Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and explained that the Council, together with all the other local authorities in Gloucestershire, was a key partner in the development of the Gloucestershire Strategic Economic Plan which would support a bid for Growth Plan funding to the Government in March 2014. He added that whilst Cabinet held the formal decision making powers to authorise the process it was felt that Council should have an opportunity to comment on it. He emphasised that there was a very tight schedule for approving the process.

The Leader stated that there was a mechanism for signing off the plan and he was keen to obtain the support of all local councillors. Members were invited to feedback directly to the Leader or via Group Leaders. In terms of governance, a local joint committee, comprising members of the local authorities, would oversee the input to the process. This was business led but local authorities had a role in coordinating funding. The Leader would attend the meetings of the Joint Committee. He explained that the committee had a process of majority voting but if there was an issue specific to a particular district, the countywide approach was that this could not be voted in against the will of the authority in that area. He also added that the committee could not stop the things an authority was already doing in an area, for example Cheltenham already provided a local business advice service.

The Leader also informed that the County intended to establish a scrutiny body, similar to the County Council’s Health and Care Overview Scrutiny Committee, comprising 6 members from the County Council and 6 representatives from the district councils. The Leader stated that the person going to the Joint Committee meeting would announce the decision to be taken in advance and this decision could be called in locally.

Members discussed the issue and the following points of clarification were raised :

• The figure of 3200 homes referred to in the document related to the potential development capacity at junction 10. This number had not been incorporated into the JCS
• Barn Farm which ran alongside junction 10 was in the ownership of CBC.
• Resolution 4 referred to authorities not requiring a vote by Council
• Executive functions were delegated to the Leader and he was able to delegate them to Cabinet and anyone else
• A request for a budgetary contribution was expected at some point as a post would be created to coordinate the process but had yet to be allocated. In any case CBC would contribute one-seventh of the cost. Longer term there would be discussions on how to fund the proposed infrastructure whether this be by the use of the New Homes Bonus, pooled business rates or the community infrastructure levy
• In response to a question on timings the Leader commented that they were working to a very tight schedule and Government was “making it up as they went along”.
• It was clarified that under paragraph  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8

Report of the Leader

RESOLVED THAT

1.                  it be noted that the Leader of the Council, intends to consult with the Cabinet members for Built Environment and Finance and Group Leaders, to sign off the Gloucestershire Strategic Economic Plan, subject to:

a)      its proposals remaining within the Council’s policy framework; and

b)     no resource support being required which is in excess of

existing approved budgets.

2.                  the establishment of the Gloucestershire Economic Growth JointCommittee (GEGJC) in accordance with Sections101and 102 of the Local Government Act 1972, and the LocalAuthorities (Arrangement for the Discharge ofFunctions)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2001 made under Section 20 of the Local Government Act 2000 be agreed.

3.                  authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to finalise and complete the Inter Authority Agreement (including the Constitution) and other documentation on terms to be approved by the Borough Solicitor and to take all necessary steps to createthe GEGJC;

4.                  it be agreed that the above recommendations will not be effective until equivalent resolutions have been passed by all the Gloucestershire Councils;

Upon the establishment of the GEGJC:

5.                  the delegation to the GEGJC of this Council’sfunctions as described in detail in paragraph 1.3  of this Supplemental report be authorized but subject to the protocols as set out in paragraph 2  of this Supplemental report;

6.                  it be agreed that the Leader be the Authority’s representative on the GEGJC and that he appoints a substitute.

THAT COUNCIL is recommended:

7.                  To note and consider the proposal to establish the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and explained that the Council, together with all the other local authorities in Gloucestershire, was a key partner in the development of the Gloucestershire Strategic Economic Plan. This would be submitted to Government by the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership by 31st March and will support a bid for Growth Deal funding.

The Leader stated that there was a mechanism for signing off the plan and he was keen to obtain the support of all local councillors. In parallel and in terms of governance, a local joint committee, comprising members of the local authorities, would oversee the input to the process. The Leader explained that the committee had a process of majority voting but if there was an issue specific to a particular district the countywide approach was that this could not be voted in against the will of the authority in that area.

The Leader also informed that the County intended to establish a scrutiny body, similar to the county Health and Care Overview Scrutiny Committee comprising a representative of each district council and probably 6 members (one from each district area) from the County Council.

This report would be submitted to Council for debate although it was Cabinet who held the formal decision making powers to authorise the process.

RESOLVED THAT

1.                  it be noted that the Leader of the Council, intends to consult with the Cabinet members for Built Environment and Finance and Group Leaders, to sign off the Gloucestershire Strategic Economic Plan, subject to:

a)      its proposals remaining within the Council’s policy framework; and

b)     no resource support being required which is in excess of

existing approved budgets.

2.                  the establishment of the Gloucestershire Economic Growth JointCommittee (GEGJC) in accordance with ss 101 (5), 102 Local Government Act 1972, and under Part 1A Chapter 2 Section 9EB of the LocalGovernment Act 2000 and pursuant to the Local Authorities (Arrangement for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012 be agreed.

3.                  authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to finalise and complete the Inter Authority Agreement (including the Constitution) and other documentation on terms to be approved by the Borough Solicitor and to take all necessary steps to createthe GEGJC;

4.                  it be agreed that the above recommendations will not be effective until equivalent resolutions have been passed by all the Gloucestershire Councils;

Upon the establishment of the GEGJC:

5.                  the delegation to the GEGJC of this Council’sfunctions as described in detail in paragraph 1.3  of this Supplemental report be authorized but subject to the protocols as set out in paragraph 2  of this Supplemental report;

6.                  it be agreed that the Leader be the Authority’s representative on the GEGJC and that he appoints a substitute.

THAT COUNCIL is recommended:

1.                  To note and consider the proposal to establish the Gloucestershire Economic Growth Joint Committee.