Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Farnell, Hope, Maud and Sanderson.

The following public question had been submitted by Cllr Martin Dales, Member for Flooding Issues, Malton Town Council, who was unable to attend the meeting:

"What is the role, purpose and function of the proposed Project Manager & a complicated Grant Fund (P&R Minute 37) to progress delivery of the NYCC/Arup Malton, Norton and Old Malton Flood Study (October 2015) when what is needed is funds to go with the £5,000 already raised by Malton Town Council to go towards temporary pumping solutions that are particularly needed at Castlegate, Malton/Church Street, Norton and Town Street, Old Malton to avoid a repeat of last year’s and previous years’ flooding, road closures and inconvenience for residents, businesses alike and the Multi-Agency task force having to clean up afterwards?"

The Chairman thanked Mr Dales for his question and replied:

1.    "The role and purpose of the proposed project manager is to progress the delivery of the Malton, Norton and Old Malton Flood Study and drive partnership working between all those partners with a statutory responsibility for flood risk management, and to seek match funding from those same partners for the scheme. The project manager would also co-ordinate the next phase of the development of options and further modeling to support the design and delivery of the final scheme. This detailed work is required to secure the funding allocation from DEFRA of £1.2 million as a contribution to the total cost of £3million. This scheme will deliver permanent pumps for prevention of flooding in Malton, Norton and Old Malton.

2.    The grant fund mirrors the scheme which has been operated successfully over a number of years for the allocation of grants to community groups. The grant fund proposed will provide the opportunity for communities to access funding for projects to help to alleviate flooding and can include applications for temporary pumps from town and parish councils. I would anticipate that any town or parish council representing a community affected by flooding would be preparing their bids now ahead of any decision tonight and contacting the County Council to prepare community resilience plans to ensure that measures are in place to alleviate the risk and minimize the disruption caused by any future flooding.

3.    The recommendations to be considered this evening have been made in order to improve flood response and increase preparedness across all agencies and communities affected."

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 6 October 2016.

The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 6 October 2016 were presented.

Resolved

That the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 6 October 2016 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There was one item of urgent business which the Chairman considered should be dealt with as a matter of urgency by virtue of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended):

·         Publication of the Joint Minerals & Waste Plan - Arrangements For making Consultation Response At Ryedale District Council.

The following interests were declared:

Councillor Val Arnold declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest as a North Yorkshire County Councillor.

Councillor Bailey declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest in the urgent business as Chairman of the North York Moors National Parks Authority, which was a partner in the Joint Minerals & Waste Plan.

Councillor Clark declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest as a North Yorkshire County Councillor in relation to any discussions on fracking and flooding.

Councillor Ives declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest in agenda item 10 - P&R minute 37 (Scrutiny Review - The Role of the Council in Flood Management) as the company he worked for had a commercial relationship with Yorkshire Water.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·         To ask Members when raising points of order to give reference which rule it was to which they related;

·         That he had attended the Armistice Day event in Malton and the Remembrance Day event in Kirkbymoorside;

·         That he had presented long service certificates to volunteers at Kirkbymoorside Age UK for their 20th anniversary;

·         That he had started races in the Santa Fun Run at Castle Howard for Ryedale Special Families;

·         To ask Members to let him know if there were any events in their wards that they would like him to support;

·         To say that all were welcome at his charity lunch on Sunday 11 December and that donations were acceptable from anyone unable to attend.

There were no questions on notice.

Councillor Cowling, the Leader of the Council, presented the following statement:

"As you are aware RDC had a Corporate Peer Challenge in October.  You were all invited to hear informal feedback on the 21st October and have since had sight of the feedback slides.  For me the three most important messages were around improving communication, reviewing our governance model and about shared behaviours for members and staff.  The recognition of the difficulties that member conduct at full council meetings is causing was particularly telling.  The recommendations within the slides will give us an opportunity to continue with our programme of rolling improvement - both for members and staff.  I would also like to thank our partners who attended the Growth and Partnership Working Event for giving their time and also our staff - the three days ran like clockwork and was a credit to them.  Initially I was very apprehensive about the peer review - but have to say I enjoyed the entire three days and I am sure the whole process will be of great benefit to our Council.

You will recall that some time ago Members agreed to give a grant towards the creation of a dry stone wall maze in Dalby Forest.  Several Members took up the opportunity recently to visit Dalby Forest and see the work completed to date on that maze.  I wish more of you had been there to see the outcome from the grant you agreed.  The maze, when completed, is going to be absolutely stunning and will, I am sure, become an iconic visitor attraction.

You won't be surprised to hear that I have no updates for you on Devolution.

Opportunity Knocks was again an extremely successful event held at Lady Lumleys school in Pickering - the enthusiasm of the students is so good to see. Again, many thanks to the employers who attended that event.

The good news from the Area Committee meeting was that an experimental weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes is to be introduced on County Bridge between Norton & Malton which will allow us to assess what improvements there are to pollution levels.

I was very pleased to be one of the panel of judges for the very first Ryedale Business Awards.  The winners will be announced at a breakfast ceremony at the White Swan at Ampleforth on the 27th of January - starting at 9am. Tickets are only £15.00 for what promises to be an interesting morning.

Lastly, I would like to use this opportunity to formally congratulate Clare Slater on her appointment as Deputy Chief Executive of RDC."

The following questions were received on the Leader’s Statement:

1.    From Councillor Paul Andrews

"My question relates to the peer review, first of all when will the full report be received and secondly, it's a question of democracy, democracy is a terrible thing particularly when you have people like Councillor Clark along, you know it really is a problem but it does actually guarantee our freedoms. What I would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 3 November 2016

Minute 53 - Treasury Management Mid-Year Review (page 19)

Policy and Resources Committee - 24 November 2016

Minute 36 - Localisation of Council Tax Support 2017/2018 Scheme (page 31)

Minute 37 - Scrutiny Review - The Role of the Council in Flood Management (page 45)

Minute 38 - Timetable of Meetings 2017-2018 (page 71)

3 November 2016 – Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Minute 53 - Treasury Management Mid-Year Review

It was moved by Councillor Keal and seconded by Councillor Acomb that the following recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved and adopted.

            That the report be received and the mid year performance of the in-     house managed funds to date be noted.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Resolved

That the report be received and the mid year performance of the in-house managed funds to date be noted.

Voting Record

25 For

0 Against

0 Abstentions

24 November 2016 – Policy and Resources Committee

Minute 36 - Localisation of Council Tax Support 2017/2018 Scheme

It was moved by Councillor Cowling and seconded by Councillor Steve Arnold that the following recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee be approved and adopted.

That Council be recommended to approve;

(i) a Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2017/18 to include a minimum payment of 8.5%, and with the changes proposed to align the new Council Tax Support scheme with changes to Housing Benefit and Universal Credit regulations as follows:

(a) To reduce the length of time someone can be temporarily absent from Great Britain and still receive Council Tax Support from 13 to 4 weeks (some exceptions will apply)

(b) To change the treatment of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) cases affecting new claims made after 1 April 2017

(c) To limit the number of dependent children within the calculation for Council Tax Support to a maximum of two where the third child is born after 1 April 2017 (some exceptions will apply)

(d) To remove entitlement to the Severe Disability Premium where another person is paid Universal Credit (Carers Element) to look after them

(e)To use a set income for self employed earners after one years self employment

(ii) To authorise the Finance Manager in consultation with the Chairman of Policy and Resources Committee to undertake the necessary consultation work to design a scheme for 2018/19, in light of the experience in previous years, to be presented to Policy and Resources Committee in December 2017.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Resolved

That Council approve:

(i) a Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2017/18 to include a minimum payment of 8.5%, and with the changes proposed to align the new Council Tax Support scheme with changes to Housing Benefit and Universal Credit regulations as follows:

(a) To reduce the length of time someone can be temporarily absent from Great Britain and still receive Council Tax Support from 13 to 4 weeks (some exceptions will apply)

(b) To change the treatment of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) cases affecting new claims made after 1 April 2017

(c) To limit the number of dependent children within the calculation for Council Tax Support to a maximum of two where the third child is born after 1 April 2017 (some exceptions will apply)

(d) To remove  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

Proposed by Councillor Burr and seconded by Councillor Paul Andrews on 14 January 2016 and referred by the Chairman of Council to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Policy and Resources Committee for consideration

"In the light of recent floods, we call upon the Council to commit reserves to install permanent pumps at Brawby, Old Malton, and Castlegate, Malton/Church Street, Norton."

The following motion proposed by Councillor Burr and seconded by Councillor Paul Andrews on 14 January 2016 and referred by the Chairman of Council to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Policy and Resources Committee for consideration had been superseded by Council's decision on the recommendations from the Policy and Resources Committee:

"In the light of recent floods, we call upon the Council to commit reserves to install permanent pumps at Brawby, Old Malton, and Castlegate, Malton/Church Street, Norton."

To appoint a representative to the Police and Crime Panel, following Councillor Hope's decision to stand down from the role.

The guillotine having fallen, this item of business was adjourned to the next Ordinary Meeting of Council.

Members considered an urgent item - Publication of the Joint Minerals & Waste Plan - Arrangements For making Consultation Response At Ryedale District Council.

The reason for the urgency was the need to agree and submit the consultation response by the deadline of 21 December 2016.

It was moved by Councillor Windress and seconded by Councillor Cowling to:

            Agree that the Planning Committee meeting on 20 December 2016 will      finalise the consultation response with all Members  of  Council  being  invited to attend the Planning Committee and being able to make      representations to the Committee with the leave of the Chairman of the             Planning Committee.  Representations of Members not on the Planning   Committee will be taken into account before the Planning Committee     agrees the consultation response.

Councillor Clark proposed and Councillor Thornton seconded the following amendment:

"This Council complies with the decision of Planning Committee on 22 December 2015 and holds a Planning Committee and a Full Council both before 21 December."

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Joy Andrews, Paul Andrews, Burr, Clark, Jowitt, Keal, Potter, Shields and Thornton.

Against

Councillors Steve Arnold, Val Arnold, Bailey, Cleary, Cowling, Cussons, Duncan, Frank, Gardiner, Goodrick, Ives, Jainu-Deen, Oxley, Raper, Wainwright and Windress.

Abstentions

Councillor Acomb.

Councillor Ives then moved and Councillor Cowling seconded a procedural motion to move to the vote.

Upon being put to the vote the procedural motion was carried.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Acomb, Steve Arnold, Val Arnold, Bailey, Burr, Cleary, Cowling, Cussons, Duncan, Frank, Gardiner, Goodrick, Ives, Jainu-Deen, Keal, Oxley, Raper, Shields, Wainwright and Windress.

Against

Councillors Joy Andrews, Paul Andrews, Clark, Jowitt, Potter and Thornton.

Abstentions

None.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Resolved

            Agree that the Planning Committee meeting on 20 December 2016 will      finalise the consultation response with all Members  of  Council  being  invited to attend the Planning Committee and being able to make      representations to the Committee with the leave of the Chairman of the             Planning Committee.  Representations of Members not on the Planning   Committee will be taken into account before the Planning Committee     agrees the consultation response.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Acomb, Steve Arnold, Val Arnold, Bailey, Cleary, Cowling, Cussons, Duncan, Frank, Gardiner, Ives, Jainu-Deen, Keal, Oxley, Raper, Shields, Wainwright and Windress.

Against

Councillors Joy Andrews, Paul Andrews, Burr, Clark, Jowitt, Potter and Thornton.

Abstentions

Councillor Goodrick.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 10.50pm.