Issue - meetings

Report number CEX378 by the Chief Executive.                (Enclosure)

DECISION:

The Council approves the proposed priorities as recommended by the Cabinet and listed in report CEX326.

The Leader of the Council moved that “the Council approves the proposed priorities as recommended by the Cabinet”. This was seconded. The process undertaken to agree the proposed priorities was detailed in report number CEX326.

An amendment was proposed and seconded that “leisure facilities and cultural services” should be added as a Category B priority.

Members of the Council debated the level of public consultation that had been undertaken. The priorities recommended by Cabinet had been made available via the modern.gov system. The local press were also aware of the proposed priorities. Concern was expressed about disinvestment in services including pest control, discretionary grants and tourism. Category M services had to achieve an operational minimum in terms of customer satisfaction and service delivery.

Members speaking against the amendment emphasised that resources available to the Council were limited. Since 1997, the discretionary spend of the Council had diminished significantly. The grant settlement for 2008/9 was not known. The Council voted on the amendment. The vote was lost.

A further amendment was moved and seconded that decisions on priorities and non-priorities should be deferred to allow the report to be considered by the Scrutiny Committee. A vote on this was taken and lost.

On being put to the vote the original motion was carried.

15:50-16:10 – The meeting adjourned.