as the Council may determine. However, the Chairman may allow the motion to be dealt with at this meeting if he considers it urgent, convenient or conducive to the despatch of business.

In accordance with Standing Order 21, Cllr J Davies moved the following motion:-

“This Council notes that:

This Council operates on a Cabinet System with Overview and Scrutiny Committees providing scrutiny of decisions made by the Cabinet Members and Officers.

The Chairs of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee are appointed by the Ruling Administration.

This always leads to the Chairs of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee being from the Ruling Administration.

This Council believes that:

The ability of those members of the council who do not represent the ruling administration to effectively scrutinise the decisions of the ruling administration is vital to ensuring representative and effective decision-making.

The most effective way of ensuring proper scrutiny of decisions made by the ruling administration is for Overview and Scrutiny Committees to be chaired by councillors not from the ruling administration. There are many examples of these such arrangements, such as: Stratford-upon-Avon District Council, Swale Borough Council, and Warwickshire County Council.

With Opposition Members chairing scrutiny committees, the Council can ensure that any issues with this Council’s decisions can be raised before a decision is made rather than after the decision has been enacted.

This Council calls for:

The Chairs of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be proposed by the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Leader/s of the Opposition Group/s with the Chairs of each Overview and Scrutiny Committee being members of the Opposition Group/s.”

Cllr A Wade seconded the motion.

The Chairman confirmed that, in his opinion, it was conducive to the despatch of business to deal with the motion at this Council meeting.  He invited the Leader of the Council to respond initially.

The Leader of the Council spoke against the motion, highlighting that the election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Committees and Panels was a matter for each Committee and Panel, with the election taking place at the meetings immediately following the Annual Council meeting in May.

Cllr Harrison spoke in support of the motion, highlighting that, in his opinion, the constructive challenge facilitated by Overview and Scrutiny Panels was best led by Members not of the ruling administration.  A number of Members supported this view, citing the importance of good scrutiny.

Contrary views to those expressed by the motion were made by a number of Members, highlighting the duty of all Members, regardless of political group, in holding the executive to account.

Cllr E Heron moved that the question now be put.  Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.  This motion was carried.

Cllr J Davies, as the mover of the original motion replied to the debate and encouraged Members to support the motion.

The motion was put to the vote and lost.

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

There were no changes.