Agenda item

1.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR CHAMBERS-DUBUS

 

“Great Western Railway is consulting on the future of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station with a predicted closure date of June 2024.

 

In recent years there has been a huge investment in the Railway Station, Transport Hub and the Forum area of the City. This has included:

 

·       Gloucester Rail Station – £6 million investment from Gfirst LEP and the Government.

·       Gloucester transport hub - £7.5 million investment from Gfirst LEP and the Government.

·       The Forum - £85 million investment from the Reef Group and Gloucester City Council.

 

Gloucester Railway Station, alongside the Transport Hub and the Forum development are the gateway to our proud City for anyone arriving by public transport. The ticket office at the station is an integral part of that for both visitors and residents and is frequently busy providing customers with far more than just tickets. Losing the ticket office would be detrimental to the visitor and resident experience when accessing or leaving the City by train and therefore detrimental to the wider scheme of improvements in that part of the City.

 

Whilst acknowledging the limitations of the Council regarding the retention of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station, this Council pledges to do all within its power to reverse any decision that may lead to the ticket office’s closure.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

 

1.    Write to The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport, to express concern about the possible closure of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station.

2.    Write to Richard Graham MP for Gloucester to ask for their support to retain the ticket office at Gloucester Train Station.

3.    Write to Laurence Robertson MP for Tewkesbury to ask for their support to retain the ticket office at Gloucester Train Station.

4.    Liaise with Great Western Railway regarding the importance of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station and it’s retention.

 

2.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR GRAVELLS

 

“This Council:

 

1.    Recognises the valuable work of the many voluntary, community and sporting groups right  around the city;

2.    Takes note that many such groups often have to rely on grant funding through competitive bidding processes to be able to deliver the services, facilities and projects which residents in the city enjoy and which enhance our neighbourhoods; 

3.    Agrees that more could be done to maximise the amount of external grant funding brought into the city through council-led and community-led applications;

4.    Agrees therefore to convene a meeting of the VCS Alliance, Gloucestershire University, Gloucestershire Funders Network, and the Growth Hub to discuss how, in  a system to be devised , we could support the VCS and community groups in this area to be more successful in their applications and  bids for external grant funding.”

 

3.    PROPOSED BY COUNCILLOR HILTON

 

“This council notes that the administration has failed to meet the deadline to produce audited accounts for the 2021/22 financial year. 

 

Council notes that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) had extended the deadline for the publication of 2021/22 audited accounts to 30th November 2022. This makes our accounts more than 9 months late. 

 

This Council agrees with the view of Alison Ring, the director for Public Sector and Taxation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales that “Delayed audit opinions lead to delayed accountability and issues being identified when it is too late, which is a real problem given the financial pressures facing local authorities.” 

 

This council also notes that the deadline for publishing the 2022/23 accounts is fast approaching. 

 

This council calls on the cabinet member for performance and resources to promise that fully audited accounts for both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years are published at least 3 months before the 2024 city council elections.”

37.1    Councillor Chambers-Dubus proposed and Councillor Bhaimia seconded the following motion:

 

“Great Western Railway is consulting on the future of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station with a predicted closure date of June 2024.

 

In recent years there has been a huge investment in the Railway Station, Transport Hub and the Forum area of the City. This has included:

 

·       Gloucester Rail Station – £6 million investment from Gfirst LEP and the Government.

·       Gloucester transport hub - £7.5 million investment from Gfirst LEP and the Government.

·       The Forum - £85 million investment from the Reef Group and Gloucester City Council.

 

Gloucester Railway Station, alongside the Transport Hub and the Forum development are the gateway to our proud City for anyone arriving by public transport. The ticket office at the station is an integral part of that for both visitors and residents and is frequently busy providing customers with far more than just tickets. Losing the ticket office would be detrimental to the visitor and resident experience when accessing or leaving the City by train and therefore detrimental to the wider scheme of improvements in that part of the City.

 

Whilst acknowledging the limitations of the Council regarding the retention of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station, this Council pledges to do all within its power to reverse any decision that may lead to the ticket office’s closure.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

 

1.    Write to The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport, to express concern about the possible closure of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station.

2.    Write to Richard Graham MP for Gloucester to ask for their support to retain the ticket office at Gloucester Train Station.

3.    Write to Laurence Robertson MP for Tewkesbury to ask for their support to retain the ticket office at Gloucester Train Station.

4.    Liaise with Great Western Railway regarding the importance of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station and it’s retention.

 

37.2    Councillor Cook moved and Councillor Gravells seconded the following amendment:

 

“Great Western Railway is consulting on the future of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station with a predicted closure date of June 2024.

 

In recent years this administration, working with the MP for Gloucester, has won there has been a huge investment in the Railway Station, Transport Hub and the Forum area of the City. This has included:

 

·       Gloucester Rail Station – £6 million investment from Gfirst LEP and £1.3m from the Government.

·       Gloucester transport hub - £7.5 million investment from Gfirst LEP and the Government.

·       The Forum - £85 million investment from the Reef Group and Gloucester City Council.

 

Gloucester Railway Station, alongside the Transport Hub and the Forum development are the gateway to our proud City for anyone arriving by public transport. The ticket office at the station is an integral part of that for both visitors and residents and is frequently busy providing customers with far more than just tickets. Losing the ticket office would be detrimental to the visitor and resident experience when accessing or leaving the City by train and therefore detrimental to the wider scheme of improvements in that part of the City.

 

Whilst acknowledging the limitations of the Council regarding the retention of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station, this Council pledges to do all within its power to reverse any decision that may lead to the ticket office’s closure.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

 

1.    Write to The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport, to express concern about the possible closure of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station.

2.    Write to the Managing Director of GWR to support our MPs counter proposal from his letter of 26^th July.

3.    Write to Richard Graham MP for Gloucester to express support for his counter proposal to keep a minimum of one fully staffed ticket window open to ask for their support to retain the ticket office at Gloucester Train Station.

4.  Continue to work with the MP for Gloucester, GWR and others on regeneration of Gloucester Station including looking at changes to lay out to reflect modern passenger usage.

 

3.    Write to Laurence Robertson MP for Tewkesbury to ask for their support to retain the ticket office at Gloucester Train Station.

4.    Liaise with Great Western Railway regarding the importance of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station and it’s retention.”

 

37.3    The amendment was accepted by the proposer of the original motion and therefore became the substantive motion. The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

37.4    RESOLVED that:-

 

“Great Western Railway is consulting on the future of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station with a predicted closure date of June 2024.

 

In recent years this administration, working with the MP for Gloucester, has won huge investment in the Railway Station, Transport Hub and the Forum area of the City. This has included:

 

·       Gloucester Rail Station – £6 million investment from Gfirst LEP and £1.3m from the Government.

·       Gloucester transport hub - £7.5 million investment from Gfirst LEP and the Government.

·       The Forum - £85 million investment from the Reef Group and Gloucester City Council.

 

Gloucester Railway Station, alongside the Transport Hub and the Forum development are the gateway to our proud City for anyone arriving by public transport. The ticket office at the station is an integral part of that for both visitors and residents and is frequently busy providing customers with far more than just tickets. Losing the ticket office would be detrimental to the visitor and resident experience when accessing or leaving the City by train and therefore detrimental to the wider scheme of improvements in that part of the City.

 

Whilst acknowledging the limitations of the Council regarding the retention of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station, this Council pledges to do all within its power to reverse any decision that may lead to the ticket office’s closure.

 

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

 

1.    Write to The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport, to express concern about the possible closure of the ticket office at Gloucester Railway Station.

2.    Write to the Managing Director of GWR to support our MPs counter proposal from his letter of 26^th July.

3.    Write to Richard Graham MP for Gloucester to express support for his counter proposal to keep a minimum of one fully staffed ticket window open at Gloucester Train Station.

4.    Continue to work with the MP for Gloucester, GWR and others on regeneration of Gloucester Station including looking at changes to lay out to reflect modern passenger usage.

 

37.5   Councillor Gravells proposed and Councillor Finnegan seconded the following motion:

 

          “This Council:

 

1.    Recognises the valuable work of the many voluntary, community and sporting groups right around the city;

2.    Takes note that many such groups often have to rely on grant funding through competitive bidding processes to be able to deliver the services, facilities and projects which residents in the city enjoy and which enhance our neighbourhoods;

3.    Agrees that more could be done to maximise the amount of external grant funding brought into the city through council-led and community-led applications;

4.   Agrees therefore to convene a meeting of the VCS Alliance, Gloucestershire University, Gloucestershire Funders Network, and the Growth Hub to discuss how, in a system to be devised, we could support the VCS and community groups in this area to be more successful in their applications and bids for external grant funding.”

 

37.6    The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

37.7    RESOLVED that:-

 

“This Council:

 

1.    Recognises the valuable work of the many voluntary, community and sporting groups right around the city;

2.    Takes note that many such groups often have to rely on grant funding through competitive bidding processes to be able to deliver the services, facilities and projects which residents in the city enjoy and which enhance our neighbourhoods;

3.    Agrees that more could be done to maximise the amount of external grant funding brought into the city through council-led and community-led applications;

4.    Agrees therefore to convene a meeting of the VCS Alliance, Gloucestershire University, Gloucestershire Funders Network, and the Growth Hub to discuss how, in a system to be devised, we could support the VCS and community groups in this area to be more successful in their applications and bids for external grant funding.”

 

37.8    Councillor Hilton moved and Councillor Wilson seconded the following motion:

 

“This council notes that the administration has failed to meet the deadline to produce audited accounts for the 2021/22 financial year. 

 

Council notes that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) had extended the deadline for the publication of 2021/22 audited accounts to 30th November 2022. This makes our accounts more than 9 months late. 

 

This Council agrees with the view of Alison Ring, the director for Public Sector and Taxation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales that “Delayed audit opinions lead to delayed accountability and issues being identified when it is too late, which is a real problem given the financial pressures facing local authorities.” 

This council also notes that the deadline for publishing the 2022/23 accounts is fast approaching. 

 

This council calls on the cabinet member for performance and resources to promise that fully audited accounts for both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years are published at least 3 months before the 2024 city council elections.”

 

37.9    Councillor Norman moved and Councillor Morgan seconded the following amendment:

 

“This council notes that only 12% of local government bodies received audit opinions on their finances in time to publish accounts for the 2021/22 financial year within the extended deadline (UK Parliament, Public Accounts Committee, June 2023). Gloucester was one of the authorities to not meet this deadline due to challenges faced following the cyber incident the administration has failed to meet the deadline to produce audited accounts for the 2021/22 financial year. 

 

Council notes that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) had extended the deadline for the publication of 2021/22 audited accounts to 30th November 2022. This makes our accounts more than 9 months late. 

 

This Council agrees with the view of Alison Ring, the director for Public Sector and Taxation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales that “Delayed audit opinions lead to delayed accountability and issues being identified when it is too late, which is a real problem given the financial pressures facing local authorities.” 

 

This council also notes that the deadline for publishing the 2022/23 accounts is fast approaching. 

 

This council calls on the cabinet member for performance and resources to work with the council’s finance team and the external auditors Deloitte to produce promise that fully audited accounts for both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years as soon as is practically possible are published at least 3 months before the 2024 city council elections.”

 

37.10  The amendment was not accepted by the mover of the original motion. The amendment was put to the vote and was carried, thus becoming the substantive motion.

 

37.11  The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

37.12 RESOLVED that:-

 

“This council notes that only 12% of local government bodies received audit opinions on their finances in time to publish accounts for the 2021/22 financial year within the extended deadline (UK Parliament, Public Accounts Committee, June 2023). Gloucester was one of the authorities to not meet this deadline due to challenges faced following the cyber incident.

 

Council notes that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) had extended the deadline for the publication of 2021/22 audited accounts to 30th November 2022.

 

This Council agrees with the view of Alison Ring, the director for Public Sector and Taxation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales that “Delayed audit opinions lead to delayed accountability and issues being identified when it is too late, which is a real problem given the financial pressures facing local authorities.” 

 

This council also notes that the deadline for publishing the 2022/23 accounts is fast approaching. 

 

This council calls on the cabinet member for performance and resources to work with the council’s finance team and the external auditors Deloitte to produce fully audited accounts for both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years as soon as is practically possible.”

 

37.13  Councillor A. Chambers moved and Councillor O’Donnell seconded the following urgent motion without notice:

 

“This council notes that keeping the public and City Council employees safe while in council owned buildings is fundamental to all aspects of business.

 

This council understand that buildings and structures owned by the council are not safe and there are significant issues around the safety and maintenance of council assets and buildings.

 

As a result the council will ensure that immediate investigations are conducted on all council owned buildings to ensure the safety of those that use the building.

 

The inspections will include:

 

·       Fire inspection by Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue

·       Asbestos inspections to ensure an up to date log of where asbestos is located and ensuring that the asbestos is marked up with stickers and users of the building are made aware of the risks associated with asbestos.

·       Building control inspections with local authority LABC inspectors looking at all aspects of the building.

·       Structural report by a qualified RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) engineer

·       All fire doors to be surveyed and logged in a fire door register and all defects to be completed and carried out within 30 Days

·       Electrical inspections and maintenance by professional NAPIT or EIRC Qualified inspectors

·       All portable plug in Devices to be PAT tested

·       All GAS pipes and boilers to be commercial GAS SAFE checked.

·       Inspection by a qualified and accredited concrete surveyor

 

These inspections will be carried out within a minimum of 4 weeks of this motion being passed.

 

Any dangerous building concerns raised by the instructed professionals will mean that these buildings will be temporarily closed or parts of the building closed while the urgent works are carried out.

 

The city council will refer themselves to any appropriate authorities, bodies and institutes where they have been in breach of any HSE, Fire, Asbestos, Electrical, GAS or any other legislation.

 

The city council will issue a report on each building that has been inspected of the defects and the resolution to the said defect. Within 3 months of the inspection taking place and present this to the public.

 

The city council will refer themselves to the following appropriate bodies for an immediate investigation of any building and structure within their ownership.

 

The Chief Fire Officer of Gloucestershire Fire Brigade https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/glosfire/about-us/chief-fire-officer/

 

The HSE inspector for the checking of the buildings including asbestos https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.htm

 

LABC local building inspector

https://www.gbcpartners.co.uk

 

NAPIT electrical inspector

https://www.napit.org.uk/schemes/inspection-testing-scheme.aspx

 

Asbestos Trained Inspector

 

GAS SAFE Inspector

https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk

 

Accredited concrete inspection surveyor

         

https://www.apaconcreterepairs.co.uk/service/concrete-inspection

 

RICS inspector

 

https://www.localsurveyorsdirect.co.uk/building-surveyors-reports.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2I3cuf27gQMVGO3tCh2QYAaQEAAYAiAAEgLQqPD_BwE

 

37.14  Councillor Norman moved and Councillor Cook seconded the following amendment:

 

“This council notes that keeping the public and City Council employees safe while in council owned buildings is fundamental to all aspects of business.

 

This council understand notes concerns raised that buildings and structures owned by the council are not safe and notes concerns that there may be aresignificant issues around the safety and maintenance of council assets and buildings.

 

As a result result, the council will ensure the that immediate inspection investigations are conducted on of all council owned and managed buildings which have not been inspected over the last six months to ensure the safety of those that use the building.

 

The inspections will include:

 

·       Fire inspection by a qualified Fire Inspector, including a review of fire doors Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue

·       Review asbestos inspections registers to ensure an up to date log of where asbestos is located and take appropriate action and ensuring that the asbestos is marked up with stickers and users of the building are made aware of the risks associated with asbestos.

·       Building control inspections with local authority LABC inspectors looking at all aspects of the building.

·       Structural surveys by a suitably qualified professional report by a qualified RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) engineer

·       All fire doors to be surveyed and logged in a fire door register and all defects to be completed and carried out within 30 Days

·       Review electrical inspections and maintenance records and take appropriate action by professional NAPIT or EIRC Qualified inspectors

·       Review of PAT testing for all portable plug in devices owned by the Council and send a reminder to all lease holders of their obligation for PAT testing to be PAT tested

·       Review of All GAS pipes and boilers maintenance records and take appropriate action to be commercial GAS SAFE checked.

·       Inspection by a qualified and accredited concrete surveyor

·       These inspections will be carried out within a minimum of 4 weeks of this motion being passed.

 

Any dangerous building concerns raised by the instructed professionals will be risk assessed to determine the appropriate course of action. mean that these buildings will be temporarily closed or parts of the building closed while the urgent works are carried out.

 

The city council will refer themselves to any appropriate authorities, bodies and institutes where they have been in breach of any HSE, Fire, Asbestos, Electrical, GAS or any other legislation.

 

The city council will create a record issue a report on each building that has been inspected of the defects and the resolution to the said defect within 3 months of the inspection taking place and make this available for public inspection. present this to the public.

 

The city council will refer themselves to the following appropriate bodies for an immediate investigation of any building and structure within their ownership.

 

The Chief Fire Officer of Gloucestershire Fire Brigade https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/glosfire/about-us/chief-fire-officer/

 

The HSE inspector for the checking of the buildings including asbestos https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.htm

 

LABC local building inspector

https://www.gbcpartners.co.uk

 

NAPIT electrical inspector

https://www.napit.org.uk/schemes/inspection-testing-scheme.aspx

 

Asbestos Trained Inspector

 

GAS SAFE Inspector

https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk

 

Accredited concrete inspection surveyor

         

https://www.apaconcreterepairs.co.uk/service/concrete-inspection

 

RICS inspector

 

https://www.localsurveyorsdirect.co.uk/building-surveyors-reports.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2I3cuf27gQMVGO3tCh2QYAaQEAAYAiAAEgLQqPD_BwE

 

37.15  The amendment was accepted by the proposer of the original motion and therefore became the substantive motion. The motion was put to the vote and was carried.

 

37.16  RESOLVED That:-

 

“This council notes that keeping the public and City Council employees safe while in council owned buildings is fundamental to all aspects of business.

 

This council notes concerns raised that buildings and structures owned by the council are not safe and notes concerns that there may be issues around the safety and maintenance of council assets and buildings.

 

As a result, the council will ensure the immediate inspection of all council owned and managed buildings which have not been inspected over the last six months to ensure the safety of those that use the building.

 

The inspections will include

 

·         Fire inspection by a qualified Fire Inspector, including a review of fire doors

·         Review asbestos inspections registers to ensure an up to date log of where asbestos is located and take appropriate action 

·         Structural surveys by a suitably qualified professional 

·         Review electrical inspections and maintenance records and take appropriate action

·         Review of PAT testing for all portable plug in devices owned by the Council and send a reminder to all lease holders of their obligation for PAT testing

·         Review of GAS pipes and boilers maintenance records and take appropriate action

 

These inspections will be carried out within a minimum of 4 weeks of this motion being passed.

 

Any building concerns raised by the instructed professionals will be risk assessed to determine the appropriate course of action.

 

The city council will create a record on each building that has been inspected of the defects and the resolution to the said defect. Within 3 months of the inspection taking place and make this available for public inspection.”