Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Coleman, Galer, K Gray, Mavroudis and Walch.

Councillor Jeal declared a personal interest in the item relating to the Community and Voluntary Sector Grants with reference to First Move Furnishaid and indicated that he would leave the room whilst that item was discussed.

Councillor Hammond declared a personal interest in the item relating to the Review of the Market Fees as his daughter is a market stall holder and indicated he would not vote on the item.

There were no items of urgent business for consideration.

The Deputy Mayor reminded Members that the Civic Ball is to be held on Saturday 30 March with tickets at £35.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on the 13 December 2018 were confirmed.

Mr L Sutton, the Member of the Public who had given the requisite notice of the question had indicated that he was unable to attend the meeting therefore the Deputy Mayor asked it on his behalf.

Please can the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee explain how Great Yarmouth Borough Council has, and will comply with its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty, that  requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate discrimination
• advance equality of opportunity
• foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities,

in relation to the decisions made, the consultation and future decisions regarding the redevelopment of the Marina Centre leisure / tourist attraction, where there is known detriment to the provision of indoor bowls in the borough (cessation of indoor bowls at the Marina Centre) and a risk to disability access to the swimming pools (current pool has beach style access)?

The Chairman of Policy and Resources responded as follows :

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is committed to providing equality of opportunity for our residents and communities. We respect and value difference in the Borough,and we want everyone to feel able to play their part in making Great Yarmouth a great place to live work and visit.

When planning and commisioning services, we take account of equality and accessibility, and where appropriate,  put actions in place to address any barriers faced by disabilities.

We have ensured that the planned redevelopment of the Marina Centre complies with the Public Sector Equality Duty by implementing a range of initiatives to promote accessibility and inclusive design, based on national best practice.

This includes ensuring that accessibilty was one of core principles in the architectural design specification and that the redevelopment of the centre complies with Part M of the Building Regulations relating to disability access.

The accessibility of the pool design has been specifically considered, and as a result, enhanced access is being proposed for the pool entrance points, steps, surrounding surfaces and changing areas. In addition, it will be proposed in the design there will be the ability to utilise hoist mechanisms to support wheelchair users and people with limited mobility to get in and out of the pool, as well as design features for parents of disabled children. This goes beyond the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Act. 

Another driver for making these improvements was recognition that the original Marina Centre was designed prior to 1981, well before the introduction of the Public Sector Equality Duty. This meant that many aspects of the centre were not as accessible as would be expected today, so redevelopment has represented an opportunity to address this.

The Council has yet to make a final decision on the Marina centre replacement and to date has only allocated funding for RIBA Stage 2 and 3. The current work which forms part of RIBA stage 3, and is due to be finalised in April of this year, will include a full Equality Impact Assessment but I can reassure members and the public that disability access does form part of the design of the new swimming pool facilities. 

The Deputy Mayor then asked the following supplementary question on behalf of Mr Sutton :

What training have GYBC councillors and officers received in the public sector equality duty and how has this been applied to the decisions made by councillors and officers over the Marina Centre? 

The Chairman of Policy and Resources responded as follows :

Great Yarmouth Borough Council councillors and officers receive training to ensure that the Authority successfully applies the Public Sector Equality Duty to decision making, service planning and commisioning. Over the years this has covered numerous topics, from member sessions on tackling hate incidents to officer workshops on the Eqiuality Act 2010. 

We have equality expertise in-house, and our officers maintain close links with external equality networks, to share good practice and learning. The purpose of this is to ensure that our officers undertake all necessary checks on proposals before bringing items to committee for consideration by elected members, to support informed decision making.

Our nest training event on equality and accessibility for senior managers is due to take place on 25 February, to review the latest national policy developments and case law.

The Head of Organisational Development submitted a report advising that Council had previously resolved that a Working Group be established and a report produced outlining the cost to contractors, the Council and the rate payer of implementing the Living Wage on all Council contracts.

Councillor B Walker proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Jeal that a Working group be re-established to investigate this further. On being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Smith

That the contents of the Head of Organisational Development's report and the potential financial implications if this work is progressed be noted.

CARRIED 

Council considered the Head of Organisational Development's report with regard to the Pay Policy Statement 2019/20.

Proposer : Councillor Wainwright 
Seconder : Councillor Plant

That the Pay Policy Statement for 2019/20 be adopted and published on the Council's website.

CARRIED

On reference from the Policy and Resources Committee of 10th January 2019 Council considered recommendations on the review of the six day and two day Market Place Fees and charges.

Councillor Jeal proposed an amendment which was seconded by Councillor Wainwright that for the fees and charges for two day markets a year round rate of 50p per foot be charged. Councillor Jeal requested that a recorded vote be taken but did not get the required 16 names to demand it therefore the voting was by show of hands. The amendment was LOST.

Proposer : Councillor Plant  
Seconder : Councillor B Coleman

(1) That fees and charges for two day markets a year round rate be £1.00 per foot (depth calculations will remain unchanged) be agreed. 

(2) That the existing 50p per foot rate through to 31st March be continued and that £11k be taken from the shopfront initiative scheme to cover part of the £14k shortfall.

(3) That the current fees in relation to the six day market be maintained.

(4) That the fees and charges for the six day market as contained in the schedule attached to the report be agreed.

CARRIED

On reference from the Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee of 24th January 2019 Council considered recommendations on the allocation of community and voluntary sector grants for 2019/20.

That the following community and voluntary sector grants for 209/20 be approved :

First Move Furnishaid - £19,000

Gyros - £17,000

Citizens Advice Bureau - £19,750

DIAL - £19,750

Homestart - £19,000

Foodbank Plus - £5,000

On reference from the Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee of 24th January 2019 Council considered the report which set out the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2019/20 to 2023/24, HRA Capital Programme 2019/20 to 2023/24, HRA Rent and Service Charge proposal 2019/20 and the revised HRA revenue and capital forecasts for 2018/19.

 
Proposer : Councillor Grant
Seconder : Councillor P Carpenter

(1) To note the reduction in rents of 1%, as set out in the Welfare Reform and
Work Act 2016.

(2) To review and recommend the  revenue budget for 2019/20 along with the forecast projects for the period up until 2023/24.

(3) To review and recommend the capital budget for the period 2019/20 to 2023/24.

(4) To agree the proposed rent service charges for 2019/20.

(5) To agree the revised forecast for 2018/19

CARRIED

Council considered the Finance Director's report on the Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy for 2019/20.

Proposer : Councillor Plant
Seconder : Councillor Smith

(1) That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2019/20 be approved.

(2) That the Annual Investment Strategy be approved.

(3) That the Operational Boundary and Authorised Limits be approved.

CARRIED

Prior to the commencement of the debate it was agreed that Council Procedure Rule 31.13.4 be suspended to enable the Leaders of the two Groups to speak for more than 5 minutes.

Council was reminded that Council Procedure Rule 31.15.6  requires a recorded vote to be taken regarding the setting of the Budget.

The report of the Finance Director was considered which outlines the recommended 2019/20 budget along with the latest financial projections for the following three years to 2021/22. 

The report shows a balanced position for 2019/20 after allowing a transfer from general reserves of £87,135, recommends an updated capital programme and outlines the risks facing the Council in setting the budget and forecasting future spending plans and resources.

Councillor Plant proposed the recommendations contained in the report subject to the inclusion of the recommendations of the Economic Development Committee on the charging model and fee usage of Rapid Vehicle Electric Charge Points, this was seconded by Councillor Smith.

Councillor Wainwright proposed and Councillor B Walker proposed the following amendments  to the earmarked reserves under recommendation 5 at Appendix F of the report :

(a) retain £393,307 of the Local Economic Growth Initiative reserve to meet the need for Economic Growth in Great Yarmouth and remove £150,00 from coastal protection

(b) create a new reserve of £100,000 to further assist Community and Voluntary Sector with assistance in providing support to residents

 Upon being put to the votes these amendments were LOST

Proposer : Councillor Plant
Seconder : Councillor Smith

(1) That the 2019/20 General Fund Revenue Budget as detailed in Appendix A
of the report be approved subject to the inclusion of the charging model and fee usage of Rapid Vehicle Electric Charge Points.

(2) That the Fees and Charges as detailed at Appendix D (in addition to those
previously agreed in December 2018) of the report be approved.

(3) That the Council Tax for 2019/20 for the Borough Council Tax be £161.48
(for an average band D).

(4) That the demand of the Collection Fund for 2019/20 will be :-
(a) £4,611,869 for the Borough Council purposes
(b) £429,723 for Parish Precepts.

(5) That the Statement of and movement on the Reserves as detailed at
Appendix F and within section 8 of the report be approved.

(6) That the policy framework for Reserves as detailed at Appendix G be
approved.

(7) That the updated Capital Programme and financing for 2018/19 to 2029/20
as detailed at appendix H of the report be approved.

(8) That the additional capital budget of £75,000 for the Venetian Waterways project as detailed in the report be approved.

(9) That the Capital Strategy for 2029/20 as set out in Appendix J to the report be approved.

(10) That the Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy as
detailed at Appendix K of the report be approved.

 
That a recorded vote be taken on this issue as follows :-

For the Motion - Councillors Annison, Bensly, Bird, G Carpenter, P Carpenter,
B Coleman, Drewitt, Flaxman-Taylor, Grant, A Grey, Hacon, Hammond, Hanton, Lawn, Plant,  Smith, Stenhouse and Thirtle.

Against the Motion :- Councillors Borg, Cordiner-Achenbach, Fairhead, Jeal, Martin, Pratt, Robinson-Payne, Smith-Clare, Wainwright, B Walker, C Walker, Waters-Bunn, Williamson, B Wright  and T Wright.

Abstentions :- None

CARRIED

Council was reminded that Council Procedure Rule 31.15.6  requires a recorded vote to be taken regarding the setting of the Budget.

Council considered the Finance Director's report which presented for approval the budget for 2019/20 and to make statutory calculations in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to set the Council Tax for 2019/20.

The Finance Director reported that ahead of making decisions in relation to setting the Council Tax each year, the Chief Financial Officer is required to report to the Council on the robustness of the estimates made for the purpose of the calculations along with the adequacy of reserves held by the Council.  The position on these were outlined in Section 3 of the report.

Section 4 of the report sets out the statutory calculations in respect of the setting of the Council Tax for 2019/20. The calculation reflects the precepts that have been issued to the Council as the billing authority on behalf of the Parishes, the Police and County to arrive at the determination made in Appendix B.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Smith

(1) That the Budget for 2019/20 as detailed in the Budget report to the Policy and Resources Committee and outlined at Appendix A be approved.

(2) That Members undertake the Council Tax and Statutory Calculations as set out in Section 4 of the report and set the Council Tax for 2019/20.

(3) That the demand on the Collection Fund for 2019/20 be :- (a) £4,611,689 for the Borough Council purposes (b) £429,953 for Parish Precepts.

That a recorded vote be taken on this issue as follows :-

For the Motion - Councillors Annison, Bensly, Bird, Borg, G Carpenter, P Carpenter,B Coleman, Cordiner-Achenbach,  Drewitt, Fairhead, Flaxman-Taylor, Grant, A Grey, Hacon, Hammond, Hanton, Jeal, Lawn, Martin, Plant, Pratt, Robinson-Payne, Smith, Smith-Clare, Stenhouse, Thirtle, Wainwright, B Walker, C Walker, Waters-Bunn, Williamson, B Wright  and T Wright.

Against the Motion :- None  

Abstentions :- None

CARRIED

Council considered the service Committee decision list for for the period 22 November 2018 to 5 February 2019.

That the decision list for the period 22 November 2018 to 5 February 2019 be received.

CARRIED

There were no items of any other business.