MINUTES of MEETING of STIRLING COUNCIL Held in the COUNCIL CHAMBERS, OLD VIEWFORTH, STIRLING on THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 at 7.35 Pm
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STIRLING COUNCIL MINUTES of MEETING of STIRLING COUNCIL held in the COUNCIL CHAMBERS, OLD VIEWFORTH, STIRLING on THURSDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2014 at 7.35 pm Present: Provost Mike ROBBINS (in the Chair) Councillor Neil BENNY Councillor Graham HOUSTON Councillor Alistair BERRILL Councillor Graham LAMBIE Councillor Johanna BOYD Councillor Alasdair MacPHERSON Councillor Margaret BRISLEY Councillor Corrie McCHORD Depute Convener Callum CAMPBELL Councillor Ian MUIRHEAD Councillor Martin EARL Councillor Steven PATERSON Councillor Scott FARMER Councillor Christine SIMPSON Councillor Danny GIBSON Councillor Jim THOMSON Councillor Alycia HAYES Councillor Violet WEIR Councillor John HENDRY In Attendance Jim Boyle, Chief Finance Officer, Governance & Resources Tony Cain, Head of Housing & Customer Service Stewart Carruth, Depute Chief Executive Claire Dunbar, Committee Officer, Governance & Resources Liz Duncan, Chief Governance Officer, Governance & Resources (Clerk) Lynne Gibbons, Service Manager, Chief Executive’s Office Les Goodfellow, Head of Environment Janice Hewitt, Assistant Chief Executive David Leng, Head of Education Bob Jack, Chief Executive Michael Lyon, Council Officer, Governance & Resources Deborah Murray, Service Manager, Economy, Planning & Regulation Liam Purdie, Assistant Head of Service, Social Services John Risk, Head of Assets & Support Kevin Robertson, Head of Economy, Planning & Regulation Willie Watson, Head of Governance & Resources Apologies Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Mark Ruskell, Councillor Fergus Wood and Val de Souza, Head of Social Services The Provost welcomed a group of journalism students from the University of Stirling N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\SCOUNCIL\MINUTES\SC20140227.DOC Announcements The following announcements were made prior to the formal commencement of proceedings:- • Councillors had attended the launch of Destination Stirling earlier this evening. • A civic reception would be held to mark the achievements of the Women’s and Men’s curling teams and the paralympians. • This would be the last meeting of Council attended by Michael Lyon, Council Officer, who was leaving the Council. The Provost, on behalf of the Council, thanked Michael for over 30 years service with the Council and wished him all the best for the future. • The Council Leader congratulated Big Noise for the success of the Big Trip, which had been a life changing experience for the children involved. It was further proof of the use of music as a transformational medium for deprived communities. She confirmed that all Members would be receiving regular updates on the project. SC242 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor Benny declared a non-financial interest in item 11 (Venture Forth Ltd: Appointment of Stirling Council as Trustee of the Venture Forth Development Trust Fund) as a Council appointed Director of Venture Forth. Councillor Lambie declared a financial interest in item 12 (SEEDCO: Transfer of Stirling Business Centre Shareholding to Stirling Council) as an employee of STEP. The Clerk advised Councillor Lambie that he would be required to leave the meeting Chamber during consideration of this item. Councillors Hendry, McChord and Simpson and Provost Robbins declared a non- financial interest in item 12 as Council appointed Directors of SEEDCO. Councillor Benny declared non-financial interests in item 12 as a Council appointed Director of SBC, SEEDCO and STEP. Councillor Campbell declared a non-financial interest in item 12 as a Council appointed Alternate Director of STEP. SC243 URGENT BUSINESS School Crossing Patrol, Fallin Councillor Alasdair MacPherson asked if the Council could reconsider the withdrawal of funding for the school crossing patrol at Fallin. The Provost ruled that this would not be competent as the decision had only been taken within the last week, at the Special Meeting of Council on 20 February 2014. He recommended that the community progress their concerns through the Petitions Panel. Councillor MacPherson left the meeting Chamber at this point in the proceedings. N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\SCOUNCIL\MINUTES\SC20140227.DOC Withdrawal of the Traffic Warden Service An exempt report by the Head of Governance & Resources on the withdrawal of the Traffic Warden Service was tabled. The Provost ruled that this be taken as urgent business due to the time imperative. Councillor Johanna Boyd moved that this matter be taken in public. It was agreed that the report would be considered at end of the meeting when members had had an opportunity to read it. Councillor MacPherson returned to the meeting Chamber at this point in the proceedings. SC244 MINUTES The following Minutes were submitted for approval:- a. Stirling Council – 12 December 2013 Decision The Minutes of Meeting of Stirling Council held on 12 December 2013 were approved as a correct record of the proceedings, subject to Councillor Martin Earl being added to the sederunt and decision 1 of item SC232 being amended to read “to note that Clackmannanshire Council would be invited to award….” It was agreed that the written question submitted by Councillor MacPherson to the December 2013 meeting (which due to an administrative error had not been published) and the answer thereto should be included in the minutes of this meeting (see Appendix 1) b. Local Review Body – 16 December 2013 Decision The Minutes of Meeting of the Local Review Body held on 16 December 2013 were approved as a correct record of the proceedings. c. Local Review Body – 4 February 2014 Decision The Minutes of Meeting of the Local Review Body held on 4 February 2014 were approved as a correct record of the proceedings. SC245 WRITTEN QUESTIONS Five written questions had been received in terms of Standing Order 36. The questions and answers are attached at Appendix 2 to these Minutes. The Members who had put the written questions were allowed one supplementary question and the supplementary questions and answers are also included in Appendix 2. N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\SCOUNCIL\MINUTES\SC20140227.DOC SC246 QUESTION TIME In terms of Standing Order 43, Members had the opportunity to put questions to the Provost, the Leader of the Council, any Portfolio Holder or Committee Convener or Chair of any Panel as appropriate regarding any business included in the Volume of Minutes circulated with the agenda for the meeting. The following questions were put:- Councillor Jim Thomson - Minutes of Meeting of Stirling Council held on 12 December 2013 (SC216 – Licensing Forum – Appointment of Representatives) Councillor Thomson advised that since the Council made these appointments a number of representatives had come to him expressing concern that they had not yet received formal letters of appointment. The Clerk assured Councillor Thomson that letters confirming the appointment of Licensing Forum members would be issued as a matter of priority. Councillor Graham Lambie - Minutes of Meeting of Stirling Council held on 12 December 2013 (SC215 – Question Time) Councillor Lambie enquired about the proposed community meetings on the Road Closure Programme, which were to include the Area Forums and utility companies. Councillor Danny Gibson advised that these meetings had not yet taken place. Councillor Alasdair MacPherson - Minutes of Meeting of the Audit Committee held on 23 January 2014 (Appendix 1 – National Armed Forces Day 2014) Councillor MacPherson asked whether, given the recent publicity regarding the ticket sales for Bannockburn Live, the Provost had any regrets about the event clashing with National Armed Forces Day. The Provost answered that he was encouraging everyone to get behind both events for the benefits of Stirling. SC247 DISTRICT OF STIRLING LICENSING BOARD Councillor John Hendry had recently resigned as a member of the Licensing Board. The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provided that “where there is a vacancy in the membership of a Licensing Board, the relevant council must, at their first meeting after the vacancy arises, hold an election to fill the vacancy”. Council was invited to appoint an Elected Member to fill the vacancy. Councillor Scott Farmer, seconded by Councillor Alycia Hayes, nominated Councillor Fergus Wood to fill the vacancy. There were no other nominations. Decision The Council agreed to appoint Councillor Fergus Wood to serve on the District of Stirling Licensing Board. (Reference: Report by Head of Governance & Resources, dated 12 February 2014, submitted). N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\SCOUNCIL\MINUTES\SC20140227.DOC SC248 SCOTTISH SCHOOLS EDUCATION RESEARCH CENTRE - APPOINTMENT OF REPLACEMENT MEMBER The Scottish Schools Education Research Centre (SSERC) had advised that Councillor Berrill had been unable to attend Board meetings. SSERC was a Local Authority share-service providing support across all thirty-two Scottish Education Authorities. The Service was available to Elected Members, Officers, Teachers, Student Teachers and Technicians. The Board of SSERC met four times per year. Council was invited to appoint a replacement Member as Director. Councillor Alycia Hayes, seconded by Councillor Graham Houston, nominated Councillor Graham Lambie. Councillor Johanna Boyd, seconded by Councillor Neil Benny, nominated Councillor Margaret Brisley. The Council agreed to vote by show of hands. Voting was as follows:- Councillor Margaret Brisley 12 votes Councillor Graham Lambie 8 votes Decision The Council agreed to appoint Councillor Margaret Brisley to the Board of the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre to replace Councillor Berrill. (Reference: