The Civic Mayor introduced the item on The Future of Celtic Manor for which two motions (no amendments) had been submitted.

MOTION 1

Councillor Geoffrey Watt moved and Councillor Tony Cox seconded the following Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7 -

“Council notes the change in the numbers of seats held by the respective parties since May 2nd and the not unconnected Cabinet decision not to invest up to £26 million in the Celtic Manor resort (previously branded as the ‘Hoylake Golf Resort’).

Council thanks those who have raised their concerns over this agreement for their views and the hard work of Phil Simpson and colleagues to ensure that £26 million of public money will be put to better use.

Council now seeks clarity, transparency and openness on the next intended steps by the Cabinet and asks that the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee is kept fully up to date.”

MOTION 2

Councillor Allan Brame moved and Councillor Andy Corkhill seconded an amendment to the Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order 12 such that -

“This Council believes that...

(i)  the special meeting of the Business Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 27 June 2019, along with the briefing session held prior to that, gave elected Members beyond the Cabinet their first complete overview of this project;

(ii)  the information recently made available to Members has added considerably to their knowledge and the findings of the Call-In held on 7 December 2016, published Cabinet reports of 7 November 2016 and 18 December 2017;

(iii)  the decision of the Council made on 25 February 2019 which resolved by 32:29 with two abstentions that...’Council believes it would be inappropriate to make a decision on this scheme before we have the full facts’ ...was based on the information available to Members at that time.

Having regard to the issues raised above, Council recognises the ongoing Development Agreement but welcomes the decision of Cabinet made on 8 July 2019 concerning finance.  Given the history of this project, Council expects Members, beyond Cabinet, to be kept fully informed of any further discussions with the developer about their intentions.”

Following the debate, the Mayor then moved to the voting on each Motion in turn.

The Motion (1), moved by Councillor Geoffrey Watt, was put to the vote.

In accordance with Standing Order 12, a number of Members rose to request a ‘card vote’.

A recorded vote was then taken on the Motion (1) and the Council divided as follows:

For the motion (32): T Anderson, B Berry, C Blakeley, A Brame, D Burgess-Joyce, H Cameron, C Carubia, P Cleary, W Clements, M Collins, C Cooke, A Corkhill, T Cox, B Davies, A Gardner, P Gilchrist, J Green, P Hayes, S Hayes, A Hodson, K Hodson, J Johnson, M Jordan, S Kelly, I Lewis, M McLaughlin, D Mitchell, L Rowlands, M Sullivan, G Watt, S Williams, A Wright. 

Against the motion (29): J Bird, K Cannon, G Davies, S Foulkes, S Frost, K Greaney, E Grey, P Hackett, AER Jones, C Jones, S Jones, T Jones, B Kenny, A Leech, J McManus, C Muspratt, Y Nolan, T Norbury, J Robinson, C Spriggs, S Spoor, P Stuart, T Usher, J Walsh, S Whittingham, I Williams, J Williams, J Williamson, G Wood. 

Abstentions (1): Councillor T Smith (Civic Mayor).

It was therefore -

Resolved (32:29) (One abstention) – That

Council notes the change in the numbers of seats held by the respective parties since May 2nd and the not unconnected Cabinet decision not to invest up to £26 million in the Celtic Manor resort (previously branded as the ‘Hoylake Golf Resort’).

Council thanks those who have raised their concerns over this agreement for their views and the hard work of Phil Simpson and colleagues to ensure that £26 million of public money will be put to better use.

Council now seeks clarity, transparency and openness on the next intended steps by the Cabinet and asks that the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee is kept fully up to date.

The Motion (2), moved by Councillor Allan Brame, was put to the vote and carried (61:0) (One abstention).

It was also therefore -

Resolved (61:0) (One abstention) – That

This Council believes that...

(i)  the special meeting of the Business Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 27 June 2019, along with the briefing session held prior to that, gave elected Members beyond the Cabinet their first complete overview of this project;

(ii)  the information recently made available to Members has added considerably to their knowledge and the findings of the Call-In held on 7 December 2016, published Cabinet reports of 7 November 2016 and 18 December 2017;

(iii)  the decision of the Council made on 25 February 2019 which resolved by 32:29 with two abstentions that...’Council believes it would be inappropriate to make a decision on this scheme before we have the full facts’ ...was based on the information available to Members at that time.

Having regard to the issues raised above, Council recognises the ongoing Development Agreement but welcomes the decision of Cabinet made on 8 July 2019 concerning finance.  Given the history of this project, Council expects Members, beyond Cabinet, to be kept fully informed of any further discussions with the developer about their intentions.