Minutes for Council meeting, Sep 3 2009, 6.30PM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barber, Connell, Lord Fearn, Howe, Kerrigan, McGinnity, Maher, Mahon, Pearson, Platt, Porter, Preston, Roberts, Tattersall, Tonkiss and Webster.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were made.

Minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2009

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 9 July 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

1.            Mayoral Ball - 12 February 2010

The Mayor reported that his main Charity event would be a night of ABBA at the Floral Hall on 12 February 2010.  The event is one month earlier than usual.  Tickets will start to go on sale in mid November 2009 and reservations for tables of 10 or 12 can be made at this stage only, by contacting the Head of Civic & Mayoral Services, Jason Carroll.

The event would be a five-course meal with wine, a superb Abba Tribute band, DJ to the early hours along with an auction and raffle.  The Mayor indicated that he hoped to raise an exceptional amount of money on the night, which would promise to have a couple of surprises.

2.            Hospital Visits

The Mayor reported that on 21 July 2009 in the company of the Mayor of West Lancashire, he visited Southport and Formby District General Hospital and Ormskirk District General Hospital.  He added that in both locations, one cannot fail to be impressed with the dedication and fortitude of the staff, at all levels and he extended his thanks to those who arranged the visits and indeed to those who took time out of their busy schedule to talk to them on the day.

3.         Lord Street Awards

The Mayor reported that he had been honoured not once, but on two occasions to attend award ceremonies where the improvements to Lord Street and its environment have received accolades.

On 6 July 2009 he attended the ceremony when the Lord Street Improvements Project received certificates and a commemorative plaque from the Worshipful Company of Paviours in recognition of the work carried out in and around Lord Street, and on 22 July 2009 he was also present when the scheme was presented the 'Local Government News' Award.

He extended his congratulations to all those involved with the Lord Street Improvements Project for the awards and recognition it had quite rightly received.

4.            Heroes Welcome in Sefton

The Mayor indicated the was pleased to announce that this scheme is now well established and he requested Members if they know of any businesses within Sefton who would be happy to join the scheme to collect an application form from the reception desk at the Town Hall, Bootle or contact the Mayoral Officer.

Mr John Corscaden, Chairman of the Sefton Carers Forum Committee has submitted a petition signed by 447 residents of the Borough, requesting “the reversal of the Cabinet policy decision regarding Specialist Transport Charges and a return to status quo” (Minute No 76 of the Cabinet meeting held on 9 July 2009 refers) and he will be permitted to make a statement as to the content of the petition which will not exceed five minutes. A copy of the issues to be highlighted in the statement by Mr Corscaden is attached for information.

(Details of any further Petitions notified or Questions submitted to the Legal Director by members of the public in accordance with Rule 11 of the Council and procedure Rules will be circulated at the meeting).

The Mayor reported that Mr John Corscaden, Chairman of the Sefton Carers Forum Committee had submitted a petition signed by 447 residents of the Borough, requesting "the reversal of the Cabinet decision taken on 9 July 2009 regarding Specialist Transport Charges and a return to status quo".  (Minute No. 76 refers) and in accordance with Rule 11.2 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules, Mr Corscaden gave a brief statement on the content of the petition.

RESOLVED:

That the petition be referred without debate to the next Cabinet meeting to be held on 1 October 2009.

To receive and consider questions to Cabinet Members, Chairs of Committees or Spokespersons for any of the Joint Authorities upon any matter within their portfolio/area of responsibility, of which notice has been given in accordance with Rule 12 of the Council and Committee Procedure Rules.

The Council considered written questions submitted by Councillor Brennan to the Leader of the Council;  Councillor Hands to the Cabinet Member - Children's Services and Councillor P. Dowd to the Council's spokesperson on the Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority together with the written responses.

One supplementary question was put in each case and answered as appropriate.

The Independent Chair of the Standards Committee, Mr Neil Edwards, will attend and present the attached report to the Council

The Council considered the Annual Report of the Standards Committee for 2008/09 and Mr. Neil Edwards, the Independent Chair of the Committee highlighted the key issues referred to in the report.

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne, and

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Communications) and Legal Director

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne, and

RESOLVED:

That this item be deferred for consideration at the next Council meeting to be held on 22 October 2009, to enable the Standards Committee and then the Cabinet to give further consideration to the revised guidelines before they are submitted to Council for approval.

Report of the Legal Director

Further to Minute No. 116 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 3 September 2009, the Council considered the report of the Legal Director on the outcome of the Council's consultation process as a result of the statutory requirement to review the Council's governance arrangements and to move to either a directly elected Mayor and Cabinet or a new style Leader and Cabinet.

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and

RESOLVED:  That

(1)       the report and the responses received as a result of the public consultation exercise be noted;

(2)       the proposals for a new Constitution be based on the new style Leader and Cabinet model; and

(3)       a further report be submitted to the Cabinet on 1 October 2009 and Council on 22 October 2009 setting out the necessary changes to the Council's Constitution.

Report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services.

Further to Minute No. 99 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 6 August 2009, the Council considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services on the results of the consultation exercise held with all Area Committees and Parish Councils on proposals to revise the moratorium on the siting of mobile phone masts on Council owned land.

It was moved by Councillor Robertson and seconded by Councillor Shaw:

"That:

(1)       the moratorium be revised so that it can be lifted by Cabinet on a case by case basis; and

(2)            Officers develop a protocol for evaluating requests to lift the moratorium and site mobile phones on Council land and report this back to the Cabinet for approval."

An amendment was then moved by Councillor Parry and seconded by Councillor P. Dowd that "this issue should be deferred for consideration at the next Council meeting to enable the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services to submit a further detailed report on the reasons for and against the lifting of the moratorium on the siting of mobile phone masts on Council Owned Land."

After debate thereon, the amendment was put to the vote and on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the amendment was carried by 26 votes in support of the amendment and 21 abstentions.

Following further debate, the Substantive Motion was put to the vote and on a show of hands, the Mayor declared that the Substantive Motion was carried by 26 votes in support of the amendment and 21 abstentions and it was

RESOLVED:

That this issue should be deferred for consideration at the next Council meeting to enable the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services to submit a further detailed report on the reasons for and against the lifting of the moratorium on the siting of mobile phone masts on Council Owned Land.

To consider any changes to the Membership of any committees etc.

Councillor Blackburn proposed the following changes:

• Councillor Byrne to replace Councillor Colbert as a Member of the Members' Development Steering Group

Councillor Parry proposed the following changes:

• Councillor Storey to replace Councillor Roberts as a Member of the Audit and Governance Committee

• Councillor Roberts to replace Councillor Platt as a Member of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee

Councillor Moncur proposed the following changes:

• Councillor Moncur to replace Councillor Brady as a Member of the Members' ICT Steering Group

RESOLVED:

That the proposed changes detailed above be approved.

Report of the Leader of the Council.

The Council received a report of the Leader of the Council setting out details of those matters dealt with in accordance with Rule 16 of the Access to Information Procedures Rules (Special Urgency).

Report of the Legal Director.

The Council considered a report of the Legal Director setting out details of those matters dealt with in accordance with Rule 17 of the Scrutiny Procedure Rules (Call-In and Urgency).