North Yorkshire County Council
County Council
Minutes of the remote meeting held on Wednesday 17 November 2021 commencing at 10.30 am.
County Councillor Stuart Martin MBE in the Chair and County Councillors Val Arnold, Karl Arthur,
Margaret Atkinson, Phillip Barrett, Derek Bastiman, David Blades, Philip Broadbank,
Eric Broadbent, Lindsay Burr MBE, Mike Chambers MBE, David Chance, Jim Clark, Liz Colling,
Richard Cooper, Gareth Dadd, Caroline Dickinson, Stephanie Duckett, Keane Duncan,
John Ennis, David Goode, Caroline Goodrick, Helen Grant, Bryn Griffiths, Michael Harrison,
Paul Haslam, Robert Heseltine, David Hugill, David Ireton, David Jeffels, Janet Jefferson,
Andrew Jenkinson, Mike Jordan, Andrew Lee, Carl Les, Stanley Lumley, Cliff Lunn, Don MacKay,
Don Mackenzie, John Mann, John McCartney, Heather Moorhouse, Patrick Mulligan,
Richard Musgrave, Andy Paraskos, Stuart Parsons, Caroline Patmore, Yvonne Peacock,
Chris Pearson, Clive Pearson, Joe Plant, Gillian Quinn, Tony Randerson, Janet Sanderson,
Matt Scott, Karin Sedgwick, Andy Solloway, Peter Sowray MBE, David Staveley, Helen Swiers,
Roberta Swiers, Angus Thompson, Cliff Trotter, Callum Walsh, John Weighell OBE, Greg White,
Annabel Wilkinson and Robert Windass.
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Copies of all documents considered are in the Minute Book
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Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 21 July 2021
It was moved and seconded that the Minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 21 July 2021, having been printed and circulated, are confirmed as a correct record.
The vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams and the motion was declared carried with 56 for, none against and 3 abstentions.
Resolved -
That the Minutes of the meeting of the County Council on 21 July 2021, having been printed and circulated, are confirmed as a correct record and that the Chief Executive Officer authorise them using his emergency delegated decision-making powers after taking into account the views of the Members and all relevant information.
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Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Backhouse, Baker, Hobson and Metcalfe.
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Declarations of Interest
County Councillor Michael Harrison declared two interests: the first that a family member works for the Council’s Health and Adult Services; the second that his employer is one of the companies named in the Treasury Management report. He confirmed that he had received the necessary dispensations from the Standards Committee.
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Chairman's Announcements
The Chairman welcomed the Honorary Aldermen and members of the public who were watching the live broadcast meeting on the Council’s YouTube channel.
The Chairman informed Members of the usual arrangements for the meeting.
The Chairman made a number of announcements relating to work that he was doing in his role as Chairman.
The Chairman noted the untimely death in August 2021 of former County Councillor John Clark. John was elected to the county council in 2009 and served two terms until May 2017. He was also a prominent Ryedale District Councillor, first being elected in 2003.
County Councillors present noted the contribution that John made to the County Council and the communities that he represented and offered condolences to his family.
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Statement by the Leader of the Council
County Councillor Carl Les made a statement and answered questions, under Council Procedure Rule 2.3, as Leader of the County Council, a summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appear in the Minute Book (pages 13110 to 13111).
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Public Questions or Statements
There were no questions or statements from members of the public.
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To consider the report and recommendations of the Executive and make decisions on them
Formal Meetings of the Authority’s Committees
This item was considered at item 8 on the agenda.
Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies
This item was considered at item 9 on the agenda.
Prudential Indicators
The recommendation at paragraph 4.2 of the report (page 13115 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
A vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams. The motion was declared carried with 59 for, none against and no abstentions.
Resolved -
That the revised Prudential Indicators for the period 2021/22 to 2023/24 as set out in Appendix A to the report to Informal Executive on 31 August 2021 be considered by County Council Members and recommended to the Chief Executive Officer for approval under his emergency delegated decision making powers.
Property Procedure Rules
The recommendation at paragraph 4.3 of the report (page 13116 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
A vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams. The motion was declared carried with 59 for, none against and no abstentions.
Resolved –
That the proposed amendments to the Property Procedure Rules be considered by County Council Members and recommended to the Chief Executive Officer for approval under his emergency delegated decision making powers, as follows:
(a) the suggested amendments to the Property Procedure Rules as set out in Appendix 2 of the report and the suggested consequential amendments to the Executive Members’ Delegation Scheme set out in Appendix 3; and
(b) authority is given to the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services) to make any further consequential amendments required to the Constitution in light of the changes to the Property Procedure Rules.
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Formal Meetings of the Authority's Committees
The recommendation at paragraph 11.0 of the report (page 13122 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
The vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams. The motion was declared carried, with 60 for, 2 against and no abstentions.
Resolved -
That Council Members recommend to the Chief Executive Officer to consider under his emergency delegated powers:
1) The remote access, live broadcast informal meetings of the Council’s committees continue with any formal decisions required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency decision making powers and after consultation with Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account any views of the relevant Committee Members.
2) The meetings of the Executive revert to in person meetings.
3) The continued use of remote access, live broadcast informal meetings is reviewed periodically, taking into account the level of Covid-19 infections and hospitalisation, with a further report being considered at the Council meeting on 16 February 2022.
4) That the meeting of the County Council on 16 February 2022 is held as an in person meeting, if it is determined to be safe and practical to do so.
5) That the power be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer in consultation with the Leader to determine which committee meetings should be held virtually and which could be held physically, subject to consultation with the relevant committee chair.
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Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies
The recommendation at paragraph 4.0 of the report (page 13126 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
The vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams. The motion was declared carried, 59 for, none against and no abstentions.
Resolved -
That the following appointments be recommended to the Chief Executive Officer for consideration under his emergency delegated powers:
Corporate and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee County Councillor Andy Paraskos be appointed to the position of Chair of the Corporate and Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Transport Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee County Councillor Don Mackay be appointed to the positon of Vice Chair of the Transport Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Pension Board That the following appointments be made to the Pension Board:
· Scheme Member Representative – Sam Thompson (Hambleton DC) · Employer Representative – David Hawkins (York College).
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To consider the report and recommendations of the Standards Committee
The Annual Report of the Standards Committee was considered and the recommendation at paragraph 3.1 (page 13128 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
No vote was taken as Council was asked only to note the report.
Resolved -
That the Annual Report be noted.
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To consider the report and recommendations of the Pension Board
The Annual Report of the Pension Board was considered and the recommendation at paragraph 3.1 (page 13132 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
The vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams. The motion was declared carried, 61 for, none against and no abstentions.
Resolved –
(i) the additions to the Terms of Reference for the Pension Board, detailed below, be approved:-
“The Board undertake formal meetings remotely, through an appropriate media platform, and subject to the relevant live broadcast requirements, when circumstances rise that prevent physical meetings from taking place. The Meetings should be wholly remote or physical and should not be undertaken in a hybrid manner.”
“Where a matter of serious concern arises regarding compliance or a potential breach of the regulations, the Pension Board must inform the Scheme Manager immediately, and may escalate reporting to the Monitoring Officer, to the National Scheme Advisory Board and the Pensions Regulator if considered necessary and appropriate."
(ii) That the Annual Report of the Pension Board be noted.
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To consider the report and recommendations of the Audit Committee
The Annual Report of the Audit Committee was considered and the recommendation at paragraph 2.1 (page 13160 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.
A vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams. The motion was declared carried with 61 for, none against and no abstentions.
Resolved -
The Annual Report of the Audit Committee, as set out in Appendix 1, be noted.
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To consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on Members' Allowances
The recommendations at paragraphs 5.8, 6.2 and 7.1 of the report (pages 13178 and 13179 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.
A vote was taken using the voting application in Microsoft Teams. The motion was declared carried with 60 for, 2 against and no abstentions.
Resolved –
1) That a 1.75% uplift in the value of a unit is applied to the Basic Allowance, increasing a unit from £1,741 to £1,771 (an increase of £30). The Basic Allowance, at 5.825 units, will increase from £10,142 to £10,316 (an increase of £174)
2) That the proposed increase in the value of a unit set out in paragraph 5.8 will also be applicable to all Special Responsibility Allowances
3) That no changes are made to the current arrangements for travel and subsistence allowances. If at any time, however, staff rates are increased, then a similar increase should be made to the rates in the Members’ Allowances Scheme, to come into effect at the same time.
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Statements of Executive Members, in the order set out below, followed by the Statements of the Chairmen of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees
The written statements of the Executive Members and Chairmen of the Scrutiny Board and Overview and Scrutiny Committees having previously been circulated were noted.
County Councillor Michael Harrison, Executive Member for Health and Adult Services, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13184 to 13185).
County Councillor Andrew Lee, Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing, made a statement. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13186 to 13188).
County Councillor Derek Bastiman, Executive Member for Open to Business, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13190 to 13192).
County Councillor Greg White, Executive Member for Climate Change and Customer Engagement, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13194 to 13198).
County Councillor Gareth Dadd, Executive Member for Finance and Assets and Special Projects, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13200 to 13201).
County Councillor Janet Sanderson, Executive Member for Children’s Services, made a statement, a summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13202 to 13204).
County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, Executive Member for Education and Skills, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13206 to 13208).
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13210 to 13211).
County Councillor David Chance, Executive Member for Stronger Communities, made a statement and answered questions. A summary of the key points of which had previously been circulated and which appears in the Minute Book (pages 13212 to 13216).
The written statements of the Chairmen of the Scrutiny Board and the Overview and Scrutiny Committees having previously been circulated, and which appear in the Minute Book (pages 13218 to 13231).
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Notices of Motion
No Notices of Motion were received within the deadline.
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Council Procedure Rule 10 Questions
There were no Council Procedure Rule 10 questions.
The meeting closed at 12:25pm.
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