The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 209 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors Colin Hall, Pamela Picknett, Tony Shields and Helen Senior.

a)         Audit Commission Publication – “Summing up: A Review of Financial Management in Local Government 2005-2008”

The Mayor reported that the Council was one of one five authorities, and the only London Borough, to feature in the above Audit Commission publication.  The Council was mentioned as a notable practice case study for Value for Money.

b)        Councillor Colin Hall

The Mayor reported that Councillor Colin Hall had won an award for his contribution to local transport in London and in particular for his role in the Smarter Travel Sutton initiative.  That project also collected an award for Travel Information and Marketing.

c)         Fairer Deal for Council Tenants

The Mayor reported that Ms Jean Crossby, Chair of the Sutton Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations had handed in a petition at 10 Downing Street on 25 March, demanding a fairer deal for Council tenants.  Ms Crossby had been accompanied by Councillor Sean Brennan and the borough’s two MPs.  The group also had met Housing Minister Iain Wright, as part of a campaign against the government’s “rent claw back”.  Councillor Sean Brennan had also previously written to the Secretary of state, Margaret Beckett on this matter.  At the beginning of April the Government had announced that rent increase guidelines were to be reduced in half with the government footing the bill.

d)        Cheam, Wallington and Sutton Division of Girl Guiding UK

The Mayor reported that the Cheam, Wallington and Sutton Division of Girl Guiding UK had gained some prestigious Jack Petchey awards.  He had congratulated them on this achievement.

7.08pm

a)         Asked by Members of the Public

b)        Asked by Councillors

a)         Questions from members of the Public

One question and supplementary question was asked by a member of the public and a reply given as set out in Appendix A to these Minutes.

b)        Questions from Councillors

Five questions and supplementary questions were asked by five Councillors and replies given as set out in Appendix B to these Minutes.

To receive any petitions, which will either be dealt with at this Council meeting or stand referred for consideration by appropriate Committees of the Council. 

a)         Traffic Calming Measures - All Saints Road, Sutton

Councillor Ruth Dombey presented a petition signed by 182 persons in the following terms:

            We the undersigned express our disappointment that the traffic calming measures proposed by Sutton Council will not go ahead and the funding has been returned to Transport for London.

            We support the plans to slow down speeding vehicles in the vicinity of All Saints Benhilton Primary School and call upon the Council to begin negotiations with transport for London all over again so that a traffic calming scheme can be agreed as son as possible,

The petition was referred to the Sutton Local Committee for consideration and report.

b)        Heavy Vehicles in Church Hill Road, Cheam

Councillor Chris Dunlop presented petition signed by 216 persons in the following terms:

            We the Residents of Church Hill Road do Petition and Demand that the Borough of Sutton Council introduce measures immediately to stop heavy vehicles using the roads as a short cut to the By Pass and out of service buses, other than the 93 buses.

            These vehicles have continually caused unnecessary noise, added pollution and damage to our property must stop.

            Church Hill Road is a Residential Road.

The petition was referred to the Cheam North and Worcester Park Local Committee for consideration and report.

In accordance with Notice given, Councillor John Leach will move the following Motion

“That the Council place on record its grateful thanks to Councillor Brendan Hudson for his service as Mayor of the London Borough of Sutton during the past municipal year, for the able, courteous and impartial manner in which he has conducted the proceedings of the Council, and for his continuing devotion at all times to the welfare of the Borough.”

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22 the Motion will be dealt with at this Council meeting.

In accordance with notice given, Councillor John Leach moved and Councillor Sue Stears seconded the following Motion:

“That the Council place on record its grateful thanks to Councillor Brendan Hudson for his service as Mayor of the London Borough of Sutton during the past municipal year, for the able, courteous and impartial manner in which he has conducted the proceedings of the Council, and for his continuing devotion at all times to the welfare of the Borough.”

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22 it had been decided that the Motion should be dealt with at this meeting.

In their speeches, Councillors John Leach and Sue Stears mentioned that, during his year in Office, the Mayor had attended over 400 engagements and organised fifteen charity events.  In doing so, he had raised over £35,000 for his Charity – The Royal Marsden's Wolfson Children's and Adolescent Unit at The Royal Marsden Hospital.  The Mayoral theme for the year had been “Civic to Clinic” and as part of that the Mayor had held 20 receptions for employees from all sections of the National Health Service in Sutton.  Other significant events had included the Freedom of the Borough Ceremony for the Olympian wheelchair athlete David Weir and a dinner at the House of Commons.

Councillor Paul Scully also paid tribute to the Mayor, on behalf of the opposition group, for the fair-minded way in which he had chaired Council meetings.

On being put to the vote, the Motion was adopted.

The Mayor returned thanks for the kind words from Councillors John Leach, Sue Stears and Paul Scully.  He referred to the huge range of different engagements that each Mayor undertakes, visiting all areas of the Borough.  Particular mention was made of his first visit to a synagogue and a mosque, the Holocaust Memorial Day event, the receiving of the Borough’s Olympic Flag, meeting representatives from the Council’s twin towns on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Sutton Town Twinning Association and bestowing the Honorary Freedom of the Borough upon David Weir.  Other memorable events included the themed weeks, especially Take Part Take Pride and visiting geriatric, maternity and children’s wards at St. Helier Hospital on Christmas day with the Mayor of Merton Council.  The Mayor finished by stating that he would thank specific people at the annual Council meeting and that it had been a pleasure to serve the people of Sutton for the past year.

In accordance with notice given, Councillor David Pickles will move the following Motion:

            "Following the recent unacceptable events in Luton by certain sections of our community against Her Majesty's armed forces, this Council sends its full support to all the troops and their families residing in the London Borough of Sutton in their difficult job maintaining the peace in Iraq and Afghanistan"

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22 the motion will be dealt with at this Council meeting.

In accordance with notice given, Councillor David Pickles formally moved and Councillor David Theobald formally seconded the following Motion:

            "Following the recent unacceptable events in Luton by certain sections of our community against Her Majesty's armed forces, this Council sends its full support to all the troops and their families residing in the London Borough of Sutton in their difficult job maintaining the peace in Iraq and Afghanistan"

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22 the motion was referred for debate later in the Council meeting.

In accordance with notice given, Councillor Chris Dunlop will move

“This Council notes: -

1.                  The important role of Council provided leisure provision as a contributor to the quality of life, health and wellbeing of London Borough of Sutton residents.

2.                  That some residents feel that there are inequalities in the geographical distribution of Council provided leisure facilities within the borough.  

3.                  That Cheam Leisure Centre, in Malden Road, Cheam, is included as a potential site for development in the ‘Site Development Policies Preferred Options’ document, which was approved at The Executive (16/02/2009) for public consultation. 

4.                  That the development-use proposals, in the above document, do not include leisure provision for the Cheam Leisure Centre site.

This Council resolves to: -

1.                  ensure that leisure provision in the western half of the borough is safeguarded;

2.                  ensure that the Cheam Leisure Centre site, if developed, retains substantial leisure provision to serve the residents of the local area, matching current provision.

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22 the motion will be dealt with at this Council meeting.

In accordance with notice given, Councillor Chris Dunlop formally moved and Councillor Stuart Gordon-Bullock formally seconded the following Motion

“This Council notes: -

1.                  The important role of Council provided leisure provision as a contributor to the quality of life, health and wellbeing of London Borough of Sutton residents.

2.                  That some residents feel that there are inequalities in the geographical distribution of Council provided leisure facilities within the borough.  

3.                  That Cheam Leisure Centre, in Malden Road, Cheam, is included as a potential site for development in the ‘Site Development Policies Preferred Options’ document, which was approved at The Executive (16/02/2009) for public consultation. 

4.                  That the development-use proposals, in the above document, do not include leisure provision for the Cheam Leisure Centre site.

This Council resolves to: -

1.                  ensure that leisure provision in the western half of the borough is safeguarded;

2.                  ensure that the Cheam Leisure Centre site, if developed, retains substantial leisure provision to serve the residents of the local area, matching current provision.

In accordance with Standing Order 11.22 the motion was referred for debate later at this Council meeting.

The Friends of Cuddington Park group was formed earlier this month.  They have asked if one of their members could serve as a Community Representative on the Cheam North and Worcester Park Local Committee.  The next meeting of the Committee is on 30 April 2009.

It is RECOMMENDED that Barry Ivens (substitute John Weir) be appointed as a Community Representative to serve on the Cheam North and Worcester Park Local Committee until the annual meeting of the Council in May 2010.

            Resolved:  That Barry Ivens (substitute John Weir) be appointed as a Community Representative to serve on the Cheam North and Worcester Park Local Committee until the annual meeting of the Council in May 2010.

7.51pm

To receive and consider the following recommendations of Committees:

The Executive : 6 April 2009

298.    The Construction & Operation of the Sutton Life Centre

Members considered a report covering three key aspects of this signature project: approval to accept formally the ‘myplace’ grant of £4m; the draft operating plan and revenue budget implications; and procurement and the ‘agreed maximum price’ (AMP).  The report also covered the background, development and need for the project, the increased specification made possible, and necessitated, by the ‘myplace’ grant, and the facilities that the Life Centre would contain when complete.  These included a library, citizenship and life skills centre, youth centre, café, community rooms, multi use games area, changing rooms, climbing wall, eco and sensory gardens.

It was emphasised that the Life Centre would be a unique facility.  It would operate in two distinct modes.  Firstly as a new community building for local people, open longer and with more and better facilities than currently existed, and secondly as a leading regional educational facility for year 6 and 8 school pupils, attracting visits from Sutton, London and the South East.  This aspect of the Life Centre was projected to generate significant income, which would allow the costs of the community facilities to be offset by the income.

The Life Centre building would be safe and sustainable, incorporating the latest elements to achieve a ‘very good’ BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) standard.  It would also be built to Secure by Design standards, using architecture to build out crime where possible.

The implications of accepting the ‘myplace’ grant were detailed in the report, including the requirement to enter into a Deed of Dedication, requiring the council to seek consent from the Fund prior to any disposition or material change to the use of the property for a period of 20 years. 

The draft operating plan described in detail how the Life Centre would be used, its proposed staffing, management options, pricing policy, opening hours, detailed operational budgets and start up costs.  It also incorporated a risk assessment, detailing identified risks and mitigation measures, where possible.

The project had been procured in accordance with the Sutton Framework Agreement.  By agreeing the AMP, the contractor would commit to a price of £8.325m, which could not be exceeded.  Any further costs would be offset by further value engineering elsewhere in the project.  There would be a single phase of works, staring on site in April 2009 and due for completion in July 2010.  The Centre was planned to be fully operational by September 2010.

Work was being undertaken to close the funding gap of £0.655m that was still needed.  Construction costs would be further mitigated, where possible, and sponsorship was being sought to help offset both capital and revenue costs.  However, any remaining shortfall would need to be funded from the council’s own resources

Executive Members welcomed the report.  They acknowledged the risks inherent in undertaking such an innovative and unique project, but believed that these were more than outweighed by the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 387a

Councillor John Kennedy raised a point of order under Standing Order 13.1 which was responded to by the Chief Executive and Interim Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

Councillor Graham Whitham moved and Councillor Richard Butt seconded the following Motion:

            “That the matter be not debated tonight.”

On being put to the vote, the Motion was lost on a show of hands.

Councillor Sean Brennan moved the reception of Minute 298/09.

Following debate, the recommendations in Minute 298/09 were adopted on a show of hands.

A poll vote was demanded when there voted

The recommendations in Minute 298/09 were adopted.

Further to Minute ***/09, Councillor Chris Dunlop moved and Councillor Stuart Gordon-Bullock seconded the following Motion:

“This Council notes: -

1.         The important role of Council provided leisure provision as a contributor to the quality of life, health and wellbeing of London Borough of Sutton residents.

2.         That some residents feel that there are inequalities in the geographical distribution of Council provided leisure facilities within the borough.  

3.         That Cheam Leisure Centre, in Malden Road, Cheam, is included as a potential site for development in the ‘Site Development Policies Preferred Options’ document, which was approved at The Executive (16/02/2009) for public consultation. 

4.         That the development-use proposals, in the above document, do not include leisure provision for the Cheam Leisure Centre site.

This Council resolves to: -

1          ensure that leisure provision in the western half of the borough is safeguarded;

2          ensure that the Cheam Leisure Centre site, if developed, retains substantial leisure provision to serve the residents of the local area, matching current provision.

In doing so, Councillor Stuart Gordon Bullock declared a personal interest in that he had learnt to swim in Cheam Baths.

Councillor Graham Tope moved and Councillor Lyn Gleeson seconded the following amendment which sought to change the Motion as indicated:

“This Council notes: -

1.         The important role of Council provided leisure provision as a contributor to the quality of life, health and wellbeing of London Borough of Sutton residents.

2.         That some residents feel that there are inequalities in the geographical distribution of Council provided leisure facilities within the borough.  

3.         That Cheam Leisure Centre, in Malden Road, Cheam, is included as a potential site for development in the ‘Site Development Policies Preferred Options’ document, which was approved at The Executive (16/02/2009) for public consultation. 

4.         That the development-use proposals, in the above document, do not include leisure provision for the Cheam Leisure Centre site.

This Council resolves to: -

1.         ensure that leisure provision in the western half of the borough is safeguarded;

2.         ensure that the Cheam Leisure Centre site, if developed, retains substantial leisure provision to serve the residents of the local area, matching current provision.

2.         note that a report on the Leisure Facilities Strategy is due to come to the Executive on 8 June, which is likely to recommend, amongst other important decisions on the Strategy, that Cheam Leisure Centre be replaced by a new leisure centre with a target date of 2015, in and serving the catchment in the western area of the Borough, subject to available funding and planning considerations.

3.         agree that the appropriate time to debate this important matter, in the context of the wider Leisure Facilities Strategy, will be when the Report to the Executive is published;

4.         note it is intended that Cheam Leisure Centre remain open and operating in its present building at least until 2015 and that there will be plenty of time for public debate on the location and nature of future provision in the west of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 387b

On the Motion of Councillor Sean Brennan, seconded by Councillor Ruth Dombey, it was

            Resolved:  That, in accordance with Standing Order 14.8 all items remaining to be dealt with at this Council meeting be approved subject to the opposition leader being able to express dissent on them.”

The following Minutes and Motions were adopted: