Decisions

To note allocated budgets for 2022/23 in line with the approved MTFS.

The Committee received the report which determined the allocation of the approved budgets for 2022/23 to the Highways and Transport Committee.

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

1.That the decision of the Finance Sub-Committee to allocate the approved capital and revenue budgets, related policy proposals and earmarked reserves to the Highways and Transport Committee be noted.

2.That the supplementary estimates already approved as set out in Appendix B, Tables A, B and C of the report be noted.

3.That the supplementary estimates set out in Appendix B, Table D of the report be approved.

4.That the supplementary capital estimates set out in Appendix B, Table E of the report be approved.

5.That the capital budget virements set out in Appendix B, Table F of the report be approved.

6.That the financial reporting timetable as set out in Appendix C of the report be noted.

To seek approval for the Local Transport Authority bid for Levelling Up Funding and the preferred solution for the Crewe Hub Project and provide any further updates on the HS2 programme including Phases 2a and 2b line of routes and Crewe Hub station.

Consideration was given to a report on the Council’s approach to developing Levelling Up Fund bids for Crewe which sought the Committee’s support to prepare round 2 constituency and LTA bids in order to bring forward the Nantwich Road enhancement schemes, linked to the Crewe Hub.

Members welcomed the bids coming forward.  It was considered that the plans would improve accessibility to Crewe station for cycling and public transport as well as being a key component in providing a better link between Crewe station and the town centre. 

Concerns were raised that Cheshire East was considered a priority three by central government for levelling up when there were areas within Crewe that were in the top 10% of the country for deprivation.  Representations had been made by officers to redetermine the priority allocated but had not been heeded by government which was felt to be disappointing. 

It was commented that the Council needed to have future business cases ready to be submitted when further funding became available, in particular the business case regarding the access between Crewe town centre and grand junction retail park.

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

1.That the Director of Highways and Infrastructure be authorised to submit both a constituency and Local Transport Authority Round 2 Levelling Up Bid for the Nantwich Road enhancement schemes.

2.That it be noted a local financial contribution of at least 10% of the estimated scheme costs would be required for each bid that was successful.

Consideration was given to a report on the membership of the Public Rights of Way (PRoW) Committee. 

RESOLVED

(1)That the Highways and Transport Committee appoints Members to the Public Rights of Way Committee (PRoW) as follows:

Conservative:3

Labour:2

Independent:2

(2)That the terms of reference attached as appendix one to the report be noted.

(3)That the names of those Members to sit on the Pubic Rights of Way Sub Committee will be submitted to the Head of Democratic Services an Governance.

Consideration was given to the work programme.

Mrs S Baxter, the Democratic Services Officer advised of the following amendments to the work programme:-

• The Vehicle Restraint System Strategy and Skid Resistance Strategy as complimentary documents were to be presented for approval within the Speed Management Strategy report – September 2022.  The title would be updated to reflect this amendment.
• The updated Asset Management Policy, Asset Management Strategy, Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan and Resilient Network Strategy to form a single report seeking approval of these interrelated policies.  It was noted that the approval of the documents was important in relation to evidencing the Council’s self-assessment to level 3 with the DfT i.e. securing maximum amount of additional maintenance funding.  Officers were in the process of assessing whether a report would come to either the November 2022 or January 2023 meeting.

Whilst the inclusion in the work programme of the review of the Ward Member Budget scheme was welcomed, concerns were raised that the deadline for the approval of all submitted schemes was 30 June 2022.  It was requested that officers be asked to consider extending the deadline.

The Chair agreed to liaise with officers to see if this request could be accommodated and that a written response on this matter would be emailed to all Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the amendments to the work programme be approved and that the Chair of the Highways and Transport Committee seek officers advice with regard to the request to extend the 30 June 2022 deadline in relation to the approval of ward member budget schemes.

To seek approval of the second tranche of Local Transport Development Plans as part of the LTP framework, remaining 6 plans following on from approval of the first 5 at March Committee.

Consideration was given to a report seeking the Committee’s approval for the second set of Local Transport Development Plans, which had been prepared as part of the Council’s transport strategy framework. 

Members supported the production of a number of Local Transport Development Plans however it was commented that the expectations of residents needed to be carefully managed.  In addition it was felt important that there was a synergy between Council departments in order to ensure that the projects being prepared were in conjunction with the relevant service areas which would enable opportunities to be maximised. 

A further comment was made that the plans were a ‘wish’ list and required more focus in order for the Council to achieve its purpose of maintaining roads.

The Chair advised that the government’s approach was to encourage local authorities to put forward the most innovative schemes, as a result the reality was that the Council did need to develop documents like those being considered today in order to ensure the Council was ready to bid when those opportunities came forward.

RESOLVED

1.That the Local Transport Development Plans as in Appendices A – F, which would become part of the Council’s policy and programme planning framework for transport be approved.

2.That it be noted individual projects in any Local Transport Development Plan would be subject to programming of the annual highways and transport capital budgets.  Projects would be progressed only after funding had been agreed and subject to all necessary scheme design and development works, including consultation with stakeholders.

3.That the Interim Director of Highways & Infrastructure be authorised to update the first tranche of Local Transport Development Plans, as approved at Committee in March 2022, to take account of Government’s confirmation that no additional Bus Service Improvement Plan funding would be available to the Council (see paragraph 2.4 of the report).

The Committee considered a report on the allocation of the approved budgets for 2022/23 to the Corporate Policy Committee.

The Finance Sub-Committee at its meeting on 2^nd March 2022 had approved the allocation of the approved capital and revenue budgets, related policy proposals and earmarked reserves to each of the service committees.

Councillor P Redstone spoke as a visiting member in relation to the B4B Programme and raised issues relating to complaints in some schools about payroll and pensions. Officers were aware of the issues which were being addressed.

RESOLVED

That the Committee

1.    notes the decision of the Finance Sub-Committee to allocate the approved capital and revenue budgets, related policy proposals and earmarked reserves to the Corporate Policy Committee, as set out in Appendix A to the report;

2.    notes the supplementary estimates already approved as set out in Appendix B, Tables A, B and C;

3.    approves the supplementary revenue estimates set out in Appendix B, Table D;

4.    recommends to Council to approve the supplementary revenue estimates set out in Appendix B, Table E;

5.    approves the supplementary capital revenue estimates set out in Appendix B, Table F;

6.    approves the capital budget virement set out in Appendix B, Table G; and

7.    notes the financial reporting timetable as set out in Appendix C.

The Committee considered a report on the appointment of members to sub-committees, working groups, joint committees and boards for the 2022-23 municipal year.

RESOLVED

That appointments be made to the following bodies on the basis indicated, and where appropriate, nominations be submitted to the Head of Democratic Services and Governance:

Constitution Working Group

The Working Group to comprise 6 members with the following composition: 2 Conservative: 2 Labour: 2 Independent Group.

Community Governance Review Sub-Committee

The Sub-Committee to comprise 7 voting members with the following composition: 3 Conservative: 2 Labour: 2 Independent Group. In addition, 1 member of the Liberal Democrat Group and 1 member of the Real Independent Group be invited to attend and participate in meetings of the Sub-Committee in a non-voting capacity.

Staffing Appeals Sub-Committee

3 members be appointed on an ad hoc basis, drawn from a pool of 10 selected on a politically proportionate basis (4 Conservative: 3 Labour: 2 Independent Group: 1 Liberal Democrat).

General Appeals Sub-Committee

5 members be appointed on an ad hoc basis, drawn from a pool of 10 selected on a politically proportionate basis (4 Conservative: 3 Labour: 2 Independent Group: 1 Liberal Democrat).

Shared Services Joint Committee

The Cheshire East Council membership on the Joint Committee comprise  1 Conservative: 1 Labour: 1 Independent Group, the members being:

Councillor J P Findlow

Councillor J Rhodes

Councillor A Stott

With Councillor A Moran as the Independent Group reserve.

Cheshire East Health and Wellbeing Board

Councillor S Corcoran be re-appointed as one of the Council’s three voting members on the Board.

Joint Extra Care Housing Management Board

Councillor N Mannion be re-appointed as one of the Council’s three members on the Board.