The Very Reverend Nicholas Bury lead the Council in prayer.

Apologies had been received from Councillors: G Lucas, GA Powell and SJ Robertson.

Note: Council TM James was present at the beginning of the meeting but then needed to leave the meeting after agenda item 1 and was absent for the remainder of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2011.

The Minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 November 2011 were presented to Council for approval.  Arising out of the minutes under Notice of Motion one a discussion took place.  The leader of the It’s Our County group questioned the accuracy of the minute and in particular minute number 36 bullet point 5, as he considered it did not fully reflect the discussion that had taken place about the percentage of objections to the relief road.  However, others contested the need to amend the minute and no agreement was finally reached as to the accuracy of this point. 

That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 November 2011 were approved as a correct record, subject to the following amendments:

Chairman’s Announcements – The Chairman received a petition from Councillor KS Guthrie on behalf of the Keep Queens Wood Free Campaign, which was handed to the Cabinet Member Highways, Transportation and Waste.

Item 36 Notices of Motion (Transposition of voting figures).

Notice of Motion one - Council’s Commitment to Reduce the Threat of Rural Isolation. 

It was moved and seconded that the motion be put whereupon a vote was taken:

For:                 48

Against:           0

Abstentions:    0

The Notice of Motion was declared carried with:

For:                 37

Against:           0

Abstentions:  16

Item 37 Leader’s Report – Rural Members’ Forum.  The Leader was asked if there might be a similar informal Members’ Forum for urban wards and the market towns.  The Leader invited Members to put forward proposals for his consideration.

The Chairman, in her announcements, informed Council that:

·        The March meeting of Council would be held at 2.00 pm on Friday 2 March and not the usual time of 10.30 am.

·        The Chairman would be writing to the Lord Chamberlain’s office on behalf of Herefordshire Council and residents to convey loyal greetings and congratulations to Her Majesty on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.

·        The Chairman congratulated Matthew Hunt, a teacher at Kingstone High School, on winning the Classic FM New Music Teacher of the Year Award, presented to him at the Albert Hall, London in November by Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families.  The award was created by the judges in recognition of the talent and achievements of an exceptional music teacher at the start of their career.  The Chairman added that she would be writing a letter of congratulations to Mr Hunt also.

·        Council was informed that the officer/member Goodwill Group had raised another £1,500.0 in 2011 in support of Macmillan Cancer Care, St Michael’s Hospice, The Charles Renton Unit and Help for Heroes.

·        The Chairman reminded Council of the work of the Hope Support Charity and informed Council that the charity were looking for volunteers to take part in a tandem skydive in April to raise money for the charity.

·        The Civic Service would be held on Sunday 25 March at the Cathedral followed by tea at the Town Hall.

·        The Chairman presented to the Cabinet Member Corporate Services and Education a certificate granting Herefordshire Council license as an Operating Authority of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

There were no questions received from members of the public.

There were no public questions received which met the criteria of provision 4.1.14 of the Council’s Constitution.

A copy of the Member questions and written answers, together with the supplementary questions and answers asked at the meeting, are attached to the Minutes as Appendix 1.

To receive the recommendations of Cabinet held on 19 January 2012 to approve the draft financial strategy for 2012/13 to 2015/16 that includes the 2012/13 budget.

The Leader of the Council presented the Draft Financial Strategy and Budget 2012/13 to Council and made the following points:

·         Herefordshire is a unique county but it had to face the same challenges that all councils had with a limited budget.

·         Officers need to work closely with Cabinet to make savings and create income.

·         Need to continue to work with the Health Service partners and Health Commissioners to strength the partnership.

·         Essential to transform services to provide value for money in the way the authority worked with other service providers and to continue to deliver on key projects which would maintain financial stability.

·         Propose to accept one year additional tax freeze grant worth £2.2m to freeze Council tax for a second year.  Part of the additional grant funding to be used for a one off change and improvement programme. 

·         Cabinet agreed to an increase in the level of fees and charges.  This is currently being reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·         In looking to make a saving of £200k from the waste contract a scheme to fund black refuse sacks through sponsorship and advertising is being considered and will be put before Members.

·         Capital programme – the broadband project is a significant project which will provide support to the infra structure of Herefordshire and help businesses that are struggling to have good communications.  The programme includes funding for a replacement archives facility, which will be met within a set budget and a link road, funding for which could be raised using the low interest rates currently available. 

·         Significant changes in the way local government is funded as a result of the Localism Act.  Electorate to have a greater say in the levels of Council tax increases.  2013 the Council will collect business rates in Herefordshire.  It is clear from the government proposals that the Council will be expected to retain and increase business rates in Herefordshire.

·         Engagement with the public is needed to help shape resources and a long term vision and plan is being prepared by the administration to shape the county’s future through to 2020.

The Leader referred to the recommendations of the report and moved acceptance of the recommendations as outlined on page 35 of the agenda.  The Cabinet Member Corporate Services and Education seconded the proposal.

The following points were made in discussion:

·         In response to a question on the sustainability of the borrowing in the capital programme the Cabinet Member Corporate Services and Education referred Council to pages 119 to 120 of the report where Members could see that the amount of potential borrowing was significantly higher than the actual borrowing undertaken.  Additionally in benchmarking against other unitary authorities Herefordshire is placed 24^th out of 35 unitaries and was well within the middle range and sustainable.  The Leader added that funding could also come through government grants or contributions in other ways, but it was essential to secure potential funding in case it was required and stated it was intended to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.