Wirral Council Christmas Question Time (Bah! Humbug! Edition)
Wirral Council Christmas Question Time (Bah! Humbug! Edition)
Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.
If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.
As it’s Christmas Day on the day I write this I thought I’d start first with the question most related to Christmas from Cllr Mike Hornby to Cllr Harry Smith (Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation) which starts at 0:46 in the video above.
Cllr Mike Hornby, Conservative (Greasby, Frankby and Irby): Thank you Mr. Mayor. Errm, my question to Councillor Harry Smith who doesn’t seem to able to hear me, can you hear me?
Cllr Harry Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation: Just about.
Cllr Mike Hornby, Conservative (Greasby, Frankby and Irby): I shall speak up. Is he aware that a large number of small children in my ward are greatly saddened when they learnt that Santa will not be coming to turn on their lights next year? Is he further aware that the once…
Mayor Cllr Dave Mitchell: Is that in relation to the report? Highway services contract, how does that relate to the report? Can I just stop you there and say that I’ve had the great pleasure and I’m sure my Deputy will follow the line we’ve continued for many years regarding the Mayor who’s attended an awful lot of occasions like this where he goes and switches lights on.
Cllr Harry Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation: Mr Mayor, Mr Mayor can I just say?
Cllr Mike Hornby, Conservative (Greasby, Frankby and Irby): Mr Mayor, I..
Mayor Cllr Dave Mitchell: Just …
Cllr Harry Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation: Allow me to say, sorry go on.
Mayor Cllr Dave Mitchell: Please relate your questions to the report.
Cllr Mike Hornby, Conservative (Greasby, Frankby and Irby): I will make a comment. Is Councillor Smith aware that the once jolly Harry is now being referred to as Ebenezer Smith? However, however will you not agree that it is not too late to change any thoughts he has in mind on this matter and that he should become like the Dickens character the spirit of Christmas yet to come?
Mayor Cllr Dave Mitchell: I would like you to try and answer that one.
Cllr Harry Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation: Thank you. Err, Mr Mayor the Christmas tree lighting program is no longer part of my portfolio. It’s been dished out to the areas a long time ago and I think really what you have now is the area committees, which will may have the money to afford a program such as that or you could as Claughton and other areas have done approach the local business people who may well be ready to pay for the lighting.
Mayor Cllr Dave Mitchell: Thank you very much for that.
Cllr Harry Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation: Mr Mayor, my children, it’s well been known that I am Mr Humble if you know what I mean.
Mayor Cllr Dave Mitchell: That report needs to be noted.
If you click on any of these buttons below, you’ll be doing me a favour by sharing this article with other people. Thanks:
The next item on the agenda was the gifts and hospitality policy, Peter Wallach spent five minutes summarising the report. At the end the Chair asked if there were any questions. Nobody asked any questions and the recommendations were agreed.
The next report was an update on work on the Cunard Building. Cllr Hornby wanted a working party set up and for the committee to agree to a working party being created. Cllr Harry Smith said he would second it if Cllr Hornby added if needed. Cllr Adrian Jones said it was sensible and he would go along with it. Cllr Harry Smith said he would support a working party if needed. Cllr Hornby said that he was trying to save time and not wait till next year. Cllr Harry Smith said he wouldn’t name the officer, but the unnamed officer had said that they would make a decision, he said he was not happy with officers making decisions before councillors. The Chair asked for a vote. All voted in favour of a working party.
Peter Wallach said a report was expected at the end of the month, the next committee meeting was in January so there would be a working party by Christmas.
The next report was on the LGC Investment Conference. The officer said it was in the supplementary papers as it had a title similar to a previous agenda item which had been incorrectly duplicated. The investment conference in Chester was seen as an important element of their training and costs would be met from the training budget.
Cllr Harry Smith said he had discussed this at the briefing, he said this training opportunity should be open to members of the Pension Committee. The Chair agreed that training was important. There was a vote and it was agreed that people would be sent at a cost of £425 + VAT (which included a nights accommodation in Cheshire) + travel.
The application from Mellors Catering Services Ltd which had been agreed under delegated decision-making by officers was agreed.
The Chair asked if there were any objections to the Investment Working Party minutes. No objections were made. The press and public were excluded from the rest of the meeting.
A report of the Licensing Act 2003 Committee of Wirral Council of the 7th November 2012, Interest Declarations, Minutes (25th July 2012), Result of consultation on draft statememt of principles (Gambling Act 2005), classification of Small Creatures (Light Cinema, New Brighton)
Please accept YouTube cookies to play this video. By accepting you will be accessing content from YouTube, a service provided by an external third party.
If you accept this notice, your choice will be saved and the page will refresh.
Licensing Act 2003 Committee (Wirral Council) 7th November 2012
Present
Cllr Bill Davies (Chair), Labour
Cllr Rob Gregson (Labour)
Cllr John Salter (Labour)
Cllr Harry Smith (Labour)
Cllr Steve Niblock (Labour)
Cllr Denise Roberts (Labour)
Cllr Mike Hornby (Conservative)
Cllr Adam Sykes (Conservative)
Cllr Dave Mitchell (Liberal Democrat)
Council officers
Anne Beauchamp (Committee Officer)
Margaret O’Donnell (Licensing Manager)
Ken Abraham (Legal adviser)
Unknown officer (male)
In attendance
Cllr Geoffrey Watt
Press/public
John & Leonora Brace
The meeting started with Cllr Dave Mitchell (Lib Dem) giving apologies for Cllr Pat Williams (Lib Dem). The meeting was interrupted by the tune of an ice cream van, which the Chair, Cllr Bill Davies made a joke about, he went on to say that there were a number of meetings going on of different committees and that a number of councillors had sent their apologies. Apologies had been received from Cllrs McCubbin, Davies (George), Leech and Williams (Pat). He said he had a quick Any Other Business and asked if he could sign the minutes?
Agenda Item 1 Declarations of Interest 1:09 to 1:30
Cllr Niblock asked if he could declare a personal interest as a member of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority in item 3.
Cllr Denise Roberts also declared a personal interest as a member of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority in item 3.
Agenda Item 3. DRAFT STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES UNDER THE GAMBLING ACT 2005 1:50 to 8:20
The Chair asked Margaret O’Donnell (Licensing Manager) to talk about this item. She said the Committee had agreed a draft statement in July which had gone out to consultation, which had closed on the 31st October [2012].
At this point a Council Officer arrived.
Margaret O’Donnell continued that they had received one response which was attached at appendix 3, there were no specific direct comments so no amendments had been made to the draft since July, she said the purpose of the evening was to seek approval, then it would go to full Council on 17th December [2012] and was to be revised no later than January 2013.
Cllr Niblock referred to page 15 3.3 in the reference to “Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Authority” which should read Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority. He pointed out a minor error where a full stop should be a comma and asked a question about page 31 about bingo being played in a member’s club.
Margaret was about to answer his points but Cllr Niblock went on to point out page 36, 21.2 apologising and saying he meant 27.3 and the phrase “will be decided on a case by case individual basis”, which he thought should either be case by case or individual.
Cllr Harry Smith agreed with him.
Cllr Niblock went on to point out that certain proper nouns such as Licensing Authority needed to be capitalised but were all in lower case.
Margaret O’Donnell said she would ask it to be looked at.
Cllr Harry Smith said, “Who are we going to shoot?”
Cllr Hornby asked a question about CRB checks and qualifications for door supervisors?
The Chair said that they used to interview door supervisors.
Margaret O’Donnell said that [door supervisors] were covered by the Security Industry Agency and they had to go through a process to be licensed.
Cllr John Salter asked if they had consulted the Chief of Police and if the Police had made comments?
Margaret O’Donnell confirmed the police had made no comments.
The Chair commented about training, the three meetings on tonight and that they were looking for alternative dates. As there were no further questions, the recommendation to the Council meeting of the 17th December of the Draft Statement of Gambling Principles was agreed.
4. ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS ACCEPTED BY THE CHAIR 8:20 to 24:04 Classification of unclassified film “Small Creatures” (Light Cinema, New Brighton)
The Chair said there was one item of Any Other Business which Margaret would explain.
Margaret thanked the Chair for allowing this item of Any Other Business. She said it was in respect of the classification of a film in accordance with guidance issued by the British Board of Film Classification, as they had a cinema in New Brighton called the Light Cinema which wanted to show an unclassified film. She said they were obliged to protect children from harm. She said she received an email on the 6th November from a gentleman who wanted to show it during anti-bullying week (the week starting the 19th November), she said it had been classified by Liverpool Licensing Authority, she said the film related to anti bullying, an individual called Martin Wallace wanted to show the film Small Creatures and had submitted a synopsis and was classified as a 15 by Liverpool City Council screening at FACT. She read out a synopsis about the film. She said there was discrimination of a homophobic nature, on-screen cannabis smoking, no horror in the film, reference to two instances of self-harm, but brief, it had strong occasional language, no nudity but occasional references to sex, crime and occasional violence (a school fight on a field) and a stabbing on camera.
Cllr Harry Smith asked if there was a moral ending?
Margaret O’Donnell said the film was about 89 minutes long.
Cllr Harry Smith referred to possible abuse.
Margaret O’Donnell suggested it could be delegated to a subcommittee, who would then have the chance to view the film.
Cllr Harry Smith asked again if there was a moral ending?
Margaret said that the 14-year-old boy ignored the advice of his teachers and gets involved in knife crime, there’s then a stabbing.
Cllr Harry Smith said he was “disappointed with the ending of the film”.
Margaret said the key thing was the classification and if people should be permitted to go see it.
Cllr Niblock asked if Liverpool City Council had just classified it based on a synopsis, as what it looked like might not be like what’s written on paper. Margaret O’Donnell responded. She said they hadn’t been able to establish how Liverpool City Council had come to its decision.
Cllr Sykes referred to the guidance, Margaret O’Donnell responded by reading out what the British Board of Film Classification see as a 15 classification, during this Cllr Andrew Hodson arrived at 5:47pm for the 6pm meeting. Another councillor arrived at 5:48pm for the 6pm meeting.
Cllr Sykes asked if it would be shown as part of anti-bullying week? Margaret nodded.
Cllr Gregson made some comments.
Cllr Salter wanted something written down.
Cllr Gregson asked about the Liverpool decision.
Margaret O’Donnell said she was seeking the “general view of the Committee” and that she was more than satisfied to report back. She said the email had put them in a difficult position, if it hadn’t been for the meeting she’d have suggested setting up a subcommittee, which would depend on the availability of councillors, she said she would report back the comments made this evening and it was a matter for the applicant if they wanted to pursue it further.
Cllr Hornby said it depended on how the film was directed, which can be misunderstood. He said, “I don’t like the idea of we giving carte blanche to something because someone else across the river said, “It’s OK.”” Cllr Hornby said it was his view it had to be done through a subcommittee.
Cllr Harry Smith said he was really worried there was no moralising end to it and referred to what happened to the baddies at the end of Grange Hill.
Cllr Hornby referred to direction.
Cllr Mitchell agreed that it should be delegated to a subcommittee, who would get the information prior to the meeting, she said it’s to coincide with anti bullying week.
Cllr Roberts asked if the Liverpool councillors seen the film? She said it was no worse than books for teenagers.
The Chair said at his discretion a member of the public has indicated they wish to say something and that he will allow it.
Declaration of interest: The member of the public is my wife and writes and edits for this blog.
Mrs. Brace thanked the Chair for letting her speak. She said that similar types of films had been banned, but if it did go ahead she thought that only people aged over 18 should go and watch it.
The Chair thanked Mrs. Brace for her comments.
Shirley Hudspeth arrived.
The Chair said he thought a decision had been made and it would go to a subcommittee. It was agreed to delegate the decision to a subcommittee.
Shirley Hudspeth arrived.
The Chair closed the meeting and said that the Licensing, Health & Safety and General Purposes Committee would start in five minutes.