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Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Democratic Services Team 

Items
No. Item

40.

Chairman's Remarks

The Chairman to report on functions attended since the last meeting and other matters of interest to Members.

Minutes:

The Chairman asked all Members to rise and observe a minutes’ silence to remember PC Andrew Harper.

 

The Chairman reported that he and the Vice Chairman had attended 17 events since the last Council meeting.

41.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 109 KB

The Chairman to sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 2 July 2019.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 02 July were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

42.

Declarations of Interest

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

Councillor Peter Argyle stated that (in relation to agenda item 14) in the interests of transparency he wanted to notify those present that some years ago he and his wife had signed a letter of support for the Back Heathrow campaign. Councillor Tony Linden noted that he too had signed a similar letter.

Councillor Jeff Beck reported that (in relation to agenda item 14) he had been lobbied extensively on the expansion of Heathrow Airport. It was noted that all Members had received a letter from the Back Heathrow campaign.

Councillor Gareth Hurley declared an interest in Agenda Item 14, and reported that, as his interest was a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other registrable interest, he would be leaving the meeting during the course of consideration of the matter.

Councillor Tom Marino declared an interest in Agenda Item 15b by virtue of the fact that he worked for Alok Sharma, MP, and reported that, as his interest was a personal interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Hilary Cole reported that all Conservative Members had received an email from Councillor Tony Vickers on the subject of Item 15b (Motion on a Confirmatory Referendum on the Final Brexit Outcome) She considered the content of that email to be lobbying. In response to a query as to whether this approach should be taken in respect of all intra Member communications the Monitoring Officer explained that it depended on the specific content of those emails and if Members considered the content to be lobbying.

 

 

43.

Petitions

Councillors may present any petition which they have received. These will normally be referred to the appropriate body without discussion.

 

Minutes:

There were no petitions presented to the meeting.

 

44.

Public Questions

Members of the Executive to answer the following questions submitted by members of the public in accordance with the Council’s Constitution:

(a)         Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Economic Development and Planning submitted by Mr Lee McDougall:

Who will foot the bill for the Councils own estimates of costs of £1m (excluding land) to build a replacement step 5 facility to replace the community football ground in Faraday Road (should the Council eventually obtain planning permission to build flats on the site of the community football ground)?

Minutes:

A full transcription of the public and Member question and answer sessions are available from the following link: Transcription of Q&As.

1.    A question standing in the name of Mr Lee McDougall on the subject of funding for a replacement Step 5 facility at Faraday Road, should it be needed, was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

45.

Membership of Committees

The Council to agree any changes to the membership of Committees.

Minutes:

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Lynne Doherty and seconded by Councillor Rick Jones:

That the Council:

“amends its appointment to the Appeals Panel as follows: Councillor Graham Bridgmanto replace Councillor Jo Stewart.”

 

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

46.

Licensing Committee

The Council is asked to note that since the last meeting of the Council, the Licensing Committee has not met.

Minutes:

The Council noted that, since the last meeting, the Licensing Committee had not met.

 

47.

Personnel Committee

The Council is asked to note that since the last meeting of the Council, the Personnel Committee has not met. 

Minutes:

The Council noted that, since the last meeting, the Personnel Committee had not met.

 

48.

Governance and Ethics Committee

The Council is asked to note that since the last meeting of Council, the Governance and Ethics Committee met on 29 July 2019.  Copies of the Minutes of this meeting can be obtained from Strategic Support or via the Council’s website.

Minutes:

The Council noted that, since the last meeting, the Governance and Audit Committee had met on 29 July 2019.

 

49.

District Planning Committee

The Council is asked to note that since the last meeting of the Council, the District Planning Committee met on 21 August 2019.  Copies of the Minutes of this meeting can be obtained from Strategic Support or via the Council’s website.

Minutes:

The Council noted that, since the last meeting, the District Planning Committee had met on 21 August 2019.

 

50.

Overview and Scrutiny Management Commission

The Council is asked to note that since the last meeting of the Council, the Overview and Scrutiny Management Commission met on 9 July 2019.  Copies of the Minutes of this meeting can be obtained from Strategic Support or via the Council’s website.

Minutes:

The Council noted that, since the last meeting, the Overview and Scrutiny Management Commission had met on 09 July 2019.

 

51.

Joint Public Protection Committee

The Council is asked to note that since the last meeting of the Council, the Joint Public Protection Committee has not met. 

Minutes:

The Council noted that, since the last meeting, the Joint Public Protection Committee had not met.

52.

Response to the Consultation and Motion on Heathrow Expansion (C3804) pdf icon PDF 128 KB

The purpose of the report is to:

(i)         respond to the motion submitted to the Council meeting on 2nd July 2019 relating to the expansion of Heathrow Airport, and

(ii)       set out a draft response to the current consultation on Heathrow expansion which is open from 18th June to 13th September 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Keith Woodhams left the chamber during the discussion on this item)

(Councillor Gareth  Hurley declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 14 by virtue of the fact that he worked for Network Rail. As his interest was prejudicial he determined to leave the meeting and took no part in the debate or voting on the matter).

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 14) which set out a response to the motion submitted to the Council meeting on 2nd July 2019 relating to the expansion of Heathrow Airport and included a draft response to the current consultation on Heathrow expansion which was open from 18th June to 13th September 2019.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Richard Somner and seconded by Councillor Lynne Doherty:

That the Council:

“(i)       reject the motion submitted to the Council meeting held on 2nd July 2019 relating to the expansion of Heathrow Airport,

(ii)       updates its position statement as set out in section 4.1 of Appendix C to reflect relevant local and national changes that have occurred and new information now available since 2014 (when the Executive agreed the previous position statement).

(iii)      agrees the set of responses to the questions posed in the Heathrow expansion consultation as detailed in Appendix D for submission by the 13th September consultation deadline.”

Councillor Richard Somner in introducing the item stated that the report set out a response to the Motion proposed by Councillor David Marsh at the 02 July 2019 Council meeting which had been discussed at the Transport Advisory Group. It also set out a proposed response to the Heathrow expansion consultation which would close the following day. In addition it also addressed the issues raised in the petition submitted by Jackie Paynter to the Executive on the 05 September 2019 which was broadly in line with the motion presented at the previous Council meeting.

Councillor Somner thanked Officers for the effort they had put into preparing the report. He outlined a range of economic benefits for the  West Berkshire and the Thames Valley region that would be derived from the expansion including job creation, assisting supply chains, improvements to infrastructure and that it would be a platform for the development of new technology. The negative environmental impacts including air quality and noise would not directly affect the District’s residents. The Council would include comments on the need to reduce carbon emissions in its response to the consultation.

Councillor Somner noted that in 2014 and again in 2017 the Council had voted unanimously to support the expansion. In July 2018 the former Leader of the Council had written to the three local MPs to highlight the Council’s support. He also noted that in July 2019 the Council had declared a Climate Emergency and had committed to being carbon neutral by 2030. He recognised that the proposal would not find universal support in the chamber at this meeting. He however urged members to support the recommendations which he believed would improve the lives of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

53.

Notices of Motion

(a)          The following Motion has been submitted in the name of Councillor Lynne Doherty:

This Council notes that:

 

96% of councils across England do not have a formal Parental Leave Policy in place for elected members and considers that the lack of such a Policy may deter new or prospective parents, and particularly women, in standing for election in the first place and, if they are elected, could be a barrier to their fulfilling their role.

 

Local Government is the cornerstone of our democracy; delivering services that people rely on and serving our communities.  There is at present no right to parental leave for those in elected public office, but we should do all we can to encourage as wide as possible a range of candidates to stand for election.  Improved provision for new parents should contribute towards increasing the diversity of experience, age and background of local authority councillors.  It should also assist with retaining experienced councillors – particularly women – and making public office more accessible to individuals who might otherwise feel excluded from it.

 

An issue with introducing a Parental Leave Policy for Members is that a Member taking parental leave in accordance with the policy could find themselves in breach of s85(1), Local Government Act 1972 (“if a member of a Local Authority fails, throughout a period of six consecutive months from the date of their last attendance, to attend any meeting of the Authority they will, unless the failure was due to some good reason approved by the Authority before the expiry of that period, cease to be a member of the Authority”).

 

It is therefore proposed that this Council agrees the following resolution with the intention of (a) introducing a Parental Leave Policy for Members in due course, (b) delegating to the Personnel Committee the ownership of the new policy, and (c) suspending the effect of s85(1) whilst a Member is taking parental leave.

 

This Council resolves that (a) the Personnel Committee shall be delegated with (i) the agreement and adoption of a Parental Leave Policy for Members and (ii) any subsequent amendments to it, (b) if a Member takes parental leave in accordance with the Policy once adopted the period of such parental leave (“the Period”) shall be treated as a good reason for the Member failing to attend any meeting or meetings during the Period for the purposes of section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, and (c) the Monitoring Officer is authorised to approve such absences during the Period and to make any consequent amendments to the Council’s Constitution necessary.

 

(b)          The following Motion has been submitted in the name of Councillor Lee Dillon:

           This Council notes:

 

·         The majority of West Berkshire Residents voted to remain in the referendum in 2016.

 

·         That West Berkshire is projected to see a drop in GVA (Gross Value Added) of -2.3% in the event of a no deal Brexit*

 

·         That additional resources from Central Government to plan for  ...  view the full agenda text for item 53.

Minutes:

The Council considered the under-mentioned Motion (Agenda item 15a refers) submitted in the name of Councillor Lynne Doherty relating to the development of a parental leave policy for elected councillors.

The Chairman informed the Council that the Motion would be debated at the meeting.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Lynne Doherty and seconded by Councillor Howard Woollaston:

That the Council:

notes that 96% of councils across England do not have a formal Parental Leave Policy in place for elected members and considers that the lack of such a Policy may deter new or prospective parents, and particularly women, in standing for election in the first place and, if they are elected, could be a barrier to their fulfilling their role.

 

Local Government is the cornerstone of our democracy; delivering services that people rely on and serving our communities.  There is at present no right to parental leave for those in elected public office, but we should do all we can to encourage as wide as possible a range of candidates to stand for election.  Improved provision for new parents should contribute towards increasing the diversity of experience, age and background of local authority councillors.  It should also assist with retaining experienced councillors – particularly women – and making public office more accessible to individuals who might otherwise feel excluded from it.

 

An issue with introducing a Parental Leave Policy for Members is that a Member taking parental leave in accordance with the policy could find themselves in breach of s85(1), Local Government Act 1972 (“if a member of a Local Authority fails, throughout a period of six consecutive months from the date of their last attendance, to attend any meeting of the Authority they will, unless the failure was due to some good reason approved by the Authority before the expiry of that period, cease to be a member of the Authority”).

 

It is therefore proposed that this Council agrees the following resolution with the intention of (a) introducing a Parental Leave Policy for Members in due course, (b) delegating to the Personnel Committee the ownership of the new policy, and (c) suspending the effect of s85(1) whilst a Member is taking parental leave.

 

This Council resolves that (a) the Personnel Committee shall be delegated with (i) the agreement and adoption of a Parental Leave Policy for Members and (ii) any subsequent amendments to it, (b) if a Member takes parental leave in accordance with the Policy once adopted the period of such parental leave (“the Period”) shall be treated as a good reason for the Member failing to attend any meeting or meetings during the Period for the purposes of section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, and (c) the Monitoring Officer is authorised to approve such absences during the Period and to make any consequent amendments to the Council’s Constitution necessary.

 

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

The Council considered the under-mentioned Motion (Agenda item 15b refers) submitted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

54.

Members' Questions

Members of the Executive to answer the following questions submitted by Councillors in accordance with the Council’s Constitution:

(a)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside submitted by Councillor Phil Barnett:

“Now the new bus station in Newbury is fully operational what incentives are being offered by West Berkshire Council to the charter coach companies to break their journey and stop off in the town?.

(b)          Question to be answered by the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside submitted by Councillor Phil Barnett:

“Whilst welcoming the pot hole repair programme taking place at present, is the Executive Member for Highways expecting all recognised pot holes on classified roads to be filled in before the winter sets in?”

Minutes:

A full transcription of the Member question and answer session is available from the following link: (link to pdf on website)

(a)          A question standing in the name of Councillor Phil Barnett on the subject of incentives for coach companies to get them to stop off in Newbury was answered by the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside.

(b)          A question standing in the name of Councillor Phil Barnett on the subject of the filling of pot holes was answered by the Executive Member for Transport and Countryside.

A full transcription of the public and Member question and answer sessions are available from the following link: Transcription of Q&As.