WEST LINDSEY DISTRICT COUNCIL

Councillor Mrs M P A Greenaway

Councillor A C Rosser

Councillor N Taylor

Councillor B A Theobald

Councillor M Tinker

Prior to the commencement of business the Chairman of Council was saddened to report the tragic death of Mrs Jasvinder Jeffery, Housing Advisor at the Housing Shop, 5 North Street, Gainsborough. A letter had been sent to her husband and young family expressing sincere condolences on behalf of the Council.

A number of Members paid their own personal tributes to the work of Jasvinder. The Chairman of Community Services Committee advised that he would be visiting the Housing Shop on behalf of the Committee.

During the Prayers that followed, the Meeting observed a period of silence in memory of Mrs Jasvinder Jeffery.

The Meeting commenced with Prayers by the Reverend Ian Robinson.

It was proposed and seconded that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 5th July 1999 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

206 COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman of Council reported on his civic engagements since the Meeting of Council held on 5^th July 1999, a copy of which is attached at Appendix "A" to these Minutes.

The Chairman of Council referred to the International Caravan Rally held at the Lincolnshire Show Ground which he and his wife had the pleasure of attending on a number of occasions during the period Saturday 31^st July to Friday 6^th August 1999. Whilst it had been a tremendous success for West Lindsey District it had also seen other Lincolnshire District Councils coming together in order to ensure a wonderful occasion for the 10,000 visitors. He paid tribute to the work of the Council’s Tourism Unit and had been advised by many visitors to the Showground that they would be returning to the District in the future.

The Vice-Chairman reported that on Sunday 25^th July 1999 together with his wife, he had attended the Civic Service of Newark and Sherwood District Council, held at Kelham Hall, Newark.

No questions had been received

208 QUESTIONS PURSUANT TO STANDING ORDER No.8

1. QUESTION by Councillor D H Lomas to Councillor M L Starkey, Chairman of the Community Services Committee :-

"The District Council Bus Token Scheme has been in operation for some 10 years now, with very little review or revision in all that time. Most Members are aware of the dissatisfaction with the scheme by those participating in it, as they view other Authorities’ free pass schemes with some envy, as by far the best option.

It occurs to me, and the Members of the Liberal Democrat group, that there would be some merit in the District Council taking up a "Half Fare Travel Pass" scheme in place of the present Token Scheme. It should cost no more than the present scheme, and could in fact cost less, and would give travellers a much more flexible and, in the longer term, a much cheaper option.

Would the Chairman of Community Services Committee agree to take a closer look at my proposal, to consider such a scheme, for which I have prepared a paper with the basic outline and passed to the appropriate Officer.

The radical scheme already has the approval of the Liberal Democrat group, and I hope that it would gain some measure of approval with the other groups within this Council."

ANSWER by Councillor M L Starkey, Chairman of the Community Services Committee :-

"Thank you for your question Councillor Lomas.

As you and many other Councillors are fully aware the bus token scheme has worked well for many years.

The current cost to the Council Tax payer is around £142,000.

We are always prepared to consider any alternatives and with this in mind the Community Services staff and myself will be pleased to look at your paper in the first instance."

2. QUESTION by Councillor T V Young to Councillor A D Caine, Chairman of the Council :-

It was proposed and seconded that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Community Services Committee held on 22nd July 1999 be received and the recommendation contained therein adopted.

Upon consideration of Minute 165 in connection with the prohibition of public entertainments on Christmas Day and Good Friday a number of Members were of the opinion that the prohibition should not be lifted on either day.

A view was expressed that Christmas Day was a day of celebration and Good Friday, a day of remembrance. An amendment was proposed and seconded that the matter be referred back to the Community Services Committee for further consideration based on a wider legal opinion being obtained; and the community being consulted.

On being put to the vote the amendment was declared carried. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and also declared carried.

Upon consideration of Minute 167 in connection with a report by the Social Exclusion Unit on the issue of teenage pregnancy a Member expressed misgivings about the provision of supervised semi independent housing for teenage lone parents and suggested that there should be more sex education and contraceptive advice provided via education in school and at home.

The alternative view was expressed that some underage parents were not sufficiently mentally mature to cope and needed the additional support supervised housing would provide.

It was proposed and seconded that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Corporate Services Committee held on 29th July 1999 be received.

Upon consideration of Minute 174 in connection with Local Employers - a Strategy for the next ten years, a Member was of the opinion that the matter could only be approved by a meeting of the Council.

In response a number of Members commented that the Corporate Services Committee as the policy making body of the Council had determined that the matter be referred to the Working Group for consideration.

The Vice-Chairman of Corporate Services Committee explained that the timetable for comments had been set by the Local Government Association and the Corporate Services Committee had determined that a more detailed response to the Draft Strategy could be formulated by a Working Group. A copy of the finally agreed response to the Local Government Association would be included within the Information Booklet for Members.

Upon consideration of Minute 175 in connection with a Draft Mission Statement and Corporate Aims a Member commented that an Addendum to the Committee Report had been circulated at the Meeting, which did not give sufficient time for Members to consider in detail.

The Vice-Chairman of Corporate Services Committee advised that a fair degree of debate had taken place at the Meeting and the Draft Mission Statement and Corporate Aims had been published for the purposes of consultation. It was therefore open for all Members to respond as part of the overall consultation process.

Upon consideration of Minute 176 in connection with West Lindsey Training Services a Member commented that a joiners shop at the Training Centre had been moth balled and he considered it to be a great shame that young people requiring training were unable to make use of the equipment.

The Chairman of the Economic Development Services Committee referred to the Gainsborough Enterprise Centre and the need to co-ordinate training schemes and needs.

The Vice-Chairman of Corporate Services Committee advised that the Council's policy was that training schemes must pay for themselves and whilst the machinery may well be in first class condition there were no trainees coming forward to use the equipment.

Upon consideration of Minute 177 in connection with the Committee Timetable August 1999 to August 2000 a member enquired as to whether or not it would be possible to agree the Committee Timetable at an earlier date in future years.

The Vice-Chairman of Corporate Services Committee apologised for not being able to circulate a Committee Timetable earlier but reminded Members that a first draft of the Timetable had been submitted to the Corporate Services Committee in February 1999 and referred back for further consideration.

RESOLVED that the Minutes be received

It was proposed and seconded that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Planning Services Committee held on 28th July 1999 be received.

A Member commented to the Chairman of Planning Services Committee that on occasions Parish Council representatives attending Meetings had to wait for some time between consideration of planning matters affecting their Parish. He enquired as to whether or not all planning matters in connection with a particular parish could be brought together on the Planning Services Committee Agenda.

In reply the Chairman of Planning Services Committee advised that he had no intention of seeking to influence the Officers as to where items appeared on the Agenda for Meetings of the Planning Services Committee.

Upon consideration of Minute 187 (1) in connection with Plan No. 99/P/0188 (planning application to erect two distribution units Fireworks Store on former bomb storage site, Brookenby) the Chairman of Planning Services Committee drew attention to the decision to request the Planning Services Manager to ascertain whether in the light of GOEM's letter the direction also applied to the refusal of planning permission. If it did not apply authority had been delegated to the Planning Services Manager to issue the refusal of planning permission. If the direction did apply then the application would be referred to GOEM.

Upon consideration of Minute 187 (23) in connection with Plan No. 99/P/0013 (planning application for improvement to River Rase, consisting of two flood storage reservoirs, three golf holes, temporary stockpiling of material and siting of temporary site works accommodation Land East of Market Rasen) a Local Ward Member wished to express his thanks to the Planning Services Committee and its Chairman for agreeing to a meeting between representatives of the Environment Agency, County Highways, Market Rasen Town Council, and Local Ward Members to examine the possibility of an alternative access. The subsequent meeting proved to be most successful and a way forward had been agreed.

Upon consideration of Minute 192 in connection with Planning Application 1999/0592 - North Lincolnshire Council - Glanford Power Station - Burning of Alternative Fuels, a Member referred to the preamble of the Minute and the statement that "the material was volatile requiring transportation in sealed containers and the storage buildings needed treating to ensure that no dust was emitted into the atmosphere." He advised that the containers were not sealed but open topped lorries with canvas tarpaulins tightly strapped and a lead seal on the tailgate.

He further advised that the visit to the site at Barkston Heath near Grantham revealed that the storage buildings were like a "colander" with holes everywhere allowing dust into the atmosphere.

A number of Members expressed their concerns at the way in which the Government Agencies had handled the matter and were of the opinion that there should be more public debate and general information made available to the public.

A Member commented that the material must be transported in sealed bags.

A Member read to the Meeting a letter he had received from Edward Leigh M.P. apologising for not being able to attend the visit to Barkston Heath and advising that he will join in the opposition to the planning application.

The Chairman of Planning Services Committee advised that the Council was now formally being consulted on a Waste Management Licence. There was no consultation in respect of the use of the warehouses at Kirton Road, Blyton because the storage buildings already had an existing use classes order.

He further advised that he had written to Edward Leigh M.P. following the Meeting at Blyton but had not yet received a reply. He did not know if the Member of Parliament had been formally consulted by the Intervention Board and the Chief Executive was investigating this point.

The granting of a Waste Management Licence would be a matter for consideration by the Community Services Committee.

RESOLVED that the Minutes be received

It was proposed and seconded that the Minutes of the meeting of the Tourism and Recreational Services Committee held on 15th July 1999 be received.

Upon consideration of Minute 201 in connection with Richmond House, Gainsborough, the Chairman of Council advised that he was unaware of progress in respect of negotiations but assumed that the existing play areas would be retained.

Upon consideration of Minute 203 in connection with FICC International Caravan Rally Update and Tourism Leaflet Distribution, a number of Members commented on the excellent organisation of the event by the Caravan Club and FICC.

Some Members expressed concern that the transport to Lincoln from the Showground was provided free but those wishing to travel to Gainsborough were charged £8.50.

Comments were made as to the financial contribution made by the Council towards the Rally and the likely future benefit to the District as a result of such investment.

The Chairman of Council advised that over 10,000 people visited the Showground and most of those he spoke to intended to revisit the area soon. He referred to the difficulty in precisely identifying the economic benefit to the District at this point in time. Over 3,000 copies of Council tourism literature had been distributed at the site and a free bus to Gainsborough had been provided on the Saturday of the Rally which coincided with the "Gig on the Floss" event.

RESOLVED that the Minutes be received.

Chairman