Minutes:
The Chairman proposed that the public be excluded from the meeting for reasons that the following items of business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, and that this satisfies the public interest test. This proposal was duly seconded.
Councillor A S Fluker referred to the recommendations coming forward under Agenda Item 19A Strategy and Resources Committee – 28 November 2022 and in particular a number of savings items that felt there was no reason for them to be discussed in private session. He proposed that with the exception of the first item on page 123 of the Agenda pack that all other items, in the best interest of the public, transparency and openness be considered in public session as to do otherwise would be contrary to the Local Government Act. This proposal was duly seconded. The Chairman confirmed that this was an amendment to his earlier proposition.
The Monitoring Officer provided the Council with some explanation regarding Paragraph 3 of the of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the tests (including the public interest test) which had to be considered when agreeing to consider an item of business in private session. He commented that there may be matters within Agenda Item 19 which Members may wish to debate individually but also access the merits of those items against other savings identified which were not being considered in open session. This would therefore require all items to be discussed within private session.
In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor A S Fluker requested a recorded vote. This was duly seconded. The Chairman put the proposed amendment to his motion in the name of Councillor Fluker to the Council and the voting was as follows:
For the recommendation:
Councillors R P F Dewick, A S Fluker, M W Helm, K M H Lagan and W Stamp.
Against the recommendation:
Councillors R G Boyce, Mrs P A Channer, M R Edwards, Mrs J L Fleming, M S Heard, J V Keyes, C Mayes, S J N Morgan, C P Morley, S P Nunn, R H Siddall, P L Spenceley, C Swain and Mrs M E Thompson.
Abstention:
Councillors M G Bassenger and V J Bell.
The Chairman declared that the amendment was therefore not agreed.
The Chairman then moved his earlier proposition and upon a vote being taken this was agreed.
RESOLVED that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, and that this satisfies the public interest test.