Minutes – Full Council (Extraordinary meeting) – 29 October 2018

The minutes of this meeting are presented below.

You can also download a PDF copy of the minutes here: Minutes – Full Council (Extraordinary meeting) – 29 October 2018

MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICHESTER HELD IN THE ASSEMBLY ROOM, THE COUNCIL HOUSE, NORTH STREET, CHICHESTER ON MONDAY 29 OCTOBER 2018 AT 6.00PM

PRESENT:

• The Mayor (Councillor Bell), The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Tupper), Councillors Apel, Budge, Dignum, M Evans, P Evans, T French, Galloway, Hixson, Joy, Keyworth, Kilby, Macey, Plowman, Scicluna, Sharp, Spink

ABSENT:

• Councillors Dempster and Keyworth

IN ATTENDANCE:

• Town Clerk, Administration Manager, Macebearer, 42 members of the public

42. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Mayor said that it had been a great honour for him as Mayor, and on behalf of the citizens of Chichester, to greet their Royal Highnesses Prince Harry and Megan on their first formal visit to Sussex as the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex and how delighted we all were that they started their visit in our City.

The Mayor, on behalf or the citizens of Chichester, expressed sympathy for the terrible and tragic events that had occurred in the City of Pittsburgh and the City of Leicester over the past weekend.

43. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

As recorded above.

The Mayor asked for Declarations of Interests by Members of Council in matters on the Agenda for this meeting.

Councillors Apel, Budge, Dignum, Galloway, Hixson, Kilby, Macey and Plowman declared Interests as members of Chichester District Council.

Councillor Plowman declared a Personal Interest as a member of the Chichester Conservation Area Advisory Committee and a member of Friends of Priory Park.

Councillor Scicluna declared a Personal Interest as a member of the Chichester Conservation Area Advisory Committee.

44. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Before taking questions from members of the public, the Mayor explained that he had called this Extraordinary meeting as concerns had been raised about the proposals for a temporary ie. 6-week Ice Rink in Priory Park and there were no planned City Council Meetings before the closing dates of 1 November 2018 and 9 November 2018 for representations on the Planning and Licensing matters relating to the proposal.

The Mayor had received questions from members of the public being residents of the City pursuant to Standing Order 27.

The questions related to the impact of the Ice Rink on the economy of the City and how would this be monitored, the timeline and decisions by the City Council’s Planning Delegation Sub-Committee, the effect it would have on local residents and the significant area of the park that will be restricted for a time period while the grass recovers.

45. ICE RINK IN PRIORY PARK

The following Motions from the Mayor of Chichester, Councillor Martyn Bell, were put to Members :

Motion 1

The City Council’s Planning Delegation Sub-Committee on 10 October 2018 raised no objection to the planning application based on the facts before them. However, as there is now a proposal to serve alcohol, this suggests greater evening usage and additional noise disturbance and these issues will need to be considered very carefully by the District Council. This is doubly important considering the disturbance and nuisance caused to near neighbours by the Oktoberfest weekend.

In the light of the additional information about the alcohol licence that was not before the City Council when a recommendation was made on the planning application, the City Council now strongly urges the District Council to examine an alternative location for the ice rink.

On the legal advice received from Chichester District Council’s Divisional Manager, Democratic Services, Motion (i) above was withdrawn as Planning and Licensing Applications have to be treated as separate entities.

Motion 2

Should the District Council decide to proceed with the ice rink in Priory Park, the daily operating hours of the ice rink should reflect this being a facility in use predominantly by families and young people and the promoter should not therefore be issued with a Licence to Retail Alcohol inside the rink or adjacent to the rink.

The Mayor proposed Motion 2 and was duly seconded by Councillor Scicluna. The Motion was opened for debate and the Mayor invited each member present to speak.

Members expressed their views on the proposal for an Ice Rink to be located in Priory Park.  Some members supported the proposal and spoke of the benefits it would have on the City and others while supporting the principle of an Ice Rink saw Priory Park as the wrong location and were very concerned about the sale of alcohol

Councillor Budge left the meeting.

Motion 2 was put the vote.

Councillor Apel requested a Recorded Vote.

For :  Councillors Apel, Bell, M Evans, P Evans, French, Holman, Joy, Plowman, Scicluna and Tupper (10)

Against : Councillors Dignum, Galloway, Hixson, Kilby, Macey and Spink (6)

Abstain : Councillor Sharp (1)

Absent : Councillors Budge, Dempster and Keyworth (3)

It was therefore RESOLVED that Motion 2 be carried.

The Town Clerk was asked to make this City Council’s representation to Licensing at Chichester District Council.

46. COMMON SEAL

RESOLVED that the Common Seal be affixed to any documents necessary to give effect to the resolutions passed at this meeting. 

The meeting closed at 7.26pm.