Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.  No interests were declared.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Friday, 5 November 2010.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 27 September 2010.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling-in) meeting held on 27 September 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider the decisions made by the Executive on 19 October 2010 in relation to the above item, which have been called in by Councillors Gillies, Healey and Wattin accordance with the provisions of the Council’s Constitution.  A cover report is attached setting out the reasons for the call-in and the remit and powers of the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) in relation to the call-in procedure, together with the original report to and decisions of the Executive.

Members received a report which asked them to consider the decisions made by the Executive on 19 October 2010 in relation to proposals for the provision of the commercial and community components of the Community Stadium project and a new governance structure to manage the project.

Details of the Executive’s decision were attached as Annex A to the report.  The original report to the Executive was attached as Annex B.  The decisions had been called in by Cllrs Gillies, Healey and Watt, on the grounds that:

“The decision made by the Executive does not take the project forward, because without information on the status of the enabling development and an updated funding position there can be no meaningful choices made regarding the sporting, commercial and community provisions of this project.”

Members were asked to decide whether to confirm the decisions of the Executive (Option A) or to refer them back to the Executive for re-consideration (Option B)

Cllr Healey addressed the Committee on behalf of the Calling-In Members, expanding upon their concerns regarding the financial viability of the project.  He asked that the matter be referred back to the Executive with a recommendation that they request a further report, presenting a clear financial update.

In response to questions from Members, Officers confirmed that the likely overall cost of the project had been set out in previous reports.  Detailed costings would depend upon the extent of the community facilities to be provided, which in turn was dependent on the commercial aspect of the project.  These matters were still under discussion.

Following a full debate, it was

RESOLVED: That Option A be approved and the original decisions of the Executive on this item be confirmed.

REASON:      In accordance with constitutional requirements for called-in matters, and because it is considered that referring the matter back to the Executive would serve no useful purpose and would only delay the progress of the project.