Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations made at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday, 24th November, 2016, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to the addition of the following sentence within Minute No. 53:-

“In support of his Motion, Councillor John Mounsey informed the Chamber that on that particular day, pickets wore t-shirts and trainers and although the police wore their protective clothing they had no numbers whatsoever on their shirt collars.”

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

“I would like to make the following announcement.  On behalf of the Council, I would like to offer our congratulations to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, who has been honoured with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her service to Local Government by HRH The Queen, in her New Year Honours List and also to Mrs Esther Mathews, who receives the British Empire Medal for services to Canoeing.

Mrs Mathews founded the Green Star Canoe Club in 1993 and it has grown to become one of the largest and most active clubs of its type in the country.

Congratulations to you both.”

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

“Colleagues

I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on Regional Devolution.

Earlier this month, local Leaders of the Combined Authority considered the recent high court judgement, following a Judicial Review brought by Derbyshire County Council, and its implications for the Sheffield City Region’s Devolution Deal.

On the advice of the Combined Authority’s Managing Director and Legal Officer, it has been agreed that it is now not possible to hold a Mayoral election in May 2017.  As a result, the election of a regional Mayor has been deferred until 2018.

As you know, this month, Sheffield City Region Leaders also received an outline proposal from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, for a potential Yorkshire wide devolution option. A copy of that proposal was circulated to all of our Councillors, MPs, and the Chamber of Commerce.

Contrary to reports, some of which have been rather misleading regarding both the model and the position of Doncaster and Barnsley, the Yorkshire-wide proposal would retain the existing Sheffield City Region Combined Authority as the basis for devolution. However, it would see one Mayor for Yorkshire, rather than a Mayor for the Sheffield City Region.

My position is clear.

Firstly, Doncaster is not walking away from the Sheffield City Region or regional devolution. We have worked hard to deliver a devolution opportunity for local people which would deliver new funding to the region to support job creation, economic growth, new housing and skills development.

Secondly, we are determined to deliver devolution for Doncaster and as we have discussed in this Chamber before, we need the best devolution deal for Doncaster.

Thirdly, given that the legal process has resulted in the requirement for further consultation on the Sheffield City Region Devolution Deal and a delay in the election of a regional Mayor, my view is that we should also take this opportunity to explore the Yorkshire-wide devolution option put forward by West Yorkshire.

In my experience, it is best to properly consider a proposal before dismissing it out of hand. Similarly, we do not know what the outcome of the additional Sheffield City Region consultation will be, and we cannot pre-judge that consultation or ignore it.

This is the position of both Barnsley and Doncaster, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

(a)    Question from Mr. D. Wright, 15 Chantry Close, Cantley, Doncaster, DN4 6RX, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

“South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP)

I am concerned that NHS England has failed to consult the Council on the STP.  The Health/Social Care shortfall for Doncaster will be £139.5 million by 2020.  No detailed financial information is available to the Council or to the public. The Plan contains no guarantee that current levels of hospital provision will be protected.

All Councillors should be concerned at the lack of information/implications of the STP which will dramatically affect the lives of Doncaster people.

Will the Mayor inform NHS England that she opposes this STP and in doing so ask for the support of all Councillors?”

(A)      Question from Mr. Doug Wright, 15 Chantry Close, Cantley, Doncaster, DN4 6RX, to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones.

“South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP).

I am concerned that NHS England has failed to consult the Council on the STP.  The Health/Social Care shortfall for Doncaster will be £139.5 million by 2020. No detailed financial information is available to the Council or to the public. The Plan contains no guarantee that current levels of hospital provision will be protected.

All Councillors should be concerned at the lack of information/implications of the STP which will dramatically affect the lives of Doncaster people.

Will the Mayor inform NHS England that she opposes this STP and in doing so ask for the support of all Councillors?”

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

“Thank you for your question Mr. Wright.

NHS Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) are the NHS’ own proposals to improve services for patients.  Plans are arranged across 44 geographical areas or ‘footprints’ which cover the whole of England. Doncaster forms part of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw STP, led by Sir Andrew Cash, the CEO of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.  The plans are being built in partnership with local councils, and in discussion with the communities they serve.

The published South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw STP has been shared with all Elected Members, and was discussed at the Doncaster Health and Wellbeing Board on 12th January, 2017 where I understand you raised concerns about the lack of detail provided as to where the savings would come from to make up the identified financial shortfall.  You also asked for a temporary halt to the STP to enable a listening exercise to be carried out between the clinicians and the public.

At the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Board was informed about the public consultation exercise on the STP that is due to begin in February, that would be led by all the local Healthwatch providers.  Councillor Glyn Jones expressed the view that the STP was still a very high level plan, in terms of its content, and there was not enough detail in the STP to allow people to come to an informed decision about the proposal. He asked to see further detail on the proposals, the results of the public consultation and the Due Regard Statement, that would identify the impacts of the STP proposals.

The Plan itself is at a very high level, and contains little or no detail as to how future changes to the NHS and social care will take place.  The proposal is for a series of work streams to identify future changes and we await the implications of that work before passing comment on any individual proposals.

In relation to the STP itself, it has much to commend it, in terms of improving equality of access and quality of services for local people.  However, I have significant concerns about the budget pressures which will have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, presented a report to Council which sought approval of the proposals for the Localised Council Tax Support for 2017/18.

It was reported that under National Welfare reforms, from the 1st April, 2013 Council Tax Benefit was replaced by Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) and Local Authorities received considerably reduced funding from Government for the scheme.  Previously, the full cost of awarding this reduction was funded by the Government.

Members noted that under the Localism agenda, Billing Authorities had to decide each year for working age claims, who was eligible for a reduction in their Council Tax and what level of support they should receive.   Localised Council Tax Support was a means tested form of help to assist the most vulnerable and those who may not have the means to pay their Council Tax in Doncaster.  Pensioners and other aspects of the local scheme were prescribed by the Government and the Council had no discretion in relation to these matters; with the increase in older people, there continued to be a further increase in the numbers of Pensioners qualifying for locally funded support.

It was brought to Members attention that Doncaster had a history of low Council Tax levels with the majority of properties falling in band A.  In 2016/17, the Authority currently had the 9^th lowest Band D Council Tax of the 91 Metropolitan and Unitary Authorities.  The proposed local scheme would help to support over 27,950 of the most vulnerable and those least able to pay households in Doncaster, requiring those who could afford to pay something, pay more of the Council Tax.  Of these, over 12,620 were of pension age and more than 15,330 were of working age on a low income.

The Council acknowledged the challenges facing both the Council due to cuts in Government funding and those affecting many citizens due to their low income, the cost of living challenge and wider welfare reforms which could be impacting on them.  The Authority had been able this year to avoid making major changes to the scheme, avoiding reducing support further by introducing an across the board deduction which would impact on the most vulnerable and those who may not have the means to pay.  Other Authorities who had introduced such schemes, were making further across the board deductions to try and make their schemes viable and balance their collection fund.

Concerns were expressed that the Authorities scheme could have come under such severe pressure that the Authority could have had to make further significant cuts.  However, due to improvements in the local economy, a reduced number of working age claimants and a more buoyant tax base, it had not proved necessary to cut the scheme further for next year.  The only revisions to the scheme being proposed from the 1st April, 2017 were those the Authority legally had to make under the Prescribed Requirement Regulations that were laid before Parliament on 22nd December, 2016 which came into force on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

The Council considered a report, presented by Councillor Joe Blackham, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transportation, which sought approval to adopt a Business Rates Discretionary Rate Relief Scheme for Local Newspapers for implementation from 1st April, 2017.

It was reported that as part of the March 2016 budget, the Government announced that it would provide funding for Councils to award Discretionary Business Rates Relief of up to £1,500 for office space occupied by local newspapers, wholly or mainly used as office premises for journalists and reporters.

This relief will be awarded up to a maximum of one discount per local newspaper title and per property, for a period of two years from 1st April, 2017 and review subsequently, should Government extend or remove the period of reimbursement.

Business rates legislation is not being changed. Any relief awarded will be under a discretionary scheme which should be introduced with effect from the 1st April, 2017.

Although the relief was awarded under a discretionary scheme, Government had issued guidance on the types of property they think should and should not qualify for the relief. The proposed scheme mirrors the Government guidance.

Any award of discretionary relief for business rates falls under the rules for state aid and any business wanting to benefit from the relief will need to submit a declaration of any existing state aid they may be in receipt of or confirmation they are not in receipt of any other state aid.

Any relief awarded that follows the guidance is fully funded by Government sothis maximises the benefit to the local newspapers without incurring any cost to the authority or its citizens.

RESOLVED that

(1)       Council adopt the policy as attached as Appendix 1 to the report;

(2)       consider the awarding of relief for years 2017/18 and 2018/19 to appropriate businesses in Doncaster and review subsequently, should the Government extend the period of reimbursement; and

(3)       all applications be required to submit a State Aid declaration.

Dr. Rupert Suckling presented to Council the Director of Public Health Annual Report for 2016.  The Director of Public Health report was considered on an annual basis and was the fourth report since the Public Health function had transferred from the NHS in April 2013.  The Annual Report looked in detail at the health of the residents of Doncaster, using the 2016 Health Profile produced by Public Health England and made comparisons alongside the statistics from both 2011 and 2015.

The report provided information on the recommendations identified in 2015, and outlined what progress had been made against the four main challenges as detailed below:-

·         Improving children’s health and wellbeing;

·         Making the link between education, work and health;

·         Increasing healthy life expectancy and reducing preventable health conditions; and

·         Reducing inequalities in health between and within Doncaster communities.

Dr. Suckling reported that progress had been made in a number of areas over the past year which had not been predicted, with a snapshot provided on a number of improvements that had been made including the following:-

·         Postnatal depression;

·         Improvement in the treatment of dementia;

·         Childhood obesity was falling; and

·         Smoking during pregnancy was falling.

However, it was reported that there was still a lot of work to be done in a number of areas including obesity and mortality, as well as children’s health as a whole, along with food and nutrition, lifestyle and healthy life expectancy.

Following his presentation of the report, Dr. Suckling afforded all Members the opportunity to make any comments or ask questions with a number of issues raised on which he endeavoured to provide a thorough response. However, further to some questions, Dr. Suckling informed the Chamber that he would provide more detailed responses to these issues outside of the meeting, particularly in relation to the following:-

• The installation of Solar Panels and issues relating to funding;
• Cancer detection rates;
• An update on the proposed closures of local Pharmacies and how this would impact on the services they provided;
• The Cumulative Impact Zones and what work could be done with Planning and Licensing in order to have a positive impact on health; and

·         The possibility of making Public Health a Statutory Consultee on the Local Plan.

RESOLVED that Council note and agree to publish the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2016.

Members considered a report which sought Council’s approval to adopt a sector-led approach to the future appointment of the Council's external auditors.  The current external audit contract, which was provided by KPMG, was due to expire in March 2018 and therefore, a decision needed to be made on how the Council appointed its external auditors.

The report identified 3 options open to the Council and explained the advantages and disadvantages of these.  In summary, the 3 options were detailed as follows:-

(1)  for DMBC to appoint its own auditors;

(2)  for DMBC to join with other Authorities to appoint their external auditors; or

(3)  to participate in a sector-led national procurement approach.

Members noted that the Audit Committee had considered the 3 options in detail at its meeting on 17th November, 2016 and had agreed to support Officers' recommendation to adopt a sector-led approach.  This option was most similar to the arrangement that was being replaced. However, the adoption of the sector-led alternative must be made by Council and therefore, the recommendation had been put forward by the Audit Committee for approval by Full Council.

RESOLVED that

(1)       the options for appointing external auditors from April 2018, and the advantages and disadvantages of each option, be noted; and

(2)       The Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd be appointed to negotiate on behalf of and appoint the external auditor for Doncaster Council.

Council received a report presented by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, that detailed the Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18.  Under Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011, Local Authorities were required to prepare an Annual Pay Policy Statement which set out the Council’s policy for paying staff, in particular its Chief Officers, and detailed the relationship between the highest, lowest and average paid employees in the organisation.

It was noted that the Policy Statement was a public document which was published on the Council’s website each year, which clearly demonstrated a willingness to increase accountability, transparency and fairness in setting pay.  It also included information about where more detailed salary information was published as part of the Council’s Annual Statement of Accounts.  It was reported that the same format had been used this year as in previous years.  

Members’ attention was drawn to the following observations:-

·                There had once again been a positive reduction in the ratios this year (the ratio being how many times greater a salary was compared to the lowest salary) between the highest and lowest paid staff;

·                The current ratio between the highest paid salary £149k (Chief Executive) and lowest salary £16k (living wage spot point) had reduced again from 9.36 to 1 last year to 9.14 to 1 this year, and continued to compare favourably with other Local Authorities in the local area; and

·                There had also been a change in the ratio between the lowest paid and average salaries which had slightly increased from 1.41 to 1 last year to a ratio of 1.47 to 1.  This increase was as a result of an increase in the average salary as part of the Council’s commitment to reduce the pay difference and address low pay.

Members noted that it was not anticipated that this policy would need to be amended during the period it covered; April 2017 to March 2018.  However, if circumstances dictated that a change of policy was considered to be appropriate during the year, then any amendments would be included in the following year’s statement presented to Full Council.

Following consideration of the report, Members were given the opportunity to make any comments. Whilst some concerns were raised in relation to the amount being paid to Officers employed on an interim basis, the report was welcomed with appreciation voiced in relation to the adoption of the Living Wage for low paid Council employees, and the restraint of pay at the top of the scale, and it was felt, as a general rule that Doncaster Council was well placed in comparison with other similar sized Authorities across the country.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted and that the Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18, be approved.

Councillor John Mounsey, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC) provided Council with an update on the key areas of work carried out by OSMC and its four Standing Panels for the period June to December, 2016.

Councillor Mounsey began by conveying his thanks to all those across the Council and beyond, who had taken the time to attend meetings and engage with the Overview and Scrutiny process in order to ensure that the function continued to successfully contribute to decision making, governance and the improvement of services across the Authority.

Members noted that there continued to be a firm focus on performance monitoring and review work through OSMC and its Panels which aimed to ensure that there was greater impact on future policy development and the improvement of services.  More specifically, the Regeneration and Housing and Community and Environment Panels had undertaken detailed task and finish work on a small number of important issues, and the Health and Adult Social Care Panel had continued with the work involved in undertaking the Council’s Statutory Health Scrutiny Role.  Finally, the Children and Young People Panel had focused its work on a number of key issues, with one example being Examination Results across the Borough.

Additionally, Councillor Mounsey informed Council that OSMC had concluded its consideration of the Mayor’s draft budget and had responded to this accordingly, with meetings held in December and January to discuss the proposals thoroughly and make an informed decision on what they felt was its deliverability and implementation.

The Chair of Overview and Scrutiny concluded his presentation of the report by looking forward to 2017, and identified key issues that Scrutiny needed to focus on, with the following highlighted as areas of particular importance:-

·         The Corporate Plan

·         Children’s Mental Health

·         Public Health Protection Responsibilities; and

·         Crime and Disorder across the Borough.

Councillor Mounsey once again thanked all Members, Officers, Partners and Stakeholders for their contributions to the Overview and Scrutiny process and invited any comments from Members of the Council in respect of the work undertaken during the last 6 months.

Following the presentation of the report, the Chair of Council invited Members to make any comments which Councillor Mounsey endeavoured to provide further clarity on.

RESOLVED that the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and its four Standing Panels for the period June to December, 2016, be noted.

“Following the publication of documents making it clear our City Region political representative on ‘Transport for the North’ has been directly lobbying HS2 for an option which is not endorsed by ourselves, Barnsley, or Rotherham, is it time to re-evaluate how well we are served by representation with such an obvious conflict of interest.

This Council has no confidence in Sheffield City Council's ability to represent Doncaster and the wider Sheffield Region on Transport for the North.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.1, a Motion was submitted by Councillor Jonathan Wood and Seconded by Councillor Cynthia Ransome:-

“Following the publication of documents making it clear our City Region political representative on ‘Transport for the North’ has been directly lobbying HS2 for an option which is not endorsed by ourselves, Barnsley or Rotherham, is it time to re-evaluate how well we are served by representation with such an obvious conflict of interest.

This Council has no confidence in Sheffield City Council's ability to represent Doncaster and the wider Sheffield Region on Transport for the North.”

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

An amendment to the Motion was MOVED by Councillor Rachel Hodson and Seconded by Councillor Phil Cole, to read as follows:-

“Following the publication of documents making it clear our City Region political representative on ‘Transport for the North’ has been directly lobbying HS2 for an option which is not endorsed by ourselves, Barnsley or Rotherham, is it time to re-evaluate how well we are served by representation with such an obviously potential conflict of interest?

This Council recognises the importance of transparency and clarity when SCR representatives attend Outside Bodies and calls on the Executive Director of the Sheffield City Region to review all relevant protocols regarding representation at outside bodies to ensure that its appointed representatives represent the interests of the region as a whole.”

A vote was taken on the amendment to the Motion proposed by Councillor Rachel Hodson, which was declared as follows:-

For – 46

Against – 0

Abstain – 0

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

A vote was then taken on the Substantive Motion which was declared as follows:-

For – 46

Against – 0

Abstain – 0

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

RESOLVED that following the publication of documents making it clear our City Region political representative on ‘Transport for the North’ has been directly lobbying HS2 for an option which is not endorsed by ourselves, Barnsley or Rotherham, is it time to re-evaluate how well we are served by representation with such an obviously potential conflict of interest?

This Council recognises the importance of transparency and clarity when SCR representatives attend Outside Bodies and calls on the Executive Director of the Sheffield City Region to review all relevant protocols regarding representation at outside bodies to ensure that its appointed representatives represent the interests of the region as a whole.

None received for this meeting.

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 Rodgers asked the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones:-

“Thank you Mayor Jones for the update you gave us on Devolution earlier on in the Council agenda.  Why do you think the Sheffield Chamber have so totally misrepresented what Doncaster and Barnsley Councils have stated regarding the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Yorkshire proposals and have not correctly put forward what the proposal is?”

A.  “Thank you, for your question Councillor Rodgers.

I am second guessing and it’s wrong to second guess because you are assuming what’s in someone’s head.  However, I want to reiterate; we shared everything that was going forward in respect of Devolution, with all Councillors, with our MPs, with our Chamber of Commerce.  When I read what the Chief Executive of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce said, it was quite obvious he had not read the documentation, to actually come out and say one overall LEP and Combined Authority is wrong.  No, what the proposal put forward by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and which needs to be worked up, is that we maintain our Devolution deal along with other deals, and its one overarching Mayor.  So perhaps, he hadn’t got time before he was asked to comment, I don’t know, but if you are going to comment on something, make sure that you have read the actual thing that is being proposed.  I find it deplorable that people do not read documentation. 

I will praise our own Chamber of Commerce, who have thanked us for our openness and transparency.  They will be talking to their Members and will share their comments with us.  Our Chamber think that it is a very brave move and whether the Yorkshire deal can come forward or not, they would feel quite excited about it.  That’s their initial response this is the proper way that Chambers work; by joined up thinking and talking together and ensuring that they get the full message out there and then working together.  Doncaster Chamber supported the Devolution deal for the Sheffield City Region, but they can also see the plusses for going forward Yorkshire wide. 

We are looking at what can be delivered. Our Chamber always reads what we send them and are supportive when it’s the right thing for the businesses of Doncaster.  This is a proposal that has got to be worked up, and we are looking at one deal so that we know what’s been proposed.

It’s wrong for any other Council not to actually have an open mind and see what comes forward, because I am here to drive Doncaster forward.  I’m here to drive our economy forward.  And we do that in conjunction with many others.

So, you are asking me to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

A.        South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel held on 28th October, 2016.

B.        Sheffield City Region Combined Authority held on 24th October and 5th December, 2016.

C.        South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority held on 17th October and 28th November, 2016 and Section 41 Briefing Notes for December, 2016 and January, 2017.

D.        South Yorkshire Pensions Authority held on 24th November,           2016.

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

A.        South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel held on 28th October, 2016;

B.        Sheffield City Region Combined Authority held on 24th October and 5th December, 2016;

C.        South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority held on 17th October and 28th November, 2016, and Section 41 Briefing Notes for December 2016 and January 2017; and

D.        South Yorkshire Pensions Authority held on 24th November, 2016.