Falkirk Council Agenda - 07 January 2013, 15:00 
A meeting to be held at Council Chambers, Municipal Buildings, Falkirk at 15:00 on 07 January 2013.
| Number | Item |
|---|---|
| 1 | SEDERUNT |
| 2 | DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Members should declare any financial and non-financial interests they have in any item of business at the meeting, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of the interest. |
| 3 | NOTICES OF MOTION |
| (a) | Committee Membership "(a) Council notes the problems encountered with the breakdown of membership on Council Committees, in particular the attempt to find parity within the "other" category when there are 3 members aligned to the Administration and 2 not aligned. To assist in clearing the impasse Council has at present, it is agreed to allow the SNP and Independent Groups to fill the places allocated to them on Committees and other bodies from a joint slate of members. (b) In the event that Council agrees part (a) of this motion, Council will accept at this meeting the resignation of a member of the SNP Group from the Planning Committee to be replaced by a member of the non aligned independent group". View Papers |
| (b) | Disposal of Property "At a recent meeting of the Planning Committee, the decision was made to refuse planning permission to an applicant who wished to turn the building into a hot food take-away. At the on-site meeting it was suggested that the applicant could appeal the decision. It was also suggested that Council could withdraw the site from sale. Motion - That Council recognise the unique location of the Stationmaster's house in Denny and reverses its decision of 20 October 2009. The building and adjoining land will therefore be returned to the Development Services Account". View Papers |
| (c) | Pay Day Loans "There are serious concerns over the inadequate self-regulation of this relatively new financial sector industry which has seen a six-fold increase in the number of short term loan companies on our High Streets. Motion - That Council recognise the alarming rise in the availability of 'Pay Day Loan' facilities and instructs the Directors of Corporate & Neighbourhood Services and Social Work Services to identify the current use and projected impact on residents within the Council's catchment area". View Papers |
| (d) | Community Council Funding "It is unanimously recognised that the role played in local governance issues by all of our Community Councils is invaluable under severe economic constraint. Current funding levels have been in place for approximately 10 years. Motion - That Council seeks a full appraisal of current levels of funding to Community Councils, with a view to assessing that levels of financial and secondary support are adequate to allow Community Councils to fully comply with their statutory remit". View Papers |
| (e) | Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 "The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005, placed a statutory duty on the Council to establish an internal complaints procedure relevant to the regulations. Falkirk Council currently does not have such a procedure but instead has used an informative leaflet which is flawed. Motion - That Council instructs the Chief Governance Officer to present a Report for members' approval that fulfils all of the statutory duties placed upon the Council by The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005". View Papers |
| (f) | Supplementary Planning Guidance "Current Council practice refers all planning applicants to the requirement to have them, or their Environmental Consultant, follow the Falkirk Council Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) Note 'Development of Land Affected by Contamination: Guidance for Applicants and Developers'. The Director of Development Services has recognised that information contained within this guidance document is wrong. As far as I am aware, Councillors on the Planning Committee are advised that compliance with the SPG is a 'material consideration' when arriving at their decisions. Motion - That Council instruct the immediate withdrawal of Supplementary Planning Guidance Note "Development of Land Affected by Contamination: Guidance for Applicants and Developers" until all errors or omissions have been corrected". View Papers |
| (g) | Welfare Reforms "Council notes with concern the plans for a further attack on the most vulnerable within society by the UK Government with the announcement in the Autumn Statement on 5 December 2012 that a further c.£4bn is to be cut from the welfare budget at a time when income tax rates for the rich are being reduced. Council also deplores the changes to the benefits and treatment of disabled people implemented in December 2012 and calls on the UK Government to secure termination of the contract with ATOS, the French company set targets for the removal of benefits to disabled people at present by the Tory/Liberal Coalition Government in London. Council also calls for information about all benefit changes to be added to the report to be submitted following the 26 September 2012 meeting". Meeting requisitioned by Councillors Alexander, Bird, Chalmers, Coleman, Hughes, McCabe, McNally, Meiklejohn and Turner. View Papers |