Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2012

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 9 November 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Members and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:

Personal Interest

Personal & Prejudicial Interest

Members of the public are invited to put questions to the Chair of the Committee on any matters within the powers and duties of the Committee, subject to the exclusions set out in the Code of Practice (Questions must be submitted prior to the commencement of the meeting on the cards provided. These are available the meeting and at local libraries and information centres.  You can also submit via the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/publicquestions.

No questions were submitted.

To report any urgent action taken under the Constitution since the last meeting of the Committee.

No urgent decisions were reported.

To consider the following reports of the Monitoring Officer in relation to requests received for dispensations:

(a)          Making a number of applications for dispensations in respect of all members of the Council to allow good governance and democratic decision taking.

(b)          A request for a dispensation from Councillor Andy Sorton in relation to issues concerning Stockport Council’s Corporate and Support Services Directorate which may be discussed at the Brinnington and Reddish Joint Ward Committee, Central Stockport Area Committee, Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee and the Council Meeting.

(c)          A request for a dispensation from Councillor Tom Grundy is requesting a dispensation in relation to issues concerning Stockport Homes which may be discussed at the Brinnington and Reddish Joint Ward Committee, Heatons and Reddish Area Committee, Licensing, Environment & Safety Committee (and sub-committee A) and the Council Meeting.

(d)          A request for a dispensation from Councillor Maureen Rowles is requesting a dispensation in relation to issues concerning Stockport Homes which may be discussed at the Brinnington and Reddish Joint Ward Committee, Stockport Central Area Committee and the Council Meeting.

(e)          A request for a dispensation from Councillor Maggs Kirkham is requesting a dispensation in relation to issues concerning Stockport Homes which may be discussed at the Adults and Communities Scrutiny Committee, Werneth Area Committee and the Council Meeting.

(f)           A request from Councillor Paul Bellis to extend his current dispensation in relation to issues concerning Greater Manchester Police to discussions which may take place at the Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee and the Council Meeting.

The Monitoring Officer submitted reports (copies of which had been circulated) in relation to the following requests received for dispensations:

(a)            A request for dispensations in respect of all members of the Council in relation to matters which had previously formed specific exemptions within the former Standards Regime to allow good governance and democratic decision taking

The Monitoring Officer reported that previously matters relating to the Council tax and precepts; housing, where the member is a tenant of the authority; school meals or school transport and travelling expenses; allowances, payments, pensions or indemnities given to members; and any ceremonial honour given to members had been covered by specific exemptions within the Standards Regime, but these had not been repeated in the Localism Act.

The Committee was requested to consider granting dispensations to all members for a period of four years to cover the above.

RESOLVED - That this Committee approve a dispensation to all Councillors for four years to allow them to continue to make decisions regarding:-

(i)            the Council tax,  precepts and the  Council Tax Discount and Support Scheme

(ii)          housing, where the member is a tenant of the authority; provided that

those functions do not relate particularly to that member’s tenancy or

lease

(iii)         school meals or school transport and travelling expenses, where the member is a parent or guardian of a child in full time education, or is a parent governor of a school, unless it relates particularly to the school which the child attends;

(iv)         an allowance, payment, pension or indemnity given to members; 

(v)          any ceremonial honour given to members

(b)       A request for a dispensation from Councillor Andy Sorton in relation to issues concerning Stockport Council’s Corporate and Support Services Directorate which may be discussed at the Brinnington and Reddish Joint Ward Committee, Central Stockport Area Committee, Corporate, Resource Management and Governance Scrutiny Committee and the Council Meeting.

The Monitoring Officer reported that Councillor Sorton’s wife was an employee of Stockport Council within the Library and Information Service and therefore this prevented him from taking part in any discussion on any matters within the Directorate this Service was part of.

RESOLVED - That a dispensation be granted to Councillor Sorton until May 2016 to enable him to stay, speak and vote at any Committee of the Council, in relation to any matters within the remit of the Corporate and Support Services Directorate with the exception of issues relating to the Libraries and Information Service.

(c)        A request for a dispensation from Councillor Tom Grundy is requesting a dispensation in relation to issues concerning Stockport Homes which may be discussed at the Brinnington and Reddish Joint Ward Committee, Heatons and Reddish Area Committee, Licensing, Environment & Safety Committee (and sub-committee A) and the Council Meeting.

The Monitoring Officer reported that Councillor Grundy was a tenant of Stockport Homes but also the Council’s representative on the Board of Stockport Homes which prevented Councillor Grundy from taking part in any discussion on matters pertaining to Stockport Homes.

RESOLVED – That a dispensation be granted to Councillor Grundy until May 2014 to enable him to stay, speak and vote at any Committee of the Council, in relation to any matters concerning Stockport Homes with the exception of issues that would have a financial impact on Councillor Grundy or where a decision is being made regarding the funding of Stockport Homes.

(d)       A request for a dispensation from Councillor Maureen Rowles is requesting a dispensation in relation to issues concerning Stockport Homes which may be discussed at the Brinnington and Reddish Joint Ward Committee, Stockport Central Area Committee and the Council Meeting

The Monitoring Officer reported that Councillor Rowles was a tenant of Stockport Homes but also the tenant’s representative on the Board of Stockport Homes which prevented Councillor Rowles from taking part in any discussion on matters pertaining to Stockport Homes.

RESOLVED – That a dispensation be granted to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.