Agenda item

7.1

The Policy and Improvement Officer (Alice Nicholson) submitted a report on the proposed establishment of a Western Road War Memorial – Cross Party Task and Finish Working Group.  The report indicated that the proposal had been made following the submission of a petition at the meeting of the Council held on 4^th January 2017, and which, as a result of their being more than 5,000 signatures, had triggered a public debate at that meeting.  Part of the resolution by the Council was to refer the petition to this Committee to enable the establishment of such a Group.  The report set out proposals regarding the membership, visibility and scope of the Working Group, and a project plan in terms of its operation.

7.2

Members of the Committee raised questions and the following responses were provided:-

·                The Working Group would consider the suggestions now made in terms of ensuring that interested individuals and groups be given at least two weeks’ notice of any public sessions, for officers to meet with interested individuals and groups, early on in the process, and bring back options, based on their conversations with them, to the Group for consideration
and the inclusion of the War Memorials Trust as a stakeholder.

·                There were no details of the cost implications of any alternative schemes at the present time.

·                There were a number of other tree-related war memorials across the City, and the Council could follow similar procedures in connection with the other memorials, as adopted by the Working Group, if considered appropriate, in order to bring an element of consistency.

·                Although the membership of, and stakeholders to be invited to meetings of, the Working Group would be confirmed at its first meeting, it was accepted that Westways Primary School and St Timothy’s Church, and any other groups or organisations considered relevant by the Working Group, be invited as stakeholders. 

·                Again, although this was to be agreed by the Working Group at its first meeting, consideration would be given to ensuring that there was a sufficient number of meetings in public held to provide an equal balance in terms of public engagement.

·                It was not considered appropriate, nor had the Council recommended, to have individuals co-opted as members on the Working Group.  It had been considered more suitable for the Working Group to comprise a small number of elected Members and for interested and other relevant individuals and groups to be invited to public meetings of the Working Group to give evidence.

·                It was expected that the Working Group would wish to invite Amey to give evidence.

·                Local Ward Councillors would be consulted on which stakeholders would be involved in the process.

7.3

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       notes the contents of the report now submitted, together with the comments now made and the responses to the questions raised; and

(b)       approves the establishment of a Western Road First World War Memorial Cross Party Task and Finish Working Group, comprising Councillors Penny Baker, Lisa Banes, Neale Gibson, Abdul Khayum, Rob Murphy, Martin Smith and Steve Wilson, and for the Working Group to operate in accordance with the proposed scope and project plan, as set out in the report now submitted, and taking into consideration the suggestions now made, including those suggestions raised by members of the public who had asked questions at the meeting.