Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Burr, Mrs Frank, Mrs Keal, Raper, Mrs Shields and Woodward.

Apologies for late arrival were received from Councillor Ward and for early departure from Councillor Paul Andrews.

There were no public questions.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 18 December 2014 (attached) and the Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 17 February 2015 (to follow).

The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 18 December 2014 were presented.

Resolved

That the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 18 December 2014 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 17 February 2015 were presented.

Resolved

That the minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 17 February 2015 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, with an amendment to minute 79 (Declarations of Interest) to clarify that Councillor Mrs Sanderson’s interest related to being a member of NYCC Planning Committee.

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.

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):

·        Division of Main Committee Seats – Political Proportionality

The reason this was urgent was that the changes to group membership had only occurred recently and there was no other meeting of Council until April 2015.

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.

The following interests were declared:

Councillor Clark declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest in agenda item 10 (Revenue and Capital Budgets and Setting of Council Tax 2015/2016) as North Yorkshire County Council’s representative on the Citizens Advice Bureau and as a North Yorkshire County Councillor.

Councillor Mrs Goodrick declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest in agenda item 10 (Revenue and Capital Budgets and Setting of Council Tax 2015/2016) as Ryedale District Council’s representative on the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Councillor Mrs Sanderson declared a personal non-pecuniary but not prejudicial interest in agenda item 10 (Revenue and Capital Budgets and Setting of Council Tax 2015/2016) as a North Yorkshire County Councillor.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and/or the Head of Paid Service.

The Chairman made the following announcement:

·        That he had met the Princess Royal at the opening of the new accommodation centre for apprentice jockeys near Butchers’ Corner, which had been an excellent event.

The Leader made the following announcement:

·        That she had attended a ceremony at Heslington Hall with Greg Clark for the signing of the Local Growth Deal and that there was a banner on display in the Council Chamber showing how well the LEP and Ryedale had done from this deal.

From Cllr Clark to the Chair of Planning

In reference to Gladmans 3 could the Chair of Planning please tell me how much he expects the decision to reduce the ‘5 reasons for refusal’ to 2, to cost the tax payers of Ryedale?

From Cllr Clark to the Chair of Policy & Resources

Could you please give the Fees and Charges for all services to the public? These figures for each of the last 4 years and the proposed figures for 2015/2016.

1.         Councillor Clark submitted the following question:

To Councillor Windress, Chairman of the Planning Committee:

“In reference to Gladmans 3 could the Chair of Planning please tell me how much he expects the decision to reduce the ‘5 reasons for refusal’ to 2, to cost the tax payers of Ryedale?”

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Councillor Windress replied

“The Inspector  published a costs decision on 23 December 2014. In paragraph 15 of the costs decision, the Inspector made a partial award of costs against the Council which was  limited to those costs incurred in preparing the evidence to address the Councils original but abandoned reasons for refusal.

At present the District Council is awaiting the costs claim from Gladman Developments Limited which will outline the costs they have incurred for the limited period of time addressing the three abandoned reasons for refusal .

I cannot speculate on what costs Gladman incurred or what costs they will claim against the taxpayers of Ryedale.”

Councillor Clark asked the following supplementary question:

“Has he read sufficient of that costs decision by the planning inspector, to remember the phrase that the planning inspector said the reason for awarding the costs was because this Council had gone down from five reasons to two, and that he considered that to be unreasonable behaviour? Now do you agree with the planning inspector on this or are we still keeping our heads quietly in the sand?”

Councillor Windress replied:

“The decision to go down from five reasons to two reasons was a Planning Committee decision.”

2.         Councillor Clark submitted the following question:

To Councillor Mrs Cowling, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee:

“Could you please give the Fees and Charges for all services to the public? These figures for each of the last 4 years and the proposed figures for 2015/2016.”

This question was ruled out of order by the Chairman under Rule of Procedure 10.2.

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

“At item 10 on our agenda tonight I shall be moving the proposed revenue budget for 2015 -16 and the financial strategy for 2015 -2019.

Our financial strategy has been clear and very simple, savings through efficiencies, with as little reduction in service to the taxpayer as possible.  That aim has been achieved through the dedication of the staff at RDC to their district – so I was particularly disappointed to see tonight yet another attempt at item 14 of our agenda by John Clark to undermine this Council.

2015-16 will be the 6^th year that there has been no council tax increase from this council. And yes John Clark will try to tell you that we have introduced stealth taxes via such things as the charges for collection of green waste and increases to fees and charges.  But at least our taxpayers have a choice and those who don’t have gardens no longer have to subsidise those who do.  The alternative to the introduction of these charges would have been massive cuts in services.

At this stage I think it is worth looking at what we have achieved in this term of council.

The Growth Deal which has been awarded to the Y, NY & ER LEP has to be our best achievement ever.  Some £322 million has been awarded to the area via the LEP and Department of Transport funding. But not just that – we have managed to achieve the infrastructure and major projects investment in Ryedale which were so necessary to help our future economic prosperity.  This doesn’t just happen by chance and I am going to use this opportunity to thank all our staff, the LEP staff and the board of the LEP for their dedication.  It just shows what can be achieved when everybody pulls together.

On top of that we have recently been awarded funding to assess the feasibility of increases in employment land at Pickering and Kirkbymoorside.

But that is not all, our work with schools and employers continues to produce fantastic results – encouraging young people into apprenticeships.  This years 4^th Opportunity Knocks, held in November, was the biggest and best event to date – many thanks to the schools, employers and our staff who contribute to this.

We work with and support local businesses to grow employment in our district.

We continue to be one of the most successful authorities at delivering affordable homes.  Coupled with the work that we do to prevent homelessness and to help people stay in their own homes, protecting vulnerable people, we are an exceptionally good housing authority.  Again due in most part to the enthusiasm and dedication of our staff.

Our new leisure provider is only very recently appointed and is expected to produce substantial savings and improvements to the service.

I have been exceptionally pleased that councillors continued to support the provision of community grants in the Ryedale District.  As  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

Annex A, Annex B and Annex C are attached.

With reference to Minute No. 49 (Financial Strategy 2015/2016) of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 5 February 2015 (copy attached), Councillor Mrs Cowling, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, will move:-

I           Budget 2015/2016

            That the revised revenue estimates for the year 2014/2015 and the revenue estimates for 2015/2016, as submitted in the Council’s Financial Strategy and Revenue Budget 2015/2016 Book be approved (copy enclosed).

II           Council Tax Base

            That it be noted that, in accordance with Minute No. 363(d)/2005 of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 8 December 2005, which was subsequently approved by Council at its meeting on 12 January 2006, Ryedale District Council has (pursuant to Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972) delegated responsibility to adopt the Council Tax base to the Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee. The Council calculated the amounts for the year 2015/16, in accordance with regulations made under Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended, as set out in Annex A.

III          District/Parish Council Tax Rates

            That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2015/16, in accordance with Sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the Act):

            (a)        District/Parish Gross Expenditure

                        £28,535,789.00 being the aggregate of the amounts, which the Council estimates for the items, set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.

(b)       Income (including Government Grants and Collection Fund Surpluses)

                        £24,122,107.00 being the aggregate of the amounts, which the Council estimates for the items, set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

            (c)        District/Parish Council Tax Requirement

                        £4,413,682.00 being the amount by which the aggregate at Part III(a) above exceeds the aggregate at Part III(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year.

            (d)        Basic amount of Tax (including Parish Precepts)

                        £214.91 being the amount at Part III(c) above, all divided by the amount at Part II above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

            (e)        Parish Precept and Special Expenses

                        £784,389.00 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.

            (f)         Basic Amount of Tax (excluding Parish Precepts)

                        £176.72 being the amount at Part III(d) above less the results given by dividing the amount at Part III(e) above by the amount given at Part II above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

            (g)        Basic Amount of Tax in Parishes/Towns

                        The details for each Parish as shown in Annex B, column headed “Aggregate amount at Band D”, being  ...  view the full agenda text for item 89.

The Chairman of Council reported on the procedure to be adopted in considering the above item.

It was proposed that the item be dealt with in two separate parts:

(a)    Firstly, consideration of the recommendations in Minute 49 of the Policy & Resources Committee held on 5 February 2015, together with item 10 paragraph roman numeral I relating to the Council’s revenue budget

(b)    Secondly, item 10 paragraphs roman numerals II to V relating to the requisite calculations and the setting of Council Tax.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Cowling and seconded by Councillor Arnold that the recommendations in minute no. 49 (Financial Strategy 2015-2016) of the Policy & Resources Committee meeting held on 5 February 2015 be approved and adopted, together with the adoption of the revenue budget recommendation under paragraph roman numeral 1 of item 10 on the agenda.

Councillor Mrs Goodrick moved and Councillor Clark seconded the following amendment:

            “To the budget proposals that we make a provision for funding Ryedale CAB up to £35k for the year 2015/16 from the NHB and that officers work up a formal proposal to support core funding for Ryedale CAB going forward and this should be brought to P&R as a matter of urgency.”

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Acomb, Joy Andrews, Paul Andrews, Arnold, Bailey, Clark, Collinson, Mrs Cowling, Cussons, Fraser, Mrs Goodrick, Hawkins, Hicks, Hope, Mrs Hopkinson, Maud, Richardson, Mrs Sanderson, Wainwright, Walker, Ward and Windress.

Against

Councillor Ives.

Abstentions

None.

Councillor Clark moved and Councillor Ward seconded the following amendment:

“To reverse the decision of the P&R Committee to set Council Tax at 0%.”

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Joy Andrews, Paul Andrews, Clark, Collinson, Richardson, Walker and Ward.

Against

Councillors Acomb, Arnold, Bailey, Mrs Cowling, Cussons, Fraser, Mrs Goodrick, Hawkins, Hicks, Hope, Mrs Hopkinson, Ives, Maud, Mrs Sanderson, Wainwright and Windress.

Abstentions

None.

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

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Acomb, Arnold, Bailey, Mrs Cowling, Cussons, Fraser, Mrs Goodrick, Hawkins, Hicks, Hope, Mrs Hopkinson, Ives, Legard, Maud, Mrs Sanderson, Wainwright and Windress.

Against

Councillors Joy Andrews, Paul Andrews, Clark, Collinson, Richardson, Walker and Ward.

Abstentions

None.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Cowling and seconded by Councillor Arnold that item 10 paragraphs roman numerals II to V relating to the requisite calculations and the setting of Council Tax be approved and adopted.

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

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Acomb, Arnold, Bailey, Mrs Cowling, Cussons, Fraser, Mrs Goodrick, Hawkins, Hicks, Hope, Mrs Hopkinson, Ives, Legard, Maud, Mrs Sanderson, Wainwright, Walker and Windress.

Against

Councillor Paul Andrews.

Abstentions

Councillors Joy Andrews, Clark, Collinson, Richardson and Ward.

Resolved

That Council:

(i)           Approve the Council’s Financial Strategy (Annex A) which includes:

a.            Savings/additional income totalling £402k (Financial Strategy Appendix A)

b.            Growth Pressures totalling £294k (Financial Strategy Appendix A)

c.            The Prudential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

The Finance Manager (s151) submitted a report (previously circulated) which considered the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategies, the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy and set the Prudential Indicators for 2015/16.

It was moved by Councillor Wainwright and seconded by Councillor Acomb that the following recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, set out in minute 67 from the meeting on 29 January 2015, be approved and adopted.

That Council be recommended that:

(i) Members receive the report;

(ii) The Treasury Management and Investment Strategies be noted and approved by the Council;

(iii) The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement be approved by the Council and;

(iv) That the Prudential Indicators in the report be approved by the Council.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Resolved

That:

          (i) Members receive the report;

(ii) The Treasury Management and Investment Strategies be noted and approved by the Council;

(iii) The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement be approved by the Council and;

(iv) That the Prudential Indicators in the report be approved by the Council.

Voting Record

22 For

1 Against

0 Abstentions

Policy and Resources Committee – 5 February 2015

Minute 53 – The future of Pickering Tourist Information Centre (page131)

Planning Committee – 10 February 2015

Minute 171 – Developer Contributions from Small Sites (page 143)

Policy and Resources Committee – 5 February 2015

Minute 53 – The future of Pickering Tourist Information Centre

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

That Council be recommended to approve:

(i)  That Pickering TIC be closed from 6 September 2015, with no Sunday opening;

(ii) That a visitor information point be established in Pickering.

Councillor Ward proposed and Councillor Clark seconded the following amendment:

“To defer a decision in order for Officers to provide necessary information and undertake appropriate consultation, to bring back to Council at a future date.”

Upon being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Joy Andrews, Clark, Collinson, Legard, Richardson, Walker and Ward.

Against

Councillors Arnold, Bailey, Mrs Cowling, Cussons, Fraser, Mrs Goodrick, Hicks, Hope, Mrs Hopkinson, Ives, Maud, Mrs Sanderson, Wainwright and Windress.

Abstentions

Councillors Acomb and Hawkins.

Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Resolved

That Council approve:

(i)            That Pickering TIC be closed from 6 September 2015, with no Sunday opening;

(ii)          That a visitor information point be established in Pickering.

Voting Record

14 For

6 Against

3 Abstentions

Planning Committee – 10 February 2015

Minute 171 – Developer Contributions from Small Sites

It was moved by Councillor Windress and seconded by Councillor Hope that the following recommendations of the Planning Committee be approved and adopted.

That Council be recommended to resolve:

(i)  Not to seek financial contributions from small residential sites through the planning process towards affordable housing on sites of five dwellings or less under Policy SP3 of the Ryedale Plan;

(ii) To continue to negotiate the on-site provision of affordable housing in line with Policy SP3 of the Ryedale Plan with the exception that affordable housing contributions will not be sought from sites of 10 dwellings or less and which have a maximum combined gross floorspace of no more than 1,000square metres in Malton, Norton and Pickering;

(iii) To continue to negotiate the on-site provision of affordable housing in line with SP3 of the Ryedale Plan with the exception that on sites of between six and ten dwellings, in parishes outside of Malton, Norton and Pickering, financial contributions will be sought in lieu of the existing on-site policy requirement and that financial contributions of an equivalent of 40% of provision will be sought on such sites in west and south west Ryedale;

(iv) Not to seek financial contributions towards open space provision from sites of ten dwellings or less;

(v)To authorise the Head of Planning and Housing to approve the planning applications listed in Paragraph 6.13 without the completion of the Section 106 agreements specified and not to seek affordable and open space contributions from any further applications on relevant small sites which are due to be determined in the interim.

Councillor Clark moved and Councillor Richardson seconded the following amendment:

       “(i) Delete (i) and replace with –

                                    That the recently amended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91.

The Finance Manager (s151) submitted a report (previously circulated) which set out the treasury management activities to date for the financial year 2014/15 in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management (the Code).

Councillor Wainwright moved and Councillor Acomb seconded the recommendations in the report.

Resolved

(i)        That Members receive this report; and

(ii)     The mid-year performance of the in-house managed funds to date is noted.

Voting Record

22 For

0 Against

1 Abstentions

Proposed by Councillor Clark and seconded by Councillor Richardson

A North Yorkshire County Council Unitary would make savings of approximately £40million/year across North Yorkshire.  A fraction of this would enable the cuts to bus services and libraries to be reversed.

This Council therefore resolves to go down the ‘Unitary route’.

To help facilitate this approach Ryedale District Council is to enter into discussions with North Yorkshire County Council and the other District and Borough Councils.

1.     It was moved by Councillor Clark and seconded by Councillor Richardson

“A North Yorkshire County Council Unitary would make savings of approximately £40million/year across North Yorkshire.  A fraction of this would enable the cuts to bus services and libraries to be reversed.

This Council therefore resolves to go down the ‘Unitary route’.

To help facilitate this approach Ryedale District Council is to enter into discussions with North Yorkshire County Council and the other District and Borough Councils.”

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

Recorded Vote

For

Councillors Joy Andrews, Clark, Collinson, Ives and Richardson.

Against

Councillors Acomb, Arnold, Bailey, Mrs Cowling, Cussons, Fraser, Hawkins, Hicks, Hope, Legard, Maud, Wainwright, Walker and Windress

Abstentions

Councillors Mrs Goodrick and Ward.

Division of Main Committee Seats – Political Proportionality

A proposal for the division of main committee seats was circulated.

Resolved

That the following changes be approved to the division of main committee seats:

·        Conservative Group have one seat removed from Overview & Scrutiny Committee;

·        Liberal Group have one seat added to Overview & Scrutiny Committee;

·        Liberal Democrats have one seat removed from Planning Committee and Licensing Committee;

·        Ungrouped Member (B) has one seat on the Planning Committee and Licensing Committee.

Voting Record

23 For

0 Against

0 Abstentions

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.40pm.