To receive apologies for absence.

Cllr Stephens, Chairman of the Council welcomed councillors, members of the public, David Rees, Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel and Ian Baker, Group Manager South West Audit Partnership (SWAP).

Apologies were received from Cllrs Roy Birch, Peter Ede, Paul Hiett, Bernie O'Neill and Marion Winship.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2012 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

The chairman to identify any items of urgent business.

The chairman identified no items of urgent business.

To receive any declarations of interest in any matter to be discussed at the meeting.  Members and officers are requested to identify the nature of the interest and indicate whether it is personal or prejudicial.

No declarations of interest were made.

To Chairman to welcome Councillor Tim Gwilliam the new Councillor for the Berry Hill Ward after the by election on 7 February 2013.

The Chairman welcomed Councillor Tim Gwilliam, the new councillor for the Berry Hill Ward, after the by election on 7 February 2013.

Cllr Gwilliam thanked the chairman.

The Chairman to announce that the Government’s response to the Independent Panel on Forestry’s Final Report was published on 31 January 2013 as part of the -  Government Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement.

The Chairman announced that the Government’s response to the Independent Panel on Forestry’s Final Report was published on 31 January 2013 as part of the -  Government Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement.

On invitation Cllr Quaile, Cabinet Member for the Environment, reported that the Forest Environment Cabinet Support Group had met and would hold a second meeting on 28 February to formulate comments on the government's response.

The Chairman to announce that Cancer Research UK will once again be holding a Big Breakfast fundraising event at Forest Hills, Coleford, on Friday, 15 March 2013.

The Chairman announced that Cancer Research UK would once again be holding a Big Breakfast fundraising event at Forest Hills, Coleford, on Friday, 15 March 2013. He had attended the previous year's event, which he had very much enjoyed. Unfortunately he was unable to attend this year but recommended it to other members.

To answer questions asked by members of the public. The constitution requires that questions are received three working days before the meeting (deadline 4.00pm on Monday, 18 February 2013)

Question 1

The following questions have been received from Alan Preest, 7 Greenacre, Bream, Lydney Glos GL15 6AP

What steps are being taken by FoDDC to ensure that photo montages purporting to show the visual impact of wind turbines included in planning applications are accurate and properly inform consultation and what steps are the council taking to assess the impact on the landscape ?.

In the light of wind turbines malfunctioning or even collapsing in strongish winds, as one did recently in Devon what measures does the FoDDC have in place to allay the fears of local residents concerned about the proximity to homes of wind turbines ?

A wind farm developer recently stated in the press (Forest Review 18 Jan 13) that planners at FoDDC requested that applications be submitted for individual wind turbines rather than a four turbine wind-farm because of workload pressure in the Planning Department. Is that true or false?

Response from Councillor Brian Robinson, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Efficient Council and Planning Policy

The information submitted to support individual planning applications is assessed on a case by case basis. If the information supporting an application is considered to be misleading or inaccurate it will be challenged. The assessment of landscape impact is clearly one of the key considerations in judging wind turbine proposals. The Council has prepared detailed advice on the consideration of landscape issues which is contained in its award winning Landscape Supplementary Planning Document. The Council has experienced staff in house to assess landscape impact and has where necessary brought in external consultants to assist in landscape impact evaluation.

The Council is in the process of developing Supplementary Planning Guidance on the topic of wind turbine development. The proximity of such developments to people’s homes will be one of the areas considered.

The Council did not request that the applications were submitted individually. As the Local Planning Authority the Council is the receiver of planning applications and does not control when planning applications are made, by whom or what they cover. These are decisions for the applicant. With regards to proposals from the Resilience Centre, covering the potential for wind turbines on multiple sites, the applicants were advised that ultimately the decision as to what to submit was theirs. Applications spread out over a longer timeframe would spread the workload for the authority.

Mr Preest was not at the meeting, so the answer to his question would be sent to him

Question 2

The following question has been received from Alan Preest, 7 Greenacre, Bream, Lydney Glos GL15 6AP

How are the Council progressing with enforcement action against the developer of the Oakdale estate in Lydney with regard to the lack of both adequate lighting and footpaths?

Response from Councillor Brian Robinson, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Efficient Council and Planning Policy

Discussions are on-going with the developer to resolve the matter informally without recourse to formal action.

Mr Preest was not at the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Has any member of this Council disclosed a personal or financial interest in the siting of wind turbines in the Forest of Dean?

Councillor Maria Edey

Has any member of this Council disclosed a personal or financial interest in the siting of wind turbines in the Forest of Dean?

Response from Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration

I have asked the officers to check the Register of Members’ Interests and am advised that no member has disclosed any interest in the siting of wind turbines in the returns. However from time to time the Planning committee will consider planning application for wind turbine developments. The council's public records show the following interests have been declared by current members since January 2010.

Development Control Committee 19 Jan 2010:Whitecross School, Church Road, Lydney

Installation of a 6kw micro wind turbine 15.2m high to tip, blade diameter 5.5m.

Councillor James Bevan declared a personal interest in item 5.2. of the agenda, P0173/09/FUL, Whitecross School, Church Road, Lydney, due to a business association with the school. Councillor Bevan said that he would leave the meeting for consideration of this item.

Development Control Committee 10 April 2012:P2110/11/FUL Land adjacent to Poolway Farm, Gloucester Road, Coleford

Erection of a wind turbine and ancillary works. Construction of permanent access road and temporary access road. Erection of a monitoring mast for a temporary period.

Non-committee member, Councillor Clive Elsmore, (speaking as ward member for the application considered under item 5.5 of the schedule of applications), declared a personal interest in application P2110/11/FUL Land Adjacent to Poolway Farm, Gloucester Road, Coleford.

Supplementary question

None

I was very concerned to see that a food bank has been set up in Coleford for hungry families and other people not able to afford the rising food costs in this country. Does the Leader agree with me that this is a very sad development and let me know  what action we can take locally to support people as a Council and as individual members to highlight our concerns to government?

Councillor Maria Edey

I was very concerned to see that a food bank has been set up in Coleford for hungry families and other people not able to afford the rising food costs in this country. Does the Leader agree with me that this is a very sad development and let me know what action we can take locally to support people as a Council and as individual members to highlight our concerns to government?

Response from Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration

While it is sad that some families are in a position where they need to use the foodbank, I am pleased that it is there to support them in their time of need.  The Council can assist in many ways, especially by enabling new affordable housing and  by working with partner organisations to bring new jobs to the District, for example, as we are working hard to do through the Northern Quarter development in Cinderford.

Supplementary question

Cllr Edey asked what the Council would do about the lost jobs at Five Acres, Plump Hill and Mitcheldean.

Response from Cllr Molyneux

He replied that the Council was doing whatever it could to bring in jobs and hopefully avoid the need for foodbanks as a crisis solution.

David Rees, Independent Remuneration Panel Chairman, to present report LD. 451 relating to Councillor Allowances for 2013/14.

David Rees, chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) presented report LD.451, commenting that the panel had the simple task each year of reviewing member allowances to ensure that people were happy to stand for election. In the light of the economic climate and the two replies received from councillors when invited to give their views, the IRP had recommended that allowances remained at the previous year's levels.

He explained that the IRP had been asked to consider whether councillors that attended meetings to gather information, rather than as committee members should receive the HMRC recommended mileage rate of 45 pence. The matter involved the conflicting objectives of wishing councillors to attend meetings while making savings. The IRP had arrived at a recommended reduced rate of 22 pence per mile based on an assumed £1.40 per litre of fuel and average consumption of 30 miles per gallon. This would not leave councillors out of pocket.

Cllr Thomson proposed and Cllr Lawton seconded an amendment to remove the proposed change to mileage rates paid to Councillors in recommendation e) of the report.

Cllr Thomson emphasised that his amendment was not proposing an increase, but simply the maintenance of the status quo. Allowances had been frozen for the previous two years and had been reduced in real terms when the IT allowance was included in the main allowance.  He explained that the Member Development Group, of which he was chairman, wanted to encourage councillors to inform themselves as fully as possible. Under the current chairing of committee meetings any councillor attending a meeting was able to contribute fully taking back information to their residents. The proposed reduction in mileage allowance might prove a hindrance in this and would not encourage participation. He thanked David Rees for an otherwise good, clear report.

Cllr Whitburn agreed, adding that few councillors attended meetings as it was to become better informed.

Cllr Molyneux thanked the IRP for its hard work and realistic recommendations regarding general allowances, which were absolutely right against a backdrop of several years of no staff pay increases. He questioned the basis behind the recommended 22 pence per mile, which would leave councillors out of pocket. More importantly he said that the Council operated in an open and inclusive way where he had encouraged councillors to become fully involved.  The proposed reduction would have an adverse effect on that. That aside he congratulated the IRP on an excellent report.

Cllr Diana Edwards commented that the Governance Options Group aimed to encourage participation and that the move might be seen as a disincentive.

Cllr Connell suggested that the IRP consider following HMRC guidance in paying those councillors with passengers an extra five pence per mile. He also mentioned that the guidelines suggested that the rate be reduced to 12 pence per mile for mileage above 10,000 miles per year.

Cllr Martin remarked that the Council paid no allowances to its champions, who attended many meetings in that role, so viewed the proposed reduction as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Planning Policy, to present the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy 2013/2014, as detailed in report F.201.

Cllr Robinson presented report F.201, which the Audit Committee and the Cabinet had already considered. He explained that this was a technical report covering how the Council managed the funds entrusted to it. Since the Council had no borrowing, the prudential indicators only affected interest (agenda page 59). The changes to the strategy concerned strengthening the Council's ability to invest safely by broadening investment options. This avoided the danger of 'putting your eggs in one basket'. He asked councillors to note that in recommendation f) paragraph 5.3 should read 2.10. There had been a problem with the automatic numbering in the report.

Cllr Robinson proposed and Cllr Diana Edwards seconded the motion.

RESOLVED - to adopt the key elements of these reports:

a)     The Treasury Management Strategy for 2013/2014 at section 1 of Annex A.

b)     The prudential and treasury indicators and limits for 2013/2014 to 2015/2016 contained in sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 2.7 and 4.4 of Annex A.

c)      The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) statement at section 2.3 of Annex A.

d)      The Authorised Limit prudential indicator contained at section 3.2 of Annex A.

e)      The Investment Management Strategy for 2013/2014 contained in section 4.4 of Annex A.

f)         The detailed criteria included in section 2.10 of Annex A.

Voting was as follows.

For (40) – Norman Stephens, Roger Yeates, Jim Connell, Gethyn Davies, Brian Jones, Brian Edwards, James Bevan, Judy Davis, Frankie Evans, Carole Allaway Martin, Marrilyn Smart OBE, Len Lawton, Gabriella Kirkpatrick, Arthur Thomas, Julia Gooch, Maria Edey, Dave East, Ian Whitburn, Clive Elsmore, Andrew Gardiner, Graham Morgan, Max Coborn, Frank Baynham, Bill Osborne, Paul McMahon, Tim Gwilliam, David Thomson, Bruce Hogan, Val Hobman, Lynn Sterry, Di Martin, Jackie Fraser, Roger Sterry, Terry Glastonbury, Terry Hale, Diana Edwards, Martin Quaile, Patrick Molyneux, Brian Robinson, Jane Horne.

Against (0)

Abstain (0)

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Planning Policy, to present the Council’s final budget proposals for 2013/14 and medium term financial plan for the period to 2017 as detailed in report F.199.

Cllr Robinson presented report F.199 giving notice of a slight change to Annex A, agenda page 87, as at the blue paper tabled, which would change the overall balance and reserve. The Cabinet had considered car park charging and was proposing a reduction to £180 per year for season tickets, equating to 60 pence per day and 20 pence for not just the first but also all subsequent hours. The costs assumed a loss in income and did not reflect any possible increase in the usage of the car parks resulting from the measure. The move was designed to address the concerns of regular daily users and the current anomaly regarding the charge for the second hour. The measure was affordable in the budget due to savings made and represented adjustments that ensured fairness to users.

The budget overall continued the strategy begun several years ago, which had successfully introduced changes that had led to a fairly healthy financial situation for the Council. He asked councillors to note the changes in the way local authorities were funded. For the Council the central government support grant would reduce from around £3.4 million to £1.6 million over the next four years. The Council would become more reliant on business rates income and New Homes Bonus. This step change would put the Council more in control of activities to generate income and decisions over growth and development. He explained that the New Homes Bonus would be payable each year for the next six years, giving enough scope to drive decisions for the community. The Council was still committed to future savings identified in the medium term financial plan at annex B, although some timescales had changed slightly. It was also committed to providing good quality leisure services that would generate income by allocating £850,000 for sports centre refurbishment.

Cllr Robinson proposed and Cllr Molyneux seconded the motion as at the agenda with the slight amendment to annex A.

Cllr Martin proposed and Cllr Lynn Sterry seconded an amendment to the motion, tabled on pink paper.

Speaking to her amendment Cllr Martin said she took no pleasure in its proposal, commenting that all members were aware of the pressures from central government and the economic situation that made budget setting difficult for the Council. Her amendment proposed the removal of car park charging and an increase in council tax of 1.95 per cent, which equated to 6 pence per week for each (Band D) household in the district for each of the next three years. Year four would have a different council and possibly a different central government, so was not included. She added that the public had sent a strong message to the Council regarding the charging regime. She conceded that her amendment would leave a higher deficit than Cllr Robinson's proposal in 2014/15, but it would be lower in 2015/16. She argued that if the Council had agreed the 9 pence per household rise the previous year, there would be no deficit.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.2

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Planning Policy, to present report F.200.

Cllr Robinson presented report F.200.

The Group Manager for Finance and Property explained the amendment to report F.200, which had been made after a very recent change to one of the parish precepts (appended to these minutes). He distributed a new annex A that reflected the changes needed as a result of the previous item's resolution (appended to these minutes).

The Solicitor to the Council added that this item required a statutory calculation as an important formality.

RESOLVED - to approve the formal council tax resolution at amended Annex A.

Voting was as follows.

For (30) Norman Stephens, Roger Yeates, Jim Connell, Gethyn Davies, Brian Jones, Brian Edwards, James Bevan, Judy Davis, Frankie Evans, Carole Allaway Martin, Marrilyn Smart OBE, Len Lawton, Gabriella Kirkpatrick, Arthur Thomas, Julia Gooch, Dave East, Ian Whitburn, Clive Elsmore, Graham Morgan, Bill Evans, Don Pugh, Val Hobman, Roger Sterry, Terry Glastonbury, Terry Hale, Diana Edwards, Martin Quaile, Patrick Molyneux, Brian Robinson, Jane Horne

Against (9) Max Coborn, Frank Baynham, Bill Osborne, Paul McMahon, Tim Gwilliam, Bruce Hogan, Lynn Sterry, Di Martin, Jackie Fraser,

Abstain (2) Maria Edey, David Thomson

The Chairman announced a ten-minute break.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet member for an Efficient Council and Planning Policy to present report SD.109.  The Council to consider and adopt the Pay Policy Statement to meet the statutory obligations of Section 38 (1) of the Localism Act 2011.

Cllr Robinson presented report SD.109, explaining that it was a requirement to adopt a policy annually. The policy was essentially the same as in previous years apart from minor changes resulting from Single Status.

The Head of Paid Service clarified that the majority of the changes appeared on agenda page 134, but that there were no changes to the pay levels or ratios. All information regarding senior salaries remained open and on the Council's website.

Cllr Robinson proposed and Cllr Molyneux seconded the motion.

RESOLVED - To adopt the Pay Policy Statement as at annex A of report SD.109.

Voting was as follows.

For (40) – Norman Stephens, Roger Yeates, Gethyn Davies, Brian Jones, Brian Edwards, James Bevan, Judy Davis, Frankie Evans, Carole Allaway Martin, Marrilyn Smart OBE, Len Lawton, Gabriella Kirkpatrick, Arthur Thomas, Julia Gooch, Maria Edey, Dave East, Ian Whitburn, Clive Elsmore, Andrew Gardiner, Graham Morgan, Max Coborn, Frank Baynham, Paul McMahon, Tim Gwilliam, David Thomson, Bill Evans Bruce Hogan, Don Pugh, Val Hobman, Lynn Sterry, Di Martin, Jackie Fraser, Roger Sterry, Terry Glastonbury, Terry Hale, Diana Edwards, Martin Quaile, Patrick Molyneux, Brian Robinson, Jane Horne.

Against (0)

Abstain (0)

Cllr Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Planning Policy, to present report F.202.

Cllr Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Planning Policy, presented report F.202, explaining that the Audit Committee and the Cabinet had considered the report. He elaborated that the Council had been an early member of SWAP, which provided cost efficient high quality internal audit services. SWAP staff worked in the Council building and SWAP brought in experts as needed. The success of the partnership had led to it outgrowing the current arrangements and it could operate more effectively as a company.

Cllr Hogan, as a member of the Audit Committee, agreed that SWAP provided a good internal audit service, which was more robust than previous arrangements. He asked why the chairman of the Audit Committee were not presenting the report rather than a member of the Cabinet, given that it concerned an independent scrutiny function.

The Solicitor to the Council replied that Cllr Hogan was right and that there had been a report template issue.

Cllr Robinson proposed and Cllr Molyneux seconded the motion.

RESOLVED - to

a)     approve the formation of a company limited by guarantee, to replace the existing SWAP Joint Committee;

b)     elect to be a member council of South West Audit Partnership Limited (SWAP Limited) from 1^st April, 2013, on the terms and basis set out in the articles of association, deed and service agreement;

c)      agree to the dissolving of the SWAP Joint Committee at a date to be determined, but not later than 30^th June, 2013;

d)     note the separation of responsibilities and the membership profiles of the Members’ Board and the Board of Directors;

e)     note that the fees for the provision of internal audit services by SWAP Limited, for the financial year 2013/2014, will not increase on the fees paid to SWAP by the council for 2012/2013; and

f)        appoint the chairman of the Audit Committee to the Members’ Board and the Section 151 Officer to the Board of Directors.

Voting was as follows.

For (41) – Norman Stephens, Roger Yeates, Jim Connell, Gethyn Davies, Brian Jones, Brian Edwards, James Bevan, Judy Davis, Frankie Evans, Carole Allaway Martin, Marrilyn Smart OBE, Len Lawton, Gabriella Kirkpatrick, Arthur Thomas, Julia Gooch, Maria Edey, Dave East, Ian Whitburn, Philip Burford, Clive Elsmore, Andrew Gardiner, Max Coborn, Frank Baynham, Bill Osborne, Paul McMahon, Tim Gwilliam, David Thomson, Bill Evans Bruce Hogan, Don Pugh, Val Hobman, Lynn Sterry, Di Martin, Jackie Fraser, Roger Sterry, Terry Glastonbury, Terry Hale, Diana Edwards, Martin Quaile, Patrick Molyneux, Brian Robinson, Jane Horne.

Against (1) Graham Morgan

Abstain (0)

This Council demands that the Cabinet and all members treat the voting system with respect and that they treat a democratic vote of the Full Council as being the will of the Council. Furthermore that a vote is won when the motion has a majority, even if the casting vote of the Chairman has been used and that this vote is as valid as one with a large majority as per the Constitution of this Council.

This Council demands that the Cabinet and all members treat the voting system with respect and that they treat a democratic vote of the Full Council as being the will of the Council. Furthermore that a vote is won when the motion has a majority, even if the casting vote of the Chairman has been used and that this vote is as valid as one with a large majority as per the Constitution of this Council.

Speaking to his motion Cllr Whitburn said that it concerned democracy and that a vote won an argument. The size of the majority did not matter and members should respect all votes.

Cllr Molyneux agreed that democracy was about majority and hoped that all councillors would respect the 25 to 18 budget vote taken earlier in the meeting. He reminded members that Full Council had also agreed a budget in 2012 that included car park charging, yet since then members had brought motions that did not respect that vote. He suggested that the Council move on and accept that the budget had been democratically agreed for the next financial year. There would be many important issues requiring serious priority setting to address and more difficult decisions to take over the next few years. He agreed with the motion in general terms.

The Chairman reminded members that this concerned a fundamental point and was not about a specific issue.

Cllr McMahon commented that it was not democracy if the Cabinet ignored Full Council decisions.

Cllr Robinson clarified that the matter seemed to originate from an instance of the Cabinet not following through a motion passed by Full Council. He explained that the Cabinet had taken all aspects into consideration and come to a broader view, as was its role. He said that he would support the motion.

Cllr Gardiner said that democracy had been hard fought for and paid for in blood. He believed that the Cabinet had a constitutional duty to carry out the will of Full Council.

Cllr Pugh believed that Full Council motions stood on their own and members might seek to amend previous Council decisions. 

Cllr Lawton apologised for using the words  'squeezed through' in a comment about the motion in question at a recent Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting. He had always been a strong supporter of democracy and as such supported the motion. He pointed out that certain decisions were for the Cabinet to make and others for full Council under current governance arrangements. The motion in question was an example of a recommendation to the Cabinet.

Cllr Baynham said that no price was too high for democracy and that he would honour the budget decision. He wondered how many members would forget that they had supported this motion if the price became too high.

Cllr Coborn suggested that the Cabinet system was at the root of the problem.

The Chairman suggested that Cllr Coborn might wish to attend the next Governance Options Group meeting, which was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.1

This Council deplores the decision by the Cabinet to ignore the democratic Full Council decision made on 17 December 2012, which clearly expressed a desire to remove car parking charges from Mitcheldean with immediate effect.

This Council deplores the decision by the Cabinet to ignore the democratic Full Council decision made on 17 December 2012, which clearly expressed a desire to remove car parking charges from Mitcheldean with immediate effect.

Speaking to his motion Cllr McMahon said that he had been delighted by the previous vote, which suggested that the Full Council decision made on 17 December 2012 should be implemented.

Cllr Molyneux stated that he would not support this motion. He reminded members that the Cabinet system had been put in place by the previous Council and was a well recognised and used system. It was currently part of the discussion by the Governance Options Group, which was looking at the best arrangements for the future. He confirmed that the Cabinet had looked at the car park charging issue in the round, including information from Newent and Redbrook, hence the slight changes to the budget agreed earlier in the meeting. The Cabinet had decided to adhere to the earlier Full Council resolution to have a review of the parking charging regime in July 2013 across the whole district.

Cllr Robinson clarified that the Cabinet had looked at the issue several weeks after the 17 December 2012 resolution and had thought it unfair to make a special case for Mitcheldean with the cost borne by the other towns. The July review would allow an informed decision to be taken that was fair for all. He disagreed with the assertion that car park charging was the same as education and medical provision in terms of everyone paying, regardless of usage, as parking was a matter of choice.

Cllr Morgan questioned whether certain Cabinet members were listening to the views of the electorate.

Cllr Bill Evans believed that motions regarding the abolition of charging would continue, because the regime was riddled with anomalies, including the relative size of settlements where charges were currently made.

Cllr Hogan maintained that the Conservative group's voting on the previous motion made no logical sense with the arguments used by Cabinet members on this motion. He said that the Council's current constitution allowed the Cabinet to ignore the will of Full Council as often as it wished. He believed that the Cabinet might win the vote on this occasion, but if it continued to ignore other members it would not retain their confidence.

Cllr Whitburn commented that this motion was also about democracy and the will of scrutiny and Full Council. He added that Mitcheldean residents had started a new petition regarding charging.

Cllr Lawton reminded councillors that 25 members had voted through the budget, not just five Cabinet members. He added that the Cabinet was making decisions affecting the whole district having taken into consideration recommendations.

Cllr Martin said that she was happy to support the motion and hoped that a clear message got out to the public.

RESOLVED - that this Council deplores the decision by the Cabinet to ignore the democratic Full Council decision made on 17 December 2012,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.2

The Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee to report on recent activities, followed by questions from members. Depending on time the Chairman will rule and only take one question per member relating to reports.

a)     Cabinet – Councillor Patrick Molyneux

b)     Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Councillor Philip Burford

There were no questions regarding the reports.