Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carpenter, Connell, Flaxman-Taylor, A Grey, K Grey, Jones, Rodwell, Stenhouse, Waters-Bunn and Wright.

Her Worship the Mayor agreed that the following item would be considered at this Council meeting.

Appointment of Mayor for 2018/19.

Council was asked to agree that Councillor Mary Coleman be appointed as Mayor of the Borough of Great Yarmouth for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

Proposer :

Councillor B Coleman

Seconder :

Councillor Lawn

That Councillor Mary Coleman be appointed as Mayor of the Borough of Great Yarmouth for the Municipal Year 2018/19.

CARRIED 

There were no declarations of interest.

Her Worship the Mayor recorded the Borough Council's thanks and appreciation to Mr David Johnson for his work on behalf of the Council in his role as Monitoring Officer over the past year.

Council considered the minutes of the Council meetings held on the 2 and 9 November 2017.

In relation to the item regarding the Motion on Notice considered at the meeting on the 2 November, Councillor Wainwright referred to the recent decision of Norfolk County Council to increase their Scheme of Members Allowances for the Municipal Year 2018/19. Reference was made to the comment made by the Leader of the County Council that he would be donating his increased allowance to charity.

With regard to the item in respect of the Appointment to Committee's 2017/18 considered at the meeting on the 2 November, Councillor Wainwright reiterated the point he made at that meeting that he felt that the seven UKIP Members who had recently decided to join the Conservative Group on the Council should be prepared to stand at a By Election.

Proposer : Councillor B Coleman

Seconder : Councillor Plant 

That the minutes of the Council meetings held on the 2 and 9 November 2017 be approved.

CARRIED

Her Worship the Mayor advised Members that no public questions had been received for consideration.

Council considered the Service Committee Decision List for the period 26 October to 28 November 2017.

Proposer : Councillor B Coleman

Seconder : Councillor Plant 

That the Decision List for the period 26 October to 28 November 2017 be received.

CARRIED

On reference from the Policy and Resources Committee 28 November 2017, Council was asked to approve the 2017/18 Treasury Management Mid Year Report.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Thirtle 

That the 2017/18 Treasury Management Mid Year report be approved.

CARRIED

Council was asked to agree the revised MRP Policy thus amending the calculation of the MRP for the post 2008 expenditure to the annuity asset life method, as detailed in the Capital Projects and Senior Accountant's report, to be applied to 2017/18 onwards.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Thirtle 

That the revised MRP Policy thus amending the calculation of the MRP for the post 2008 expenditure to the annuity asset life method, as detailed in the Capital Projects and Senior Accountant's report, to be applied to 2017/18 onwards be agreed.

CARRIED 

On reference form the Policy and Resource's Committee of the 28 November 2017 Council was asked to agree the following :-

(1) Note the updated Medium term Financial Strategy

(2) Note the current Financial Forecast for 2018/19 to 2020/21.

(3) Note the revised reserved statements as detailed in the Finance Director's report to the Financial Strategy.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Thirtle

That the recommendations as detailed in (1) to (3) above in respect of the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 to 2020/21 be agreed.

CARRIED

On reference from the Policy and Resources Committee on the 28 November 2017 Council was asked to agree, as amended, the schedule of Fees and Charges for 2018/19 as detailed in the Finance Director's report.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Thirtle

That the schedule of fees and charges for 2018/19 as detailed in the Finance Director's report, as amended, be agreed.

CARRIED

On reference from the Policy and Resources Committee of the 28 November 2017, Council is asked to agree :-

(1) To approve the estimated Tax Bases for the Borough and for each Parish as detailed in Appendix A of the Revenue Manager's report.

(2) To approve the Council Tax Discounts as detailed in the Revenue Manager's report which will apply for 2018/19.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Thirtle

That the recommendations as detailed in (1) and (2) above with regard to the Council Tax - Tax Base / Council Tax Discounts be agreed.

CARRIED

On reference from the Policy and Resources Committee of the 28 November 2017, Council is asked to agree to continue with the existing scheme for 2018 based on option 1 - a maximum award of 91.5% of the Council Tax liability for working age.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Thirtle

That approval be given to continue with the existing scheme for 2018 based on option 1 - a maximum award of 91.5% of the Council Tax liability for working age.

CARRIED

Council considered the Corporate Governance Manager's report asking Council to consider the appointment of a Monitoring Officer.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor Thirtle 

That approval be given to the appointment  of Caroline Whatling as the Borough Council's Monitoring Officer with immediate effect, to be reviewed after six months.

CARRIED

Council was asked to consider the following recommendations from the Constitution Working Party of the 2 November 2017 as follows :-

(1) That Council be recommended to agree the proposed Terms of Reference of the Constituition Working Party for inclusion in the Council's Constitution

(2) That Council be recommended not to agree to the proposed amendment as detailed in the Monitoring Officer's report in respect of the current provisions within the Constitution relating to the Scope of Motions.

(3a) That Council be recommended to agree the proposed Terms of Reference for the Member Development Group.

(3b) That Group Leaders be given delegated authority to appoint Members on the Member Learning and Development Group ( 5 Members ).

Proposer : Councillor Williamson 

Seconder : Councillor Wainwright 

That the recommendations of the Constitution Working Party as detailed (1) to (3) above be approved en bloc.

LOST

Following Council's decision on this matter the Monitoring Officer clarified the proposals that had been considered by the Constitution Working Party in relation to the proposal to amend the wording of the Constitution in relation to the Scope of Motions.

For clarification, the Monitoring Officer explained to Council the consequences of their decision in respect of the recommendations from the Constitution Working Party was that recommendations (1) and (3) had been rejected and that (2) had also been rejected and therefore as a consequence Council had agreed to accept the proposed amendments as detailed in the Monitoring Officer's report to the wording of the Constitution relating to the Scope of Motions.

Council will be asked to consider the appointment of a replacement for Councillor Thirtle on the Broads Authority.

Proposer : Councillor Plant

Seconder : Councillor B Coleman 

That Councillor Bensly replace Councillor Thirtle as the Borough Council's representative on the Broads Authority.

CARRIED.

On reference from the Policy and Resources Committee of the 28 November 2017, Council was asked to approve a Capital Budget of £140,000 subject to successful planning permission for the delivery of Phase 1 of the Beach Hut proposal.

Proposer : Councillor B Coleman

Seconder : Councillor Plant

That approval be given to the allocation of a Capital Budget of £140,000, subject to successful planning permission, for the delivery of Phase 1 of the Beach Hut proposal.

CARRIED

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 they  involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 and 3 of Part I of Schedule 12(A) of the said Act."