Agenda item

To consider the decision of the Executive on the above item, which has been called in by Councillors Scott, Merrett and Potter in 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 Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) in relation to the call-in procedure together with the original report and the decision of the Executive.  (This item was added to the agenda on 30 December 2008).

Members received a report which asked them to consider the decisions taken by the Executive, at their meeting on 23 December 2008, in respect of proposals to carry out an appraisal of land at Harewood Whin as the preferred site for a replacement Household Waste Recycling Centre for the West of the City.

Details of the Executive’s decisions were attached as Annex 1 to the report.  The original report to the Executive meeting was attached as Annex 2.  The decisions had been called in by Cllrs Scott, Potter and Merrett for the following reasons:

• The Executive has failed to consider properly or at all the comments of the Shadow Executive.
• The Executive has misdirected itself when considering its decision of 9 September.
• The Executive has reached a decision which the Full Council would not agree with.
• The decision of the Executive is fundamentally flawed.

Members were invited to consider whether to confirm the decisions of the Executive (Option A) or to refer them back to the Executive for reconsideration and / or amendment (Option B). 

Cllr Potter addressed the meeting on behalf of the Calling-in Members.  She expanded upon the reasons for the call-in, stating that the report to the Executive had not considered all the alternative options nor taken into account the views of residents, the fact that the existing Household Waste Site was popular and well used and the risks of development in the Green Belt. 

Following questions and a full debate Cllr Scott moved, and Cllr Pierce seconded:

“That the decisions be referred back to the Executive for the reasons stated by the Calling-In Members, with a particular recommendation that the Executive develop a waste management strategy before deciding on what recycling facilities are required.”

On being put to the vote, the above motion was declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That Option B be approved and that the decisions be referred back to the Executive for the reasons stated by the Calling-In Members, with a particular recommendation that the Executive develop a waste management strategy before deciding on what recycling facilities are required.

REASON:      In accordance with the Constitutional procedures for called-in decisions and to deal with the issues raised by the Calling-in Members.