Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Jerry Crawford, Manny Doku, Muriel Jolles and Patrick McCabe.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

a)    All Councillors declared an interest in Agenda Item 10, Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel in respect of which the decision is one for the Council to make under The Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances England) Regulations 2003.

b)    Councillor Simon Carter declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda item 8, Motions from Councillors, for his role as member of the Harlow Area Access Group.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2014.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2014 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

None.

None.

The questions together with the answers provided are appended to these minutes.

The question together with the answer provided is appended to these minutes.

Customer Services

Proposed by Councillor Joel Charles (seconded by Councillor Simon Carter):

“This Council commits to urgently review its customer services to ensure disabled residents receive the level of support they deserve and ensure all contacts with disabled residents are dealt with properly to prevent breaches of the Equality Act 2010 (as well as its Public Sector Equality Duty).”

Customer Services

Proposed by Councillor Joel Charles (seconded by Councillor Simon Carter):

“This Council commits to urgently review its customer services to ensure disabled residents receive the level of support they deserve and ensure all contacts with disabled residents are dealt with properly to prevent breaches of the Equality Act 2010 (as well as its Public Sector Equality Duty).”

The motion was carried.

Cabinet RECOMMENDED that Full Council approves the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy, attached as Appendix A to the report, including the proposal to lower the counterparty rating for banks and other organisations from A(-) to BBB(+) as explained in paragraph 6 of the original report to Cabinet.

The Council received a report from Cabinet which asked that Council approve the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner (seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan Council):

RESOLVED that:

the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy, attached as Appendix A to the original report, including the proposal to lower the counterparty rating for banks and other organisations from A(-) to BBB(+) as explained in paragraph 6 of the original report to Cabinet is approved.

Cabinet recommended to Council that the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2015/16, be unchanged from the 2014/15 scheme.

The Council received a report from the Cabinet which asked that the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2015/16 be unchanged from the 2014/15 scheme.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner (seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan Council):

RESOLVED that:

the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2015/16, be unchanged from the 2014/15 scheme.

Cabinet recommended to Council that the contribution to a new earmarked reserve (Regeneration and Enterprise Reserve), as set out in paragraph 6 of the original report is approved.

The Council received a report from the Cabinet which asked that Council approve the contribution to a new earmarked reserve.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner (seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan Council):

RESOLVED that:

the contribution to a new earmarked reserve (Regeneration and Enterprise Reserve), as set out in paragraph 6 of the original report is approved.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Wilkinson and seconded by Councillor Phil Waite:

that the Harlow Council Councillor’s Allowances Scheme for 2015/16, attached as Appendix A to the original report, be agreed.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan:

that the Special Responsibility Allowance for Cabinet members (Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Portfolio Holders) is reduced by 5%. 

The amendment was carried and, for the avoidance of doubt, the following became the substantive motion:

RESOLVED that the Harlow Council Councillor’s Allowances Scheme for 2015/16, attached as Appendix A to the original report, be agreed subject to a 5% reduction to the Special Responsibility Allowance for members of the Cabinet. 

The substantive motion was carried unanimously.

The Chairman gave thanks to the members of the Independent Remuneration Panel for their involvement in the review of the Scheme.

To note the following Committee minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following Cabinet and Committee meetings be noted:

None.