Agenda

Agenda

Procedural Matters

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2020 (copy attached).

Part 1 - Public

At each Cabinet meeting, up to 15 minutes shall be allocated for questions from and discussion with, non-Cabinet members.  Members wishing to speak during this session should if possible, give notice in advance.  Who speaks and for how long will be at the complete discretion of the person presiding.

Members of the public who live or work in the District are invited to put one question or statement of not more than three minutes duration relating to items to be discussed in Part 1 of the agenda only. If a question is asked and answered within three minutes, the person who asked the question may ask a supplementary question that arises from the reply.

A person who wishes to speak must register at least 15 minutes before the time the meeting is scheduled to start. 

There is an overall time limit of 15 minutes for public speaking, which may be extended at the Chairman’s discretion.

Report No:   CAB/WS/20/029

Chair of the Committee: Cllr David Nettleton                

Lead Officer: Christine Brain

Report No: CAB/WS/20/030

Portfolio Holder: Cllr Susan Glossop          Lead Officer: Jill Korwin

Report No: CAB/WS/20/031 TO FOLLOW

Portfolio Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton       Lead Officer: Rachael Mann

Report No: CAB/WS/20/032

Portfolio Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton       Lead Officer: Rachael Mann

Portfolio Holder: Not applicable                Lead Officer: Ian Gallin

Background

Under Part 3, Section 5, Scheme of Delegation to Officers, paragraph 14 of the Council’s Constitution, it states:

Where, in the opinion of the Chief Executive, by reason of limitation of time or urgency, a decision is required on any matter, after such consultation as they consider necessary (or as is required by the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules in Part of the Constitution), they shall have power to make a decision provided that any such decision shall be reported to the next meeting of the Cabinet, appropriate Committee or Council…..

Decision made

On 12 March 2020, the Chief Executive exercised his urgency powers and made a decision to move Haverhill North 2 Polling District to poll at Army Cadet Centre, Withersfield Road (in Haverhill North 1 Polling District). In addition, the Chief Executive has decided to move Haverhill West 1 Polling District to poll at Parkway School (Unity Trust), Park Road (in Haverhill West 2 Polling District). The reason for this was because a review of polling places in Haverhill and the arrangements for portacabins sited in Haverhill for the use as a polling station following the snap General Election held in December 2019 has identified no other suitable alternative venues are available within the Polling District. It is therefore considered prudent to designate suitable venues in neighbouring polling districts.

Alternative options considered were to retain the current situation; however this was discounted as it is unlikely that alternative venues within the polling district will be made available in the near future.

Information considered in making the decision

S18B(4)(d) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 provides that the polling place for a polling district must be an area in the district, unless special circumstances make it desirable to designate an area wholly or partly outside the district. The decision to move a polling place must be made by the Council unless specific delegations are in place.  The term ‘special circumstances’ is not defined but there is evidence of other councils using this provision.

The Assistant Director (HR, Legal and Democratic Services), the Deputy Returning Officer, Ward Councillors and Haverhill Town Council were consulted on this matter prior to the decision being made.

Recommendation

In accordance with the Constitution, the Cabinet is requested to NOTE the use of the Chief Executive’s Urgency Powers in respect of making the decision outlined above.

To consider the most recently published version of the Cabinet’s Decisions Plan

Report No:   CAB/WS/20/033

Portfolio Holder: Cllr John Griffiths           Lead Officer: Ian Gallin

Part 2 - Exempt

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded during the consideration of the following items because it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during the items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt categories of information as prescribed in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and indicated against each item and, in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt Appendices 1 and 2 to Report No: CAB/WS/20/032

Portfolio Holder: Cllr Sarah Broughton       Lead Officer: Rachael Mann

(These exempt appendices are to be considered in private under paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as they contain information relating to an individual and information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.)

(No representations have been received from members of the public regarding these items being held in private.)