Council - Thursday, 24th June, 2021 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 25th May, 2021 (copy attached).

It was MOVED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp; SECONDED by Cllr P.G. Taylor and

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 25th May 2021 (copy having been circulated previously) be taken as read, approved and signed as a correct record.

(1)      The Mayor reported that, on 21st June 2021, the Armed Forces Day flag was raised in Princes Gardens, Aldershot.  He stated that he and the Mayoress had been joined by the Deputy-Lieutenant of Hampshire (Lieutenant General Sir Mark Mans), the Garrison Commander (Lieutenant Colonel Nick Burley), the Mayor’s Chaplain (Reverend Malcolm Cummins), Deputy Leader (Cllr Ken Muschamp), Military Champion (Cllr Jacqui Vosper), Shadow Military Champion (Cllr Nadia Martin), together with Standard Bearers from the Aldershot and Farnborough Branches of the Royal British Legion.  The flag would be flown until the end of Armed Forces Day on 26th June 2021.

The Mayor advised the Council that ‘beacons of light’ would be beamed from the roofs of six buildings across Aldershot town centre during the evening  of 26th June.  The idea behind this was that people from around the area could celebrate and pay their respects to the Armed Forces without having to leave their gardens or be part of a large crowd.  In addition to this, Princes Hall and the bandstand in Princes Gardens would be lit up.  The bandstand would contain a schools’ arts project over the weekend of 26th and 27th June 2021.

(2)      The Mayor reported that he had been delighted to cut the ribbon at the re-opening of the North Town Post Office and the formal opening of the coffee shop there.  There were a number of other guests present, including Peter Gordon of BBC Radio Surrey, local Ward Councillors (Keith Dibble, Gaynor Austin and Sarah Spall) and a number of distinguished guests from the Nepali community.  On behalf of the Council, the Mayor wished Mr Dhan Sarki every success for the future.

(3)      The Mayor advised Members that the first meeting of his Charity Committee had been held the previous week.  A programme of events was being put together – Covid restrictions permitting.  In particular, he drew Members’ attention to:

·                Two Mayoress’s Afternoon Tea events on Friday 10th December 2021 and Wednesday 6th April 2022

·                The Mayor’s Charity Ball on Friday 11th March 2022

·                A charity golf day would be organised – date to be finalised

(4)      Now that the Council could meet in person, it was the first opportunity that the Council had to present Cllr Sue Carter with her Past Mayor’s Badge and Scroll signifying the Council’s resolution on her Mayoral Year of 2019-2020.  The Mayor called Cllr Carter forward to collect her Past Mayor’s Badge, as Past Mayor’s Consort Badge for her husband, Mr Ian White, and the framed scroll. 

Cllr Sue Carter addressed the Council with some words of thanks and some memories of her Mayoral Year.

To receive any questions by Members submitted in pursuance of Standing Order 8 (3).

The Mayor reported that no questions had been submitted under Standing Order 8.

To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet and Committees in relation to the following item(s):

(1)      Council Business Plan 2021 – 2024

The Leader of the Council (Cllr D.E. Clifford) introduced the Report of the Cabinet Meeting held on 8th June 2021, which recommended the approval of the Council’s three-year Business Plan - April 2021 to March 2024, as set out in Annex A to the Report.

It was MOVED by Cllr D.E. Clifford; SECONDED by Cllr K.H. Muschamp - That approval be given to the recommendation as set out in the Report. 

On a Recorded Vote, there voted FOR: Cllrs Jessica Auton, Mrs. D.B. Bedford, J. Belbase, J.B. Canty, Sue Carter, M.S. Choudhary, Sophia Choudhary, A.K. Chowdhury, D.E. Clifford, R.M Cooper, P.I.C. Crerar, P.J. Cullum, M. Hope, L. Jeffers, Prabesh KC, Mara Makunura, S.J. Masterson, Marina Munro, K.H. Muschamp, M.L. Sheehan, M.D. Smith, P.G. Taylor, M.J. Tennant, N. Thapa, Jacqui Vosper and the Deputy Mayor (Cllr J.H. Marsh) (26); AGAINST: 0; ABSTAINED: Cllrs. Gaynor Austin, K. Dibble, Christine Guinness, A.J. Halstead, Nadia Martin, T.W. Mitchell, Sophie Porter, M.J. Roberts, Sarah Spall and the Mayor (Cllr. B.A. Thomas) (10) and the Recommendation was  DECLARED CARRIED. 

(2)      Introduction of Weekly Food Waste Collection Service

The Portfolio Holder for Operational Services (Cllr. M.L. Sheehan) introduced the Report of the Cabinet meeting held on 8th June 2021, which recommended the approval of an additional revenue budget of £90,000 in 2021/22 to facilitate the roll out of the food waste collection service  and to note that the financial impact of these changes in future financial years would need to be addressed in the 2022/23 budget setting process. 

It was MOVED by Cllr M.L. Sheehan; SECONDED by Cllr M.J. Tennant – That approval be given to an additional revenue budget of £90,000 in 2021/22 to facilitate the roll out of the food waste collection service.

There voted FOR: 35; AGAINST: 0 and the Recommendation was DECLARED CARRIED.

(3)      Pay Policy Statement

The Chairman of the Corporate Governance, Audit and Standards Committee (Cllr Sue Carter) introduced the Report of the Committee meeting held on 27th May 2021, which recommended approval of the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22, as set out in the Appendix to the Report. 

It was MOVED by Cllr Sue Carter; SECONDED by Cllr P.J. Cullum – That approval be given to the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/22 as set out in the Appendix to the Report.

During discussion, it was MOVED by Cllr P.G. Taylor; SECONDED by Cllr Christine Guinness – That the recommendation be amended by adding the following wording:

“In light of the contents of the statutory Pay Policy Statement, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be requested to undertake a review of the structure and application of the Council’s pay policies to make sure that they meet the equitable requirements of the Council’s taxpayers.”

The proposed Amendment received the support of the Council and, with the consent of Cllr  Sue Carter and Cllr Peter Cullum as Mover and Seconder of the original Motion, the Amendment was incorporated in the recommendation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To receive any questions by Members to Cabinet Members submitted in accordance with the Procedure Note.

The Mayor reported that no questions had been submitted for response by the Cabinet.

To receive and ask questions on the Reports of the following Meetings (copy reports attached):

RESOLVED:  That the Reports of the following meetings be received:

To note the Report of the following meeting (copy report attached):

RESOLVED:  That the Report of the meeting of the Policy and Project Advisory Board held on 9th June 2021 be received.