Minutes
MINUTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 6th MAY 2020 AT 7:00 pm
Under the Local Authorities (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Meeting) (England) Regulations 2020, this meeting was held by video conference.
Members Present:
Cllrs Ashton Derry, Bardill, Cotton (joined the meeting at 7:10pm), Crump, Hewes, Hillman, Hughes, Ives, Spurr, Stafford, I Willox, J Willox.
Absent:
Cllr Broxholme
In Attendance:
Elaine Atkin Parish Clerk
Lydia Smithson Assistant Clerk
There were 2 members of the public in attendance (2 co-option applicants).
7:10 pm PUBLIC QUESTIONS
There were no public questions/queries raised.
7:11 pm FULL COUNCIL MEETING
054/20
TO ELECT A CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR ADMINISTRATIVE YEAR 2020-21
Cllr Cotton thanked Council for their support during his time as Chairman.
Cllr Hughes nominated Cllr Stafford. There were no other nominations, and this was resolved by a majority.
Cllr Stafford thanked Cllr Cotton and the Clerk and Assistant Clerk.
055/20
TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES AND ACCEPT VALID REASONS FOR ABSENCE, THESE HAVING BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CLERK PRIOR TO THE MEETING
Apologies and a valid reason for absence had been received from Cllr Broxholme and these were accepted.
056/20 TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCALISM ACT 2011
Cllr Ashton Derry declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 7 (minute 060/20). Cllr Hughes declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 12 (minute 065/20). Cllrs I and J Willox declared pecuniary interests in agenda item 17 (070/20).
057/20 TO APPROVE THE NOTES OF THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 4TH MARCH 2020 AND THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THEM AS THE AGREED MINUTES
Cllr Stafford noted misspelling of Cllr Bardill’s surname under 045/20.
Cllr Hughes proposed, and it was resolved to approve the minutes with the correction noted as above.
Cllr Stafford agreed to sign a hard copy of the minutes next week.
058/20 TO CONSIDER AND APPROVE COUNCILLOR CO-OPTION APPLICATION(S), FOR THE 1 REMAINING VACANCY ON THE COUNCIL
Two co-option applications, from Richie Bell and Rob Cavill were considered.
Votes were taken for each application. Richie Bell received 6 votes and Rob Cavill 4 votes. There were 2 abstentions.
Richie Bell was duly co-opted onto the Council. The Clerk confirmed that until such time a hard copy of the Declaration of Acceptance of Office could be signed and witnessed, the co-option process was not complete. This would be arranged next week.
Cllr Hillman thanked both applicants for their interest in the Council.
059/20 TO ELECT A VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR ADMINISTRATIVE YEAR 2020-21
Cllrs I and J Willox dropped off the meeting for 2 minutes and then re-joined.
Cllr V Spurr nominated Cllr Hughes, who declined.
Cllr Ashton Derry nominated Cllr Ives, who declined.
Cllr Bardill nominated Cllr Hillman, and this was resolved.
060/20 TO APPROVE EXPENDITURE ABOVE SPECIFIED LIMITS, AS PER FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
Cllr Bardill proposed, and this was resolved.
061/20 TO RATIFY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP FOR CLLR CRUMP
Cllr Crump’s membership of Finance Commitee was resolved.
062/20 TO AGREE THE SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS FOR 2020-21
A proposed schedule of meetings was discussed. Various Councillors pushed for a full schedule, but the Clerk explained that it was not possible to cater for a ‘normal’ schedule of meetings whilst under lockdown restrictions and with the added complications as a result of the fire. Only essential business could be dealt with for now. It was also clarified that many Parish Councils have not held and are not holding any meetings at the moment, and we were holding more than most.
It was proposed by Cllr Cotton and resolved by a majority, to go with the schedule of meetings as proposed.
063/20 TO CONSIDER A S.137 GRANT APPLICATION FOR 2020-21 FROM SAXILBY WITH INGLEBY GOOD NEIGHBOUR SCHEME (SIGNS)
This item was deferred, at SIGNS request.
Cllr Bardill briefly left the meeting for 1 minute and then returned.
064/20 TO RATIFY THE EXTRA-ORDINARY FULL COUNCIL DECISIONS FROM MARCH 2020, TAKEN VIA EMAIL CONSULTATION UNDER ‘EMERGENCY MEASURES’ DURING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, PRIOR TO INTRODUCTION OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES (CORONAVIRUS) (FLEXIBILITY OF LOCAL AUTHORITY MEETING) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2020, WHICH NOW PERMITS ONLINE MEETINGS
Cllr Hughes clarified that she had declared an interest in item 8 of the document, not item 7f as detailed. Cllr Stafford clarified that item 9.1 had been raised by Cllr Broxholme and item 9.2 by Cllr Stafford.
These corrections were noted.
Cllr Hillman proposed, and this was resolved.
065/20 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT SCHEME WITH SAXILBY WITH INGLEBY GOOD NEIGHBOUR SCHEME (SIGNS)
The Assistant Clerk gave a verbal update: 15 new volunteers have signed up to the scheme; weekly progress meetings have been held with SIGNS; 180 activities have taken place; ‘Check in and Chat’ is now live.
Cllr Cotton confirmed that the Council owed a great debt to the staff, Councillors and SIGNS committee for organising this. The community support scheme has been very well received and is one of the better and more sustainable schemes in the district.
The sentiments were echoed by Cllr Crump, who has personally benefited from the Scheme.
066/20 CLOSED SESSION – COUNCIL TO RESOLVE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSIONS TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960 FOR THE FOLLOWING 4 ITEMS, ON THE GROUNDS THAT PUBLICITY WOULD BE PREJUDICIAL TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST BY REASON OF THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED.
It was proposed by Cllr V Spurr and resolved to go into closed session.
The two members of the public left the meeting.
There was a 5-minute comfort break before re-commencing.
067/20 TO APPROVE A CONTRACTUAL STAFFING ENTITLEMENT NOW DUE
The Assistant Clerk temporarily left the meeting.
Approval was proposed by Cllr Cotton, noting it was a contractual entitlement, and resolved.
The Assistant Clerk returned to the meeting.
068/20 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON FURLOUGH
The update was noted.
069/20 TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE COUNCIL’S FINANCES FOR 2020-21
The update was discussed. Council:
a) Noted the impact the current situation will likely have had on the 2019-20 year-end figures
b) Noted the impact of the current situation has had and continues to have on the 2020-21 finances
c) Acknowledged that as and when we start to come out of the restrictions and we have a clearer idea of the true financial impact, the 2020-21 budget will need to be re-set, to ensure that we are able to get through to 31st March 2021.
070/20 TO APPROVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM APRIL’S PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING TO ACCEPT THE DEED OF GRANT IN RELATION TO PARMAN COURT AND SELLARS WALK
Cllrs I and J Willox left the meeting at this point (8:38 pm).
The recommendation was proposed by Cllr Cotton, and resolved.
The meeting closed at 8:39 pm.