Agenda
PDF 191 KBVenue: the Council Chamber - Council Offices, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1PX. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services
Media
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
Apologies To receive any apologies for absence.
The quorum for Council is 9 members.
Additional documents: |
|
|
Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members and Officers, relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: |
|
|
To confirm the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 21 February 2024. Additional documents: |
|
|
Announcements from the Chair, Leader or Chief Executive To receive any announcements from the Chair of Council, Leader of the Council and/or the Chief Executive. Additional documents: |
|
|
Presentation of Awards for Cotswold Photo Competition For the Chair and Leader to announce the winners of the Cotswold photo competition awards. Additional documents: |
|
|
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 Council’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 Chair 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: |
|
|
A Member of the Council may ask the Chair, the Leader, a Cabinet Member or the Chair of any Committee 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 Chair 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.
The following questions were submitted in advance of the agenda publication:
Question 1 from Councillor Nikki Ind to Councillor Tony Dale, Cabinet Member for Economy and Council Transformation Following the recent Local Government Association survey, which found that most councils are aware of the agreement between mobile operators and the Government to switch off 2G and 3G mobile networks by 2033, can you please confirm to what extent is Cotswold District Council reliant on these networks, as opposed to the faster 4G and 5G technologies, and if we are currently reliant, what is the plan for upgrading systems to avoid loss of service? Clearly, any upgrades will have a financial impact on our already stretched budget, and I would like to be assured that provision has been made for this work. I am thinking primarily about parking meters, public toilets and alarm systems, but also waste in-cab technologies and telecare devices which may be being used by our residents.
Question 2 from Councillor Chris Twells to Councillor Mike Evemy, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance:
The Leader appointed seven Cabinet Members following last year's local elections. Will the Deputy Leader tell us on how many days each Cabinet Member spent time on site here at Trinity Road since their appointment? I understand this data will be stored by the council via our security passes.
Question 3 from Councillor Chris Twells to Councillor Joe Harris Leader of the Council:
Many residents have contacted me to express their concern at the lack of progress with the Dolphins Hall project in Tetbury, which lies in my ward. The project was supposed to have been funded mainly via Section 106 contributions. There has been little obvious progress on site and the latest reports from Tetbury Town Council suggests that the project now requires at least another £50,000. ... view the full agenda text for item 6. Additional documents: |
|
|
Publica Review- Local Partnerships Transition Plan Purpose To consider the Local Partnerships report and to approve the recommendations therein.
Recommendations That Full Council Resolves to: 1. Approve the recommendations set out in the Local Partnerships report 2. Instruct the Interim Programme Director to prepare a detailed transition plan, building on the recommendations set out in the Local Partnerships report, for subsequent agreement by Cabinet and Council. Additional documents: |
|
|
Amendments to the Constitution - Report of the Constitution Working Group Summary/Purpose To consider proposals from the Constitution Working Group for amendments to the Constitution to update Part E2, the Employee Code of Conduct.
Recommendation(s) That Full Council resolves to: 1. Authorise the Director of Governance & Development (Monitoring Officer) to update Part E2, the Employee Code of Conduct in the Constitution. Additional documents: |
|
|
Report on Urgent Decision Purpose To report to Cabinet and Council on a decision taken by the Chief Executive Officer under urgency powers.
Recommendation That Full Council resolves to: 1. Note the decision taken as set out in Annex A. Additional documents: |
|
|
Council Tax Second Home Premiums Purpose To consider the proposals to introduce a Council Tax Premium on second homes and apply a premium to long term empty properties after one year.
Recommendations That Full Council resolves to:
a) Premium of 100% for dwellings which are unoccupied and substantially unfurnished (Empty Homes Premium) after 1 year up to 5 years of becoming empty; b) Premium of 200% for dwellings which are unoccupied and substantially unfurnished (Empty Homes Premium) between 5 years and 10 years; c) Premium of 300% for dwellings which are unoccupied and substantially unfurnished (Empty Homes Premium) for 10 years or more.
Additional documents: |
|
|
Council Tax Reduction for Care Leavers Purpose To consider proposals to extend the age that Care Leavers can receive a reduction in Council Tax from 21 years to 25 years
Recommendations That Full Council resolves to; 1. Approve to extend the age that a care leaver can receive a reduction in their council tax from 21 years to 25 years; 2. Approve to include those care leavers from outside of Gloucestershire County within the offer; 3. Approve the amended Eligibility Criteria as set out in Annex A Additional documents: |
|
|
Pay Policy Statement 2024/25 Purpose To consider the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25.
Recommendation That Full Council resolves to: 1. Approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25. 2. Agree that the Pay Policy Statement 2024/25 will be updated and republished to reflect any changes to the senior management structure at that point. Additional documents: |
|
|
Notice of Motions In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12, the following Motions have been received:-
Motion A: The Unsung Heroes Award
Proposer: Councillor Lisa Spivey Seconder: Councillor Nikki Ind
Recognising the invaluable contributions of unsung heroes within our communities, Council is inspired by the ethos of community service set by King Charles at the beginning of his reign. Council should seek to encourage others to engage in volunteer work and acknowledge the essential role volunteers play in sustaining vital community services. As more pressures are placed on our communities, it is so important to recognise those unsung heroes. Volunteering allows community members to be actively engaged and help address needs and issues they care about. This builds stronger bonds within a community. Volunteering provides opportunities for people to gain work experience, build skills, and make professional connections. This can benefit volunteers individually as well as strengthen the overall workforce. Volunteering often connects people from different backgrounds and builds understanding between diverse groups within a community. Volunteering is associated with benefits like better health, lower stress, and a longer lifespan for those who volunteer. When people volunteer it not only helps the community but can also enhance the lives of the volunteers. Acknowledging the cost-effective nature of this approach in the current economic climate and the rising cost of living, underscores the critical reliance on volunteers for community well-being. Recognising the pivotal role volunteers play in sustaining essential services such as Citizens Advice, Cotswold Friends, food banks, Churn Project and many others, this Council resolves:
Additional documents: |
|
|
Next meeting The next meeting will be the Annual Council meeting on Wednesday 15 May 2024 at 6pm. Additional documents: |