Agenda, decisions and draft 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 remit of the Strategic Policy Panel can do so. The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Friday, 6 June 2008.

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 last meeting of the Strategic Policy Panel, held on 29 October 2007.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the last meeting, held on 29 October 2007, be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

This report asks Members to consider a decision taken by the Executive (Calling In) on 13 May 2008 in respect of Back Park Petition, which has been referred to the Strategic Policy Panel by the Leader of the Labour Group.

RESOLVED: That the Strategic Policy Panel recommends that the Executive ask Officers for a report to be prepared for the Full Council meeting on 30^th June with appropriate options and recommendations regarding the Balfour Street Play Area and that no further action is taken until the outcome of that meeting is known.¹

REASON:      In accordance with Constitutional procedures and to take account of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling in).

Members considered a report concerning the referral of a decision made by the Executive (Calling In) on 13 May 2008, in respect of the Executive’s original decision on 6 May on an item seeking their response to a petition about Back Park, which was presented to full Council in November 2007.

The report set out the decisions of the Executive and the Executive (Calling In), the reasons for the referral by Cllr Scott, as Leader of the Labour Group, and the powers and role of the Strategic Policy Panel (SPP) in dealing with the referral.

At the outset of the meeting, the following motion was moved by Cllr Waller and seconded by Cllr Jameson-Ball:

“The Strategic Policy Panel recommends that the Executive ask Officers for a report to be prepared for the Full Council meeting on 30^th June containing a recommendation that the resolution of the Executive (Calling in) meeting on 13^th May is included in the Capital Programme in relation to the Balfour Street Play Area.”

Following a debate on the issues, Cllr Scott moved, and Cllr Taylor seconded, an amendment to the above motion, as follows:

“Delete all after ‘recommendation’ in the 3^rd line and replace with:

‘that the Balfour Street Play Area is removed from the Capital Programme’.”

After further debate, Cllr Gillies moved, and Cllr Runciman seconded, an alternative amendment to Cllr Waller’s motion, as follows:

“Delete all after ‘30^th June’ in the 2^nd line and replace with:

‘with appropriate options and recommendations regarding the Balfour Street Play Area and that no further action is taken until the outcome of that meeting is known’.”

Cllr Scott’s amendment was then put to the vote.  5 Members voted for and 5 against the amendment; one Member abstained.  The Chair declined to use his casting vote and the amendment therefore fell.

Cllr Gillies’ amendment was then put to the vote.  6 Members voted for and 5 against the amendment, which was therefore declared carried.

Finally, the motion as amended by Cllr Gillies’ amendment was put to the vote. 6 Members voted for the amended motion and 5 voted against.  Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED: That the Strategic Policy Panel recommends that the Executive ask Officers for a report to be prepared for the Full Council meeting on 30^th June with appropriate options and recommendations regarding the Balfour Street Play Area and that no further action is taken until the outcome of that meeting is known.¹

REASON:      In accordance with Constitutional procedures and to take account of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In).