Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with paragraph 3.33 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules, a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the Cabinet. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

Sue Helliwell, speaking on behalf of residents of Meadow Croft, Alsager, asked when the damaged road sign would be replaced and asked if the road surface could be resurfaced as was in poor condition.

She also asked when Linley Road/Linley Lane in Alsager would be reopening as businesses were suffering as customers could not get to their premises and that the ‘businesses open as usual’ sign had been positioned in the wrong location.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment responded to say that he had been assured that these specific issues had been logged and would be responded to in an appropriate manner and encouraged all Councillors and members of the public to use the reporting logging tracking service, available on the Council’s website, to report highways issues.

A period of 20 minutes is allocated for questions to be put to Cabinet Members by members of the Council. Notice of questions need not be given in advance of the meeting. Questions must relate to the powers, duties or responsibilities of the Cabinet. Questions put to Cabinet Members must relate to their portfolio responsibilities.

The Leader will determine how Cabinet question time should be allocated where there are a number of Members wishing to ask questions. Where a question relates to a matter which appears on the agenda, the Leader may allow the question to be asked at the beginning of consideration of that item.

Councillor S Corcoran asked the Leader if she could give a very brief update on the matters that had been referred to the Police.  The Leader asked the Chief Executive to respond, as she was the single point of contact with the Police.  The Chief Executive responded that a procurement matter had been referred by the Police to the Crown Prosecution Service and that the other matters referred by the Council to the Police included the air quality matter, the Berkeley Academy matter and four land matters which were currently ‘live’ matters and that she was unable to comment further on these as investigations were still ongoing.

Councillor D Flude thanks Orbitas for the open day at Crewe Cemetery, which she had found very interesting. 

Councillor D Flude raised concerns about Crewe South Ward and asked that action be taken to deal with these as the ward had the largest number of HMOs in the Borough; had seen an increase in street crime; had brothels and prostitution in the area; was the location of six houses for dealing with people with alcohol problems; had four private children’s homes in inappropriate locations; methadone was being taken on the street outside the chemist, and there were issues with speeding and inappropriate parking of vehicles. The Ward was the gateway to Crewe and in its present state was not a good gateway.  In response Cabinet Members stated that licensing of HMOs had been introduced with heavy fines for landlords who did not abide by these; made reference to the work of the Clean Team in Crewe and that a monitoring group had been established to look at fly tipping, which include Crewe Town Council and other agencies and would report back to Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Flude was invited to attend a meeting of the monitoring group; the Substance Misuse Services had been recommissioned and the methadone issue would be raised with health colleagues; and that the matters raised would be referred to the Safer Cheshire East Partnership.

Councillor S Hogben asked about the email retention policy and if this would have an impact on any of the police investigations.  In response the Chief Executive stated that work had been done to ensure that the policy would not compromise police investigations and disciplinary matters and that officers had storage systems available to retain key information outside the email system.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th September 2018.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2018 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the Corporate Parenting Committee Annual Report 2017-18.

Cabinet considered the Corporate Parenting Committee’s Annual Report for 2017-18, which set out the work of the Committee and progress against the Corporate Parenting Strategy.

The Constitution set out a requirement for the Corporate Parenting Committee to report to Cabinet on at least an annual basis.

Councillor Gillian Merry presented the Annual Report to Cabinet and highlighted the key areas that the Corporate Parenting Committee had considered during 2017-18.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet endorse the Corporate Parenting Committee Annual Report 2017/1/, as set out at Appendix 1 to the Report.

To consider a report on a Notice of Motion on Modern Slavery.

Cabinet considered the Notice of Motion on Modern Slavery, which had been moved by Councillor S Corcoran and seconded by Councillor A Harewood at the Council meeting on 26 July 2018 and referred to Cabinet for consideration.

Councillors Corcoran attended the meeting and spoke in support of the motion.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet

1        note that Cheshire East Council has a Social Value Policy and a Sustainability Strategy Statement for Procurement purposes, the principles of which will be embedded into any commissioning and tendering process.  These will pick up the issue of modern slavery, transparency and equality in supply chains.  In addition, the ‘Supplier Questionnaire’ sent out with tenders, asks specific questions about Modern Slavery and bidders need to confirm that those in control of any organisation have not been convicted of any offences relating to the use of child labour or human trafficking.

2        that the Government is reviewing the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and therefore to adopt the Co-operative Party’s Charter at this stage would be premature in light of any potential revisions to the Act or related codes or charters.

To consider a report on a Notice of Motion on Single Use Plastics.

Cabinet considered the Notice of Motion which had been moved by Councillor Rhoda Bailey and seconded by Councillor H Davenport at the Council meeting on 26 July 2018 and referred to Cabinet for consideration:

“We know how harmful single use plastics are to the environment; indeed in 2017 the National Federation of Women’s Institutes called on the Government and industry to research and develop innovative solutions to stop the accumulation of micro plastic fibres in our oceans.

We urge full Council endorsement of this campaign and in so doing seek to eliminate all single use plastic within CEC managed buildings and facilities by 2020 and seek to encourage the elimination of single use plastic within its supply chain by 2025.”

Councillors Rhoda Bailey attended the meeting and spoke in support of the motion.

It was suggested that the use of cars, cheap fashion, milk containers and retail packaging should also be considered and that the issue of single use plastics be raised with Town and Parish Councils. 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

1        endorse the National Federation of Women’s Institutes campaign to reduce micro plastic fibres in our oceans – ‘End Plastic Soup’;

2        agree that the Council should aim to eliminate all single use plastic within CEC managed buildings by 2020 and to eliminate single use plastic within its supply chain by 2025; and

3        that a progress report be brought to Cabinet in 6 months and to include consideration of the use of cars, cheap fashion, milk containers and retail packaging and raising awareness with Town and Parish Councils.

To consider a report which proposes the re-commissioning of the Emotionally Healthy Schools programme and the Early Help Emotional Health and Wellbeing services, through a combined commissioned Emotionally Healthy Children and Young People’s service.

Cabinet considered a report which recommended the re-commissioning of the Emotionally Healthy Schools programme and the Early Help Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service through a combined commissioned Emotionally Health Children and Young People’s Service. 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

1        agree the re-commissioning of the Emotionally Healthy Schools programme and the Early Help Emotional Health and Wellbeing Services through a combined commissioned Emotionally Healthy Children and Young Peoples service; and

2        delegate authority to the Acting Executive Director – People, in consultation with the Children and Families Portfolio Holder, and Health Portfolio Holder, to award the Emotionally Healthy Children and Young People Programme contract.

To consider a report which seeks approval to commission sexual health services in Cheshire East with effect from 1st April 2019. 

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to commission Sexual Health services in Cheshire East with effect from 1 April 2019.

It was proposed that the new contract would be for 5 years with the possibility of two annual extensions. The length of the contract was designed to encourage interest from a wide range of organisations and to provide financial sustainability to the successful provider who would be expected to act as strategic lead for sexual health services in the Borough. 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

1        agree the recommissioning of Sexual Health service for Cheshire East to include, if practicable an agreement with NHS England for the simultaneous commissioning of cervical screening within community Sexual Health services; and

2        delegate authority to the Executive Director of People in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Health and Children and Families to award the contract to the successful supplier.

To consider the Mid-Year Review of Performance 2018/19.

Cabinet considered a report on the Mid-Year Review of Performance for 2018/19.

The report outlined the budgetary pressures facing the Council and the mitigation measures used to address forecast overspends. The report also highlighted examples of good performance in Quarter 2.

Annex 1 to the report set out details of how the Council was performing in 2018/19 and was structured into three sections:

Section 1 - Summary of Council Performance

Section 2 - Financial Stability

Section 3 - Workforce Development

The report had been considered by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 5 October 2018. The Chief Executive read out the Committee’s comments on the report, as appended to these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

1        note the contents of the report and each appendix;

2        delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer to approve an additional supplementary revenue estimate of £561,000, subject to the successful funding bid to Public Health England, as detailed in paragraph 178 and Appendix 11 of the Report; and

3        recommend that Council approve fully funded supplementary capital estimates above £1,000,000 in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, as detailed in Appendix 8 to the Report.