STIRLING COUNCIL
MINUTES of SPECIAL MEETING of STIRLING COUNCIL held as a VIRTUAL MEETING by
MICROSOFT TEAMS on TUESDAY 4 AUGUST 2020 at 3.00 PM
Present:
Provost Christine SIMPSON (in the Chair)
Councillor Maureen BENNISON
Councillor Neil BENNY
Councillor Alistair BERRILL
Councillor Margaret BRISLEY
Councillor Robert DAVIES
Councillor Douglas DODDS
Councillor Martin EARL
Councillor Scott FARMER
Councillor Bryan FLANNAGAN
Councillor Danny GIBSON
Councillor Graham HOUSTON
Councillor Chris KANE
Councillor Graham LAMBIE
Councillor Alison LAURIE
Councillor Alastair MAJURY
Councillor Jeremy MCDONALD
Councillor Susan MCGILL
Councillor Ross OXBURGH
Councillor Alasdair TOLLEMACHE
Councillor Jim THOMSON
Councillor Evelyn TWEED
In Attendance
Carol Beattie, Chief Executive
Jim Boyle, Chief Officer – Finance
Martin Dalziel, External Communications Team Leader (Communities & Performance)
Kristine Johnson, Chief Officer – HR & OD
Kevin Kelman, Chief Operating Officer – People
Isabel McKnight, Chief Operating Officer – Communities & Performance
Sean Moffat, Assistant Analyst
Julia McAfee, Chief Officer – Governance (Clerk)
Joyce Allen, Team Leader, Governance
Louise McDonald, Committee Officer (Minute Taker)
Islay Moore, Support Officer
Also in Attendance
Andrew Wallace, External Audit
Mark Ferris, External Audit
Recording of Meeting started
Prior to the commencement of business, the Provost welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting via MS Teams. A statement was read setting out the procedures that both Members and Officers should adhere to throughout the meeting. Members were advised that, with reference to the information provided in advance by the Chief Officer – Governance, Standing Order 61 would apply in relation to time allocations for Members contributions.
The Provost asked the Clerk to carry out a roll call of all Members participating in the meeting. The Clerk confirmed all Members except for Councillor Alasdair MacPherson were present.
SC319 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Alasdair MacPherson.
SC320 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
SC321 REQUISITION
Motion
“Council Agrees to amend the Scheme of Delegation to allow petitions to be heard on matters that have been decided by Council within the last 6 months.
Council further agrees to amend the scheme of delegation to allow consideration of any change.org petition applicable to decisions or policies of Stirling Council when it has attracted more than 1,000 signatures. This includes currently live petitions on the change.org website.”
Moved by Councillor Neil Benny, seconded by Councillor Ross Oxburgh
1st Amendment
“Council recognises the vital role that the petitions process plays in our local
democracy.
Council welcomes that the recently established COVID Short Life Working Group has already considered all aspects of our future operation including electronic submission of petitions (which all political groups have supported).
Council continues to support the proposals made by Cllr Neil Benny in the December 2015 Council meeting until further changes are brought forward to Council from the COVID 19 Short Life working group process.”
Proposed by Councillor Scott Farmer, seconded by Councillor Danny Gibson
At 3.09pm the Council agreed to adjourn for a break to allow members to consider the Amendment.
Recording of Meeting stopped
The Meeting reconvened at 3.11pm with all Elected Members (previously noted) present.
Recording of Meeting started
2nd Amendment
“Members agree to task officers to draw up arrangements for a Stirling Council online petition process which will be ratified by full council before the end of October 2020.”
Moved by Councillor Alasdair Tollemache
At 3.20pm the Council agreed to adjourn for a break to allow members to consider the Amendment.
Recording of Meeting stopped
The Meeting reconvened at 3.25pm with all Elected Members (previously noted) present.
Recording of Meeting started
Councillor Tollemache was unable to obtain a seconder for his amendment and it was withdrawn.
For the Amendment (13)
Councillor Maureen Bennison
Councillor Margaret Brisley
Councillor Scott Farmer
Councillor Danny Gibson
Councillor Graham Houston
Councillor Chris Kane
Councillor Graham Lambie
Councillor Alison Laurie
Councillor Susan McGill
Councillor Christine Simpson
Councillor Jim Thomson
Councillor Alasdair Tollemache
Councillor Evelyn Tweed
Against the Amendment (8)
Councillor Neil Benny
Councillor Alistair Berrill
Councillor Douglas Dodds
Councillor Martin Earl
Councillor Bryan Flannagan
Councillor Alastair Majury
Councillor Jeremy McDonald
Councillor Ross Oxburgh
Not Voting (1)
Councillor Robert Davies
The Amendment was carried by 13 votes to 8 votes with 1 Member not voting and became the Substantive Motion.
For the Substantive Motion (13)
Councillor Maureen Bennison
Councillor Margaret Brisley
Councillor Scott Farmer
Councillor Danny Gibson
Councillor Graham Houston
Councillor Chris Kane
Councillor Graham Lambie
Councillor Alison Laurie
Councillor Susan McGill
Councillor Christine Simpson
Councillor Jim Thomson
Councillor Alasdair Tollemache
Councillor Evelyn Tweed
Against the Substantive Motion (8)
Councillor Neil Benny
Councillor Alistair Berrill
Councillor Douglas Dodds
Councillor Martin Earl
Councillor Bryan Flannagan
Councillor Alastair Majury
Councillor Jeremy McDonald
Councillor Ross Oxburgh
Not Voting (1)
Councillor Robert Davies
The Substantive Motion was carried by 13 votes to 8 votes with 1 Member not voting.
Decision
Council:
-
recognises the vital role that the petitions process plays in our local
democracy; -
welcomes that the recently established COVID Short Life Working Group has already considered all aspects of our future operation including electronic submission of petitions (which all political groups have supported); and
-
continues to support the proposals made by Cllr Neil Benny in the December 2015 Council meeting until further changes are brought forward to Council from the COVID 19 Short Life working group process.
The Provost declared the Meeting closed at 4.05pm