Meeting documents

78/20 – APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:  Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Bernard Bateman, Pauline McHardy, Ann Myatt and Tom Watson.

To receive notice of any urgent business 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.

79/20 – URGENT BUSINESS: There was no urgent business.

Members to advise of any declarations of interest.

80/20 – DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:  No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.

To determine whether the exclude the press and public during the consideration of any exempt information items.

81/20 – EXEMPT INFORMATION: There was no exempt information.

of the meeting of 10 February 2021.

82/20 – MINUTES:  The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 February 2021 were submitted. 

Moved by Councillor Richard Cooper            Seconded by Councillor Graham Swift

andRESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 February 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive such communications as the Chairman may desire to lay before the Council.

83/20 – COMMUICATIONS: There were no communications from the Mayor.

To receive any petitions under Standing Order 26.

84/20 – PUBLIC ARRANGEMENTS – PETITIONS:  No petitions had been received.

To consider any questions under Standing Order 27.

85/20 – PUBLIC ARRANGEMENTS – QUESTIONS:  No questions had been received under Standing Order 27.

To receive any written or verbal questions from Members under Standing Order 12.

86/20 – ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE EXECUTIVE AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS: The Mayor advised that in accordance with Standing Order 12(9) two written questions had been received and which would, in accordance with the Standing Order, be dealt with as the first questions under this item. He would then invite verbal questions of the Executive Members and Committee Chairs from other Members of the Council.

1.    Question to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities from Councillor Trevor Chapman

In the recent publication of the government social housing white paper it is suggested that a review of the decent home standard is carried out and particularly concentrate on achieving carbon neutrality. Can the Cabinet Member give any early indication as to what steps the council will be taking to achieve this goal?

Response:

Thank you for the question.  There are currently two reviews on going into the standard of thermal efficiency in homes. These are the review of the Decent Homes Standard and the review of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. We are contributing to both these reviews in collaboration with the Northern Housing Consortium and Chartered Institute of Public Health.

The British Standards Institution, BSI, has recently published PAS 2035: 2019: Retrofitting Dwellings for Improved Energy Efficiency – Specification and Guidance. PAS describes a ‘publicly available specification’. While it is not officially a ‘standard’, it is a document that is likely to have a major effect on the way UK homes are retrofitted. It applies to homes of all ages and types and therefore includes traditional buildings.

At Harrogate Borough Council work has begun on a Stock Condition Survey to allow a programme to be brought forward to improve thermal efficiency of existing stock and ensure it is environmentally, economically and energy efficient, whilst at the same time we continue to build and buy new homes that meet the same rigorous standards.

2.    Question to the Leader from Councillor Chris Aldred

Councillors will be aware that at the start of the Pandemic the Council’s Director of Community resigned from his position and left the employment of this Council as of March 27th last year. Could The Leader inform Council what Management and Reporting procedures have been put in place since then, to ensure effective management of areas formerly under the umbrella leadership of that post? Does the Leader consider these to be adequate and what are the longer term plans relating to the Director of Community role?

Response:

The management arrangements put in place were those that were emailed to all Councillors, including Councillor Aldred, on the 31st of March 2020.  I found the arrangement satisfactory but the Chief Executive is the Head of Paid Service and so if any Member has any complaints about the arrangements they should address them to him.  In terms of the future of the role then all Councillors including Councillor Aldred were made aware of the recruitment freeze due to COVID-19 in several reports to various Council committees.  That freeze is still  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

87/20 – MEMORANDA OF REPORT FROM THE OVERVIEW AND

  SCRUTINY COMMISSION: There were no reports.

The Head of Finance to give a brief verbal presentation for the information of Members.

88/20 – FINANCIAL UPDATE:  The Head of Finance presented a financial update, the main focus of which was to provide an update on the financial position for this year, provide an overview of the recent budget process and highlight future issues.

2020/21

-     Forecast outturn on budget at February Cabinet.

-     However significant variations as a result of the pandemic and the response via the Financial Recovery Plan.

-     Compares to £58k forecast overspend at Qtr3 last year.

2021/22

-     Balanced Budget approved by Council on 10 February.

-     Council Tax resolution to be approved tonight:

-       Increases of NYCC 3.49%, Fire 1.99% and Police 1.99%

-       Along with HBC’s increase of £5 at Band D (2.03%), the average is a 3.05% increase.

Medium Term Outlook

-     £6.8m of net income identified in 2022/23 indicative budget, as income levels continue recovery from pandemic.

-     Annual gaps of £500k each year from 2023/24 after smoothing by Budget Transition Fund.

-     MTFS refresh to be undertaken for summer 2021, with flexibility and long term planning key.

-     Great uncertainty in respect of government funding from 2022/23 onwards.

-     Capital & Investment Programme: funding shortfall in medium term.

Government Consultations/Thinking

-     Multi-year Spending Review in 2021.

-     Fair Funding Review.

-     Business Rate Reform.

-     Implementation of above expected for 2022/23, reflected in Local Government Finance Settlement in December 2021.

Councillor Matthew Webber then referred to announcements in the budget on the day of the Council meeting on business rates and asked if they would impact on the Council’s finances.  The Head of Finance responded that whilst business rates discounts would continue for the remainder of the year, the Council would be compensated in full by the Government. 

89/20 – REPORT BACK ON PREVIOUS NOTICES OF MOTION:  There were no reports to be considered.

90/20 - MINUTES OF COMMITTEES AND CABINET: The Council resolved upon the various non-delegated Minutes of the Committees and Cabinet as follows:

(Minutes 104/20 and 105/20 were dealt with by Council at its meeting held on 10 February 2021)

90/20(01) – CABINET – 6 JANUARY 2021:

Cabinet Minutes 104/20 and 105/20 were dealt with by Council at its meeting held on 10 February 2021, and were included for information purposes only.

(Minutes 117/20 and 119/20 were dealt with by Council at its meeting held on 10 February 2021)

90/20(02) – CABINET – 3 FEBRUARY 2021:

Moved by Councillor Richard Cooper           Seconded by Councillor Graham Swift

andRESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3 February 2021 be approved and adopted.

(The vote on the Minutes was taken as part of a block vote on the Committee and Cabinet Minutes taken at Minute 90/20(05).)

(Minutes 117/20 and 119/20 were dealt with by the Council at its meeting held on 10 February 2021.)

90/20(03) – AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE – 30 NOVEMBER 2020:

23/20 - TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY - MID-YEAR REVIEW 2020/21:

This matter was also considered by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 7 October 2020.  The Cabinet Minute was the substantive recommendation and was dealt with under Minute 60/20(01).

90/20(04) – AUDIT AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE – 2 FEBRUARY 2021:

34/20 – TREASURY MANAGEMENT ANNUAL STRATEGY, ANNUAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY, PRUDENTIAL AND TREASURY INDICATORS, ANNUAL MINIMUM REVENUE PROVISION STATEMENT 2021/22:  and

35/20 – CAPITAL STRATEGY 2021/22:

These matters were also considered by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 3 February 2021.  The Cabinet Minute was the substantive recommendation and was dealt with under Minute 90/20(02).

90/20(05) – GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE – 28 JANUARY 2021:

Moved by Councillor Samantha Mearns             Seconded by Councillor Matt Scott

andRESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 28 January 2021 be approved and adopted.

(The vote on the Minutes was taken at this point in the meeting as part of a block vote on the Committee and Cabinet Minutes.)

In accordance with Standing Order 10, the Head of Legal and Governance to submit Notices of Motion received.

91/20 – NOTICES OF MOTION RECEIVED:  The Mayor advised that there were two Notices of Motion before the Council.  The first in the names of Councillors Pat Marsh and Trevor Chapman would be debated by the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 10(6)(f).  The remaining motion in the names of Councillors Chris Aldred and Philip Broadbank would, once moved and seconded, stand referred for consideration by the General Purposes Committee.

(1)  "That this Council thanks all those involved with the Vaccination Centres within the Harrogate District. Their efficiency has made the process of vaccinating our Residents a speedy and stress less process and this Council encourages everyone to attend when called forward."

Moved by Councillor Pat Marsh        Seconded by Councillor Trevor Chapman

The motion was then debated by the Council.

Upon a vote being taken on the notice of motion, the Mayor declared the motion unanimously carried.

(2)  "That this Council, due to the interest shown in the Live Streaming of its Meetings during the current Pandemic, asks the Overview & Scrutiny Commission to set up a Cross Party Working Group, to look at (1) improving the Presentation of and Public Access to Meetings as currently broadcast on the HBC You Tube Channel & (2) fully investigate Costings and Systems for the Streaming of Council meetings when they return to taking place physically - aiming for the Working Group to produce a report back to Full Council at the Annual Meeting of the Council in May."

Moved by Councillor Chris Aldred                Seconded by Councillor Philip Broadbank

In accordance with Standing Order 10(6)(a) the motion stood referred to the General Purposes Committee.

To calculate the Council’s own Council Taxes for 2021/22. To set total amounts of Council Tax for the Council’s area for 2021/22.

92/20 - COUNCIL TAX RESOLUTION 2021/22: 

Before calling upon the Leader to move the Council Tax resolution for 2021/22 the Mayor reminded Members that, in accordance with the regulations issued in 2014 and, as a consequence, the Council’s own Standing Orders, it would be necessary for a recorded vote to be taken on the Council Tax resolution for 2021/22.

Moved by Councillor Richard Cooper               Seconded by Councillor Graham Swift

and RESOLVED:

To remind members of the Council of nominations for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Council year 2021/22.

92/20 - MAYORALTY 2021/22:  The Mayor invited the Chief Executive to address the Council.  The Chief Executive reminded Members that at Council in March 2020, in accordance with Council procedures, the Leader of the Ripon Independent Group submitted nominations for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Council year 2020/2021, being Councillor Trevor Chapman for Mayor and Councillor Christine Willoughby as Deputy Mayor. 

The Coronavirus Regulations which came into force in April 2020 provided for existing mayoral appointments to continue, and on 8 July 2020 Council agreed that Councillor Martin would continue to perform the role of Chairman of the Council through the operation of remote meetings during the coronavirus pandemic and that Councillor Chapman’s appointment be carried forward to May 2021.

I can confirm that the Annual Meeting will go ahead on 24 May 2021 for the appointment of Councillor Chapman as Mayor and Councillor Willoughby as Deputy Mayor for the forthcoming municipal year and appointments to committees.  Members will be notified nearer the time as to what format the meeting will take.

The Head of Organisational Development and Improvement to submit a written report.

93/20 - PUBLICATION OF LOCAL PAY POLICY – LOCALISM ACT 2011:

Moved by Councillor Graham Swift             Seconded by Councillor Richard Cooper

andRESOLVED:

That the report and recommendations of the Head of Organisational Development and Improvement, in connection with the publication of the Statement of Pay Policy for 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, as required by the Localism Act 2011, be approved and adopted.

To authorise the affixing of the Common Seal to the necessary documents for the purposes of carrying out the resolutions contained in the Minutes.

94/20 - COMMON SEAL:

Moved by Councillor Richard Cooper          Seconded by Councillor Graham Swift

andRESOLVED:

That          (1)  the Common Seal of the Council be affixed to the Deeds and Documents necessary to carry out the resolutions confirmed and passed this day; and

                  (2)  no deed shall be treated as being conditional upon Council proceeding until completion of a transaction relevant to any Deeds.