Agenda item

          (1)     by Councillor Linda Neal

 

This Council declares that the decision of some members of the non-administration group to return to a situation where the important scrutiny function is exercised in part through a “Shadow Cabinet" with an overtly political agenda has profound implications for the progress of the authority and is to be regretted.

 

The Council reminds members who have chosen to go down this route that the CPA report, which they along with the whole Council, accepted in January stated that the presence of a Shadow Cabinet had led to a situation where “the skills and commitment of Councillors is not harnessed for the benefit of local people” (para 57). The same report also highlighted the limited capacity amongst some members (para 59).

 

The Council declares that the reforming of a Shadow Cabinet, with an overtly political agenda, can only further dilute member capacity to the detriment of service to our residents. In order to minimise this danger the Council resolves that with immediate effect:

 

Clr M Taylor replaces Clr John Hurst as Chairman of the Communications and Engagements DSP with Clr Nadarajah becoming the Vice Chairman.

 

Clr Fines replaces Clr Kerr as Vice-Chairman of the Development Control Committee.

 

In this way the Council can ensure that the member appointed to serve the community of South Kesteven in undertaking these important functions have both the capacity and the confidence of residents in their willingness to place their duty to the public ahead of their political aspirations.

 

The Council also asks that if the “Shadow Cabinet” continues then with immediate effect it extends to all other members the courtesy of confirming positions and membership, the constitution and remit, methods by which members were appointed, and how it intends to resolve the fundamental obstacles to effective scrutiny outside the Council’s constitution that were identified by the CPA report.

 

(2)     by Councillor Maureen Jalili

 

          That this Council resolves that an additional sum of £60,000  be allocated for advice services in the financial year 2005/06 .

 

          (3)     by Councillor Stephen O’Hare

 

         This Council believes in relation to CAB in South Kesteven that

 

         (1)      This Council should state precisely what, if anything, it is seeking from South Kesteven CAB;

 

          (2)     There should be a willingness by SKDC to negotiate openly, honestly and realistically with South Kesteven CAB;

 

          (3)     An active and effective CAB is and will continue to be of benefit to the people we represent;

 

          (4)     An enhanced CAB will be of even greater benefit;

 

          (5)     It will be easier both for this Council and South Kesteven CAB, to plan for the future if there is in place an agreement dealing with the future (and thereby providing stability and mutual commitment);

 

          (6)     A clear agreement between SKDC and South Kesteven CAB with both knowing what is expected of them by the other is to be encouraged;

 

          (7)     If need be the funding allocation of £50,000 for advice services in 2005 /06 be treated as an interim payment pending agreement being reached between SKDC and South KestevenCAB as to the future; AND

 

          (8)      Strongly urges and requests the Cabinet  having taken these points into account to, as far as need be, amend or rescind  any previous Cabinet decisions which if left unaltered would prevent or impede progress towards the aims stated above.

 

          (4)     by Councillor Stephen O’Hare        

   

         That this Council believes in local democracy and so endorses and totally supports the right of any individual Councillor to bring to this Council for debate and decision any issue affecting the district or any part of it and especially an issue affecting the people of the area represented by that local Councillor.

 

          (5)     by Councillor John Wilks

 

          This Council wishes to make it clear to all, that it believes in the benefits being provided to residents of the district, consequent upon the continued existence of the South Kesteven Citizens Advice Bureau.

DECISION:  The notice of motion submitted by Councillor Mrs Jalili was withdrawn.

 

The following motion had been proposed by Councillor Mrs Jalili:

 

“That this Council resolves that an additional sum of £60,000  be allocated for advice services in the financial year 2005/06”  Councillor Mrs Jalili informed the Council that following discussions immediately prior to the meeting with representatives of the South Kesteven CAB she now wished to amend the figure quoted in her motion.  She was advised that amendments were not permissible under the Constitution and she must either put her motion as printed or withdraw it.  Councillor Mrs Jalili accordingly withdrew her motion.

 

(2)       by Councillor Stephen O’Hare

 

DECISION:  This Council believes

 

It has stated precisely what it is seeking from South Kesteven CAB over a considerable time;

(1)      There has and always has been a willingness by SKDC to negotiate openly, honestly and realistically with South Kesteven CAB;

(2)       An active and effective CAB does and will continue to be of benefit to the people we represent;

(3)      An enhanced CAB may well be of even greater benefit;

(4)      A clear agreement between SKDC and SK CAB already exists;

(5)      The funding decisions are not made by Cabinet.

 

The following motion had been proposed by Councillor O’Hare:

 

 This Council believes in relation to CAB in South Kesteven that

 

 (1)   This Council should state precisely what, if anything, it is seeking from South Kesteven CAB;

 

(2)       There should be a willingness by SKDC to negotiate openly, honestly and realistically with South Kesteven CAB;

 

(3)       An active and effective CAB is and will continue to be of benefit to the people we represent;

 

(4)       An enhanced CAB will be of even greater benefit;

 

(5)              It will be easier both for this Council and South Kesteven CAB, to plan for the future if there is in place an agreement dealing with the future (and thereby providing stability and mutual commitment);

 

(6)       A clear agreement between SKDC and South Kesteven CAB with both knowing what is expected of them by the other is to be encouraged;

 

(7)       If need be the funding allocation of £50,000 for advice services in 2005 /06 be treated as an interim payment pending agreement being reached between SKDC and South KestevenCAB as to the future; AND

 

(8)             Strongly urges and requests the Cabinet  having taken these points into account to, as far as need be, amend or rescind  any previous Cabinet decisions which if left unaltered would prevent or impede progress towards the aims stated above.

 

Councillor O’Hare spoke in support of his motion claiming that the Council had not stated precisely what it wanted from the CAB.  He stated that the ballpark figure of £50,000 was based on an erroneous assumption concerning the number of hours the CAB was open as opposed to the actual number of hours that were worked.  He called for open, honest and realistic negotiations between the Council and the CAB.

 

In seconding the motion, a member acknowledged that the relationship with the CAB had become very complicated and that the Council should not just hand money over unless: the CAB put its house in order internally; there was a clear statement of what the Council was going to get in return for funding; and, there was a clear and transparent mechanism for ongoing accountability for the level of service in the future.

 

The Chief Executive advised members that the part (1) of the motion should refer to the Cabinet and not the Council as it was the Cabinet’s prerogative to determine the basis of those negotiations.  The Leader then moved the following amendment:

 

This Council believes

 

(1)                                  It has stated precisely what it is seeking from South Kesteven CAB    over a considerable time;

(2)                                  There has and always has been a willingness by SKDC to negotiate openly, honestly and realistically with South Kesteven CAB;

(3)                                  An active and effective CAB does and will continue to be of benefit to the people we represent;

(4)                                  An enhanced CAB may well be of even greater benefit;

(5)                                  A clear agreement between SKDC and SK CAB already exists;

(6)                                  The funding decisions are not made by Cabinet.

 

The amendment was put to the vote and was carried.  A further vote on the substantive motion was also carried.

 

(3)   by Councillor John Wilks

 

DECISION: This Council wishes to make it clear to all, that it believes in the benefits being provided to residents of the district, consequent upon the continued existence of the South Kesteven Citizens Advice Bureau.

 

The following motion had been proposed by Councillor Wilks:

 

This Council wishes to make it clear to all, that it believes in the benefits being provided to residents of the district, consequent upon the continued existence of the South Kesteven Citizens Advice Bureau.

 

After Councillor Wilks had introduced his motion, it was seconded and a call for a recorded vote was indicated.  This was supported in accordance with Council procedure rule 16.4. The names of members voting either for, against or abstaining from the motion of Councillor Wilks are recorded below:-

 

FOR                    AGAINST              ABSTAIN

 

Cllr Auger                     Cllr Burrows

Cllr Mrs Bosworth

Cllr Bryant

Cllr Carpenter

Cllr Mrs Cartwright

Cllr Miss Channell

Cllr Chivers

Cllr Conboy

Cllr Craft

Cllr Dexter

Cllr Fines

Cllr Fisher

Cllr Mrs Gaffigan

Cllr Galbraith

Cllr Gibbins

Cllr Helyar

Cllr Hewerdine

Cllr Fereshteh Hurst

Cllr John Hurst

Cllr Howard

Cllr Mrs Jalili

Cllr Joynson

Cllr Mrs Kaberry-Brown

Cllr Kerr

Cllr Kirkman

Cllr Lovelock

Cllr Martin-Mayhew

Cllr Nadarajah

Cllr Mrs Neal

Cllr Nicholson

Cllr O’Hare

Cllr Parkin

Cllr Pease

Cllr Mrs Radley

Cllr Norman Radley

Cllr Sandall

Cllr Selby

Cllr John Smith

Cllr Mrs Judy Smith

Cllr Stokes

Cllr Mike Taylor

Cllr Thompson

Cllr Graham Wheat

Cllr Mrs Mary Wheat

Cllr Wilks

Cllr Avril Williams

Cllr Mike Williams

Cllr Mrs Woods

 

          48                             0          1