Minutes:
Councillor Scott moved, and Councillor Hayward seconded, a motion without notice, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.4, to refer a matter to an appropriate body. Specifically:
“The Full Council recognises and supports the workings of the Cross-Party Group to date and asks that it continue its work, specifically to examine the business case and other aspects for options for the 4 key sites owned by the Council (the Town Hall, Assembly Hall Theatre, Mount Pleasant Car Park and the Great Hall Car Park) together with other sites which might become available. The Full Council asks that the Cross-Party Group should report to the Full Council meeting on 18 December 2019 and provide interim reports to Cabinet, Cabinet Advisory Boards and the Development Advisory Panel.”
Councillor Pound raised a Point of Order that a motion without notice was without debate. The Mayor, on the advice of the Chief Executive, confirmed that as the motion without notice was moved and seconded, that the motion could be debated.
The debate on the motion included the following points:
· There was a request to ensure that the end game was recognised in any future decisions.
· Concern was raised that a working party was not sufficiently formal for such an important issue.
· The Local Plan was a live consultation at the time of the meeting. Residents should be encouraged to take this opportunity to make their comments known.
· 18 December may be too early to provide a report.
· Important to ensure that the community was involved in any decision making process and to bring in expertise where needed.
· The working party would seek to expand the work of the cross party group. It would include external sources of expertise, other members of the Council and members of the public.
· It was confirmed that the working group was not a decision making group. It would seek to review and then submit to the relevant decision making committees.
Councillor Hamilton requested a recorded vote.
Members who voted in favour of the motion: Councillors Atkins, Atwood, Bailey, Barrington-King, Bland, Bruneau, Dawlings, Ellis, Everitt, Hamilton, Hayward, Hill, Lewis, Mackonochie, March, McDermott, Morton, Neve, Noakes, Ms Palmer, Podbury, Pope, Pound, Scott, Mrs Soyke, Mrs Thomas, Warne and Willis. (28)
Members who voted against the motion: Councillors Backhouse, Chapelard, Funnell, Hickey, Holden, Scholes and Williams. (7)
Members who abstained from voting: Councillors Mrs Cobbold, Fairweather, Dr Hall, Lidstone, Poile, Rands, Simmons, Stanyer and Woodward. (9)
RESOLVED – That the Full Council recognises and supports the workings of the Cross-Party Group to date and asks that it continue its work, specifically to examine the business case and other aspects for options for the 4 key sites owned by the Council (the Town Hall, Assembly Hall Theatre, Mount Pleasant Car Park and the Great Hall Car Park) together with other sites which might become available. The Full Council asks that the Cross-Party Group should report to the Full Council meeting on 18 December 2019 and provide interim reports to Cabinet, Cabinet Advisory Boards and the Development Advisory Panel.