Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Beale, J Faulkner, D Foster, N Oates and S Peaple.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2011 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor R McDermid)

(i) Announcement by the Mayor

We have lost Councillor Sam Munn since the last meeting and I give members the opportunity for tributes for long service to the Council and to Tamworth people. He had a knack of reminding us what we used to do. He was a traditional Councillor and he had a sense of pride for Tamworth, colleagues and friends. He will be greatly missed.

Tributes were then given by the following:

Councillor J Garner

I first met Councillor Sammy Munn in 1977 when he was canvassing for Amington Ward. Roads were an issue and Councillor Munn brought 147 people to a meeting as a result of his representations. He encouraged me to stand and I spoke to him about matters just before he went into hospital. He was a Tamworthian through and through.

Councillor M Gant

Our children knew each other at school and he was very proud of his children. We have lost a true gentleman and a great friend. I will update everyone on how Dorothy and the family are getting on.

Councillor K Gant

I first met Councillor Munn in 1972 when he persuaded me to become a Councillor. He was a military man in the Engineer’s Regiment, he was a good friend and will be sadly missed.

Councillor R McDermid

I found the funeral very enlightening – it was both sad and fantastic. As a family man I was moved by the children speaking at the service and I aspire to be a Councillor like him. He was always there, controversial at times but Tamworth was at his heart always. It is a sad loss for the Council and Tamworth. We should all aspire to his achievements for the town and his family values. He was well known and it is a sad loss, and I send my condolences to his wife and children who were lucky to have a husband and father like Sam.

Councillor L Bates

Councillor Munn embodied community champion and was not afraid to fight a corner. I have two particular election poster memories of Councillor Munn; the first was putting up a poster on Tame Drive on a very windy day and the second was he was sat on my bench when the bench collapsed and Councillor Munn apologised. He was an elder statesman of Tamworth, never to be forgotten.

Councillor M Greatorex

My memory of Councillor Munn was going to see him with my nomination paper and expecting Councillor Munn to have a list of names waiting for me when I arrived. I eventually managed to get some names and Councillor Munn told him to ‘make sure that you tell the people that Sam Munn sent you’ and they duly signed. I decided not to say that Sam Munn had sent him at the last one and was kept talking until I said that Sam had sent me and the person said ‘why didn’t you tell me?’ I relayed this story to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

Report attached and brief presentation to further debate

(Members are invited to debate what their views are about Tamworth, present and future)

The Mayor gave an introduction to all Members of the Council and advised that the Constitution was silent on how to deal with Motions. Accordingly any motion during the debate will be dealt with immediately after it has been moved and seconded.

Councillor D Cook moved to apply Rule 14.14 and suspend Rule 14.5. This was seconded by Councillor R Pritchard.

A motion to support Tamworth Football Club and to do everything possible to support the club to improve it so that it is fit for national league was moved by Councillor P Seekings and seconded by Councillor R McDermid.

An amendment to the motion was then made and declarations of interest were made by Councillors P Seekings, A Lunn and M Greatorex who are all season ticket holders. A vote was taken on the amendment and the following motion was carried:

The Mayor interrupted the meeting at 8.30 and called for a vote immediately on the item under discussion. The vote was taken in the usual way without any further discussion as no motion under rule 13 was passed.