To notify the Chairman of any items that appear in the agenda and in which you may have an interest.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th December 2004.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th December 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services.

Further to Minute CAB.87/04 of the meeting held on 28^th October 2004, consideration was given to a report together with a draft copy of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

It was reported that the Policy Statement which had been considered by Licensing Committee 2 at its meeting on 14^th December 2004, needed to be approved by Council and published by 7^th January 2005.

RESOLVED :      That the draft Statement of Licensing Policy, subject to any further amendments, be forwarded to Council for approval.    

Report of Director of Resources

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval of a timetable for making proposals to the Council for the adoption of the 2005/06 Budget and the arrangements for consultation in accordance with Part 4 Section C of the Council’s Constitution.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :         That the timetable as shown on the Appendix attached to the report be approved.

Report of Chief Executive Officer.

The Leader of the Council presented a report regarding the Council’s representation at the National Association of Councillors, Anti-Social Behaviour Conference to be held at York from 14^th  - 16^th January 2005.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :      That the Council be represented at the above Conference by the appropriate Lead Member together with one Member and an officer.    

Report of Chief Executive Officer.

The Lead Member for Welfare and Communications presented a report setting out proposals to amend the Corporate Policy and Procedures for handling of Customer Complaints following a fundamental review of existing arrangements.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

The report also outlined arrangements for making the Customer Relations database available to those parts of the authority that did not record complaints electronically.

It was pointed out that although the primary objective of the complaints procedure was to provide an effective means for customers to make complaints and have them resolved, another aim was to use complaints in a positive way to improve services.  It was therefore proposed that the types and subjects of complaints be recorded and analysed half yearly to identify trends/issues which could be taken into account when policies/services were being established or amended. The reports would be provided to Management Team, Heads of Service, Strategic Working Groups and Overview and Scrutiny Committee 1.

Members’ attention was drawn to Appendix 2, which outlined the complaints received by the Corporate Customer Relations Staff in the Chief Executive’s Department for the period 1^st April 2003 to 31^st March 2004.

RESOLVED :   1.   That the revised ‘Policy for Handling of

                             Customer Complaints’ be approved.

                          2.   That complaint statistics by department, including significant/recurring areas of complaint be reported to Management Team twice yearly and that they then be made available to Heads of Service, Strategic Working Groups and Overview and Scrutiny Committee 1.           

To consider the minutes of the following meetings:

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the following meetings :

(a)            Overview and Scrutiny 3             -            9^th November 2004

(b)            Overview and Scrutiny 1             -            23rd November 2004

(c)            Overview and Scrutiny 2             -            30^th November 2004

(For copies see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :          That the Committees recommendations be noted and appropriate action be taken.

To consider the minutes of the following meetings:

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the following meetings:

(a)    Area 4 Forum              -            16^th November 2004

(b)    Area 5 Forum             -            30^th November 2004

(For copies see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :          That the reports be received.

RESOLVED:             That in accordance with Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 9 and 10  of Schedule 12a of the Act.

Joint report of Director of Resources and Head of Strategy and Regeneration

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to acquire the former Methodist Chapel, Beaumont Street, Dean Bank to support the wider regeneration of the area.  (For copy see file of Minutes)

RESOLVED :            That the recommendation detailed in the report be adopted.

Report of Head of Strategy and Regeneration

The Lead Member for Regeneration presented a report regarding the appointment of a preferred developer for Phase1 of the NetPark site.  (For copy see file of Minutes)

RESOLVED :            That the recommendations detailed in the report be adopted.

Published on 23^rd December, 2004

The Minutes contain no key decisions and will be implemented immediately.