Issue - meetings

The minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 27th September, 5th October and 2nd November 2011 were received for information.

With reference to Minute No. 60/11 (Sale of Freehold 76-88 Sherwood Road, Bromsgrove), Councillor P. M. McDonald referred back to comments he had made earlier in the meeting on this matter (Minute No. 70/11 above refers). He remarked that this decision had been taken by the Cabinet on 5th October 2011 which showed that the matter had not been agreed by the Cabinet or Council when the Leader had referred to the sale of the site at the Council meeting on 27th September 2011, and therefore Members could not have read papers on the matter before that date. Councillor McDonald made further comments alleging that processes had been breached and that without intervention from the Labour Group and the Executive Director (Finance & Resources) the land would have been sold to Aldi. He felt that the Leader should resign as a consequence of how the matter had been handled.

The Leader responded that he wished to hear the tape recording of what he had said at the Council meeting on 27th September 2011; that the recommended means of disposal had come from the County Council’s Property Services; that it had never been intended to sell the land to Aldi but to go to auction; and that the freehold had now been sold at auction at best price. Councillor McDonald welcomed the proposal to listen to the tape recording and maintained that he had given a direct quote of what the Leader had said and that if this was not the case, then he would consider his own position. The Chairman stated that due to the nature of the accusations being made she also wished to listen to the tape recording.

In response to a query raised by Councillor R. J. Shannon with regard to a meeting with Bromsgrove Rugby Club referred to in Cabinet Minute 56/11, Councillor M. J. A. Webb clarified the purpose of that meeting. In response to a further query with regard to a meeting at the Ryland Centre referred to in the same minute, the Chairman indicated that as Councillor Mrs. M. A. Sherrey was absent, she would be contacted with a request to provide clarification to Councillor R. J. Shannon.