To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2011.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2011 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive apologies for absence. 

Apologies for absence were received from Mr R Childerhouse, Mr C Clark, Mr K Gilbert, Mr R Goreham, Mrs D Irving, Mrs P Quadling and Mrs A Steward.

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests pertinent to items on this agenda.

The Members’ Code of Conduct requires that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is personal or prejudicial.

Mrs S Armes declared a personal & prejudicial interest in Minute No 166/11 and 167/11 of the Planning Committee meeting held on 31 October 2011 by virtue of the applications being for her son’s business.

Councillor C Bowes declared a personal interest in Minute No 92/11 of the Cabinet meeting held on 29 November 2011 by virtue of being friends with the landowner.

Mrs E Jolly declared a personal interest in Minute No 164/11 (g) of the Planning Committee meeting held on 31 October 2011 by virtue of owning the adjacent land.

It has been requested that the Council meeting to set the Council Tax be brought forward a week to Thursday, 23^rd February instead of 29^th February 2012.

The reason for this request is that Breckland Council currently shares its printing costs with the other Norfolk authorities when printing the Council Tax leaflet which ARP organise & send out with the bills. 

The printing deadlines, to get the joint leaflet printed and out to all the Norfolk authorities in time, to meet everyone’s postage deadlines for the bills, is earlier than 29^th February 2012.  Therefore, if we don’t bring the meeting forward to 23^rd February we will have to print our own Council Tax leaflet rather than appearing in the joint one – hence the extra cost.

Engagements List – Chairman

27^th October, 2011 to 7^th December, 2011

Engagements List - Vice-Chairman

27^th October, 2011 to 7^th December, 2011

The Chairman asked all Members to note the amended date of the Council Tax setting meeting which would now be held on 23 February 2012.

All Members joined him in wishing Mr A Joel a happy 65^th birthday.

He advised Members that he would not be sending any Christmas Cards on behalf of the Council in his capacity as Chairman, due to the current economic climate.

Finally he drew attention to the events that he had attended, which had included:

·   The charity dance at which Mr Goreham had performed which had been a very enjoyable evening

·   the launch of the Wayland History Books, where he had been given a set of books capturing Wayland heritage and he presented those to the Chief Executive on behalf of the Wayland Project

·   a trip to Wayland Prison accompanied by Mr Wassel

·   the Charity Quiz evening at which the ‘Breckland Brainstormers’ had come second

·   the switch on of the Attleborough Christmas lights which he said were ‘brilliant’ and well worth a visit

·   the re-dedication of the War Memorial Hall in Dereham which was an incredible facility and a real asset to Dereham and the whole District.  Mrs Monument, speaking as Deputy Major of Dereham encouraged all Members to visit the Hall.

Unconfirmed Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 29 November 2011.

(a)       Match Funding Grant Panel Report Round 3 2011/12 (Minute No 89/11)

            Mr Bambridge, speaking on behalf of Bawdeswell Parish Council, thanked the Council for the grant awarded.  He advised that a planning application would be submitted soon for the new village hall.

(b)       Draft Calendar of Council and Committee Meetings 2012/13 (Minute No 93/11)

RESOLVED to approve the schedule of Council and Committee meetings for 2012/13, subject to amending the date of the Audit Committee meeting from 9 to 23 November 2012.

(c)        Environmental Health Review (Minute No 99/11)

RESOLVED to approve:

(1)               the commencement of formal consultation with staff and Trade Unions on the introduction of a shared service for Environmental Health and Licensing and a proposed staffing structure; and

(2)               the production of a further report at the conclusion of the formal consultation to include final staffing proposals, IT solutions, finance and business case.

(d)       Adoption

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 29 November 2011 be adopted.

Unconfirmed Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 17 November 2011.

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 17 November 2011 be adopted.

Confirmed Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 31 October 2011.

RESOLVED that the confirmed Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 31 October 2011 be adopted.

Unconfirmed Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 28 November 2011.

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 28 November 2011 be adopted.

Unconfirmed minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 16 November 2011.

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 16 November 2011 be adopted.

Unconfirmed Minutes of the Appeals Committee meeting held on 30 November 2011.

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Appeals Committee meeting held on 30 November 2011 be adopted.

Unconfirmed Minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 16 November 2011.

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Licensing Committee meeting held on 16 November 2011 be adopted.

Unconfirmed Minutes of the Audit Committee meeting held on 25 November 2011.

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Audit Committee meeting held on 25 November 2011 be adopted.

Unconfirmed Minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 22 November 2011.

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 22 November 2011 be adopted.

To note the Youth Council minutes for the meeting held on 22 November 2011.

The Minutes of the Youth Council meeting held on 22 November 2011 were noted.

To recommend a scheme of allowances for the period 1^st January 2012 to 31^st March 2013 to bring this in line with the financial year.

Before agreeing a scheme, the Council must have regard to the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.   A copy of their report is attached.

The Assistant Director for Democratic Services presented the report and explained the key points.

The Independent Remuneration Panel had met twice and had conducted interviews with the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Licensing Committee before setting out their recommendations.

They had been mindful of the economic restraints and the fact that the Council was facing a period of change.  It had therefore only recommended a scheme from 1 January 2012 to 31 March 2013 (to bring it into line with the financial year).

No changes were proposed to the Basic and Special Responsibility allowances, with the exception of the Chairman of Licensing.  No changes were proposed to Carer’s allowances or those to Co-opted Members and Specialist Advisers.

Travel and subsistence rates would remain the same with the exception of the training mileage allowance.  That would be abolished as the Panel felt that it was unjustifiably low, especially when Members were encouraged to attend training session.

The responsibilities of the Licensing Chairman had significantly diminished and therefore it was recommended that that allowance should be reduced to £2,600.  This changed allowance would be reviewed retrospectively by the next Panel.

It was noted that Mr Alistair Skipper, a member of the Remuneration Panel, was in attendance to answer any questions.

RESOLVED that:

(1)               the new scheme to be effective from 1 January 2012 until 31 March 2013

(2)               payments over that period to be set at the rates shown in Appendix A to the report for:

§         The Basic Allowance

§         Special Responsibility Allowances for the positions indicated

§         Specialist Advisers to the Audit Committee, where required

§         Co-opted Independent and Parish Council representative members of the Standards Committee

§         Occasional chairing of meetings as indicated

§         Childcare and Dependent Carers

(3)               travel and subsistence to be payable for those “approved duties” shown at Appendix B to the report.

(4)               travel and subsistence at the same rates as those applicable to officers under the National Conditions of Service, supported by receipts, should be paid;

(5)               the Training Mileage rate to be abolished, and the National Conditions of Service rates apply to those Members that attend training events;

(6)               no scheme to be made for Town and Parish Councils, requests for the payment of allowances to be referred to the Independent Remuneration Panel as received;

(7)               no Members to be admitted to the Local Government Pension Scheme and no allowances paid to Members to be considered pensionable; and

(8)               the Council to have the right to withdraw allowances from a fully or partially suspended councillor and to require the repayment of any allowances paid during the period of suspension, such provision to be applicable to all allowances except those for dependant carers.

Report of the Assistant Director of Democratic Services.

It was noted that the recommendation had been approved under Minute No 128/11 (Cabinet Minutes) above.

To receive nominations for any changes to Committee and other seats from political groups.

·              To appoint Mr T Jermy as Vice-Chairman to the Overview & Scrutiny Commission.

RESOLVED that Mr T Jermy be appointed as Vice-Chairman to the Overview & Scrutiny Commission.