Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

Councillor Roberts declared a personal interest in Item 2 – Notices of Motion. The nature of the interest being that he was the parent of a child currently attending a Catholic Primary School in the Borough.

Councillor O’Malley declared a personal interest in Item 2 – Notices of Motion. The nature of the interest being that he was a governor of a Catholic Primary School in the Borough

This extraordinary meeting of the Council was requisitioned on 17 October 2011 by Councillors Stephen Knight, Malcolm Eady, Sir David Williams, Suzette Nicholson and Liz Jaeger in the following terms:

Motion

“This Council resolves to consult all parents of children at the Borough’s maintained primary schools about the type of school places to be provided on the Clifden Road site, with options to include a new community school or a new Roman Catholic School.  In the light of the results of this consultation, the Cabinet should recommend to full Council the type of school to be provided on the site.”

The Mayor advised those present that the meeting of the Council in progress had been requisitioned on 17 October 2011 by Councillors Stephen Knight, Sir David Williams, Malcolm Eady. Suzette Nicholson and Liz Jaeger for the sole purpose of considering the Motion outlined on the agenda.

In accordance with the notice given, Councillor Knight moved, seconded by Councillor Eady:

‘This Council resolves to consult all parents of children at the Borough’s maintained primary schools about the type of school places to be provided on the Clifden Road site, with options to include a new community school or a new Roman Catholic School. In the light of the results of this consultation, the Cabinet should recommend to Full Council the type of school to be provided on the site.’

An amendment in the following terms was moved by Councillor Hodgins and seconded by Councillor Samuel:

After ‘resolves’ delete: ‘to consult parents of children at the Borough’s maintained primary schools about the type of school places to be provided on the Clifden Road site with options to include a new community school or a new Roman Catholic School. In the light of this consultation, the Cabinet should recommend to Full Council the type of school to be provided on the site.’

And Insert: ‘bearing in mind its commitment to respect equal opportunities and the place of minorities in our community, to maintain its longstanding commitment to the provision of a Roman Catholic secondary school, reaffirmed under successive administrations and, as agreed without opposition by this Full Council in its Corporate Plan adopted in April 2011; and to ensure, in accordance with its normal practice, Borough-wide public consultation on any proposal that comes forward for such a school, including on the use of the Clifden site.’

In accordance with Procedure Rule 20.4, a recorded vote was called, whereupon Councillors Arbour, Avon, Blakemore, Bouchier, Butler, Chappell, Elliott, Evans, Fleming, Harbourne, Harrison, Hodgins, Linnette, Marlow, Martin, Mathias, Montague, Naylor, O’Malley, Palmer, Percival, Porter, Salvoni, Samuel, Stockley, True and Urquhart, voted in favour of the amendment; Councillors Acton, Allen, Burford, Cardy, Churchill, Coombs, Day, Eady, Elengorn, Elloy, Gibbons, Jaeger, Jones, Khosa, Knight, Langhorne, Miller, Nicholson, Pollesche, Roberts, Thornton, Treble and Williams voted against the amendment; the Mayor and Deputy Mayor did not vote.

Therefore the amendment was declared to be CARRIED

The substantive motion was put to the vote and declared to be CARRIED

RESOLVED:

‘Bearing in mind its commitment to respect equal opportunities and the place of minorities in our community, the Council resolves to maintain its long standing commitment to the provision of a Roman Catholic secondary school, reaffirmed under successive administrations and, as agreed without opposition by this Full Council and in its Corporate Plan adopted in April 2011; and to ensure, in accordance with its normal practice, Borough-wide public consultation on any proposal that comes forward for such a school, including the use of the Clifden site.’