Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2010 were submitted.

A typographical error was noted at Minute 14 under Resolved ii. The sum of money should read £800,000.

Resolved

That the minutes of a meeting held on the 24 June 2010 be approved with an amendment to the resolution of minute 14 ii stating £800,000 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive notice of any urgent business which the Chairman considers should be dealt with at the meeting as a matter of urgency by virtue of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Chairman reported that there were no items of urgent business to be considered at the meeting.

Members to indicate whether they will be declaring any interests under the Code of Conduct.

Members making a declaration of interest at a meeting of a Committee or Council are required to disclose the existence and nature of that interest.  This requirement is not discharged by merely declaring a personal interest without further explanation.

In accordance with the Member’s Code of Conduct Councillor Knaggs declared a personal interest in Item 15 having been in correspondence with Hartoft Parish Meeting.

The minutes of a meeting of the Resource Working Party held on 14 September 2010 were presented.

Resolved

That the minutes of a meeting of the Resource Working Party held on 14 September 2010 as submitted be endorsed.

The Corporate Director (s151) submitted a report, which set out the 2010 auditors report. Jon Ritchie and Alistair Lince from Deloittes were present for this item.

Councillor Mrs Shields was invited to the table.

It was moved from the Chair that the report be received and that the Letter of Management Representations be signed.

Resolved

That the report be received and that the Letter of Management Representations be signed by the Corporate Director (s151).

It is recommended that Members receive the annual report and note the achievements against the priorities of the Council Plan for 2009/10.

The Annual report was submitted and summarised the Council’s achievements and the impact of its services in Ryedale. The Chief Executive said that the presentation of the annual report had altered after taking account of Members comments.  In addition the audience for the report had changed, last year it was the Auditors, this year it was Members and the general public.  The report would  be published on the website with relevant weblinks.

It was moved from the Chair that Members receive the annual report and note the achievements against the priorities of the Council Plan for 2009/10.

Resolved

That Members receive the annual report and note the achievements against the priorities of the Council Plan for 2009/10.

The Corporate Director (s151) submitted a Treasury Management Monitoring report which the Financial Services Manager presented.

It was moved by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Legard that the recommendations in the report be approved.

Resolved

i.              Members receive this report; and

ii.            The current investments and performance in 2010/11 be noted.

The minutes of a meeting of the Senior Management Contracts Working Party held on the 14 September 2010 were submitted.

The Chief Executive noted that item 6 was a decision for Council.

Councillor Woodward asked that it be recorded that he did not attend the meeting.

Resolved

That the minutes of a meeting of the Senior Management Contracts Working Party held on the 14 September 2010 be endorsed and that Council be recommended to approve minute 6 ( Corporate Management Team – Future Arrangements ) of the Senior Management Contracts Working Party held on the 14 September 2010.

The Forward Planning Manager submitted a report on the implications of the revocation of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and noted that the report should be a Part B item on the agenda.

The Officer informed Committee that in general terms before a policy can be regarded as a planning policy, it  has to be included in the Local Development Scheme and go through rigorous formal processes including particular forms of consultation, sustainability appraisal and, often, Strategic Environmental Assessment.

The Officer also informed Members that the abolition of the RSS meant that the current situation was not clear in a number of planning policy areas, particularly in relation to housing and renewable energy targets. Other material considerations would be used to inform the Council’s position in relation to these issues. Officers were of the view that the retention of the RSS housing figures was supported by a range of considerations and in particular by PPS3 and the Governments letter to Local Authorities following the revocation of the RSS. However, the position in relation to renewable energy targets is not as explicit and the former RSS policy was becoming superceded by national policy. On that basis, Officers were not recommending the use of an interim policy for renewable energy as no consultation exercise had taken place and advised that if introduced and  a planning application was refused on the basis of the interim policy it would be likely that the legal basis of the policy would be challenged and there would be a risk of a costs award against  the Council in an appeal situation. It was also possible for the Council to be challenged by a judicial review.

Councillor Keal moved  the Officer’s recommendation and this was seconded by Councillor Bailey.

Councillor Legard, seconded by Councillor Acomb moved an  amendment  to the motion by the deletion of recommendation ii and the insertion of a new paragraph ii as follows:

“ii Members agree to the use of an interim renewable energy policy in the determination of planning applications pending the adoption of the Core Strategy, namely that set out at paragraph 5.2.”

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was carried.

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

Councillor Woodward asked that it be recorded that he did not support recommendation iii.

Resolved

That Council is recommended that:

i.              Members note the implications of the revocation of the RSS as they are known and interpreted by officers at this stage.

ii.            Members agree to the use of an interim renewable energy policy in the determination of planning applications pending the adoption of the Core Strategy, namely that set out at paragraph 5.2.

iii.           Members agree to use the former RSS housing provision rates as a basis for managing housing supply in the decision making process prior to the adoption of the Core Strategy.

The Corporate Director (s151) submitted a report on the budget strategy for 2011/12.

The Director noted that the Council was still awaiting the outcome of the coalition government’s comprehensive spending review. Key decisions on the Council’s budget could only be taken once the draft formula grant announcement had been received in late November/early December. Other key issues were the transfer of Concessionary Fares responsibility, the pension fund triennial review and potential Government support for a freeze in Council Tax. A report on the sale of the trade waste service would be considered by Full Council having been presented to the Commissioning Board, which carried a significant financial implication. A pay freeze for 10/11 and 11/12 was likely to be implemented and the Council had been through a voluntary redundancy process.

It was moved by Councillor Keal and seconded by Councillor Legard that the recommendations in the report be approved.

Resolved

That Council is recommended to approve the following parameters for the preparation of the 2011/2012 budget:

i.              Proposals be brought forward for a 2.5 % increase in Council tax;

ii.            Increases in fees and charges to be 3.5% - 4.5% on a cost centre heading basis excluding VAT and only those charges officers recommend above or below this figure to be considered by the relevant policy committee; and

iii.           Efficiencies to be maximised and identified together with any potential cuts required to services once the draft grant settlement is announced in November/December. These proposals will be considered by the Resources Working Party.

The Head of Planning submitted the report on charging for street naming and numbering which was presented by the Corporate Director (s151).

It was moved by Councillor Legard and seconded by Councillor Woodward that the recommendation in the report be approved.

Resolved

That Council is recommended to approve the fees and charges as set out in the attached sheet, Annex A for the period 1 January 2011 to 31 March 2012.

The Head of Economy and Housing submitted a report on a project to upgrade the A64 Brambling Fields Junction and to seek additional funding to cover an anticipated increase in scheme costs as a result of required design changes.

The Officer reported that recommendation (i) b be removed as the County Council had resolved to withdraw funding for the Vivis Lane junction scheme at Pickering.

The Officer noted that the project design and costs would be further refined and that a further report would be brought before the committee.

It was moved by Councillor Keal and seconded by Councillor Legard that recommendations (i)a., (ii) and (iii) be approved.

Resolved

That Council is recommended to:

i.              Include in the Council’s capital programme an increase of £420K in this Council’s agreed contribution to the Brambling Fields junction upgrade to give a maximum Ryedale District Council contribution of £2.73m – subject to the agreed contribution from NYCC, to be financed from the borrowing approval for the Vivis Lane junction scheme (now withdrawn);

ii.            Endorse the seeking of appropriate developer contributions towards the entire Ryedale District Council costs and appropriate North Yorkshire County Council costs incurred through the Brambling Fields scheme. However, the situation will be reviewed once the specified level of developer contributions (as detailed within this report) has being received towards the local authority contributions; and

iii.                  Consider a further report regarding the conclusion of the detailed design stage, including the public consultation, before proceeding to formal legal agreement to implement upgrading of the A64 Brambling Fields Junction.

The Corporate Director (s151) submitted a report to consider the charging of special expenses to the parishes which were formally part of Pickering Rural District Council.

It was moved by Councillor Woodward and seconded by Councillor Legard that the recommendation in the report be agreed.

Resolved

That Council is recommended to approve the removal of Parishes from the Special Expenses where no street lighting provision presently exists from the 1 April 2011.

The Chair reported that there was no other business.

The Meeting closed at 8.30pm