Location: Council Chamber, Daneshill House
Present: Members: Councillors, D. Royall, CC (Mayor), B. Jackson (Deputy Mayor), R.A. Clark, D.W. Cullen, M. Downing, CC, P.E.J. Gallagher, J. Gardner, B.P. Hall, L. Harrington, T.G.M. Kent, CC, L. Knight, L.A. Lambert, C. Latif, J. Lloyd, M.A. Mason, S.M. Myson, R.G. Parker, M.P. Patston, J.A. Pickersgill, J.R. Raynor, R.J. Smith, MBE, DL, CC, G. Snell, S.K. Speller, Mrs L.G. Strange, P. Stuart, S. Taylor, H.C.L. Tessier, B.G. Underwood, K. Vale, Mrs P.A Webb, CC.
Others:
Duration:
Start : 7.00pm
End : 10.00pm
Status: Noted
Business: Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors G. Clark, R.J. Henry, J. Hollywell, P.D. Kissane, Mrs. J.E. Lloyd, A.J.R. McCarthy, D.F. Monaghan, M. Notley and A.T. Turner.
The following Declarations of Interest were made in relation to Item 4: Main Debate - Review of Primary School Provision in Stevenage, and it was noted that those Members declaring Prejudicial Interests would be withdrawing from the meeting for the duration of that item:
Councillor T.G.M. Kent, CC - Prejudicial - Chair of Governors of Bedwell Primary School.
Councillor J. Gardner - Prejudicial - Chair of Governors of two schools and partner employed by one school.
Councillor L. Harrington - Prejudicial - Chair of Bedwell Primary School.
Councillor B.P. Hall - Prejudicial - grandchild attended one of the schools.
Councillor M. Downing, CC - Prejudicial - Chair of Governors of Fairlands School.
Councillor R.J. Smith, MBE, DL, CC - Non-Prejudicial - Governor of a number of schools in Stevenage (not affected by the Review).
Councillor J.A. Pickersgill - Non-Prejudicial - Governor of Heathcote School and Letchmore Infants School (neither affected by the Review).
Councillor Mrs. L.G. Strange - Non-Prejudicial - Governor of Featherstone Wood School (not affected by the Review).
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Annual meeting of the Council held on 30th June 2004, having been circulated, be taken as read, confirmed and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.
Status: Noted
Business: At the request of the Mayor, the Council observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect for the victims and families of the Beslan School tragedy.
The Mayor announced that he and the Mayoress had been very busy during their first three months in office. They had visited a number of local schools over this period to attend various events and had been tremendously impressed by the energy and talent of young people and the dedication of teachers and support staff.
The Mayor and Mayoress had also attended events organised by the Stevenage Scouts and two history lectures at the Stevenage Museum. They had been impressed by their visits to the Gordon Craig Theatre to see productions of 'Titanic' and 'Celebrate'. They had also visited a number of summer Play Schemes, and the Mayor passed on his congratulations to the impressive Play Leaders running these schemes.
The Mayor advised that he had attended the Anglia in Bloom Awards on 7th September 2004 at Great Yarmouth, and was delighted to report that Stevenage had been presented with the highest accolade of a Silver Gilt Award for Best Kept Small City. He was pleased to formally present this Award to Councillor S.M. Myson, Portfolio Holder for Community and Culture. At the Mayor's invitation, Councillor Myson stated that since 1996 Stevenage had won 21 Anglia in Bloom Awards, many of which were on display in the Council Chamber. She thanked all those for their hard work in connection with the Award, particularly staff at the London Road Depot and the Parks and Amenities Section, and all of the volunteers involved with the Stevenage in Bloom Forum.
The Mayor announced that he and the Mayoress had participated in a sponsored abseil on behalf of the British Red Cross, which had raised a considerable sum for this charity. He concluded by advising that he would be holding a Charity Quiz Night on 15th November 2004 at the Cromwell Hotel in order to raise funds for the Caribbean Hurricane Disaster Fund.
At this point the Mayor advised that he had to leave the meeting due to a prior engagement.
Councillor B. Jackson (Deputy Mayor) took the Chair.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business: In view of their prejudicial interests declared earlier in the meeting (see Minute 1), Councillors M. Downing, CC, J. Gardner, B.P. Hall, L. Harrington and T.G.M. Kent, CC, withdrew from the meeting for the duration of this item.
The Head of Community Development presented a report outlining the Review of Primary School Provision in Stevenage currently being undertaken by Hertfordshire County Council.
The Head of Community Development advised that the issue had been considered by the County Council's Education Panel on 28th September 2004, at which a number of resolutions had been passed, including recommendations to its Cabinet meeting on 11th October 2004. Details of these resolutions had been circulated around the Chamber.
The Head of Community Development concluded by drawing attention to the Borough Council's response to the County Council on its Consultation Paper. In this response, the Borough Council believed that more time was needed for alternative proposals to emerge and called upon the County Council to defer the matter in order for a wider range of options to be presented in a fair and even handed manner. Far from promoting the 'Community Cohesion' referred to in the Consultation Paper, the Borough Council considered that the proposals had undermined public confidence and belief that the County Council was genuinely committed to raising educational standards in Stevenage.
The Deputy Mayor thanked the Head of Community Development, and invited the County Council's Director of Children, Schools and Families to address the Council on the matter.
The Deputy Mayor then invited others to speak, and a motion opposing the Council Council's proposals was moved and seconded (see resolution below).
A number of Borough Councillors, County Councillors, school representatives and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stevenage all spoke in opposition to the County Council's recommendations. In addressing the meeting, one of the school representatives presented a petition of opposition signed by 7,000 objectors. The MP promised that she would be discussing the matter with the Secretary of State, raising it for debate in the House of Commons and, if necessary, taking it to the European Court of Human Rights. The County Councillors representing Stevenage Divisions explained that they would be asking for the matter to be re-considered at the next Full County Council meeting or for a Special County Council meeting to be convened for this purpose.
It was moved, seconded and agreed that Standing Orders be waived to continue the Main Debate beyond its stipulated duration of 40 minutes.
A number of other Councillors spoke in opposition to the proposals, and the Deputy Mayor invited the County Council's Director of Children, Schools and Families to make some closing remarks before the proposer of the motion summed up.
Decision: It was RESOLVED:
(i) That Stevenage Borough Council request Hertfordshire County Council's Cabinet to consider withdrawing their current proposals for the centre and south of Stevenage Primary Schools reorganisation and,
- re-consult for the centre of Stevenage on the basis of two options for the amalgamation of Pin Green School with Moss Bury School comparing the advantages and disadvantages of both sites;
- re-consult for the south of Stevenage on the basis of at least three options, two of which should be based on one and two form entry schools.
In all options balanced arguments should be given in the consultation document demonstrating how they will contribute to raising educational achievement levels.
(ii) That Stevenage Borough Councillors initiate an appeal to the Local Government Ombudsman against Hertfordshire County Council's conduct of the recent Stevenage Consultation on 'Reducing surplus primary places' in that it failed to meet HCC's own consultation standards.
(iii) That Stevenage Borough Council request the local MP, Barbara Follett, to arrange a meeting with the relevant Education Minister to discuss the public concern with the current Hertfordshire County Council proposals for primary school closures in the centre and south of Stevenage.
Status: Noted
Business: There were none received.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: A question had been received and was detailed in the Agenda. The questioner made a statement in relation to the question and a response was given by the Executive Councillor (Environment).
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: The Leader of the Council and appropriate Members of the Executive updated the Council in respect of Fairlands Valley Park - Paddling Pools; Stevenage Summer Festival; Praise for the Council's Tenancy Contract; Housing Visioning Days; Register of Electors 2005/06; Customer Service Centre - First Anniversary; and launch of the Community Strategy. Members of the Council expressed their views on a number of these matters.
The Leader of the Council had also submitted a question asking for details of the emergency procedures in place in Stevenage to deal with a 'Dirty Bomb'. The Assistant Chief Executive provided a full reply to this question.
In response to a question as to whether the Council would be organising a campaign to promote the use of Postal Voting prior to the 2005 Elections, the Leader of the Council commented that he hoped that sufficient resources would be available to run such a campaign.
In accordance with Standing Order 11(c), the Leader of the Opposition raised the matter of Member/customer complaints, commenting that the speed of response to such complaints had deteriorated significantly over the past six months. He cited some of the worst offending Sections and advised that he had raised the matter with individual officers, Chief Officers and Executive Members. It was considered that the Scrutiny Overview Committee/Resources and Corporate Management Scrutiny Panel should be requested to investigate this matter.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: No notices of motion were received.
Decision:
Status: Noted
Business: There were no questions to Committee Chairs/Portfolio Holders.
Decision:
Status: Agreed
Business: The Council considered a report and recommendation from the meeting of the Executive held on 15th September 2004.
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the revised Financial Regulations, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved, subject to the deletion of the reference to Members in Section 24 of the draft document.
Status: Agreed
Business: The Council considered a report and recommendations from the meeting of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee held on 29th April 2004.
Decision: It was RESOLVED:
(i) That the policy to assist in the determination of licences for sex establishments, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.
(ii) That the Sex Establishment General Regulations, as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.
Status: Agreed
Business:
Decision: It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Statement of Accounts Committee held on 25th August 2004 be approved.