Agenda item
REPORT CALLED IN - East End Life Development Options
(Time allocated 30 minutes)
Minutes:
At the request of the Chair Michael Keating, Head of Research and Scrutiny, presented the call-in procedure to the Committee.
Councillor Tim Archer for the Call-In Members outlined their main concerns, principally with regard to their belief that the report outlined far too few development options for East End Life. They considered that the options presented in the report did not allow Cabinet sufficient scope to consider concerns with the publication including that it was driving out competition, was overly political, and was being subsidised by tax payers to the equivalent of 1% of Council Tax.
Committee Members put detailed questions to the Deputy Leader, Councillor Sirajul Islam, who was substituting for the Lead Member, and Ms Sara Williams, Assistant Chief Executive, on a number of related issues including the lack of cross party material published, effective distribution of the paper around the Borough and the lack of up-to-date cost/benefit analysis.
Councillor Islam and Ms Williams responded on behalf of the Cabinet in detail on the points raised, stating that there were no barriers to cross party coverage in the paper, as stories were included on the basis of merit. They agreed that there were issues with ensuring the paper was evenly distributed throughout the Borough.
The Chair put forward his view that the paper needed to provide greater cross-party exposure as promoting Council services and activities was part of its role. The Chair stated that this could be included as part of the framework for East End Life decided by Cabinet.
MOVED by Councillor Simon Rouse and SECONDED by Councillor Stepanie Eaton:
“A fresh report should be tabled for full Cabinet consideration. This report should detail over and above the current report:
1. A full option set for East End Life including supporting financial impact. These options should include, but not be limited to:
§ Ceasing publication
§ Amending the format from a commercial format to simply a production of statutory and information notices, with no editorial content
§ Frequency options that should include monthly production, quarterly production in both commercial and non-commercial formats
2. An exit strategy outlining how the Council could exit East End Life with supporting timescales and financial impact.
3. The range of commercial rates that would be available to the Council should it choose to place its advertising with commercial papers. This should include rate card costs but also the likely bulk advertising negotiations that the Council believes it could obtain.
4. A more detailed consideration under section 5 of the Editorial Approach outlining how East End Life can be produced independent of Majority Group direction and ensuring balanced input from across all political groups. This should include how opposition Councillors views and opinions on Council services can be incorporated in reports.
5. The detailed budget and costs report for East End Life outlining current expenditure by accounts line. This should incorporate expenditure on temporary staff, consultants and contractors and all staff expenses, including entertainment costs.”
MOVED as an amendment by the Chair and SECONDED by Councillor Clair Hawkins that the motion be amended as follows:
“A fresh report should be tabled for full Cabinet consideration. This report should detail over and above the current report a more detailed consideration of how the East End Life framework can be changed to ensure that the publication reflects the activities of all Councillors and thereby ensures balanced input from across all political groups. This should include how opposition Councillors views and opinions on Council services can be incorporated in reports.”
The amendment was put to the meeting and was LOST.
The original motion was then put to the meeting. Four votes were recorded for the motion and four votes against the motion with one abstention. The Chair used his casting vote against the motion and the motion was therefore LOST.
Accordingly the Chair declared that Cabinet decision 10.12 ‘East End Life – Development Options’ (CAB120/067) would not be referred back to Cabinet for reconsideration.
Supporting documents:
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Report - Call In East End Life, item 6.1
PDF 101 KB
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Call in original cabinet report - East End Life Devpt Opt Final, item 6.1
PDF 153 KB