Extraordinary Meeting of the Council – 2 April 2009
Present
THE MAYOR – Councillor Jawaid
Councillors Ali, Armitage, Bainbridge, Barker, Barkworth, Berry, B Briggs, J Briggs, Bunyan, Carlile, Clark, Collinson, Davison, Eckhardt, Ellerby, England, L Foster, T Foster, Glover, Gosling, Grant, Kirk, O’Sullivan, Poole, Mrs Redfern, Regan, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Mrs Simpson, Smith, Swift, Vickers, Waltham, Wells, Whiteley and Wilson.
The Council met at Pittwood House, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe.
1713 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests.
1714 STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE – The Chief Executive updated council on the restructure of the senior management of the council.
Discussions had been taking place within the council management team on the most appropriate structure on senior management for the council as a whole. These discussions had considered the needs of the council management to meet local and national responsibilities and requirements.
Members were aware that education and children’s social care services in North Lincolnshire had an excellent reputation and were performing well. But the council can’t stand still.
In a previous restructure these two services were brought together to form the integrated Children’s Services, with two service directors. The council created the statutory Director of Children’s Services post. With national regulatory and policy changes the council needed to look again at the structure to ensure it is best placed to meet current and future challenges.
As well as ensuring any changes are designed to meet these challenges, the council also need to free capacity at the centre for greater oversight of the major cross-cutting issues the council faces going forward.
He had been consulting on the restructure and was listening to views from a wide-range of interested parties. He had spoken to the individuals involved on a number of occasions, consulted the wider council management team, trade unions, teacher representatives and had briefed the leadership of both the ruling and main opposition groups on the council.
This process had taken a long time and following feedback he had extended the consultation process further to take views on board.
When this consultation was finalised a proposed new structure would go before elected members on the Shaping the Council Committee for decision.
1715 PROCEDURE RULE 1.20 (t) – TIME LIMIT FOR SPEECHES –
Moved by Councillor England and seconded by Councillor J Briggs –
That in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.20 (t) the time limit for speeches be extended to allow the proposer of the motion 10 minutes and the seconder 5 minutes.
At the request of members and in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.23(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the motion are as follows:-
FOR: Councillors Berry, B Briggs, J Briggs, Bunyan, Clark, Eckhardt, England, T Foster, Glover, Poole, Mrs Redfern, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Vickers, Waltham and Wells.
AGAINST: Councillors Ali, Armitage, Bainbridge, Barker, Barkworth, Carlile, Collinson, Davison, Ellerby, L Foster, Gosling, Grant, Jawaid, Kirk, O’Sullivan, Regan, Simpson, Smith, Swift, Whiteley and Wilson
ABSTAINING: Nil
Motion Lost
1716 NOTICE OF MOTION – EVERY CHILD MATTERS – Moved by Councillor Waltham and seconded by Councillor Mrs Redfern –
“As it is fact that despite the nationwide implementation of the Every Child Matters Agenda, the management of the protection afforded to at risk children continues to cause nationwide concern, this council resolves to conduct an extensive, open consultation with all appropriate stakeholders, including all the elected members, in order to reach a consensus on the future structure of the council, to ensure that children’s welfare is paramount in North Lincolnshire.”
Moved by Councillor Gosling and seconded by Councillor Swift –
That as this matter is one that should properly be dealt with by the Special Committee on Shaping the Council, in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.16(h) the matter stand referred without further speech or debate to that committee for detailed consideration.
At the request of members and in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.23(d) the names of members voting for, against and abstaining from the motion put by Councillor Gosling are as follows –
FOR: Councillors Ali, Armitage, Bainbridge, Barker, Barkworth, Carlile, Collinson, Davison, Ellerby, L Foster, Gosling, Grant, Jawaid, Kirk, O’Sullivan, Regan, Simpson, Smith, Swift, Whiteley and Wilson
AGAINST: Councillors Berry, J Briggs, Bunyan, Clark, Eckhardt, England, T Foster, Glover, Mrs Redfern, C Sherwood, N Sherwood, Vickers, Waltham and Wells
ABSTAINING: Councillors B Briggs and Poole
Motion Carried