Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 28 November 2013.

Please note that there are two separate sets of minutes attached.  One copy relating to Minute 61 ‘The Future of Gloucestershire Airport’ is restricted by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To waive Council Procedure Rules to allow the relevant Officers to address the Council in respect of items 8, 9, 10, and 11, if necessary.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which updates Members on the strategic partnership proposal for the IT service delivery and seeks approval for the commencement of the contract with Civica UK Limited (Civica).

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Culture which informs Members of the Southgate Street Conservation Area and Management Proposals Review consultation exercise undertaken in September/October 2013 and considers adoption of the Review as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

To receive the report of the Monitoring Officer which informs Council of the work of the Committee on Standards in Public Life during 2012-13 and recommends changes which need to be made to the Council’s governance arrangements in the light of the report.

To receive the report of the Chief Executive which advises Council of the process the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is undertaking in its review of the electoral arrangements for Gloucester City Council and which asks Council to consider if consultation should be undertaken to review the cycle of elections for Gloucester City Council.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which updates Council on the impacts of Welfare Reform in response to Councillor Haigh’s motion to Council on 12 September 2013.

a)        Written questions to Cabinet Members

         There are no written questions to Cabinet Members.

b)        Leader and Cabinet Members’ Question Time (45 minutes)

         Any member of the Council may ask the Leader of the Council or any Cabinet Member any question without prior notice, upon:

·         Any matter relating to the Council’s administration

·         Any matter relating to any report of the Cabinet appearing on the Council’s summons

·         A matter coming within their portfolio of responsibilities

         Only one supplementary question is allowed per question.

c)      Questions to Chairs of Meetings (15 Minutes)

(1)       MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HILTON

            This Council notes that Gloucester Cathedral is listed as a top five UK visitor attraction in ‘Which’ magazine readers’ survey.

            This Council notes and welcomes plans under Project Pilgrim to invest £5M in the Cathedral and its grounds.

            This Council agrees to approach the Dean and Chapter to consider whether to apply to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for Gloucester Cathedral to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(2)       MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HAIGH

            Government figures show that people in Gloucester on average earn less than elsewhere in the South West, and that the region has lower earnings than the UK average. In addition to this, people in the City are typically £1600 a year worse off as a result of the Tory-led Coalition Government. The cost of Cameron is a price the people of this City cannot afford!

            This Council resolves to make more efforts to bring skilled and well-paid jobs to the City and to work with partners to ensure that people who live in the City have the right skills to take those opportunities when they arise.

(3)       MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HAIGH

            This Council notes the importance of the Guildhall as a significant venue for live music and the reputation it has enjoyed for many years across the City and beyond. However, in order to continue to be able to attract quality live acts, the technical equipment needs to be of an acceptable standard.

            The front of house sound desk and monitor desk are now at the end of their usable life, and no longer meet the requirements of bands who perform at the venue. The Guildhall is having to hire suitable equipment in order to meet these technical requirements. This is not sustainable in the long term. Therefore, this Council requests that the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Culture investigates the costs of updating the sound desks and produces a report and business case for an equipment upgrade to Cabinet as a matter of urgency.