Agenda item

Pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 12, Council will consider a motion, notice of which has been given by Councillor P B Honeywood.

Council had before it the following motion, notice of which had been given by Councillor Paul Honeywood pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12:-

(a)    “This Council expresses its concern with the failure to maintain control of the Council’s expenditure during the delivery of the “Spendells Project”, which has had a detrimental effect, not only on the Council’s finances but also on its reputation, locally and nationally.

(b)    This Council notes the swift and exceptional actions taken by the Statutory Officers, as reported to Cabinet in May 2024, and subsequently considered by the Resources and Services Committee on Monday 22^nd July 2024.

(c)    This Council expresses its disappointment to the Leader of the Council’s response that, when asked whether he would like to apologise for the error happening as the Chief Executive had done, he declined.

(d)    This Council believes that this issue brings into question the effectiveness of, and culture towards, governance, risk management and communication this Cabinet has adopted. To restore confidence in the Cabinet, this Council looks forward to receiving the findings of the Portfolio Holders’ review of the performance and project management of all existing projects within their respective portfolios, as recommended by the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Monday 22^nd July 2024.”

Councillor P B Honeywood formally moved the motion and Councillor Griffiths formally seconded the motion.

In accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 12.6 Councillor Honeywood then explained the purpose of the Motion and Council proceeded to debate it.

Councillor Griffithsspoke during the debate on this matter.

Councillor M E Stephenson moved and Councillor Baker seconded that Councillor P B Honeywood’s motion be amended to read (in its entirety) as follows:-

“(a) This Council expresses its concern with the failure to maintain control of the Council’s expenditure during the delivery of the “Spendells Project”, which has had a detrimental effect, not only on the Council’s finances but also on its reputation, locally and nationally.

(b) This Council notes the swift and exceptional actions taken by the Statutory Officers, as reported to Cabinet in May 2024, and subsequently considered by the Resources and Services Committee on Monday 22^nd July 2024.

(c) This Council notes the statements given by the Leader of the Council to the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 July 2024 about the monitoring of budgets, performance and risk through Cabinet (and by Portfolio Holders) and that the appropriate time to make a further statement on the previously unauthorised expenditure on the Spendells Project will be when Cabinet has all the information that will come out of the investigation by the Chief Executive that is currently ongoing.”

Councillors M E Stephenson, Bray, P B Honeywood, Calver, Harris and Baker each addressed the Council during the debate on Councillor M E Stephenson’s amendment.

Pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 19.5, Councillor P B Honeywood, supported by other Members rising in their places, requisitioned a record of the voting on Councillor M E Stephenson’s amendment as set out above. That vote resulted as follows:-

Councillor M E Stephenson’s amendment, was thereupon declared CARRIED and it then became the substantive motion.

Pursuant to provisions of the Council Procedure Rule, Councillor M E Stephenson, supported by other Members present rising in their places, demanded a recorded vote on the substantive motion.

The vote resulted as follows:

The substantive motion on being put to the vote was declared CARRIED.