Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dr. D. W. P. Booth JP, Mrs. M. Bunker, Miss D. H. Campbell JP, Ms. H. J. Jones, W. R. Newnes and Mrs. M. A. Sherrey JP.

At the request of the Chairman, the Reverend Andy Lyons opened the meeting with a prayer.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23rd June 2010 and the extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 30th June 2010 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record.

(Members are reminded that they need to keep their register of interest forms up to date)

No declarations of interest were received.

The Chairman referred to the following events:

(a)       Barn Dance on 23rd July 2010 at Councillor P. J. Whittaker’s farm;

(b)       Summer Garden Evening on 28th August 2010;

(c)        She had become a great grandmother on 14th July 2010.

The Leader congratulated Planning Officers on the commendation awarded by the Royal Town Planning Institute with regard to the regeneration of the Longbridge site.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 30th June 2010 were received for information.

To deal with any questions on notice from Members of the Council, in the order in which they have been received.

One question on notice was taken.

Question submitted by Councillor S. P. Shannon to the Leader

“With news of new lease for the Victoria Ground being allocated by this Council to Bromsgrove Sporting FC. Can the Leader inform the Council if a new condition has been introduced into the lease that would forbid the obnoxious practice of wheel clamping / vehicle seizure being used to control unauthorized parking at the Victoria Ground?”

The Leader referred this to Councillor M. J. A. Webb as the relevant Portfolio Holder.

Councillor Webb replied that whilst he agreed with the sentiments of the question and that there was a need to ensure the situation was managed effectively, it was not as straightforward as the question suggested. The terms of the lease could include reasonable enforcement provisions for car parking and officers would work to achieve this. Members would recall the problem also related to off-street parking and whilst these were not able to be managed through the lease, he could assure Members that these would be managed through the decriminalisation policy.

Councillor Shannon asked a supplementary question that could the Council insert a condition into the lease at the Victoria ground which forbids the use of clamping/vehicle seizure as a method of parking control on land in and around the stadium leased to Bromsgrove Sporting by the Council?

Councillor Webb replied that the matter could be looked into further but he wished to reiterate the point he made earlier that the terms of the lease could include reasonable enforcement provisions so that was being looked at. If it was being requested that the Council look into this further, he would be happy to progress that.

To consider the following motion submitted by Councillor Mrs. C. M. McDonald which was deferred at the meeting of the Council on 23rd June 2010 pending clarification from officers on responsibility for bus shelters:

“This Council states one of its main objectives is the Sense of Community and Well Being; this is certainly not being met or practiced with the removal of many bus shelters and the appalling state many are now in. Therefore, we call upon the Council to treat bus passengers with dignity and well being in providing bus shelters that are fit for purpose.”

The Chairman referred to the following motion which had been moved by Councillor Mrs. C. M. McDonald and seconded by Councillor S. P. Shannon at the meeting of the Council held on 23rd June 2010. The motion had been deferred clarification of responsibility for bus shelters.

“This Council states one of its main objectives is the Sense of Community and Well Being; this is certainly not being met or practiced with the removal of many bus shelters and the appalling state many are now in. Therefore, we call upon the Council to treat bus passengers with dignity and well being in providing bus shelters that are fit for purpose.”

The Leader responded that, having looked into the matter, no council had a statutory responsibility for providing bus shelters.  Whilst in the past the Council had not said ‘no’ to requests, five years ago the Council had taken the decision not to provide bus shelters as part of re-focusing expenditure on priorities as required to do so by the last government. Whilst ‘sense of community and wellbeing’ was an objective, bus shelters were not a priority. He suggested that if Councillor Mrs. McDonald wished to provide bus shelters, she should form a parish council, raise a precept and use that precept to fund bus shelters as other parish councils had done. If bus shelters were dilapidated, as had been suggested, he would ask officers to remove them.

Having consulted with the mover of the motion who confirmed that she wished the motion to be discussed, the Chairman then invited Members to debate the motion.

On a requisition under Council Procedure Rule 17.5, the following details of voting were recorded.

For the motion: Councillors Mrs. A. E. Doyle, Ms. J. A. Marshall, Mrs. C. M. McDonald, P. M. McDonald, D. McGrath, E. J. Murray, D. L. Pardoe, S. P. Shannon and C. J. K. Wilson (9);

Against the motion: Councillors A. N. Blagg, Mrs. J. M. Boswell, S. R. Colella, R. J. Deeming, G. N. Denaro, Mrs. R. L. Dent, J. T. Duddy, Mrs. J. Dyer M.B.E., D. Hancox, R. Hollingworth, B. Lewis, Dr. G. H. Lord, Mrs. J. D. Luck, S. R. Peters, C. R. Scurrell, R. D. Smith, Mrs. C. J. Spencer, C. B. Taylor, E. C. Tibby, C. J. Tidmarsh, L. J. Turner, M. J. A. Webb and P. J. Whittaker (23).

Accordingly, the Chairman declared the motion to be LOST.

To consider the following motion submitted by Councillor Mrs. C. M. McDonald:-

“It is an absolute disgrace that agencies such as this District Council, County Council and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust can all blame the other for the terrible state some parts of Charford are left in. Therefore, we call upon this Council to facilitate the getting together of all the agencies to resolve the situation and agree upon their obligations to the residents of Charford.”

Members considered the following motion submitted by Councillor Mrs. C. M. McDonald:-

“It is an absolute disgrace that agencies such as this District Council, County Council and Bromsgrove District Housing Trust can all blame the other for the terrible state some parts of Charford are left in. Therefore, we call upon this Council to facilitate the getting together of all the agencies to resolve the situation and agree upon their obligations to the residents of Charford.”  

The motion was moved by Councillor Mrs. C. M. McDonald and seconded by Councillor S. P. Shannon.

On a requisition under Council Procedure Rule 17.5, the following details of voting were recorded.

For the motion: Councillors Ms. J. A. Marshall, Mrs. C. M. McDonald, P. M. McDonald, E. J. Murray, S. P. Shannon and C. J. K. Wilson (6);

Against the motion: Councillors A. N. Blagg, Mrs. J. M. Boswell, S. R. Colella, R. J. Deeming, G. N. Denaro, Mrs. R. L. Dent, J. T. Duddy, Mrs. J. Dyer M.B.E., D. Hancox, R. Hollingworth, B. Lewis, Dr. G. H. Lord, Mrs. J. D. Luck, D. L. Pardoe, C. R. Scurrell, R. D. Smith, Mrs. C. J. Spencer, C. B. Taylor, E. C. Tibby, C. J. Tidmarsh, M. J. A. Webb and P. J. Whittaker (22);

Abstentions:  Councillors Mrs. A. E. Doyle, D. McGrath, S. R. Peters and L. J. Turner (4).

Accordingly, the Chairman declared the motion to be LOST.

To consider the following motion submitted by Councillor P. M. McDonald:-

“The ‘Together Bromsgrove’ magazine is seen by many as nothing more than a propaganda machine used to promote the controlling group’s politics and thus does not give a true picture of Bromsgrove District Council.

Therefore, we call upon the Council to cease publication and look at more cost effective and balanced ways of communicating with the public.”

Members considered the following motion submitted by Councillor P. M. McDonald:-

“The ‘Together Bromsgrove’ magazine is seen by many as nothing more than a propaganda machine used to promote the controlling group’s politics and thus does not give a true picture of Bromsgrove District Council.

Therefore, we call upon the Council to cease publication and look at more cost effective and balanced ways of communicating with the public.”

The motion was moved by Councillor P. M. McDonald and seconded by Councillor E. J. Murray.

On a requisition under Council Procedure Rule 17.5, the following details of voting were recorded.

For the motion: Councillors Ms. J. A. Marshall, Mrs. C. M. McDonald, P. M. McDonald, E. J. Murray, S. P. Shannon and C. J. K. Wilson (6);

Against the motion: Councillors A. N. Blagg, Mrs. J. M. Boswell, S. R. Colella, R. J. Deeming, G. N. Denaro, Mrs. R. L. Dent, Mrs. A. E. Doyle, J. T. Duddy, Mrs. J. Dyer M.B.E., D. Hancox, R. Hollingworth, B. Lewis, Dr. G. H. Lord, Mrs. J. D. Luck, D. McGrath, D. L. Pardoe, C. R. Scurrell, R. D. Smith, Mrs. C. J. Spencer, C. B. Taylor, E. C. Tibby, C. J. Tidmarsh, L. J. Turner, M. J. A. Webb and P. J. Whittaker (25);

Abstentions:  Councillor S. R. Peters (1).

Accordingly, the Chairman declared the motion to be LOST.

At this stage, with three Notices of Motion outstanding, the Chairman announced that the one hour time limit for the consideration of such motions had expired. Under the Constitution, the consent of the Council was required for this time limit to be extended. Having been put to the vote as to whether to continue, the Chairman declared the motion to be LOST.

To consider the following motion submitted by Councillor E. J. Murray:-

“The HUB was set up to improve customer relations and improve services in general for the residents of Bromsgrove. To ensure customer relations were not undermined residents having to visit the HUB were not penalised by being charged for parking their cars. Therefore, we call upon the Council to remove the charges immediately.”

This motion stood deferred to the next ordinary meeting of the Council.

To consider the following motion submitted by Councillor S. P. Shannon:-

“I call on this Council to reduce the CO2 emissions of the authority as a matter of urgency. This Council must honour its pledge to the 10:10 campaign signed earlier this year to reduce the carbon emissions of the Council by 10% during 2010.”

This motion stood deferred to the next ordinary meeting of the Council.

To consider the following motion submitted by Councillor C. J. K. Wilson:-

“Rubery has a vibrant high street which attracts many visitors and shoppers contributing to the local economy. The removal of hanging baskets devalues it as an attractive shopping area and gives the impression that it has been downgraded.

Therefore, we call upon the Council to reinstate hanging baskets and treat Rubery as it should, as the gateway to the Lickey’s and the Waseley Hills and not as a forgotten outpost.”

This motion stood deferred to the next ordinary meeting of the Council.

To consider a report of the Executive Director - Planning & Regeneration, Regulatory and Housing Services

Members considered a report of the Executive Director – Planning and Regeneration, Regulatory and Housing Services on urgent action which had been taken to purchase property known as George House, 2 Worcester Road, Bromsgrove.

Having been moved by Councillor Mrs. J. Dyer M.B.E. and seconded by Councillor G. N. Denaro, it was

RESOLVED:

(a)                  that the urgent decision to purchase 2 Worcester Road, Bromsgrove be noted;

(b)                  that the consequential effect on the Capital Programme be noted and that it be increased by £550,000 for the period 2010/11, this being the purchase price (including all other associated costs) of the above-mentioned property.

The Chairman drew Members’ attention to a plaque received as a gift from Gronau at the recent twinning visit. She would arrange for this to be displayed at the Council House.