Issue - meetings

The Committee considered the joint report of the Director of Finance and Business Services and the Head of Performance, Customer Services and Capacity together with appendices, which provided detailed information to support the costs associated with the list of assets that could potentially form the calculation for a special expense levy for 2012/13.

This information was intended to assist Members in making an informed decision on those existing services that they wish to see provided in the currently unparished area of Macclesfield (consistent with those transferring to parished areas) and the associated budgets that related to those services.

The Committee was requested to make a recommendation to Cabinet on the level of service and related budgets it wished to see continue to be provided in the unparished area of Macclesfield, potentially leading to the levying a relevant charge. It was noted that the process would be for Cabinet to then make a recommendation to Council.

Officers explained the need to be fair and consistent in the provision of discretionary services across Cheshire East. Members sought clarification in respect of a number of issues and made a number of comments. They expressed views about the concept of a special expenses levy and some Members felt it would lead to double taxation on the people of Macclesfield and that, as there was not a Town Council for Macclesfield, there was no legal body for the services to be transferred to. Officers explained the thinking in terms of consistency with the parished areas relating to the assets approved for transfer in the 5^th September cabinet report. In addition officers clarified that no assets would transfer as the Committee is a body of the Council and not a separate entity.

Officers in attendance provided a summary of each of the areas under consideration and Members asked a number of detailed questions and raised the following issues :-

Allotments  

Members commented that miscellaneous expenses appeared to be high and requested further detailed information for the next meeting, in respect of the following -:

• How many individual plot holders were there in the Macclesfield area and where do they live.
• What was the current waiting list for each site and a breakdown of where those on the waiting list lived.
• What percentage of the allotments were currently unoccupied, where were the vacant allotments and what was the consequent loss in income.
• To what extent was the Council complying with its legal duty, in terms of statutory provision.
• What formal relationship did the Council have with the local Allotment Associations, in terms of legal agreements and what annual return did they make to the Council.
• Detailed and accurate draft budget figures, with a line by line focus for each item, to enable Members to compare the various costs.
• A general tidying up of the generic titles for the budget figures.

Senior Citizens Hall

·         It was questioned whether this item should be considered when the hall fell within the Macclesfield Town Centre Development area.

Weston  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13