Agenda item

To consider the recommendations of Council Business Committee from its meeting on15th January 2009.

Councillor Smith as Chairman presented a report of the Council Business Committee on a proposed timetable of meetings for 2009/10 as well as recommendations relating to changes to future meeting times.

He outlined some of the reasoning behind the recommendations agreed by the Committee.   He also highlighted a number of other issues contained within the report, in particular the proposal to cancel the special Council meeting for 2009 only as a cost saving measure.

It was also noted that contained within the report was a suggestion put forward since the meeting of Council Business Committee that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Budget and Performance Panel should be merged.

It was agreed to take each element of the recommendations separately and Councillor Smith moved recommendation (1) as set out in the report, subject to amendments to the dates of Planning Committee in line with the supplementary report circulated at the start of the meeting.

The recommendation was seconded by Councillor Leytham.

It was then moved by Councillor Dennison and seconded by Councillor Ashworth by way of an amendment:

‘That in relation to the start times set out in Recommendation (1), the current start time of Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee remain unaltered at 10.30am in view of the quasi legal nature of Planning Committee and its involvement of outside professionals and significant numbers of staff.   Altering start times could result in significant deterioration in this Committee's level of service to the public.’

There followed a lengthy debate following which on being put to the vote the Mayor declared the amendment clearly carried.

It was then moved by Councillor Wade and seconded by Councillor Taylor by way of further amendment:

‘That the start time of the Licensing Act Committee remain at 2pm’

There followed a further debate at the conclusion of which 22 Members voted for the amendment, 26 against and one abstained, whereupon the Mayor declared the amendment lost.

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

Recommendation (2) as set out in the report was then moved by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor Trolinger.

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

In relation to recommendation (3) in the report it was moved by Councillor Langhorn and seconded by Councillor Archer:

‘That no action be taken in respect of the proposed merger of Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Budget and Performance Panel.’

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

Resolved:

(1)     That the Council’s timetable of meetings for 2009/10 be approved as set out in         Appendix D and as follows:

(2)     That the first meeting of all Task Groups should take place at 6.00 pm unless           there are special circumstances.

(3)     That no action be taken in respect of the proposed merger of Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Budget and Performance Panel.