Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Casling and Mackman.

A copy of the Register of Interest for each Selby District Councillor is available for inspection at www.selby.gov.uk.

Councillors should declare to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest in any item of business on this agenda which is not already entered in their Register of Interests.

Councillors should leave the meeting and take no part in the consideration, discussion or vote on any matter in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Councillors should also declare any other interests. Having made the declaration, provided the other interest is not a disclosable pecuniary interest, the Councillor may stay in the meeting, speak and vote on that item of business.

If in doubt, Councillors are advised to seek advice from the Monitoring Officer.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18 September 2018.

The Council considered the minutes of the meeting of meeting held on 18 September 2018.

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 September 2018 for signing by the Chairman.

The Chairman, Leader of the Council or the Chief Executive will deal with any communications which need to be reported to the Council.

The Chairman informed Council that he had attended the Insider Property Industry Awards where the Council had won the local authority of the year and he had also attended the Yorkshire Choice Awards where a number of businesses from Selby had picked up awards.

The Chairman thanked everyone who had attended his Chairman’s Charity Concert where he had raised over £5,000.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman, Leader or Members of the Executive.

The Chief Executive informed Council that she had signed the local digital declaration which enabled authorities to bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for funding for digital initiatives.

The Chairman presented the Solicitor to the Council with a bouquet of flowers due it being her last day at the Council. The Chairman and other Members thanked the Solicitor for all her work for the authority.

The Chairman informed Council of the Gala Concert which would be taking place on Saturday 16 March to celebrate the 950^th anniversary of Selby Abbey.

Lastly the Chairman stated that he had been working with the Mayor of Harrogate and had been invited to Catterick Garrison to visit soldiers being treated including those from Selby.

To receive any petitions.

There were no petitions received.

To receive and answer questions, notice of which has been given in accordance with rule 10.1 of the Constitution.

There were no public questions received.

To receive and answer questions submitted by councillors in accordance with rule 11.2 of the Constitution.

There were no questions submitted by Councillors.

The Leader of the Council, and other members of the Executive, will report on their work since the last meeting of the Council and will respond to questions from Councillors on that work.

Councillor M Crane, Leader of the Council

The Leader of the Council presented his update on the work he had recently undertaken, as outlined in his report.

Concern was raised that the free parking offered to shoppers for Christmas had been filled by those working nearby and not shoppers.

A query was raised regarding whether the changes to green waste recycling credits would lead to a charge being introduced for green waste. The Leader of the Council explained that the money would be used to pay North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) for the loss of recycling credits and that there was no plan to introduce a charge for green waste which made the Council the only authority in North Yorkshire not to have such a charge.

Councillor J Mackman, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Lead Member for Place Shaping

The Leader of the Council on behalf of Councillor Mackman, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping, provided an update on the work he had recently undertaken, as outlined in his report.

A query was raised around the figures for planning appeals outlined in the update as it mentioned six appeals however noted the results for seven. It was agreed the exact figure would be clarified.

In response to a query concerning whether the Council had held discussions regarding upgrading junction 34 on the M62, the Leader of the Council informed Council that discussions had been held with NYCC about junction 34 and other discussions had been held with East Riding Council about placing a new junction on the M62 which would serve the Selby area and had the potential to create extra jobs.

With regard to the planning enforcement management plan, it was a requested that a member briefing be held on this. The Leader of the Council agreed to organise a member briefing in the New Year and explained that the number of planning enforcement cases had reduced and that the Council was challenging people who had demonstrated for planning law.

A query was raised around the number of parking spots allocated for the property development in Ousegate. The Leader of the Council explained that no parking spots had been allocated for these properties and this had been stated in the planning application that had been approved by the Planning Committee. It was agreed to pass on concerns to the planning officers about the lack of parking for this development.

Councillor C Lunn, Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources  

Councillor Lunn, Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources presented his update on the work he had recently undertaken, as outlined in his report.

The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources explained that since the update was written, the Council had received details of the Local Government Finance Settlement which had been positive for Selby with funding for the New Homes Bonus, approval for the Business Rates pilot scheme and the rural grant maintained at 2018/19 levels.

In response to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To receive reports from the Council’s committees which need to be brought to the attention of Council. To receive questions and provide answers on any of those reports.

Councillor W Nichols, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor W Nichols, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee provided an update on the work of the Committee as outlined in her report. There were no questions for Councillor Nichols. 

Councillor J Deans, Chairman of the Policy Review Committee

Councillor Deans, Chairman of the Policy Review Committee provided an update on the work of the Committee as outlined in his report. The Chair of the Policy Review Committee confirmed that at the last meeting when the planning enforcement plan had been discussed, the Committee had resolved that an all member briefing session on the plan should take place.

Councillor K Arthur, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee

Councillor Arthur, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee provided an update on the work of the Committee as outlined in his report. The Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee informed Council that the date of the Committee meeting in April would move from the 24^th to the 10^th due to the election.

RESOLVED:

To receive and note the reports from Committees.

To consider a report which asks Council to approve the draft Gambling Policy as amended following consultation and authorise officers to take necessary steps to bring it into force.

Councillor Pearson, Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture presented the report which outlined the draft Gambling Policy as amended following consultation.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture explained that the Council had a responsibility to review the Gambling Policy every three years and for the proposed policy, there were small changes from the previous version.

It was noted that on page 73, under the list of consultees, Stan James had closed and the premises had been taken over by Paddy Power.

RESOLVED:

To approve the draft Gambling Policy as amended following the consultation and authorise officers to take necessary steps to bring it into force.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To ensure the Council has an up to date policy.

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer on the standards

arrangements of the Council in 2018.

Gillian Marshall, Monitoring Officer presented the annual report of the Monitoring Officer for 2018  which covered the operation of the current standards regime for Selby District Council and Parish Councils within Selby District.

The Monitoring Officer informed Council that the arrangements for the governance of the standards arrangements were working effectively and drew Members attention to the future arrangements section of the report which contained information about the government strengthening rules preventing people found guilty of serious or misbehaviour from serving on local councils.

Additionally, Council was informed that report by the consultation on the Standards of Public Life which was expected in December, had been delayed until January.

RESOLVED:

                        To note the content of the report.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To ensure that high standards of conduct by Councillors and co-optees are promoted and maintained.

To consider the annual reports for the Council’s five Community Engagement Forums for 2017/18.

Councillor Chris Metcalfe, Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development presented the annual report for 2017-18 for the Community Engagement Forums (CEFs).

The Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development explained that 2017-18 had been a successful year for CEFs which had supported the communities in their areas. Council was informed that the CEF Chairs had worked to progress the CEFs and that a review of the CEFs had been undertaken as requested by the Peer Review. Additionally, it was explained that work had been undertaken with Stronger Communities at NYCC.

A query was raised regarding the membership of the Eastern CEF by members from the Selby East ward. It was agreed this would be picked up outside of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

                        To note the contents of the reports.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To ensure that the work of the CEFs is recognised and that they are working towards the delivery of their Community Development Plans.

To consider any motions.

There were no motions submitted for discussion.

The Chief Executive will report on any instances where she has acted in urgent or emergency situations under the functions delegated to her in the Constitution.

The Chief Executive informed Council that the following urgent action had been taken by her since the last Council meeting under her delegated authority:

·        On 15 October 2018, to extend Councillor Casling’s period of office beyond the six month period of non-attendance provided for within section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 on medical grounds.