Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 13 October 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

1.    Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

2.    Other Interests

The following declarations were made:-

The Chairman announced that he planned to hold a bottle tombola at his Charity Ball and any donations would be gratefully received.  It was also reported that the Poppy Appeal had raised nearly £33,000 in Leek and the Chairman expressed his thanks to all those involved on behalf of the Council.

Recommendation

That Members note the current Treasury Management position as at 30th September 2021.

RESOLVED:

That the Treasury Management position as at 30^th September 2021 be noted.

Recommendation

That Council accepts the Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023 be accepted.

Recommendations

That Council:

·         Notes the outcome of the Scrutiny Review from CfGS as detailed in Appendix A.

·         Notes the comments from members as detailed in Appendix B and section 10.2 of the report.

·         Agrees the suggested response to the recommendations set out in Appendix C and section 11 of the report.

Councillors considered the response to the feedback provided by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS) following completion of their recent review of the Council’s Scrutiny arrangements.  It was clarified members of Cabinet would attend of the Overview and Scrutiny Programming Group as required.  Members also suggested that future considerations should be given to written responses to questions, the timing of meetings and budget scrutiny.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the outcome of the Scrutiny Review from CfGS as detailed in Appendix A be noted.

2.    That the comments from members as detailed in Appendix B and section 10.2 of the report be noted.

3.    That the suggested response to the recommendations set out in Appendix C and section 11 of the report be agreed.

That this Council will lobby our two Members of Parliament to ask them to:

i)               raise with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities the need to make it a Statutory Duty for all local authorities to create and deliver a climate change action plan

ii)          to give local authorities the powers and resources to deliver these plans [in line with national policies].

“That this Council will lobby our two Members of Parliament to ask them to:

i)               raise with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities the need to make it a Statutory Duty for all local authorities to create and deliver a climate change action plan

ii)          to give local authorities the powers and resources to deliver these plans [in line with national policies].”

Councillors discussed the previous climate emergency notice of motion, the Council’s subsequent Climate Change Strategy, the Staffordshire Sustainability Board, the aims of the Corporate Plan and partnership working with the County Council and parish councils.

RESOLVED:

Having been SECONDED, upon being put to the vote, the MOTION was

CARRIED unanimouslyin the terms set out above.

(At least two clear days notice required, in writing, to the Proper Officer in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.3.)

1.    Question to the Leader of the Council received from Councillor Lyn Swindlehurst:

“The decision regarding  the Leek Wednesday Market to relocate stalls from Derby Street to the Market Place has clearly not been successful to date. During November the number of traders operating from Market Place has declined to 2 only plus the extension to the existing greengrocers.  According to The Leek Post and Times, these long standing traders have suffered 70% drop in trade and may not survive beyond Christmas. Can The leader tell us in a written answer what she proposes to do to rectify this situation?”

Response:

The Leader of the Council explained that a regeneration project with the indoor and outdoor market had started that included taking outdoor market on Derby Street back onto the Market Place.  This would take time to complete and that one or two traders were not able to stay until the Spring.  Two people have moved indoors , two people were seasonal and some had taken the opportunity to take an extended holiday.  It would be the markets in Leek that would, post-Covid, bring custom and prosperity to the local economy in Leek.

In response to supplementary questions with the Leader of the Council clarified the webcast would act as a record of the reply to the question and that two traders asked if they could relocate to Sparrow Park, two had  opted to move into the Trestle Market until Spring.  One trader wished to stay on Derby Street.  A number of people had contacted the Leader to express their enthusiasm for the market to return to the Market Place.  Consultation had also taken place during the pandemic with regards to the Market Hall project and that actions were now required.

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 Councillors Lawson, Lea, McNicol, Martin and Plimley be granted a dispensation from attending meetings of the Council and its constituent bodies for the period whilst they are incapacitated.

That this Council re-opens the relevant sections of the Local Plan and reviews it at the earliest opportunity in order that it can meet it's clear and pressing climate change emergency commitments.

“That this Council re-opens the relevant sections of the Local Plan and reviews it at the earliest opportunity in order that it can meet it's clear and pressing climate change emergency commitments.”

Members debated the motion in considerable detail.  This included the ability to review individual aspects of the Local Plan, the need to deliver the current Local Plan, the Government review of the planning framework and supplementary planning documents.

RESOLVED:

Having been SECONDED, upon being put to the vote, the MOTION was

LOST.