To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrews, Owens, Ivan Powell, Stoddart and Stone.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2024.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Chairman and Chief Executive’s announcements.

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

To receive questions from members of the public.

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.

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 exercise those powers reserved to Council to review the representation and determine the allocation of seats on committees and relevant outside bodies to political groups.

Council considered a report by the Director of Governance and Law to exercise those powers reserved to Council to: review the representation; and determine the allocation of seats on committees and relevant outside bodies to political groups.

Councillor Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor Stef Simmons seconded the recommendation in the report.

The recommendation in the report was put to the vote and was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That:

a) the number of seats on each committee as set out at paragraph 9, and the allocation of those seats to political groups as set out in paragraph 10 be approved.

To approve an amendment to the capital programme to utilise underspends to fund two new projects, at a total of £368,000 for delivery of IT projects within this financial year.

Council considered a report by the Cabinet Member Finance and Corporate Services to approve an amendment to the capital programme to utilise underspends to fund two new projects, at a total of £368,000 for delivery of IT projects within this financial year.

Councillor Swinglehurst proposed the recommendations and introduced the report. Councillor Mason seconded the recommendations.

The recommendations were put to the vote and were carried unanimously.

RESOLVED –

That Council:

a) Approves the addition of £368,000 in this year’s capital programme, to deliver Wide Area Network (WAN) replacement project and Telephony Contact Centre project, funded from underspends in the capital programme.

To approve a new scheme of polling districts, polling places and polling stations.

Council considered a report by the (Acting) Returning Officer to approve a new scheme of polling districts, polling places and polling stations.

Council raised a number of issues relating to the changes to polling stations proposed in the report and it was suggested that further consultation should be conducted with those members who had raised concerns regarding the changes in their electoral wards. It was felt that the report should be withdrawn from consideration at the current meeting and returned to a future meeting following consultation with affected local members.

During the course of the debate the following action was raised:

·       to produce a list of concerns regarding the changes proposed, as raised by local ward members. To send to the Elections Team to inform review of the proposals and enable consultation with those local ward members raising concerns. 

Councillor Roger Phillips proposed and Councillor Jim Kenyon seconded a motion that the report be withdrawn from consideration at the current meeting and returned to a future meeting of Council after consultation with those local members expressing concerns with the proposals.

The motion was put to the vote and was carried by a simple majority.

RESOLVED – that:

The Review of Polling Places, Polling Districts and Polling Stations 2024 be withdrawn from consideration at the current meeting and returned to a future meeting of Council after consultation with those local members expressing concerns with the proposals.

To receive a report from the leader on the activities of the executive (cabinet) since the meeting of Council on 11 October 2024.

Council received and noted a report from the Leader of the activities of the executive (cabinet) since the meeting of Council on 11 October 2024.

Council questioned the Leader and the following actions were raised:

-        In response to a question, the Cabinet Member Transport and Infrastructure to raise the reinstatement of a late night bus service Hereford to Ross-on-Wye with the Hereford Enhanced Partnership;

-        In response to a question, to consider the convening of a Bus Summit involving local stakeholders;

-        In response to a question, to investigate and provide a response regarding the circumstances around the access to homeless support services from a former local resident;

-        In response to a question, to provide clarification regarding the potential liability a parish council may incur as a result of carrying out work through the minor drainage issues grant fund;

-        In response to a question, to provide a response relating to the current status of savings plans and confirm plans are in place for all those savings agreed at the February 2024 budget meeting; and

-        In response to a question, regarding achieving value for money, to provide a response regarding further measures being undertaken to improve project management.