Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jim Blakely, Keran Farrow, Sarah Fishwick, Janice Hanson, Roger Plumb, Peter Robinson, Tony Wade and Maia Whitelegg.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Meetings of the City Council held on 22^nd July 2009 (previously published). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2009 were signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Members advised of the following declarations of interest at this stage:

Councillors Evelyn Archer, June Ashworth, John Barnes, Shirley Burns, John Day, Roger Dennison, David Kerr, Geoff Knight and Geoff Marsland declared personal interests as Morecambe Town Councillors in that part of the Leader’s report relating to arrangements for an artificial ice rink at the Dome (Minute No. 43 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 receive the Cabinet Leader’s report on proceedings since the last meeting of Council. 

(Councillors Evelyn Archer, June Ashworth, John Barnes, Shirley Burns, John Day, Roger Dennison, David Kerr, Geoff Knight and Geoff Marsland declared personal interests as Morecambe Town Councillors in that part of the Leader’s report relating to arrangements for an artificial ice rink at the Dome.)

The Leader presented his report on the proceedings of Cabinet since the last meeting of Council and updated Council on various issues.

He answered a number of questions from Councillors.

Resolved:

That the report be noted. 

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet at its meeting on 28 July 2009.

Council considered a report of Cabinet from its meeting on 28 July 2009 which recommended that a number of underspent budgets amounting to £137,400 for General Fund and £45,000 for Housing Revenue Account and detailed at Appendix A to the report be carried forward into the current financial year.

Approval had been given by Cabinet to those requests under £10,000 but any above that amount required approval by full Council.  The report explained that all requests were linked to achieving specific objectives or service targets and would have adverse implications for service delivery if not approved.  The effect on revenue balances at the end of the current year was also set out.

The recommendation set out in the report was moved by Councillor Langhorn and seconded by Councillor Thomas.

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

Resolved:

That the requests for carry forward of underspent budgets be approved as set out below:

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet at its meeting on 28 July 2009.

Council considered a report which set out the performance of the Council in respect of Treasury Management for 2008/09 and sought Council’s approval for various Prudential Indicators following on from last year’s outturn position.

It was noted that under the Code of Practice on Treasury Management in Local Authorities, it is a requirement that an information report on these matters be presented to Council as well as Cabinet; furthermore the Prudential Indicators must be approved ultimately by Council.

The recommendation set out in the report was moved by Councillor Langhorn and seconded by Councillor Thomas.

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

Resolved:

That the report be noted and that the Prudential Indicators as set out at Appendix B to the report be approved.

To consider the recommendations of the Council Business Committee at its meeting on 3 September 2009.

The Corporate Director (Finance & Performance) referred to a supplementary report which had been circulated since the publication of the agenda which explained that, whilst the Council Business Committee had originally recommended that Council adopt the Community Engagement Framework (CEF) subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise not requiring significant changes, it had become apparent that responses to the consultation exercise completed on 7 September had resulted in the need for the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Project Group to give further consideration to the proposed framework and it was anticipated that the CEF would be redrafted with changes in both presentation and format.

As a consequence, Council was now advised not to formally adopt the CEF at this stage, but to await the outcome of the redraft exercise, which it was expected would be achieved in time for a report to the next meeting of Council in November.

The recommendation set out in the supplementary report was moved by Councillor Trolinger and seconded by Councillor Dennison.

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

Resolved:

That Council note the content of the draft Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Community Engagement Framework at this stage and await the amended Framework as result of comments received as part of the consultation exercise before considering the formal adoption of the Framework.

The following motion of which notice had been given to the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15 was moved by Councillor Sheila Denwood and seconded by Councillor Abbott Bryning:

'That the City Council express its concern that the two carved Gillow Memorials naming the war dead of two world wars and others who fought who were members of the Co-operative Society in the Lancaster District  are not currently on display and may be in danger of neglect; and

That arrangements be made with the owners who have indicated a willingness to donate them to the City Council for suitable public display in order that they are properly honoured and preserved with the dignity they deserve.'

A briefing note setting out background information and the implications for the City Council was provided by the Corporate Director (Regeneration).

During the debate it was moved by Councillor Barry by way of a friendly amendment to the motion, that the words ‘to be located in the Ashton Hall, the cost of £100 to be met from existing budgets’ be added to the motion.

The proposer declined to accept this as a friendly amendment and there being no seconder the amendment fell.

At the conclusion of the debate, a vote was taken and the Mayor declared the motion clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)               That the City Council express its concern that the two carved Gillow Memorials naming the war dead of two world wars and others who fought who were members of the Co-operative Society in the Lancaster District  are not currently on display and may be in danger of neglect; and

(2)               That arrangements be made with the owners who have indicated a willingness to donate them to the City Council for suitable public display in order that they are properly honoured and preserved with the dignity they deserve.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director (Regeneration).

Council considered a report of the Corporate Director (Regeneration) seeking to appoint relevant members to Lancaster and Morecambe Vision Board Working Groups.

The Head of Democratic Services outlined the process whereby Council was being requested to consider adding these to the list of appointments to outside bodies and if so, to agree the basis on which the appointments should be made.  Should it be agreed that Cabinet Members would be the most appropriate representatives, then Cabinet would be asked to decide the relevant portfolio holder in each instance.

The recommendation set out in the report was moved by Councillor Langhorn and seconded by Councillor Archer.

It was then moved by Councillor Marsland and seconded by Councillor Sowden by way of amendment:

‘That the Council decline the invitation to appoint representatives on the Vision Board Steering Groups.’

At the conclusion of a short debate 2 Members voted for the amendment and many against, whereupon the Mayor declared the amendment lost.

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

Resolved:

(1)          That additional representation to the three steering groups of the Vision Board be added to the Council’s list of appointments to outside bodies.

(2)          That Cabinet be requested to agree appropriate Portfolio Holder representation on the three steering groups of:

-                 Place, Culture and Identity

-                 Business and Knowledge Innovation

-                 Connectivity

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 3 questions had been received by the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rules as follows:

(1)         Councillor Barnes to Councillor Barry regarding commercial vehicle sales on the Promenade

(2)         Councillor Barnes to Councillor Kerr regarding lack of maintenance and public safety in the enclosed access way between the Promenade and the Market Car Park

(3)         Councillor Budden to Councillor Thomas regarding the use of money as a result of S106 agreements.

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

To receive the Minutes of Meeting of Cabinet held on 28 July and 1 September 2009. 

Council considered the Cabinet minutes of the meetings held on 28 July and 1 September 2009.  There were no questions.

Resolved:

That the minutes be noted.