Agenda and minutes

            The Mayor thanked everyone for the expressions of goodwill he received following his recent illness.

            The Mayor thanked the Deputy Mayor for so ably fulfilling Mayoral engagements during his recent illness.

            The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, expressed his best wishes for a speedy recovery to Councillor Fay Howard who was recovering following a recent operation.

            Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Junab Ali, Mavis Childs, Ian Dobie, Fay Howard, Mary Martin, Glenn Smith and Martin Wiltshire. 

To receive any communications or letters which the Mayor or Chief Executive may have to bring before the Council.

The Chief Executive reported that no communications had been received.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24^th March 2011.

            Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th March 2011, be confirmed and signed.

Members are reminded that at the start of the meeting they should declare any known interests in any matter to be considered, and also during the meeting if it becomes apparent that they have an interest in the matters being discussed.

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.  No declarations were made.

See explanatory note below.

            Mr. Chris Watts tabled public questions relating to (a) Groundwell Road repairs, (b) York Road / Portsmouth Road resurfacing request, (c) Curtis Street Flooding, (d) Curtis Street Bus Lane, (e) Microwave Antenna, (f) Dial-a-Ride,  (g) Dixon Street Fly Tipping, and (h) Fly Tipping .

            The Cabinet Member for StreetSmart tabled responses in respect of questions (a) to (d), (g) and (h).

            The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Leisure tabled a response in respect of question (e).

            The Cabinet Member for Sustainability, Strategic Planning, Property and Transporttabled a response in respect of question (f).

            Mr. Watts thanked the Cabinet Member for the invitation to attend a meeting in respect of question (e) and indicated that he would supply additional information the relevant Cabinet Members in respect of questions (g) and (h).

            Mr. Brian Cockbill tabled public questions regarding the Mechanics Institute and public consultation on the Council’s Core Strategy.

            The Leader of the Council tabled written responses at the meeting to Mr. Cockbill’s questions.

            Mrs. Stephanie Exell (Secretary, Oakhurst Residents’ Association) asked the following Public Question, “The resolution passed at the North Swindon Cluster Group read, “The Cluster view is that there should not be any further development in North Swindon unless the appropriate, promised and future infrastructure is put in place – roads, community facilities and Schools.”  Can the Leader, the Chair of the Cluster Group and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services account for their nullification of Connecting People, Connecting Places, by altering such an unequivocal resolution into a politically-suiting motion that bears no resemblance to the community view?

            The Leader of the Council responded at the meeting and noted that Clusters facilitated debate and an exchange of views and Councillors were not Cluster delegates.

            Mr. Kevin Ley (Oakhurst Residents’ Association) asked the following Public Question, “In the Core Strategy the traffic assessment to be carried out for any future development in the Tadpole Farm area uses the Swindon Traffic Model.  Does the Swindon Traffic Model take into account any proposed development on the western border in the Ridgeway Farm or Pry Farm area and, if it doesn’t, does the Cabinet Member share the same view as his Strategic Highways Planner that Wiltshire traffic will have no impact on Oakhurst Way?

            The Cabinet Member for Sustainability, Strategic Planning, Property and Transport responded at the meeting.

            Mr. Kevin Ley asked the following Supplemental Question, “If the Tadpole Farm development is built before bordering developments would it be too late to ensure an appropriate traffic assessment is undertaken?”

            The Cabinet Member for Sustainability, Strategic Planning, Property and Transport responded at the meeting.

            Mr. Paul Exell (Oakhurst Residents’ Association) asked the following Public Question, “At a recent meeting in Wanborough about the Core Strategy the Cabinet Member for Planning was quoted as saying the “Council was trying not to make the same mistakes as in North Swindon, with its sprawling mass of housing and overloaded transport network.” Does Councillor Greenhalgh ever learn from past mistakes or does he plan to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 133.

To consider Minutes for Confirmation (Minute 94 of the Cabinet and Minute 23(4) of the Standards Committee together with relevant Background Papers are attached for Members’ information.)

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CouncillorPeter Greenhalgh moved and Councillor Roderick Bluh seconded:

“That Minute 94 of the Cabinet be confirmed and adopted (Swindon Local Transport Plan 2011).”

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Roderick Bluh moved and Councillor Derique Montautseconded:

            “That Minute 23(4) of the Standards Committee be confirmed and adopted (Ethical Framework Update Report). “

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

There are no petitions to be considered under the Council’s Petition Scheme. 

            There were no petitions to be considered under the Council’s Petition Scheme. 

Councillor Bob Wright will move and Councillor Mark Dempsey will second:

“Given the need to create a more open and transparent politics and the need to engage more local residents in the decisions that affect them; this Council requests its Chief Executive to bring a report to Cabinet detailing the costs of recording and broadcasting Full Council, Planning Committee, Scrutiny Committee and Licensing Committee Meetings, for residents to view via the Councils web site”

Councillor Bob Wright moved and Councillor Mark Dempsey seconded:

“Given the need to create a more open and transparent politics and the need to engage more local residents in the decisions that affect them; this Council requests its Chief Executive to bring a report to Cabinet detailing the costs of recording and broadcasting Full Council, Planning Committee, Scrutiny Committee and Licensing Committee Meetings, for residents to view via the Council’s web site”

            Councillor Dale Heenan moved and Councillor Roderick Bluh seconded:

“This Council welcomes that it is one of the first in the Country to meet all seven of Eric Pickles transparency requirements, and that activity like Cabinet Open Forum, which was introduced several years ago, helps to provide a more open and transparent Council in Swindon.

Council requests that the Chief Executive brings a report to Cabinet within six months that goes further and considers:

- the merits and feasibility of recording and broadcasting Full Council, Planning Committee, Scrutiny Committee and Licensing Committee Meetings, for residents to view via the Councils web site;
- reviewing the experience of other local authorities who have established this feature, including costs and usage;
- providing a recommendation of whether a similar feature on www.swindon.gov.uk is an appropriate and a cost effective means of communication.

Furthermore this Council requests that the Chief Executive also reports on the cost and practicality of publishing:
- All formal Freedom of Information requests question and answers
- All appropriate service information, such as library lending figures and leisure centre usage.”

            With the agreement of the mover and seconder the Amendment was amended to read:

“This Council welcomes that it is one of the first in the Country to meet all seven of Eric Pickles transparency requirements, and that activity like Cabinet Open Forum, which was introduced several years ago, helps to provide a more open and transparent Council in Swindon.

Council requests that the Chief Executive brings an options report to Cabinet within six months that goes further and considers:

- the merits and feasibility of recording and broadcasting Full Council, Planning Committee, Scrutiny Committee and Licensing Committee Meetings, for residents to view via the Councils web site;
- reviewing the experience of other local authorities who have established this feature, including costs and usage;
- providing a recommendation of whether a similar feature on www.swindon.gov.uk is an appropriate and a cost effective means of communication.

Furthermore this Council requests that the Chief Executive also reports on the cost and practicality of publishing:
- All formal Freedom of Information requests question and answers
- All appropriate service information, such as library lending figures and leisure centre usage.”

            The Amendment was put to the vote and declared carried.

            The Substantive Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Derique Montaut will move:

This Council:

• Notes that 47 out of 81 schools in Swindon will be receiving a real-terms cut in funding in the 2011/12 Financial Year.

• Further notes that, after taking into account the extra services schools will have to purchase in the next financial year, whereas the local authority had before provided many of those services for free, more than three-quarters of Swindon’s schools will be facing reduced levels of funding in the 2011/12 Financial Year.

• Denounces Central Government for providing an inadequate level of funding to Swindon’s schools, which will mean that schools will not be able to provide the same level of education as they had done in the previous year.

• Requests the Lead Member for Children’s Services to write to the Secretary of State for Education calling on him to take into account the reduced level of education that will be provided in Swindon’s schools as a result of funding cuts, when considering next year’s Dedicated Schools Grant to Swindon.

Councillor Derique Montaut moved and Councillor Jenny Millin seconded:

This Council:

• Notes that 47 out of 81 schools in Swindon will be receiving a real-terms cut in funding in the 2011/12 Financial Year.

• Further notes that, after taking into account the extra services schools will have to purchase in the next financial year, whereas the local authority had before provided many of those services for free, more than three-quarters of Swindon’s schools will be facing reduced levels of funding in the 2011/12 Financial Year.

• Denounces Central Government for providing an inadequate level of funding to Swindon’s schools, which will mean that schools will not be able to provide the same level of education as they had done in the previous year.

• Requests the Lead Member for Children’s Services to write to the Secretary of State for Education calling on him to take into account the reduced level of education that will be provided in Swindon’s schools as a result of funding cuts, when considering next year’s Dedicated Schools Grant to Swindon.

Councillor Russell Holland moved and Councillor Eric Shaw seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

• This Council congratulates students, teachers and parents and all those involved in education for their hard work which has seen significant improvements in education and children's services since 2004.  In particular this Council notes that in 2001 the local education authority was deemed so poor that responsibility was removed from the Council and not restored until 2007, when the Council was under Conservative control.

• This Council congratulates the Administration on delivering an overall increase in funding of 4.4% to schools in this financial year.

• This Council further notes, with regret that as a result of reckless government spending from 2006 to 2010 that the Central Government now spends over £40billion on interest payments on the deficit compared to spending £89billion on education.  In order to ensure that public funding can be spent on assisting children and young people this Council recognises the urgent need to reduce the central government deficit.

• Further notes that, after taking into account the extra services schools will have to purchase in the next financial year, whereas the local authority had before provided many of those services out of Council Tax payer’s money, more than three-quarters of Swindon’s schools will be facing reduced levels of funding in the 2011/12 Financial Year.

• Denounces the previous Central Government for failing to provide between 1997 and 2010 an adequate level of funding to Swindon’s schools.

• Requests the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services to write to the Secretary of State for Education and the Borough’s two MPs – Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson - calling on them to take into account the level of education that will be provided in Swindon’s schools as a result of funding cuts, when considering next year’s Dedicated Schools Grant to Swindon and to seek fairer funding once the economy has recovered sufficiently.”

The amendment was put to the vote and declared carried.

The Substantive Motion was put  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.

Councillor Nick Martin will move and Councillor Russell Holland will second:

“This Council applauds the success of the Cabinet decision to reduce car parking charges as part of a considered programme, in line with the Central Area Action Plan, to support local businesses and retailers in the town centre. 

The Council notes the success of the repaving of Canal Walk and Regent Street and the additional private investment that has already come into the town centre with the redevelopment of the Parade and refurbishment of Debenhams.

This Council is pleased to note that the Union Square development is still moving forward and is one of the largest developments in the South of England outside the Olympics.

This Council urges the Cabinet and the Chief Executive in partnership with Forward Swindon and the private sector to refresh the town centre regeneration programme in line with the current economic climate and the recent findings of the Economic Scrutiny Committee.  We also call upon the Cabinet Member responsible for regeneration to submit an annual report to Council so that Members can be kept fully informed of the successes being achieved.”

Councillor Nick Martin moved and Councillor Russell Holland seconded:

“This Council applauds the success of the Cabinet decision to reduce car parking charges as part of a considered programme, in line with the Central Area Action Plan, to support local businesses and retailers in the Town Centre. 

The Council notes the success of the repaving of Canal Walk and Regent Street and the additional private investment that has already come into the Town Centre with the redevelopment of the Parade and refurbishment of Debenhams.

This Council is pleased to note that the Union Square development is still moving forward and is one of the largest developments in the South of England outside the Olympics.

This Council urges the Cabinet and the Chief Executive in partnership with Forward Swindon and the private sector to refresh the Town Centre regeneration programme in line with the current economic climate and the recent findings of the Economic Scrutiny Committee.  We also call upon the Cabinet Member responsible for regeneration to submit an annual report to Council so that Members can be kept fully informed of the successes being achieved.” 

Councillor Derique Montaut moved and Councillor Jim Grant seconded:

“This Council awaits the publication of a report into the effectiveness of a Cabinet decision to reduce car parking charges in Swindon’s Town Centre and will determine whether to continue with this policy based on clear evidence provided in that report.

This Council notes the investment made by the previous Government in the Town Centre public realm and while welcoming private sector developments to date, will continue to encourage and enable further private investment.

This Council is disappointed to note that the Union Square Development has to date only been advanced by public sector funding but remains committed to this development as part of a revised Town Centre redevelopment plan in the hope of obtaining further private sector investment.

This Council urges the Cabinet and the Chief Executive in consultation with other key stakeholders, to refresh the Town Centre regeneration programme in line with the current economic climate and the recent findings of the Environmental, Economic and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Committee. We also call upon the Cabinet Member responsible for Regeneration to submit an updated report on Town Centre regeneration to every Environmental, Economic and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Committee”

            The amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

            The Substantive Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Jim Grant will move and Councillor Des Moffatt will second:

“That this Council support the stance that there be no closures to Council-controlled libraries in the current financial year, nor reduction in any of the services these libraries currently provide, and that all libraries will remain under the sole control of the Borough Council.

This Council instructs the Director of Finance and the Director of Housing, Libraries and Leisure to submit a report to Council should there be any significant changes proposed to the Council’s current policy on library service provision.”

             Councillor Jim Grant moved and Councillor Des Moffatt seconded:

“That this Council support the stance that there be no closures to Council controlled libraries in the current financial year, nor reduction in any of the services these libraries currently provide, and that all libraries will remain under the sole control of the Borough Council.

This Council instructs the Director of Finance and the Director of Housing, Libraries and Leisure to submit a report to Council should there be any significant changes proposed to the Council’s current policy on library service provision.”

            Councillor Peter Mallinson moved and Councillor Michael Dickinson seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“That this Council congratulates the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Leisure on the draft library strategy which builds on the success of the new Central Library, the pioneering community-led library in Walcot and the other refurbishments that have taken place.

This Council notes that not only is the draft strategy proposing that there be no closures to Council-controlled libraries but also the Liden, North Swindon, West Swindon and Highworth libraries will be open for longer hours.

This Council asks the Cabinet Member to consider these views as evidence supporting the draft library strategy when it comes before Cabinet for consideration on 20^th April 2011.”

            The amendment was put to the vote and declared carried.

            The Substantive Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Councillor Peter Stoddart will move and Councillor David Renard will second:

“This Council notes that the Tadpole Farm consultation on the proposed development of 1700 houses will, if built, rely on the current Swindon infrastructure.

This Council notes the concerns raised by Blunsdon St Andrew Parish Council, Haydon Wick Parish Council, Oakhurst Residents’ Association, and Rodbourne Cheney Residents’ Association at a North Swindon Cluster meeting regarding the possible traffic implications of the development.

This Council requests that the Borough Council’s Planning Committee consider these concerns as part of the wider consultation on the draft Core Strategy and report back to the lead Cabinet Member in due course.”

Councillor Peter Stoddartmoved and Councillor David Renard seconded:

“This Council notes that the Tadpole Farm consultation on the proposed development of 1700 houses will, if built, rely on the current Swindon infrastructure.

This Council notes the concerns raised by Blunsdon St Andrew Parish Council, Haydon Wick Parish Council, Oakhurst Residents’ Association and Rodbourne Cheney Residents’ Association at a North Swindon Cluster meeting regarding the possible traffic implications of the development.

This Council requests that the Borough Council’s Planning Committee consider these concerns as part of the wider consultation on the draft Core Strategy and report back to the Lead Cabinet Member in due course.”

            Councillor Des Moffatt moved and Councillor Derique Montaut seconded that the Motion be amended to read:

“This Council notes the Tadpole Farm consultation by a developer on the proposed development of 1700 houses.  

This Council notes the concerns raised by Blunsdon St Andrew Parish Council, Haydon Wick Parish Council, Oakhurst Residents’ Association and Rodbourne Cheney Residents’ Association at a North Swindon Cluster meeting regarding the possible traffic implications of the development.  

This Council invites the Borough Council’s Planning Committee to consider these concerns should an application be received.

As part of the wider consultation on the draft Core Strategy document this Council requests that officers consider recommending that no occupation of any part of Tadpole Farm be permitted until infrastructure is in place to accommodate resulting traffic from such occupations.

In order to provide the proper road requirements that are needed for the Tadpole Farm development, this Council requests its Director of Planning and Transport to investigate how a Spine Road could connect with the A419 without affecting the residents of Blunsdon and the conclusion arising from that study be made available to the Planning Committee at the time of consideration of any planning application”  

            The Amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

            The Substantive Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

To consider and recommend to Annual Council the dates for meetings of the Council, the Cabinet, Committees and other Swindon Borough Council Bodies for the Municipal Year, 2011/12.

Councillor Roderick Bluh moved and Garry Perkins  seconded:

(1) That, subject to the inclusion of additional Scrutiny Committee meetings on 4^th October 2011 and 30^th January 2012 and the Planning Committee meetings scheduled for 24^th May and 14^th June 2011 being held on 7^th June 2011, the Timetable of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2011/12, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services be approved for formal adoption by Annual Council.

(2) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to vary the dates for meetings of the Council, the Cabinet, Committees and Other Swindon Borough Council bodies should this prove necessary for the efficient discharge of Council business.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Members have the opportunity to raise questions with the relevant Cabinet Member in respect of (a) Cabinet minutes, which are not reserved for Council for decision, (set out on Pages 59 to 116), and (b) in respect of individual Cabinet Member delegated decisions.

            The Council considered (a) the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 19^th January, 2^nd February and 9^th March 2011, (b) decisions taken by Cabinet Members relating to delegated decisions taken under their portfolio responsibilities, and (c) questions to the Cabinet Members regarding their portfolio responsibilities and answers received. 

Members have the opportunity to raise questions with the relevant Chair in respect of all other Committee minutes (not reserved to Council for decision), as set out in the Minute Book circulated separately. 

            The Council (a) received the Minutes set out in the “Minutes of Other Council Bodies” circulated with the Agenda, and (b) considered questions to Chairs regarding the work of their Committees or other bodies and answers received.  

Questions (if any) of which notice has been given by Councillors in accordance with Standing Order 15.

            The Director of Law and Democratic Services reported that Standing Order 15 Questions had been received from Councillors Steve Allsopp, Mark Dempsey, Jim Grant, Jenny Millin, Des Moffatt, Derique Montaut, David Wood and Bob Wright.

            Councillor Mark Dempsey asked the following supplementary question “Would the Deputy Leader agree to clarify the claims of achieving Promise 39 in the next edition of Swindon News?”  The Deputy Leader indicated he was happy to investigate this.

            Councillor Des Moffatt indicated that he looked forward to receiving his written response and noted that his question related to catering arrangements that he had received information relating to. The Deputy Leader indicated he would investigate the issue raised.

            Councillor Des Moffatt asked the following supplementary question, “Would the Deputy Leader assure the Council that unlike the Football World Cup that the Olympics would be shown on the Wharf Green Big Screen?” The Deputy Leader responded that he was having a meeting in the week commencing 18^th April 2011 to progress this issue.

            Councillor Bob Wright asked the following supplementary question, Would the Cabinet Member for Housing, Community and Partnerships share my concern regarding the unsatisfactory and inconsistent emptying of bins used for dog mess?”  The Cabinet Member for Housing, Community and Partnerships responded that this responsibility had recently been transferred to Swindon Commercial Services and that he expected an improvement in this service.

The Deputy Mayor informed the Council that Councillors Ian Dobie, Melanie Duff, Bill Morton, Glenn Smith and Martin Wiltshire would not be standing in the forthcoming Borough Council elections and thanked them for their service to the Council.

            The Deputy Mayor, on behalf of the Mayor and herself, also wished all candidates standing in the forthcoming elections good luck.

            Councillors Roderick Bluh, Derique Montaut and Stan Pajak supported the comments of the Deputy Mayor on behalf of their political groups.

            The Deputy Mayor, on behalf of the Council, thanked The Worshipful The Mayor for his service during the Year and for his management of Council meetings.