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Council - Monday, 9th December, 2024 2.00 p.m.

December 9, 2024 View on council website
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Summary

Stratford-on-Avon District Council scheduled a meeting of its full Council for 2.00pm on Monday 9 December 2024. The reports pack for the meeting lists a number of topics that were scheduled for discussion during the meeting. It also includes minutes from the previous meeting of the full Council that was held on 14 October 2024.

Substitute membership of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

A report from the Audit and Standards Committee recommending that the Council’s constitution be amended to allow substitute members to attend meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was included in the meeting pack.

The report suggested that substitute members should be permitted to attend meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee provided they had undertaken the appropriate training. It also requested that the wording in the constitution relating to training for substitute members be amended to clarify which training courses were mandatory.

Motions on Notice

The meeting pack included four motions that were submitted in advance by Councillors.

Protecting Our Most Vulnerable Pensioners From Being Cold This Winter

The first motion, submitted by Councillor Whalley-Hoggins, expressed concern about the impact of the national Labour government’s proposal to restrict Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners who receive Pension Credit.

It claimed that the policy would disproportionately affect residents of Stratford-upon-Avon District, particularly those living in rural areas who are more likely to be reliant on off-grid heating. It also claimed that Age UK and The Countryside Alliance had both criticised the policy for potentially increasing social injustice and health risks, particularly among vulnerable people who might be eligible for Pension Credit but don’t claim it.

The motion proposed that the Council take a number of actions, including:

  • Launching an awareness campaign to encourage people to claim Pension Credit.
  • Asking the council leader to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging her to review the policy.
  • Signing the ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition by Age UK.
  • Writing to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ask for funding for a campaign to increase awareness of Pension Credit and other benefits.
  • Encouraging local efforts to promote the uptake of Pension Credit.

Family Farms and Farmers

The second motion was also submitted by Councillor Whalley-Hoggins. This motion expressed concern about the impact on family farms of changes to Inheritance Tax relief announced in the 2024 Autumn budget. The motion claimed that these changes represented a broken promise by the Labour government not to introduce a ‘Family Farm Tax’.

The motion argued that the policy would damage the ability of farmers to pass their farms on to their children and would damage food security by forcing families to sell their farms. It also criticised the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, for suggesting that farmers should ‘do more with less’.

The motion proposed that the Council should:

  • Ask the council leader to write to the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs expressing its dismay at the decision and calling on the government to abandon the policy.
  • Ask the Cabinet and Management Team to engage with local farmers to offer support.

Bus Fare Cap

The third motion was submitted by Councillor Petrovic. The motion expressed concern about the impact of the government's decision to raise the cap on bus fares from £2 to £3 in 2025. It claimed that the 50% rise would affect the poorest in society the most.

The motion proposed that:

  • Stratford-on-Avon District Council should write to government ministers calling for the £2 cap to be restored.
  • Warwickshire County Council should work with Stratford-on-Avon District Council to apply to the government’s Bus Fund.

Support for Reinstating the Stratford Southbound Rail Link

The fourth motion was submitted by Councillor Parker. This motion proposed that the Council should formally support the reinstatement of the Stratford Southbound Rail Link.

The motion claimed that reinstatement of the line would:

  • Reduce traffic congestion in Stratford-upon-Avon.
  • Provide a sustainable alternative to car travel.
  • Unlock housing and commercial development, in particular at Long Marston and Meon Vale.

The motion proposed that the Council should:

The motion proposed that it should be referred to the Cabinet for their consideration.

Calendar of Meetings

A report was included in the meeting pack from the Audit and Standards Committee recommending that the Council adopt its draft calendars of meetings for 2025/26 and 2026/27.

The report noted an update to both calendars, which proposed moving meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from Friday to Wednesday. The report explained that this would allow more time for the Committee to produce written feedback for the Cabinet.

Urgent Business – Outside Bodies Appointments

A report was included in the meeting pack from the Audit and Standards Committee recommending that Councillors Adam and Keighley be appointed as the Council’s Parish Champions. The report explained that the Council’s previous Parish Champion, Councillor Perteghella, had been elected as Member of Parliament for Stratford-upon-Avon in the General Election held in July 2024 and no longer had the capacity to fulfil the role. The report therefore proposed that the position be split between the two new appointees.

Adoption of the Infrastructure Funding Statement 2023/24

The meeting pack contained a report from the Cabinet recommending that the Council adopt its Infrastructure Funding Statement for 2023/24.

The Infrastructure Funding Statement is a document that local authorities are required to publish each year. It sets out:

  • How much money the Council has received from developers to spend on infrastructure. These funds are known as the Community Infrastructure Levy.
  • How the money has been spent or is due to be spent.

The Community Infrastructure Levy is a charge that local authorities can choose to impose on developers undertaking new building projects in their area. It is intended to ensure that developers contribute to the costs of infrastructure that is needed to support new development.

Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles for the period January 2025 to January 2028

The report pack included a report from the Regulatory Committee recommending that the Council adopt its Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles for the period January 2025 to January 2028.

The Gambling Act 2005 requires local authorities to publish a statement setting out how they will promote the following objectives when exercising their functions under the Act:

  • Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime.
  • Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way.
  • Protecting children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Attendees

Richard Burrell
David Buckland
Marcia Eccleston
John Careford
Julie Lewis
Tony Perks
Annette Homer
Profile image for Councillor Ian Fradgley
Councillor Ian Fradgley  Liberal Democrats •  Stratford Orchard Hill
Profile image for Councillor Lorraine Grocott
Councillor Lorraine Grocott  Environmental and Neighbourhood Services Portfolio Holder •  Liberal Democrats •  Stratford Avenue
Profile image for Councillor Sarah Whalley-Hoggins
Councillor Sarah Whalley-Hoggins  Reform UK •  Brailes and Compton
Profile image for Councillor Susan Ostrander
Councillor Susan Ostrander  Liberal Democrats •  Harbury
Profile image for Councillor Alan Scorer
Councillor Alan Scorer  Conservative •  Gaydon, Kineton and Upper Lighthorne
Profile image for Councillor Gillian Padgham
Councillor Gillian Padgham  Liberal Democrats •  Southam South
Profile image for Councillor Roger Harding
Councillor Roger Harding  Liberal Democrats •  Stratford Welcombe
Profile image for Councillor Daren Pemberton
Councillor Daren Pemberton  Conservative •  Bidford East
Profile image for Councillor Jennifer Fradgley
Councillor Jennifer Fradgley  Liberal Democrats •  Stratford Guildhall and Bridgetown
Profile image for Councillor David Curtis
Councillor David Curtis  Resources Portfolio Holder •  Liberal Democrats •  Stratford Shottery
Profile image for Councillor Mike Rice
Councillor Mike Rice  Vice-Chair of the Council •  Liberal Democrats •  Henley-in-Arden
Profile image for Councillor Bill Fleming
Councillor Bill Fleming  Conservative •  Bidford West
Profile image for Councillor Lauren Stanley
Councillor Lauren Stanley  Conservative •  Salford Priors and Alcester Rural
Profile image for Councillor Nigel Rock
Councillor Nigel Rock  Liberal Democrats •  Bishops Itchington, Fenny Compton and Napton
Profile image for Councillor Kate Rolfe
Councillor Kate Rolfe  Chair of the Council •  Liberal Democrats •  Stratford Tiddington
Profile image for Councillor Olivia Hatch
Councillor Olivia Hatch  Green Party •  Shipston North
Profile image for Councillor Stuart Keighley
Councillor Stuart Keighley  Liberal Democrats •  Long Marston
Profile image for Councillor Peter Hencher-Serafin
Councillor Peter Hencher-Serafin  Liberal Democrats •  Studley North
Profile image for Councillor Duncan Parker
Councillor Duncan Parker  Green Party •  Claverdon and Snitterfield
Profile image for Councillor George Cowcher
Councillor George Cowcher  Deputy Leader •  Liberal Democrats •  Wellesbourne South
Profile image for Councillor Christopher Mills
Councillor Christopher Mills  Conservative •  Gaydon, Kineton and Upper Lighthorne
Profile image for Councillor Ian Shenton
Councillor Ian Shenton  Conservative •  Wootton Wawen
Profile image for Councillor Dominic Skinner
Councillor Dominic Skinner  Liberal Democrats •  Quinton
Profile image for Councillor Natalie Gist
Councillor Natalie Gist  Law and Governance Portfolio Holder •  Liberal Democrats •  Bishops Itchington, Fenny Compton and Napton
Profile image for Councillor Andrew Crump
Councillor Andrew Crump  Conservative •  Southam East, Central and Stockton
Profile image for Councillor Louis Adam
Councillor Louis Adam  Projects and Communications Portfolio Holder •  Liberal Democrats •  Southam North and Long Itchington
Profile image for Councillor Trevor Harvey
Councillor Trevor Harvey  Independent •  Tredington
Profile image for Councillor Victoria Alcock
Councillor Victoria Alcock  Liberal Democrats •  Stratford Bishopton
Profile image for Councillor Liz Coles
Councillor Liz Coles  Housing and Customer Services Portfolio Holder •  Liberal Democrats •  Stratford Hathaway
Profile image for Councillor Malcolm Littlewood
Councillor Malcolm Littlewood  Conservative •  Tysoe
Profile image for Councillor Letty Petrovic
Councillor Letty Petrovic  Liberal Democrats •  Stratford Clopton
Profile image for Councillor David Johnston
Councillor David Johnston  Liberal Democrats •  Wellesbourne East and Rural
Profile image for Councillor Lynda Organ
Councillor Lynda Organ  Conservative •  Tanworth-in-Arden
Profile image for Councillor Neil Edden
Councillor Neil Edden  Liberal Democrats •  Studley South
Profile image for Councillor Tony Bromwich
Councillor Tony Bromwich  Independent •  Southam West
Profile image for Councillor Anne Parry
Councillor Anne Parry  Conservative •  Wellesbourne North and Rural
Profile image for Councillor Susan Juned
Councillor Susan Juned  Leader of the Council •  Liberal Democrats •  Alcester East
Profile image for Councillor Thom Holmes
Councillor Thom Holmes  Liberal Democrats •  Kinwarton
Profile image for Councillor Dave Passingham
Councillor Dave Passingham  Green Party •  Shipston South

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

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