Issue - meetings

Meeting: 23/09/2021 - Corporate Policy and Resources Committee (Item 33)

5-7 Market Place Gainsborough

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members gave consideration to a report seeking additional capital funding for the refurbishment of 5 – 7 Market Place, Gainsborough. The Assistant Director, Finance, Business Support and Property Services, and Section 151 Officer, detailed the difficulties faced with regard to building supplies as well as the need for the project to be delivered as per original scheme, meaning costs were above expectations and figures were still to be finalised. In view of this, she requested that Members consider the need for a contingency budget in order to avoid a funding gap for the project.

 

There was considerable disquiet amongst some Members of the Committee regarding the cost of works and questioning the original decision to purchase the building in 2013. It was highlighted that the original decision from eight years previous was not suitable for discussion at this meeting. There was significant discussion regarding the ongoing costs of the project.

 

A Member of the Committee expressed his support for the regeneration work and, whilst acknowledging the increased costs, highlighted it was in part due to national issues following the pandemic. In addition, it was a listed building and as such, required careful renovation. He moved the recommendation of the report and proposed an additional recommendation, to approve a 10% contingency budget to mitigate unknown increases.

 

Further discussion ensued, with Members of the Committee commenting on the detail of the original purchase of the building and whether there were viable alternatives to current proposals. During the course of the debate, the existing and proposed additional recommendation were seconded.

 

As discussions became increasingly heated, with a Member of the Committee declining to remain quiet when requested to do so, the Chairman stood in place, indicating the room must be silent. As Members of the Committee continued to speak, the Monitoring Officer was requested to read aloud the relevant Standing Orders from the Constitution. The following Standing Orders were read to the Committee:

 

Part V Rules of Procedure:

 

 

18.2    When the Chairman stands during a debate, any Member speaking at the time must stop.  The meeting must be silent.

 

18.3    If a Member persistently disregards the ruling of the Chairman by behaving improperly or offensively or deliberately obstructs business, the Chairman may move that the Member be not heard further.  If seconded, the motion will be voted on without discussion.

 

18.4    If the Member continues to behave improperly after such a motion is carried, the Chairman may move that either the member leaves the meeting or that the meeting is adjourned for a specific period.  If seconded, the motion will be voted on without discussion.

 

Having brought the meeting to order, the Chairman proceeded to take the vote for the proposed additional recommendation, namely, to approve a 10% contingency budget to mitigate unknown increases.

 

A request for a recorded vote was made and duly seconded by a further Member.

 

On being put to the vote, votes were cast in the following manner:

 

For: Councillors Bierley, Devine, Fleetwood, J McNeill, Patterson, Summers and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33