Falkirk Council Agenda - 05 March 2008, 10:30 
A meeting to be held at Municipal Buildings, Falkirk at 10:30 on 05 March 2008.
| Number | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | MINUTES AND INFORMATION BULLETIN Submit:- |
| (a) | Minute of Meeting of Falkirk Council held on 5 December 2007; View Papers |
| (b) | Minute of Special Meeting of Falkirk Council held on 13 February 2008; View Papers |
| (c) | Volume of Minutes - Volume 4 2007/2008 ; and |
| (d) | Information Bulletin - Volume 4 2007/2008. |
| 2 | TENANTS' SATISFACTION SURVEY REPORT/ WAITING LIST SURVEY REPORT (This item has been called in to Council in terms of the Scheme of Delegation by Councillors Coleman, MacDonald and Meiklejohn) |
| (a) | Extract of Minute of Meeting of the Housing and Social Services Committee held on 5 February 2008; and |
| (b) | Report by Director of Corporate and Commercial Services submitted to the meeting of Housing and Social Services Committee held on 5 February 2008. View Papers |
| 3 | REFORMING AND REVITALISING: REPORT OF THE REVIEW OF COMMUNITY PENALTIES (This item has been called in to Council in terms of the Scheme of Delegation by Councillors Alexander and Jackson) |
| (a) | Extract of Minute of Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 12 February 2008; and |
| (b) | Report by Director of Housing and Social Work Services submitted to the meeting of Community Health and Safety Committeeheld on 22 January 2008. View Papers |
| 4 | COMMUNITIES SCOTLAND INSPECTION OF FALKIRK COUNCIL HOUSING SERVICES (This item has been called in to Council in terms of the Scheme of Delegation by Councillors Alexander and Jackson) |
| (a) | Extract of Minute of Special Meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 25 February 2008; and |
| (b) | Report by the Chief Executive submitted to the special meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 25 February 2008. View Papers |
| 5 | REFERRAL FROM ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE COMMITTEE - 19 FEBRUARY 2008 - FAIRTRADE RESOLUTON Report by Director of Development Services submitted to the meeting of Environment and Heritage Committee held on 19 February 2008. View Papers |
| 6 | CORPORATE PLAN 2008-2011 Submit Report by Chief Executive. View Papers |
| 7 | TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS Submit Report by the Acting Director of Law and Administration Services. View Papers |
| 8 | APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO OUTSIDE BODIES: ALL OF SCOTLAND GROUP 2014 AND FIFE AND FORTH VALLEY COMMUNITY JUSTICE AUTHORITY Submit Report by the Acting Director of Law and Administration Services. View Papers |
| 9 | FIRST PERIODICAL REVIEW OF CONSTITUENCIES FOR THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT Submit Report by the Chief Executive View Papers |
| 10 | NOTICES OF MOTION |
| (a) | Bus Services "Now that the precedent has been set in setting aside the criteria for sustainability of subsidised bus services brought in by the then Labour Administration in 1997, Council agrees to instruct Officers to bring forward a report listing all of the services cut in the subsequent eleven years" This report should also give an explanation as to the reasons why these services were discontinued. As the 1997 policy is no longer the sole criteria for the retention/re-introduction of previsouly discontinued bus service this would allow all communities equality of representation and treatment. Proposed by Councillor G Hughes View Papers |
| (b) | Affordable Housing "Council believes that it is time to review the Council's existing strategy on the provision of affordable housing and agrees to co-operate with the Scottish Government's housing agenda. However, Council believes that there should be a more immediate change to the levels of affordable housing proportions within private housing development due to what could be described as avoiding responsibility. Council therefore agrees that all housing developments of ten properties or over must have an element of affordable housing contained within it. Council therefore agrees to instruct Officers to bring forward a paper on the mechanism to ensure that private housing providers provide a higher percentage of affordable housing than is currently being delivered across Falkirk District". Proposed by Councillor Meiklejohn View Papers |
| (c) | Alcohol Misuse (CONTINUED TO FALKIRK COUNCIL 30 APRIL 2008) "Council welcomes the commitment of the Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, to tackle the problems of alcohol misuse. The ethos of drinking to get drunk is one of the main contributions to anti-social behaviour, crime and health issues within our communities. Council agree to work with the Justice Secretary to tackle this growing problem by taking the lead locally by: 1. Arranging a local conference of stake holders including representatives of the drink industry, health, police and community groups to begin the process of developing a strategy for the changing of the public attitude. 2. Regular updates at Community Health & Safety of the development of the strategy and its implementation. 3. Instructs Officers to prepare a report for Community Health and Safety on how the policy direction above can be implemented. Proposed by Councillor G Thomson |
| (d) | Civilian Heroes "Council notes the campaign for equal recognition for all civilian heroes of the Glasgow terror attack. The terrorist attack which took place at Glasgow Airport on Saturday 30 June 2007 resulted in four brave men tackling and subduing two determined suicide bombers. Following this atrocity the UK Government have only recognised one civilian for his actions. Council therefore agrees to write to the Prime Minister expressing our view that the three other civilians who placed their lives in jeopardy. Michael Kerr, Alex McIIveen and Stephen Clarkson, by tackling two determined terrorists should also be recognised for their heroic actions which saved the lives of many innocent victims". Proposed by Councillor M Oliver View Papers |
| (e) | Forth Ports Plc (CONTINUED TO FALKIRK COUNCIL 30 APRIL 2008) "This Council welcomes the decision taken by Forth Ports PLC not to proceed with controversial plans to allow ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth. Faced with such unanimous opposition to the proposals, which would have had a devastating environmental impact on the Forth shoreline and marine habitats, Forth Ports had no option but to take the decision they now have. This Council also welcomes the strong stance taken by the Environment Minister Richard Lochhead and the SNP Government against the ship-to-ship oil transfer proposal, which made clear that any assessments completed by Forth Ports would be subject to an independent review, which clearly had a bearing on the decision not to proceed. However, Council notes with concern the ludicrous situation still in place since the privatisation of Forth Ports Authority by the previous Conservative UK Government which allows Forth Ports PLC to act as judge and jury as the local Harbour Authority as well as a private company whose aim is to maximise profits for shareholders. This Council therefore resolves to approach UK and Scottish Ministers with a view to scrapping the anomaly and conflict of interest that currently exists under Forth Ports". Proposed by Councillor A MacDonald |
| (f) | Post Office Network (CONTINUED TO FALKIRK COUNCIL 30 APRIL 2008) "Falkirk Council notes with great disappointment the decision of the Post Office Network to reject the balanced submissions made by and on behalf of the seven communities who will suffer the loss of a Post Office Service in their area as part of the UK Government's latest cut backs. Falkirk Council believes that the Post Office Network should operate as a service and not as a business and expresses extreme concern for the future of the remaining network given the stated criteria outlined by the Westminster Labour Government for its future maintenance. Falkirk Council therefore believes that the Post Office Network would be safer in the hands of the Scottish Government and their Westminster colleagues and calls on politicians in both parliaments to begin the process of transferring both responsibility and current funding from London to Edinburgh. Proposed by Councillor D Alexander |
| (g) | Housing and Social Services Committee (CONTINUED TO FALKIRK COUNCIL 30 APRIL 2008) "Council believes that openness, honesty, transparency and the need to demonstrate best value be key principles in the management of our services and should be at the core of the political administration of the Council. Council therefore notes with disappointment the lack of these qualities in recent matters pertaining to the Housing and Social Work Committee. The appointment of a private sector consultant within the Housing Department and the subsequent announcements have damaged the image of the department and demonstrated a failure to meet the qualities outlined below. "Openness - This decision to appoint a consultant not referred to Committee thus denying the Members of Falkirk Council the opportunity to scrutinise the decision "Honesty - The Convener of the Housing and Social Services Committee was quoted in the Falkirk Herald November 2007 denying the £700 per day figures for payment claiming it was less. Correspondence from the Director of Housing and Social Works confirms the accuracy of the amount. "Transparency - Members were denied the opportunity to set a remit for the appointment "Paying three times the recommended salary for a temporary appointment does not represent best value for Falkirk Council Council therefore resolves to:- 1. Agree that in future all recommendations to appoint consultants must be reported to Committee for authority to proceed. 2. Any such recommendation must become part of a report to Members outlining the cost of the appointment, remit for the consultant and set of objectives. 3. Any Convener in future making false statements to the Council/Committee/ Media will be asked by Council to explain their actions and may face removal from their positions if they have been found to have misled Members. Proposed by Councillor J McNally |
| 11 | EXECUTION OF DEEDS Submit Report by Acting Director of Law and Administration View Papers |