Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No declarations of interests were declared.

Approved.

Resolved (unanimously) that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 February 2025 be approved as a correct record for signing by the Mayor.

Following her recent resignation, the Mayor thanked former Councillor Zara Khan for her service to the borough and wished her well for the future. Councillor Chris Snow and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Alistair Bradley also paid tribute. The Mayor then invited former Councillor Zara Khan to speak, with her reflecting on her time as a councillor and thanking her constituents, colleagues and council staff for their support.

The Mayor updated members on several mayoral events since the last meeting, including an Irish themed Charity Ball and a Ladies Sparkling Afternoon Tea hosted by the Mayoress.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask question(s) on any item(s) on the agenda will have three minutes to put their question(s) to the relevant Councillor. Members of the public will be allowed to ask one short supplementary question.

To view the procedure for public questions/ speaking click here and scroll to page 119

There were no public questions for consideration.

To consider a general report of the Executive Cabinet held on 13 February and 20 March. 

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the Executive Cabinet meetings held on 13 February and 20 March 2025.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Executive Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded the report, and it was resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 30 January and 13 February, the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 27 March and Task Group update.

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 13 March and the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 27 March 2025.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Debra Platt proposed and the Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Roy Lees seconded the report, and it was resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the Governance Committee held on 19 March. 

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the Governance Committee meeting held on 19 March 2025.

The Chair of the Governance Committee, Councillor Alan Platt proposed and the Vice Chair of the Governance Committee, Councillor Mark Clifford seconded the report, and it was resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Governance.

To appoint Simon Clark as a member of the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of three years.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the report of the Director of Governance which sought approval to appoint Simon Clark to the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of three years.

Following the resignation of a member of the panel, expressions of interest in the vacant role were sought and the council’s former Head of Health, Environment and Neighbourhoods, Simon Clark, subsequently applied for the position.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Executive Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded the report’s recommendation, and it was resolved (unanimously):

To appoint Simon Clark as a member of the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of three years.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Property and Planning.

To approve the Public Electric Vehicle Charging Policy.

The Executive Member (Customer, Streetscene and Environment), Councillor Adrian Lowe presented the report of the Director of Planning and Property which sought approval for the adoption of a new Public Electric Vehicle Charging Policy.

The proposed policy, as appended to the report, sets out how the council manage public electric vehicle charge points to ensure fair access, provides clarity on the users’ responsibilities and establishes a charge to cover operational costs.

A typographical error was noted at paragraph 17 of the report with the draft policy being considered by the Climate Change Working Group in February 2025, rather than 2024.

In response to a query on the rationale for setting the charge at 55p per kWH raised by Councillor Alan Platt, members were advised that the 55p per kWH charge was the regional average charge and would cover operational costs to the council, however, the charge level would be reviewed regularly with scope to amend as appropriate.

The Executive Member (Customer, Streetscene and Environment), Councillor Adrian Lowe proposed and Councillor Mark Clifford seconded the report’s recommendation, and it was resolved (unanimously):

To approve the Public Electric Vehicle Charging Policy.

No questions were asked.

No Notices of Motion were received.