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Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Cumbrian Suite, Roundthorn Country House, Roundthorn, Penrith, CA11 8SJ

Items
No. Item

Cl/58/01/22

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Baker, Sharp, Holden, Clark, Greenwood and Armstrong.

Cl/59/01/22

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of the existence and nature of any private interests, both disclosable pecuniary and any other registrable interests, in any matter to be considered or being considered.

 

Minutes:

Mr P Sutton, Interim Director of Resources, declared an interest in agenda item 11 in that it related to his role as an Officer. He would leave the room for the duration of that item.

Cl/60/01/22

Minutes

RECOMMENDATION that the public minutes CI/40/11/21 to CI/57/11/21 of the meeting of Council held on 25 November 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record of those proceedings (copies previously circulated).

 

Minutes:

Proposed by Councillor Eyles

Seconded by Councillor Lancaster

 

and RESOLVED that the public minutes CI/40/11/21 to CI/57/11/21 of the meeting of Council held on 25 November 2021 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record of those proceedings.

Cl/61/01/22

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

Chairman’s Announcements – December ’21 / January ‘22

 

Since our last meeting:

  • The UK marked one year since administering the first COVID-19 vaccine;
  • The Omicron variant came to prominence, leading to even more challenges for our residents and businesses;
  • The Council published its bold Zero Carbon Eden strategy; and
  • Storm Arwen significantly affected Eden, especially in Alston.

Teams - including volunteers from the Council - were on-the-ground in Alston, door knocking on homes without power, serving hot meals, checking on residents’ safety and welfare, and providing advice and support. Thank you to all of those involved in the emergency response.

 

Tenth annual Eden Tourism Summit takes place virtually

Also since our last meeting, the tenth annual Eden Tourism Summit took place, with more than 60 tourism businesses in attendance.

The Summit, organised by Eden District Council’s Economic Development team, took place in December with the theme of Tourism in Eden: Adapting to the new ‘normal’ and capitalising on new opportunities going forward.

The close working relationship between Eden District Council and local tourism operators is a valuable resource and provides a vital support to help protect jobs and the vitality of the area’s communities.

 

Business Support

The Council is also delighted to offer a range of support options for local businesses across all sectors, through its newly launched Inspiring Eden programme.

Eden businesses can access:

  • Free, expert Business Advice from our partners at Redkite Innovations
  • Funded membership of organisations such as Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses
  • A grant towards recruiting apprentices
  • and more

Eden businesses can also now apply for two new COVID grants which launched recently (20 January).

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant is available for businesses in that sector which have lost out on trade because of the Omicron variant.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme has also been launched to support those businesses which are experiencing “severe hardship” resulting from Omicron.

More information can be found on the Council website.

 

Planning update

Eden District Council is set to invest in and further improve its “very good” Planning and Development Management function.

Supported by a recent Local Government Association review, the Council has identified a list of key areas in which it can enhance its service.

Plans are being tabled to:

  • Recruit a new member of staff to provide additional pre-application advice and support for major developers, in order to produce a higher quality of submitted planning applications more attuned to Council policies.
  • An improved online portal will also allow for more efficient processing of applications.
  • Also in the works are increased resources to deal with planning enforcement; and
  • Specialist support for development management, planning policy and environmental sustainability work is set to be brought in too.

 

It’s also the last chance to have your say on Penrith Neighbourhood Development Plan.

An Independent Examiner has declared that there should be a new bespoke policy for the woodland area on Beacon Hill, as part of the Penrith Neighbourhood Development Plan, in order to  ...  view the full minutes text for item Cl/61/01/22

Cl/62/01/22

Questions by the Public

To receive questions from the public under Rule 10 of the Constitution

 

Minutes:

No questions were received from the public under Rule 10 of the Constitution.

Cl/63/01/22

Questions by Members

To receive questions from Members under Rule 12 of the Constitution

 

Minutes:

No questions on notice were received from Members under Rule 12 of the Constitution.

Cl/64/01/22

Motions on Notice

To consider motions on notice under Rule 13 of the Constitution

 

Minutes:

No motions on notice were received under Rule 13 of the Constitution.

Cl/65/01/22

Decision to Opt-in to the National Scheme for Audit Appointments pdf icon PDF 284 KB

To consider Report No: DoR04/22 of the Assistant Director Finance & HR which seeks approval of this report which will ensure the efficient appointment of external auditors, if required, for the period covering the accounts from 1 April 2023.

 

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that Council Accept Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government and police bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

 

Minutes:

Members considered Report No: DoR04/22 of the Assistant Director Finance & HR which sought approval of this report which will ensure the efficient appointment of external auditors, if required, for the period covering the accounts from 1 April 2023.

 

Proposed by Councillor Taylor

Seconded by Councillor Wicks

 

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

Cl/66/01/22

Annual Review of Council Tax Reduction Scheme pdf icon PDF 231 KB

To consider Report No: DoR05/22 of the Interim Director of Resources which seeks to undertake the annual review of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) and to decide whether the Scheme should be amended for 2022 – 23 or remain unchanged.

 

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022-23 should remain unchanged from that in 2021-22.

 

 

Minutes:

Members considered Report No: DoR05/22 of the Interim Director of Resources which sought to undertake the annual review of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) and to decide whether the Scheme should be amended for 2022 – 23 or remain unchanged.

 

Proposed by Councillor Taylor

Seconded by Councillor Lawson

 

and RESOLVED that the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022 – 23 should remain unchanged from that in 2021 – 22.

Cl/67/01/22

Treasury Management Strategy and Plan 2021/22 Six-Monthly Review pdf icon PDF 248 KB

To consider Report No: F50/21 of the Assistant Director Finance & HR which seeks to provide Members with a half-yearly report on the Strategy and Plan for Treasury Management during the Financial Year 2020/21.

 

RECOMMENDATION: That the report be noted.

Minutes:

Members considered Report No: F50/21 of the Assistant Director Finance & HR which seeks to provide Members with a half-yearly report on the Strategy and Plan for Treasury Management during the Financial Year 2020/21.

 

Proposed by Councillor Robinson

Seconded by Councillor Patterson

 

and RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Cl/68/01/22

Director of Resources Post pdf icon PDF 237 KB

To consider Report No: DoR03/22 of the Chief Executive which seeks to consider the resolutions of Human Resources and Appeals Committee in respect of the Interim Director of Resources.

 

RECOMMENDATION: To agree to extend the current arrangements with the Interim Director of Resources until 30 June 2022.

 

Minutes:

[At the beginning of this item the Interim Director of Resources left the meeting. Upon its conclusion he re-joined the meeting]

 

Members considered Report No: DoR03/22 of the Chief Executive which seeks to consider the resolutions of Human Resources and Appeals Committee in respect of the Interim Director of Resources.

 

Proposed by Councillor Robinson

Seconded by Councillor Eyles

 

and RESOLVED to agree to extend the current arrangements with the Interim Director of Resources until 30 June 2022.

 

 

Cl/69/01/22

Date of Next Scheduled Meeting

The next scheduled meeting of Council be confirmed as 24 February 2022.

Minutes:

The date of the next scheduled meeting of Council was confirmed as 24 February 2022.