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Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Council Chamber, Town Hall, Corney Place, Penrith, CA11 7QF

Items
No. Item

Cl/94/05/22

Election of Chair

To elect a Chairman of the Council for the 2022-2023 municipal year. 

Minutes:

The outgoing chair, Councillor Connell, expressed his thanks to officers for their support during his tenure from 2019/2020.

 

Proposed by Cllr Connell

Seconded by Cllr Robinson

 

andRESOLVED that Cllr Banks be elected as Chair of the Council for the 2022/2023 municipal year.

 

Councillor Banks accepted the Office of Chair, was vested with the Chain of Office and gave a brief acceptance speech.

Cl/95/05/22

Appointment of Vice-Chair

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Council for the 2022-2023 municipal year. 

Minutes:

Proposed by Cllr Sharp

Seconded by Cllr Ross

 

and RESOLVED that Cllr Eyles be appointed as Vice-Chair of the Council for the 2022/2023 municipal year.

 

Councillor Eyles accepted the Office of Vice-Chair and was vested with the Chain of Office.

Cl/96/05/22

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: Armstrong, McCall, Todd, and Wicks.

 

Cl/97/05/22

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 following declarations of interest were received:

 

The Interim Director of Resources declared an interest in regards to agenda item number 13, noting that he would leave the room for the duration of this item.

 

Councillor Eyles gave a personal explanation in that he was intending to audio record the meeting for personal use.

Cl/98/05/22

Minutes

RECOMMENDATION that the public minutes:

 

1.    Cl/84/05/22 to Cl93/05/22 of the meeting of Council held on 28 April 2022;

2.    AGc/68/05/22 to AGc/73/05/22 of the meeting of the Accounts and Governance Committee held on the 5 May 2022;

3.    HRa/66/05/22 to HRa/70/05/22 of the meeting of the Human Resources and Appeals Committee held on the 11 May 2022;

4.    Lic/54/05/22 to Lic/59/05/22 of the meeting of Licensing Committee held on 11 May 2022;

5.    OS/63/05/22 to OS/73/05/22 of the meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 12 May 2022;

6.    Pla/181/05/22 to Pla/192/05/22 of the meeting of Planning Committee held on 19 May 2022;

7.    CAB/130/05/22 to CAB/142/05/22 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 24 May 2022;

 

be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record of those proceedings. 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that:

 

1. the public minutes:

·       Cl/84/05/22 to Cl93/05/22 of the meeting of Council held on 28 April 2022;

·       AGc/68/05/22 to AGc/73/05/22 of the meeting of the Accounts and Governance Committee held on the 10 May 2022;

·       HRa/66/05/22 to HRa/70/05/22 of the meeting of the Human Resources and Appeals Committee held on the 11 May 2022;

 

be confirmed and signed as a correct record of those proceedings.

 

2. further that public minutes:

 

·       Lic/54/05/22 to Lic/59/05/22 of the meeting of Licensing Committee held on 11 May 2022;

·       OS/63/05/22 to OS/73/05/22 of the meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 12 May 2022;

·       Pla/181/05/22 to Pla/192/05/22 of the meeting of Planning Committee held on 19 May 2022;

·       CAB/130/05/22 to CAB/142/05/22 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 24 May 2022;

 

be presented at the next available meeting of the relevant committee for confirmation.

Cl/99/05/22

Chair's Acceptance Speech and Announcements

Minutes:

The Chair addressed the plenary:

Thank you councillors for electing me. Seven years ago, my predecessor, Michael Holliday, finally persuaded me to stand as a councillor for Langwathby ward. I never thought that after walking through those doors like a rabbit caught in headlights, one day I would be allowed to sit in the big seat as chairman. It’s a pity that I will be the last chairman as EDC has been resigned to history, but I hope all past and present councillors have been subject to improve the life of the residents in Eden. Can I thank the retiring chairman Andy, for the past three years, during difficult times, involving streets and hoping the internet keeps working, although it did not deter him as he is now chairman of Cumbria County Council. Finally, congratulations to all newly elected councillors for the new authority, but after seeing the first agenda’s 329 pages that should be commiserations We hope you continue to promote and campaign for Eden. Once again, thank you.

 

Chair’s Announcements

 

I attended the Mayor of Maryport’s dinner in Wigton. I met Prince Charles at Tebay Services to celebrate their 15th anniversary. I will be attending the Queen’s Jubilee Evensong at Carlisle Cathedral tomorrow evening and there will be free parking in Eden for the Jubilee weekend.

 

Withdrawal of agenda item 12:

This withdrawal is with the agreement of the Chair of Council for the following reason: At its meeting on 24 May 2022 Cabinet considered a number of capital grants for affordable housing. Following that meeting new information has come to light which requires further investigation by officers. The issues raised will take time to resolve and given the significant content of the report it is felt appropriate to withdraw the consideration of the report by Council at this time.

 

 

 

Cl/100/05/22

Statement by the Leader

Minutes:

The Chair invited the Leader of the Council, Cllr Taylor, to address its plenum:

 

My last year’s statement concluded with the hope that by now Eden and EDC would be less dominated by Covid19 than both 2020 and 2021 had been, and that this report I’m delivering now would just celebrate EDC delivering great services and facilitating increased prosperity and wellbeing to everyone living and working here in Eden – along with progress improving biodiversity and reducing our carbon footprint.

 

But can I do that? Well, yes, to some extent. I do have to talk a little about Covid, and also about what EDC has achieved in 2021 - 22, what can be done in the last year of this administration in EDC till 2023, and in particular affirm that we can, all 38 of us, use the year ahead to ensure that Eden is an equal partner in the new Westmorland and Furness Unitary Council, even though we don’t get a namecheck, and even though we are so few. We are not far away: we are here. We are definitely here.

 

I apologise that this will be rather lengthy. I really want to reflect, to look ahead, and particularly to take the opportunity to record our gratitude to our Council’s officers. They have gone beyond the call of duty and improvised their way through the extraordinary demands for the last two years and more. The uncertainty of the way ahead must be very difficult:  thank you all, for your continuing commitment to public service and for the generous use of your talents and energies for the people of Eden. It does not go unnoticed. 

 

So first, Covid.


While the lifting of Covid restrictions should mean society is ‘back to normal’, people still get ill; difficulties are now hidden and help less available. Additional challenges proliferate:  the ‘cost-of-living crisis’, especially escalating fuel and food costs, instability in the supply chain, and unfilled vacancies in many sectors, the war in Ukraine, all raise the volume of the ambient stress level for everyone. We may be, allegedly, ‘living with Covid’ but things are not really back to normal at 
EDC and beyond: we’ve forgotten what normal is, and the everyday support mechanisms generated by people working together, sharing tasks, solving problems, has still not returned. Humans are social animals and isolation isn’t good for us.

 

So it is to the greatest credit of our officers at EDC, therefore, that I am able to confirm that over last year they have indeed both delivered great services and increased prosperity, environmental improvement, and wellbeing. Some examples – and if I have missed something critical, let me know and I will remedy the matter:

 

Our ‘Revs and Bens’ people effected the distribution of over £3m in hardship payments ,  while the Finance team, with the help of many hands on decks, disbursed the astounding total sum of £56,627,351.70  in Covid business grants. While this money did indeed originate from central government,  ...  view the full minutes text for item Cl/100/05/22

Cl/101/05/22

Allocation of Seats on Committees and Working Groups pdf icon PDF 244 KB

To consider the attached report DoR46/22 of the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services which proposes the distribution of seats in accordance with the rules of political proportionality and to make appointments to the Committees for the 2022/23 municipal year.

 

RECOMMENDATION 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;

3.      the appointment of Members to Working Groups as set out in Appendix 3 be approved;

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

 

[Note: Appendices 2 and 3 to this report will be sent ‘to follow’]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the report DoR46/22 of the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services, which proposed the distribution of seats in accordance with the rules of political proportionality and to make appointments to the Committees for the 2022/2023 municipal year.

 

Proposed by Cllr Robinson

Seconded by Cllr Patterson

 

andRESOLVED that:

 

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

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

3.      the appointment of Members to Working Groups as set out in Appendix be approved; and that

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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, R Burgin

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 Lancaster,

M Eyles, G Simpkins, N McCall

 

 

Planning Committee - 11 Members

Conservative Group

I Chambers, J Lynch, D Wicks

Green Group                   

A Ross

Independent Alliance

W Patterson

Independent Group

H Sawrey-Cookson, E Martin

Labour Group

M Hanley

Liberal Democrat Group

D Holden, M Eyles, G Simpkins

Standing Deputies

R Briggs, A Meadowcroft, G Nicolson,

D Lawson,

D Banks,

M Clark, S Lancaster

L Sharp,

P Baker, L Harker, D Smith

 

 

 

 

Appointment of Members to Working  ...  view the full minutes text for item Cl/101/05/22

Cl/102/05/22

Election of Chairs

Minutes:

A Member referred to the lack of inclusive labels present in the ‘Chairman’ title.

 

The Monitoring Officer clarified that it should be ‘Chair’ and that it would be amended.

 

1.     Accounts and Governance Committee

 

Nominated by Cllr Connell

Seconded by Cllr Holden

 

andRESOLVED that Cllr Eyles be elected Chair of the Accounts and

Governance Committee for the 2022-2023 municipal year.

 

2. Finance Scrutiny Committee

 

Nominated by Cllr Burgin

Seconded by Cllr Lynch

 

andRESOLVED that Cllr Dew be elected Chair of the Finance Scrutiny Committee for the 2022-2023 municipal year.

 

Nominated by Cllr Clark

Seconded by Cllr Lancaster

 

andRESOLVED that Cllr Ryland be elected Vice-Chair of the Finance Scrutiny Committee for the 2022-2023 municipal year.

 

3. Human Resources and Appeals Committee

 

Nominated by Cllr Greenwood

Seconded by Cllr Rudhall

 

andRESOLVED that Cllr Robinson be elected Chair of the Human Resources and Appeals Committee for the 2022-2023 municipal year

 

4. Licensing Committee

 

Nominated by Cllr Eyles

Seconded by Cllr Sharp

 

andRESOLVED that Cllr Holden be elected Chair of the Licensing Committee for the 2022-2023 municipal year

 

5. Overview and Scrutiny Committee

 

Nominated by Cllr Chambers

Seconded by Cllr Briggs

 

andRESOLVED that Cllr Raine be elected Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2022-2023 municipal year.

 

Nominated by Cllr Raine

Seconded by Cllr Nicolson

 

andRESOLVED that Cllr Ryland be elected Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2022-2023 municipal year.

 

6. Planning Committee

 

Nominated by Cllr Robinson

Seconded by Cllr Lancaster

 

andRESOLVED that Cllr Patterson be elected Chair of the Planning Committee for the 2022-2023 municipal year

 

 

Cl/103/05/22

Calendar of Ordinary Meetings 2022-2023 pdf icon PDF 360 KB

To consider the attached report DoR39/22 of the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services, which outlines the previously approved calendar of ordinary meetings for 2022-23.

 

RECOMMENDATION: that

 

1.            Council notes the calendar of ordinary meetings for 2022-23 attached at Appendix 1 to this report;

2.            all Members and Standing Deputies of the Planning, Licensing, and Accounts and Governance Committees undertake full training prior to these Committees’ first meetings in each new municipal year; and

3.            it be noted that Portfolio Holder meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis when there is a requirement for a Portfolio Holder to make a decision under delegated powers.

Minutes:

Members considered the report DoR39/22 of the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services, which sought to outline the previously approved calendar of ordinary meetings for the 2022/2023 municipal year.

 

Proposed by Cllr Taylor

Seconded by Cllr Robinson

 

andRESOLVED that:

 

1.     Council notes the calendar of ordinary meetings for 2022-23 attached at Appendix 1 to the report; further that

 

2.  all Members and Standing Deputies of the Planning, Licensing, and Accounts and Governance Committees undertake full training prior to these Committees’ first meetings in each new municipal year; and that

 

3.  it be noted that Portfolio Holder meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis when there is a requirement for a Portfolio Holder to make a decision under delegated powers.

Cl/104/05/22

Appointments to Outside Bodies and Member Champions 2022-2023 pdf icon PDF 246 KB

To consider the attached report DoR45/22 of the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services, which seeks to approve the list of Outside Bodies for the municipal year 2022/2023, and which Members should be appointed to represent the Council on each of the listed bodies.

 

RECOMMENDATION that:

 

1.       The list of outside bodies set out in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.6 in the report be approved;

2.       Members of the Cabinet be appointed to the outside bodies identified in paragraph 3.2;

3.       Members give consideration to the nomination of non-Cabinet Members to the bodies listed at paragraph 3.6 of this report;

4.       Members note the requirement to provide a summary note for outside body meetings attended as previously agreed by Council for any outside bodies they may be appointed to;

5.       Those bodies upon which Eden District Council will be represented by another body for 2021/2023 as detailed at paragraph 3.7 of the report be noted and consideration be given to appointing an observer; and

6.       Council determines if it wishes to appoint Member Champions in relation to:

(a)     the Armed Forces;

(b)     Children and Young People; 

(c)     Older People; and

(d)     Homelessness

 

 

[Note: Appendix 1 to this report will be sent ‘to follow’]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the report DoR45/22 of the Assistant Director Legal and Democratic Services, which sought to confirm the list of Outside Bodies for the municipal year 2022/2023, and to consider which Members should be appointed to represent the Council on each of these bodies.

 

Note: the nominations below are as agreed by Council.

 

Proposed by Cllr Banks

Seconded by Cllr Ross

 

andRESOLVED that:

 

1.     the list of outside bodies set out in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.6 in the report be approved;

2.     the following appointment of Cabinet Members to the outside bodies identified in paragraph 3.2 be noted;

 

Outside Body

Portfolio Holder

North Cumbria Community Safety Partnership

Communities

Cumbria County Superannuation Fund Forum

Resources

Cumbria Housing Group

Housing and Health

Cumbria Leadership Board

Leader

Cumbria Public Health Alliance

Housing and Health

Cumbria Strategic Waste Partnership

Services

Cumbria Tourism Executive Board

Economies and Enterprise

District Councils Network

Leader

Eden Health Forum

Housing and Health

Eden Tourism Network

Economies and Enterprise

Cumbria Joint Districts 

Leader

Local Government Association

Leader

North West Housing Forum

Housing and Health

North West Employers*

Leader

Sparsity Partnership for Authorities deliver rural services (SPARSE)

Economies and Enterprise

UK100 Countryside Climate Network

Leader

 

*The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Cllr Greenwood, noted that North West Employers was under the purview of the Leader.

 

 

 

 

3.     the following non-Cabinet Members be nominated to the outside bodies listed at paragraph 3.6 of the report;

 

 

 

Outside Body

Membership

Alston Moor Partnership (including the Townscape Heritage Initiative Steering Group and Alston Moor Partnership) Board

Cllr Lissie Sharp

Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee

Cllr Michael Hanley

Deputy Cllr Lissie Sharp

Cumbria Local Nature Partnership

Cllr Ali Ross

Cumbria Police and Crime Panel

Cllr Deb Holden

Eden Health and Wellbeing Forum

Cllr Michael Hanley

Deputy Cllr Lissie Sharp

Greenwich Leisure Limited Eden Board

Cllr David Ryland

Lake District National Park Partnership

Cllr Ali Ross

Multi Agency Appleby Fair Strategic Co-ordinating Group (MASCG)

Cllr Graham Simpkins

North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership

Cllr Mary Robinson

Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London Adjudication Committee

Cllr Mike Eyles

 

4.     the requirement of Members to provide a summary note of outside body meetings attended be noted;

5.     the bodies upon which Eden District Council will be represented by another body for 2021/2023 as detailed at paragraph 3.7 of the report be noted;

6.     the following Members be appointed as Member Champions in relation to:

 

Member Champions

Nomination

Armed Forces

Cllr Henry Sawrey-Cookson

Children and Young People

Cllr Lissie Sharp

Older People

Cllr Joan Raine

Homelessness

Cllr Doug Lawson

 

Cl/105/05/22

Budget for Capital Grants for Affordable Housing Projects pdf icon PDF 260 KB

To consider the attached report DoR44/22 of the Interim Director of Resources, which seeks to approve capital budgets for four capital grants to support Affordable Housing projects across the district. The grants will be funded through Section 106 receipts and are being considered for approval by Cabinet on 24 May 2022.

 

RECOMMENDATION: subject to Cabinet approval of the Capital Grants, that Council approves budgets totalling £544,000 to be included in the Capital Programme 2022/23 to be funded from Section 106 receipts.

Minutes:

The following agenda item was withdrawn:

 

This withdrawal is with the agreement of the Chair of Council for the following reason: At its meeting on 24 May 2022 Cabinet considered a number of capital grants for affordable housing. Following that meeting new information has come to light which requires further investigation by officers. The issues raised will take time to resolve and given the significant content of the report it is felt appropriate to withdraw the consideration of the report by Council at this time.

Cl/106/05/22

Director of Resources Post pdf icon PDF 237 KB

To consider the attached report CE3/22 of the Chief Executive, in respect of the options for the post of Director of Resources and statutory requirements under Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972 from June 2022 until April 2023.

 

RECOMMENDED: that Council

 

1.    approves the extension of the current arrangements with the Interim Director of Resources until 31 March 2023; and

2.    agrees to fund the £71,860 cost of the extension from Revenue Reserves.

Minutes:

*The Interim Director of Resources left the room for the consideration of this item.

 

Members considered the report CE3/22 of the Chief Executive, which sought to set out the options for the  for the post of Director of Resources and statutory requirements under Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972 from June 2022 until April 2023.

 

 

Proposed by Cllr Greenwood

Seconded by Cllr Robinson

 

andRESOLVED that:

 

1.    council approve the extension of the current arrangements with the Interim Director of Resources until 31 March 2023; and

2.    agrees to fund the £71,860 cost of the extension from Revenue Reserves.

 

Cl/107/05/22

Date of Next Scheduled Meeting

The next scheduled meeting of Council be confirmed as Thursday 28 July 2022 at 6.45 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Penrith. 

Minutes:

The date of the next scheduled meeting of Council was confirmed as Thursday, 28th July 2022.