Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 27 February 2014.

To receive from Members, declarations of the existence of any disclosable pecuniary, or non-pecuniary, interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Agenda Notes.

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions to Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs provided that a question does not relate to:

·               Matters which are the subject of current or pending legal proceedings or

·               Matters relating to employees or former employees of the Council or comments in respect of individual Council Officers.

A period not exceeding three minutes is allowed for the presentation of a petition or deputation provided that no such petition is in relation to:

·               Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·               Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

To receive announcements from:

a)        The Mayor

b)        Leader of the Council

c)        Members of the Cabinet

d)        Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

e)        Chief Executive

To waive Council Procedure Rules to allow the relevant Officersto address the Council in respect of items 8, 9 and 10 on the agenda.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which recommends the adoption of a Council Plan for the period 2014-2017.

Please note that consideration of this item has been deferred to the Special Meeting on 8 April 2014.

To receive the report of the Director of Resources which seeks approval of the Council’s Annual Pay Policy Statement for 2014/15 in accordance with the provisions of the Localism Act 2011.

To receive the report of the Monitoring Officer which seeks approval for various amendments to the Council’s Constitution.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources concerning a proposed change to the responsibility for the statutory post of Head of Paid Service.

To receive the report of the Head of Legal and Policy Development concerning the appointment of Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer.

(1)       MOVED BY COUNCILLOR LUGG

            This Council supports the Local Government Association’s campaign to ban the advertising of e-cigarettes which are aimed at children.  The fear is that, while e-cigarettes help adults to give up smoking, they may draw children into taking up the real thing.

(2)       MOVED BY COUNCILLOR HAIGH

            This Council recognises the good work done by Gloucester Food Bank in supporting over 4500 families a year in desperate need. The Food Bank is about to lose its premises and threatens a lifeline for their clients many of whom are vulnerable young people and children. This Council resolves to give help and support to the Food Bank in finding suitable alternative premises as a matter of urgency.

(3)       MOVED BY COUNCILLOR JAMES

            This Council:

1)            Recognises the importance of Gloucester’s market tradition to the City’s retail offer;

2)            Believes that the Eastgate Indoor Market is a vital part of that tradition;

3)            Notes the proposal by Rockspring for a new indoor market;

4)            Endorses the Administration’s commitment that the market should only relocate with trader support;

5)            Notes that the Council is currently developing an updated Markets Strategy;

6)            Agrees to establish an all-party working group to look specifically at the future of the Indoor Market as part of the strategy.

(4)       MOVED BY COUNCILLOR GRAVELLS

            This Council recognises the considerable value of Public Houses to local communities and welcomes the listing of the Ridge and Furrow Public House in Abbeydale as an Asset of Community Value.  Community pubs play an invaluable role in the cultural and social life of local communities, fostering social well-being, companionship, inclusion and a strong sense of community cohesion, belonging and togetherness.

            For these reasons, This Council resolves:-

            1)         As a matter of urgency to review its policies and procedures (including those relating to Planning, and the process for       nominating community assets for listing under the Localism Act)     in order to put in place new, interim, policy measures, following       the lead of other councils such as Cambridge, to ensure that      valued local community pubs are appropriately protected from          unnecessary and avoidable loss.

            2)         To request Central Government to help protect community pubs      by ensuring that planning permission and formal community     consultation are required before community pubs are allowed   to be converted to betting shops, supermarkets, petrol filling stations or other uses, or allowed to be demolished.

(5)       MOVED BY COUNCILLOR WILSON

            This Council agrees to investigate the current provision of WiFi access provided within the city centre, with the view to considering the provision of free public WiFi access across the city centre for all visitors to use, as is being provided in other cities across the UK.