Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jean Dent, Sheila Denwood, Keran Farrow, Jane Fletcher, Helen Helme and Joyce Taylor.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the City Council held on 15^th December, 2010 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the two meetings held on 15 December 2010 were signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

The Mayor reminded Council of the position in relation to Members’ allowances and it was agreed to record a personal interest on behalf of all those present in relation to Members’ allowances (Minute No. 97 refers.)

Members advised further of the following interests at this stage:

Councillor Fishwick reported that she would declare a personal interest should there be any reference to County Council functions during the meeting in view of her role as a County Councillor. 

Councillor Harrison declared a personal interest in relation to the Housing Revenue Account – Council Housing (Minute No. 99 refers.)

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 consider the report of the Head of Governance.

(All Councillors present declared a personal interest in the following item.)

Members considered the report and recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel which were presented by the Chairman of the Panel, Professor Steve Leach.

Professor Leach informed Members that the Panel had researched Members rates of allowances at comparative Councils and found the rates paid at Lancaster City Council to be relatively low for the basic allowance and for the special responsibility allowances for the Council Leader and Cabinet Members. It was noted that the Lancaster Guardian had incorrectly reported that Councillors were being offered a £79,500 increase in their allowances.

The report set out a number of options and Professor Leach responded to Members’ questions on the options.

It was moved by Councillor Williamson and seconded by Councillor Bray:

“That Councillor remuneration for 2011/12 remain at the same level as for 2010/11 without any inflation adjustment.”

By way of amendment, Councillor John Whitelegg, seconded by Councillor Trolinger, proposed:

“That Option 2C, as set out in the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel, be approved.”

A lengthy debate followed, after which a vote was taken on the amendment. 34 Members voted for the amendment, 16 against and 4 abstained whereupon the Mayor declared the amendment clearly carried.

A vote was then taken on the substantive motion as amended, which the Mayor declared clearly carried.

Resolved:

That Option 2C, as set out in the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel and appended to these minutes, be approved.

To receive the Cabinet Leader’s report on proceedings since the last meeting of Council. 

The Leader presented his report on the proceedings of Cabinet held on 17 December 2010 and 18 January 2011. He updated Council on various issues and answered a number of questions from Councillors.

Resolved:

That the report be noted. 

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet from its meeting on 18^th January 2011.

Councillor Langhorn presented the report and recommendations of Cabinet on the Budget and Policy Framework for 2010/11 in three parts.

Firstly, the Leader presented the strategic context and the policy framework sections of the report and responded to Member’s questions on the updated Corporate Priorities drafted by Cabinet.

In respect of the Corporate Priorities Councillor Langhorn moved, and Councillor Kerr seconded, that recommendation 1 as set out in the report, be approved.

By way of amendment, Councillor Robinson proposed, seconded by Councillor Sowden:

“That Housing Regeneration be added to the priorities.”

At the conclusion of a short debate a vote was taken on the amendment. 29 Members voted for the amendment, 13 against and 8 abstained whereupon the Mayor declared the amendment carried.

A vote was then taken on the substantive motion as amended when many voted for and few against, whereupon the Mayor declared the motion clearly carried.

Councillor Langhorn then went on to present the second part of the report relating to the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme. Councillor Langhorn and Councillor Blamire responded to questions from Councillors.

In respect of the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme Councillor Langhorn proposed that recommendations 2-4, as set out in the report, be approved. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Kerr.

Debate followed, after which a vote was taken and, with many voting for and few against, the motion was clearly carried.

(The meeting adjourned at 4.30pm in line with procedure rule 10.1,

reconvening at 4.40pm)

Councillor Langhorn then went on to present the final part of the report relating to the Housing Revenue Budget and Capital Programme. Councillor Langhorn and Councillor Kerr responded to questions from Councillors.

In respect of the General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme Councillor Langhorn proposed that the recommendations as set out in the report and numbered 5-7 be approved. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Kerr.

After a lengthy debate, Councillor Clifford proposed that the vote be taken individually on recommendations 5-7. as set out in the report. With the consent of the meeting, the Mayor agreed to the request to take each one in turn.

A vote was taken on the proposal to approve recommendation 5 as set out in the report. 19 Members voted for the motion, 22 against and 3 abstained whereupon the Mayor declared the motion lost.

A vote was then taken on the proposal to approve recommendation 6 as set out in the report. With many voting for and few against the Mayor declared the motion clearly carried.

The proposal to approve recommendation 7, as set out in the report, was voted upon and, with many voting for and few against, the Mayor declared the motion clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)   That the following priorities be used to develop the policy framework for the three year period from 2011 to 2014:

•    Economic Regeneration – Energy Coast, Visitor Economy and Housing Regeneration.

•    Climate Change – prioritising reducing the Council’s energy costs and increasing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.

To consider the following motion submitted by Councillors Peter Robinson, Keith Sowden and Paul Woodruff :

“This Council considers that 60 Councillors is too many for a small District Council.

Furthermore, given the pressures on the revenue budget, this Council resolves to reduce the number of Councillors from the current 60, to a more acceptable 40.

To achieve this objective by 2015, the Council further resolves work with the Boundary Commission.”

An Officer Briefing Note is attached.

In view of the time at this point, Councillor John Whitelegg proposed that motion relating to the reduction in the number of Councillors be deferred until the next Council meeting.

The Mayor put this proposition to those present and gained the consent of the meeting to defer the item.

Resolved:

That the motion regarding the reduction in the number of Councillors be deferred to the next meeting of Council.

To elect a new Cabinet Member in accordance with Article 7 of the Constitution, following the resignation of Councillor Jane Fletcher from the Cabinet.

Since a PR Cabinet is currently in place for 2010/11, Council will invite nominations from the Green Group to fill the vacancy.  

Council was reminded of the resignation of Councillor Jane Fletcher from Cabinet and advised that since there was currently a PR Cabinet in place it was for the Green Group to nominate a replacement.

The Group put forward Councillor John Whitelegg as their nomination to fill the vacancy.

The nomination was formally moved by Councillor Forrest and seconded by Councillor Coates.  On being put to the vote the Mayor declared Councillor John Whitelegg elected to the Cabinet for the remainder of the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

Resolved:

(1)     That the resignation of Councillor Jane Fletcher from Cabinet be noted.

(2)     That Councillor John Whitelegg be elected to fill the resultant vacancy on Cabinet for the remainder of the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

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.  

One question had been received from a Member by the Chief Executive in accordance with Council procedure rules. However the Member had asked for the question to be deferred.

To receive the Minutes of Meeting of Cabinet held on 7^th December 2010 and 18^th January 2011. 

Council considered the Cabinet minutes of the meetings held on 7 December 2010 and 18 January 2011. The Leader and Cabinet Members responded to Members’ questions.

Resolved:

That the minutes be noted.