Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Bill and Crooks.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 26 March and 16 April 2014.

On the motion of Councillor Witherford, seconded by Councillor Cope, it was

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meetings held on 26 March and 16 April 2014 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To receive verbally from Members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council’s code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.  This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

No interests were declared at this stage.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Community Direction).

The Executive received the updated Memorial Safety Policy and was informed that since the original policy was introduced in 2009 there had been no complaints or adverse publicity. It was also reported that a lot of work had been undertaken to make memorials safe and this had resulted in a vast reduction in the number of memorials found unsafe each year. It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Gould and

RESOLVED –

(i)         the updated Memorial Safety Policy be adopted;

(ii)        implementation of the policy be delegated to the Head of Street Scene Services.

Report of the Chief Executive.

Members were updated on discussions held regarding Mallory Park race track since the meeting of the Executive on 16 April 2014 and were informed of the proposed Notices that may be applied for 2014 and 2015 and after. It was reported that meetings had been held with different groups of residents and with the track operators, RML, in order to find an acceptable solution for all parties.

With reference to section 5.3a) in appendix A to the report, the Chief Executive clarified that only the phrase contained within the apostrophes was quoted by the Ombudsman, not the entire sentence. This had been queried by some who had read the report.

In response to a member’s question, it was explained that there were a variety of notices and other controls in place at other UK tracks, but that Mallory Park was a ‘special’ case as it was in such close proximity to the village

Members were reminded that RML had only been in operation a few months and that they should be given the opportunity to put their own improvements in place which may further assist the situation, whilst working to the proposed Notice in 2014. To this end, it was proposed by Councillor Gould, seconded by Councillor Lynch, and agreed that recommendations b) and d) be amended to read:

“b)        agrees the proposed Notice for the remainder of this calendar year (2014) and that it be served in a timely manner to provide clarity around what noise levels are acceptable for this year, and to ensure that we are complicit with the recommendations provided by the Local Government Ombudsman;

d)         agrees the outline terms of a Notice for 2015 and after, including the requirement of an annual review before the end of each racing season, and that further discussion takes place with the purpose of it being finalised at our meeting on 17 September of this year.”

It was noted that in discussing the Notice for 2015 and after in September, RML would have settled in and had the opportunity to put their own improvements in place and to build relationships with residents. Likewise, residents would have had the opportunity to establish whether RML were committed to maintaining the agreements. In relation to the noise assessment discussed on page 63 of the agenda, it was acknowledged that if not received by the end of May, action would be taken.

On the motion of Councillor Gould, seconded by Councillor Lynch, it was

RESOLVED –

(i)         the principles of a Statutory Notice as set out in section 4.4 of the report be endorsed;

(ii)        the proposed notice for the remainder of 2014, served in a timely manner to provide clarity around what noise levels are acceptable for this year and to ensure compliance with the recommendations of the Local Government Ombudsman, be agreed;

(iii)       the conditions and timescales to be met if a revised notice is issued for 2015 be agreed;

(iv)       the outline terms of a notice for 2015  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.