Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies were received from Councillor Vikki Slade and Councillor Felicity Rice.

Councillors are required to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and the Council's Code of Conduct regarding Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

Councillors are also required to disclose any other interests where a Councillor is a member of an external body or organisation where that membership involves a position of control or significant influence, including bodies to which the Council has made the appointment in line with the Council's Code of Conduct.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest submitted on this occasion.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 9 October 2019.

The Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 9 October 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

In proposing the adoption of the minutes the Deputy Leader asked Cabinet to note that there were two further recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting on the 4 October, which were not originally recorded in the minutes, as follows:-

(a)           Interim arrangements be brought forward as a matter of urgency to access the current CIL fund;

(b)           Cabinet commits to work closely with the Overview and Scrutiny Board as future arrangements are developed on this issue.

In respect of the recommendations the Deputy Leader advised that he was delighted to be able to respond to the first recommendation and advised that we have now set up the process for addressing the current CIL neighbourhood portions. Further to this the Deputy Leader advised that the Bournemouth meeting was scheduled for next week, a meeting for Poole was being convened for the new year and that the Christchurch funds were being passed to the relevant parish/town councils.

In response to the second recommendation, the Deputy Leader advised that Cabinet shall of course work closely with the Overview and Scrutiny Board as future arrangements are being developed. Further to this Cabinet were advised that a report is to be brought to Cabinet in January 2020 and the contributions from Overview and Scrutiny Board will be welcomed.

To ensure that future recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee are captured the Deputy Leader asked that a standing item be included by Democratic Services’ officers, on the agenda for all future Cabinet meetings.

In addition the Deputy Leader asked Cabinet to support the Leader’s request to the Audit and Governance Committee’s working party which is reviewing the Constitution to work out a longer-term process for the Cabinet to consider recommendations for Cabinet that are outside of the current Cabinet agenda, and to build that into the council’s Constitution.

Voting: Unanimous

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/documents/s2305/Public%20Items%20-%20Meeting%20Procedure%20Rules.pdf 

The deadline for the submission of public questions is Wednesday 6 November, 2019.

The deadline for the submission of a statement is 12.00 noon, Tuesday 12 November, 2019

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 12.00 noon, Tuesday 12 November, 2019

The Deputy Leader reported that no public questions had been received on this occasion but that three statements had been received.

Statement from Mr Mike Forte, local resident:

"If you cannot answer these two questions positively I suggest that the only option is to apply the precautionary principle and call a moratorium on the BCP 5G rollout.

Do I sufficiently understand the components that fall under the umbrella marketing term '5G' and what each of those elements offers over and above currently available technology?

And secondly, in the absence, globally and locally, of an independent Environmental Impact Assessment: 

Am I satisfied that this new technology is safe to roll out in BCP where I am tasked with the guardianship of the best interests of citizens and their surroundings?"

Statement read out by the Chief Executive on behalf of Michael Hancock, Community Alliances, Poole:

I applaud that the COMBINED HOMELESSNESS & ROUGH SLEEPING ACTION PLAN is before cabinet today. I am however concerned that the voice of those with direct “Lived Experience” is absent from the Homelessness Reduction Board, or that a “Lived Experience” subgroup is not evident in the action plan to enable those with Lived Experience to have a direct input into the co-design of services. A good example is Leeds Poverty Commission. I would ask that members consider an amendment to the action plan to include the formation of this subgroup, or a specific direction to officers that this issue be addressed in the Strategic Review.

Statement from Susan Chapman, local resident:

The sacrifices of previous generations have just been acknowledged, “For our tomorrow they gave their today."  

Unfortunately this generation is taking our children's tomorrow for our today.   Decarbonisation needs to happen almost overnight- 2050 is too late.    Today's item 8:   BCP's plan - and all our Plans- need(s) updating.   A “cleaner sustainable future" is being undermined by fossil fuel addiction.  And public confusion. 

Last week's report of "untold suffering" & accelerating climate damage from 11,000 scientists from 153 countries should be part of any planning documents. The response to my question of the Flood Advisory Group 30th January remains unanswered. *

Statement from Jon Hartley, Unison:

UNISON have serious concerns about the transformation programme, the engagement of consultants and the impact on staff and service users from increased use of digital technology, bringing all services under “one hub” and the loss of up to 15% of the current staffing complement. 

We call on the Council, as an employer of choice, to ensure that UNISON, as one of the recognised Trade Unions, is fully involved, from pre-design through to implementation, so that the best outcomes can be achieved for the employer, the staff and the local community.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have separate legacy homelessness & rough sleeping strategies which require alignment, as per the statutory orders set out when the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council was created. 

By winter 2019, all local authorities are required to update their action plans online for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

The common objectives detailed within each of the preceding council strategies have provided a framework to align current activity in each area into a single action plan, found at Appendix 1. The attached report sets out the Action Plan in line with current work and priorities across BCP.  It consolidates current priorities and actions from across BCP and will form the basis of a comprehensive review during 2020 in order to publish a new BCP Homelessness Strategy.

Plans have been developed to provide robust future governance arrangements of this activity through the introduction of a new multi-agency BCP Homelessness Partnership and Homelessness Reduction Board which will monitor the action plan and develop the new strategy.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)            Cabinet notes and approves the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Action Plan; and

(b)            Cabinet supports the development of a new Homelessness Strategy in 2020, to be brought forward for consideration to Cabinet following a full review and consultation period.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing

REASON

All Councils are required to update and publish their Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Action plans by Winter 2019. To highlight to Cabinet the proposed development of a new Homelessness Strategy, including review and consultation process that will take place.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised that Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have separate legacy homelessness & rough sleeping strategies which require alignment, as per the statutory orders set out when the new Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council was created. 

By winter 2019, all local authorities are required to update their action plans online for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.

The common objectives detailed within each of the preceding council strategies have provided a framework to align current activity in each area into a single action plan, found at Appendix 1. The attached report sets out the Action Plan in line with current work and priorities across BCP.  It consolidates current priorities and actions from across BCP and will form the basis of a comprehensive review during 2020 in order to publish a new BCP Homelessness Strategy.

Plans have been developed to provide robust future governance arrangements of this activity through the introduction of a new multi-agency BCP Homelessness Partnership and Homelessness Reduction Board which will monitor the action plan and develop the new strategy.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board reported that the Board welcomed the report and had been largely supportive of the report following a good and robust discussion at the recent meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)            Cabinet notes and approves the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Action Plan; and

(b)            Cabinet supports the development of a new Homelessness Strategy in 2020, to be brought forward for consideration to Cabinet following a full review and consultation period.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Housing

To advise Cabinet of the statutory requirement to consult prior to the setting of School Admission arrangements for schools for which it is an admission authority and a single co-ordinated scheme for the school place application and offer process.

To seek permission to consult on proposed admission arrangements and supplementary information form (SIF).

To recommend that a single Relevant Area for consultation on proposed admission arrangements be adopted.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)           Cabinet adopt: the single Relevant Area for consultation on school admission arrangements for the 2021-22 year in accordance with Part III, Chapter I, Section 89(3) of the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act;

(b)           Cabinet approve the commencement of statutory consultation on;

(i)      the admission arrangements for maintained community schools in accordance with Part III, Chapter I, Section 89 of the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act and Section 1 of the School Admissions Code 2014

(ii)    the co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for the administration of the 2021-22 year in accordance with Part III, Chapter I, Section 89 of the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act and paragraphs 2.20-2.22 of the School Admissions Code 2014.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Families

REASON

The Council is legally required to review and consult on admission arrangements for the 2021-22 academic year for all maintained schools for which it is an admission authority and to agree co-ordinated admission arrangements for all admission authorities in the area. Arrangements must be determined by the Council by 28 February 2020.

To enable a consultation to be undertaken the Council is required to set a ‘Relevant Area’ within which the consultation must take place.

The Council has a legal responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient school places.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised of the statutory requirement to consult prior to the setting of School Admission arrangements for schools for which it is an admission authority and a single co-ordinated scheme for the school place application and offer process.

In relation to this Cabinets permission was sought to consult on proposed admission arrangements and supplementary information form (SIF) and to recommend that a single Relevant Area for consultation on proposed admission arrangements be adopted.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)           Cabinet adopt: the single Relevant Area for consultation on school admission arrangements for the 2021-22 year in accordance with Part III, Chapter I, Section 89(3) of the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act;

(b)           Cabinet approve the commencement of statutory consultation on;

(i)      the admission arrangements for maintained community schools in accordance with Part III, Chapter I, Section 89 of the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act and Section 1 of the School Admissions Code 2014

(ii)    the co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for the administration of the 2021-22 year in accordance with Part III, Chapter I, Section 89 of the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act and paragraphs 2.20-2.22 of the School Admissions Code 2014.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Families

The council works hard and in partnership with others to support the minority of families who need support in the community to care for their children within their family and family network. For some children this is not possible and they become children in our care.

Every councillor and officer within a council has a statutory responsibility to make good decisions for children in our care and care experienced young people (also known as care leavers) as a parent would for their own child, in this context councillors are Corporate Parents.

The corporate parenting strategy has been created through the newly established BCP Corporate Parenting Board in consultation with our children in care and care experienced young people.  It sets out our ambition for our children in care and care experienced young people, and how this will be achieved.

The Corporate Parenting Board is developing a delivery plan, to make the ambition in the strategy a reality.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were reminded that every councillor and officer within a council has a statutory responsibility to make good decisions for children in our care and care experienced young people (also known as care leavers) as a parent would for their own child, and that in this context councillors were Corporate Parents.

Cabinet were further advised that the corporate parenting strategy had been created through the newly established BCP Corporate Parenting Board in consultation with our children in care and care experienced young people. In relation to this Cabinet were advised that the strategy set out the councils ambition for our children in care and experienced young people, and how this will be achieved. Further to this Cabinet were advised that the Corporate Parenting Board was developing a delivery plan to make the ambition in the strategy a reality.

In relation to this Cabinet were asked to note the partnership development of the strategy and to consider the recommendation of the strategy for adoption by Council.

Cabinet Members spoke in support of the item, praising the work of the officers and highlighting the responsibility that all Councillors have.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)           Notes how the strategy was developed in partnership and the feedback received from Children’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee; and

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet:-

(b)           Recommends the final corporate parenting strategy for adoption by Council.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Families

The proposed organisational design presents an opportunity to define the transformation programme for BCP Council. The ambition and scale of the proposed programme provides a level of benefits that is consistent with the challenges in the Medium Term Financial Plan.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)           Adopt the proposed Operating Model as the basis of BCP Council’s Transformation Programme, including the adoption of the “Single Council Hub” principle;

(b)           Establish a Working Group to consider the options for the development and/or location of a “Single Council Hub” and agree to receive a further report on this issue in January 2020;

(c)           Approve a programme of procurement exercises to assess and test the availability and costs of potential partnering arrangements to support the implementation of the Transformation Programme;

(d)           Authorise the S151 Officer to consider the potential impact of the costs and benefits of the High Level Business Case on future versions of the BCP Council Financial Strategy and Medium Term Financial Plan; and

(e)           Agree to receive a further paper in April 2020 setting out the delivery plan and funding arrangements for the BCP Council Transformation Programme, underpinned by the adoption and implementation of the proposed Operating Model

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

REASON

To adopt a strategic vision and design for the organisation and establish a Transformation Programme to deliver.

The Deputy Leader presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised that the proposed organisational design presented an opportunity to define the transformation programme for BCP Council, and further to this were advised that the ambition and scale of the proposed programme provided a level of benefits consistent with the challenges in the Medium Term Financial Plan.

In relation to this Cabinet were requested to consider the adoption of the strategic vision and design for the organisation and the establishment of a Transformation Programme to deliver.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board advised Cabinet that at their recent meeting the Board had had a good debate and had questioned the Leader with regards to the principles and implications of the central hub. In relation to this the Overview and Scrutiny Board Chairman expressed the Boards confusion as to how this process was developed and that there seemed to be two pieces of work, the work relating to this report and the pay and reward strategy.

The Chief Executive advised that this would be a hugely challenging process and would include a long term agenda of change.

Cabinet thanked officers involved in drafting the report and stressed the importance of continuing to listen to residents and the need to ensure local bases and local facilities. Further to this Cabinet highlighted the importance of recognising the impact on officers delivering services and in ensuring that the trade unions are involved. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)           Adopt the proposed Operating Model as the basis of BCP Council’s Transformation Programme, including the adoption of the “Single Council Hub” principle;

(b)           Establish a Working Group to consider the options for the development and/or location of a “Single Council Hub” and agree to receive a further report on this issue in January 2020;

(c)           Approve a programme of procurement exercises to assess and test the availability and costs of potential partnering arrangements to support the implementation of the Transformation Programme;

(d)           Authorise the S151 Officer to consider the potential impact of the costs and benefits of the High Level Business Case on future versions of the BCP Council Financial Strategy and Medium Term Financial Plan; and

(e)           Agree to receive a further paper in April 2020 setting out the delivery plan and funding arrangements for the BCP Council Transformation Programme, underpinned by the adoption and implementation of the proposed Operating Model

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

This report presents the council’s performance against budget for the period 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019.

In summary, the general fund revenue projected outturn for 2019/20 is a pressure within services net expenditure of £4.5m(compared with £5m previously reported based on the activity of the first quarter).

These pressures can be met from the additional resources (£2.5m revenue budget contingency and £6.5m service-specific Financial Resilience earmarked reserves) set aside to manage the additional level of uncertainty in this first year of the new council.

At this stage the potential use of some of these additional resources is shown within the forecast. The Corporate Directors have provided reports, at appendices C to F, detailing the service pressures and actions they propose in mitigation. These action plans are still in the early stages and a formal application of the additional resources is not considered appropriate until they have had a chance to mature.

This approach could eventually release resources to support the 2020/21 Budget Strategy or Council priorities. However, it should be recognised that at this point the Council retains the operational risk in respect of two remaining quarters in the financial year.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)           approves the actions set out in paragraphs 89 and 90;

(b)           approves the capital adjustments set out in paragraphs 69 and 70;

(c)           notes the reports contents and the projected outturn position;

(d)           notes the reports from the Corporate Directors;

(e)           notes the forecast year end outturn positions for capital, reserves and Housing Revenue Account neighbourhood accounts;

(f)            requests that the Corporate Director for Children’s Services sets out in the 2019/20 Budget Monitoring report for the third quarter the budget variances within the directorate and the actions being taken to bring the budget into balance. This includes variances within the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant and the actions being taken to address his deficit.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommend that Council approves the capital budget adjustment set out in paragraph 72.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

REASONS

To comply with the draft CIPFA Financial Management Code of practice.

To facilitate the implementation of a strong and active culture of financial management within the BCP Council by identifying when prompt management intervention and action is needed to avoid an adverse impact on future service delivery or the achievement of future corporate objectives.

All Corporate and Service Directors have confirmed their acknowledgement of the issue raised.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were advised of the council’s performance against budget for the period 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder for Finance advised that following the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting and conversations with the Portfolio Holder for Children and Families that he wished to propose an  additional recommendation at (f) to read:

“requests that the Corporate Director for Children’s Services sets out in the 2019/20 Budget Monitoring report for the third quarter the budget variances within the directorate and the actions being taken to bring the budget into balance. This includes variances within the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant and the actions being taken to address this deficit”.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed Cabinet and advised that the additional recommendation was welcomed, and that at the Boards recent meeting that had been an area of particular concern. In addition the Chairman of the Board advised that concerns had been expressed with regards to paragraph 23 of the report relating to CIL and the administration of receipts and that this had been explained by the s151 officer, and paragraph 26 which highlighted the pressure relating to the seafront. In relation to this the Chairman did however highlight that it was very positive that the investments were performing better than expected.

In relation to the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Board the Portfolio Holder for Finance advised that it is allowable to use some of the CIL money towards the administration of the process, which can sometimes be quite a burden to pursue legitimate money owed to the Council.

In relation to the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Board in respect of the pressure relating to the seafront the Portfolio Holder for Tourism advised that this was mainly due to the commencement date of the Poole seafront development having now been moved to next year.

Further to the report Cabinet praised the work of the adult social care team with the tremendous amount of work they have had to carry out particularly in respect of the disaggregation with Dorset which has been a huge task for the directorate.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)           approves the actions set out in paragraphs 89 and 90;

(b)           approves the capital adjustments set out in paragraphs 69 and 70;

(c)           notes the reports contents and the projected outturn position;

(d)           notes the reports from the Corporate Directors;

(e)           notes the forecast year end outturn positions for capital, reserves and Housing Revenue Account neighbourhood accounts;

(f)            requests that the Corporate Director for Children’s Services sets out in the 2019/20 Budget Monitoring report for the third quarter the budget variances within the directorate and the actions being taken to bring the budget into balance. This includes variances within the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

This report provides an overview of performance at the end of September 2019 for BCP Council.

The report has been informed by an interim basket of measures that provide the Council with a health check at a point in time.

They have been sourced from data the Council provides as part of the statutory return process and other local measures identified by Service Units. These measures do not necessarily represent what will be reported once delivery plans underpinning the Corporate Strategy are in place.

A table of all the measures at Appendix 1 shows progress from quarter 1 of 2019/20 and benchmarking data where this is available.

The report also includes a link to interactive performance dashboards which have been developed for each Service Unit and it explains the proposals for reporting performance once the Corporate Strategy and delivery plans are in place.

The report identifies some performance issues which are addressed in more detail in exception reports, attached as Appendix 2 to the report but it also identifies some key improvements. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)            Note overall Q2 performance levels

(b)            Consider the attached exception reports relating to areas of current adverse performance

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

REASONS

An understanding of performance against target, goals and objectives will help the Council understand and manage service delivery and identify emerging business risks.

Performance measures can be used as indicators for timely intervention but should not be used in isolation as the sole measures of the organisation’s success.

The Deputy Leader presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were requested to note the overview of performance at the end of September 2019 for BCP Council and to consider the exception reports relating to areas of current adverse performance.

Cabinet were advised that the report had been informed by an interim basket of measures that provide the Council with a health check at a point in time.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed Cabinet advising of the value of performance monitoring but stressing the importance of ensuring that as many as possible are automated.

Cabinet members recognised the importance of the indicators and of being much more data and intelligence driven to ensure that gathering this data doesn’t create too great a burden. In addition Cabinet emphasised the importance of ensuring that all the indicators add value.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)            Note overall Q2 performance levels

(b)            Consider the attached exception reports relating to areas of current adverse performance

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

To request Cabinet to recommend to Council that the “main modifications” recommended by the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State be accepted and the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset Waste Plan be adopted

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'G' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were requested to consider recommending to Council that the “main modifications” recommended by the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State be accepted and the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset Waste Plan be adopted.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset Waste Plan to Council and requests that Council:-

(a)     resolves to adopt the Plan subject to its inclusion of the main modifications that are appended to the Inspector’s Report;

(b)    confirms that the formal adoption date will begin two weeks from the date Council resolves to adopt the plan; and

(c)     delegates to the Director of Growth and Infrastructure in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning:

(i)          any additional (non-material) modifications to the Plan which were the subject of consultation, together with any other additional modifications which benefit the clarity of the Plan; and

(ii)        authority to expedite any technical/ procedural matters associated with adoption of the plan, including those connected with Dorset and BCP Council’s role as Competent Authority on matters relating the Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Plan.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Strategic Planning

To request that Cabinet recommend to Council that the “main modifications” recommended by the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State be accepted and the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset Mineral Sites Plan be adopted

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'H' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet were requested to consider recommending to Council that the “main modifications” recommended by the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State be accepted and the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset Mineral Sites Plan be adopted

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends the Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Dorset Mineral Sites Plan to Council and requests that Council:-

(a)           resolves to adopt the Plan subject to its inclusion of the main modifications that are appended to the Inspector’s Report;

(b)           confirms that the formal adoption date will begin two weeks from the date at which both BCP Council and Dorset Council have resolved to adopt the plan; and

(c)           delegates to the Director of Growth and Infrastructure in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning:

(i)          any additional (non-material) modifications to the Plan which were the subject of consultation, together with any other additional modifications which benefit the clarity of the Plan; and

(ii)        authority to expedite any technical/procedural matters associated with adoption of the plan, including those connected with Dorset and BCP Council’srole as Competent Authority on matters relating the Habitats Regulations Assessmentof the Plan. 

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Planning

The Deputy Leader advised that the latest Cabinet Forward Plan had been published on the Council’s website.

Further to this the Deputy Leader advised that the next meeting of the Cabinet originally scheduled for 11 December 2019 was to be postponed until Friday 20 December due to the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

In relation to the change in date of the December meeting the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board expressed concerns with regards to the timing of the publication of the Cabinet agenda and requested that consideration be given on this occasion to publishing the Cabinet agenda early to enable more time for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board. In relation to this the Deputy Leader requested that the Chief Executive consider a way in which to increase the time between the Overview and Scrutiny Board meetings and the Cabinet meeting at which the Overview and Scrutiny recommendations are being considered in order to allow for proper review in-between.

Prior to closing the meeting the Deputy Leader invited the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board to present the recommendations not otherwise included within the Cabinet agenda. In doing so the Deputy Leader advised that future agendas would include a standing item to deal with such matters.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board presented the following recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 11 November 2019.

Overview and Scrutiny Board Agenda Item 5 – Call for Evidence – 5G Connectivity

The Overview and Scrutiny Board resolved:

(a)            That Cabinet be asked to consider equitable ways to involve the public more in the consultation around the planning implications of the implementation of 5G technology, particularly with regard to the siting of masts.

(b)           That if Cabinet is minded to approve the deployment by the Council of 5G connectivity as part of the Lansdowne Digital Pilot continuous monitoring takes place to ensure that the levels of radio wave emissions fall within the internationally recognised limits, and the findings be reported back to the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

(c)            That the Board agrees that all information submitted in its call for evidence in relation to 5G connectivity be passed to Public Health England to consider for inclusion in future reviews.

(d)           That a framework be established for feedback to be provided to the Council in relation to the call for evidence information passed to Public Health England.

Note: In discussing this item, the Chairman agreed on behalf of the Board to request through Cabinet that the Council contacts other relevant local authorities with regard to their work in this area, including those who have agreed to be Government funded test bed areas and those who have declared a moratorium.

The Deputy Leader thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Board for their recommendation and acknowledged the requirement for consideration of this matter to take place by Cabinet within two months which would mean a report being presented to Cabinet by the January meeting.

Further to this Councillor Butler  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.