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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Cumberland Hall, Ullswater Community College, Wetheriggs Lane, Penrith CA11 8NG

Items
No. Item

Cl/84/05/22

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sharp, Martin, Lynch, Banks, Burgin and Wicks.

Cl/85/05/22

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:

The Deputy Chief Executive declared an interest in regards to agenda item number 8. He would leave the room for the duration of this item.

Cl/86/05/22

Minutes

RECOMMENDED that the public minutes Cl/70/02/22/ to Cl/83/02/22 of the meeting of Council held on 24 February 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record of those proceedings (copies previously circulated).

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the public minutes CI/70/02/22 to CI83/02/22 of the meeting of Council held on 24 February 2022 be confirmed and signed as a correct record of those proceedings. 

Cl/87/05/22

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

Households urged to get ready for £150 council tax rebate
The government urged households in England to set up direct debits with their local council to receive a £150 council tax rebate. This was a measure designed to ease the cost of fuel and energy price increases in recent weeks. People who pay council tax by direct debit will have seen £150 go directly into their bank accounts from April. Those who do not pay by direct debit will be contacted and invited to make a claim.

 

Reporting rough sleeping in Eden
The Council has received a number of reports of individuals rough sleeping in Penrith. Please be assured that the Housing Options Team at Eden Housing Association is offering assistance in these cases. If you see someone sleeping rough please send an alert through StreetLink to notify local services. To send an alert, visit www.streetlink.org.uk or call 0300 500 0914.

 

Eden District Council stands with Ukraine
Eden District Council has lit up Town Hall in Penrith yellow and blue - the colours of the Ukrainian flag - to show its support for the people of Ukraine during the Russian invasion.

In this time of crisis, the people of Ukraine need as much help as they can get. An important way people in Eden can contribute is by donating to charities providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and by registering with the Government scheme for those who are able to provide accommodation to Ukrainian refugees.

 

Eden District Council invites applications for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Fund 2022
Eden District Council made £20,000 available through its Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Fund 2022 to assist Parish and Town Councils, community groups and individuals to organise events to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

 

Construction work begins at Council’s new net zero carbon single site headquarters
Representatives of Eden District Council and Collinson Construction have marked the beginning of refurbishment work at the Council’s new single site net zero carbon headquarters in Penrith with a traditional ground breaking ceremony, held on Thursday 24 March.

 

Major milestone for LGR reached
The Structural Changes Order, or SCO, for the reorganisation of Local Government in Cumbria has completed its passage through Parliament and has come into force. The SCO sets out the process of creating the two new councils of Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland, and provides the legal basis on which to implement the change to local government structures.

 

Eden Apprenticeship Scheme extends criteria to help more businesses
Eden District Council is supporting local businesses to recruit apprentices and upskill existing staff through its popular apprentice grant, and through a recent change, more employees are set to benefit.

 

The Eden Apprenticeship Scheme offers a grant of up to £2,000 for local firms who take on an apprentice. A change to the criteria also means that apprentices of all ages can now benefit from the scheme.

 

New or existing employees – of all ages - can undertake an apprenticeship qualification. A range of apprenticeship routes are available, such as  ...  view the full minutes text for item Cl/87/05/22

Cl/88/05/22

Questions by the Public

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

 

Minutes:

Mr Jonathan Davies asked the following question under Rule 10 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules:

 

Under the Local Government Transparency Code 2015, it is mandatory to publish details of expenditure over £500 something Eden council has done monthly since 2013 up until September 2021 after I had challenged the leader on spending on Water bills for voreda house identified in the monthly reports.
It appears the reports stopped in September 2021 and have not been published since on the spending of the council over £500.

Could the leader please explain why since September 2021 Eden council have failed to publish its monthly financial report of spending over £500 and the Council spending on procurement cards reports since September 2013.

 

The Leader gave the following response:

 

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.  This was an error, which occurred when a member of staff left. Records have been corrected and are now up to date.

 

Mr Davies asked the following supplementary question:

 

Could the Leader explain then, there appears to be a number of omissions from the Council’s Website because it appears that External Audit of Accounts from 2021 are still not public and have not been published on the Council website.

 

The Leader indicated that a written response would be given.

Cl/89/05/22

Questions by Members

To receive questions from Members under Rule 12 of the Constitution.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Sawrey-Cookson asked the following question under Rule 12 of the Council and Committee Rules of the Constitution:

 

What action will the Council be taking with regard to the appalling and worsening situation in Ukraine:

 

Is the Council intending to sponsor Ukrainian refugee families?

 

Could there be a point of contact for people who are willing to host refugees and for Ukrainians looking for a place to live?

 

The Leader gave the following response:

 

Thank you Councillor for your question, it gives us the opportunity to talk about what is going on with EDC and in Cumbria for Ukrainian Refugees

 

In answer to your first question, the Council is not currently able to sponsor Ukrainian refugee families.  In answer to your second question, a point of contact already exists. So I think it will be helpful to outline how the national scheme works and how it is being delivered in our area to explain those answers.

 

The Homes for Ukraine scheme opened at the 18 March for Ukrainian nationals who were residents in Ukraine prior to 1 January 2022 and their immediate family members. The scheme works by ‘sponsors’, either individuals or organisations who have spare properties or rooms, registering with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (which is called DLUHC for short) via their website.

 

Guests are the Ukrainian people who have also registered with DLUHC as refugees needing to be accommodated. Sponsors and guests then make contact with each other, usually through social media, mutually to agree arrangements. Guests from the Ukraine are required to make visa applications to the Government for approval prior to their arrival. Eden District Council does not own residential properties so we cannot fulfil the role of sponsor, but we are supporting how the scheme is being delivered locally.

 

The Refugee Resettlement Team in Cumbria County Council act as a lead for the County and coordinate the required response to the matches between sponsor and guests. The Resettlement Team are working with all the District Councils at Strategic, Tactical, and Locality levels apply an approach that has been well tested during the previous refugee crisis.

The roles of the Resettlement Team are:

 

·        To act as the first point of contact with government

·        carry out the required DBS and other document checks of sponsors

·        carry out pre-arrival checks of the accommodation that sponsors have offered to confirm suitability

·        engage with the sponsors so they understand their role and responsibilities

·        check in with sponsors and guests shortly after they arrive and regularly thereafter

·        carry out further checks on welfare needs, and determine the wider support networks available in the local community, coordinate any necessary referrals to services such as GPs, dentists, adult social care, safeguarding and mental health

·        provide interim cash payment for guests, and signpost to DWP regarding working, benefits and pensions

·        and to coordinate any education requirements.

 

The roles of the Distract Councils including Eden are:

 

·        To monitor any Homelessness Service Requests arising from the programme

·        administer “thank you” payments to  ...  view the full minutes text for item Cl/89/05/22

Cl/90/05/22

Motions on Notice

To consider motions on notice under Rule 13 of the Constitution.

 

Minutes:

No motions on notice were received.

Cl/91/05/22

Review of the Deputy Chief Executive Salary pdf icon PDF 228 KB

To consider the attached report DoR29/22 of the Chief Executive, which sets out the recommendation of the sub-committee of the HR and Appeals Committee regarding the review of the salary of the Deputy Chief Executive.

 

RECOMMENDED that

 

1.            the Deputy Chief Executive’s salary be permanently revised to £89,463 with effect from 1 January 2022 and the associated back pay be made; and

2.            the additional funding be met from earmarked reserves.

Minutes:

At the beginning of this item the Deputy Chief Executive left the room. He returned on the item’s conclusion.

 

Members considered Report No: DoR29/22 of the Chief Executive which sought to consider the recommendation of the sub-committee of the HR and Appeals Committee regarding the review of the salary of the Deputy Chief Executive.

 

Proposed by Councillor Robinson

Seconded by Councillor Greenwood

 

Members expressed concern about the possibility of revising a salary during a cost of living crisis, and what extra duties the Deputy Chief Executive had taken on to make this revision necessary.

 

The Deputy Leader highlighted that this paper puts a previous honorariam on a formal footing. The Interim Chief Executive also highlighted that the pay attributed to the role of the Deputy Chief Executive is remaining the same, it is just becomign formalised. He believed the Council still needs the Deputy Chief Executive role, due to LGR and the increased buden this caused.

 

Members also queried the fact that additional funding is coming from earmarked reserves. They questioned the total of those reserves, who earmarked them and at what point they were earmarked.

 

The Deputy Leader stated that a written response will be given to this.

 

and RESOLVED that:

 

1.     The Deputy Chief Executive’s salary be permanently revised to £89,463 with effect from 1 January 2022 and the associated back pay be made.

 

2.     That the additional funding be met from earmarked reserves.

Cl/92/05/22

Allocation of Seats to Committees pdf icon PDF 305 KB

To consider the attached report DoR31/22 of the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services in respect of the distribution of seats in accordance with the rules of political proportionality, and to make appointments to the Committees for the remainder of the 2021/2022 municipal year.

 

RECOMMENDED that:

 

1.      the proposed allocation of seats as set out in this report be approved;

2.      the appointment of Members to Committees as set out in Appendix 2 be approved; and

3.      the Green Group and Labour Group adopt a reciprocal arrangement where the nominated Members can act as Standing Deputies.

 

[Please note: Appendix 2 to this report will be sent ‘to follow’.]

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At the beginning of this item the Deputy Chief Executive re-joined the meeting.

 

Members considered Report No: DoR31/22 of the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services in respect of the distribution of seats in accordance with the rules of political proportionality, and to make appointments to the Committees for the remainder of the 2021/2022 municipal year.

 

The Chairman announced that there was an amendment to Appendix 2 of the report in that Councillor Atkinson be added as a standing deputy on Human Resources and Appeals Committee and Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

Councillor Baker also identified an error in the allocation in that Councillor Burgin should a member on Human Resources and Appeals Committee and not himself.

 

Proposed by Councillor Connell

Seconded by Councillor Eyles

 

and RESOLVED that:

 

1. the proposed allocation of seats as set out in this report be approved;

2. the appointment of Members to Committees as set out in Appendix 2 be approved; and

3. the Green Group and Labour Group adopt a reciprocal arrangement where the nominated Members can act as Standing Deputies.

 

The below table reflects the amended position of the Appointment of Members to Committees. Including the amendments mentioned above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appointment of Members to Committees

Accounts and Governance Committee – 9 Members

Conservative Group

R Briggs, J Lynch, D Wicks

Green Group                   

0

Independent Alliance

K Greenwood, W Patterson

Independent Group

S Lancaster

Labour Group

0

Liberal Democrat Group

A Connell, M Eyles, N McCall

Standing Deputies           

A Meadowcroft, A Todd, C Atkinson,

D Banks,

D Ryland,

P Baker, L Harker, D Smith

 

Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 12 Members

Conservative Group

G Nicolson, J Raine, D Wicks, R Briggs

Green Group                   

D Lawson

Independent Alliance

D Banks

Independent Group

D Ryland

Labour Group

M Hanley

Liberal Democrat Group

D Holden, G Simpkins, D Smith, R Burgin

Standing Deputies           

P Dew, H Fearon, A Todd, C Atkinson

A Ross,

W Patterson,

S Lancaster,

P Baker, M Eyles, N McCall, A Connell

 

Finance Scrutiny Committee – 9 Members

Conservative Group

P Dew, G Nicolson, D Wicks

Green Group                   

0

Independent Alliance

W Patterson

Independent Group

D Ryland, S Lancaster

Labour Group

0

Liberal Democrat Group

P Baker, N McCall, D Smith

Standing Deputies           

C Atkinson, R Briggs, A Meadowcroft,

D Banks,

E Martin, M Clark

D Holden, L Harker, G Simpkins

 

Human Resources and Appeals Committee - 9 Members

Conservative Group

R Briggs, J Raine, A Meadowcroft

Green Group                   

0

Independent Alliance

D Banks, M Robinson

Independent Group

M Clark

Labour Group

0

Liberal Democrat Group

R Burgin, G Simpkins, V Taylor

Standing Deputies           

I Chambers, D Wicks, C Atkinson

K Greenwood, W Patterson,

D Ryland

A Connell, J Derbyshire, M Eyles

 

Licensing Committee - 10 Members

Conservative Group

C Atkinson, A Meadowcroft, J Raine

Green Group                   

D Lawson

Independent Alliance

M Tonkin

Independent Group

H Sawrey-Cookson

Labour Group

M Hanley

Liberal Democrat Group

P Baker, L Harker, D Holden

Standing Deputies

I Chambers, J Lynch, D Wicks

A Ross,

D Banks,

L Sharp,

S  ...  view the full minutes text for item Cl/92/05/22

Cl/93/05/22

Date of Next Scheduled Meeting

The next scheduled meeting of Council be confirmed as Thursday 26 May 2022 at 6.45.pm.  This is the Annual Council Meeting. 

Minutes:

The date of the next scheduled meeting of Council was confirmed as Thursday 26 May 6:45pm.