Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 24th September, 2015, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair subject to the correction of Councillor Cynthia Ransome’s name on page A. 21.

The Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor David Nevett, made the following

Announcements:-

“Before we commence formal proceedings, I would first like to offer, on behalf of Doncaster Council, our congratulations to Doncaster Belles who have won promotion to Women’s Super League 1.

A fantastic achievement; very well deserved and puts The Belles back into the top tier of Women’s football where they belong.  Well done to all involved and we will be watching their progress in the 2016/17 season with great interest.

I would also like to acknowledge the latest achievements of Ben Parkinson. Ben was recently featured on the BBC programme ‘Wilderness Warrior’, which followed him during his latest challenge as he paddled 250 miles down the Yukon River in North America.

This would be a daunting trip for anyone, but as ever, Ben’s drive and determination to succeed meant that he successfully completed this latest venture.  He continues to be an inspiration to us all.”

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, made the following announcements:-

“We were all shocked and saddened to learn of the wicked and inhuman terrorist attacks that took place in Paris earlier this month.

I am sure every Member in this Chamber will join me in condemning these barbaric actions and offering our condolences to everyone who has been affected by the attacks, particularly those who have lost loved ones.

These terrorists cannot win. Their attacks do no service to Islam and the perpetrators do not represent the majority of Muslims.

On behalf of the Council, I added my name to a letter from Council Leaders across the UK to the Mayor of Paris, offering our sympathy.

In Doncaster, the Corn Exchange was lit in the colours of the French flag.

The flag in the Civic Square was flown at half-mast and many hundreds of people across the Borough held a moment of silence in respect for all those who were sadly killed or injured.

We must of course all remain vigilant.

However, we will not allow these terrorists to change our way of life and we will stand in solidarity with the people of Paris, Brussels and across the world, to protect the Human Rights and freedoms that we value so much.

Councillors will be aware of the progress made in agreeing a draft Devolution Deal for the Sheffield City Region.

This includes:-

·           A new National Institute for Infrastructure, built here in Doncaster;

·         A share of £900m over the next 30 years to deliver important projects to create jobs, build houses and grow the economy. We will seek to deliver:-

·         A new Airport Railway Station and new road infrastructure in the North of the Borough; and

·         Town Centre improvements and development at areas such as Waterfront and Marshgate

·         Power to improve bus services and create an integrated transport system across the region; and

·         The ability to make improvements in skills provision, so that local people can access the jobs and opportunities that are being created across the Borough.

Details of the proposal have been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

(a)  Question from Mr. T. Brown, 4 West Grove , Wheatley Hills, Doncaster, DN2 5NB, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

“Dear Mayor Jones,

Given the range of options at your disposal to implement cuts, why did you chose cuts for the most vulnerable first including:-

•      Care homes for the elderly;

•      People and children with learning disabilities;

•      Reducing DMBC's Workforce to less than 1% Black/Asian;

And, do you agree that a Council with a moral compass would've provided vulnerable groups with respite from the cuts, by firstly addressing the ‘rewards for failure culture’ (referenced by recent inspections) and the ‘fat cat salaries’ within DMBC especially as you've just approved the recruitment of another £85,000+ Policy and Performance Officer when DMBC's budget and functions have shrunk?”

A.     Question from Mr. T. Brown, 4 West Grove, Wheatley Hills, Doncaster, DN2 5NB to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

“Dear Mayor Jones,

Given the range of options at your disposal to implement cuts, why did you choose cuts for the most vulnerable first including:-

•      Care homes for the elderly;

•      People and children with learning disabilities;

•      Reducing DMBC's Workforce to less than 1% Black/Asian;

And, do you agree that a Council with a moral compass would've provided vulnerable groups with respite from the cuts, by firstly addressing the ‘rewards for failure culture’ (referenced by recent inspections) and the ‘fat cat salaries’ within DMBC especially as you've just approved the recruitment of another £85,000+ Policy and Performance Officer when DMBC's budget and functions have shrunk?”

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, gave the following reply:-

“Thank you for your question Mr. Brown.

I know that you are an active citizen in Doncaster and I welcome your question today.

However, I do not accept the statement you have made and I am afraid that most of your points are incorrect.

May I first take this opportunity to clarify the Council’s financial situation. 

Doncaster Council delivers local public services using a number of different funding streams, primarily Government grants, Council Tax, Business Rates, Fees and Charges, and Investments.

Up until the Conservatives came to power in 2010, by far the largest element of the Council budget was Government grants, particularly the Revenue Support Grant.  This grant is allocated to Councils based on the level of need; it is generally higher in Northern, deprived areas and inner Cities. But the Tory Government has chosen to make deep, ideological and damaging cuts to it.

In 2010 the Council’s total Government grant was £270 million every year.  By May 2015, it had been cut to £148 million per year.  And following the Chancellor’s Comprehensive Spending Review yesterday, we expect that by 2020, these grants will be just £85 million per year.  That is a cut of £185 million over ten years.

But £185 million is not the real level of Conservative cuts to the people of Doncaster.  At the same time, prices have gone up and so does the cost of delivering services.  That means the real gap between our reduction in grant funding and the cost of delivering services is actually estimated to be £285 million.

Put simply, the Conservatives know that they are cutting funding disproportionately from people and areas like Doncaster, that are most in need.  That isn’t a coincidence. It is a choice made by the Chancellor.

As people are now realising, we are most certainly not ‘all in it together’ under Conservative rule.

So far, Doncaster has managed the cuts in the way that does least damage to front line services.  That is what local people would expect.

In truth, there were efficiencies to be achieved.  Before I became Mayor, the Council was placed in Government Intervention and struggled to put itself back on track.  Some services  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

The Council considered a report, presented by Councillor Chris McGuinness, Cabinet Member for Communities, the Voluntary Sector and Environment, which requested Elected Members to consider the Statement of Licensing Policy 2016 (Licensing Act 2003) following its quinquennial review.

It was reported that Doncaster Council as the Licensing Authority, was required under the 2003 Act to produce a Statement of Policy and review the Policy every 5 years.  Following statutory consultation, the Policy was required to be approved by the Council.  The Policy was a statement of principles that set out how the Licensing Authority would make decisions on opposed applications.  The 4 licensing objectives which were the basis of all licensing decisions were:-

i.          Prevention of crime and disorder;

ii.      Public safety;

iii.     Prevention of public nuisance; and

iv.   Protection of children from harm.

It was noted that the re-issued guidance under Section 182 of the Act, had been compared with the Council’s existing policy statement and amendments had been made to reflect the new statutory guidance and other changes.  The changes had now been incorporated into the draft policy statement to create a policy document that was functional and manageable by taking the opportunity to remove non-policy information and guidance.  It was also intended to create a separate ‘Local Licensing Guidance’ document to supplement this Policy, which would contain practical guidance for licence holders and assist local residents or other interested people, who may make a representation against an application.

Members attention was drawn to the key changes which had been made to the Policy; all of which were necessitated by legislative changes that had come about since the commencement of the previous Policy (January 2011).

It was also reported that the consultation had resulted in requests to retain and extend the existing area (Area 1 - Doncaster Town Centre) along with proposals to add 2 additional areas, namely part of Wheatley and Bawtry; the details of which were as follows:-

·               the continuation of the existing Cumulative Impact Zone in Doncaster Town Centre (Bradford Row, Hall Gate, High Street, Priory Walk and Silver Street), with the inclusion of additional areas of Market Place and Cleveland Street, and that the policy should apply to all licensed premises;

·               the implementation of a new Cumulative Impact Zone for all licensed premises in a specified area of the Town Ward to include Nether Hall Road, Copley Road, Christ Church Road, Broxholme Lane and Highfield Road; and

·               the implementation of a new Cumulative Impact Zone in Bawtry for all licensed premises in the areas of Market Place, High Street, Swan Street, Church Street, Scot Lane, Wharf Street and Grasswood Lane/Dower House Square, with the intention to review the adoption of this in 2 years’ time.

A copy of the Cabinet’s Decision Record from its meeting on 3rd November, 2015, had been circulated to all Members prior to the meeting.

Following the presentation of the report, Members were afforded the opportunity to comment on the Policy and after consideration of the responses received during  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

The Council considered a report, presented by Councillor Chris McGuinness, Cabinet Member for Communities, the Voluntary Sector and Environment, which requested Elected Members to consider the adoption of the Statement of Licensing Policy 2016 (Gambling Act 2005) following its triennial review.

It was reported that Doncaster Council as the Licensing Authority, was required under the 2005 Act to produce a Statement of Policy and review the Policy every 3 years.  Following statutory consultation, the Policy was required to be approved by the Council.  Once approved, the policy must be advertised/publicised as prescribed, 4 weeks before it came into effect.

It was noted that the Policy was a statement of principles that set out how the Licensing Authority would make decisions on opposed applications.  The 3 licensing objectives which were the basis of all licensing decisions were:-

i.       Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;

ii.      Ensuring that gambling was conducted in a fair and open way; and

iii.     Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Members were informed that there was a basic requirement in the Act that Licensing Authorities should aim to permit the use of premises for gambling.  Furthermore, the Act did not allow the Licensing Authority to consider the demand for Gambling and as such, was unable to limit the number and location of the premises other than within the scope of the 3 licensing objectives.

Members attention was drawn to the fact that whilst the Policy had been reviewed and revised where required, due to the constraints referred to within the report, the Policy in principle, was largely unchanged from the existing version.  In producing the statement, consideration had been given to the licensing objectives of the Gambling Act 2005, the Guidance to Licensing Authorities and the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) issued by the Gambling Commission.  Amendments had been made to the existing Policy to reflect new guidance and other administrative changes; the most significant change being the inclusion of the facility to develop a ‘Local Area Profile’ where operators were expected to have regard to when preparing risk assessments on their premises and when they made new licence applications.

A copy of the Cabinet’s Decision Record from its meeting on 3rd November, 2015, had been circulated to all Members prior to the meeting.

Following the presentation of the report, Members were afforded the opportunity to comment on the Policy and after consideration of the responses received during the consultation and the resolutions by the Licensing Committee and Cabinet meetings held on 15th October, 2015 and 3rd November, 2015 respectively, it was

RESOLVED that the reviewed Statement of Policy (Gambling Act 2005) be adopted to take effect from 31st January, 2016.

The Council considered a report presented by Councillor Phil Cole, the Chair of the Elections and Democratic Structures Committee, which outlined proposed revisions to the Council’s Constitution in relation to the Council Procedure Rules (Section 1, Part 4 of the Constitution) and the Executive Procedure Rules (Section 4, Part 4 of the Constitution) which were considered at the Elections and Democratic Structures Committee (EDSC), meeting held on 24th November, 2015, together with a request made at the Council meeting in September 2015, that members of the public should be permitted to submit Motions at Council meetings.

Members were provided with a summary of the proposals as follows:-

•        In relation to Council Procedure Rules 13.7 and 15.6, it was proposed that questions on notice be read out at Council meetings, instead of being ‘taken as read’.  This was in light of the decision to publish webcasts of Full Council meetings on the Council’s website with effect from today’s meeting, and was aimed at assisting those viewing the recordings to follow the proceedings.  The EDSC supported this proposal.

•        For the reasons outlined within paragraph 7 of the report, a number of proposed changes to the current public speaking arrangements at Cabinet meetings, as detailed within the Executive Procedure Rules, had been considered by the EDSC.  These were aimed at ensuring that arrangements at Cabinet meetings were consistent with other processes currently used by the Council and should ensure the public received a more meaningful response to their questions.  The EDSC supported this proposal.

In reference to the Mayor of Doncaster’s referral of Mr. D. Wright’s request that members of the public should be allowed to submit Motions to Full Council meetings in future, which arose from his question to the Mayor at the Council Meeting held on 24th September 2015, the EDSC unanimously agreed that it would not be appropriate to allow members of the public to submit Motions at Council Meetings and therefore, recommended that the submission of Council Motions was a function that should remain the responsibility of elected representatives.  This was on the grounds that there were already numerous ways in which the public could raise issues in a public forum, which included Public ‘Question Time’ at Council and Cabinet meetings, engaging with the Mayor either by arranging one to one meetings or at the monthly ‘Meet the Mayor’ events, by email or in writing, making representations to Overview and Scrutiny, using the existing provisions in the Constitution to submit petitions or deputations to the Council and asking Local Ward Members or any Councillor to consider putting forward a Motion to Full Council.

It was also noted that research undertaken by Officers had found no evidence of Motions by the public being permitted by any other Local Authority.  It was generally accepted that the submission of Motions fell solely within the gift of Elected Members as this enabled Council to regulate its own business to ensure that decision making was undertaken by Councillors representing the wider population  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

To consider the following Motion, written notice of which has been given by Councillor Rachel Hodson and Seconded by Councillor Rachael Blake, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.1:-

“This council calls upon the government to reverse its decision to cut tax credits, which is due to come into effect next year.

This council believes the Chancellor and the Prime Minister need to understand that reducing on average £1,300 a year from almost 20,000 working families here in Doncaster would be disastrous.

This council notes that the campaign to stop the tax credit cuts is gaining momentum. After constant warnings, and a humiliating defeat at the hands of peers in the House of Lords – who voted against the cuts – George Osborne has finally bowed to pressure to change his approach. But a promise to listen falls woefully short of what is needed.

This council believes taking money from our lowest paid families, who get up in the morning and work hard every day is utterly wrong. And, as is commonplace under this government, women in particular are bearing the brunt of their naïve policies. 85 per cent of the government's tax and benefit changes have fallen on women - they are disproportionately represented in low paid sectors such as care, retail and hospitality, and overall 70 per cent of the money saved by the Treasury will come from the pockets of working mothers.

For that reason, this council resolves to write to the Prime Minister, setting out our belief that working poverty is one of the biggest threats to our future well-being as a country, calling on him to reconsider this policy, and urging him to honour his previous promise not to cut the value of child tax credits.

.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rules 16.2 and 18.9, Councillor Rachel Hodson withdrew her Motion on Notice.

“Earlier this year, the Conservative government announced that a compulsory Pay to Stay scheme would be introduced in England, forcing many low income social housing tenants to pay more rent for their homes and increasing the cost of living for thousands of families.

As well as making the current voluntary Pay to Stay scheme mandatory, the government is setting new, lower, income thresholds, so that more tenants are forced to pay higher rent. Families in social housing in Doncaster with two people earning just £15,000 each, will see their household bills go up.

Housing Association landlords will be allowed to retain any additional income raise through the scheme to reinvest in housing stock. However, all additional income raised by local authorities through increased rents will be taken by the exchequer ‘to contribute to deficit reduction’.

This Council believes it is wrong for the Chancellor to introduce a ‘Pay to Stay tax’ on hard working, low income families, in order to pay off the national debt created by wealthy bankers and financial institutions.

The government should not be forcing this additional cost on to people with low incomes who rent properties, to pay for the global crisis created by people who helped to push up house prices faster than wages.

This Council therefore calls on the Chancellor to reverse his plans to introduce a ‘Pay to Stay Tax’ on local authority tenants, and withdraw government policies, including Right to Buy, that will reduce the level of social housing in England.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.5, written notice had been received prior to the commencement of the meeting, authorising the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, to Move the Motion in the absence of Councillor Jane Nightingale.

“Earlier this year, the Conservative Government announced that a compulsory Pay to Stay scheme would be introduced in England, forcing many low income social housing tenants to pay more rent for their homes and increasing the cost of living for thousands of families.

As well as making the current voluntary Pay to Stay scheme mandatory, the Government is setting new, lower, income thresholds, so that more tenants are forced to pay higher rent.  Families in social housing in Doncaster with two people earning just £15,000 each, will see their household bills go up.

Housing Association landlords will be allowed to retain any additional income raised through the scheme to reinvest in housing stock.  However, all additional income raised by Local Authorities through increased rents will be taken by the Exchequer ‘to contribute to deficit reduction’.

This Council believes it is wrong for the Chancellor to introduce a ‘Pay to Stay Tax’ on hard working, low income families, in order to pay off the national debt created by wealthy bankers and financial institutions.

The Government should not be forcing this additional cost on to people with low incomes who rent properties, to pay for the global crisis created by people who helped to push up house prices faster than wages.

This Council therefore calls on the Chancellor to reverse his plans to introduce a ‘Pay to Stay Tax’ on Local Authority tenants, and withdraw Government policies, including Right to Buy, that will reduce the level of social housing in England.”

The Chair afforded all Members in the Chamber, the opportunity to speak on the Motion.

During the Deputy Mayor’s Right of Reply, Councillor Glyn Jones wished it to be placed on record that he did not have the statistics referred to by Councillor James Hart, but upon their publication by Central Government, the Deputy Mayor assured Members that they would receive a written response from the relevant Portfolio Holder.

A vote was taken on the Motion proposed by Councillor Jane Nightingale and Moved by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, which was declared as follows:-

For - 40

Against - 5

Abstentions - 0

On being put to the meeting, the Motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that earlier this year, the Conservative Government announced that a compulsory Pay to Stay scheme would be introduced in England, forcing many low income social housing tenants to pay more rent for their homes and increasing the cost of living for thousands of families.

As well as making the current voluntary Pay to Stay scheme mandatory, the Government is setting new, lower, income thresholds, so that more tenants are forced to pay higher rent.  Families in social housing in Doncaster with two people earning just £15,000 each, will see their household bills go up.

Housing Association landlords will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

(i)            Question on Notice to the Executive:-

None received for this meeting.

(ii)          Questions without Notice to the Executive and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, Councillor John Mounsey.

A.      Questions on Notice

No questions on Notice from Elected Members, had been received for this meeting.

B.      Questions Without Notice

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.2, the Chair accepted the following questions from Elected Members during ‘Question Time’:-

A.Questions to Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster

Q.     Councillor Kevin Rogers asked the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

“I was pleased that the Government confirmed its support for our National College for High Speed Rail in the Spending Review. However, the overall picture is not positive for places like Doncaster and the North.

As always with this sort of parliamentary set piece, the full story will become apparent in the coming weeks as the devil is in the detail.

At the moment, the estimates for the additional cuts Doncaster Council can expect to face remain the same. It makes for pretty grim reading.

In 2010, Doncaster Council’s total Government grant was £270 million every year. By May 2015, it had been cut to £148 million per year and we expect that by 2020, these grants will be just £85 million per year.

That is a total of £185 million over ten years, but as everyone in this Chamber knows, it is not the real level of cuts. At the same time, prices have gone up and so does the cost of delivering services.

That means that the real gap between our reduction in grant funding and the cost of delivering services is actually more like £285 million.  We are only about half way through these cuts.

Put simply, the Conservatives know that they are cutting funding disproportionately from people, and areas like Doncaster, that are most in need.  That isn’t a coincidence. It is a choice.

So far, Doncaster has managed the cuts in the way that does least damage to front line services. We’ve been trying to dull the pain, but it will likely be keenly felt soon.

The Conservative Chair of the Local Government Association, Lord Porter, has warned that further Local Government funding cuts will make it impossible for Councils to limit the impact on core services.

He is right, but unfortunately this Tory Government is not listening.

Do you agree with me that:-

·         It is great news that the National College for High Speed Rail is included in the Spending Review;

·         But that the level and severity of cuts to Local Government announced in the Spending Review, will make for grim reading for communities across our Borough?”

A.        The Mayor gave the following response:-

“Firstly, I was delighted that the Government confirmed its support for the National College and I really must thank our Members of Parliament and all our other colleagues within South Yorkshire and beyond, for their support for our bid and seeking to get this.  More so, I must thank Caroline Flint for actually raising this in the House of Parliament which I firmly believe gives support and shows what Doncaster really needs.

As far as the rest of the Comprehensive Spending  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

The Council considered a report which requested Elected Members to note the action taken by the Monitoring Officer under delegated authority, in approving the request from Councillor Ted Kitchen for an extension of absence from attendance at meetings due to ill health until 22nd February, 2016.

It was reported that at its meeting on 27th November, 2014, Council granted Monitoring Officer delegated authority to approve extended periods of absence for Members.  Any request was to be submitted in writing to the Monitoring Officer prior to the expiration of the fifth month of absence, and if satisfied that the grounds for such a request was reasonable, such approvals are to be reported to the next available meeting of Council by the Monitoring Officer, for information.

Members noted that Councillor Ted Kitchen was unwell and had indicated that he was unlikely to be able to resume normal duties for some time and therefore, to avoid disqualification, the Monitoring Officer approved his absence for an extended period until the 22nd February, 2016.

RESOLVED that that in accordance Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, the action taken under delegated authority by the Monitoring Officer, in approving an extension of absence from attendance at meetings due to ill health for Councillor Ted Kitchen until 22nd February, 2016, be noted.

A.         South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel held on 11th September, 2015.

B.         Sheffield City Region Combined Authority held on 14th September, 2015.

C.        South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority held on 21st September and 19th        October, 2015 and Section 41 Briefing Notes for October and November,         2015.

D.        South Yorkshire Pensions Authority held on 1st October, 2015.

RESOLVED that the Minutes and Briefing Notes of the following Joint Authorities, be noted:-

A.        South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel held on 11th September, 2015.

B.        Sheffield City Region Combined Authority held on 14th September, 2015.

C.        South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority held on 21st September and 19th October, 2015 and Section 41 Briefing Notes for October and November, 2015.

D.        South Yorkshire Pensions Authority held on 1st October, 2015.