An apology for absence was received from Councillor Rodwell.

Councillor  B Walker declared a personal interest in the item relating to Site 12 A Beacon Park but in accordance with the provision of the Constitution was allowed to speak and vote on this item.

a) Question from Mr T Crone

In the absence of Mr Crone the question was put by Councillor Wainwright:-

"I would like to know how the Council intents to ensure that the Clinical Commissioning Group looks after its patients to make the transition from one GP practice to another easy and stress free, as well as making sure that patients choose who provides their care?" 

In response, the Leader reported that several meetings had been held with representatives of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) but to no ovail.  The Leader made the point that it was not the Council's responsibility to look after patients needs in the Borough but he assured members that the Council will be scrutinising the way in which the CCG is providing services to the public in the future.

The Leader reiterated that the Council was not happy with the way in which the CCG had dealt with the closure of the Greyfriars Way Walk In clinic.

The Leader confirmed that he would write further to the CCG to state that the Borough Council continued to be unhappy with their decision in respect of the Walk In Centre.

The Monitoring Officer reported that the Standards Committee at its meeting on the 10 August 2016 agreed to re-appoint Mr Alex Oram for a further 3 year period as the Independent person.

The Standards Committee had also agreed to appoint Mrs I Eyre as a Parish Council representative to serve on the Standards Committee.

Members were advised that there is one outstanding Parish Council vacancy which the Standards Committee would consider at a future meeting.

Proposer: Councillor Plant                        Seconder: Councillor Carpenter

That the Standards Committee decision to re-appoint Mr Alex Oram as the Independent Person and to appoint Mrs I Eyre as a Parish Council representative on the Standards Committee be approved.

CARRIED

The Monitoring Officer reminded Council that at its last meeting there was a suggestion that Sports and Leisure matters should be moved from Housing and Neighbourhoods to the Environment Committee. The Monitoring Officer had reviewed the Constitution and reminded members that the Housing and Neighbourhoods committee has currently a range of sport related responsibilities which are:-

• Health and Wellbeing
• Social Inclusion
• Sports Development 
• Parks and Open Spaces
• Formulation of the Sport, Plan and Leisure Strategy (for recommendation to Council for adoption) 
• Indoor sports and fitness

The Monitoring Officer reported that the Environment Committee on the other hand does not have any specific sport functions although it does have responsibility for Grounds Maintenance. In the circumstances the Monitoring Officer was recommending that there should be no change to the current constitution.  There may be the odd occasion where as sports relating matters impinges on Grounds Maintenance issues and in such a case the matter would likely be considered by the two committees.

Proposer: Councillor Plant                                   Seconder: Councillor Jeal

That no amendment be made to the Council's Constitution and that Sports and Leisure Matters remain with the Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee.

CARRIED

The Mayor presented the Council Minutes of  the 19 July 2016.

Proposer: Councillor Grant                                     Seconder: Councillor Lawn

That the Council Minutes of the 19 July 2016 be approved.

CARRIED

Council received for information the minutes for the June 2016 meetings of the Economic Development, Environment, Policy and Recourse and Housing and Neighbourhoods Committees.

The Leader reminded Council that the minutes of the service committees are as stated in the constitution purely for Members to receive for information and that no amendments could be made to the detail of those minutes by the Council.  Bearing in mind that as the minutes of these service committees are required to be signed off by the committee prior to coming to Council for information, these minutes will always be for meetings that have taken place two months prior to Council meetings.  Any queries on the minutes are and should be raised at the relevant service committees.  The Leader asked Council to consider the validity and purpose of including the minutes of service committees on future council agendas to allow the council to concentrate on the strategic and corporate items it considers under the provisions of the Constitution.

Councillor Wainwright commented that he completely disagreed with the Leaders comments and in fact would wish for minutes of service committees to be presented for discussion at Council meetings without the need for the minutes to be signed off by the relevant service committees. Councillor K Grey made the point that any member of council could raise questions on any issues that have been discussed by Service Committees through the Members Questions item on the Council Agenda's. The Monitoring Officer commented that the Constitution currently requires Service Committee minutes to be received by Council following confirmation by the relevant service committee.  The Interim Chief Executive Officer suggested that this issue should be considered by the Constitutional Working party as part of the overall review into the committee structure as previously agreed by Council.

Proposer: Councillor Plant                         Seconder: Councillor B Coleman 

That the minutes of Service Committees be not included on future Council agendas and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.

LOST

Proposer: Councillor Wainwright                           Seconder: Councillor Jeal

That the minutes of the Service Committees  be included on future Council agenda without the requirements that the minutes should be signed off by the relevant service committees.

LOST

Proposer: Council K Grey                                      Seconder: Councillor A Grey

That the Service Committee minutes be not included on the agenda but that Members be given the option at Council meetings to ask any questions on the details of the service committee minutes.

LOST

The Monitoring Officer advised Council that as a consequence of the above decisions the current requirements of the constitution would continue in that minutes of service committees would be received by Council following sign off by the relevant service committees.

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 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the said Act.

In accordance with Article 26 (Rules and Procedure) Paragraph 26.10.2, Council was asked to consider the following questions from Councillor A Grey:- "Can the Leader confirm that he is looking into the Councils relationship with GYB Services in view of residents and Councillors (especially in the UKIP Group) concerns about the state of the Borough on the length of time it takes to get problems rectified? Also for Full Council can there not be a leaders question time as at County Council which lasts for 15 minutes."

In response , the Leader reported that the Council aimed to continually monitor all Council contracts and services to ensure best value in customer satisfaction, the GYB Services joint venture is no exception.  The GYBS Liaison Board which is a meeting including Councillors and Officers from both GYBC and Norse meets quarterly to review business performance budgets and customer satisfaction.  This shows the importance the Council places on this service and how we work together in the joint venture.  It is necessary on occasions to meet more frequently to deal with challenges and this summer has been one of those times. In response to customer and member feedback an additional project was initiated in July 2016 to increase the people on the streets dealing with the grass cutting, weeds on both Council and County footpaths and verges and street cleansing.  Due to weather conditions this summer it has been an exceptional growing season for grass and weed growth and this has been seen not only across the county but across the country.  On this occasion the additional resource for the project has been funded by our partner NORSE but over the coming months this will be an area for action by the Liaison Board to identify how resource may be flexed to deal with unanticipated seasonal peaks in the future.

In accordance with the Constitution, Councillor A Grey was then entitled to ask a supplementary question.  Councillor A Grey asked the Leader whether he felt that the Joint Venture was properly funded and are any cutbacks giving rise to problems?

In response the Leader reported that meetings had been held with NORSE to discuss the current situation within the Borough and that NORSE had put in extra funding to alleviate the problems.  

Councillor Wainwright expressed the view that all Councillors have concerns about this particular problem of grounds maintenance in the Borough .

In relation to the question in respect of the Leaders Question time Council agreed that this matter should be considered by the Constitutional Working Party.