Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, The Arc, Clowne

Contact: Nicola Calver  Governance Manager

Media

Items
No. Item

CL20-21/22

Apologies For Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dexter Bullock, Jim Clifton, Donna Hales, Duncan McGregor, Janet Tait and Deborah Watson.

 

CL21-21/22

Declarations of Interest

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

 

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered

c)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

Minutes:

Councillor Natalie Hoy stated that she would not participate in the Bolsover Community Woodlands Project item because of her role as a Cabinet Member at Derbyshire County Council.

 

Councillor Tricia Clough stated that she had consulted with the Monitoring Officer about her role as a Parish Councillor at Glapwell Parish Council, and had been advised that this would not prevent her from participating in the motion and petition about Park Avenue in Glapwell.

 

CL22-21/22

Chair's Announcements

To receive any announcements that the Chair of the Council may desire to lay before the meeting.

 

Minutes:

The Chair passed to the Leader of the Council, who was very sad to report that Councillor Duncan McGregor’s wife had recently passed away.

 

Councillor Allan Bailey proposed that a letter and some flowers should be sent to Councillor Duncan McGregor on behalf of all Members. The Chair agreed that this would be followed up by officers.

 

CL23-21/22

Minutes pdf icon PDF 295 KB

To approve the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council held on 26th May 2021 and 23rd June 2021.

Minutes:

The minutes were moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor Sandra Peake.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of Annual Council on 26th May 2021 (reconvened on 23rd June 2021) be approved as a true and correct record.

CL24-21/22

Questions from the Public

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8, to allow members of the public to ask questions about the Council’s activities for a period of up to fifteen minutes.  A question may only be asked if notice of seven clear working days has been given.

 

Minutes:

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8, Members of the Public were able to ask questions to an Executive Member about the Council’s activities for a period of up to 15 minutes.

 

No questions were submitted to this meeting of Council under Rule 8 of the Council Procedure Rules.

 

CL25-21/22

Questions from Members

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9, to allow Members to ask questions about Council activities.  A question may only be asked if notice of seven clear working days has been given.

 

Minutes:

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9, Members of Council were able to ask questions about the Council’s activities to either the Chair of the Council, Chairman of a specific Committee or a relevant Portfolio Holder.

 

No questions had been submitted by Members of Council under Council Procedure Rule 9.

 

CL26-21/22

Motions pdf icon PDF 6 KB

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, to consider motions on notice from Members.

 

1)    Motion submitted by the Leader of the Council (Pets as Prizes)

2)    Motion submitted by Councillor Clive Moesby (Orgreave)

3)    Motion submitted by the Deputy Leader of the Council (GMB Campaign)

4)    Motion submitted by Councillor Peter Roberts (Travel Expenses)

5)    Motion submitted by Councillor Tom Kirkham (Glapwell)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Councillors were able to submit Motions on Notice for consideration at this meeting.

 

The Chair noted that five motions had been submitted.

 

 

1) Motion submitted by the Leader of the Council:

 

This Council:

- is concerned about the number of cases reported to the RSPCA each year, regarding pets given as prizes via fairgrounds, social media and other channels in England and notes the issue predominantly concerns goldfish

- is concerned for the welfare of those animals that are being given as prizes - recognises that many cases of pets being as prizes may go unreported each year

- supports a move to ban the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form.

 

The Council agrees to:

- ban outright the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Bolsover District Council Land

- write to the UK Government, urging an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes on both public and private land.

 

Councillor Steve Fritchley (Leader of the Council) moved the motion, and added his belief that goldfish should not have to suffer.

 

Councillor Jen Wilson seconded the motion and used the right to speak to state that she agreed completely with the sentiment of the motion.

 

No other Members wished to speak on the motion.

 

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried.

 

RESOLVED that the Council agrees to:

 

(i) Ban outright the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Bolsover District Council Land;

(ii) Write to the UK Government, urging an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes on both public and private land.

 

(Head of Leader’s Executive/Monitoring Officer/Governance Manager)

 

 

2) Motion submitted by Councillor Clive Moesby:

 

On 10th November 2016 this Council passed a motion calling for a public inquiry into events at Orgreave on 18th June 1984.

 

Bolsover District Council is concerned and disappointed that despite this Council and many other Councils also calling for a public inquiry during the last few years,that the Government has so far failed to listen to those requests.

 

Despite the fact that the Police are alleged to have fabricated evidence against 95 miners charging them with offence of riot, a crime which could be punished with a life sentence no inquiry has yet taken place. Despite allegations including the use of excessive violence displayed that day by Police Officers, the false narrative by the Police and Media, and perjury by Police Officers and the subsequent cover up of that perjury by senior officers this has still not been scrutinised and investigated.

 

Bolsover District Council therefore calls on the Home Secretary Priti Patel to order a full public inquiry into the deployment and actions of the Police on 18th June 1984 and to conduct meaningful discussions with the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, The NUM and concerned MP’s.

 

Councillor Nick Clarke moved the motion, and added his belief that the miners’ dispute in 1984/85 was  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL26-21/22

CL27-21/22

Debate of Petition

To debate the following petition in accordance with 7.8 of the Petition Scheme for a maximum period of 30 minutes:

 

We, the undersigned, petition Bolsover District Council to protect the wildlife and mature trees at the top of Park Avenue in Glapwell from development.  We ask the Council to stop its sale until covenants can be added to the land to keep it as green, open public space respecting its status as a Bolsover District community asset.

 

The land is one of the few areas of Glapwell that links the village back to its heritage and the old Glapwell Hall.  The trees on the land are some of the oldest in the district and they are home to protected species such as bats.  The land is much loved by local residents as a space for peace and relaxation.

 

We believe that the sale should be made open to the widest possible scrutiny.

 

Signed by 1045 signatories (verified).

Minutes:

The Chair indicated the submitted petition had been considered as part of Motion 5 in Minute No. CL26-21/22.

 

CL28-21/22

Member Champions pdf icon PDF 384 KB

Report of the Monitoring Officer.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

N.B. Councillor Tracey Cannon and Councillor Ross Walker left the meeting at this point.

 

The Monitoring Officer presented a report to give consideration to the Member Champion role profile (as recommended by Standards Committee) and appoint Member Champions for the forthcoming year.

 

The Monitoring Officer explained that the role was not a decision making one but one that facilitated engagement and discussion around a particular area.

 

The recommendations in the report to accept the Member Champion role profile and appoint the suggested Member Champions (Appendix 1) were moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor David Downes.

 

An additional motion to include Councillor Andrew Joesbury as a third Armed Forces Member Champion (in addition to the two suggested Members) was moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Nick Clarke.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(i) Council approves the Member Champion role profile in this report as recommended by Standards Committee;

(ii) Council appoints Member Champions from the attached list to serve until the Annual Council meeting in 2022;

(iii) Council appoints Councillor Andrew Joesbury as a third Armed Forces Member Champion (in addition to the two suggested Members) to serve until the Annual Council meeting in 2022.

 

(Monitoring Officer/Governance Manager)

CL29-21/22

New Code of Conduct for Members pdf icon PDF 317 KB

Report of the Monitoring Officer.

 

Appendix 1 to follow.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Monitoring Officer presented a report to approve a new Code of Conduct for Councillors based on the new Local Government Association Model Code as recommended for adoption by the Standards Committee.

 

The Monitoring Officer explained that the Local Government Association had produced a model Code of Conduct for Councillors. The model code had been considered in detail by the Standards Committee and a new draft Code for Bolsover Councillors was considered by the Standards Committee at its meeting on 5th July 2021. At that meeting, the Standards Committee made a recommendation to Council to adopt the draft Code.

 

Councillor Clive Moesby spoke about the importance of the Code of Conduct as a guide for Members to follow.

 

The three recommendations in the report to adopt the draft Code, undertake training and ask Parish and Town Councils to adopt the LGA model Code were moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor David Downes.

 

RESOLVED that:

(i) Council adopts the new Code of Conduct for Councillors as recommended by the Standards Committee;

(ii) Members note that a presentation will be given at the next available meeting of Council detailing the Code to offer all attendees essential training and awareness of the content therein; and

(iii) Members note Standards Committee’s request that all Parish and Town Councils be contacted recommending that they adopt the Local Government Association Model Code of Conduct for Councillors.

 

(Monitoring Officer/Governance Manager)

CL30-21/22

Councillor Dispensation pdf icon PDF 302 KB

Report of the Monitoring Officer.

Minutes:

The Chair indicated that this item had been withdrawn because the Member in question had attended this meeting of Council.

 

CL31-21/22

Exclusion of the Public

To move:- 

 

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following items of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).  [The category of exempt information is stated below each item].

 

Minutes:

Councillor Tom Munro moved and Councillor Mary Dooley seconded that the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following items of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

 

On being put to the vote it was RESOLVED that the public be excluded from the meeting during discussion of the following items of business.

 

CL32-21/22

Bolsover Community Woodlands Project

Report of the Deputy Leader.

Minutes:

Councillor Natalie Hoy temporarily left the meeting during discussion of this item.

 

The Principal Planning Officer presented a report proposing that funds be allocated from the General Fund from 1st October 2024 to 30th September 2036 to enable the Council to cover the costs of entering into funding and legal agreements relating to the Bolsover Community Woodlands project.

 

The recommendation in the report was moved by Councillor Steve Fritchley and seconded by Councillor Nick Clarke.

 

On being put to the vote it was RESOLVED that the Council notes the contents of the report and agrees subject to the outcome of the Executive meeting that:

 

a) a sum of £10,000 per annum be allocated from the general fund from 1st October 2024 to 30th September 2036 to enable the Council to cover the costs of entering into funding and legal agreements relating to the Bolsover Community Woodlands project that relate to the costs of entering into the Service Level Agreement with Bolsover Woodland Enterprise Ltd.

 

(Principal Planning Officer/Section 151 Officer)

 

CL33-21/22

Senior Management Review

Report of the Leader of the Council.

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Enforcement and the Director of Development temporarily left the meeting during discussion of this item.

 

A report was presented which included an update on the Senior Management Review and recommendations on proposals at Director level.

 

The recommendations in the report were moved by Councillor Steve Fritchley and seconded by Councillor Ray Heffer.

 

On being put to the vote it was RESOLVED that:

 

(i) Subject to formal consultation with the Directors and Trade Unions, that Council approve:

 

(a) The disestablishment of the two Joint Director posts and the establishment of one full-time Director post at BDC, namely Director of Resources and Head of Paid Service (title to be reviewed). This would create two full-time Director level posts, dedicated to BDC, namely Director of Development and Director of Resources and Head of Paid Service, based on existing salary grades for Director level posts.

 

(b) That Mrs Karen Hanson (currently Director of Environment and Enforcement and Deputy Head of Paid Service) be appointed to the newly established post of Director of Resources and also appointed as Head of Paid Service.

 

(c) That the two BDC Directors review the management structure in consultation with all Portfolio Holders, in terms of reporting structures for departments.

 

(Monitoring Officer)

 

CL34-21/22

Chairman's Closing Remarks

Minutes:

The Chair encouraged all Members to attend the ABBA tribute event at the Technique Stadium on 10th September 2021 because the event was in aid of his charity Ashgate Hospicecare.

 

 

 

The meeting concluded at 1140 hours.