MINUTES OF AN EXTRA ORDINARY MEETING OF THE EASTWOOD TOWN COUNCIL, HELD ON MONDAY 28 JANUARY 2008 AT DURBAN HOUSE HERITAGE CENTRE, MANSFIELD ROAD, EASTWOOD, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

Present:          

Cllr D Bagshaw,

Cllr Mrs S Bagshaw,

Cllr P Butler,

Cllr Hazel Charlesworth,

Cllr R Charlesworth,

Cllr R Dodge,

Cllr Mrs T Fiddyment,

Cllr Mrs J Forrest,

Cllr B Griffin,

Cllr J Kenny,

Cllr K Longdon,

Cllr C Robb,

Cllr Mrs G Robb,

Cllr Ms Rayner Robb

Cllr Mrs J Yeomans.

Also present:   County Cllr Mrs E Lodziak and Mr W Gregory.

Cllr R Charlesworth, Town Mayor in the Chair.

86/08         APOLOGIES

                  All Councillors being in attendance, no apologies for absence were received.

87/08         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Declarations of prejudicial interests were made by Cllrs R Charlesworth, J Kenny and C Robb in respect of agenda items 5 & 6 (maintenance of recreation grounds in Eastwood and Town Council’s budget/precept for 2008/9).   All three Councillors would vacate the meeting room whilst these matters were being considered and would have no part in the debates or voting.  

88/08         RECORDING OF VOTES CAST

                  Cllr J Kenny formally requested that all votes cast during this meeting be recorded in the minutes.   This request was NOTED.

89/08         EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC AND PRESS

                  Under the provisions of Town Council standing order 68 the following proposal was moved and seconded: -

“That, in view of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, specifically through current negotiations with another public body, it is advisable in the public interests that the public and press be excluded and they are instructed to withdraw”.

After discussion the proposal was put to meeting and the following votes were cast: -

FOR the motion

Cllr R Charlesworth,

Cllr Hazel Charlesworth
Cllr R Dodge,

Cllr Mrs T Fiddyment,

Cllr Mrs J Forrest,

Cllr K Longdon,

Cllr C Robb,

Cllr Mrs G Robb and

Cllr Ms R Robb (Total 9)

AGAINST the motion

Cllr D Bagshaw,

Cllr Mrs S Bagshaw,

Cllr P Butler,

Cllr B Griffin,

Cllr J Kenny and

Cllr Mrs J Yeomans. (Total 6)

The motion was therefore CARRIED.

(County Cllr E Lodziak and Mr W Gregory left the meeting).

90/08         REVISON OF TOWN COUNCIL’S DECISIONS

The Town Clerk advised the meeting that in order for the remaining items of business to be debated, the Town Council may – if it so chooses – temporarily suspend paragraph 36 (a) which prevents reversion of Council decisions for six months.  

(This standing order was NOT one required to be observed by statute, but is laid down by the Town Council to specify how its business was to be conducted.   Such rules may be laid aside by the Town Council, by resolution, if the Council so wishes).   The following proposal was then considered by the meeting (proposed by Cllr K Longdon, seconded by Cllr Mrs J Forrest): -

“That, in view of important new information which has recently arisen, which was not available to the Town Council during its last meeting (14 January 2008), it is desirable to reconsider the following items of business of a matter of urgency.   It is therefore resolved to temporarily suspend the provisions of standing order 36 (a) for the remaining part of this meeting.

Cllr D Bagshaw proposed an amendment that standing order 36(a) should remain in force for this meeting.   Cllr J Kenny seconded this amendment.

The amendment was then put to the meeting first and the following votes were cast: -

FOR the amendment

Cllr D Bagshaw,

Cllr Mrs S Bagshaw,

Cllr P Butler,

Cllr B Griffin,

Cllr J Kenny and

Cllr Mrs J Yeomans. (Total 6)

AGAINST the amendment

Cllr R Charlesworth,

Cllr Hazel Charlesworth
Cllr R Dodge,

Cllr Mrs T Fiddyment,

Cllr Mrs J Forrest,

Cllr K Longdon,

Cllr C Robb,
Cllr Mrs G Robb and

Cllr Ms R Robb
(Total 9).

The amendment was declared LOST.

The original proposal by Cllr K Longdon was then put to the meeting and the following votes were cast: -

FOR the motion

Cllr R Charlesworth,

Cllr Hazel Charlesworth
Cllr R Dodge,

Cllr Mrs T Fiddyment,

Cllr Mrs J Forrest,

Cllr K Longdon,

Cllr C Robb,

Cllr Mrs G Robb and

Cllr Ms R Robb (Total 9)

AGAINST the motion

Cllr D Bagshaw,

Cllr Mrs S Bagshaw,

Cllr P Butler, Cllr B Griffin,

Cllr J Kenny and

Cllr Mrs J  Yeomans. (Total 6)

The proposal by K Longdon above was CARRIED.

At this point Cllrs R Charlesworth, J Kenny and C Robb vacated the meeting.

Cllr Mrs J Forrest Deputy Mayor in the Chair.

91/08         MAINTENANCE OF RECREATIONAL SITES IN EASTWOOD

The Town Clerk read out written statements received from senior Councillors providing additional information relating to the consequences of implementing the Town Council’s decision to withdraw from the maintenance agreement. 

After a full discussion, Cllr K Longdon proposed that the Town Council’s decision to hand back the maintenance work to the Borough Council, effective from 1 April 2008, be confirmed.   Cllr Mrs G Robb seconded the proposal.

Cllr D Bagshaw proposed an amendment that the contract of maintenance be extended for one year (2008/9) and possibly 2 years.   Cllr P Butler seconded the amendment.

All Councillors were given the opportunity to express their views upon this matter and after discussion the amendment proposed by Cllr D Bagshaw was put to the meeting.   The following votes were cast: -

FOR the amendment

Cllr D Bagshaw,

Cllr Mrs S Bagshaw,

Cllr P Butler,

Cllr B Griffin, and

Cllr Mrs J Yeomans. (Total 5)

AGAINST the amendment

Cllr Hazel Charlesworth,

Cllr R Dodge,

Cllr Mrs T Fiddyment,

Cllr Mrs J Forrest,

Cllr K Longdon,

Cllr Mrs G Robb and

Cllr Ms R Robb (Total 7)

 The amendment was therefore declared LOST.

The proposal by Cllr K Longdon was then put to the meeting.   The following votes were cast: -

FOR the motion

Cllrs Hazel Charlesworth,

Cllr R Dodge,

Cllr Mrs T Fiddyment,

Cllr Mrs J Forrest,

Cllr K Longdon,

Cllr Mrs G Robb and

Cllr Ms R Robb (Total 7)

AGAINST the motion

Cllr D Bagshaw,

Cllr Mrs S Bagshaw,

Cllr P Butler,

Cllr B Griffin, and

Cllr Mrs J Yeomans. (Total 5)

Cllr K Longdon’s  proposal was CARRIED.

92/08         TOWN COUNCIL’S BUDGET/PRECEPT FOR 2008/9

                  Cllr K Longdon reported that following further consideration of the impact of applying the Council’s budgets/precept (approved during the 14 January 2008 Town Council meeting) upon Eastwood ratepayers, an amended budget was desirable.   He therefore submitted a revised budget for reconsideration by the Council.  Cllr Mrs G Robb seconded this proposal.

                  Cllr D Bagshaw expressed serious concern at the lack of advanced notice for these proposals and was supported by Cllr B Griffin.

                  The Town Clerk advised that in order to provide an opportunity to all Councillors (and himself) for consideration of the new proposals, the meeting could agree to adjourn for 30 minutes.  This was AGREED.

-- Council meeting adjourned -

                  Following this adjournment the formal Council meeting resumed, Cllr D Bagshaw asked for further information upon circumstances leading up to these budget changes and in particular the proposal to pay transitional relief to Broxtowe Borough Council.   The Town Clerk also advised the meeting of the need to record specific information relating to the Council’s budgetary proposals.   Cllr K Longdon confirmed that the relief budget was to reduce the impact upon the ratepayer in respect of the transfer of responsibility for recreational site maintenance.   The new budget and precept figure was proposed at £127,115. (One hundred and twenty seven thousand and one hundred and fifteen pounds).

After a full discussion, Cllr K Longdon’s proposed revised budget was put to the meeting and the following votes were cast: -

FOR the revised budget

Cllr Mrs T Fiddyment,

Cllr Mrs J Forrest,

Cllr K Longdon,

Cllr C Robb,

Cllr Mrs G Robb and

Cllr Ms R Robb (Total 6)

AGAINST the revised budget

Cllr D Bagshaw,

Cllr Mrs S Bagshaw,

Cllr P Butler,

Cllr B Griffin, and

Cllr Mrs J Yeomans. (Total 5)

ABSTAINED

Cllr R Dodge

The motion was therefore CARRIED.

93/08         CONFIRMATION OF COUNCIL DECISIONS UNDER THE FOREGOING TWO ITEMS OF BUSINESS

                  For the avoidance of any doubts the Town Clerk repeated the final decisions of the Town Council under the preceding two items of business.   The meeting so NOTED.

                  Cllrs R Charlesworth and C Robb returned to the meeting.

                  Cllr R Charlesworth, Town Mayor, in the Chair.

94/08         NOTIFICATION TO COUNCILLORS WITH PREJUDICAL INTERESTS OF TOWN COUNCIL DECISIONS

                  For the avoidance of any doubt the Town Clerk reported upon the final decisions of the Town Council in relation to minutes 91/08 and 92/08 above to the two Councillors who had rejoined the meeting.

******

There being no further business, the Town Mayor thanked everyone for their contribution and closed the meeting.

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