Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2016 were signed as a true record.

To be presented by the Lord Mayor

On behalf of the City Council, the Lord Mayor presented Mr Trevor Pepper with the Good Citizen Award. His citation read:

“Trevor has served a total of 32 years in the West Midlands Special Constabulary retiring recently as a Special Inspector. During this time Trevor has carried out his duties in an enthusiastic and exceptional manner gaining the respect of colleagues in both Special Constabulary and Regular Forces.

 His zest for encouraging, motivating and supporting his peers has played a large part in the relationships he has fostered. Trevor carried out a wide range of duties including crime reduction initiatives and has made a significant contribution towards community cohesion within the city. In addition, Trevor has excellent knowledge of the Licencing and Public Order Law. He built up a rapport with licensees and has shown positive support to security staff; this has been beneficial in improving public safety. Trevor was awarded an Operational Commanders Commendation for dealing with an incident whilst off duty and supporting security staff.

Not only has Trevor shown great personal commitment to Coventry, his professional input has had a positive effect on the city and its citizens making it a safer place for all.”

Retirement of Members

The Lord Mayor referred to Councillors Chater, Galliers, Gingell, Noonan and Thomas who were not standing in the forthcoming Municipal Election. 

Members of the City Council paid tribute to the work carried out by the Councillors over the years they had served as Members of the Council and wished them well for the future.

Councillor Tony Skipper

The Lord Mayor welcomed Councillor Skipper back to the Council Chamber following a period of absence due to illness and wished him continued good health. The Lord Mayor also congratulated Councillor Skipper on his recent wedding and extended his best wishes for the future.

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

(a)  Request the Council to consider safety measures on London Road at the junction of Abbey Road following 3 fatalities in the last 2 years – 139 signatures, presented by Councillors Noonan and Bailey.

(b)  Request a residents parking scheme for Conway Avenue, Duggins Lane, Station Avenue and Nailcote Avenue – 57 signatures, presented by Councillor Ali.

(c)  Request road traffic measures for Templar Avenue by Templars  Primary School – 315 signatures, presented by Councillor Ali and  supported by Councillor Skinner.

There were no declarations of interest.

From the Cabinet, 8 March 2016

Further to Minute 132 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Resources which set out the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2016/2017.

The Localism Act 2011 required all local authorities to produce an Annual Pay Policy Statement, setting out the Council's policies regarding the pay and grading of the workforce, which must be approved by full Council.  The Annual Pay Policy Statement is particularly required to highlight the relationship between the pay and remuneration of the most senior staff (chief officers) and the general workforce.  The City Council had clearly established policies and processes for the determination of the pay and grading of its employees and these were summarised in the proposed Pay Policy Statement.

The Annual Pay Policy Statement also set out the relationship between the highest and lowest paid employees.  Guidance on the development of Pay Policy Statements stated that authorities should explain their policy in respect of chief officers who had been made redundant and later reemployed or engaged under a contract of service, and also their approach to any shared arrangements in place.  The City Council had no policy in relation to the re-employment or re-engagement of chief officers.  No existing chief officers had been made redundant and subsequently re-employed or re-engaged and it was not anticipated this would occur in the future.  Currently the City Council had established an effective working partnership with Solihull Council for procurement.

The proposed Annual Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 was attached as Appendix 1 to the report submitted.

RESOLVED that the City Council approves the Annual Pay Policy Statement 2016/17.

Report of the Executive Director of Resources

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Resources which sought approval to recharge parish councils for the costs of administering future elections.

Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, a principal council would be allowed to recharge the costs it incurs in administering parish elections to those parish councils. The report reviewed the options available to the City Council and recommended the basis for recharging parish councils for the costs of administering future elections.

In continually reviewing the use of financial resources and delivery of services, it would be appropriate for the City Council to recover its costs in administering the election process for Parish Councils.

The Council would be required to give notice to the parish council of the estimated costs to enable the parish council to ensure that the costs were included in their budgeting requirements.

The next ordinary date for parish elections in Coventry is May 2019 which would give plenty of time for the existing parishes to prepare.

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1.  Agrees to recharge parish councils in the City the actual costs of running their elections, should their elections be contested. If the poll is combined with another poll, then the costs that are shared costs would be split.

2.  Agrees to charge a set fee to cover administration costs where the election is uncontested and delegate to the Executive Director of Resources the authority to review and update this as detailed in paragraph 5 of the report.

(a)  Written Question – There are no written questions

(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

The following Members answered oral questions put to them by other Members as set out below, 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 Andrews responded to the Statement.

To be moved by Councillor Blundell and seconded by Councillor Sawdon

“That this Council agrees not to dispose of the land within its ownership on Kings Hill in Warwickshire, given not only its ecological benefit in preserving the green space between Coventry and Kenilworth, but also that any development would not be sustainable as there is no satisfactory infrastructure to service the area and that all Council Tax income and section 106 receipts, payable by developers, would go to Warwick District.”

Councillor Blundell moved the following debate, which was seconded by Councillor Sawdon :-

“That this Council agrees not to dispose of the land within its ownership on Kings Hill in Warwickshire, given not only its ecological benefit in preserving the green space between Coventry and Kenilworth, but also that any development would not be sustainable as there is no satisfactory infrastructure to service the area and that all Council Tax income and section 106 receipts, payable by developers, would go to Warwick District.”

RESOLVED that the Motion as set out above be not adopted.

Note: On behalf of the City Council, Councillors A Khan and Blundell, thanked the Lord Mayor for the manner in which he had Chaired Council meetings during 2015/16.