Agenda, decisions and minutes

To observe a minute’s silence for former Councillor Duncan Fairbairn and Honorary Alderman of the Borough Jack Fryer.

Council held a minute silence in memory of former Councillor Duncan Fairbairn and Honorary Alderman of the Borough Jack Fryer.

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the Council meeting held on 19 September 2018.

Councillor T Annison requested an amendment to the minutes on page 8 of the report, to remove ‘for privatisation’.

This was seconded by Councillor M Jenkinson.

A vote was taken, 35 in favour, 1 against and 9 abstentions. The motion was carried.

Resolved

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2018 were signed as a correct record subject to the agreed amendment.

Councillors/Staff to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registrable interest or any other interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

None declared.

There were no items on the agenda for which the press and public should be excluded.

To answer questions under Procedural Rule No. 4.16 from members of the public and from Councillors under Procedural Rule No. 4.17.2 and to receive Petitions under Access to Information Rules.

None received.

Councillor T Lywood submitted the following motion –

‘This council views with concern the recent statement by Toshiba that their board has resolved to withdraw from the nuclear power plant construction at Moorside.

Council considers that due to the level of commercial risk involved in projects of this nature that the build at Moorside is unlikely to proceed without government support.

Council therefore calls on this government to financially support the future of Moorside with its attendant jobs and importance to the infrastructure of Cumbria and the country as a whole.’

Councillor T Lywood moved the following motion –

‘This council views with concern the recent statement by Toshiba that their board has resolved to withdraw from the nuclear power plant construction at Moorside.

Council considers that due to the level of commercial risk involved in projects of this nature that the build at Moorside is unlikely to proceed without government support.

Council therefore calls on this government to financially support the future of Moorside with its attendant jobs and importance to the infrastructure of Cumbria and the country as a whole.’

Councillor A Smith seconded the motion and in doing so said the news that Toshiba were withdrawing from the Moorside project was a devastating blow to the Cumbrian economy and provided further evidence that such projects can only proceed with financial support from Government.

He said, this Council stands ready to play its part in support of any discussions on the future of the Moorside project and he shall be writing to the Minister to make the Councils position clear.

Councillor T Markley moved an amendment to the motion as follows;

‘This council views with concern the recent statement by Toshiba that their board has resolved to withdraw from the nuclear power plant construction at Moorside.

Council considers that due to the level of commercial risk involved in projects of this nature that the build at Moorside is unlikely to proceed without government support.

Council therefore calls on this government to support all private enterprise with any future power generation projects, especially the proposed construction of a new nuclear power plant at Moorside, with its attendant jobs and importance to the infrastructure of Cumbria and the country as a whole.’

This was seconded by Councillor T Annison. In seconding the motion he said it was a complex issue and that we needed to understand the bigger picture on what funding was actually required. He said the Government were not sitting idly by but there was no money tree for the vast amounts of money required.

Councillor M Jenkinson said he agreed in principle with the motion, but it was like asking for a blank cheque to fund a project that we have no details on.

Councillor M Fryer said the proposed amendment turned the original motion right around. He said the real reason why the deal had fallen through was because there had been no support from Government funding; it was not because of Toshiba.

Councillor M Fryer requested a recorded vote. A quarter of those present agreed to the recorded vote.

A recorded vote was taken to agree the amended motion, viz. –

In favour:

Councillors T Annison, J Cook, J Cowell, A Hedworth, V Hodgson, J Holliday, M Jenkinson, J Lister, P Macdonald, T Markley, J Mounsey, E Nicholson, A Pitcher, D Robertson, J Sandwith and S Stoddart.

Against:

Councillors M Bainbridge, P Bales, B Cannon, N Cockburn, J Colhoun, J Crouch, J Ellis, J Farebrother, M Fitzgerald, M Fryer, K Hansen, H Harrington, M Heaslip, W Jefferson, F Johnston, A Kendall, P Kendall, T Lywood, L Maguire, C McCarron-Holmes, B Miskelly, J Osborn, B Pegram, M Pugmire, N Schofield, A Smith, C Smith, C Tibble, P Tibble, J Wood, M Wood.

Abstentions:

Councillor B Finlay.

The motion was lost – 16 votes in favour, 31 against and 1 abstention.

Councillor T Annison said his group had to support the Government. If there was no funding then it was just not possible to expect the Government to pick up the tab.

Councillor W Jefferson said it was wrong to take the Government out of the equation.

Councillor T Lywood said no nuclear power station in the world had ever been built without Government support.

Councillor M Fryer requested a recorded vote. A quarter of those present agreed to the recorded vote.

A recorded vote was taken to agree the original motion, viz. –

In favour:

Councillors M Bainbridge, P Bales, B Cannon, N Cockburn, J Colhoun, J Crouch, J Ellis, J Farebrother, B Finlay, M Fitzgerald, M Fryer, K Hansen, H Harrington, M Heaslip, J Holliday, W Jefferson, F Johnston, A Kendall, P Kendall, T Lywood, L Maguire, C McCarron-Holmes, B Miskelly, J Osborn, B Pegram, M Pugmire, N Schofield, A Smith, C Smith, C Tibble, P Tibble, J Wood, M Wood.

Against:

None.

Abstentions:

Councillors T Annison, J Cook, J Cowell, A Hedworth, V Hodgson, M Jenkinson, J Lister, P Macdonald, T Markley, J Mounsey, E Nicholson, A Pitcher, D Robertson, J Sandwith and S Stoddart.

The motion was carried – 33 votes in favour, 0 against and 15 abstentions.

To hear speeches (not exceeding 5 minutes each), for up to a specified period of 15 minutes, from individual members on a local issue in the Member’s Ward, of which 24 hours’ notice has been given to the Chief Executive.

None received.

The Mayor made reference to the engagements he and the Deputy Mayor had undertaken since the last meeting on 19 September 2018.

The Leader of the Council made the following announcement;

‘Members may be aware that on November 15^th Cumbria County Council considered a paper on Local Government reorganisation in Cumbria. This paper was considered in advance of a meeting of their Cabinet on 20^th December which will consider a proposal to approach the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to seek the Government’s views on the potential for local government reorganisation in Cumbria, and to propose working with them to develop proposals for consideration. I have asked for this topic to be on the agenda for the Joint Districts meeting on Friday 7^th December. We must ensure that the full range of options are discussed and that the most up to date and accurate financial information is utilised to discuss these options before any determination on the future of Local Government in Cumbria is reached. I will keep members informed of developments further to the meetings of the joint districts and the Cumbria Leaders Board’.

Councillor A Smith, Leader of the Council presented his report.

Councillor M Pugmire raised issues with disabled access in to the Keswick Council offices and requested a door that opened both ways to allow wheelchair access. It was agreed Councillor B Cannon would look in to the issue.

Councillor M Fryer, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth presented his report.

Councillor C McCarron-Holmes, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing presented her report.

Councillor J Farebrother requested further information on the Cumbria and Lancashire Community Land Trust Hub. Councillor C McCarron-Holmes agreed to provide additional information.

Councillor B Cannon, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources (Finance and Property) presented her report.

Councillor M Jenkinson discussed the Ashfield Road site which was transferred to the AIP at a reduced price to what it had been valued for in 2011 and asked ‘how can the council efficiently budget?’

It was agreed that a response be provided.

Councillor J Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Governance and People Resources presented her report.

Councillor K Hansen, Portfolio Holder for Transformation presented his report. In doing so informed members that he would be running a training session on the use of tablets for councillors in the New Year.

Councillor T Annison requested a discussion on the Councils Business Continuity, to which Councillor Hansen agreed to a separate meeting.

Councillor M Heaslip, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Quality presented his report.

Councillor W Jefferson, Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Culture presented his report. As part of his presentation 2 of the short virtual reality films were screened.

To note the contents of the minutes of the meetings of the Executive held on 3 September and 17 October 2018.

Members noted the minutes of the Executive meetings held on 3 September and 17 October 2018.

Agreed

That the minutes of the Executive meetings held on 3 September and 17 October 2018 be noted.

This report was considered at Executive on 21 November 2018.  Members considered the report and the recommendations.

In her introduction of the report Councillor B Cannon aimed to address a series of questions submitted in advance of the meeting from Councillor B Finlay and the Scrutiny Performance and Budget Task and Finish Groups.

Councillor B Cannon moved the recommendations. This was seconded by Councillor A Smith.

A vote was taken, 33 in favour, 0 against and 15 abstentions. The motion was carried.

Resolved – That –

• The forecasted position against the original revenue and capital budgets at the end of quarter 2 be noted
• The revised budget (inclusive of spend from earmarked reserves) of £16,851k be approved
• The revised net revenue budget requirement of £15,084k be approved
• An additional release from the Council’s earmarked reserves of £500k be approved
• A reduction in the contribution from the Council’s General Fund of £20k be approved
• The revised three year capital budget (including proposed financing) of £21,048k comprising £8,970k in 2018-19, £10,038k in 2019-20 and £2,040k in 2020-21 be approved
• The revised position on earmarked and un-earmarked general fund balances be noted.

This report was considered at Audit Committee on 26 November 2018.  Members considered the report and the recommendations.

Councillor M Bainbridge moved the recommendation. This was seconded by Councillor T Annison.

Resolved – That the contents of the report be noted.

This report was considered at Licensing Committee on 3 October 2018.  Members considered the report and the recommendations.

Councillor A Kendall moved the recommendations and thanked officers for their hard work. This was seconded by Councillor P Kendall.

Resolved – That –

1. To approve the policy incorporating amendments contained in Appendix 1, to approve the recommendations in Appendix 2 and Appendix 3, and the additional recommendations received from Gosschalks Solicitors

2. Officers compile Local Area Profiles for approval by the Licensing Committee for inclusion in the Policy on completion.

Members received a report which sought approval for a Reorganisation Order for Workington Town Council following a Community Governance Review of the parish area.

Councillor J Ellis moved the recommendations as per the report. This was seconded by Councillor M Fryer.

Councillor S Stoddart moved an amendment to include the following;

‘…that the Council authorises the already established Workington Community Governance Review Working Group to:

1.  Prepare a draft Reorganisation Order for the Moorclose Parish Council; and

2.  Prepare an amended Reorganisation Order for Workington Town Council

and that both draft Orders be presented to Council at its meeting on 30 January 2019’.

This was seconded by Councillor D Robertson.

Councillor S Stoddart requested a recorded vote, a quarter of those members present did not agree to a recorded vote. 

A vote was taken on Councillor S Stoddart’s amended motion – 3 voted in favour, 39 against and 5 abstentions. The motion was lost.

A vote was taken on the original motion as detailed in the report – 38 in favour, 0 against and 9 abstentions. The motion was carried.

Resolved

That the Reorganisation Order for Workington Town Council be approved, to take effect at the normal parish council elections in May 2019, and which will have the effect of:

1.  Amending the ward boundaries of the parish as detailed on the maps contained within the Order

2.  Amending the electoral arrangements of the parish to reduce the council size from 30 to 25.

Members received a report which sought approval for Reorganisation Orders for Broughton Parish Council, Embleton Parish Council and Keswick Town Council following Community Governance Reviews of the parish areas and to note the proposal for Winscales Parish Council.

Councillor J Ellis moved the recommendations as per the report. This was seconded by Councillor J Farebrother.

A vote was taken – 45 in favour, 0 against and 2 abstentions. The motion was carried.

Resolved

1.  That the Reorganisation Order for Broughton Parish Council, to take effect at the ordinary parish council elections in May 2019 and which will have the effect of amending the council size from 13 to 10 be approved

2.  That the Reorganisation Order for Embleton Parish Council, to take effect at the ordinary parish council elections in May 2019 and which will have the effect of unwarding the parish area be approved

3.  That the Reorganisation Order for Keswick Town Council, to take effect at the ordinary parish council elections in May 2019 and which will have the effect of amending the parish boundary as detailed in the map attached to the Order be approved

4.  That no changes be made in respect of Winscales Parish Council.

The Head of Governance and Monitoring Officer submitted a report outlining changes to the Officer Scheme of Delegations set out in the Councils Constitution to reflect the current senior staffing structure within the Council.

Councillor J Ellis moved the recommendations. This was seconded by Councillor A Smith.

A vote was taken – 45 voted in favour, 0 against and 2 abstentions. The motion was carried.

Resolved

That the Officer Scheme of Delegations as set out in Appendix A of the report be approved.

Councillor A Pitcher, Co-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented an update report and moved the recommendation.

Councillor Pitcher encouraged Council members to get involved with Overview & Scrutiny by joining Task and Finish Groups when invited.

This was seconded by Councillor J Farebrother.

Resolved

That the report be noted.