Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Fenton; Howe; Storey and Weavers; and Councillor S. Mainey (Substitute Member for Councillor Weavers).

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

The following declaration of interest was received:

A.        Report of the Legal Director.

B.        Joint report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services, the Finance and Information Services Director, the Leisure Director, and the Head of Regeneration and Technical Services, which was submitted to the Cabinet on 12 November 2009.

C.            Appropriate Minute from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 November 2009.

D.        Copy of the “Call-in” form.

E.        Copy of signed Rule 17.

F.         Copy of letter, 11 copies received.

The Committee considered (a) the report of the Legal Director; (b) the joint report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environmental Services, the Finance and Information Services Director, the Leisure Director and the Head of Regeneration and Technical Services; and (c) a copy of the “call-in” form, in respect of the Southport Cultural Centre – Temporary Library Service, pursuant to Minute No. 196 of the Cabinet meeting held on 12 November 2009. The Cabinet had resolved that that the Southport Central Library should be temporarily relocated to the Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown Libraries during the redevelopment of the Southport Cultural Centre.

The Committee also considered a letter received from 11 Southport Market Traders, 2 letters from members of the public and financial information submitted by Councillor Hands.

The Chair invited Councillors Maher, Parry and Robertson to address the Committee on the decision made by the Cabinet.

Councillors Hands, Booth and Sumner outlined the reasons for ‘calling in’ the item, namely:-

• There had been insufficient consultation with stakeholders and in particular the current market traders, who had overwhelmingly supported the use of part of the Market Hall as a temporary Southport Town Centre Library. Such inadequate consultation was contrary to Overview and Scrutiny Rule 16 of the Constitution;

• the decision of the Cabinet appeared not to have been taken in accordance with correct principles as specified in article 13.02(b) (“due consultation and the taking of professional advice from officers”);

• failing to provide a central library in Southport Town Centre for 3 years was against the Public Interest; and

• the option of using Southport Market as a temporary library would benefit the Market Traders and the 150,000 plus annual users of Southport Library.

In addition, reference was made to a petition objecting to the non-provision of a central library in Southport for 3 years.

The Chair referred to a recent request made to the Legal Director for the Committee to receive a petition. The request had been made beyond the deadline required by the Council’s Constitution and could not be considered.

With the agreement of the Committee, the Committee received representations from Ms. Jean Alexander on behalf of the petitioners.

The Members of the Committee raised a number of issues including finance, consultation with the public, alternative venues, storage of library stock, provision of a temporary IT service and timescales involved in the redevelopment. Officers representing the Leisure, Finance and Technical Services Departments responded, as did Councillor Lord Fearn, Cabinet Member – Leisure and Tourism.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet be advised that this Committee considers:-

1.         that the timetable and funding for the refurbishment of the Southport Cultural Centre should not be jeopardised in any way; and

2.         that Party Groups should be invited to include financial proposals for a temporary Southport town centre library in their budgets at the appropriate time, should they wish to do so.

A.        To consider the report of the Chief Executive which was considered by the Cabinet on 25 November 2009.

B.        To consider the appropriate Minute of the meeting of the Cabinet on 25 November 2009.

C.        To consider any issues which may have been “called-in”.

RESOLVED:

That this item be deferred for consideration at the next meeting of the Committee on 15 December 2009.

A.        To consider the report of the Chief Executive which was considered by the Cabinet on 3 December 2009.

B.        To consider the appropriate Minute of the meeting of the Cabinet on 3 December 2009.                                                              (TO FOLLOW)

C.        To consider any issues which may have been “called-in”.

RESOLVED:

That this item be deferred for consideration at the next meeting of the Committee on 15 December 2009.