WEST LINDSEY DISTRICT COUNCIL

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MINUTES of a Meeting of the Corporate Services Committee held in the Council Chamber at The Guildhall, Gainsborough on Thursday, 23rd September 1999 at 7.00 pm.

 

Present : Councillor C W Greenaway (In the Chair)

Councillor M J W Parish (Vice-Chairman)

Councillor A D Caine

Councillor I G Fleetwood

Councillor M French

Councillor E H J Green

Councillor P J Heath

Councillor J Indian

Councillor W S R Parry

Councillor A C Rosser

Councillor N Taylor

Councillor S C Taylor

 

Also Present : Councillor M L Starkey

Councillor K Whaley

 

In Attendance : Chief Executive, Director of Corporate Services, Support

Services Manager and Projects Officer

 

 

226 MEMBERSHIP

The Support Services Manager reported that having received Notices under Regulation 13 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, the Chief Executive had appointed Councillors E H J Green and W S R Parry as Members of the Committee in the places of Councillors B A Theobald and C R Ireland respectively, for this meeting only.

 

227 MINUTES

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Corporate Services Committee held on 29th July 1999 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

 

228 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BEST VALUE SUB-COMMITTEE HELD ON 20TH SEPTEMBER 1999

The Chairman of the Sub-Committee submitted report Corp.41 99/00 that had been circulated at the Meeting.

The Chief Executive advised that the Government’s Best Value Guidance had been received that day by way of a Consultation Document. A report thereon would be submitted to the next meeting of the Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Best Value Sub-Committee held on 20th September 1999 be received and the recommendations contained therein adopted.

 

229 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CORPORATE PERSONNEL POLICY WORKING GROUP HELD ON 21st /29th JUNE 1999

The Chairman of the Working Group submitted report Corp.42 99/00.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Corporate Personnel Policy Working Group held on 21st/29th June 1999 be received.

 

230 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE JOINT STAFF CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE HELD ON 2ND AUGUST 1999

The Chairman of the Consultative Committee submitted report Corp.43 99/00.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Joint Staff Consultative Committee held on 2nd August 1999 be received and the recommendation contained therein adopted.

 

231 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CORPORATE PERSONNEL POLICIES WORKING GROUP HELD ON 2ND AUGUST 1999

The Chairman of the Working Group submitted report Corp.44 99/00.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Corporate Personnel Policies Working Group held on 2nd August 1999 be received.

 

232 LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW WORKING GROUP

It was proposed and seconded that Councillor P J Heath be appointed to serve on the Lincolnshire Show Working Group for the current year.

It was further proposed that Councillor T Brown be appointed to serve on the Lincolnshire Show Working Group for the current year.

On being put to the vote it was:-

RESOLVED that the Councillor P J Heath be appointed to serve on the Lincolnshire Show Working Group for the current year.

 

233 DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT AND CORPORATE AIMS

The Support Services Manager submitted report Corp.47 99/00 and updated the Meeting on responses received since the report had been published.

Members considered in detail comments received as a result of consultation set out in Appendix "B" to report Corp.47 99/00 and it was:-

RESOLVED that the Draft Mission Statement and Corporate Aims as set out in Appendix "B" to report Corp.47 99/00, as amended by the Committee, be formally adopted.

Informative Note: A copy of the adopted Mission Statement and Corporate Aims will be forwarded to all Members of the Council.

 

234 1998/99 CCT FINAL ACCOUNTS AND ANNUAL REPORTS

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.40 99/00 setting out the financial position at the end of the 1998/99 financial year for the four CCT services that were subject to final audit.

RESOLVED that:-

(a) the Final Accounts and Annual Reports for the four CCT Services be noted and approved;

(b) the position, as set out in the Consolidated Balance Sheet be noted;

(c) from the Appropriation Accounts an amount of £126,495.64 be transferred to the Council’s General Fund and £9,405.45 to the Reserve Accounts, leaving Reserve Account balances of £258,668.48 and Appropriation Account Balances of £428,045.67 in accordance with levels previously agreed by the Corporate Services Committee; and

(d) any balances not required following the date of Housing Stock Transfer be immediately transferred to the Council’s General Fund.

 

235 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 1998/99

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.34 99/00.

In answer to a question the Director of Corporate Services advised that report Corp.31 99/00 (to be considered later in the Meeting) referred to the appointment of Investment Fund Managers to ensure that the Council received the best advice in terms of the future investment of funds.

RESOLVED that the Committee:-

(a) approves the Statement of Accounts for the financial year ended 31st March 1999; and

(b) notes the projected savings on the 1998/99 General Fund and overspend on Housing Revenue Services.

 

236 RECOMMENDATIONS OF OTHER COMMITTEES

The Chief Executive submitted report Corp.45 99/00.

 

1. Community Services Committee – 9th September 1999

Lincolnshire Accommodation Project – Gainsborough Initiative

The Chairman of Community Services Committee reported on the recommendation from his Committee.

RESOLVED that a Supplementary Revenue Estimate be approved from the contingency sum to meet a further one-off grant of £9,600 to be paid to Lincolnshire Accommodation Project, to enable the current level of service to be maintained until 31st March 2000.

2. Planning Services Committee – 22nd September 1999

Lincolnshire Structure Plan – Proposed Lincoln Area Policy Framework Alteration

The Chairman of Planning Services Committee reported on the recommendation from his Committee.

RESOLVED that Member attendance at Joint Advisory Committee Meetings be regarded as an approved duty.

 

237 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS

RESOLVED that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public and press be excluded from the Meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 5, 7, 9 and 12 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

 

238 MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE POST STOCK TRANSFER ORGANISATIONAL WORKING GROUP HELD ON 24TH AUGUST 1999

The Chairman of the Working Group submitted report Corp.48 99/00.

The Chief Executive emphasised the need for Members to determine an organisational structure following the transfer of the Housing Stock to West Links Housing on 18th October 1999.

With regard to the proposed establishment of a Standards Committee the Chief Executive advised that he would be reporting further thereon to the Working Group.

The Chief Executive reported that arrangements had been made for a Members’ Seminar in respect of the possible establishment of unitary local authorities in Lincolnshire.

Following extensive consideration it was:-

RESOLVED that :-

    1. authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of Corporate Services Committee to agree the terms of reference for the appointment of external consultants to provide advice on proposals for the future organisational structure of the Council;

    2. a budget of up to £50,000 be approved for the appointment of external consultants to undertake an initial study;

(c) the Chief Executive report to the next meeting of the Working Group on options/costs of slimming down the Management Team; .

(d) the Council be RECOMMENDED to dissolve the Contract Services Committee;

(e) the Community Services Committee be RECOMMENDED to amend the terms of reference of the Housing Management Projects Sub-Committee by the deletion of any reference to Council owned property;

(f) any further amendments to the Committee Structure should not be considered until the Government’s legislative intentions for the next session of Parliament are known; and

(g) the establishment of unitary local authorities in Lincolnshire might become a Council policy in the future.

 

239 ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.35 99/00.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

 

240 APPOINTMENT OF INVESTMENT FUND MANAGERS

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.31 99/00.

Members were of the opinion that a Sub-Committee should be established to appoint fund managers.

RESOLVED that :-

    1. a Sub-Committee be established with the following terms of reference:-

      2. "To interview and appoint Investment Fund Managers."

    2. the number of Members to be appointed to serve on the Sub-Committee be 7 and the allocation to different Political Groups of seats be as follows:-

 

Note:- Prior to consideration of the following item of business Councillors I G Fleetwood and M J W Parish declared non-pecuniary interests and did not speak or vote in respect thereof.

 

241 HOUSING STOCK TRANSFER

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.32 99/00 and an addendum thereto that had been tabled at the Meeting.

RESOLVED that :-

    1. the principal terms of transfer agreement be noted;

    2. the transaction contemplated by the Agreement for Transfer of Housing Stock the subject of the Report, to be made between West Links Housing Limited and West Lindsey District Council be approved by the Council (subject to agreement of its final terms in accordance with (c) below) in the exercise of its discretion;

    3. the Chief Executive and the Director of Corporate Services each be authorised to do or procure to be done any act matter or thing in any way relating to or in connection with the said transfer in order to give effect thereto including negotiation and agreement of the final terms of all documentation.

    4. the execution (whether by application of the Council’s Seal (to deeds) or otherwise), delivery and performance of the Agreement to Transfer Housing Stock (including all ancillary agreements detailed in the Schedule thereto) to be made between West Links Housing Limited and West Lindsey District Council in the form agreed pursuant to paragraph (c) above; and any other agreement, document, transfer and deed to be entered into thereunder or in connection therewith (including the Deeds of Warranty scheduled to the Agreement for Transfer of Housing Stock) be authorised; and

(e) one of the Chief Executive and the Director of Corporate Services (or the absence of both the Council’s Solicitor) together with the Chairman of the Council (or in his absence any Member of the Council) be authorised to sign such documents and attest the application of the Council’s seal pursuant to this resolution.

 

242 STOCK VALUATION, SALE AND DISPOSAL

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.38 99/00.

RESOLVED that the Committee;

(a) approve the disposal of redundant stock at the Nettleham Depot either by auction, sale or closed tender and the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to take the appropriate action; and

(b) approves the write-off of the balance of the value of redundant stock from the asset register and balance sheet of the Contract Services Committee.

243 FORMER TENANTS ARREARS

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.39 99/00.

RESOLVED that:-

(a) the amounts written-off under delegated powers be noted;

(b) the write-off of Former Tenants Arrears in accordance with the Schedule at Appendix 3 to report Corp.39 99/00 be approved; and

(c) the transfer of Former Tenants Arrears to an alternative system for collection by an outside agency be approved.

 

244 NON-DOMESTIC RATE DISCRETIONARY VILLAGE SHOP RATE RELIEF

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.37 99/00.

RESOLVED that applicant (Reference Account No. 5036-001-1) be awarded 25% rate relief.

 

245 NON-DOMESTIC RATE - HARDSHIP RELIEF

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.36 99/00.

RESOLVED that the applicant (Reference Account No. 5036-535-1) be granted 100% rate relief.

 

Note:- Prior to consideration of the following item of business Councillor I G Fleetwood declared a non-pecuniary interest and withdrew from the Meeting taking no part in the discussion or vote thereon.

 

246 WEST LINDSEY TRAINING SERVICES

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.33 99/00.

RESOLVED that:-

(a) the current training position of West Lindsey Training Services be noted; and

(b) the locally agreed payscales for West Lindsey Training Services be increased by 3% with effect from 1st April 1999.

 

247 INSURANCE RENEWALS

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.46 99/00.

RESOLVED that the progress of negotiations on insurance renewals be noted.

Note:- Prior to consideration of the following item of business Councillors I G Fleetwood

and M J W Parish declared non-pecuniary interests and did not take part in the

discussion or vote thereon.

 

248 WEST LINKS HOUSING COMPANY LIMITED - PROPOSED PURCHASE OF SITE IN BRIDGE STREET, GAINSBOROUGH - REMOVAL OF RESTRICTED COVENANT

The Director of Corporate Services submitted report Corp.49 99/00.

RESOLVED that the Council agree to the removal of a covenant restricting the use of the site to "industrial purposes" and authority be given for the Common Seal of the Council to be affixed to the necessary Deed of Release.

 

The Meeting concluded at 8.31 pm.

 

Chairman