Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations made.

It was moved by Councillor Anthony McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that the minutes of the Annual Meeting of th Council held on 18 May 2023 be approved as a correct record.

The motion was carried and the Mayor was authorised to sign the minutes.

The Mayor confirmed that his charitable causes for the year would be the New Mills District and Volunteer Centre,  Dark Peak Music and SSAFA - the Armed Forces Charity.  The Dickensian Market would take place on 25 November and the Boxing Day Carol Concert would take place at the Opera House.

The Mayor thanked a number of people for their help and support incuding the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Grooby, the Buxton Mayoral Charity Committee, the Mayor’s Secretary and the Mayor’s Attendent and Chauffeur.

1.     Question received from Carole Hallam for the Executive Councillor for Community Safety and Planning:

“Please can the Council advise how the number and percentage of empty properties will inform the latest emerging assessment of housing needs as part of the High Peak Local Plan review?”

Response from the Executive Councillor:

“The High Peak Housing and Economic Needs Assessment  (2022) considers the overall housing need for High Peak up to the year 2041 and the different types of housing required. Part 2 of the report looks at the current housing stock and pages 113-114 consider vacancy rates (empty properties).  

Link to document:   https://www.highpeak.gov.uk/media/7530/High-Peak-HELNA-ISSUE-12.09.22/pdf/61492_High_Peak_HELNA_ISSUE_120922.PDF?m=1663773285323

The report notes;

8.56    As of 5th October 2020, the Government recorded a total of 1,312 vacant dwellings in the Borough. Of these dwellings, 617 were classified as ‘long term’ vacant properties (i.e. they had been vacant for longer than 6 months). Homes become vacant for many reasons, including natural churn in the market (e.g. a void between tenancies or short-term vacancies as people move home). However, long term vacancies may indicate either structural weaknesses in the housing market (e.g. low demand) or may be reflective of problems with the stock of housing (e.g. condition or type). Of the 1,312 vacant dwellings, 321 are categorised as second homes (24.5%).

8.57    Across the Borough, overall vacancy rates remained between 2.4% and 3.7% over the period 2004 to 2020. The overall vacancy rate has been relatively stable over the period as shown in Figure 8.19. The vacancy rate peaked in 2012 at 3.7% and has since remained broadly around 3%

The latest published figures for 2022 show 1,279 vacant properties of which 462 were long term vacant.

It is normally assumed that a vacancy rate of around 3% is normal (required) for the market to operate.  The prevalence in High Peak is around this figure.

In order for us to count vacant properties as ‘potential supply’ to count towards future requirements, we would need to demonstrate;

1)    An excess of (long term) vacant properties, and

2)    A programme of interventions to bring empty properties back into use, or

3)    A sustained trend of falling vacancy rates with evidence to show this is likely to continue.”

In repsonse to a supplementary question the Executive Councillor confirmed that the cross service working group was fully functioning.

2.     Question received from Jane Reynolds for the Executive Councillor for Community Safety and Planning:

“Given that the Local Plan is now under review, will the council be taking the opportunity to include measurable progress indicators for combatting climate change in the revised plan and will the plan include requirements for new developments that will make them part of the plan to combat the climate and nature emergencies, for example, use of sustainable building techniques and designs, provision of renewable energy sources onsite and implementation of grey water recycling?”

Response from the Executive Councillor: 

“The NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) identifies that plans are required to be in favour of Sustainable Development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/20

It was moved by Councillor A. McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that the Council adopts the Statement of Community Involvement.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor A. McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that:

1.     Councillors note the feedback to the public consultation, suggested Council responses and modifications to the SPD.

2.     Council adopts the Developer Contributions SPD.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor A. McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that the draft Asset Management Framework be approved.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor O. Cross and seconded by Councillor M. Taylor that Members note the Treasury Management positions as at 31 May 2023 and 31August 2023.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor O. Cross and seconded by Councillor M. Taylor thatthat the Annual Treasury Management Report and Supplementary Report 2022/23 be recommended to Council for approval.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor A. McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that Council approves:

1.     The High Peak Borough Plan 2023-2027 as detailed in Appendix D of the report.

2.     The process of internal and external consultation as set out in Section 14 of the report.

3.     The process for adoption and implementation of the High Peak Borough Plan as set out in Section 15 of the report.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor A. McKeown and seconded by Councillor Claff that Council:

1.     Accepts the Examiner’s modifications in respect of the Whaley Bridge Neighbourhood Plan and notes that the basic conditions as required by Paragraph 8 (2) of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) have been met and that a Decision Statement is published to confirm this.

2.     Approves the Examiner’s recommendation that the Whaley Bridge Neighbourhood Plan, as modified by recommendation a) should be submitted to a referendum in the Parish of Whaley Bridge expected to be on 7^th December 2023.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor A. McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that Council:

1.     That the findings of the Independent Review of Members Allowances, as set out in Appendix A to this report, be noted.

2.     That a revised Scheme of Members’ allowances be approved in accordance with the recommendations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Councillors debated the findings of the Independent Remuneration Panel which compared rates of allowances to comparable local authorities and took account of responses from questionnaires and interviews.  Members discussed the proposed changes in the context of the financial climate, the workload of councillors performing different roles and the need to ensure that people from all backgrounds were able to consider standing for election.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor A McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh:

Full Council notes that:

1.     The pressure on organisations to pay their fair share of tax has never been stronger.

2.     Polling from the Institute for Business Ethics finds that “corporate tax avoidance” has, since 2013, been the clear number one concern of the British public when it comes to business conduct.

3.     Almost two thirds of people (64%) agree that the Government and local councils should consider a company’s ethics and how they pay their tax, as well as value for money and quality of service provided, when awarding contracts to companies.

4.     Around 17.5% of public contracts in the UK have been won by companies with links to tax havens.

5.     It has been conservatively estimated that losses from multinational profit-shifting (just one form of tax avoidance) could be costing the UK some £17bn per annum in lost corporation tax revenues.

6.     The Fair Tax Mark offers a means for business to demonstrate good tax conduct, and has been secured by a wide range of businesses across the UK, including FTSE-listed PLCs, co-operatives, social enterprises and large private businesses.

Full Council believes that:

1.     Paying tax is often presented as a burden, but it shouldn’t be.

2.     Tax enables us to provide services from education, health and social care, to flood defence, roads, policing and defence. It also helps to counter financial inequalities and rebalance distorted economies.

3.     As recipients of significant public funding, local authorities should take the lead in the promotion of exemplary tax conduct; be that by ensuring contractors are paying their proper share of tax, or by refusing to go along with offshore tax dodging when buying land and property.

4.     Where councils hold substantive stakes in private enterprises, influence should be wielded to ensure that such businesses are exemplars of tax transparency and tax avoidance is shunned.

5.     More action is needed, however, as current and proposed new UK procurement law significantly restricts councils’ ability to either penalise poor tax conduct (as exclusion grounds are rarely triggered) or reward good tax conduct, when buying goods or services.

6.     UK cities, counties and towns can and should stand up for responsible tax conduct - doing what they can within existing frameworks and pledging to do more given the opportunity, as active supporters of international tax justice.

Full Council resolves to:

1.     Approve the Councils for Fair Tax Declaration.

2.     Lead by example and demonstrate good practice in our tax conduct, right across our activities.

3.     Ensure IR35 is implemented robustly and contract workers pay a fair share of employment taxes.

4.     Not use offshore vehicles for the purchase of land and property, especially where this leads to reduced payments of stamp duty.

5.     Undertake due diligence to ensure that not-for-profit structures are not being used inappropriately by suppliers as an artificial device to reduce the payment of tax and business rates. 

6.     Demand clarity on the ultimate beneficial ownership of suppliers UK  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/26a

It was moved by Councillor Scott and seconded by Councillor Sloman:

This Council notes

·         ­Though slavery was abolished in the UK in 1833, there are more slaves today than ever before in human history. Figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggest that there are more than 40 million people in modern slavery across the world, with nearly 25 million held in forced labour.

·         ­There were 3805 victims of modern slavery identified in the UK in 2016. A rising number but still well below the 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims estimated by the Home Office.

·         ­Modern Slavery is happening nationwide. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive
and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment. This can include sexual and criminal exploitation.

This Council believes

·         ­That action needs to be taken to raise awareness of modern slavery and the fact that it is happening all over the UK.

·         ­That the current support for victims is not sufficient and needs to go beyond the 45 days they are currently given by the government.

·         ­That councils have an important role to play in ensuring their contracts and supplies don’t contribute to modern day slavery and exploitation.

This Council resolves

To adopt the Co-operative Party’s Charter against Modern Slavery to ensure our procurement practices don’t support slavery.

High Peak Borough Council will:

1. Train its corporate procurement team to understand modern slavery through the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) online course on Ethical Procurement and Supply.

2. Require its contractors to comply fully with the Modern Slavery Act 2015, wherever it applies, with contract termination as a potential sanction for non-compliance.

3. Challenge any abnormally low-cost tenders to ensure they do not rely upon the potential contractor practising modern slavery.

4. Highlight to its suppliers that contracted workers are free to join a trade union and are not to be treated unfairly for belonging to one.

5. Publicise its whistle-blowing system for staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

6. Require its tendered contractors to adopt a whistle-blowing policy which enables their staff to blow the whistle on any suspected examples of modern slavery.

7. Review its contractual spending regularly to identify any potential issues with modern slavery.

8. Highlight for its suppliers any risks identified concerning modern slavery and refer them to the relevant agencies to be addressed.

9. Refer for investigation via the National Crime Agency’s national referral mechanism any of its contractors identified as a cause for concern regarding modern slavery.

10. Report publicly on the implementation of this policy annually.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor Collins and seconded by Councillor Farrell:

High Peak Borough Council announced a climate emergency in October 2019 and set up climate change and biodiversity working groups.  The Council has produced action plans for its own operations and for action across High peak.  However, progress has been piecemeal and reporting patchy. This has partly been due to circumstances beyond the Council’s control, such as Covid and lack of resources.

With a new Council membership, it is time for the Council to renew its commitment to action on climate change and biodiversity, along with more transparency and more explicit reporting on climate and biodiversity action in all reports to committees.

Given scarce resources, as well as reducing its own environmental impact, Council action means working more strategically with partners across High Peak, taking a strong lead in working with others to deliver its plans.

To achieve this the Council will:

·       Work strategically with local businesses and civil society organisations to deliver climate change and biodiversity plans.

·       Organise quarterly meetings of the climate change and biodiversity working group, to include partners; these meetings to lead to agreement on how partners can help deliver specific aspects of Council plans.

·       Hold six monthly workshops on specific themes, organised in partnership with other organisations involved in delivery.

·       Ensure the revised Local Plan and Supplementary Planning Documents demand low carbon practices.

·       Rigorously assess developers’ plans for Biodiversity Net Gain and for nutrient neutrality, and where necessary ensure developers commit to including buffer zones to protect the River Wye from further damage by appropriate planting schemes.  To do this regardless of uncertainty about central government requirements,

·       Work with current and future local government partners to ensure that policies and actions are in line with High Peak’s climate change and biodiversity plans.  

·       Produce an annual report on action against climate change and nature recovery plans to the most appropriate scrutiny committee and the May Full Council.

As an amendment it was proposed by Councillor A McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that the motion be referred to the Council’s Local Plan and Climate Change Working Groups for further consideration.

When put to the meeting the amendment was carried and it was RESOLVED accordingly.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as there maybe disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The recommendations contained in the report were moved by Councillor A. McKeown and seconded by Councillor Sizeland subject to an amendment that required on demand meetings with the Parish Council’s legal representattives, officers and councillors and to receive updates on a regular basis.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly, subject to the amendment detailed above.