The Leader of the Council, Councillor E I Hunter in the Chair;
Councillors J A Davidson, W F Grant, P Herdman, A G Houghton, G O’Connell, AS Rogerson and JE Smith.
308.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received on behalf of Councillors AH Murray and JA Robertson.
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309.
2. Declaration Of Interest
The following declarations of interest were made at the meeting by Members :
(a) Item 4: Museum Service Plan – Councillor P Herdman (personal interest); and
(b) Item 6: Autumn and Winter opening, Wooler and Seahouses Tourist Information Centres – Councillor JA Davidson (personal and prejudicial interest).
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310.
3. Minutes of the Meeting of Policy Committee held on Wednesday 17th October 2007
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Policy Committee held on 17th October 2007.
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311.
4. Service Planning
Prior to discussion, the Chair proposed and it was agreed that where service plans were still incomplete (for instance, where risk narratives or detailed service proposals were missing), these should be approved in principle if they were otherwise satisfactory, subject to consideration of the missing information at the meeting of the Corporate Services Sub-Committee to be held on 30th October 2007.
It was also agreed that the Head of Finance would table an amendment to his report on the Medium Term Financial Strategy for consideration at the Ordinary Meeting of the Council to be held on 1st November, that amendment reflecting Corporate Services Sub-Committee’s consideration of the missing service plan information.
DECISIONS: (i) To agree the following service plans:
(a) Development Services
(b) Transport and Environmental Regulations
(c) Economic Development
(d) Sports Development
(e) Personnel / Health and Safety
(f) Property and Housing Services
(g) Tourism; and
(ii) to agree the following service plans on an in principle basis, subject to the missing information being reported to and approved by Corporate Services Sub-Committee on 30th October:
(h) Museum
(i) Town Centres; and
(j) Environmental Maintenance
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312.
Additional Item: Extension to Christmas Free Car Parking in Berwick-upon-Tweed
DECISION: To approve additional free parking on Wednesday evenings in December for Christmas shoppers in Berwick town centre, between 16:30 and 18:30 hours.
[Note: Members requested that the Transport and Environmental Regulations Manager report to the 16th January 2008 meeting of Policy Committee on options for extending the free parking policy to other town centres in the Borough for future years].
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313.
Additional Item: Autumn and Winter Opening at Wooler and Seahouses Tourist Information Centres
DECISION: To recommend to the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 1st November to agree the autumn and winter opening of the Tourist Information Centres in Wooler and Seahouses.
[Not: Having previously declared a personal and prejudicial interest, Councillor JA Davidson left the meeting and did not return].
