Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Evelyn Archer, Rebekah Gerrard, Charles Grattan, Mike Greenall, Janie Kirkman, Roger Mace, Bob Roe, Sylvia Rogerson and Joyce Taylor.

Councillor Woodruff declared a personal interest at this stage in relation to markets, having a market stall lease with another local authority, should any reference be made to that authority during the course of discussions on Lancaster Market.

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet from its meeting on 23^rd March 2010.

Further to Minute No. 10, the Leader presented a report of Cabinet which referred to Council the options available in relation to the future of Lancaster Market.

This report had been prepared following the deliberations of the working group established by Council on 3 March 2010 to consider a proposal put forward by the market traders and to further investigate any other available options.

It was reported that the informal Cabinet Working Group had met on four occasions to gather information and consult with various relevant stakeholders, groups and organisations prior to Cabinet receiving the report on 23 March 2010.  The report to Cabinet set out three options, for each of which the financial and legal implications were separately identified.

These three options were to pursue the proposal for a single retailer in the market building, to continue with the market on the upper floor only, with the ground floor let to a single retailer or to refurbish the existing market.  It was noted that there was not an option to do nothing.

Having presented the report, it was moved by Councillor Charles and seconded by Councillor Bray that the meeting adjourn for 15 minutes to allow members to consider within their political groups the motions which had been tabled at the start of the meeting.

On being put to the vote, the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

The meeting adjourned for 15 minutes and reconvened at 6.30pm.

On reconvening the Mayor invited questions to both the Cabinet Leader who had presented the report and also to officers present who were able to provide professional advice and clarification of the complex position.

The Mayor reminded Members that the appendices to the original report to Cabinet contained exempt information and should there be any questions on this part of the report he would take these at the end after a resolution to exclude the press and public.

There were a large number of questions on the public part of the report and it was then moved by Councillor Denwood and seconded by Councillor Hanson that the press and public be excluded from the meeting to allow questions to be asked on that part of the report which contained exempt information.  On being put to the vote the Mayor declared the motion clearly carried.

Resolved:

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

The press and public then left the room.

There followed many more questions on the exempt part of the report at the conclusion of which the Mayor suggested a short adjournment to allow a few minutes break whilst the press and public returned.

With the agreement of the meeting, the Mayor adjourned at this point

for a five minute break.

The press and public were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 113.