Agenda and minutes

Members observed a minute’s silence in memory of Councillor Alan Bristow, a District Councillor and former member of the Planning Committee, who passed away on 19 April 2020, and Kit Owen, a former District Councillor, who passed away on 1 May 2020.

It was proposed by Councillor Purser, seconded by Councillor Boden and resolved that Councillor Rob Skoulding be elected as Vice-Chairman of the Council for the period to the next Annual Meeting and that he be paid an allowance of £1,000 plus travelling expenses.

The Vice Chairman addressed the Council as follows:

I would like to thank Councillor Boden and Councillor Purser for proposing   and seconding the nomination to elect me as Vice Chairman of Fenland District Council and I thank all Members for your support. I will endeavour to support Councillor Miscandlon in his role as Chairman.

To confirm and sign the minutes of 20 February 2020.

The minutes of the meeting of 20 February 2020 were confirmed.

The Chairman stated that this is the first meeting of full Council during the COVID-19 pandemic and he added that he would like to take the opportunity to offer his thanks on behalf of all Members of this Council, to those working to save lives and keep essential services running throughout Fenland, making sure our local NHS services have not been overwhelmed.

He added that Council staff have risen to the challenges COVID 19 has presented by providing support to vulnerable people shielding at home, facilitated the Small Business and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant schemes therefore supporting local businesses, supported local residents that would otherwise have been homeless during the pandemic, continuing to run essential services such as Refuse collections and Street Cleansing  as well as supporting and advising companies as well as local residents regarding COVID compliance.

To determine that:

1.          The Annual Meeting of the Council in 2021 be held on Tuesday 18 May 2021

2.         The ordinary meetings of the Council in 2020/21 to be held as follows:

Thursday 6 August 2020

Tuesday 8 September 2020

Monday 14 December 2020

Tuesday 23 February 2021.

The suggested meeting dates for the Annual Meeting of the Council and for the ordinary meetings of the Council for 2020/21 were proposed as follows;

The Annual Meeting of the Council in 2021 to be held on Tuesday 18 May

2021.

The ordinary meetings of the Council be held on;

Thursday 6 August 2020

Tuesday 8 September 2020

Monday 14 December 2020

Tuesday 23 February 2021

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Booth stated that at the Annual Council meeting in 2019, there was a debate with regard to the days on which meetings are held. He added that there was a commitment for meetings to be held on Thursdays, but this now does not appear to be the case and questioned why? Councillor Boden stated that at that time it had been decided that there should not be a list of dates considered at the Annual Council meeting this year where changes of dates had to be further proposed. He added that consultation took place with the Combined Authority and the County Council to ascertain dates of their meetings this municipal year to enable us to schedule our own dates around them whilst also considering Town and Parish Council meetings. He added it had not been possible to schedule meetings of the Council to all be held on a Thursday, due to the amount of meetings that take place elsewhere some of which Members also attend.

The proposed dates for the Annual Meeting of the Council and for the ordinary meetings of the Council were proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Wilkes and AGREED by Members.

The purpose of this Report is to agree the committee structure and terms of reference for the forthcoming municipal year as well as confirming the allocation of seats to those committees and also to outside bodies in accordance with political proportionality rules and to receive notification of the appointments to them (where known).  

Members considered the Committee Structure, Political Balance and Allocation of Seats report and received an update in relation to the Committee Structure.

Councillor Boden advised Members of the Council that he wished to advise them of a slight alteration to the composition of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as detailed in page 21, Appendix B, section 3.4.

Councillor Count and Councillor Connor will form part of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Hay and Councillor Mrs Mayor.

Councillor Mrs Davis and Councillor Mrs Mayor will be substitute Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Proposed by Councillor Miscandlon, seconded by Councillor Boden and AGREED to approve the Committee Structure, Political Balance and Allocation of Seats report including the update as detailed by Councillor Boden.

To request the Council to make appointments to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for the municipal year 2020/2021.

Members considered the Combined Authority Membership and Other Appointments report, presented by Councillor Boden.

Councillor Boden confirmed the following appointments to the Combined Authority’s Committees:

Combined Authority Board: Councillor Boden, Substitute: Councillor Mrs French

Audit Committee: Councillor Benney,  Substitute: Councillor Miss Hoy

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Councillor Hay and Councillor Mason, Substitutes: Councillor Miscandlon and Councillor Tierney.

Councillor Boden added that the Transport Committee and the Housing Committee have been omitted from the report, and stated that the appointments to those committees are as follows.

Transport Committee Councillor Seaton, Substitute Councillor Tierney

Housing Committee Councillor Boden, Substitute Councillor Mrs Laws.

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and AGREED that the appointments and nominations to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for the municipal year2020/21

This report updates Members on two decisions taken since the last Council meeting which are required to be notified to Members in relation to constitutional changes to give rise to virtual meetings and an urgent executive decision in relation to financial support to Freedom Leisure, both due to COVID-19.

Members considered and noted the Freedom Leisure report, presented by Councillor Boden.

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Miscandlon stated that at the time of the decision concerning Freedom Leisure, he held the position of Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and before any decisions were made with regard to Freedom Leisure he had lengthy discussions with the Legal Team at the Council, before he approved the non- call in facility that had to be taken in a very timely manner.

·         Councillor Booth, added that the debate that took place with regard to Freedom Leisure at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee  meeting on 8 June 2020 can be viewed on You Tube.

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Connor and members AGREED to note the decision taken under special urgency in relation to financial support  to Freedom Leisure due to Covid 19.

Members considered the Constitutional Amendment report presented by Councillor Boden

Members asked questions, made comments and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Booth stated that he has read the changes to the Constitution and expressed the opinion that whilst he appreciates that due to the pandemic there needs to be a new way of working he has concerns that some of the changes that have been introduced such as not allowing public speaking or petitions will stifle the democratic process. He added that the virtual Planning Committees have enabled members of the public to make representations, and therefore, members of the public should be able to present at meetings of the Council.

·         Councillor Booth commented that some members may recall that a motion had been discussed previously at Council, where consideration had been given with regard to holding meetings of the Council virtually.

·         Councillor Booth stated that the report states that political parties will have to vote against motions in the Constitution, which he is concerned to read. He also questioned what the review period is for these amendments. Councillor Boden stated that with regard to the review period, the legal requirement for the remote meetings lasts until the 7 May 2021.

·         Councillor Boden commented that there was significant concern at many authorities with regard to the practical way to facilitate questions and petitions. Councillor Boden expressed the opinion that, progress has been made with virtual meetings taking place over the last few months and therefore he would like to discuss this further with Councillor Tanfield and Councillor Booth to review whether further changes can be made.

·         Councillor Booth asked whether this can be reviewed within the next 3 months. Councillor Boden stated he will be happy to review this on an ongoing basis.

·         Councillor Sutton expressed the opinion that he also has concerns with regard to page 49 and 8.1 with regard to the submission of motions, where it states that ‘Members will have the ability to submit motions to Council as set out in the Constitution. In order for the Motion to be accepted, the Member submitting the motion will  ...  view the full minutes text for item C8/20