Location: Oval Community Centre, Stevenage
Present: S.K. Speller (Mayor), J. Lloyd, CC (Deputy Mayor), S. Batson, CC, G. Clark, R.A. Clark, D.W. Cullen, CC, M. Downing, CC, P.E.J. Gallagher, J. Gardner, B.P. Hall, R.J. Henry, J. Hollywell, B. Jackson, T.G.M. Kent, CC, P.D. Kissane, L.A. Lambert, C. Latif, Mrs J.E. Lloyd, S.M. Myson, R.G. Parker, CC, J.R. Raynor, D. Royall, G. Snell, Mrs L.G. Strange, P. Stuart, S. Taylor, H.C.L. Tessier, J. Thomas, B.G. Underwood , K. Vale, Mrs P.A Webb
Others: There were 19 Members of the public present.
Duration:
Start Time: 7.00pm
End Time: 9.45pm
Status: Noted
Business: Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors L. Harrington, L. Knight, M.A. Mason, M. Notley, M.P. Patston, J.A. Pickersgill, R.J. Smith, MBE, DL and A.T. Turner.
Councillor R.A. Clark declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 16 - Officer report - Urgent decision taken by the Executive and left the meeting whilst the item was being considered.
The Mayor welcomed everyone to the first meeting in the 'Council on Tour' initiative whereby the Council had come out into the Community to involve local residents in shaping Council policy for the future.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 12th July 2006, having been circulated, be taken as read, confirmed and signed by the Mayor as a correct record subject to the addition of 'CC' following Councillor Parker's name in the attendance list.
Status: Agreed
Business: The Mayor began his communication by inviting Council to observe a minutes silence in rememberance of former Mayor and Councillor Brian Dunnell who had recently passed away.
The Mayor reported that he had been involved in a great number of engagements since the last Council meeting and he highlighted a few of them.
The Mayor then spoke of his LEJOG: Lands End to John O'Groats cycle ride which he undertook in August over 14 days. During the journey he visited 8 hospices and Sue Ryder Care Centres.
A short film was then shown about Stevenage's first entry into Britain in Bloom. Councillor Sue Myson then presented the Mayor with the Silver Award won.
At this point the Mayor gave his apologies for the remainder of the meeting and the Deputy Mayor, Councillor John Lloyd Chaired the remainder of the meeting.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business: The Deputy Mayor introduced Dave White, the Council's Environmental Campaigns Manager who gave a presentation on waste and recycling.
The meeting was advised that the Council had yet to take any decisions on any of the issues covered in the presentation. The main aims of the debate were to:-
* raise issues that needed to be considered before decisions could be taken
* obtain initial views
* not reach final decisions on the night.
Subjects covered in the presentation included:-
- Should we have wheelie bins in Stevenage?
- What else should we be recycling?
- Should there be penalties for those who do not recycle?
The Deputy Mayor thanked Dave for his informative presentation.
Dave White replied to questions from members of the Council and members of the public.
The Deputy Mayor then opened the debate to the public and Members of the Council. During the debate, the views expressed by members and the public were mixed regarding the use of wheelie bins and bags with arguments being put forward for and against both options.
A motion was then moved by Councillor Richard Henry and seconded by Councillor John Gardner.
In terms of what else the Council should be recycling, broad agreement was given to the extension of the service to include kitchen waste and cardboard. It was also generally felt that there should not be penalties for those who do not recycle.
Councillors expressed the view that the Council should be seen to be taking a leading role in the management of waste. A further motion was moved by Councillor Richard Henry and seconded by Councillor Sharon Taylor, regarding the use of plastic bottles of water by the Council.
Decision: Upon being put to the vote, it was RESOLVED:-
(i) That the Executive be requested to take into account the views expressed at this Council meeting in coming to any decisions on the future management of waste and a choice between black sacks and wheelie bins.
(ii) That there will not in future be any plastic bottles of water at any meeting of the Council or its Committees.
Status: Noted
Business: None received.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: None received.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: The Leader of the Council, on behalf of all Members wished Councillor Parker every happiness in his home and presented him with a card.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: None received.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: Councillor Lis Knight had submitted a question, of the Executive Member (Environment and E-Government), detailed in the Agenda, in accordance with Standing Order 14:-
Councillor Richard Henry, Executive Member for Environment and E-Government gave a response to Councillor Knight. The Council had considered the provision of web pages to Councillors, and we have the ability to publish content about Councillors on the Council's website. This will be pursued and a pilot project run with a small group to demonstrate what can be achieved.
In terms of Welwyn Council, they do use Councillor information as their own website was not ready by 31st December 2005, the date the ODPM target fell due. They now plan, however, to transfer the service back in-house and publish their own site.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business: The Council considered an officer report recommending approval to a policy on convictions in respect of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle drivers, following consideration by the General Purposes Committee.
Decision: It was RESOLVED:-
(i) That the Policy Statement on convictions in respect of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle drivers is approved.
(ii) That the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing is authorised to make minor changes to this policy in consultation with the Chair of the General Purposes Committee.
Status: Agreed
Business: Th
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the name of the Area Committee be changed to the Shephall, Bandley Hill and Poplars Area Committee.
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that Mr. Brian Mitchell be appointed as an Independent Member of the Audit Committee.
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED:-
(i) That the Constitution be amended to allow Vice-Chairs of Scrutiny and Value for Money Panels to serve on the Scrutiny Overview Committee in the absence of their respective Chairs.
(ii) That the 'Call-In and Urgency' provisions of the Overview and Scrutiny Rules of the Constitution be amended to specify that in the event of the Chair of the Scrutiny Overview Committee permitting an urgent Key Decision being considered by the Executive and where that decision taken differs significantly from that proposed, further approval be sought from that Chair (or in his absence Vice-Chair) before the decision may be implemented.
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Statement of Accounts Committee held on 29th June 2006 be noted.
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1-7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.
Status: Noted
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the report be noted.