The Minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting and of the Council meeting, both held on 15 December 2008 were approved as correct records and signed by the Mayor.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barry Russell and David Theobald.  Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Margaret Ali and Helen Senior.

a)         New Year Honours

The Mayor reported that the following residents had received an Honour in the Queen’s New Year Honours List: 

Mrs Linda Lennon, Area Director, Her Majesty’s Courts Service in the Ministry of Justice, had received a CBE,

Mrs Susan Whitham, Head of Secretariat in the Sixth Form Colleges Forum had received an MBE for services to further education and

Mr David Weir, who at the last meeting was awarded the Freedom of the Borough, had received an MBE for services to Disabled Sport.

Police Sergeant Gerard McIlmurray, who used to be a member of the Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, had received an MBE for services during the July 2005 London bombings.   

The Mayor had written to all these recipients congratulating them on behalf of the Council.

b)        Child Poverty Champion

The Mayor reported that Councillor Ruth Dombey had become the member champion for tackling Child Poverty.

c)         GCSE Results

The Mayor reported that for the second year in a row, Sutton had topped the league tables for GCSE results for secondary schools in England.  These tables ranked Sutton first out of the 148 mainland local authorities, with 67.2% of students achieving at least five GCSEs at grades A*-C - including English and maths, a 3% rise on 2007.  This year’s GCSE results had maintained the very high standards achieved by Sutton’s schools in previous years with an overall pass rate of 99.5%, up from 98.6% in 2007 and an improvement on the national average of 98.4%.  On behalf of the Council, the Mayor congratulated everyone who had helped the young people achieve these very creditable results.

d)        Smarter Travel Sutton – Second Annual Report

The Mayor also commented that the second annual report of the Smarter Travel Sutton pilot showed some interesting statistics

·         the number of people using bicycles in Sutton has increased by 50%.  :

·         the number of people travelling by bus in Sutton increased by over 7%

·         every school in Sutton now had an approved travel plan – the first London borough to achieve this feat two years ahead of government targets – and fewer parents were driving their children to school

·         a big increase in cycle parking and security marking kits handed out by police saw bike theft fall by 17%

I am sure that the Council would wish to join with me in thanking the staff at Smarter Travel Sutton in achieving these aims.”

e)         Severe Weather Conditions

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, thanked staff for all their efforts during the recent severe weather conditions.  Over 30 centimetres of snow had fallen in the borough and many staff made heroic efforts to ensure that essential services were maintained, especially for the Council’s vulnerable residents. 

a)         Asked by Members of the Public

b)        Asked by Councillors

a)         Questions from Members of the Public

Five questions and supplementary questions were asked by four members of the public, as set out in Appendix A to these Minutes.

b)        Questions from Councillors

Four questions and supplementary questions were asked and replies given as set out in Appendix B to these Minutes.

In accordance with notice given, Councillor Sean Brennan will move

“This Council condemns the decision by the government to build a third runway at Heathrow and also notes that Heathrow Airport is already in breach of the European Air Quality Directive to be implemented by 2010

This Council believes

·                    that a third runway will have a significant negative impact on the quality of life for residents of South West London

·                    that the plans will also have a damaging effect on our local environment with increased air and noise pollution

·                    that without investment in local rail links, roads around Heathrow will become gridlocked and buses and tubes overloaded.

This Council

(i) calls on the Government to instigate an independent study to compare the impact of airport growth with investment in a UK-wide high speed rail network does not work for London and does nothing for the rest of the country

(ii) resolves to continue to work with the 2M Group, an all party alliance of local authorities representing five million people, in its campaign to oppose the Government’s plans.

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22 the Motion will be dealt with at this Council meeting.

Councillor Sean Brennan moved and Councillor John Leach seconded the following Motion:

“This Council condemns the decision by the government to build a third runway at Heathrow and also notes that Heathrow Airport is already in breach of the European Air Quality Directive to be implemented by 2010

This Council believes

·         that a third runway will have a significant negative impact on the quality of life for residents of South West London

·         that the plans will also have a damaging effect on our local environment with increased air and noise pollution

·         that without investment in local rail links, roads around Heathrow will become gridlocked and buses and tubes overloaded.

This Council

(i) calls on the Government to instigate an independent study to compare the impact of airport growth with investment in a UK-wide high speed rail network does not work for London and does nothing for the rest of the country

(ii) resolves to continue to work with the 2M Group, an all party alliance of local authorities representing five million people, in its campaign to oppose the Government’s plans.

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22 the Motion was deferred for debate later in the meeting.

In accordance with notice given, Councillor Sean Brennan will move

            “This Council notes

·                     that the rent from Sutton Council tenants goes straight to the Government and in 2009/10 only two thirds will be returned to the Borough for housing repairs and improvements under our Housing Revenue Account negative subsidy;

·                    that in the London Borough of Sutton council tenants pay the highest negative subsidy in the country, totalling over £10 million a year or £1,473 for each council owned home in the borough;

·                    that over the last fives years Sutton’s tenants have paid approximately £30 million to the Government in subsidy

·                    that current estimates put the profit that the Government will keep from rents in 2008-09 at nearly £200 million;

·                    that the Government has promised to carry out a review of the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy but has not yet completed it.

This Council believes

·                    that some of Sutton’s least well off residents are being forced to subsidise other boroughs across the Country

·                    that the system unfairly disadvantages the children of minority and vulnerable groups and actively works against the Government’s child poverty agenda;

·                    that the current system is unfair and unsustainable.

This Council therefore calls on the Government to urgently reform the system to allow tenants to benefit fully from the rent they pay.”

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22 the Motion will be dealt with at this Council meeting.

In accordance with Notice given, Councillor Sean Brennan moved and Councillor Colin Stears seconded the following Motion:

“This Council notes

·         that the rent from Sutton Council tenants goes straight to the Government and in 2009/10 only two thirds will be returned to the Borough for housing repairs and improvements under our Housing Revenue Account negative subsidy;

·         that in the London Borough of Sutton council tenants pay the highest negative subsidy in the country, totalling over £10 million a year or £1,473 for each council owned home in the borough;

·         that over the last fives years Sutton’s tenants have paid approximately £30 million to the Government in subsidy

·         that current estimates put the profit that the Government will keep from rents in 2008-09 at nearly £200 million;

·         that the Government has promised to carry out a review of the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy but has not yet completed it.

This Council believes

·         that some of Sutton’s least well off residents are being forced to subsidise other boroughs across the Country

·         that the system unfairly disadvantages the children of minority and vulnerable groups and actively works against the Government’s child poverty agenda;

·         that the current system is unfair and unsustainable.

This Council therefore calls on the Government to urgently reform the system to allow tenants to benefit fully from the rent they pay.”

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22, the Motion was referred for debate later in the meeting.

7.46pm

To receive and consider the following recommendations of Committees

Further to Minute 1076/08, Members considered Tribal Consulting’s report on the merits of refurbishing the Elizabeth House sheltered housing scheme, compared to new build.  The report confirmed that both options could be achieved.  However, it established clearly that refurbishment would not fully achieve any of the council’s 32 key requirements and met little or none on 5 factors.  In comparison, the new build option would meet all the requirements fully, with the exception of 2 factors, where most or some of the requirements would be met. 

Specifically, the consultants had concluded that a new build approach would provide housing with a significantly longer lifetime that would more effectively meet existing needs and have greater flexibility to adapt to the future needs and demands of an ageing population.  It would also provide a wider development that would function better, be more attractive, make better use of its location, be more energy efficient and sustainable and fit in better with its surrounding area.  It would also increase the supply of a much-needed type of housing. 

In comparison, refurbishment would not be able to provide fully sheltered and extra care housing to current standards and would result in a scheme that would only be suitable for a limited range of older people, excluding many of those with significant care needs.  It would also result in a net loss of units on the site.

The report also noted that there would be significant benefits for residents if a phased development was undertaken.  The retention of Elizabeth House and its communal facilities until new properties became available for letting would mean that 34 of the tenants who wished to remain on site during the works would have the option to do so.

Given this information, Members were recommended to agree to proceed with the new build option, to provide new affordable homes for older people and vulnerable adults, on a phased development basis.

Tribal had also confirmed that the site could be developed with or without the inclusion of Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Cheam Park Way and 1 Pondhill Gardens.  However, they supported the view that the inclusion of these additional properties would be beneficial to the project.

Ms Ann Culley addressed the meeting on behalf of a deputation, under the provisions of Standing Order 11.  Ms Culley posed a number of questions, as part of her presentation, to which the Executive Councillor for Adult Social Care & Housing responded.  At the discretion of the Chair, Councillor Jonathan Pritchard, a ward councillor, also addressed the meeting.

The Chair thanked Ms Culley for her presentation and the residents for attending the meeting.  He commended them on the reasonable, calm and disciplined way they had engaged with the council on this project.  Members appreciated that this was a very difficult time for many of them and hoped that they would continue their helpful dialogue during the outline planning and planning brief stages of the development.  A commitment had been given that all residents who wished to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 205a

Councillor Colin Stears moved the reception of Minute 138/09 and the following alteration which added the following words to the Committee resolutions:

“(vi) To agree a) every opportunity will be given to the residents of Elizabeth House Sheltered Housing Scheme and their neighbours in the community, to be fully involved in the consultation process regarding the ongoing development of the scheme;

b) Officers bring forward reports to The Executive at the earliest appropriate opportunity on the proposed Town Planning Brief for the site and also further reports on the tendering process including more precise and detailed financial appraisal.

c) A report be compiled by officers to cover the risks of living near to an ongoing development.”

Following a written deputation to the Mayor, in accordance with Standing Order 10, requesting the opportunity to address the Council, Mr Andy Tribble addressed the Council meeting.

Councillor Colin Stears made a statement to explain why he proposed that the decision in Minute 138/09 should be altered. 

Councillor Graham Whitham moved and Councillor Jonathan Pritchard seconded the following motion which sought to amend the Minute as indicated

Resolved: (i) To note the report from Tribal Consulting and its conclusions;

(ii) To agree, in light of the conclusions of the independent consultants, to proceed with the option of providing new affordable homes for older people and vulnerable adults at the Elizabeth House sheltered housing scheme  reaffirm the commitment to proceed with the regeneration of the site, as defined, with a full financial appraisal of the project being approved by The Executive.'

 ;

(iii) To agree to a phased development, with the demolition of Elizabeth House being delayed until new properties have been constructed,  subject to all the affected residents having the opportunity to comment on the detail of how such phasing would be implemented. Such detail to demonstrate how the impact of living next to a development site will be ameliorated for those living on and adjacent to, the site;

(iv) To agree to the inclusion of Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Cheam Park Way and No. 1 Pondhill Gardens in the development and the appropriation of Nos. 1 and 3 Cheam Park Way from the Environment & Leisure Group to the Housing Revenue Account;

(v) To delegate authority to the Strategic Director – Adult Social Services & Housing, in consultation with the Executive Member for Adult Social Care & Housing, to decide the formal commencement date of the rehousing process require the Strategic Director-Adult Social Services and Housing, in consultation with the Executive Member for Adult Care and Housing, to report to a future meeting of The Executive, proposals for the formal commencement of the re-housing process. These proposals to include details of how the commitment to enable those affected by the initial phase to return, will be accommodated with commitments for those remaining in Elizabeth House to move within the development site as work progresses.

  .

(vi) To invite a duly notified representative, (or named substitute), of the affected residents,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 205a

Further to Minutes 946/08 and 81/09, the Committee considered the proposed revenue budget and capital programme for all the Council’s services.  The report gave details of the government’s financial settlement, reported on the Greater London Council precept and the Council’s overall financial position.  It proposed a total level of revenue and capital expenditure for 2009/10 and projected forward a three-year forecast of Council spending. 

The report also recommended a Sutton increase of 2.9% in the level of Council Tax for 2009/10 for adoption by full Council on 2 March 2009. 

The Executive Councillor for Resources highlighted the changes to the savings and additional spending options that were proposed following consideration of the responses to the budget consultation by The Executive on 3 February 2009.  He also highlighted three areas where additional provision was being proposed on grounds of prudency.  These were: (i) a £500k reserve to comply with new government directives to support future changes to the delivery of social care, (ii) £400k to help smooth the budgetary provision for concessionary fares over the next two years; and (iii) a £1,500k Treasury and Capital Programme Management reserve to provide cover against any ultimate loss of the funds frozen in the Heritable Bank and also to support the capital programme in the event that the housing slump continued.

Councillor Tim Crowley, Shadow Executive Member for Finance, addressed the meeting at the discretion of the Chair.

The Chair recorded thanks to Councillor John Drage, staff across the council and the Finance team for their hard work in getting the budget to this stage under such difficult circumstances.

RECOMMENDED: That full Council:

Revenue Budget

(i) notes the Council’s latest estimates for 2008/09 and the projected outturn, as detailed in Section 4;

(ii) agrees to set up a £500k Reserve for Transforming Social Care in 2008/09 as detailed in paragraph 4.2 and a £1,500k Reserve for Treasury and Capital Programme Management as set out in paragraph 4.3;

(iii) with the exceptions referred to in paragraph 4.4, agrees that no revenue underspendings at 31 March 2009 be approved for carry forward to 2009/10;

(iv) approves the allocation of the Area Based Grant (paragraph 6.5)

(v) notes the changes to the Concessionary Fares Scheme and agrees to set up a £400k Freedom Pass Equalisation Reserve (paragraph 6.6);

(vi) agrees the arrangements for education services funded from the Dedicated Schools Grant (Section 7);

(vii) notes the government’s warning on 2009/10 Council Tax levels and their threat to use capping powers (paragraph 10.4);

(viii) approves the growth and savings proposals set out in Section 11 and Annexes REV 2 and REV 3;

(ix) authorises Strategic Directors to progress the agreed growth and savings items without the need to seek further committee approval;

(x) notes that the Council has given 12 months notice of intent to consider withdrawing from membership of the Local Government Association from 2010/11 (paragraph 11.4);

(xi) agrees a central contingency of £2.7m (Section  ...  view the full agenda text for item 205b

Councillor Sean Brennan moved the reception of Minute 139/09 and the suspension of Standing Order 14.1 to enable one member from each party group to speak for no more than 15 minutes.

            Resolved: That Standing Order 14.1 be suspended to enable one member from each party group to speak for no longer than 15 minutes.

Councillor John Drage, Lead Councillor for Resources, made a statement about the recommended levels of Council Tax 2009/10 and moved the following amendment, which was seconded by Councillor Colin Hall

            ADD:  new recommendation (xvii) as follows and renumber the remaining recommendations accordingly

(xvii)  In view of the damage inflicted on the Borough's roads by the bad weather in February, it is proposed to add an additional £250,000 in 2009/10 to the existing highways reactive maintenance budget of £750,000.  This will bring total spending on highways maintenance and resurfacing in 2009/10 to £1.6mn and will increase the amount of essential highways maintenance it will be possible to carry out during the coming year.  It is proposed the additional £250k be met from the central contingency provision of £2.7m established for 2009/10, which is in place to deal with unforeseeable items of expenditure of just this kind."

Councillor Tim Crowley moved the following amendment and spoke for longer than five minutes.  The amendment was seconded by Councillor Paul Scully

The proposed amended recommendation is set out in full with the proposed changes struck through

(xvi) notes the three year forecast and, recognising the economic pressures facing residents, the administration’s intention to keep future Council Tax increases as low as possible, whilst maintaining good service provision;

Following debate, both amendments were separately put to the vote and both were adopted by a show of hands.

The Minute, as amended, was adopted. 

10.25pm

On the Motion of Councillor Sean Brennan, seconded by Councillor Ruth Dombey, it was:-

            Resolved: That, in accordance with Standing Order 14.8, all items remaining to be dealt with at this Council Meeting, be approved subject to the opposition leader being able to express dissent on them.

The following Minutes and Motions were adopted: