Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Borg, Drewitt, Lawn and Thirtle.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no items of urgent business.

Her Worship the Mayor announced the following remembrance events :

7 November - Blessing of the Crosses in St George's Park

11 November (11am) - Remembrance Day Service in St George's Park

11 November (12.30 pm) - Far East Prisoner of War Service on Marine Parade

11 November (4pm) - Festival of Remembrance at the Hippodrome Service

Council considered the minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2018.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Smith

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on the 13 September be approved.

CARRIED

Question from Mr J Cannell to the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee

"Does the Council agree that Universal Credit has resulted in the citizens of the Borough being subjected to an overall cut in benefit which has had an overall effect on the economy of Great Yarmouth and that the Universal Credit System is still causing problems for claimants locally ?"

In response to the above question the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee advised :

Universal Credit is delivered and administered by the Department for Work & Pensions. The Council has no data on which any comment or statement can be made on the number of citizens of the borough being financially worse off or better off under the Universal Credit scheme.

The Great Yarmouth Job Centre advices there are approximately 9,000 citizens now claiming Universal Credit.  The Council continues to play a supporting role to residents of the borough by providing information and advice working together with a number of agencies including the Job Centre helping to resolve individual issues as they arise.

As a local authority landlord our collection rate of rent fell slightly in the year after Universal Credit was introduced by 0.8%. As Universal Credit is paid in arrears this does mean that tenants in receipt of the benefit are more likely to be in arrears, at least initially when they move on to the benefit.

Support is in place to ensure that our tenants can come to arrangements to bring their rent accounts up to date with the use of eviction as a last resort. We have therefore seen examples where tenants who were previously in rent arrears are now in credit. The number of Great Yarmouth Borough Council tenants evicted for rent arrears in 2017/18 was only 3 and, to date, for 2018/19 there have been no evictions.

The Councils Housing Options team report they have not experienced widespread evictions in the private sector due to tenants being in receipt of Universal Credit. They have seen households that have fallen into rent arrears which may lead to landlords issuing Notice, however, continue to work with both parties in an attempt to resolve the issue.  

In accordance with the constitution, Mr Cannell then asked a supplementary question as follows :

Does the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee agree with a Ministerial comment that Great Yarmouth citizens have suffered economically because of Universal credit ?

In response to the supplementary question the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee advised that the introduction of Universal Credit may have had  its flaws, there is no evidence to suggest that it has impacted on the economy of the Borough at a time when businesses continue to invest and the economy continues to grow.

Council considered the Service Committee Decision List for the period 1 September to 20 October 2018.

Proposer : Councillor Grant

Seconder : Councillor Smith

That the Service Committee Decision List for the period 1 September to 20 October 2018 be received.

CARRIED

The Monitoring Officer presented her report on the Council's Governance arrangements, including a proposed programme of work to review governance and implement any changes.  

Proposer : Councillor Wainwright

Seconder : Councillor Plant

(1) That Council allocate to its Constitution Working Group together with an officer from each service area, the role of "Governance Task and Finish Group" to undertake a review of the existing Committee system and identify strengths and weaknesses in order to devise a proposal for revisions to the system.

(2) That the findings and conclusions of the Governance Task and Finish Group, together with any proposals for change be reported to full Council.

CARRIED

Councillor G Carpenter , Vice - Chairman of the Licensing Committee, presented a report advising that Licensing Authorities are required to publish a Statement of Principles (Gambling Policy) and review it every 3 years.  The Council’s existing policy expires on 30 January 2019, the policy has been reviewed and updated and been subject to a 9 week consultation period. Two letters with comments were received during this time and have been considered within the policy.

Proposed : Councillor G Carpenter

Seconder : Councillor Hanton

That the draft policy attached to the report be approved as the new Gambling Statement of Principles.

Council considered the proposed Committee Timetable for 2019/20.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Hanton

That the proposed Committee Timetable for 2019/20 be approved.

CARRIED

Council considered the following Motions :-

(a) Motion from Councillors Wainwright, Williamson, Walker, Smith- Clare and Cordiner-Achenbach

Councillor Smith-Clare presented the motion calling upon this Council to write to Andrew Proctor, Leader of Norfolk County Council and Wendy Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of Norfolk County Council asking them to cancel the proposed closure of six Sure Start Centres in the Borough of Great Yarmouth.

Councillor Smith-Clare in support of the the motion stated that he wished to speak in support of the much valued and accessed Children's Centres that for so many residents represent a lifeline that supports families across the borough day in and out. These centres provide a responsive, effective and accessible hub to local children and their families , are welcoming beacons of care , consideration and opportunity where some of the critical issues affecting people's lives can be confidentially addressed and supported in a well equipped safe and professionally staffed environment.

Councillors Williamson, Cordiner-Achenbach, Martin Wainwright and Wright all spoke in favour of the motion referring to the deprivation in the Borough, impact of Universal Credit, reliance on food banks, low pay and life expectancy.

Councillor Plant responded by saying this was a Norfolk County Council matter and was out for consultation.

Councillor Smith-Clare requested that a recorded vote be taken on the motion but did not get the required 16 names to demand it therefore voting on the motion was by show of hands.

The notice of motion was LOST.

During the debate on this item the Mayor requested, on several occasions, for the public to remain quiet as the proceedings of the meeting were being interrupted. The Mayor then asked for the clearance of the public gallery but some of the public refused to do so.

The meeting then adjourned between 19.58 and 20.25 and when it resumed there were no public present.

(b) Motion from Councillors Wainwright, Williamson, Walker, Smith- Clare and Cordiner-Achenbach

Councillor Kerry Robinson-Payne referred to the Notice of motion calling upon this Council to provide sanitary products at no charge in toilets on their premises for staff and users , and further call for this Council to write to Theresa May MP, calling on the Government to ensure that they remove VAT from all sanitary products at the earliest opportunity.

She advised that as the public had been removed from the meeting that consideration of this motion be deferred to a future meeting.

CARRIED

The Interim Democratic Services Manager advised that following the death of Charles Reynolds and the dissolution of the Local Authority Trading Company Shareholder Committee it has been necessary to recalculate the allocation of seats to political groups on all of the committees. The numbers mean that overall the Conservatives lose a seat whilst Labour gain one. 

The Leader of the Conservative Group has also indicated that he wishes to replace a member on the Development Committee.

Proposer : Councillor Wainwright

Seconder : Councillor Smith

That the following changes to membership of committees be made with immediate effect :

Economic Development  - Councillor G Carpenter

Development - Councillor G Carpenter

Development - Councillor Hammond to replace Councillor A Grey 

Local Plan Working Party - the Interim Democratic Services Manager, in consultation with the Leader of the Labour Group, be authorised to appoint a Labour Group Member to serve on this.

CARRIED

The following names were put forward to be appointed to serve on the Broads Authority 

Councillor Hanton 

Councillor Jeal 

Following a vote it was agreed that Councillor Hanton be appointed to serve on the Broads Authority.

CARRIED 

There were no items of any other business.

RESOLVED :

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12(A) of the said Act.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting a one minute silence was held to remember Councillor Charles Reynolds.