2015/280
(TC) / PRESENT
Councillor Akhtar [Chair] and Councillors Pedley, Khan, Shazad, Nazam, Bibi, Anyat, S Ahmed, Fletcher, Westerman, F Ahmed, Kirby, Dermondy, Thorne (till 7.35), Walker, Maunsell, Zaman, Nazam, K Akhtar, T Mahmood, A Ahmed, Hussain, A Mohammad, Curtis.
Councillor Khadim Hussain (District Councillor)
Rev. Doctor Jonathan Pritchard
Safia Kauser – Town Clerk/RFO
Dianne Duckworth – Minute Secretary
2 members of the public and one member from the press.
2015/281
(TC) / ADJOURNMENT FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
No representations were made.
2015/282
(TC) / TO RECEIVE AND APPROVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received and accepted from Councillors Archer, Shaw, S Ahmed.
2015/283
(TC) / DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS (MEMBERS CODE OF CONDUCT)
None were disclosed.
2015/284
(TC) / OFFICERS DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS
None were disclosed.
2015/285
(TC) / TOWN MAYOR’S OPENING REMARKS
The Mayor welcomed everyone and gave his opening speech.
Functions the Mayor had attended:-
§ Launch of the Gold Line by Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
§ Christmas Lights switch on
§ Royal British Legion poppy appeal raised £34,000
§ St Andrew’s School Christmas service and display, a credit to all the children
§ Public Meeting this morning which went well and was well attended
2015/286
(TC) / REPORTS FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS AND INVITED QUESTS
2015/286.1 - To receive reports from district Councillors
Councillor Khadim Hussain provided an update and outcome of the Council Scrutiny Committee meeting which mainly discussed the Keighley Gyratory. Keighley Area Committee last week called for Bradford Council’s ruling executive to carry out a further 12 months of research into better solutions for the town’s growing congestion misery despite the bill already running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. The gyratory would have been no more than two or three year’s worth of benefit to the Town.
Cllr Hussain spoke briefly about Keighley College site which is no nearer finding the reason the developer pulled out but Portfolio Holder is pursuing it through Parliament. He also reported on the long-awaited £30 million Worth Valley Shopping Centre, which is due to be built on derelict land in East Parade.
Questions were asked from Town Councillors relating to the amount of housing developments being built in Keighley which creates increase in traffic. It was asked what plans are there for Keighley as Keighley has a major traffic problem and the numbers of cars are increasing. It was felt that two years of relieve would be better that what are experiencing now.
A member asked for reassures that the proposed Hardings Dual Carriageway improvements would still go ahead. Cllr Hussain reassured that it will go ahead but not in isolation but as part of the bigger picture.
A member agreed that the gyratory would not solve the transient traffic but a by-pass would be the only feasible option to link into the motorway system.
Cllr Hussain explained that the timeframe is for a report from Bradford’s executive committee in the next 12 months plus a steering group will be formed and Cllr Hussain is hoping that representation from KTC will stand on this group.
The Mayor attended the Scrutiny Committee as an observer and was disappointed that only three members were there out of a total of nine. The meeting didn’t seem to be much about Keighley and was disappointed that HCA had given apologies. He pointed out that North Street is the worst street in Bradford with it being used as a race track at all times.
2015/286.2 – To receive reports from other invited quests
Rev Pritchard spoke about United Keighley campaign that has been initiated by compassionate residents and community leaders to unite the whole townagainst grooming and to protect all our children. We recognise that grooming happens in every town, but here in Keighley we want to join together in a simple act of commitment to rid our communitiesof grooming.The statement: says that grooming children for sex is wrong: any sexual abuse of children is wrong. Whoever does it, whenever, wherever. It is morally, legally and spiritually wrong. It harms our children, it harms all of us.There is no place for it in Keighley or anywhere else. And we utterly condemn it.
Rev Pritchard appealed for the support from Keighley Town Council to sign the statement and to also display the banner ‘all our young people matter’ on the Civic Centre building.
Members stood up and offered their support and commitment.
Proposed by Councillor Akhtar and seconded by Councillor Westerman, and
RESOLVED: That Keighley Town Council supports this pledge 100% and agrees to sign the ‘statement’ and display the banner on the Civic Centre building.
2015/287
(TC) / MINUTES
To approve the minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 26 November 2015
Proposed by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor Kirby, and
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 26 November 2015 be confirmed as a true record of the proceedings and signed by the Chair.
2015/288
(TC) /
COMMITTEE MINUTES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
To confirm the receipt of minutes for committee meetings and to consider recommendations as follows:2015/288.1 – Planning Committee minutes 24 November 2015
Proposed by Councillor Anyat and seconded by Councillor Hussain, and
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Planning committee meeting held on 24 November 2015 be received by the Council.
2015/288.2 – Civic Centre Committee minutes 02 December 2015
Proposed by Councillor Dermondy and seconded by Councillor Zaman, and
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Civic Centre committee meeting held on 02 December 2015 be received by the Council.
2015/288.3 – Events & Leisure committee minutes 03 December 2015
Proposed by Councillor Bibi and seconded by Councillor Walker, and
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Events & Leisure committee meeting held on 03 December 2015 be received by the Council.
2015/288.4 – Watch & Transport Committee minutes 07 December 2015
Proposed by Councillor Zaman seconded by Councillor Westerman, and
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Watch & Transport committee meeting held on 07 December 2015 be received by the Council.
2015/289
(TC) / CASUAL VACANCY
2015/289.1 - To approve and adopt the Co-option policy.
The Clerk had drawn up a Co-option Policy that sets out the procedure to ensure there is compliance with legislation and continuity of procedures in the co-option of members to the Town Council. The Co-option procedure is entirely managed by the Town Council and the policy will ensure that a fair and equitable process is carried out. The Co-option Policy was circulated to all members. The Clerk had sought from YLCA in compiling the policy.
Proposed by Councillor Zaman and seconded by Councillor Kirby, and (one abstention)
RESOLVED: That Full Council adopts the Co-option Policy.
2015/289.2 - To consider filling the casual vacancy in Fell Lane and Westburn Ward. The required request of ten local government electors was not received to hold an election.
Proposed by Councillor A Ahmed and seconded by Councillor Pedley, and
RESOLVED: That full Council agrees to co-option to fill the casual vacancy in Fell Lane and Westburn Ward and that the policy be instigated forthwith.
2015/290
(TC) / INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT
To receive and consider the Internal Audit report issued by Veritau on 08 December 2015. Any recommendations must be addressed by full Council and completed by 31 March 2016.
The Internal Audit report had been circulated to all members which was briefly discussed. The Clerk was pleased to say that there were 32 recommendations last year and now down to 6/7 which clearly showed improvement had been made in the last 12 months.
No / Pg / Recommendation / Responsible Officer / Agreed date for completion / Proposed by
1 / 5 / The requirement to declare relevant interests to their line manager should be reiterated to staff to ensure that officers have a good understanding of when and how to declare interests. / Town Clerk/
RFO
P&G / 31.3.2016 / Akhtar
Westerman
2 / 5 / The grant process should be reviewed to ensure that the terms of the grant are clear and the Council ensures that money is spent within the terms of the grant. / Town Clerk/
RFO
F&A / 31.3.2016 / A Ahmed
Nazam
3 / 6 / The Council should introduce a single timesheet form for all staff to use and that allows all relevant information to be included. Guidance to ensure timesheets are consistently completed should be introduced and used to complete and authorise the forms. / RFO
HR / 31.3.2016 / Kirby
Walker
4 / 7 / The Council should revisit the current mix of staff/roles and responsibilities of staff to ensure arrangements are adequate for the delivery of business activities. / Town Clerk/
RFO
HR / 31.3.2016 / Maunsell
Fletcher
5 / 7 / Future decisions on changes to employment terms and conditions should be documented in the relevant committee minutes. / Town Clerk/
RFO
HR / 31.3.2106 / Nazam
Walker
6 / 7 / The arrangements for funding the Oakworth Contact Point Co-ordinator should be reviewed to ensure that the Council obtains sufficient assurance that the role is achieving the Council’s objectives. / Town Clerk/
RFO
F&A
Full Council / 31.3.2016 / A Mahmood
Kirby
7 / 8 / The business planning and the strategic aims and objectives of the civic centre should be further developed. / Town Clerk/
RFO
CCS / 31.3.2016 / A Ahmed
Westerman
RESOLVED: Recommendations 1 to 7 contained within the internal audit report 15/16 (visit one) were accepted by the Council with the agreed completion date of 31.03.16, assigned Responsible Officer and Committee.
The Mayor thanked the RFO for all her hard work and commitment and asked Councillors to adhere to relevant matters in the right way.
2015/291
(TC) / REPORTS FROM TOWN COUNCILLORS
To review reports from Town Councillors who have attended recent meetings or events on behalf of the Town Council:
§ Conferences and courses
The Clerk, Mayor, Councillor Westerman and Councillor Dermondy attended a Freedom of Data Protection course in York. It was reported that the course was informative and covered areas on Data Protection and Freedom of Information Requests.
§ Representatives appointed on outside bodies
Nothing to report.
§ YLCA South Pennine Branch meeting, Neighbourhood Forums or Parish Liaison
Councillor Walker gave a great big thank you to Councillors who took part in the Christmas Luncheon and gave a special thank you to Councillor Bibi for her excellent work as a new Councillor.
2015/292 (TC) / TOWN CLERK CORRESPONDENCE
To receive any correspondence or communication brought forward by the Clerk
not otherwise specifically relating to items being discussed by the Town Council
Committees.
· Election for Bracken Bank and Ingrow Ward – Closing date for candidates 21st December 2015. Forms are available from the Town Clerk or Elections Monitoring Officer. Elections to be held on Thursday 21st January 2016.
2015/293 / FORMER SERVICE PROVIDER
As the agenda item may concern disputes, it is advisable that the item is proposed to be held in a closed session and will exclude the public and the press under the
Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings Act) 1960.
Proposed by Councillor Akhtar and seconded by Councillor Zaman, and (2 against)
RESOLVED: That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted, it is advisable in the public interest that the press and public be temporarily excluded and they are instructed to withdraw for reasons and matters appertaining to disputes.
To consider nominating Councillor Mark Curtis to assist with impending legal issues surrounding a former service provider.
The Court hearing will take place on 23 December 2016 at 2.00pm at Skipton County Court.
Proposed by Councillor Anyat and seconded by Councillor Pedley, and
RESOLVED: That the Council appoints Councillor Mark Curtis to assist with the impending legal issues surrounding a former service provider and to act as the Councils spokesperson.
The Town Clerk was thanked for all her hard work in respect of this.
2015/294 (TC) / ITEMS FOR DISCSSION FOR A FUTURE AGENDA
· Committee vacancies
· Co-option
· Budget
2015/295 (TC) / TO NOTE THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
· To note the next Council meeting is to be held on Thursday 28 January 2015 at 6.30pm in the Town Hall Council Chamber.
There being no other business the meeting was closed at 7.50pm.
Certified as a true copy: 5
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