(a)         To elect the Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

(b)         The newly elected Chairman to sign the required Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The outgoing Chairman made a few announcements.  He noted that Councillor English was present for the meeting despite not being well, he thanked him for coming and all Members wished him a speedy recovery.

One of the Chairman’s final appointments had been a fashion show in Attleborough also attended by Councillor Martin.  It had been a terrific night with £741 being raised for MacMillan Cancer Research.

With regard to his five town tandem tour, the Chairman thanked the Members that had turned out to support him and the Leader on their journey.  He also thanked the Mayors of the five towns for their goodwill and refreshments.  He then presented a cheque for the £1,400 raised to date, to Danielle Gravestock from the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice.

He wished to thank all the Members for the courtesy and respect they had shown him throughout the year which had made his job easier and the Vice-Chairman, the Leader, the Chief Executive and all officers and staff for their support. 

In particular he thanked the Chairman’s secretary Mrs Susan Allen for organising his diary and ensuring he had all the necessary information, and his wife Colleen for her support in attending events with him.  He presented both ladies with flowers.

Nominations were then invited for a new Chairman.

(a)               After being duly moved and seconded, it was

RESOLVED that Mr R Goreham be elected as Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

(b)               Mr Goreham then signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Mr Goreham in the Chair

(a)         To appoint the Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

(b)         The newly appointed Vice-Chairman to sign the required Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Nominations were then invited for a new Vice-Chairman.

(a)               After being duly moved and seconded, it was

RESOLVED that Mr P Claussen be elected as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year.

(b)               Mr Claussen then signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The Leader of the Council noted that it had been an interesting year with Mr Wilkin as Chairman and he had brought great humour to the Council chamber.

The Leader of the Labour Group extended thanks on behalf of himself and the other Labour Councillors to Mr Wilkin for making the Council meetings a pleasure to attend and for always being fair.

Mrs Monument as Deputy Mayor of Dereham had attended some of the same functions as Mr Wilkin and said that he had always been a good ambassador for the Council.  She congratulated him on his tandem bike ride.

Mr Wassell as Mayor of Watton had also attended events with Mr Wilkin, including two visits to HMP Wayland.  He thanked him for the great times they had had.

Mrs Matthews as Mayor of Swaffham agreed that it was always a pleasure to see Mr Wilkin at events and she thanked him for having made the year easier.

Mr Robert Richmond thanked Mr Wilkin for taking the time out to visit a Beetley Parish Council event which they had much appreciated.

Mr Goreham then presented Mr Wilkin with the ex-Chairman’s medal.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 April 2012.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 April 2012 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive apologies for absence. 

Apologies for absence were received from Mr Borrett, Mr C Carter, Mr Gilbert, Mr Lamb, Mrs Quadling, Mr S Rogers, Mr Smith, Mr Stasiak, Mrs Steward, Mrs Turner and Mr Williams.

Engagements List – Chairman

12^th April, 2012 – 23^rd May, 2012

Engagements List – Vice-Chairman

12^th April, 2012 – 23^rd May, 2012

The previous Chairman’s engagements were noted.

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.

Mr Askew declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 15b, (Minute No 49/12 - Schedule Items (i) and (j)) as the Applicant for the planning applications.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Executive Member for Finance & Democratic Services presented the report.

He advised Members that the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 introduced significant changes in police governance and accountability, in particular replacing the Police Authorities with directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).  PCC elections were scheduled for 15 November 2012.

The Act required local authorities in each police force area to establish a Police and Crime Panel (PCP) for that police area.

An officer working group had been overseeing the development of arrangements for the Norfolk PCP and its recommendations had been reported to the Norfolk Leaders Group and to each local authority.

The Act required that in Norfolk the PCP should consist of ten councillors and two independent co-opted members (not councillors).  Three Councillors would be from Norfolk County Council (as lead authority) and one each from the seven other local authorities.

RESOLVED to

(1)               agree the establishment of a Police and Crime Panel (PCP) for Norfolk, as a joint committee of the district, borough and county councils, and agree the proposed Panel Arrangements;

(2)               appoint Mr William Richmond to the PCP and Mr Frank Sharpe as a named substitute.

(3)               Endorse the proposed Rules of Procedure and recommend to the PCP that they be adopted.

Unconfirmed minutes of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 24 April 2012.

With the agreement of Members, the Chairman moved to Agenda Items 14 and 14a before the report on the Localism Act, as comments made by the Standards Committee were relevant to that item.

(1)       Minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 24 April 2012

RESOLVED that the now confirmed Minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 24 April 2012 be adopted.

(2)       Minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 15 May 2012

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 15 May 2012 be adopted.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Executive Member for Finance & Democratic Services presented the report.

The Localism Act made fundamental changes to the system of regulation of standards of conduct for elected and co-opted Councillors.  The regulations had yet to be published and therefore a final arrangements document would be brought back to Council once they were available.

The recommendations within the report were listed in full at Appendix 3 on page 49 of the Agenda.

Members’ attention was drawn to recommendation 4c concerning the appointment of an Independent Person.  Interviews had taken place and an additional paper had been tabled which detailed the recommendations of the interview panel.  The appointment of the Independent Person had to be made by a positive majority of Council. 

An amendment to recommendation 3f was noted.  It should read “such actions might include”.  Subject to that amendment, and the proposal to appoint Fiona Anthony as the Independent Person, Members were encouraged to support the recommendations.

The Leader of the Labour Group was concerned that the Audit Committee already had sufficient workload.  It was a considerable undertaking to review complaints which would still incur costs. 

The Executive Member advised that the Chairman of the Audit Committee had confirmed that they were able to take on the work.

The Leader of the Labour Group remained sceptical about the arrangements but said that he had been invited to attend the interviews for the Independent Person and he was happy to endorse that recommendation.

A Member of the Standards Committee said that she was concerned that there was no appeal panel.  She felt that the new proposals were not sufficiently robust enough to support Members.

Members voted on the amended recommendations en-bloc.  With regard to recommendation 4c there was a show of hands.  40 Members voted in favour of the appointment of Fiona Anthony as the Council’s Independent Person.  Mrs Matthews and Lady Fisher abstained.

RESOLVED:

1)     a.   That the Council delegates to the Audit Committee, the role of monitoring Standards issues.

b.      That training is provided for the Members of the Audit Committee in order to support them in carrying out this additional role.

c.   That when required by the Monitoring Officer, a Hearing Panel comprising 3 elected Members of the Audit Committee, will be called to sit for cases referred to it by the Monitoring Officer;

d.   That the current Standards Committee be dissolved with effect from 30 June 2012 if there are no outstanding cases, or until such later date as outstanding cases are resolved.

1)     a.   That the Code of Conduct attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be adopted by Council,

b.   That, when the Disclosable Pecuniary Interests Regulations are published, the Monitoring Officer is instructed, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, to add to the Code of Conduct provisions which is considered to be appropriate for the registration and disclosure of interests other than DPIs and bring back to Council for approval.

2)     a.   That the Monitoring Officer is instructed to draft the arrangements  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

Report of the Assistant Director for Democratic Services / Monitoring Officer.

The Senior Committee Officer presented the report and read out the following list of amendments:

Planning Committee

Elizabeth Gould and Michael Wassell off

Gordon Bambridge and Paul Claussen on

Bernard English to replace Brian Rose as a Substitute Member

Nigel Wilkin - Chairman

Jenny North - Vice-Chairman

General Purposes Committee

Richard Duffield off

Trevor Carter on

Phillip Duigan – Chairman

Trevor Carter – Vice-Chairman

Licensing Committee

Ian Sherwood and Michael Wassell off

Gordon Bambridge and Frank Sharpe on

Gordon Bambridge – Chairman

Ellen Jolly – Vice-Chairman

3 Licensing Sub-Committee Chairmen – Gordon Bambridge, John Rogers and Pam Spencer

Appeals Committee

Gordon Bambridge, Ian Sherwood and Michael Wassell off

Stephen Askew, Jenny North and William Richmond on

Claire Bowes to replace William Richmond as a Substitute Member

William Richmond – Vice-Chairman

Audit Committee

Simon Rogers off

Ellen Jolly on

Joint Appointments Committee

Adrian Stasiak off

Michael Wassell on

VACANCY for one named substitute

Joint Appointments Appeals Committee

Paul Claussen off

Elizabeth Gould on

VACANCY for one named substitute

Anglia Revenues & Benefits Partnership Joint Committee

Michael Wassell to replace Gordon Bambridge as a Substitute Member

Member Development Panel

Ian Sherwood off

Trevor Carter on

Trevor Carter - Chairman

The Leader of the Labour Group nominated Mrs Armes as a substitute member for Audit Committee and Mr Clark as a substitute member for both Licensing and Appeals Committees.  He also proposed that Mrs Armes should be appointed to the General Purposes Committee in addition to Mr Clark, in place of an Independent Member.

It was agreed that Mrs Armes’ appointment to the General Purposes Committee should be left in abeyance until the legal situation was confirmed.

Following recent changes to the members of the Cabinet, the Chairman and Leader of the Council thanked the former Executive Members for all their hard work.

RESOLVED that subject to the amendments listed above, the Committees, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be re-appointed en-bloc.

Report of the Assistant Director for Democratic Services.

The Senior Committee Officer presented the report and read out the following list of amendments:

Iceni Partnership

            Lady K Fisher to be replaced. 

The Executive Member for Finance and Democratic Services would be contacting the Partnership to see if they still wished to have a Breckland Council representative.

Local Government Association – Network Assembly

Adrian Stasiak to be replaced by Michael Wassell

Local Government Association – Urban Commission

Adrian Stasiak to be replaced by Michael Wassell

Local Government Association – Rural Commission

Adrian Stasiak to be replaced by Michael Wassell

Local Strategic Partnership

The Partnership has been disbanded.

Moving Thetford Forward Board

Paul Claussen to be replaced by Robert Kybird

Rural Transport Partnership: West Norfolk Steering Group

The Steering Group has been disbanded.

Supporting Peoples Members’ Panel

Diana Irving to be replaced by William Richmond

The Queen Elizabeth NHS Trust

Ian Sherwood to be replaced by David Williams

Thetford Tourism Heritage Partnership Steering Group

Paul Claussen to be replaced by Mark Robinson

Mr Martin noted that he had been invited to sit on the Banham Poultry Community Liaison Committee and it was agreed that it should be added to the list of Outside Bodies.

RESOLVED that subject to the amendments listed above the representatives on Outside Bodies be re-appointed en-bloc.

Report of the Assistant Director for Democratic Services.

The item was noted.

Unconfirmed minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 8 May 2012.

1)         Revenue Out-Turn 2011/12 (Minute No 60/12)

RESOLVED that any balance from the Revenue outturn against the budget should remain in the General Fund.

2)         Capital Out-Turn 2011/12 (Minute No 61/12

RESOLVED that the final Capital budget outturn position and funding for 2011-12 and the Capital budget and funding for the revised 2012-13 Capital Programme (as detailed in Appendix A and Appendix B of the report) be approved.

3)         Breckland Tenancy Strategy (Minute No 62/12)

RESOLVED that the Breckland Tenancy Strategy be adopted.

4)         Homelessness Strategic Delivery Plan (Minute No 63/12)

RESOLVED that the Homelessness Strategic Business Plan be adopted.

5)         Revision to Wheeled Bin Policy (Minute No 64/12)

RESOLVED that a new Policy to charge for the provision of wheeled bins (black and green) for new properties, be approved.

6)         The Localism Act 2011 – The Amended Standards Regime (Minute No 65/12)

The recommendation had been moved and approved under Agenda Item 9.

7)         Adoption

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 8 May 2012 be adopted.

Unconfirmed minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 26 April 2012.

1)         Shared Services (Minute No 53/12)

The Vice-Chairman of the Commission noted that the Minutes were out of date and asked the Leader to give an update on Shared Services.  He understood that Great Yarmouth no longer intended to proceed with the arrangements.  He had cautioned against pushing ahead with the proposals at a previous meeting and he asked how much money had been wasted.

The Leader of the Council advised that there had been no cost to the authority.  The Chief Executive and Officers had worked hard and put in a lot of effort but following the elections at Great Yarmouth the new Labour Council there had abandoned Shared Services.

The Chief Executive would be reporting to the next Council meeting on closing that work.

2)         Adoption

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 26 April 2012 be adopted.

On behalf of all members, Mr Wilkin thanked the out-going Chairman for all her hard work on the Planning Committee.

Confirmed minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 11 April 2012.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 11 April 2012 be adopted.

Unconfirmed Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 14 May 2012.

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on 14 May 2012 be adopted.

Unconfirmed minutes of the meeting of the Appeals Committee held on 4 April 2012.

RESOLVED that the unconfirmed Minutes of the Appeals Committee meeting held on 4 April 2012 be adopted.

To note the Youth Council minutes for the meeting held on 24 April 2012.

The Minutes of the Youth Council meeting held on 24 April 2012 were noted.