The Chairman welcomed new members, Councillors SP Anderson and EE Chowns, elected since the previous meeting of the full Council.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Greenow, Skelton and Tawn.

Agenda item no. 8: Motions on notice

Councillor WLS Bowen declared a non-pecuniary interest as a recipient of a war disability pension.

Councillor JLV Kenyon declared a non-pecuniary interest as a recipient of a military pension.

Agenda items 10, 11 and 12: Capital Programme 2018/19; Setting the 2018/19 budget and updating the medium term financial strategy; and pay policy statement 2018.

Councillor RJ Phillips declared a non-pecuniary interest as Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association’s National Joint Council.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 October.

It was suggested that there was an omission from the minutes of the previous meeting concerning remarks made by Councillor AJW Powers in respect of the responsibilities of cabinet members. The Chairman ruled that the point raised was not material to the decisions of Council at the meeting therefore there would not be an amendment to minutes to include the matter. Members were reminded that questions regarding the accuracy of the minutes or proposed amendments should be raised with the monitoring officer by 9.30 a.m. on the morning of the meeting.

The framing of the minute of Councillor EPJ Harvey’s question to the Leader concerning the framework agreement for Blueschool House was felt to be misleading. The use of the term ‘preferred contractor’ suggested there was a choice of contractors for selection from the framework agreement; the outcomes of the internal audit report had shown there was only one contractor on the agreement. The Chairman ruled that the point raised was not material to the decisions of Council at the meeting therefore there would not be an amendment to minutes to include the matter.    

It was noted that both the points referred to would be identified in this meeting’s minutes. The Chairman then put the original minutes to the meeting and it was:      

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairman and Chief Executive’s announcements.

Council noted the Chairman and Chief Executive’s announcements as printed in the agenda papers.

The Chairman made reference to the Commonwealth Service planned to mark the conclusion of the Queens activities overseas and the weeping window poppy display which would be exhibited at Hereford Cathedral.

The Chief Executive provided an update on the continuous-performance improvement programme at the council, recent peer reviews, the performance of the county in year one phonics, the assessment of the care quality commission and latest totals of followers on social media facilities at the Council.

Council considered a report by the Solicitor to the Council concerning: a calculation of proportionality following recent by elections; the appointment of the Vice Chairman of the Employment Panel; and a confirmation of the functions of the committees at the Council to enable the Audit and Governance Committee to undertake the role of the accountable body in respect of the new university in Hereford.

The Solicitor to the Council introduced the report and explained that the Council had agreed to act as the accountable body for the new university. Following a review by the General Scrutiny Committee it had been recommended that the governance and risk management functions of the Audit and Governance Committee fulfilled the role of an accountable body. As the functions already fell within the remit of the committee it was recommended that the item would be added to its work programme.

Confirmation was requested that there would be no financial exposure to the Council as a result of the arrangements. The Leader confirmed that the Council was not responsible or liable for the finances of the new university but would oversee the use of grants from central government and ensure that money was used in accordance with funding agreements.

The confirmation of committee functions at the council and the calculation of proportionality was put to the vote; Council voted to approve the recommendations.

The Leader proposed and Councillor JG Lester seconded the appointment of Councillor RJ Phillips as Vice Chairman of the Employment Panel. Council voted to approve the appointment.

Resolved – that:

a)    The existing functions of committees are confirmed as sufficient to supervise the discharge of accountable body functions in relation to public funding supporting the establishment of a new university in Hereford;

b)    The allocation of committee seats to political groups as contained in paragraph 13 of the officer report is agreed; and

c)    Councillor RJ Phillips is appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Employment Panel.

To receive questions from members of the public.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Tuesday 23 January 2018.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

A copy of the public questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at appendix 1.

To receive any written questions from members of the Council.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Tuesday 23 January 2018.

Accepted questions will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting.

A copy of the Member questions and written answers, together with supplementary questions asked at the meeting and their answers, is attached to the Minutes at appendix 2.

To consider Notices of Motion.

A point of order was raised regarding the agenda item on motions which at the budget meeting should be time critical or relate to an item on the agenda. The Chairman confirmed that the motion on blue badges had been accepted for discussion at the budget meeting as it had been deferred at the previous meeting on 13 October 2017.

Council considered a notice of motion concerning the waiving of the blue badge fee for recipients of a war pension.

In moving the motion Councillor MT McEvilly made the following points:

·      The military covenant committed the Council to help military veterans.

·      Meetings with various local groups, including GPs had been undertaken and the proposed waiving of the fee in the motion had been identified as an effective measure to support military veterans.

The following principal points were raised by members in the debate:

·      The gesture was perceived as charity which military veterans did not want; they would rather the application process was simplified;

·      The proposal in the motion was felt to be a gesture of goodwill which demonstrated to military veterans that they were valued;

·      The proposal involved the removal of a nominal administrative fee to a small group of individuals in the county. The financial implications were minimal; and

·      A change was sought to the motion to request that the application process for blue badges for those residents in receipt of a war pension was simplified if possible. The suggested change was accepted by the proposer of the motion.

In seconding the motion Councillor P Rone commented that, despite reservations concerning the proposed change to the motion, he accepted it.

The amended motion was put to the vote and agreed by a majority of Council.

Resolved – that: In the spirit of the military covenant, to which Herefordshire Council is a signatory, the Executive is asked to consider that residents in receipt of a war pension who are also entitled to receive a blue badge have the £10 fee waived and, if possible, the application process simplified.   

To approve the continuation of the2017/18 council tax reductionschemefor 2018/19, initially approved byCouncil on 18 December 2015.

Council considered a report by the Leader of the Council to agree the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018/19.

The Leader introduced the report and moved the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018/19 as set out in the papers. The reduction scheme for 2018/19 was unchanged from the scheme in place during 2017/18.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Housing and Corporate Services seconded the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018/19 and explained that the introduction of Universal Credit during the year would be carefully monitored and the impact on council tax default assessed.

Members made the following points in the debate that followed:

·           How women affected by the change to retirement age would be informed of the scheme and how to apply for a council tax reduction? How hardship applicants would be made aware of how to apply for a reduction? The Cabinet Member Finance, Housing and Corporate Services explained that the scheme would be highlighted through Housing Associations and charities such as Age UK.   

·           What enquiries had been undertaken into the potential implications of Universal Credit and what had been the experience of other areas, including rates of arrears, where it had already been introduced? It was noted that levels of appeals had increased in areas where Universal Credit had been introduced. The Cabinet Member and the Section 151 officer were not aware of the effect of Universal Credit on debtor figures. All applicants to the scheme were provided with advice and the new hub in Hereford consisting of Department of Work and Pension Staff and Herefordshire Council staff would enable the scheme to be publicised more widely.

A named vote was held to agree the Council Tax Reduction Scheme set out in the report.

The scheme was approved 49 votes in favour, 0 votes against and 0 votes to abstain.

For (49): Councillors SP Anderson, PA Andrews, BA Baker, JM Bartlett,  WLS Bowen, TL Bowes, H Bramer, CR Butler, ACR Chappell, EE Chowns, MJK Cooper, PE Crockett, P Cutter, BA Durkin, PJ Edwards, CA Gandy, KS Guthrie, J Hardwick, DG Harlow, EPJ Harvey, EL Holton, JA Hyde, PC Jinman, AW Johnson, JF Johnson, J Kenyon, JG Lester, MD Lloyd-Hayes, PP Marsh, RI Matthews, RL Mayo, MT McEvilly, SM Michael, PD Newman, FM Norman, CA North, RJ Phillips, AJW Powers, PD Price, P Rone, AR Round, A Seldon, NE Shaw, J Stone, D Summers, EJ Swinglehurst, A Warmington, DB Wilcox, SD Williams.

Against (0)

Abstentions (0)

Resolved – that the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018/19, in appendix 2 of the papers, is approved.

To approve the proposed capital programme including proposed investment additions for 2018/19 onwards.

Council considered a report by the Leader of the Council setting out the proposed Capital Programme for 2018/19. The report was introduced by the Cabinet Member Finance, Housing and Corporate Services who moved the Capital Programme 2018/19 as set out in the papers and explained that the schedule in appendix 3 had been changed from earlier years to improve the presentation of the schemes. The Leader seconded the Capital Programme as contained in the papers.

Members made the following points in the debate that followed:

·         The change to the presentation of the figures was welcomed but it was felt that further detail was required to enable members to scrutinise the Capital Programme and propose alternative budgets. Greater detail regarding those schemes up to £500k was also requested. The Leader confirmed that he would work with the cabinet member and the Section 151 Officer to provide detail on the schemes as the year progressed.

·         Concern was expressed regarding development partnership activities and the amount of money that it was proposed would be provided to a preferred partner. The obligations of the council to the preferred partner were queried. The Leader confirmed that projects would go out to open tender to select a development partner but there was no obligation to contract those organisations involved in the early stages of working on proposals and producing plans.

·         A project from the current year had overspent significantly and a greater level of monitoring and scrutiny of spend on capital projects was urged in the forthcoming year.

·         The future of the street lighting scheme was queried. The Cabinet Member Finance, Housing and Corporate Services confirmed that all LED lights had now been installed and the scheme had concluded.

·         Detail regarding the stage reached in the development of the New Model Farm at Ross-on-Wye was requested. The Leader confirmed that the Council would be kept advised on progress with the New Model Farm scheme. The Cabinet Member Economy and Communications explained that a planning application for employment elements on the site would be brought forward in February 2018.

·         The investment in the A44 was welcomed and it was hoped this could be financed through money from the Challenge Fund. Greater flexibility between the revenue and capital budget was suggested to address the need for road maintenance.

·         There was reference to the gypsy and traveller pitch development contained in the proposed schemes but this did not include a temporary stopping site which had been recommended by the General Scrutiny Committee.

·         It was questioned whether the proposed expenditure on disabled and independent living facilities was to mitigate the closure of the Redhill centre and whether this formed part of the savings proposals. The Cabinet Member Health and Wellbeing confirmed that the disabled facilities grant would be means tested and it was likely that some individuals using the Redhill centre would be provided with facilities financed through the fund. The Redhill centre would continue to provide care services until it became vacant when it could then be considered for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To approve the 2018/19 budget and updated medium term financial strategy (MTFS).

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Finance, Housing and Corporate Services; Setting the 2018/19 Budget and Updating the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The cabinet member introduced the report and moved the budget as set out in the papers. He made the following points:

·           The budget had taken account of the social care precept of 2%;

·           The savings proposed in the budget ensured that a balanced budget would be achieved;

·           The budget included arrangements for an increase in the level of reserves;

·           The concerns of the auditors were raised and the opinion that small authorities were at greater risk from poor local economic performance;

·           It was confirmed that the final effect of the Business Rates Retention Scheme on the county was not yet know;

·           An additional £2million had been allocated to the budget of the Children’s Wellbeing Directorate which would help support looked after children;

·           Road improvements in Herefordshire were a priority in the budget;

·           The supplement published after the despatch of full Council papers was raised which provided a corrected version of the graph concerning the base budget position in the Medium Term Financial Strategy;

·           The budget had been considered through the General Scrutiny Committee and at Cabinet; and

·           The final detail concerning the settlement from government was awaited. The Section 151 Officer had a proposed delegation in the budget to make changes in accordance with the final settlement. 

The Leader seconded the budget as set out in the papers and explained that deliberations over the precept had been prolonged. It was felt that the proposed precept was correct to meet the pressures of social care on the county. It was acknowledged that 76% of the budget would be spent on care costs.

The leader of the Its Our County (IOC) Group made the following observations:

·         Herefordshire was suffering as a consequence of austerity and city-focused government policies;

·         The difficulties faced by the county were outlined in a recent report from the County Council Network; and

·         Health and social care integration; support for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs); recognition of creativity; and 21^st century transport solutions and sustainability were raised as priorities for the IOC group.

The leader of the Independent Group made the following observations:

·         The budget proposed contained significant risk: borrowing was becoming unmanageable and there were few assets to rely upon in future. Significant savings had been achieved but mismanagement of contracts had been wasteful and costly;

·         Increases in council tax and car parking charges were significant burdens for people at a time when wages were virtually frozen; and

·         The investment in the enterprise zone needed to realise well-paid jobs in the county but there was no evidence this was happening.

The leader of the Green Group made the following observations:

·         Withdrawal of central government funding and the ideology of the current administration at the Council had compounded problems in the county;

·         The budgets that were set by Council would balance on paper but in reality often became overspent;

·         Increasing parish precepts to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

To approve the 2018 pay policy for publication.

Council considered a report by the Chairman of the Employment Panel concerning the Pay Policy Statement for 2018. The Leader introduced the report and explained that it was a statutory responsibility for council to approve the publication of the statement. The Leader moved the Pay Policy Statement contained in the papers and Councillor Phillips seconded.

Members raised the following points in the debate which followed:

·           The retention of the pay ration of 10:1 between the highest and lowest paid employees at the Council was welcomed;

·           Detail regarding whether the Council was paying women at the same rate as men for equivalent jobs was requested. The Leader confirmed that a written response would be provided.

·           Information regarding the average gender pay gap between male and female employees was requested. The Leader confirmed that a written response would be provided.

The pay policy at appendix A was put to the vote and agreed by a majority of council.

Resolved – that the Pay Policy Statement at appendix A summarising council policies is approved.