Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain said prayers at the request of the Mayor.

To receive apologies for absence.

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

It was noted that Councillor Olivia Hunter and Councillor Arthur Moran had a personal interest in the election of Mayor and appointment of Deputy Mayor respectively.

There were no further declarations of interest.

To elect a Mayor for 2016/17, who will also act as Chairman of the Council.

Council was requested to elect a Mayor for the Borough of Cheshire East for 2016/17, who would also act as Chairman of the Council for that period. 

It was proposed by Councillor Stewart Gardiner , seconded by Councillor Peter Groves, and: -

RESOLVED

That Councillor Olivia Hunter be elected Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire East for the year 2016/17 and appointed as Chairman of the Council for that period.

The Mayor was invested with her chain of office and then completed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office and took the oath of loyalty.

The Mayor thanked the Council for electing her to this office and informed Members that her husband, Philip, was to be her Consort. He was then invested with the badge of office. 

(Councillor Hunter, as Mayor, took the chair).

To appointment a Deputy Mayor for 2016/17, who will also act as Vice-chairman of the Council.

Council was requested to appoint a Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire East for the year 2016/17, who would also act as Vice-Chairman of the Council for that period.

It was proposed by Councillor Penny Butterill, seconded by Councillor David Marren, and:-

RESOLVED

That Councillor Arthur Moran be appointed as Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire East for the year 2016/17 and as Vice-Chairman of the Council for that period.

The Deputy Mayor thanked the Council for appointing him to this office.

The Mayor announced that her Chaplain for the forthcoming Municipal Year would be Rev Philip Robinson and he stood forward and shook hands with the Mayor.

Councillor Rachel Bailey paid tribute to the retiring Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Hilda Gaddum and Mrs Jane Gaddum for the dedicated work they had undertaken during their term of office.

The Mayor presented Councillor Gaddum with her Past Mayor’s Medal. 

The Mayor stated that the Mayor Making Ceremony would come to an end to enable a number of Aldermen and Freemen to be appointed at a special meeting of the Council and that the Annual Meeting would be adjourned and would be reconvened after the special meeting, and following lunch.  

The meeting was adjourned until 2.15pm, when the remaining items on the agenda would be considered.

Before the commencement of the reconvened meeting, an announcement was made in respect of the Cheshire Tour of Britain cycle race.

The official launch of the Tour of Britain Stage 3 had taken place on Friday 6 May at Tatton Park, Knutsford.

The Stage 3 leg of the Tour was due to take place on 6 September and would start in Congleton and wind its way across the Borough, before finishing at Tatton Park. As the largest free to attend sporting event in the country it promised to be an amazing spectacle and an opportunity for all of residents and businesses in the borough, as well as visitors to get involved.

To receive any further apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were updated.

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

There were no further declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of  the meeting held on 25 and 26 February 2016 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 and 26 February 2016 be approved as a correct record.

To receive such announcements as may be made by the Leader.

The Leader of the Council congratulated the Mayor upon her election to the Mayoralty and Councillor Arthur Moran upon his appointment to the Deputy Mayoralty.

She then addressed Council and made a number of key points:-

1.    She believed that the year would herald continued innovation and a focus on CE’s Residents First principles.

2.    The commitment she had made just two months ago was undiminished, to serve the Council and to deliver transparency and fairness to its staff and residents and to  work with business and deliver that vital partnership working across all areas of service be it Police, Health, Fire or the invaluable voluntary sector. 

3.    Seven years on the Council had  revisited its Corporate Strategy and “Ambition for All” was the renewed concept of the Local Strategic Partnership.  Partner Forums underpinned the key arenas of the Safer Cheshire East Partnership  and the Health and Wellbeing Board.  As the recently elected Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, she particularly referenced its work in relation to the Better Care Fund, the responsible approach to joined up working and the patience and attention to detail of the lead officer, Caroline Baines.  She was equally heartened by the manner in which it had embraced responsibility for the continuing improvement journey for the Children and Families Safeguarding Service. She referred to the  positive Ofsted judgement of “requires improvement to be good” and the adoption service, which had been rightly recognised as good.

4.    She referred to the number of Councillors who sat on Scrutiny Committees. Of the  82 Councillors, around 40 committed to this vital area of governance; a telling measure of the commitment made by Cheshire East Councillors, which she considered was reinforced by the recent Task and Finish reports received by Cabinet, in respect of, for example, section 106 agreements, apprentices or the rightful focus on appropriate funding of the award winning team who provided vital support to families who found themselves in a violent relationship.  Under the leadership of Cllr Jos Saunders, Health Scrutiny had worked with the North West Ambulance Service, not least on the issue of response times in the rural borough.  Recommendations had now been agreed and she hoped that a report in respect of this would be received by Cabinet in the fullness of time. 

5.    As she had announced in February, she believed that it was now the time to review the Council’s Scrutiny function, in order to free it up to deliver even more focussed Task and Finish forums.  A group of Conservative members had shaped a potential model to come forward through the Council processes and ultimately for consideration by the Constitution Committee.  She thanked Cllr Margaret Simon for her leadership and Cllr Gail Wait for her organisation in this matter. 

6.    With regard to the Cabinet membership, she asked officers to circulate the list of Portfolio Holder names and responsibilities. She had opted for a Cabinet of nine Members.  She had, however, appointed an additional Deputy Cabinet Member. At this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

To determine the political groups’ representation on the Council’s Committees.

Consideration was given to a report inviting the Council to determine political group representation on the Council's Committees, in relation to the overall political composition of the Council.

An updated version of the Appendix to the report, showing the latest position regarding the proportional distribution of seats on Committees amongst the political groups, was circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the political group representation, as set out in the updated Appendix 1 and the  methods, calculations and conventions used in determining this, as outlined in the report, as circulated at the meeting and attached to these minutes at minute 15,  be approved.

To receive the political groups’ nominations of Members to the Council’s Committees, in accordance with item 14 above.

           Consideration was given to a report relating to the review of the membership of the Council’s decision-making and other bodies.

The nominations made by the Group Leaders to these bodies were listed in an appendix to the report, which was circulated at the meeting.

In proposing the nominations contained in the circulated Appendix, the Leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey, proposed the following changes to the nominations made by the Conservative group:-

Northern Planning Committee – Delete Cllr G Hayes and add Cllr P Findlow.

Staffing Committee – Add Cllr P Findlow, as substitute.

RESOLVED

That, subject to the above changes, the nominations made by the Group Leaders to the bodies listed in Appendix 1 to the report, as circulated at the meeting, be noted and agreed and that the bodies listed in Appendix 1 be approved.

(The Committee membership as approved by Council, is attached to these minutes at minute 16).

To appoint the Chairmen and Vice-chairmen of the Council’s Committees.

Consideration was given to the appointment of Chairmen and Vice-chairmen of the Council’s decision making and other bodies.

The Political Group Leaders’ nominations for Chairmen and Vice-chairmen of the Council’s decision-making and other bodies were circulated at the meeting at item 16.

In addition to the nominations circulated at item 16, the Independent group nominated Councillor C Browne as Chairman of the Northern Planning Committee.

 RESOLVED

That the Chairmen and Vice-chairmen of the Council’s decision-making and other bodies, as circulated at the meeting and as attached to these minutes at minute 16, be appointed, including the appointment of Cllr C Browne as Vice-chairman of the Northern Planning Committee.

To approve the appointments to statutory panels.

Consideration was given to appointments to the Adoption Panel and the Fostering Panel.

RESOLVED

1.    That Councillor L Jeuda be appointed to the Adoption Panel.

2.    That Councillor G Merry be appointed to the Fostering Panel.

To make appointments to the Cheshire Fire Authority and the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel.

Consideration was given to appointments to the Cheshire Fire Authority and the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel.

RESOLVED

1     That Councillors D Marren, G Merry, J Saunders, M Simon, J Weatherill, D Bailey, D Flude and D Mahon be nominated to serve on the Cheshire Fire Authority.

2     That Councillors P Findlow, S Edgar and H Murray be nominated to serve on the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel, with Councillor
G Walton as nominated substitute.

To consider the recommendation from Cabinet.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 3 May 2016, had considered the submission of a bid to the European Investment Bank for ELENA funding. ELENA was a funding stream launched by the European Commission at the end of 2009 with the aim of maximising investment in sustainable energy by helping to meet the technical support costs associated with energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

Council was recommended to approve the submission of the bid to the European Investment Bank, who administered the ELENA funding on behalf of the European Commission, and to delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer to sign the necessary declaration form on behalf of the Council; and to approve a Supplementary Revenue Estimate of 1,739,585 EUR (£1.4m at current exchange rates), fully funded by and subject to receipt of ELENA funding by the Council.

RESOLVED

1.    That the submission of the bid to the European Investment Bank, who administer the ELENA funding on behalf of the European Commission, be approved and that authority be delegated to the Section 151 Officer to sign the necessary declaration form on behalf of the Council.

2.    That a Supplementary Revenue Estimate of 1,739,585 EUR (£1.4m at current exchange rates), fully funded by, and subject to receipt of ELENA funding by the Council be approved.

             To extend the term of office of eligible Independent Persons currently appointed to work with the Monitoring Officer and the Audit and Governance Committee on standards matters, from 30 June 2016 until 31 August 2016, or until the earlier appointment of successor Independent Persons.         

               Council was requested to extend the term of office for those eligible Independent Persons currently appointed to work with the Monitoring Officer and the Audit and Governance Committee on standards matters, in accordance with the Council’s code of conduct procedure.    

               RESOLVED

               That the term of office for Mr Peter Bryant and Mr Robert Fousert be extended from 30 June 2016 until 31 August 2016, or until the earlier appointment of successor Independent Persons.     

Before closing the meeting, the Mayor announced that Brenda Smith, Director of Adult Care and Independent Living, would shortly be leaving the Council to work at Cumbria County Council. She asked Members to join her in showing their appreciation to Brenda by way of applause, for the exceptional service that she had provided to the Council during her period of employment.