Council Minutes

Date:
Wednesday, 25th November, 2015
Time:
7.00pm
Place:
The Point, ARC, Dovecot Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1LL
 
Please note: all Minutes are subject to approval at the next Meeting

Attendance Details

Present:
The Worshipful the Mayor (Cllr Ian Dalgarno); Cllr Helen Atkinson, Cllr Sonia Bailey, Cllr Paul Baker, Cllr Chris Barlow, Cllr Jim Beall, Cllr Derrick Brown, Cllr Julia Cherrett, Cllr Carol Clark, Cllr Michael Clark, Cllr Chris Clough, Cllr Robert Cook, Cllr Nigel Cooke, Cllr Gillian Corr, Cllr Evaline Cunningham, Cllr Ken Dixon, Cllr Kevin Faulks, Cllr John Gardner, Cllr Lisa Grainge, Cllr Lynn Hall, Cllr David Harrington, Cllr Di Hewitt, Cllr Ben Houchen, Cllr Barbara Inman, Cllr Mohammed Javed, Cllr Eileen Johnson, Cllr Paul Kirton, Cllr Mick Moore, Cllr Mrs Kathryn Nelson, Cllr Steve Nelson, Cllr Mrs Jean O'Donnell, Cllr Ross Patterson, Cllr Maurice Perry, Cllr Lauriane Povey, Cllr Rachael Proud, Cllr Paul Rowling, Cllr Michael Smith, Cllr Andrew Stephenson, Cllr Norma Stephenson O.B.E, Cllr Mick Stoker, Cllr Tracey Stott, Cllr Laura Tunney, Cllr Matthew Vickers, Cllr Mrs Sylvia Walmsley, Cllr Sally Ann Watson, Cllr Julia Whitehill, Cllr David Wilburn, Cllr Norma Wilburn and Cllr Barry Woodhouse.
Officers:
N Schneider (CE); J Danks, B Brown (R); P Dobson (DNS); P Kelly (PH); D E Bond, M Waggott, P K Bell, K Wannop, J McDonald, M Jones(LD).
In Attendance:
Invited Guests and Members of the Public.
Apologies for absence:
Cllr Phil Dennis, Cllr Elsie Hampton, Cllr Stefan Houghton, Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy, Cllr Stephen Parry, Cllr David Rose and Cllr Bill Woodhead.
Item Description Decision
Public
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69/15		 WELCOME, EVACUATION PROCEDURE AND THE RECORDING OF THE MEETING
 The Worshipful the Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting and outlined the procedure for the recording of the meeting.

The evacuation procedure was noted.
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70/15		 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 Councillor Sylvia Walmsley declared a personal non prejudicial interest in respect of agenda item 11 - Presentation of the Honorary Alderman of the Borough as she was married to one of the nominees.

Councillor Evaline Cunningham declared a personal non prejudicial interest in respect of agenda item 11 - Presentation of the Honorary Alderman of the Borough as she was married to one of the nominees.
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71/15		 MINUTES
 The minutes of the Special Council meeting and the Ordinary Council meeting held on 28th October 2015 were signed by the Worshipful the Mayor as a correct record.
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72/15		 REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL’S PRIVATE HIRE AND HACKNEY CARRIAGE LICENSING POLICY
Preamble
RESOLVED that the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy as presented in Appendix 1 be approved and come into force on 1 January 2016.
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73/15		 REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL’S SEX ESTABLISHMENT LICENSING POLICY
Preamble
RESOLVED that the Sex Establishment Licensing Policy as presented in Appendix 1 be approved.
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74/15		 ARMED FORCES ANNUAL REPORT
Preamble
RESOLVED that:-

1. The progress report be noted.

2. The on-going work to implement the actions be supported.
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75/15		 AMENDMENTS TO COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 2015/19
Preamble
RESOLVED that the above amendments be approved.
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76/15		 FORWARD PLAN AND LEADER’S STATEMENT
Preamble
 
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77/15		 ARMED FORCES WEEK
Preamble
 
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78/15		 PRESENTATION OF THE HONORARY ALDERMAN OF THE BOROUGH
Preamble
 
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79/15		 PRESENTATION OF THE HONOUR OF THE FREEDOM OF THE BOROUGH ON ROBERT GIBSON OBE
Preamble
 
7.00 pm - 8.15 pm.

Preamble

ItemPreamble
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72/15		Consideration was given to a report on the views and comments received from the Licensing Committee, trade and other interested parties following consultation on the review of the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy. Members were requested to approve the final policy.

The existing Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy was introduced on 1 May 2012. At their meeting held on 17 October 2014, the Licensing Committee agreed a draft revised policy document in respect of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage licensing for consultation with the trade and other interested parties (Minute L63/14 refers).

All licensees were informed in the ‘Trade Times’ newsletter of the consultation, an advert was placed in a local newspaper and details and a consultation response document were placed on the Trading Standards & Licensing website.

Consultation was undertaken and the Licensing Committee considered the responses received, together with officer’s comments at their meetings on the 15 July 2015 and 20 October 2015. Members considered that various proposed amendments should be incorporated into the draft revised policy. Details of the relevant issues and what was proposed were set out in the report to Council. A link to a copy of the revised draft policy following the consultation exercise and the comments made at the Licensing Committee meetings was also included in the report.

Cabinet considered this matter at its meeting held on 12th November 2015 and a copy of the relevant minute extract was attached to the report.
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73/15		Consideration was given to a report on the Sex Establishment Licensing Policy following its review and consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Council previously agreed to adopt Schedule 3 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, which enabled the licensing of sexual entertainment venues (Cabinet Decision 20th December 2010 refers). Council also agreed to the introduction of a Sex Establishments Policy (Cabinet Decision 3rd November 2011 refers) . The original policy was adopted following extensive consultation with interested parties including Cleveland Police, representatives of businesses and residents in the Borough, Premise Licence and Club Premise Certificate holders (alcohol licensed premises) and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board.

Since the adoption of the policy in November 2011, no applications for a sexual entertainment licence had been received by the Authority and no issues or concerns had been raised. The Policy set out in detail the Authority’s views in relation to suitability of applicants, number of establishments and where they could be located.

As a result it was proposed that the policy remained relatively unchanged and that the policy be reviewed, in future, every 5 years.

The policy was considered by the Authority’s Licensing Committee on 4th November 2014. Members agreed to a proposal to carry out a consultation exercise with stakeholders.

A consultation exercise was carried out between 20th November 2014 and the 16th January 2015. The review was advertised in the Herald & Post on the 20th November 2014, with a copy of the policy available on the Trading Standards & Licensing website. No comments were received.

A copy of the Policy was also circulated to Responsible Authorities designated under the Licensing Act including Public Health, Planning, Environmental Health, Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and Cleveland Police.

Cabinet considered this matter at its meeting held on 12th November 2015 and a copy of the relevant minute extract was attached to the report.
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74/15		Consideration was given to a report that presented the third Annual Armed Forces Report to Council. It summarised the work to date with the Armed Forces and the progress so far on the implementation of Stockton’s Armed Forces Community Covenant. It also outlined proposed projects for the coming year and included a statement from the Commanding Officer of 102 Battalion REME.
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75/15		At its Annual Meeting, held on Wednesday 3rd June 2015, the Council approved appointments to its Committees, Panels, Consultative Bodies and Joint/Outside Bodies for 2015/19.

The following changes were presented for Council approval:-

Planning Committee

Remove - Councillor Norma Wilburn
Add - Councillor Tracey Stott
Remove - Councillor David Rose
Add - Councillor Nigel Cooke

Place Select Committee

Remove - Councillor Nigel Cooke
Add - Councillor Chris Barlow

Executive Scrutiny Committee

Remove - Councillor Nigel Cooke
Add - Councillor Sonia Bailey

Children and Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Joint Commissioning Group

Remove - Head of Performance - Children Education and Social Care
Add - Head of Early Help, Partnerships and Planning

Remove - Head of Education, Early Years and Complex Needs
Add - Head of Schools and SEN

Remove - Head of Children and Young People’s Services
Add - Head of Safeguarding and LAC

Children and Young People’s Partnership

Remove - Head of Performance - Children Education and Social Care
Add - Head of Early Help, Partnerships and Planning

Chair and Vice Chair of Place Select Committee

Moved by Councillor Bob Cook, Seconded by Councillor Jim Beall that Councillor Derrick Brown be appointed Chair of Place Select Committee.

Moved by Councillor Ben Houchen, Seconded by Councillor Lynn Hall that Councillor Phil Dennis be appointed Chair of Place Select Committee.

A vote took place and Councillor Derrick Brown was appointed Chair of the Place Select Committee.

Moved by Councillor Bob Cook, Seconded by Councillor Jim Beall that Councillor Sonia Bailey be appointed Vice Chair of Place Select Committee.

Moved by Councillor Ben Houchen, Seconded by Councillor Lynn Hall that Councillor Phil Dennis be appointed Vice Chair of Place Select Committee.

A vote took place and Councillor Sonia Bailey was appointed Vice Chair of the Place Select Committee.
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76/15		The Leader of the Council gave his Forward Plan and Leaders Statement.

Since the last meeting of Council, Cabinet had met on the 12th November and considered reports on:

• The School Organisation Plan
• An update on the Asset Review, School Capital and Site Disposal
• The annual DCS / DASS Assurance Statement
• The Local Safeguarding Children Board annual report
• An update on the 2014 Employee Survey
• The Playing Pitch Strategy
• A Review of the Council’s Private Hire & Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy
• A Review of the Council’s Sex Establishment Licensing Policy
• The Economic Climate Report
And,
• The North East Rail Management Unit Collaboration Agreement and Rail North Update

Looking ahead, Cabinet would next meet on the 3rd December and was scheduled to consider reports on:

• The Scrutiny review of River Tees Crossing infrastructure
• The use and control of activities in the borough’s town centres
• The Regeneration and Environment Local Plan
• The Care Act 2014 and the charging policy review
• An update on the Medium Term Financial Plan
• The Quarter 2 Performance Outturn
• The Quarter 2 Welfare Reform Update
• An update on Preston Park Museum and Grounds
• The review of provision for 11-19 year olds
• A review of the statement of principles for gambling premises
• A review of the statement of Licensing policy made under the licensing Act 2003
• The Community Governance Reviews for Billingham Town Council and Elton Parish Council

On other matters the Leader of the Council was looking forward to the launch of Stockton Sparkles and the switching on of the Christmas lights, launching the Christmas market and of course hearing from the singing Christmas Tree. The Leader of the Council also reminded Members about the Mayor’s Carol service which would place on Friday 4th December at 1.30pm in the Parish Church.

And finally, the Leader of the Council wished Members a Merry Christmas and looked forward to seeing them at the next Council meeting on 20th January 2016.
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77/15		During Armed Forces Week there were several fundraising events that took place and £2,045 was raised.

The Worshipful the Mayor presented the cheques from the money that was raised to the following:-

Major Chris Lawton, The Rifles
Major Pat Ralph, The Yorkshire Regiment
Commanding Officer Phil Prosser and Regimental Sergeant Major Kipling, Close Support Battalion, REME
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78/15		It gave the Worshipful the Mayor great pleasure to confer the title of Honorary Alderman on fourteen former Councillors who had given many years’ service to the Borough.

The Recipients for Honorary Alderman were called forward one at a time, in turn and signed the Honorary Alderman Roll and received their Alderman Medal, with a framed certificate:-

• Lynne Apedaile
• Dick Cains
• Cllr Eileen Johnson on behalf of her late husband David Coleman
• Alex Cunningham
• Emma Yates on behalf of her late father Maurice Frankland
• Bob Gibson OBE
• Colin Leckonby
• Ken Lupton
• Bill Noble
• Maureen Rigg
• Fred Salt
• Steve Walmsley
• Mary Womphrey
• Mick Womphrey

The Worshipful the Mayor and the Chief Executive witnessed each declaration and added their signature to the Honorary Alderman Roll.
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79/15		There was a presentation of the Honour of the Freedom of the Borough on Robert Gibson OBE.

Robert Gibson OBE had invested a significant proportion of his life as a faithful and loyal servant to the community, the council and the borough - enhancing its profile, its reputation and putting in place solid foundations for its future success and development.

Robert Gibson OBE read the Oath of a Freeman, signed the freeman’s Roll and the Worshipful the Mayor and the Chief Executive witnessed the same.

The Worshipful the Mayor presented the Honorary Freeman with a sealed and illuminated copy of the resolution, a limited edition Mackenzie Thorpe print and congratulated Robert on behalf of the Council and the people of the Borough of Stockton-On-Tees.

  • Contact

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    TS18 1LD

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