Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jon Barry, Keran Farrow, Karen Leytham, Ian McCulloch and Paul Woodruff.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the City Council held on 4^th February , 2009 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 4^th February 2009 were signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

The Monitoring Officer reminded Members of the requirements of the Code of Conduct in relation to declaring an interest where a Councillor is a member of an outside body and the circumstances under which this would be a prejudicial interest and they would be required to leave the meeting.

Members advised of the following declarations of interest at this stage in relation to items referred to in the revenue budget proposals (Minute No 119 refers):

Councillors Keith Budden and Joyce Pritchard declared personal and prejudicial interests as representatives on the Lune Valley Transport Board.

Councillors June Ashworth and John Barnes declared personal and prejudicial interests in relation to the Morecambe Citizens Advice Bureau as Trustees.

Councillors June Ashworth, Jim Blakely, Jane Fletcher, Ron Sands and Malcolm Thomas declared personal and prejudicial interests in the Dukes Theatre as Directors on the Board.

Councillors Susie Charles, John Gilbert, Sylvia Rogerson, Roger Sherlock and Jude Towers declared personal and prejudicial interests in relation to the Lancaster Citizens Advice Bureau as Trustees.

Councillors Sheila Denwood and Geoff Knight declared personal and prejudicial interests in relation to the Lancaster International Twinning Society as members of the Committee.

Councillors Stuart Langhorn and Joyce Pritchard declared personal interests as members of Caton Parish Council in relation to the Victoria Institute toilets.

Councillors Eileen Blamire, Shirley Burns and Joyce Pritchard declared personal and prejudicial interests in relation to Williamson Park as Directors on the Board.

Councillor Sarah Fishwick declared a personal interest in relation to Salt Ayre as she has a relative employed there.

Councillor Jude Towers declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the LVWA as a member of the Board.

Councillor Jane Fletcher declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Arnside & Silverdale AONB as a member of the Committee.

To receive questions in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rules 11.1 and 11.3 which require members of the public to give at least 3 days’ notice in writing of questions to a Member of Cabinet or Committee Chairman.  

The Mayor advised that no questions had been received from members of the public in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 11.

To receive an Address from Ian Blears, notification of which has been received by the Chief Executive in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  A copy of Mr Blear’s address is attached.

The Mayor invited Mr. Ian Blears to address Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.

Mr. Blears spoke to Council as a representative of Lune Valley Transport in relation to proposals which were to be considered in setting the budget for 2009/10 which would see the introduction of a flat fare for the use of community transport.  He urged Members to approve this proposal rather than introduce a more complicated charging structure or any higher charge than that being proposed.

The Mayor advised that whilst it was normal procedure to refer such addresses for report to the next meeting of the relevant body, on this occasion the item was included for debate on this agenda and the issues raised by Mr. Blears would therefore be taken into account at that time.

To receive questions in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rules 12.2 and 12.4 which require a Member to give at least 3 working days notice, in writing, of the question to the Chief Executive.  

The Mayor advised that 2 questions had been received by the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rules as follows:

(1)         Councillor Barnes to Councillor Bryning regarding the Storey Institute.

(2)         Councillor Roe to Councillor Barry regarding closing toilets in the rural areas.

The Mayor advised that in the absence of Councillor Barry at today’s meeting, Councillor Roe had agreed to receive a written response to his question and this had been circulated to all Members for information.

Details of the questions and answers together with any supplementary questions and responses are included at Appendix A to the minutes.

The Leader will report on the proceedings since the last meeting of Council in presenting the Cabinet report on the Budget and Policy Framework at Agenda Item 9.

It was noted that the Leader intended to update Council on issues since the last meeting of Council as part of his speech to present the budget.

The Leader, Councillor Abbott Bryning introduced Cabinet’s Budget proposals for 2009/10 which would achieve the 4% increase in Council Tax approved at the previous Council meeting.

He referred also to the meeting of Cabinet the previous day to consider further recommendations of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee following a call-in of the decision to recommend the closure of toilets across the district.   As a result he would be moving the revised recommendations as circulated in a supplementary report at the start of the meeting.  He also summarized a number of other amendments to the savings and growth proposals which he intended to include in his proposition.

At the conclusion of the Leader’s introduction, the Mayor advised that Council may wish to suspend Council Procedure Rule 17.4 at this point prior to consideration of the Cabinet’s Budget report in order to allow an opportunity for representatives of the remaining political groups to present a budget speech in excess of 5 minutes.

Suspension of standing orders was moved by Councillor Fishwick and seconded by Councillor Bray.  On being put to the vote the Mayor declared the proposition carried.

Resolved:-

That Council Procedure Rule 17.4 be suspended.

Councillors Evelyn Archer (Independent Group), Chris Coates (Green Group), Roger Mace (Conservative Group), Stuart Langhorn (Liberal Democrat Group) and Peter Robinson (Free Independent Group) then presented their views on the Council’s budget process and the proposals being put forward by Cabinet.

Council Procedure Rule 17.4 back in place.

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet from its meeting on 17^th February, 2009.

Councillor Bryning then presented the Cabinet recommendations on the General Fund Revenue Budget and having answered a number of questions, moved the recommendations (1) to (3) set out in the supplementary report subject to the following revisions to the updated Appendix A:

(i)                  That the Catch the Wind Kite and Sandcastles Festivals be re-instated at a cost of £9,300 to be funded from savings made by cancelling the Jazz Festival.

(ii)                That the proposed cut in the grant to the Dukes Theatre be reduced by £20,000 in 2009/10 to be funded from the Arts and Leisure Development budget.

(iii)               That the proposed cut of £20,000 in the grant to the Citizens Advice Bureaux in 2009/10 be reduced to £10,000 (£5,000 each) to be funded by a £10,000 reduction in the Community Cohesion reserve.

The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Sherlock.

It was then moved by Councillor John Whitelegg and seconded by Councillor Fletcher, by way of an amendment to recommendation (1):

‘That the £10,000 cut in grant to the Citizens Advice Bureaux now proposed for 2009/10 and the £20,000 in future years be deleted, the cost to be met by a corresponding reduction in funding for subscriptions.’

(Prior to the commencement of the debate on this amendment Councillors Ashworth, Barnes, Charles, Gilbert, Rogerson, Sherlock and Towers re-iterated their personal and prejudicial interests in relation to the Citizens Advice Bureaux, left the meeting and took no part in the debate or voting thereon.)

At the conclusion of the debate, 21 Members voted for the amendment, 23 against and 4 abstained whereupon the Mayor declared the amendment lost.

Councillors Ashworth, Barnes, Charles, Gilbert, Rogerson, Sherlock and Towers returned to the meeting.

It was then moved by Councillor Archer and seconded by Councillor Kerr, by way of amendment to recommendation (1):

(a)     That further to Cabinet Minute 97, Council no longer supports the “in principle” decision to close the Dome from 1^st June 2009.

(b)     That in order to finance the operation of the Dome for the 2009/10 season, the following budget amendment be agreed to increase the £64,300 sum already included in the revenue budget for the Dome :-

·         The Playgrounds (Improvement, Equipment and Materials) revenue budgets totaling £49,700 be reduced by £18,000 as a one off item only for 2009/10.  Should this create difficulties in maintaining playground standards during the year, then use of any available monies in the Renewals Reserve be considered to help the position.

(c)     That the 2009/10 revenue budget for operating the Dome be increased accordingly to £82,300, with the exact opening arrangements and programme of events to be considered further but contained within this agreed budget.

(d)     That officers immediately commence taking bookings again for the Dome in line with the opening arrangements for 2009/10 only.

(e)     Should any emergency capital works be necessary to operate the Dome for 2009/10, they be funded from the £85,000 capital sum set aside in 2009/10 to demolish the Dome. 

(f)       That the operation of the Dome be carefully  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.

Councillor Bryning then presented the Cabinet recommendations on the General Fund Capital Programme and moved recommendations (4) to (6) as set out in the report.

The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Hanson.

On taking the vote, 30 Members voted for the proposition, 6 against and 12 abstained whereupon the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)          That the current year’s revised Capital Programme as set out at Appendix C to the minutes be approved.

(2)          That the five-year Capital Programme from 2009/10 onwards, also as set out at Appendix C to the minutes, be approved.

(3)          That the Capital Investment Strategy as set out at Appendix G to the report be approved.

 To consider the recommendations of Cabinet from its meeting on 17^th February, 2009.

Council considered a report of Cabinet which set out various aspects of the Treasury Management Framework for 2008/09 that the Council was required to either formally note or approve by 31^st March, in accordance with relevant legislation and/or the Code of Practice for Treasury Management in Local Authorities.

The recommendations set out in the report were moved by Councillor Bryning and seconded by Councillor Sherlock.

On being put to the vote, many voted for the proposition, none against and few abstained, whereupon the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)               That the Treasury Management Policy Statement and the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, as set out in Appendices B and C of the report be noted.

(2)               That the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix D of the report be approved.

(3)               That the Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix E of the report be approved.

To consider the report of the Head of Financial Services.

Members considered the report of the Head of Financial Services setting out the 2008/09 Council Tax levels for the district, in accordance with the budget proposals approved by

The recommendations set out in the report were moved by Councillor Bryning and seconded by Councillor Sherlock.  On being put to the vote the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)               That the total General Fund Revenue Budget for the financial year 2009/10 be set at £24,513,633.00.  (City Council £23,999,000 plus Parish Precepts £514,633).

(2)               That it be noted that, under delegated powers in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003 Section 84, the City Council calculated the following amounts for the year 2009/10 in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(a)   43,200.00 being the amount of its Council Tax Base for the whole District;

(b)   17,291.49 being the amount of its Council Tax Base for the non-parished part of the District; and

being the amounts of the Council Tax Base for each Parish within the District.

(3)               That the following amounts be now calculated by the City Council for the year 2009/10 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

(a)    £95,852,833 being the aggregate of the amounts which the City Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(2)(a) to (e) of the Act.

(b)    £71,339,200 being the aggregate of the amounts which the City Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(3)(a) to (c) of the Act.

(c)    £24,513,633 being the amount by which the aggregate at 4(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 4(b) above, calculated by the City Council, in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Act, as its budget requirement for the year.

(d)    £15,993,940 being the aggregate of the sums which the City Council estimates will be payable for the year into its General Fund in respect of redistributed Non-Domestic Rates, Revenue Support Grant and Collection Fund balances.

(e)    £197.22 being the amount at 4(c) above less the amount at 4(d) above, all divided by the amount at 3(a) above, calculated by the City Council, in accordance with Section 33(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

(f)      £514,633 being the aggregate amount of special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.

(g)    £185.31  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

Further to Minute No. 108, Members considered a report of the Chief Executive which set out a number of issues raised by the Morecambe Town Council Working Group during their consideration of the potential future operation of the new Parish Council and which required a decision by the City Council.

These included a request to allow the Parish Council to meet free of charge in Morecambe Town Hall, to provide some clerical and administrative support to the new Parish Council and to retain the precept income until such time as the elected Parish Council can establish a bank account.

In addition it was reported that the proposed budget for the Parish Council included sufficient funding to allow for the provision of PCSOs in the Parish and Members were asked to consider how the City Council could assist in managing this process.

Options for each issue were set out in the report and it was agreed to take each section separately.

In relation to the use of Morecambe Town Hall it was moved by Councillor Archer and seconded by Councillor Kerr:  

‘That the City Council allow Morecambe Parish Council free use of Morecambe Town Hall for its meetings.’

Following a short debate, it was moved by Councillor Fletcher and seconded by Councillor Heath by way of an amendment:

‘That the City Council allow Morecambe Parish Council free use of Morecambe Town Hall for its meetings for 2009/10 pending the outcome of a planned review of room hire charges.’

With the agreement of the meeting and her seconder, Councillor Archer accepted this as a friendly amendment.

There followed a further short debate and it was then moved by Councillor Mace and seconded by Councillor Charles:

 ‘That the City Council charge Morecambe Parish Council for the use of Morecambe Town Hall.’

There followed a further lengthy debate at the conclusion of which 22 Members voted for the amendment, 18 against and 3 abstained, whereupon the Mayor declared the amendment carried.

A vote was then taken on the substantive motion as amended when 25 Members voted for, 16 against and 2 abstained whereupon the Mayor declared the motion carried.

In relation to the provision of clerical assistance, option 1 as set out in the report was moved by Councillor Archer and seconded by Councillor Kerr.  On being put to the vote the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

In relation to the retention of the precept income, option 1 as set out in the report was moved by Councillor Archer and seconded by Councillor Kerr.  On being put to the vote the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

In relation to the employment of PCSOs in Morecambe, option 1 as set out in the report was moved by Councillor Archer and seconded by Councillor Kerr.  On being put to the vote the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)     That the City Council charge Morecambe Parish Council for the use of         Morecambe Town Hall.

(2)     That the City Council provide clerical  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

To receive the Minutes of Meeting of Cabinet held on 17^th February, 2009. 

Council considered the Cabinet minutes of the meeting held on 17^th February 2009.  There were no questions.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.