Agenda and minutes

The Cabinet decision on the Request from Dukes and Grand Theatres for Grant Support (Minute 6) taken by Cabinet on 27^th May 2014 has been requested to be called in by Councillors Roger Dennison and Roger Mace (Overview and Scrutiny Members) and by Councillors Keith Sowden, Joan Jackson and Caroline Jackson. 

This request was subsequently agreed by the Chief Executive. The decision has been called-in in accordance with Part 4 Section 5, Paragraph 16 of the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Janice Hanson (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Regeneration and Planning), Andrew Dobson, Chief Officer (Regeneration and Planning) and Nadine Muschamp, Chief Officer (Resources) have been invited to attend to outline the basis on which the decision was made. 

Included in the agenda :

·         Call-in Procedure

·         Call-in Notice

·         Revised recommendation of Councillor Hanson – this superseded the original recommendation included in the Cabinet report

·         Report to Cabinet and Cabinet Minute Extract

Members were advised that the Cabinet decision in relation to Request from Dukes and Grand Theatres for Grant Support – Cabinet Minute 6 – had been called-in by the following 5 Members:

 Councillors Roger Dennison, Roger Mace, Caroline Jackson, Joan Jackson and Keith Sowden.

The meeting was adjourned at 7.18pm to allow Mr Hardy from The Grand Theatre to make a short statement.

The meeting was reconvened at 7.20pm.

Members were informed that the Call-in had been made on the basis that the decision had not been made in accordance with all the principles set out in Article 13 (Decision Making) of the Constitution, in particular:

(a)          Proportionality (i.e. the decision is not proportionate to the desired outcome).   

(b)        Lack of, or insufficient consultation and the taking of professional advice from             Officers.

(d)        Lack of openness. 

(e)        The aims and desired outcomes of the decision are not clearly expressed. 

(f)        Insufficient information about the options that were considered or the reasons             for arriving at the decision.    

(g)        Other. 

The Chairman outlined the procedure to be followed and invited the Councillors who had made the Call-in request to summarise the reasons for the Call-in. Councillors Mace set out their reasons for the call-in.

The Chairman invited Councillor Hanson, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Regeneration and Planning to explain the reasons for the decision of Cabinet.

 An officer briefing note was circulated to those present detailing the advice given to Cabinet prior to the decision being made.

The meeting was adjourned at 7.35pm to allow Members to read the

briefing note.

The meeting was reconvened at 7.40pm.

The Chairman invited signatories to the Call-in to ask questions and Councillor Hanson, the Chief Officer (Regeneration and Planning) and Chief Officer (Resources) responded.

The Chairman invited Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to ask questions and Councillor Hanson, the Chief Officer (Regeneration and Planning) and Chief Officer (Resources) responded.

The meeting adjourned at 8.30pm.

The meeting reconvened at 8.45pm.

It was proposed by Councillor Roger Mace and seconded by Councillor Roger Dennison:

(1)        Overview and Scrutiny recommends that Cabinet reconsiders its decision on the basis of the officer briefing note provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 18th June 2014 and takes note of the recommendation in the original Cabinet report and the additional information supplied by the Grand Theatre at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting in respect of the requests from Dukes and Grand Theatres for grant support - 27th May 2014 (Cabinet Minute 6).

(2)        Recommends that Cabinet takes steps to ensure that all parties share the Council's interpretation of the development brief for the Canal Corridor North, as set out in the General Comment Section of today's officer briefing note.

(3)        Recommends that Officers meet again with representatives of both theatres and consults with the Arts Council and British Land/Centros to provide clarity and openness for the way forward. 

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.