Councillor the Reverend Prebendary Carl Attwood, led the Council in prayers.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Councillor EMK Chave declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 10:  Appointment Of Independent Persons To The Council's Standards Panel because she was acquainted with David Williams through Herefordshire Advanced Motorists.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the ordinary and the extraordinary meeting of Council held on 24 May 2013.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the ordinary and the extraordinary meetings of Council held on 24 May 2013 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following point of clarification on the minutes of the extraordinary meeting: Minute number 15, agenda page 18, bullet point 11 should be amended to state that, “a 1p council tax rise would give £642.60 and a 12.5p rise would give £8,032.  This is based on a council tax base of 64,260”.

In the Chairman’s announcements the Chairman:

·         Informed Council of the retirement of Mike Toney, Head of Benefits and Revenue Performance.

·         Informed Council of the commemorative service held at the Cathedral for the coronation of Her Majesty The Queen.

·         Informed Council of the ceremony for the Herefordshire  Volunteer of the Year Awards won by Richard Johnston.

·         Informed Council of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman’s attendance at the Royal Three Counties Agricultural Society’s Award Ceremony.

·         Advised of Chairman and Vice-Chairman’s attendance at the Armed Forces Flag raising ceremony held at the Shire Hall.

·         Advised of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman’s attendance at the Whitecross Summer Sports Events. 

·         Reported the Vice-Chairman’s attendance at a special ceremony granting The Rifles Regiment freedom of  Ross-on-Wye.

·         Informed Council of the annual Historical Hereford Day, which was opened by Councillor Graham Powell.

·         Informed Council of Councillor Sally Robertson being nominated a ‘Shining Light’ in celebration of one year on from London 2012 and the Olympic Games.

·         Informed Council that members of the Brimfield bowling club, whilst bowling at Windsor Castle, had had the honour of speaking to Her Majesty the Queen.

There were no petitions from members of the public.

A copy of the public questions and written answers is attached to the Minutes as Appendix 1.  There were no supplementary questions asked.

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

There are two Notices of Motion for consideration by Council.

NOTICE OF MOTION ONE:

Proposed by Councillor AM Atkinson and seconded by Councillor P Rone

At a time when we are discussing making vast numbers of Council staff redundant and cuts to the extent of which have never been seen before it is moved:

That:

• Elected Members take a voluntary 10% reduction in their attendance allowance. 
• In addition Councillors also consider not claiming all available expenses.

This saving in Members’ allowances would give a potential saving of over £40,000 which is equivalent to two full time posts.

NOTICE OF MOTION TWO:

Proposed by Councillor RB Hamilton

At its meeting in March 2013 Council resolved that votes on non-procedural motions be taken by means of a named recorded vote and the Council’s Constitution has been amended accordingly.  It is now moved that :

1          The Council’s Constitution be further amended to require that non procedural votes taken at all meetings of Council's Committees be by means of  recorded named vote with a view of increasing transparency in decision making.

2          That once recorded, and in order for constituents and others to see how Councillors (their Ward Member) votes, the details of all said votes to be included on each Member’s webpage on the Council’s website in accordance with the established process.

NOTICE OF MOTION ONE – VOLUNTARY REDUCTION IN MEMBERS’ ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE

Moved by Councillor AM Atkinson and seconded by Councillor P Rone.

Councillor AM Atkinson addressed Council and made the following points:

·         The motion was not a gesture, but a question of morality and fairness.

·         He accepted some Members did not claim allowances and that the basic allowance for Councillors was not excessive.

·         Councillors could not allow staff to be made redundant and not give up anything in Members’ allowances.

·         Members were allowed to claim out of pocket expenses, but if a Member was not out of pocket then they shouldn’t make a claim.

·         It was accepted no one wanted anyone to think they couldn’t stand to be a Councillor as they couldn’t afford to, but Members didn’t have to claim for everything.

·         Councillors should lead by example, especially at times of hardship.

Councillor P Rone made the following comments:

·         He did not believe that any Councillor stood to be elected as a Councillor based on the allowance they would receive.

·         These were extraordinary times with the number of redundancy notices being sent out.

·         He accepted that some Members didn’t claim or claimed and gave their allowance to charity.

·         He asked Members to consider the Notice of Motion in the manner in which it was proposed.

The following comments were made in debate:

·         Members were asked to reject the Notice of Motion as grandstanding.

·         Members were not forced to claim their allowance. 

·         The Independent Remuneration Panel set the allowance for Councillors, not Members themselves. People’s circumstances were very different and the allowances in Herefordshire were modest compared to other authorities. Members had the right not to claim their allowance.

·         Not all Members were wealthy enough to give up their allowance; people could decide for themselves.

·         The Notice of Motion would make it impossible for less well off members of the public to become Councillors.

·         It could be expensive for Members travelling around a rural ward.

·         The Notice of Motion could discourage women, mothers and people with a disability from becoming Councillors.

·         Some Members had given up work to stand as a Councillor and lost money for each Council meeting they attended.

·         There was a need to encourage a good cross section of society to stand as a Councillor.  There was concern that Herefordshire’s current system was ageist and sexist.

·         The Notice of Motion was proposed with the best of intentions but it was wrong for people to feel coerced into giving up their allowance.

·         Herefordshire Councillors had decided against joining the local government pension scheme, which some other authorities had done and which was a loss to Members.

A named vote was taken:

For: Councillors: AM Atkinson and P Rone.

Against: Councillors PA Andrews, CNH Attwood, CM Bartrum, LO Barnett, PL Bettington, AJM Blackshaw, WLS Bowen, H Bramer, AN Bridges, ACR Chappell, MJK Cooper, PGH Cutter, BA Durkin, KS Guthrie, RB Hamilton, J Hardwick, JW Hope MBE, JA Hyde, TM James, JG Jarvis, AW Johnson, Brig P Jones CBE,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

The Leader of the Council presented his report.

A Member requested that the format of the Leader’s report should be reviewed.  Members had already been informed of decisions that had been taken.  It would be more useful if the report commented on what had happened but also looked ahead to the key issues that would be under consideration before the next council meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

On the recommendation of the Audit and Governance Committee, to approve the appointment of two independent persons to the Council’s standards panel.

The Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee, presented the report of the Head of Governance and Monitoring Officer on the appointment of independent persons to the Council’s Standards Panel.

Councillor Stone thanked Jake Bharier and David Stevens for their service to the Panel, both of whom had to step down from their positions because of the provisions of the Localism Act 2011.  He welcomed the new members: David Williams and John Sharman.

RESOLVED:  That the appointment of John Sharman and David Williams as Independent persons to the Standards Panel, be approved.

To designate the post of Head of Governance as Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer, this is undertaken independently of the Council.

(The Head of Governance left the room during consideration of this item.)

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the Chief Executive on the appointment of Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer and moved the recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor A Seldon.

RESOLVED:  That the post of Head of Governance be designated Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer.

To note the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s final recommendations for Council size and warding arrangements in Herefordshire.

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the Head of Governance on the Electoral Review of Herefordshire Final Recommendations.

RESOLVED: That the Local Government Boundary Commission for England’s final recommendations for Council size and warding arrangements, and the timetable for implementation, be noted.

To receive the report of the Annual Meeting of the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority.

Councillor Brigadier P Jones CBE presented the annual report of the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority.

He noted concern expressed by a Member about proposals relating to fire cover for Hereford City.

RESOLVED:            That the annual report of the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority be received.