Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Allen.

The Mayor advised that the Audit Committee had previously granted a dispensation for all Members, should they have a disclosable interest, which enabled them to debate and vote on the budget item later in the agenda.

Councillor Miners advised that he had a pecuniary interest as a family member was employed by Spurgeons.

Councillor Murphy declared a pecuniary interest as he was employed by Gladstone Connect.

Councillor Cereste declared that a housing company that he was associated with had a Service Level Agreement with the Council.

Councillor Judy Fox advised that she had an interest due to her involvement with Sure Start Play Area at Welbourn School.

Councillor John Fox advised that he had an interest due to his involvement with Sure Start Play Area at Welbourn School.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 January 2013 were agreed and signed as an accurate record.

Members noted the updated report outlining the Mayor’s engagements for the period 31 January 2013 to 3 March 2013. 

The Mayor addressed the meeting and requested that Members work together for the good of the city and were polite and respectful in debate.

The Leader drew Members attention to a new leaflet that had been distributed for the ‘Discover Peterborough’ campaign to attract visitors to the city.

There were no announcements from the Chief Executive.

Twelve questions had been raised by members of the public, these were in relation to:

1.            The removal of solar farms from a Neighbourhood Committee agenda;

2.            Working with communities to help retain play services;

3.            Confidence in the financial arrangements for the solar farms;

When the ten minutes allocated for this item had been reached Councillor Swift moved that a further 20 minutes be given to allow all members of public the opportunity to be heard.  This was seconded by Councillor Fox.  A brief debate was held where Members raised concern at the length of time allowed for receipt of questions from members of the public. 

The Mayor adjourned the meeting for 15 minutes to allow advice to be given to members of the public on the council’s rules of procedure concerning the submission of questions and petitions. 

The meeting reconvened and the motion put forward by Councillor Swift to extend the time allowed for the item by 20 minutes was AGREED.  The remaining questions relating to the following subjects were taken as read:

4.            Financial Support for community groups to run play services;

5.            Request community groups to run play services;

6.            Establish a charity to run play services;

7.            Reduction in play services impact on social care budgets;

8.            Support for voluntary sector to assist adult social care;

9.            Resources for preventative offer;

10.        Request letter re solar farms;

11.        Support for 5-12 year olds if no play service;

12.        More solar panels on buildings.

A summary of the question and answers raised within agenda item 7 is attached at Appendix A to these minutes.

Questions relating to Ward matters were raised and taken as read in respect of the following:

1.             Funding for Staniland Way roundabout;

2.             Increase in parking enforcement officers;

3.             Costs arising from Freemans building solar panels; and

4.             Parking on grasscrete verges.

A summary of all questions and answers raised within agenda item 8 are attached at APPENDIX A to these minutes.

There were no questions received for the Council’s representatives of the Fire Authority.  The Solicitor to the Council advised that the mechanism to submit questions from Council to the Commissioner was still being determined.

Questions to the Leader and Members of the Executive were raised in respect of the following:

1.             Rent arrears and payments from Peterborough United;

2.             Long Causeway improvements;

A summary of all questions and answers raised within agenda item 10 are attached at APPENDIX B to these minutes.

Alan Clark and Rachel Cousins submitted a petition to keep Thistle Drive Play Centre open and calling on the City Council to stop the cuts to local play services and re-open for all 8-14 year olds 5 days a week.

Kerrie Gracie submitted a petition to stop the cuts to local play services and re-open play centres to all 5-14 year olds for 5 days per week.

Nicola Day submitted a petition to keep Paston Farm Play Centre open and stop the cuts to local play services and re-open play centres to all 5-14 year olds for 5 days per week.

Amanda Preston on behalf of adults with learning disabilities submitted a petition against all the proposals to save money at the expense of disabled, elderly and vulnerable people.

Councillor Sandford submitted a petition urging the Leader and Cabinet to reconsider the proposed cuts in basic services such as play centres, public transport, library opening hours and social care and to prioritise services to the public over expensive grandiose projects and to amend their budget proposals accordingly.

Councillor Martin submitted a petition opposing reductions to the opening hours of Bretton library.

Members received and noted a report summarising:

1.      Decisions taken at the Cabinet Meetings held on 4 February 2013 and 25 February 2013;

2.      Use of the Council’s call-in mechanism, which had not been invoked since the meeting;

3.      Special Urgency and Waiver of Call-in provision, which had not been invoked since the previous meeting; and

4.      Cabinet Member Decisions taken during the period 28 January 2013 to 26 February 2013.

Questions were asked about the following:

Transfer of Public Health

Councillor Miners queried whether services for young and older residents were being included.  Councillor Cereste confirmed that all Public Health services were included.

Review of Charging Policy and Eligibility Criteria for Adult Social Care Services

Councillor John Fox queried how £350,000 was predicted to be saved in the coming financial year but £500,000 savings in future years when the changes had not yet been rolled out and numbers of those affected were not yet known.  Councillor Fitzgerald advised that although some savings may change, no-one would be put at risk. 

Councillor Khan queried what risk assessment had been carried out as a result of people potentially no longer qualifying for the services they currently received and the planned cost rises and how these people would be supported.  Councillor Fitzgerald advised that a detailed response could be provided but in summary risk assessments were undertaken and that there were a range of charges that could apply.

Councillor Murphy queried whether an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) had been carried out; whether the backlog of assessments would be based on the new criteria if conducted after April; and whether the Cabinet Member was aware that the charity Mencap had indicated that Peterborough was to implement different assessment criteria than some other Local Authorities.  Councillor Fitzgerald advised that an EIA had been carried out; some service users may see their care level raised following assessment and the backlog would be cleared by April and the new criteria come into force; and that many councils had already, like Peterborough, revised their assessment criteria to enable the limited funding to be directed at the most vulnerable.

Councillor Sharp queried whether the use of voluntary organisations to provide support was effectively outsourcing the service provision.  Councillor Fitzgerald advised that the Council had a statutory duty to provide care and support for a range of vulnerable people.

Councillor John Fox queried whether more money could be directed to the disability information advice service.  Councillor Fitzgerald said that along with greater ‘online’ support the information advice service could also be considered for greater use.

Children’s Services Update

Councillor Shearman queried whether there was a result available form the recent Ofsted inspection.  Councillor Scott responded by saying that that the results from the most recent inspection would be available and published in the next few days.

Establishment of a Local Transport Body and Draft Assurance Framework

Councillor Ash queried how the Board would be accountable to Peterborough residents and councillors and what influence Peterborough would have if Cambridgeshire  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Cabinet at its meeting of 25 February 2013 received a report updating it on the proposed review of the Common Allocations Policy and requesting it agreed the final draft to be taken to full council for adoption.

Councillor Hiller, the Cabinet Member for Housing Neighbourhoods and Planning, provided an overview of the proposals and moved the recommendation that Council adopt the Common Housing Register Allocation Policy. This was seconded by Councillor Serluca, who reserved her right to speak.

Members debated the recommendation and raised points including:

·           Concern for existing tenants’ housing options  if reassessed;

·           If forced to move to private rental it could become unaffordable for many families;

·           The less well regulated private sector was not as safe for vulnerable families;

·           Improvements needed to the private sector first;

·           More housing needed for more families;

·           Must define assessment criteria accurately e.g. what is ‘hardship’;

Councillor Hiller replied, advising that the landlord accreditation scheme was being developed for private sector landlords and that with over 9,000 applicants on the housing list action must be taken to manage this.

A vote was taken (31 for, 1 against, 18 abstentions) and it was RESOLVED that:

Council adopts the Common Housing Register Allocations Policy.

The meeting adjourned for 15 minutes.

Cabinet, at its meeting of 25 February 2013, received a report presenting budget proposals for 2013/14 through to 2022/23, in line with the provisional local government finance settlement for 2013/14 and in advance of some Department for Education specific grants being announced. The report contained three key sections:

·         Cabinet report and summary of council funding implications, including proposals on council tax;

·         The draft MTFS, including capital strategy, asset management plan and Treasury Strategy;

·         The budget consultation document being used for scrutiny, stakeholder and public consultation updated for any changes.

In addition, the report also had regard to the revised budget timetable approved by Full Council at the meeting of 10 October under the council constitution Part 4, Section 6 – Budget and Policy Framework Rules.

Councillor Seaton, the Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the Budget for 2013/14 and accompanying MTFS 2022/23, moving the recommendations detailed in the Budget Book together with an additional addendum that included and update to the consultation responses, an amended narrative to the sick pay proposals and clarification on the occupancy periods for council tax discount changes.

The Cabinet Member for Resources thanked everyone who had contributed to the development of the budget proposals and highlighted that £17million needed to be saved, amendments to services were required to achieve this saving, council tax would be frozen, there would be continued support for the most vulnerable, there would be continued efforts to attract businesses to the city and the budget would ensure educational development was maintained.  These proposals were seconded by Councillor Cereste who reserved his right to speak later in the debate.

During debate on the budget proposals, points raised in favour included:

·         No alternative budget or amendments were submitted against the proposals;

·         Limited funds from government to provide all services;

·         Your Peterborough magazine was useful for many residents;

·         Libraries are remaining open;

·         Communities could deliver play services with Council support;

·         £45million was being provided for Adult Social Care;

·         Continued investment in school improvement and school place provision;

·         City Centre development was needed to attract businesses and growth throughout the city;

·         Over 4,000 jobs were created in the previous year;

·         Many solar power generation projects already working well to provide an income for the council; and

·         Continued house building was needed for future growth and income.

During debate on the budget proposals, points raised against included:

·         Cuts to adult social care and play centre funding will be detrimental to many vulnerable residents;

·         Play Services enabled other service provision such as intervention and family support;

·         Volunteers would not be able to run the play services and buildings and voluntary sector grants are being cut;

·         Free play services are maintained by many other Authorities;

·         Amendments to Adult Social Care criteria not required until 2015 so should be delayed;

·         Funding should not be reduced for libraries;

·         Should remove funding allocation for Your Peterborough magazine;

·         Should remove funding for the steam locomotive;

·         Should not increase CCTV coverage as not enough operators for current system;

·         Should have increased council tax to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13 (b)

The guillotine for the meeting had been reached and therefore in accordance with the council’s rules of procedure the above report was deemed to be formally moved and seconded. 

It was AGREED to approve the recommendations in the report as below:

1)      Council notes that the responsibility for Public Health is to be moved from the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at part 3, section 3, para 3.10 (d) into the Leader’s personal portfolio at para 3.4;

2)     Council notes the delegations from the Leader to the Director of Public Health, as shown in the attached Appendix 1, to be included in the Constitution; and

3)     Council approves the Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure in relation to the Health & Wellbeing Board as shown in the attached Appendix 2, to be included in the Constitution.