Issue - meetings

To consider a report on the progress of negotiations with participating local councils regarding the transfer of assets and services.

(Councillors D Brown and S Jones had both declared a personal interest in this item.)

Consideration was given to the progress of negotiations with participating local authorities regarding the transfer of assets and services designed to maximise the local focus of service delivery and give each Town and Parish Council an increasingly important role in deciding what should be delivered in its locality and how it would be best delivered.

Eight Town Councils and eighteen of the larger Parish Councils were now ready to discuss the potential transfer of assets and services the discussions on which were at an advanced stage.  It was, however, stressed that this was an ongoing process and that all parishes were welcome to discuss ideas for service delivery or transfer of assets as they arose.

The report set out the current proposals for the transfer of assets and services starting from 2012 although it was recognised that it might be some time into the next financial year before the transfer took place for more complex assets.  Members were asked to note that the public conveniences in the France Hayhurst Pavilion, Middlewich had been included on Appendix A in error and they were not to be included in the transfer process.

Visiting Councillors expressed concerns regarding the proposed financial support for the Town Centre Managers in Crewe and Macclesfield, the opportunity for double taxation on a range of transferred services, the need for openness and transparency regarding the precepts that might be levied by Town and Parish Councils, the intention to take the current financial reserves of existing Town and Parish Councils into account, and the proposal to apply a period of 25 years to any overage clauses. 

The Chairman stressed that negotiations on all these matters were ongoing and that approval of the recommendations contained in the report were the start of the process; discussions would continue to seek to achieve a satisfactory outcome.

RESOLVED

1.      That delegated authority be given to the Strategic Director (Places and Organisational Capacity), to the Section 151 Officer, and to the Monitoring Officer, to finalise agreed legal and financial terms for a package of transfers (or leases) of the assets and functions contained in Appendix A of the report, with the exception of the public conveniences in the France Hayhurst Pavilion, Middlewich, with a view to transfer taking place by April 2012 or as soon as possible following that date where that is agreed by both parties.

2.      That the legal terms include those points listed in section 10.12 of the report. Both parties will be expected to complete negotiations in a reasonable timeframe. It is anticipated that Civic Halls and Community Centres will be by freehold transfer for disposal at a nominal value and that, in negotiation, both parties will agree on either a transfer or a lease arrangement for the Markets and Public Conveniences with allotments likely to be transferred by way of a long lease.

1.      That the contents of Appendix B of the report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49