Agenda and minutes

Contact: Stuart Robinson Telephone: 247 4360 

Items
No. Item

8.

Chair's Opening Remarks

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the Call-In meeting.  In particular he also welcomed Councillor J Marjoram to his first Board meeting.

 

The Chair also reported that Councillor D Coupar had replaced Councillor J Langdale on the Board for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

 

9.

Declarations of Interest

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

The following personal interests were declared:-

  • Councillor D Coupar in her capacity as a user of Beckett Street car park (Agenda Item 7) (Minute 11 refers)
  • Councillor M Rafique in his capacity as a user of Beckett Street car park (Agenda Item 7) (Minute 11 refers)

 

 

 

10.

Call-In of a Decision - Briefing Paper

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report regarding the procedural aspects of the Call-In process.

 

Members were advised that the options available to the Board in respect of this particular called-in decision were:-

 

Option 1 – Release the decision for implementation.  Having reviewed the decision, the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) could decide to release it for implementation. If this option was chosen, the decision would be released for immediate implementation and the decision could not be called-in again.

 

Option 2 – Recommend that the decision be reconsidered.  Having reviewed the decision, the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) recommend to the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods that the decision be reconsidered. If the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) chose this option, a report would be submitted to the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods within three working days of this meeting.  The Officers would reconsider their decision and would publish the outcome of their deliberations on the delegated decision system.  The decision could not be called-in again whether or not it was varied.

 

RESOLVED – That the report outlining the Call-In procedures be noted.

 

11.

Review of Called - In Decision - Parking Price Review

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report, together with relevant background papers, relating to an Officer Delegated Decision D33892 of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods as follows:-

 

Review of Parking Facilities Including Adjustments to Prices

 

‘The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on a review of parking facilities, including adjustments to prices and seeking authority to increase some of the charges from 1st July 2008.

 

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods:-

(i)  noted the contents of the report, and

(ii)  approved the revised charges/changes outlined in the report.’

 

The decision had been called-in for review by Councillors T Hanley, J Jarosz, M Rafique, J Lewis, P Gruen and D Coupar on the following grounds:-

 

‘Parking charges have risen at the Council owned Beckett Street car park opposite St James’ Hospital to £1 an hour.  This is 50p more than in 2004.  The decision to increase charges will once again hit some of the most vulnerable people in our city, many who because of ill health have no choice but to visit St James on a regular basis.  This decision should be reviewed and other options examined, in line with the Council’s mission Statement to Narrow The Gap.’

 

Prior to considering the written evidence, Councillor D Coupar and Councillor M Rafique confirmed for the record and the benefit of member of the public present at the outset that they were signatories to the call in request, but that they were prepared to consider all the information and evidence brought before the Scrutiny Board and retain an open mind in this regard.

 

The Board considered the following written evidence:-

 

  • Report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods considered under the Officer Delegated Decision Scheme and approved on 5th June 2008
  • Additional information accepted by the Chair and circulated prior to the meeting to Board Members from the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods as follows:-

-  report providing some additional information regarding the report entitled ‘Review of Parking Facilities, including adjustments to prices’ dated 14th April 2008

-  Summary of Parking Charges 2002 to 2007

-  Map showing proposed changes in relation to Central Short Stay, North and West and South and East.

 

Councillor T Hanley attended the meeting and was allocated 10 minutes to present evidence to the Board.

 

Graham Wilson, Head of Enforcement; Andrew Mason, Chief Environmental Services Officer and Mark Jefford, Parking Manager, Environment and Neighbourhoods Department also attended the meeting and were also allocated 10 minutes to present their evidence to the Board.

 

Board Members then questioned Councillor T Hanley and officers at length on the evidence submitted.

 

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report, together with the relevant background papers be noted.

 

(Councillor A Blackburn and Councillor A Taylor joined the meeting at 10.15 am during consideration of this item)

 

12.

Outcome of Call - In

Minutes:

Following consideration of evidence presented to them and the options available to them as outlined in Minute No 10, the Board resolved that Option 1 – Release the decision for implementation, was the most appropriate action.

 

In addition to the above resolution, Councillor B Cleasby recommended that a letter should be sent on behalf of the Board to the NHS Trust regarding car parking issues and it was agreed to revisit this issue for discussion at the next meeting in July 2008.

 

RESOLVED – That the Officer Delegated Decision D33892 be immediately released for implementation.

 

 

 

(The meeting concluded at 11.00 am)