Declarations of Interest/Pre Determination
To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests and for Members to declare if they have a pre-determination in respect of any item on the agenda.
Minutes:
Prior to Members declaring their interests, the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer advised regarding the declaration of financial interests and pre determination. Members with landownership interests in current or prospective strategic sites or locations should declare their interests and not participate in the decision-making. Aside from any such specific declarations, Members` interests in property in the administrative area of the Council are recorded on the Register of Interest.
If any Member approaches a decision with a closed mind, they should declare such predetermination, leave the room and not participate in the decision-making.
In the interests of openness, in respect of agenda item 5, “Cheshire East Local Plan Strategy-Submission Version”, Councillor J Hammond declared that in relation to the Basford sites he had attended briefings with Agents, Officers, Local Ward Members and Parish Councillors however he had always kept an open mind about the proposals.
In addition he also declared he was a Member of Haslington Parish Council which had been consulted at various stages of the Local Plan process. He also declared that he was the Chairman of Ansa Environmental Services Limited who will be delivering Waste Management Services on behalf of the Authority. In all these connections, he had expressed no fixed view regarding the Strategy and retained an open mind.
In respect of the same item, in the interest of openness, Councillor A Thwaite declared that he was Chairman of East Cheshire Engine of the North, which was the Council’s development Company.
In respect of the same item, in the interest of openness, Councillor D Newton declared he was a member of East Cheshire Engine of the North, which was the Council’s development Company.
In respect of the same item, in the interest of openness, Councillor D Brown declared that he was a Member of Congleton Town Council and, as Portfolio Holder, had met with various developers but had not predetermined the Strategy.
In respect of the same item, in the interest of openness, Councillor D Hough declared that he was a Member of Alsager Town Council but had not met with any developers and had not made up his mind completely regarding the Strategy.