Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

C:87

MINUTE'S SILENCE AS A MARK OF RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE

Minutes:

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Council held a Minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the people of Ukraine

 

 

C:88

PRAYERS

Minutes:

Prayers were led by Rev Canon Ling.

C:89

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

 

 

Minutes:

None

C:90

MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

 

Minutes:

None

C:91

URGENT BUSINESS pdf icon PDF 278 KB

To receive any items of business which in the opinion of the Mayor are urgent. 

 

Minutes:

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The Mayor had agreed that in accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, that the following matter should be considered as urgent business at the meeting:

 

Notice of Motion was proposed by Councillor S Dark MBE, and seconded by Councillor Joyce:

 

"This Council as the representatives of the people of West Norfolk and on their behalf adds its support to the people of Ukraine and Russia who oppose a war initiated by a regime that is failing to recognise Ukraine is a sovereign state with a democratically elected government of its own choosing.

 

The Russian regime of President Putin has ignored international law and all diplomatic conventions in its invasion of Ukraine.  There is absolutely no justification for the killing of thousands of ordinary people and for ruining the lives of millions more.

 

Along with all right thinking people around the world we state with no ambiguity this totally unjustifiable war must end immediately to give the international community the opportunity to assist in alleviating the grave humanitarian crisis of President Putin’s regime’s sole making”.

 

Councillors spoke in support of the motion and against the abhorrent actions of Russia against Ukraine.  On being put to the vote the Motion was unanimously agreed.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Motion be agreed.

 

C:92

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COUNCIL BODIES

(Members are reminded this is a debate, not a question and answer session)

To consider the following recommendations to Council:

 

C:92i

Cabinet: 15 March 2022 - Members Allowances Review pdf icon PDF 172 KB

To give consideration and decide upon the recommendation from Cabinet on 15 March 2022 on the Independent Review of Members Allowances.  The minute on this will follow.

Minutes:

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Councillor Dickinson proposed the recommendations from Cabinet on 15 March 2022, these were seconded by Councillor Dark.

 

Councillor Joyce proposed that the increases in the basic and special responsibility allowances be transferred into a local fund to assist those coming here from the Ukraine. 

 

The Monitoring Officer advised that it was not possible for the Council to take such a decision on behalf of all Councillors without all the individuals being present to approve it. 

 

Councillor Parish in speaking on the recommendation proposed an amendment that the existing basic allowances be frozen until April 2023 and the finance not paid through the increases be paid into an account to help Ukranians in the Borough needing assistance.

 

The Monitoring explained that the same advice applied as to not being able to take decisions on where the allowances of other members be channelled.

 

Councillor Rust proposed that the matter be deferred until a unanimous vote could be taken. This was seconded by Councillor de Whalley.  On being put to the vote this was lost.

 

The Monitoring Officer further advised that if members individually wished to pay to a charity on a voluntary basis they could do so but the Council could not compel that.

 

Councillor Morley proposed an amendment that the funds go to the Ukrainian crisis, to which the Monitoring officer re-iterated her previous advice.

 

Councillor Hudson proposed that special responsibility allowance be frozen for the entirety of the scheme, but the basic allowances be increased by  2.5% recommended.  This was seconded by Councillor Wilkinson.  Councillor Dickinson did not accept the amendment, Councillor Long moved that the question be put.  On being put to the vote the amendment was lost.

 

Councillor Morley suggested that Members register individually to donate their increases. It was noted that this would be a separate item, not for consideration at this meeting.

 

Councillor Long proposed that the question be put on the substantive motion.

 

The Monitoring Officer pointed out that on recommendation 4 from Cabinet because of the delay in considering the recommendations, it was not possible to pay within the current month, but that that the amount would be paid into the following financial year.  Councillor Dickinson agreed this suggestion.

 

A debate ensued on the payment of allowances and individual choices.

 

Councillor Dark addressed Council on the recommendations as seconder.

 

Councillor Dickinson summed up the debate reminding members that the proposed increase was 2.5% and that the SRA payments were attributable to a position, not individual people.

 

Councillor Howman, with the required number of supporters requested a recorded vote on the matter.

 

For

Against

Abstain

B Ayres

J Bhondi

 

L Bambridge

A Holmes

 

R Blunt

G Howman

 

C Bower

C Hudson

 

A  Bubb

B Jones

 

C Crofts

C Joyce

 

S Dark

B Lawton

 

I Devereux

C Morley

 

A Dickinson

T Parish

 

P Gidney

J Rust

 

G Hipperson

S Squire

 

M Howland

M de Whalley

 

H Humphrey

M Wilkinson

 

J Kirk

 

 

P Kunes

 

 

A  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:92i