Falkirk Council Agenda - 27 October 2022, 11:00 
A meeting to be held at Lesser Town Hall, Falkirk at 11:00 on 27 October 2022.
| Number | Item |
|---|---|
| Record of Votes View Papers | |
| In accordance with Section 43 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 the Provost has directed that this meeting will be conducted in such a manner as to allow remote attendance by elected members. The meeting will be livestreamed via the Council website at:- https://www.falkirk.gov.uk/live | |
| 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 | Referral from Audit Committee - Report to Members and the Controller of Audit on the 2021/22 Audit Report by the Director of Transformation, Communities and Corporate Services. View Papers |
| 4 | The following items were carried over from the meeting on 28 September 2022 Review of Integrated Services Report by the Director of Transformation, Communities and Corporate Services. View Papers |
| 5 | Scheme of Assistance - Housing Investment Programme Owner Occupier Charges Report by the Director of Transformation, Communities and Corporate Services. View Papers |
| 6 | Programme of Meetings 2023 Report by the Director of Transformation, Communities and Corporate Services. View Papers |
| 7 | Membership of Committees and Boards - Independent Places Report by the Director of Transformation, Communities and Corporate Services. View Papers |
| 8 | Execution of Deeds Report by the Director of Transformation, Communities and Corporate Services. View Papers |
| 9 | Motions Five motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 29 are set out below. The Provost ruled, at the meeting on 28 September 2022, that they would be retained by Council and considered at this meeting. |
| (a) | Improving Falkirk's Public Transport and Promoting a Cleaner Environment Falkirk Council notes: 1. The distrust and disappointment among residents of the Falkirk Council area with their costly, inadequate and unreliable bus services. 2. That large numbers of residents of the Falkirk Council area find themselves unable to access work opportunities due to the inadequacy of transport services and many find fares so high that taking up employment that is available may not be an affordable option. 3. That large numbers of residents of the Falkirk Council area have difficulty in attending essential appointments including those at doctor's surgeries and hospital due to lack of suitable public transport. 4. That Falkirk Council has no direct control over the routes, timetables or vehicles that bus operators use in the area but must use its influence to help address these problems. 5. That the climate change crisis makes it necessary that we reduce car usage and develop greener public transport fleets to reduce carbon emissions, congestion and air pollution, and improve public health by increasing Active Travel. 6. That First Bus currently operates an effective monopoly in the area which has led to disdain for the people who pay their fares and lack of concern for the local environment. 7. That due to past reductions in the railway network we are overwhelmingly reliant on our bus services as the main means of public transport. 8. That Lothian Buses currently operate a successful municipal scheme, which not only provides bus services which satisfy public demand, but also run at a profit enabling reinvestment in the service and payment of dividends to Councils with shareholdings. 9. That Section 34 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 gives local transport authorities the power to run local bus services that they were previously prohibited from doing under the Transport Act 1985. This power sits alongside their other responsibilities in subsidising local services where there is a need. Council believes: 1. That to address all the above problems there needs to be a fundamental change to Public Transport Services in the Falkirk Council area to a system that recognises public transport as a vital service. Council asks Council officers to provide a comprehensive report on: 1. the current position in relation to all forms of public transport, the current costs to the Council, and likely future costs of continuation of current arrangements. 2. the options available to the Council for taking greater control over the provision of improved public transport, including:- a. a Lothian Buses Ltd style of publicly owned bus company including the arrangements covering the Lothians b. options for joint arrangements with other Central Scotland Local Authorities c. options for developing (hand in hand with a. and b.) Demand Responsive Transport for rural areas d. coordination of services with other forms of public transport such as rail services, and Dial-a-Journey e. combined ticketing options in an integrated public transport system 3. costs and timescales, and possible sources of funding. Proposed by Councillor Hannah View Papers |
| (b) | Falkirk Council Pest Control Falkirk Council notes: 1. Several Councillors have been made aware of a serious problem with rat infestations in their wards. 2. The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 Section 2 states: "Duties of local authorities. (1) It shall be the duty of every local authority to take such steps as may be necessary to secure so far as practicable that their district is kept free from rats and mice, and in particular- (a) from time to time to carry out such inspections as may be necessary for the purpose aforesaid; (b) to destroy rats and mice on land of which they are the occupier and otherwise to keep such land so far as practicable free from rats and mice; (c) to enforce the duties of owners and occupiers of land under the following provisions of this Part of this Act, and to carry out such operations as are authorised by those provisions." 3. The same Act states at Section 3: "Obligation of occupiers of land to notify local authority of rats and mice. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the occupier of any land shall give to the local authority forthwith notice in writing if it comes to his knowledge that rats or mice are living on or resorting to the land in substantial numbers. 4. The Council web site says: "Falkirk Council does not provide a pest control service." It goes on to give advice to occupiers as to how to deal with pests, but does not a. Advise residents that they have a legal responsibility to report to the Council substantial numbers of rats or mice on the property they occupy b. Give any details of inspection arrangements made by the Council to monitor rat and mouse infestations. c. Give any advice on how to deal with infestations where a whole street is affected d. Give any advice as to where occupiers can find a reliable pest control service. Council believes: 1. It has a responsibility to: (a) carry out inspections from time to time (b) to take such steps as are necessary to keep the district free of rats and mice (c) to inform residents of their responsibility to report infestations of rats and mice (d) to give such advice and assistance as is necessary to enable occupiers to rid their properties of rats and mice. Council asks Council officers to provide a comprehensive report on 1. the options for fully discharging Council's legal and moral duties to ensure the district is, as far as is possible, free of rats and mice 2. to ensure affordable options are available for owners and occupiers of property to enable them to take the necessary steps to clear infestations 3. costs and timescales, and how this can be funded. Proposed by Councillor Hannah View Papers |
| (c) | Get Me Home Safely Campaign Council commends Unite Hospitality's Get Me Home Safely campaign for highlighting the issue of workers getting home safely from work late at night which arises particularly for women and particularly in the hospitality sector where shifts can end late. Council notes that Licensing Boards in other council areas, for example, East Dunbartonshire, have considered this issue in the context of licensing policy in relation to the grant of late night extensions of licensed hours. Council agrees to ask the Licensing Board to consider this issue in its forthcoming review of policy in relation to the issue of late night extensions and more generally in relation to the grant of licenses with operating hours that will create difficulties for staff getting home. Council also notes that the availability of public transport options at night is essential for both staff and customers getting home safely from late night venues and asks officers to explore with transport providers incentivising transport options at night particularly at the weekend to include night buses, demand responsive transport and the greater availability of taxis. Proposed by Councillor Kelly View Papers |
| (d) | Recognition of Twinning Links on Road Signs Council recognises the importance of its two longstanding twinning arrangements with Creteil in France and with the Odenwald in Germany but notes that there are few if any visible signs of these arrangements. Council accordingly agrees that it would be beneficial to add to the current welcoming signs at the main entrance points to the council area by including the information that Falkirk is twinned with Creteil and the Odenwald. Council asks for a report back to Executive from the Director of Place Service on the cost for this (noting that the aim should be to undertake the work within existing budgets) and any roads design issues that this proposal raises. Proposed by Provost Bissett View Papers |
| (e) | Royal Hotel Building Slamannan Falkirk Council recognises that the Royal Hotel Building in Main Street in Slamannan has been closed for some time and is in a poor state of repair. Its appearance reflects poorly on the village and Elected Members are keen to see action taken to resolve this situation. Officers are asked to bring a report back to Council that considers this matter - including potential purchase - and makes recommendations on the best way forward. Proposed by Councillor Brown View Papers |