Agenda and minutes

The Council observed a minute’s silence in memory of former Councillor and Deputy Council Leader Arthur Forrester who sadly passed away on 25 August 2020.

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

(b)       Other Interests

The following declarations were made:-

Dispensation – Councillor Peter Elkin

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, Councillor Elkin be granted a dispensation from attending meetings of the Council and its constituent bodies due to his illness until the next meeting of the Council when the situation would be reviewed.

Chairman’s Announcement

The Chairman of the Council announced that he would use some of his charitable monies raised to increase the Councillor Initiative Fund by £120.00 per member.  Councillors Bowen, Cawley, Gledhill and Plimley would also receive a further £50.00 in recognition of their assistance in organising charitable events.

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with Rules 30.3 and 26 of the Council Meeting Procedure Rules, rules of debate be suspended to facilitate informal debate.

(Having declared interests Councillors Hart, Herdman and Johnson withdrew from the meeting at this point)

The report informed the Council of the Final Report of the Inspector regarding the Examination of the Staffordshire Moorlands Local Plan.  It recommended the adoption of the Local Plan incorporating the Inspector’s recommended main modifications and the Council’s additional modifications and to delegate approval to the Executive Director (Place) for the preparation of the Policies Map and any further additional modifications to the Local Plan that relate to factual updates, grammatical and formatting corrections.

Councillors considered the report in detail and expressed their thanks to officers and residents for their contributions to the development of the Local Plan.  Members underlined the importance of future considerations with regards to design quality and infrastructure development.

Members voted as follows:

Those voting FOR:

Councillors Aberley, Atkins, Bentley, Bond, Bowen, Brady, Cawley, Coleman, Davies, Deaville, Emery, Fallows, Flunder, Gledhill, Hall, Hawkins, Heath, Holmes, Hoptroff, Hughes, Hulme, Jackson, Jones, Malyon, Page, Plant, Plimley, Porter, Price, Ralphs, Riley, Roberts, Routledge, Salt, Scalise, Swindlehurst, Taylor, Wain, Ward, Whitehouse, Wilkinson, Worthington and Yates (43)

Those voting AGAINST:

Councillor Alcock.

ABSTENTIONS:

There were no abstentions.

It was therefore RESOLVED:

1.     That the Inspector’s report on the examination of the Local Plan and his recommended main modifications (Appendix 2, 3, 4, 5) be noted.

2.     That the consultation feedback regarding the additional modifications be noted (Appendix 6) and the suggested Council responses (Appendix 7) be supported.

3.     That the Sustainability Appraisal of the main modifications (Appendix 10) and the Equalities Impact Assessment of the Local Plan (Appendix 11) be noted.

4.     That the Staffordshire Moorlands Local Plan (Appendix 1) with the main modifications recommended by the Inspector (Appendix 3, 4 & 5) and the revised additional modifications proposed by the Council (Appendix 8) to be incorporated be adopted.

5.     That the proposed changes to the Policies Map in light of the main and additional modifications be noted.

6.     That authority be delegated to the Executive Director (Place) to prepare the Policies Map to illustrate geographically the application of the policies in the adopted Local Plan.

7.     That authority be delegated to the Executive Director (Place) to make further additional modifications to the Local Plan that relate to factual updates, grammatical and formatting corrections as required.

(Councillors Hart and Herdman re-joined the meeting)

Members considered a report that confirmed the recommendation from the Joint Appointments Panel to appoint a new Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service and also  confirmed the appointment of a Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.  It was confirmed that a similar recommendation would be made to High Peak Borough Council.

Members voted as follows:

Those voting FOR:

Councillors Aberley, Atkins, Bentley, Bond, Bowen, Brady, Cawley, Davies, Deaville, Emery, Fallows, Flunder, Gledhill, Hall, Hart, Hawkins, Heath, Herdman, Holmes, Hoptroff, Hughes, Hulme, Jackson, Jones, Malyon, Page, Plant, Plimley, Porter, Price, Ralphs, Riley, Roberts, Routledge, Salt, Scalise, Swindlehurst, Taylor, Wain, Ward, Whitehouse, Wilkinson, Worthington and Yates (44)

ABSTENTIONS:

No councillors voted against or abstained.

It was therefore RESOLVED:

1.     That the recommendation of the Joint Appointments Panel that Andrew Stokes be appointed as Joint Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service be approved.

2.     That the appointment of Andrew Stokes as Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council be confirmed.