Contact Us
Frankwell Quay
Shrewsbury
SY3 8HQ
MINUTES OF COUNCIL
1st DECEMBER 2008
PRESENT:
The Mayor (Councillor Mrs Chebsey)Councillors Adams, Mrs Allaway, Armstrong, Barker, Bebb Mrs Brennand, Bushell, Clarke, Cooke, Durnell, Everall, Farmer, Freestone, Jetson, Mrs Jones, Kenny, Lord, Moore, Nutting, Mrs Owen, Owen, Parkhurst JP, Price, D. Roberts, K. Roberts, Sambrook, Mrs Sandford MBE, Sheppard, Tandy, Townsend, Wagner, Wild, Mrs Williams, S J Williams and J M Williams
Officers in attendance: Assistant Council Manager (Town Clerk), Assistant Solicitor (Monitoring Officer), Head of Finance and Democratic Services Manager.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Councillors Mrs Holyoak, Mrs Parsons and Dr Winchester
MINUTES: 22nd September and 20th October 2008 – confirmed.
PRAYERS: Prayers were said by the Reverend Thomas.
96/08 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
The following member declared his personal and/or personal and prejudicial interest in the item shown below:
|
Councillor Nutting |
Minute 109/08 – Motion Received On Notice – Support To Keep Shrewsbury Vibrant – Personal and prejudicial interest as a retailer in the town centre. He left the room during the consideration of, and voting on, this item. |
97/08 COMMUNICATIONS
At the request of the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, the meeting opened with a short film by Destination Shrewsbury entitled Darwin’s Shrewsbury.
The Mayor thanked those members who kindly supported her Charity Concert at the Music Hall. She then invited all present to join her and Mr Chebsey for a Christmas drink in the staff room at the conclusion of the meeting.98/08 POLITICAL BALANCE
It was proposed by Councillor Nutting, seconded by Councillor D Roberts and
RESOLVED:
That the allocation of seats to Committees be in accordance with the rules of political balance and as set out in the Annex submitted to Council.
99/08 SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE – HOUSING OPTIONS TEAM
It was proposed by Councillor Price and seconded by Councillor Mrs Williams that the recommendations of Cabinet in relation to the Housing Options Team be approved.
It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Kenny and seconded by Councillor Freestone that the recommendations be amended by the deletion of recommendation (c).
On being put to the meeting the amendment was lost.
The original motion was then put to the meeting and it was
RESOLVED:
(a) That a supplementary estimate of £100,000 be made to the Housing Options team to cover additional costs associated with the provision of homeless accommodation.(b) That, where appropriate, moneys be used on the basis of "spend to save", as outlined in paragraph 4.8 of the report of the Housing Manager, where this is likely to result in a saving to the Council.
(c) That only one offer of suitable permanent accommodation be made to discharge duty.
100/08 CONSULTATION PAPER: COMMUNITIES IN CONTROL – CODES OF CONDUCT FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES
It was proposed by Councillor Armstrong, seconded by Councillor Nutting and
RESOLVED:
That the answers drafted to each of the 12 questions raised by Communities and Local Government, as contained in paragraph 2 of the report by the Monitoring Officer, be approved as the basis of a formal response to the Government.
101/08 BOMERE HEATH BALL PARK
It was proposed by Councillor Price, seconded by Councillor Everall and
RESOLVED:
That the multi sports court in Bomere Heath be included in the Capital Programme for 2008/2009 to be funded from the savings in the current capital programme, and the cost of the scheme in the sum of £80,000 be funded from capital receipts.
102/08 MOTION RECEIVED ON NOTICE – CYCLING ON FOOTPATHS
Due notice having been given in accordance with the Council’s procedural rules the following motion signed by Councillors Armstrong, Mrs Brennand, Parkhurst JP, Wagner and S J Williams was proposed by Councillor S J Williams and seconded by Councillor Wagner:
That Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council invite the Police to explain their policy on the prosecuting of cyclists on pavements as more and more residents are tiring of seeing police vehicles and police on foot ignoring this anti-social habit. This is very dangerous and is against the Law. This happens all over the Borough, but is worse in the urban area including the Town Centre.
It was moved as an amendment by Councillor J M Williams and seconded by Councillor Townsend that the motion be amended by the addition and deletion of words to read as follows:
That Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council requests the Police to explain their policies and powers in respect of cycling on pavements. Are they enforced by the Police at all levels and can the statistics about enforcement be provided?
In accordance with Council Procedural Rule 14.11 (iii) it was moved by Councillor D Roberts and seconded by Councillor Armstrong "that the question be now put". The Mayor ruled that the item had been sufficiently discussed. On being put to the vote the procedural motion was carried.
On being put to the meeting the amendment was lost with 11 members voting in favour, 21 against and 2 abstentions.
The original motion was then put to the vote and carried with 21 members voting in favour, 9 against and 3 abstentions.
103/08 MOTION RECEIVED ON NOTICE – FUTURE HOUSING DELIVERY
Due notice having been given in accordance with the Council’s procedural rules the following motion signed by Councillors Adams, Armstrong, Barker, Bebb, Mrs Jones, Price, Nutting, K Roberts, Mrs Williams, Mrs Wild and Dr Winchester was proposed by Councillor Nutting and seconded by Councillor Price:
That in view of the present economic climate and the long term aim of the new Shropshire Council to provide more social and affordable homes the Council considers the purchase of any undeveloped sites within Shropshire to secure the best possible options for future housing delivery. The Implementation Executive to be asked to confirm its support for such a move which could be funded from the capital receipts of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and other district councils.
On being put to the meeting the motion was carried.
104/08 MOTION RECEIVED ON NOTICE – BOUNDARY COMMISSION
Due notice having been given in accordance with the Council’s procedural rules the following motion signed by Councillors Mrs Allaway, Clarke, Moore, Mrs Parsons, Tandy and Townsend was proposed by Councillor Clarke and seconded by Councillor Parkhurst JP:
This Council requests that the Electoral Commission reconsider the case for single member wards for Bayston Hill, Sutton & Reabrook and Column. On the grounds that the published final proposals for merger of those separate communities into one three member ward is at variance with the requirement placed on the Boundary Committee "to secure effective and convenient local governance". This Council instructs our officers to forward this decision to the Electoral Commission at the earliest opportunity accompanied by appropriate evidence.
It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Nutting and seconded by Councillor D Roberts that the motion be amended by the addition of the following words after the word "governance" in line 6:
This to be on the basis that Bayston Hill Parish be warded and that the three divisions reflect electoral equality.
On being put to the meeting the amendment was carried.
The original motion, as amended, was then put to the vote and carried with 20 members voting in favour, 9 against and 5 abstentions.
105/08 QUESTION BY MEMBER – WASTE HANDLING IN THE AREA
The following question was asked by Councillor Armstrong and replied to by Councillor Nutting:
Question:
Taking that both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are both looking to build "power from waste systems", have SITA, Veolia and Eon examined the possibility of joining forces to develop a single site rather than 2 sites. Taking that the re-merging benefits of coal over gas and the change in trends in power generation, the life of the Power Station at Buildwas could yet be extended as it has in the past. Also taking the fact that the likely costs of one decent plant rather than 2 smaller plants would be more economic and there should be a cost benefit that could be used to invest in the highest possible standards of incineration and waste gas-scrubbing etc. Do you agree that there is logic in asking the question of all concerned in the future of waste handling in the area.
Answer:
I do believe that the future of Shropshire would be better served with just one facility for handling waste. One in the Shropshire county area and one in the Telford and Wrekin area is too much and I do believe that Ironbridge Power Station is well worth looking at as a possible site. To go forward we should be looking at one. If you have one in each local authority area in Shropshire then they will struggle to have enough waste to keep them going. I hope that all options will be considered for the future including looking at any spare capacity at the Ironbridge Power Station.
Supplementary Question:
Does the Leader feel that it is worth writing to the managing directors of all the companies asking if they have spoken to each other on the matter, and if not, will they be willing to do so? Has there been any discussion about rock credits at the same time and if not, will they do this as well?
Supplementary Answer:
We should write to the various managing directors to get them around the table to find a way forward for the whole of Shropshire and discussion should also take place on the rock credit that might be available.
106/08 QUESTION BY MEMBER – DISABLED CAR PARKING SPACE
The following question was asked by Councillor Tandy and replied to by Councillor Bebb:
Question:
Could the Portfolio Holder tell me how many disabled parking spaces are provided in the Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council car parks within the loop of the river?
Answer:
The breakdown of disabled parking spaces in the Council’s car parks at the moment is as follows:
Multi- storey car park 30
Frankwell main 5
Frankwell Riverside 6 (a further 4 spaces to be added in due course)
Abbey Foregate 4
St Austins car park 2
The Tannery 2
Bridge Street 2
Quarry 1
52
Current planning is to increase the disabled bays in Frankwell Riverside by 4 spaces in order to accommodate the disabled visitors to the new Theatre Severn.
Supplementary question:
Do you think that there are enough spaces in the town centre?
Supplementary answer:
Yes, you only have to trawl around the town to see empty spaces.
107/08 QUESTION BY MEMBER – COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS
The following question was asked by Councillor Tandy and replied to by Councillor Mrs Williams:
Question:
Recent information has come to me that Community Support Officers (CSOs) have been instructed to count the litter bins in their area. Could the Portfolio Holder inform Council as to why this is necessary and why the Police, rather than Council employees, should be devoting time to this task?
Answer:
Most local people see the CSOs as an extension of the Police when in fact they are there to building community cohesion by empowering local residents to have an active role in their community. This action shows they can work in partnership with the local council. They are able to identify where the bins are located and where it might be preferable to locate them, nearer to an area experiencing litter problems. Our officers have worked hard, and of course, they asked the Chief of Police if the CSOs could carry out this task for us.
Supplementary Question:
We have considered a motion this evening about cycling on footpaths, do you really think it is a good use of the Community Support Officers?
Supplementary Answer:
CSOs are looking at the position of all the bins and saying if they should be moved. We know exactly how many bins we have in the area, but are working in partnership with the officers and take their advice if they say they need moving. Yes, they are doing a useful job.
108/08 VAT RATE CHANGE TO 15% FROM 1ST DECEMBER 2008
(The Mayor reported that she had agreed that this item should be considered as a matter of urgency by Council given that the reductions in VAT were announced following the dispatch of the agenda and should members be minded to approve the recommendations in the interests of residents and visitors to the Borough, the next meeting of Council was not due to be held until 26th March 2009.)
It was proposed by Councillor Nutting, seconded by Councillor D Roberts and
RESOLVED:
(a) That the action of the officers in implementing the changes to the standard rate of VAT from 17.5% to 15% be approved.
(b) That the scheme providing free parking between 2 pm and 8 pm on Wednesday at Abbey Foregate, Frankwell Main and St Julian’s Friars Car Parks, be extended to 25th March 2009.
109/08 MOTION RECEIVED ON NOTICE – SUPPORT TO KEEP SHREWSBURY VIBRANT
(The Mayor reported that she had agreed that this item should be considered as a matter of urgency by Council given the current economic position and should members be minded to approve the motion, the next meeting of Council was not due to be held until 26th March 2009.)
Due notice having been given in accordance with the Council’s procedural rules the following motion signed by Councillors Armstrong, Mrs Brennand, Farmer, Price and Mrs Williams was proposed by Councillor Mrs Williams and seconded by Councillor Armstrong:
That with the recession taking hold on our town and probable worsening after Christmas, this Council leads the way and shows support for the business/commerce leaders/economists in their aims to keep Shrewsbury vibrant.
That a sum of £50,000 be made available from balances and the Council Manager in consultation with the Leader of Council or his deputy be authorised to use the money on joint initiatives and that it be referred to Cabinet on 8th December 2008 for detailed implementation.
It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Moore and seconded by Councillor J M Williams that the motion be amended by the addition and deletion of words to read as follows:
That the principal of the motion be agreed and a small committee, comprising 5 members be set up, with delegated powers to allocate funding on joint initiatives to support businesses within Shrewsbury and Atcham.
On being put to the meeting the amendment was lost with 9 members voting in favour and 23 against.
The original motion was then put to the Council and was carried.
110/08 SHREWSBURY MARTIAL ARTS CENTRE
It was proposed by Councillor Nutting and seconded by Councillor D Roberts that the recommendations of Cabinet in respect of the Martial Arts Centre be approved.
It was moved as an amendment by Councillor Moore and seconded by Councillor Mrs Allaway that the recommendations be amended by the addition and deletion of words to read as follows:
That subject to:
(a) Further discussions taking place with all groups who have previously expressed an interest in the Martial Arts Centre to enable them to put forward proposals to use the building on a full repairing lease for a period not exceeding five years; and
(b) The views of the Implementation Executive of the new unitary authority being sought on the future use of the building/site.
the £30,000 for the proposed demolition be granted to the group presenting the best business case for the five year lease to assist with repairs to the building.
On being put to the meeting the amendment was lost with 12 members voting in favour and 20 against.
The original motion was then put to the meeting and, with 21 members voting in favour and 11 against, it was
RESOLVED:
That the Cabinet decision in Minute No. 150/08 be reaffirmed, namely:
That the Martial Arts Centre on land at Sundorne be demolished and the site be cleared and made secure, as appropriate and that a sum of up to £30,000 for the scheme be financed from Capital Receipts.
6.00 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.