Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Becket, Boden, Mrs Hailstones and  Williams.

Councillor Mrs Shenton requested that a note be made regarding her Membership of the Newcastle under Lyme Sports Council.

To receive the minutes from the meeting of 4 July 2011.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 July 2011 be agreed as a correct record.

The Chair welcomed the Committee and explained the procedure to be followed for the Call-in.

The Lead Call in Member explained the reasons for the call in.  The following issues were of concern:

·        The perceived lack of consultation with local residents in Knutton

·        The regeneration programme in Knutton following the demise of RENEW

·        The revenue budgets stated in the original report to Cabinet

·        The proposed mini supermarket that could potentially take business away from the high street in Knutton.

The relevant Cabinet Member responded to the issues and drew the Committees attention to the report that was submitted to the Cabinet on 15 June 2011.  The Cabinet Member stated that consultation had been undertaken with members of the public and through meetings of the AMI briefing group.  Members and residents had been kept constantly informed of the issues relating to Knutton Recreation Centre through this group and it was thought that all decisions made had kept faith with the outcomes of consultations.  The issue regarding the opening of a new mini supermarket was not yet set in Stone and was still subject to discussion as were issues relating to the retention of the 3G football pitch and the Bowling Green.

The Committee questioned the Lead Call in Member and Cabinet representative and further concerns were raised regarding the perceived block booking of the Gordon Banks Leisure.

The following was resolved:

That the item be sent back to formal Cabinet to reconsider the decision in the light of the following specific points that were raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee; and that Cabinet formally respond back to this committee:

·        The block booking of the Gordon Banks Sports Centre

·        The mix of affordable and social housing

·        Full consultation with residents, users and other interested parties

·        The impact of a convenience store

·        Parking provision and concerns at Jubilee 2

The Committee considered the report regarding the Scrutiny Briefs.  It was noted that not all of the work currently being carried out by the Scrutiny Committees was included in the report including projects being undertaken by the Transformation and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved:     That the Scrutiny briefs be agreed and the report noted.

The Committee received a report regarding items that were currently on the forward plan.  Concerns were raised regarding the format of the forward plan and it was agreed that steps to be taken to improve both the lay out of the plan and the timescales it covered.  The Chair also raised concerns regarding the timing of the Committee meetings and requested that steps be taken to ensure that all future meetings were held prior to meetings of the Full Council in order to enable him to feed back to the Council any reports or comments from the Committee.

Resolved:     (a)       That the report be noted.

                        (b)       That a meeting be arranged with the Chair and Officers to discuss the forward plan.

                        (c)        That the Calendar of meetings be changed where possible to ensure that meetings of this Committee fell before meetings of the Full Council.

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of section 100(4) of the Local Government Act 1972