Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair of Council for the Civic Year 2021/22

Councillor Steve Robinson was nominated for the position of Chair of Council.

RESOLVED That Councillor Steve Robinson be elected Chair of Council for the Civic Year 2021-22.

To elect a Chair of Council for the Civic Year 2021/22

Councillor Trevor Hall was nominated for the position of Vice-Chair of Council.

RESOLVED That Councillor Trevor Hall be elected Vice-Chair of Council for the Civic Year 2021-22.

To receive apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Aldam, Hall, Haydn Jones and Mossman.

To receive declarations of interest.

There were none.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2021 as a correct record.

The Chair advised that an amended version of the minutes had been sent to Members to incorporate the amendment proposed by Councillor Rathor for the Motion at Minute Number CL.061 which was voted upon and agreed.

Furthermore, the Chair confirmed that it had been brought to the attention of Democratic Services that the following sentence also needed to be amended from the minutes at CL.058 for the Local Plan.

“In terms of net density, 700 dwellings per hectare would be a low level and 900 would be needed in order to achieve efficient use of land” the sentence should not include ‘per hectare’ and should instead be ‘In terms of net density, 700 dwellings would be a low level and 900 would be needed in order to achieve efficient use of land’.

Councillor John Jones queried CL.055 and clarified the name Green should be Read. It was confirmed that this change would be made. 

RESOLVED That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2021 are confirmed and signed as a correct record with the amendments listed above.

To receive announcements from the Chair of Council and the Chief Executive.

The Chair thanked Gary Powell, the outgoing Chair of Council, for all of his hard work including representing the District Council at many functions. He also offered a personal thanks to all of the outgoing Councillors and gave a warm welcome to the newly elected Councillors.

To confirm the membership of each committee

In accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the allocations are as per the relevant 2016 AGM report. The 2021/22 nominations received by Democratic Services from Group Leaders will be reported to or otherwise made at the AGM.

The appointment to committees was agreed as set out below. As identified later in the meeting Councillor Sutton had not been appointed to a Committee, Councillor Stephen Davies apologised and advised that he would confirm Councillor Sutton’s appointment at a later time and it would be brought back to the next Council meeting for confirmation.

Community Services and Licensing Committee (12 Members)

Environment Committee (13 Members)

Housing Committee (12 Members)

Strategy and Resources Committee (13 Members)

Audit and Standards Committee (9 Members)

Development Control Committee (12 Members)

RESOLVEDThat an additional seat be added to the Membership of the Environment Committee and that Councillors be appointed to the Council’s committees as set out in these minutes.

To appoint the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the following committees:

a. Audit & Standards Committee

b. Community Services & Licensing Committee Stroud District Council AGM Agenda 20 May 2021 Published on 12 May 2021

c. Development Control Committee

d. Environment Committee

e. Housing Committee

f. Strategy & Resources Committee

Nominations received by Democratic Services from Group Leaders will be reported to or otherwise made at the AGM.

The following Councillors were nominated and voted into the positions of Chairs and Vice-Chairs on the Council’s committees in 2021-22.

RESOLVEDThat Councillors be appointed as Chair and Vice-Chair to the Council’s committees as set out in these minutes.

Audit and Standards Committee

Community Services and Licensing Committee

Chair: Councillor Chris Brine                           Vice-Chair: Councillor Jonathan Edmunds

Development Control Committee

Chair: Councillor Martin Baxendale                Vice-Chair: Councillor Trevor Hall

Environment Committee

Chair: Councillor Chloe Turner                        Vice-Chair: Councillor Robin Layfield

Housing Committee

Chair: Councillor Mattie Ross                          Vice-Chair: Councillor Christopher Jockel

Strategy and Resources Committee

Chair: Councillor Doina Cornell                      Vice-Chair: Councillor Catherine Braun

a.    To appoint one lead and one substitute Member representative for the following bodies which are led by Gloucestershire County Council:

i. Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee

ii. Gloucestershire Police and Crime Panel

iii. Gloucestershire Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee

iv. Gloucestershire Covid-19 Outbreak Engagement Board

b. To appoint three Mental Health Champions (as per the Mental Health Challenge motion resolved by Council on 26 April 2018).

c. To appoint 5 cross-party Members to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.

Nominations received by Democratic Services from Group Leaders will be reported to or otherwise made at the AGM.

Councillors were appointed as lead and substitute on other bodies in 2021/22.

Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Gloucestershire)

Councillor Helen Fenton (Lead)

Councillor Natalie Bennett (Substitute)

Police and Crime Panel (Gloucestershire)

Councillor Chris Brine (Lead)

Councillor Martin Pearcy(Substitute)

Gloucestershire Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Chloe Turner (Lead)

Councillor Ashley Smith (Substitute)

Gloucestershire Covid-19 Outbreak Engagement Board

Councillor Doina Cornell (Lead)

Councillor Catherine Braun (Substitute)

Appointment of three Mental Health Champions

Councillors Victoria Gray, Jenny Miles and Tricia Watson

Appointment of five Members to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group

Councillors Gill Oxley, Robin Layfield, Natalie Bennett, Norman Kay, Beki Aldam.

RESOLVEDThat Councillors be appointed to other bodies as set out above.

The Chair of Audit and Standards Committee will present this item.

Audit and Standards Committee Annual Report 2020/21

Councillor Studdert-Kennedy offered his welcome and congratulations to all newly elected and re-elected Councillors. He introduced his report and advised that a correction needed to be made to the report on Page 24 where the ‘Informal briefing on the Youth Service’ had been included inadvertently under the list of training.

Councillor Studdert-Kennedy drew the Committees attention to various key points including the following:

·         Statement from the Chairman on Page 17

·         Page 14 Paragraphs 1, 3 and 2.1 which provide a loose indication as to what the Audit and Standards Committee entails

·         Page 18 Paragraphs 4 and 7 regarding the amendments to the internal audit plan as a result of Covid-19

·         Work Programme included on page 20

·         Outcome of the Internal Audit External Quality Assessment 2020

Councillor Pearson stated that the Committee had worked hard under the chairmanship of Councillor Studdert-Kennedy and commended the report.

RESOLVED That the Audit and Standards Committee Annual Report 2020/21 be approved as recommended by the Audit and Standards Committee at their meeting on 27th April 2021.

To provide an update on the Ubico Five Year Vision and Business Plan 2021/22

The Chief Executive presented the report which was an update and explains that Ubico is a teckal company wholly owned by Stroud District Council and 6 other partners. It was advised that Ubico provides Stroud District Council with a number of services including waste and recycling, grounds maintenance, street cleaning and building cleaning. As Stroud has a Committee system the Chief Executive fulfils the shareholder function on behalf of the Council and that the Environment Committee has the opportunity each year to consider the draft business plan.

Councillor Hurst asked if Ubico were reviewing the disposal of plastic recycling waste. The Chief Executive provided assurance that this would be reviewed by the partnership.

Councillor Ryder asked for clarification as to the decision made to add Gloucester City Council to the partnership and whether there were any financial implications to this. The Chief Executive advised that a full report had been taken to the last Council meeting regarding this however due to the nature of the information contained it was taken in private session, it was confirmed that incoming councillors could be provided a copy of the report if they requested it.

RESOLVED    a)    To note the Five Year Vision and Business Plan for 2021/22

b)   To note that the Chief Executive, as Ubico shareholder representative, proposes to sign the written resolution to approve the Ubico Five Year Vision and Business Plan in due course.

To make an amendment to the Constitution to formalise the position of Deputy Leader of the Council

The Monitoring Officer presented the report and advised that the background section set out the issue of leader and deputy leader.

Councillor Pearson asked if there were any financial implications involved with this decision, it was confirmed that a Special Responsibility Allowance had not been recommended to this post however the Independent Remuneration Panel would be asked to consider this.

Councillor Cornell offered support to the proposal advising that it was important to clarify the roles and that it was necessary for someone to be able to stand in for the Leader as necessary.

RESOLVED    To Amend the Constitution in accordance with the recommendation made in paragraph 3 of the report.