Issue - meetings

To deal with matters raised by members of the public within the Borough, in accordance with the procedures relating to Petitions, Public Questions.and Motions set out in the Council and Committee Procedure Rules.

A petition with 3,329 signatures has been submitted objecting to the proposed closure of the Botanic Gardens Nursery operation (see attached note) and Mr S.D.Taylor, the organiser of the petition will be permitted to speak for a period of up to five minutes at the meeting, to speak in support of the petition.

(Details of any other Petitions notified or Questions submitted by members of the public in accordance with Rule 11 will be circulated at the meeting).

1)         The Mayor reported that a petition with 3,329 signatures had been submitted objecting to the closure of the Botanic Gardens Nursery operation which had been approved by the Council on 16 December 2010.

            In accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme, Mr S. Taylor of Southport, the lead petitioner, made a statement in support of the petition.

            Councillor Robertson referred to the current position relating to the operation of the nursery and the support being given to the existing staff, and a debate took place on the content of the petition.

It was then moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and

            RESOLVED:

That the petition be noted.

2)         The Mayor reported that another petition with 3,775 signatures had been submitted requesting the Council to reconsider the closure of a number of SureStart Centres which were referred to in the report to be considered later in the meeting under Minute No.69

            In accordance with the Council's Petition Scheme, Ms G. Brannan, the lead petitioner, made a statement in support of the petition.

            Councillor Robertson referred to the decision taken by Cabinet earlier that day (Cabinet Minute No. 183 (10) (d) refers) relating to a deferral of any decision on all stages of the Sure Start Programme – Childrens Centres pending a Strategic Review and a debate took place on the content of the petition.

It was then moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and

RESOLVED:

            That the petition be considered as part of the Strategic Review.