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Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Contact: Democratic Services 

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Items
No. Item

259.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence. The quorum for Cabinet is 3 members.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Claire Bloomer, Tony Dale and Mike McKeown.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Claire Bloomer, Tony Dale and Mike McKeown.

 

260.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest from Members and Officers, relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

Additional documents:

Decision:

There were no declarations of interest from Members.

 

There were no declarations of interest from Officers.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest from Members.

 

There were no declarations of interest from Officers.

261.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 168 KB

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 7 March 2024.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting of 7 March 2024 were considered as part of the pack.

 

The Deputy Leader raised the following correction to the wording:

 

·         Minute 250 – page 9 of the document – 6th bullet point – The Deputy Leader proposed the following wording ‘The additional Council Tax revenue from the second homes levy would support affordable housing provision.’

 

The minutes were proposed by Councillor Joe Harris and seconded by Councillor Evemy.

 

RESOLVED that, subject to the amendment tabled, the minutes of the meeting of the 7 March 2024 be approved as a correct record.

 

Voting Record

 

3 For, Against, 2 Abstention, Absent/Did not vote

Minutes:

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting of 7 March 2024 were considered as part of the pack.

 

The Deputy Leader raised the following correction to the wording:

 

·         Minute 250 – page 9 of the document – 6th bullet point – The Deputy Leader proposed the following wording ‘The additional Council Tax revenue from the second homes levy would support affordable housing provision.’

 

The minutes were proposed by Councillor Joe Harris and seconded by Councillor Evemy.

 

RESOLVED that, subject to the amendment tabled, the minutes of the meeting of the 7 March 2024 be approved as a correct record.

 

Voting Record

 

3 For, Against, 2 Abstention, Absent/Did not vote

 

For

Against

Abstention

Absent/Did not vote

Juliet Layton

 

Joe Harris

Claire Bloomer

Lisa Spivey

 

Paul Hodgkinson

Mike McKeown

Mike Evemy

 

 

Tony Dale

 

262.

Leader's Announcements

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Leader announced that Ollie Somervell from the Communications Team had left after 5 years at the Council. The Leader wished to note for the record thanks for all of the work done by Ollie and offer best wishes to them for the future.

 

It was also noted that the Local Plan consultation and Cirencester Town Centre MasterPlan consultation closes on 7 April and encouraged the public to engage and provide their comments on the plan.

 

The Leader wished to raise the issue of coach parking in Bourton-on-the-Water and made the following points:

  • The Leader attended a meeting hosted by the Member of Parliament for the Cotswolds Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown on this issue.
  • It was highlighted that this issue was a traffic issue and that the Councils interest is providing community leadership and assisting where it can in finding a solution.
  • It was highlighted that the proposal to adjust the use of the Rissington Road car park was not seen as viable due to the revenue budget loss and the large capital funds needed to create a facility for coach parking.
  • It was noted that the Council would look at proposals and continue to engage with the communities on solutions. 

 

Finally, the Leader wished to raise that the Council is celebrating its 50th anniversary since its creation in 1974 and that over the summer there would be a number of events to mark the history of the Council.

 

Minutes:

The Leader announced that Ollie Somervell from the Communications Team had left after 5 years at the Council. The Leader wished to note for the record thanks for all of the work done by Ollie and offer best wishes for the future.

 

It was also noted that the Local Plan consultation and the Cirencester Town Centre MasterPlan consultation were to close on 7 April 2024 and encouraged the public to engage and provide their comments on the plan.

 

The Leader wished to raise the issue of coach parking in Bourton-on-the-Water and made the following points:

 

  • The Leader attended a meeting hosted by the Member of Parliament for the

Cotswolds, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, on this issue.

  • This was a traffic issue and that the Council’s interest was in providing community leadership and assisting where it can in finding a solution.
  • The proposal to adjust the use of the Rissington Road car park was not seen as viable due to the revenue budget loss and the large capital funds needed to create a facility for coach parking.
  • The Council would look at proposals and continue to engage with the communities on solutions.

 

Finally, the Leader wished to raise that the Council would be celebrating its 50th anniversary since its creation in 1974 and that over the summer there would be a number of events to mark the history of the Council.

 

263.

Public Questions

To deal with questions from the public within the open forum question and answer session of fifteen minutes in total. Questions from each member of the public should be no longer than one minute each and relate to issues under the Cabinet’s remit. At any one meeting no person may submit more than two questions and no more than two such questions may be asked on behalf of one organisation.

 

The Leader will ask whether any members of the public present at the meeting wish to ask a question and will decide on the order of questioners.

 

The response may take the form of:

a)    a direct oral answer;

b)    where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or

c)    where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner.

Additional documents:

Decision:

There were no public questions.

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

264.

Member Questions

No Member Questions have been submitted prior to the publication of the agenda.

 

A Member of the Council may ask the Leader or a Cabinet Member a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Cotswold District. A maximum period of fifteen minutes shall be allowed at any such meeting for Member questions.

 

A Member may only ask a question if:

a)    the question has been delivered in writing or by electronic mail to the Chief Executive no later than 5.00 p.m. on the working day before the day of the meeting; or

b)    the question relates to an urgent matter, they have the consent of the Leader to whom the question is to be put and the content of the question is given to the Chief Executive by 9.30 a.m. on the day of the meeting.

 

An answer may take the form of:

a)    a direct oral answer;

b)    where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication; or

c)    where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner.

Additional documents:

Decision:

There were no Member Questions.

Minutes:

There were no Member Questions.

265.

Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny and/or Audit and Governance

To receive any recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or to consider any matters raised by the Audit and Governance Committee.

Additional documents:

Decision:

There were no recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or issues arising from the Audit and Governance Committee.

Minutes:

There were no recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or issues arising from the Audit and Governance Committee.

266.

Discretionary Rate Relief in excess of £10,000 pdf icon PDF 244 KB

Purpose

To consider four new applications for discretionary rate relief for the 2023/2024 Business Rates liability in respect of Freedom Leisure, two of which are in excess of £10,000.

 

Recommendations

That Cabinet resolves to:

  1. Approve the Discretionary Rate Relief applications in respect of Bourton on the Water Leisure Centre and Cotswold Swimming Pool, Leisure Centre, Corinium Museum and The Resource Store;
  2. Approve the automatic administration of Discretionary Rate Relief on an annual basis in line with the Leisure Contract;
  3. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director for Resident Services to administer the annual Discretionary Rate Relief awards.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of this item was to consider four new applications for discretionary rate relief for the 2023/2024 Business Rates liability in respect of Freedom Leisure, two of which were in excess of £10,000.

 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the item and outlined the recommendations to Cabinet.

 

Cabinet wished to record their thanks to Freedom Leisure for the work being done to deliver leisure services on behalf of the Council.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Evemy and seconded by Councillor Hodgkinson

 

 

Voting Record

 

5 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions, 3 Absent/Did not vote

 

 

Minutes:

The purpose of this item was to consider four new applications for discretionary rate relief for the 2023/2024 Business Rates liability in respect of Freedom Leisure, two of which were in excess of £10,000.

 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the item and outlined the following points:

 

  • The recommendation would grant discretionary rate relief to Freedom Leisure who have operated the leisure and cultural facilities on behalf of the Council since August 2023.
  • The contract agreed with Freedom Leisure was on the basis of the Council granting the rate relief. It was outlined that this had been done with the previous tenderers for the contract.
  • If Cabinet was not to grant the relief, this would present contractual issues with the provider as this was part of the terms of the leisure and cultural tender.
  • It was noted in paragraph 5.2 that the cost would be shared between the UK Government and Gloucestershire County Council.
  • It was noted that the cost to the Council would be £14,388.02.
  • Recommendations 2 and 3 would provide approval for the automatic administration of Discretionary Rate Relief in line with the contract with Freedom Leisure.

 

Cabinet wished to record its thanks to Freedom Leisure for the work being done to deliver leisure services on behalf of the Council.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Evemy and seconded by Councillor Hodgkinson

 

 

Voting Record

 

5 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions, 3 Absent/Did not vote

 

For

Against

Abstention

Absent/Did not vote

Joe Harris

 

 

Claire Bloomer

Juliet Layton

 

 

Mike McKeown

Lisa Spivey

 

 

Tony Dale

Mike Evemy

 

 

 

Paul Hodgkinson

 

 

 

 

267.

Fixed Penalty Notice Policy pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Purpose

To consider a new policy for the administration of Fixed Penalty Notices.

 

Recommendations

That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Approve the Fixed Penalty Notice Policy

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of this item was to consider a new policy for the administration of Fixed Penalty Notices.

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, Councillor Layton introduced the item and outlined the recommendations to Cabinet.

 

Councillor Layton proposed the recommendations and Councillor Joe Harris seconded.

 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

1.    APPROVED the Fixed Penalty Notice Policy

 

Voting Record

 

5 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions, 3 Absent/Did not vote

 

Minutes:

The purpose of this item was to consider a new policy for the administration of Fixed Penalty Notices.

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, Councillor Layton introduced the item and outlined the following points:

 

  • Cabinet approved in December 2023 to increase the fine levels to the maximum level permissible by the Government. Following this decision, the formation of a clear fixed penalty notice policy document was required with the new rates.
  • This policy would cover a range of environmental offences outlined at paragraph 3.4 which included fly tipping and dog fouling.
  • Fixed penalties can be an effective and visible way of responding to environmental crimes and provide a quicker and proportionate alternative to prosecution through the courts. They allow the person believed to have committed an offence the opportunity to discharge their liability to conviction for that offence by the payment of a fixed penalty

 

Councillor Layton proposed the recommendations and Councillor Joe Harris seconded.

 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

1.    APPROVED the Fixed Penalty Notice Policy

 

Voting Record

 

5 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions, 3 Absent/Did not vote

 

 

For

Against

Abstention

Absent/Did not vote

Joe Harris

 

 

Claire Bloomer

Juliet Layton

 

 

Mike McKeown

Lisa Spivey

 

 

Tony Dale

Mike Evemy

 

 

 

Paul Hodgkinson

 

 

 

 

268.

Schedule of Decisions taken by the Leader of the Council and/or Individual Cabinet Members pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To note the decisions taken by the Leader and/or Individual Cabinet Members.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of this item was to note any decisions taken by the Leader of the Council and/or individual Cabinet Members.

 

Cabinet NOTED the Schedule of Decisions taken.

Minutes:

The purpose of this item was to note any decisions taken by the Leader of the Council and/or individual Cabinet Members.

 

Cabinet NOTED the Schedule of Decisions taken.

269.

Matters exempt from publication

If Cabinet wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any of the items on the exempt from publication part of the agenda, it will be necessary for Cabinet to pass a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

Cabinet may maintain the exemption if and so long as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Leader moved a motion that Cabinet exclude the press and the public from the meeting for consideration of item 12, in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraph 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, with the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighing the public interest in disclosure.

 

Councillor Evemy seconded the motion.

 

Voting Record

 

5 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention, 3 Absent/Did not vote

 

Minutes:

The Leader moved a motion that Cabinet exclude the press and the public from the meeting for consideration of item 12, in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 2 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, with the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighing the public interest in disclosure.

 

Councillor Evemy seconded the motion.

 

Voting Record

 

5 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention, 3 Absent/Did not vote

 

For

Against

Abstention

Absent/Did not vote

Joe Harris

 

 

Claire Bloomer

Juliet Layton

 

 

Mike McKeown

Lisa Spivey

 

 

Tony Dale

Mike Evemy

 

 

 

Paul Hodgkinson

 

 

 

 

Following the vote, the Leader thanked the public for their attendance and asked that the webcasting of the meeting be stopped.

270.

Write off in excess of £5,000

Purpose

To seek approval for the writing off of council tax debt in excess of £5,000.

 

Recommendations

That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Approve the write off of £9,447.95 as detailed within the report

Decision:

The purpose of this item was to seek approval for the writing off of council tax debt in excess of £5,000.

 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced this item and outlined the recommendations to Cabinet

 

The Deputy Leader reaffirmed that the main reason the decision was taken in private session was because that the individual could be identified if the report was in public session.

 

 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet

 

1.      APPROVED the write off of £9,447.95 as detailed within the report

 

Voting Record

 

5 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention, 3 Absent/Did not vote

 

Minutes:

The purpose of this item was to seek approval for the writing-off of council tax debt in excess of £5,000.

 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced this item and outlined the recommendations to Cabinet.

 

The Deputy Leader reaffirmed that the main reason the decision was taken in private session was because that the individual could be identified if the report was in public session.

 

The Deputy Leader noted that noted that the circumstances of the individual within the exempt report meant that there was no opportunity for the Council to recover the council tax debt.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Evemy and seconded by Councillor Joe Harris.

 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet

 

1.    APPROVED the write off of £9,447.95 as detailed within the report

 

Voting Record

 

5 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstention, 3 Absent/Did not vote

 

For

Against

Abstention

Absent/Did not vote

Joe Harris

 

 

Claire Bloomer

Juliet Layton

 

 

Mike McKeown

Lisa Spivey

 

 

Tony Dale

Mike Evemy

 

 

 

Paul Hodgkinson

 

 

 

 

271.

Exempt Annex for Agenda Item 9

To consider the exempt annex for Agenda Item 9 in private session (if required).

Decision:

Cabinet did not discuss the exempt annex in public or private session.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet did not discuss the exempt annex in public or private session.