Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the Council Meeting held on 8 September, 2015 were signed as a true record

To be presented by the Lord Mayor and Judge Griffith-Jones, Honorary Recorder

On behalf of the City Council, the Lord Mayor presented John Tierney with the Good Citizen Award. His citation read:-

“John was involved with Foleshill Community Centre for over 50 years. He joined the centre as a boy to be with his friends and to enjoy the many activities which took place there. He then became an active volunteer eventually taking on the role of Centre Manager.

John’s contribution as Centre Manager in making the centre a popular and convivial meeting and learning place for the local community was invaluable.  He has truly embraced the community spirit by providing a centre to learn, take part in an activity or meet with friends. He has welcomed the people from the local community and helped them to thrive both socially and educationally.

This Good Citizen Award is in recognition of John’s long and distinguished service to the Foleshill community.”

The Lord Mayor presented Councillor Hazel Noonan, Lord Mayor for 2014/15, with her Illuminated Address.

(a)  Presentation of Illuminated Address to Councillor Hazel Noonan, Lord Mayor for 2014/15.

(b)  Lord Mayor’s announcements.

The Lord Mayor indicated that it was Local Democracy Week and outlined a series of events that the City Council were hosting aimed at encouraging democratic engagement, especially amongst younger people.

Councillors were encouraged to attend the events.

The Lord Mayor referred to the recent deaths of former Councillors Val Stone and Roy Barker, who represented Longford and Cheylesmore Ward respectively.

Members paid tribute to the work undertaken by both Val and Roy and extended the Council’s sincere condolences to their families.

The Lord Mayor reported that he had received the following correspondence:-

(1)  A letter from Buckingham Palace expressing the Queen’s thanks for the City’s congratulations on the occasion Her Majesty becoming the longest-reigning Monarch of the UK on 9 September, 2015.

(2)  A letter of thanks from Mr Ratan N Tata on his admittance as an Honorary Freeman of the City of Coventry.

RESOLVED that the following petitions be referred to the appropriate City Council bodies:-

  (a)  Objection to planning application for the erection of

 buildings on site 28, 54-56 and 58-74 London Road – 17

 signatures, presented by Councillor N Akhtar

(b)  Objection to planning application for the change of use of

  Allesley Scout Hut, Washbrook Lane – 54 signatures,

presented by Councillor Birdi

Councillor McNicholas declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the matter the subject of Minute 76 below relating to “Devolution and Economic Growth – Scheme for Setting Up a West Midlands Combined Authority”

Councillor McNicholas left the meeting for consideration of this item.

In accordance with the Constitution, the following Motions without notice were moved by Councillor Gannon, seconded by Councillor Lancaster and carried:-

(a)   To combine the debates for item 7 (Devolution and Economic Growth – Scheme for Setting up  a West Midlands Combined Authority) and item 13.1 (Debate to be moved by Councillor Blundell). 

(b)  To suspend the time limits to enable Councillors Lucas and Blundell to have one untimed speech and to enable Councillors Maton and Sawdon to speak for 5 minutes in seconding .

Report of the Chief Executive

Further to Minute 75 above, the debate on this item was combined with the debate in relation to “Combined Authorities” which was set out on the Council agenda and which was proposed by Councillor Blundell and seconded by Councillor Sawdon.

The Council considered a report of the Chief Executive, which set out proposals for the Council in relation to the proposed West Midlands Combined Authority.

A combined authority is a statutory body that would facilitate the collaboration and joint working between local authorities to improve economic development, regeneration and transport in a functional economic area. It is a public body in its own right. On 28 May 2015 Coventry City Council’s Cabinet agreed in principle to create a combined authority with a preferred option of councils from Coventry and Warwickshire (and Hinckley and Bosworth) with councils from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership areas.

Coventry City Council and the other six West Midlands Metropolitan District Councils had undertaken a governance review on current sub-regional working arrangements which concluded that the creation of a combined authority would improve economic development, regeneration and transport in the metropolitan area, and a geography that includes other councils from the wider Local Enterprise Partnership areas of Coventry and Warwickshire and Greater Birmingham and Solihull could bring even greater economic benefits. 

The seven West Midlands metropolitan district councils undertook a joint engagement exercise on proposals for a combined authority in the West Midlands over the summer. As a result of this some district councils from the surrounding area have opted to join the proposed combined authority as non-constituent members. Coventry City Council undertook its own engagement and consultation programme in the city in addition to the West Midlands exercise.

The Government continued its devolution agenda and asked areas to come forward with proposals for a devolution deal with Government for inclusion in the Comprehensive Spending Review in November 2015. Some 38 areas, including the West Midlands, had done so. The decision to set up a combined authority would be subject to specific legislative tests about the benefits such an authority would bring and would be separate to any decision on a devolution deal. 

The report indicated that the next stage in the process for setting up a combined authority would be for the local authorities concerned to agree to submit proposals in a Scheme to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which would inform the provisions of any Order creating a combined authority. A draft Scheme for a West Midlands Combined Authority had been prepared for submission to the Secretary of State that set out the proposed membership of the West Midlands Combined Authority and how it would work, and was attached as appendix 5 to the report.

 A revised Scheme to that considered at the meeting of Cabinet on 13 October was circulated at the meeting and the Leader reported that the revision related to a change to the wording on transport to better reflect the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Report of the Executive Director of Resources

The Council considered a report of the Chief Executive which detailed amendments to the polling district and polling place review scheme which were approved by Council on 14 January and 9 December, 2014. The amendments are required due to some of the locations no longer being available and in response to complaints received at the Elections in 2015. The Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities Advisory Panel – Electoral Arrangements and Ward Councillors have been consulted on the proposed amendments and the consultation document was published on the Council’s website as required by legislation.

RESOLVED:-

  (1)  That the City Council approves the revised polling district

and polling place scheme as detailed in the report submitted.

  (2)  That if any further polling place becomes unavailable prior

to the election, authority be delegated the Chief

Executive, following consultation with the Leader and the

Deputy Leader and the appropriate Ward members to agree

temporary amendments to the scheme for the 2016

elections.

Report of the Executive Director of Resources

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Resources that sought approval to appoint City Council representatives to the Governing Bodies of Tile Hill Wood School and Language College and Lyng Hall School.

RESOLVED that the City Council:-

  (1)   Appoints Councillor K Maton to the Tile Hill Wood

School and Language College Governing Body

  (2)  Delegates authority to appoint to the Lyng Hall School

Governing Body to the Executive Director of Resources, in

consultation with Cabinet Member for Education

NOTE:   It was moved by Councillor Bailey, seconded by Councillor

  Crookes and lost that Councillor P Male to appointed to the Tile

  Hill Wood School and Language College Governing Body

(a)  Written Question – Booklet 1

(b)  Oral Questions to Chairs of Scrutiny Boards/Chair of Scrutiny

Co-ordination Committee

(c)  Oral Questions to Chairs of other meetings

(d)  Oral Questions to Representatives on Outside Bodies

(e)  Oral Questions to Cabinet Members and Deputy Cabinet Members on any matter

Councillor Townshend had provided written answers to the questions set out in the Questions Booklet.

The following Members indicated answered oral questions as et out below put to them or agreed to send a written response, together with supplementary questions on the same matters:-

. 

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Ruane, made a statement in respect of the “Children’s Services Improvement Plan”

Councillor Noonan responded to the Statement

Councillor Thomas moved the following debate, which was seconded by Councillor Lancaster:-

“Council resolves:

To take every possible step to ensure that as many local residents as possible are registered to vote including, but not limited to, the following:

-  Fully analysing the last annual household canvass and comparing the results on a ward byward basis to the previous year’s canvass.

-  Maintaining a database of electors who have confirmed their electoral registration detailsvia the “No Change” method, and using this database to ensure people who have been previously registered but haven’t been re-registered are contacted.

-  Using all available council-held databases to ensure that as many electors as possible aredata-matched for electoral registration purposes.

-  Using all available methods of communication to explain the

 transition to IER to local residents.

-  Prompting local residents with electoral registration reminders at

other points of contactwith the council, such as when residents apply for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and other council services.

-  Liaising with local private sector landlords to ensure electoral

registration information isincluded in tenancy packs and other communications they have with their tenants.

-  Having council officers attend citizenship ceremonies and local schools and colleges toencourage newly eligible electors to register to vote at the earliest opportunity.”

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Crookes, seconded by Councillor Bailey and lost:-

“That the debate be amended by the addition of the following paragraph at the end:-

“While notwithstanding the above, before going ahead to ensure that the measures proposed are fully costed and affordable, while noting that registering to vote is an individual responsibility”

RESOLVED that the Motion as set out above be unanimously adopted.

Note: The Debate as set out as item 13.1 on the agenda was dealt with as part of Minute 76 above.