Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Neil Drayton, Lina Savickiene and Claire Rylott.

No declarations of interest were received.

To agree the minutes of the Annual Meeting of Full Council held on 20^th May 2024.

The Minutes of the Annual meeting of Full Council held on 20^th May 2024 were agreed and signed by the Mayor.

The Chief Executive confirmed there were no communications.

The Chief Executive confirmed there were no deputations or petitions received.

The Chief Executive advised that the following questions had been received

Question to Councillor Anne Dorrian from Councillor Stephen Woodliffe

In 2018, it was decided to reduce the Mayoral budget and, as a consequence, its public image and that of our Borough was diminished. Up to 2018, the Mayoral Chains of Office were collected from the Municipal Buildings by an Officer who would drive the Mayoral car to the residence of the Mayor, correctly adorn the Mayor with the Chains of Office, drive the Mayor to the Mayoral event and escort the Mayor at the event, providing both safety and security, and then return both the Mayor and the Mayoral regalia to their respective residences.  At all times, the security of the Mayor and the valuable regalia worn by the Mayor were safely preserved.

Given the fact that Boston needs to use every means it has to promote itself, and our Mayoralty is an historical asset envied by many other Councils, do you agree with me that now is the time to restore the status of the Mayoralty by reinstating full Officer support, including the provision of a Mayoral car?

Response from Councillor Anne Dorrian

I would like to thank Councillor Woodliffe for notice of his question. I wasn’t a part of the council when it took the decision to make the Mayor’s Officer role redundant and to remove the provision of a mayoral car.

I don’t think that I would have supported such a move if I’d been given a vote. Having had the honour of serving as the Mayor myself now, I would agree with you that there were occasions where it was extremely difficult to attend functions and events on my own, or even when I was accompanied by my consort. For example, I can recall standing in a windy & rainy, outdoor public car park, trying to put the chains on early in my tenure, and I felt quite vulnerable and a tad uncomfortable.

Having said that, the world has moved on, mostly due to the huge reduction in public finances awarded to local government, and the majority of councils who have civic mayors, have also reduced the peripheral niceties such as cars and attendant officers. I am mindful too, of the lack of ‘social trust’ which exists amongst local residents, and I think if we were to overturn this particular decision, it would be highly unpopular with the community we serve, so on this occasion, in answer to your question I would like to point out that the Mayor is fully supported by the Civic Officer, the Mace Bearer and the wider Democratic Services Team. I do not agree that this is the time to reinstate the mayoral car and mayor’s officer role.

Supplementary question from Councillor Stephen Woodliffe to Councillor Anne Dorrian

Under Boston Borough Council’s unaudited financial statements 2023/24 (Appendix A, page 11) Audit and Governance Committee report dated 8^th July, the full out turn delivered an under budget spend of £458,000. This  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The Chief Executive confirmed that no questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive the Minutes from the meeting held on 29^th January 2024 and the draft Minutes from the meeting held on 18^th March 2024.

Councillor Barrie Pierpoint, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee, presented the Audit and Governance minutes from the meetings held on 29^th January 2024 and 18^th March 2024 which were for councillors to note.

(A report by Christian Allen, Assistant Director – Regulatory)

The Deputy Leader presented a report by the Assistant Director – Regulatory, which sought adoption of the amended Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

Members noted that the Council’s policy document in respect of all aspects of the taxi licensing regime had recently been reviewed. The proposed policy had been presented to the Regulatory and Appeals Committee on 12^th December 2023 which had been followed by a 5-week consultation period with stakeholders. Comments from the consultation were considered by the Committee on 12^th March 2024 and the policy had been appropriately amended as a result.

The Deputy Leader pointed out that previously there had been two separate policy documents, one relating to Private Hire Licensing and the other relating to Hackney Carriage Licensing. Much of the information contained within those documents was duplicated and the proposed policy had combined those documents into one robust policy covering all aspects of the taxi licensing regime. Sections had also been added to provide information on matters such as legislation, the Council’s principles, the objectives which the policy seeks to promote, and the stakeholders that would be consulted with over any policy reform. New information had also been added to provide a clear structure on how the Council will determine applications.

Members noted that there were several new requirements which would have an impact, including:

• The adoption of a vehicle age restriction.
• The introduction of a penalty point scheme.
• A mandatory requirement for applicants to evidence registration on the DBS update service prior to a licence being granted or renewed.

The proposed policy set out a clear framework to aid the Council in determining applications and regulating taxi licensing. It also included clear information for applicants and licensees on how to obtain and comply with licences.

Councillor Stuart Evans referred to the Regulatory and Appeals Committee meetings, where the policy had been discussed, and queried whether or not the point system would be reviewed after 12 months in order to ensure that the offenses were neither too lenient or too severe.

Councillor Mountain gave his thanks to the Senior Licencing Officer and her Team for their work on the policy.

The Deputy Leader referred to the policy and explained that to enable license holders to familiarize with the scheme, any points awarded during the first six months from adoption would have a maximum of 12 month retention period. Any points awarded at the end of those six months would be subject to the standard retention period of 36 months. He confirmed that they would continue with that process.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Dale Broughton and seconded by Councillor Chris Mountain.

RESOLVED

That the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, attached at Appendix 1 within the report, be adopted.

(A report by John Medler, Assistant Director – Governance and Monitoring Officer)

The Mayor requested nominations for the vacancy on the Black Sluice Drainage Board.

Councillor Stuart Evans was nominated by Councillor James Cantwell and seconded by Councillor David Brown.

Councillor Anne Dorrian was nominated by Councillor Dale Broughton and seconded by Councillor Barrie Pierpoint.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Anne Dorrian be appointed onto the Black Sluice Drainage Board.

(A report by the Independent Remuneration Panel)

The Assistant Director – Governance and Monitoring Officer presented an interim report by the Independent Remuneration Panel which contained their recommendations in respect of the Co-opted Independent Members’ Allowance. He reminded members that at the previous Full Council meeting two new members had been appointed on to the Independent Remuneration Panel, and since that time the Panel had commenced their work reviewing the Members’ Allowance Scheme. Members noted that a questionnaire had recently been circulated, from the Panel, which they were encouraged to complete before 31^st July 2024.

The Assistant Director – Governance and Monitoring Officer advised that there were vacancies on the Audit and Governance Committees across the Partnership which were due to be advertised shortly. The allowance for Co-opted Independent Members’ at Boston was slightly lower than South Holland and East Lindsey District Councils and as a result the Independent Remuneration Panel had recommended an increase to that figure.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Barrie Pierpoint and seconded by Councillor Anne Dorrian.

RESOLVED:

1.          That the published Members’ Allowance Scheme be updated to include the Co-opted Independent Members’ Allowance; and

2.          That the allowance for the Co-opted Independent Members of the Audit and Governance Committee be increased to £650 p/a with immediate effect.