Agenda and minutes

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

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with paragraph 3.33 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules, a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the Cabinet. Individual members of the public may speak for up to two minutes. The Chairman or person presiding will have discretion to vary this requirement where he/she considers it appropriate.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question or make a statement at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

Sue Helliwell referred to the Covid infection rate in Alsager and asked if the Council was working with neighbouring authorities in Staffordshire. She also referred to the numbers of infections in schools in Alsager where pupils travelled from North Staffordshire or Crewe. The Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Corporate Services responded that the Council worked closely with schools to support their response to Covid-19 and also worked collaboratively with Stoke City Council and Staffordshire County Council.

Robert Douglas referred to the Council’s plastic recycling tonnages which he said had dropped substantially. He also asked when all plastics that were placed in domestic recycling bins could also be recycled at recycling centres. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste responded that due to manufacturers reducing the use of plastics, to legislation, and to the public responding by reducing plastic usage, it was unlikely that the tonnage of plastics would return to previous levels. While the Council had some recycle banks for plastics at its household waste centres, it encouraged people where possible to recycle using the silver bin.

A period of 20 minutes is allocated for questions to be put to Cabinet Members by members of the Council. A maximum period of two minutes will be allowed for each member wishing to ask a question. The Leader will have discretion to vary this requirement where he considers it appropriate. Members wishing to ask a question at the meeting should register to do so in writing by not later than 4.00 pm on the Friday in the week preceding the meeting. Members should include the general topic their question will relate to and indicate if it relates to an item on the agenda. Questions must relate to the powers, duties or responsibilities of the Cabinet. Questions put to Cabinet Members must relate to their portfolio responsibilities.

Where a question relates to a matter which appears on the agenda, the Leader may allow the question to be asked at the beginning of consideration of that item.

Councillor M Beanland referred to town and parish council income loss and asked if the Council could provide financial support. The Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Communication responded that the Council was not receiving sufficient funding to cover its own costs and was unable to claim funding from central government on behalf of town and parish councils. Such councils were able to draw on their reserves and set precepts to recover lost income and support local services. It was suggested that they seek advice from ChALC and consider lobbying for direct support.

Councillor J Clowes asked about the funding for school meals vouchers during the school half term. The Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Communication responded that the vouchers were not funded from previous funding from central government but from the Council’s own resources. She could provide a written answer if further information was needed. The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration reported that the Council had now received guidance on the business support grants available during the second lockdown. Further details, including how to apply for grants, would be published on the Council’s website.

Councillor A Critchley asked what plans were in place to tackle fly tipping in Crewe. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste referred to a new waste management and fly tipping policy which would enable the Council to deal with fly tipping more effectively. 

Councillor H Faddes asked if the Council would be seeking funding to help rough sleepers over the winter months, particularly in view of the health risk from Covid. The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded that the Government had not as yet instigated the same arrangements as were in place during the previous lockdown. The Government had made available a Cold Weather Fund to assist homelessness but the Council had already committed resources well in excess of the amount provided to it under this scheme. The Council continued to work with its partners and the private and voluntary sectors to assist rough sleepers.

Councillor R Fletcher asked about the criteria used to determine the location of temporary speed restrictions in Cheshire East. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste explained the basis for the decisions made to date and hoped that more funding would become available to enable temporary speed restrictions to be introduced in more locations around the Borough.

Councillor S Gardiner referred to an increase in the level of missed bin collections in the last civic year. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste responded that there had been a significant change of routes at the end of last year which may have had an impact on the level of missed bin collections in the short term.

Councillor L Gilbert referred to problems experienced by town and parish councils in obtaining responses from the Council’s Highways Service. The Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste responded that the Highways Service dealt with a high volume of enquiries compared with other departments of the Council. She invited Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th October 2020.

That subject to the following amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th October 2020 be approved as a correct record:

Minute 38 – Mid-Year Review (Finance) 2020/21

The sentence:

“Councillor J Clowes, as Chairman of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, reported the Committee’s comments on the report and referred to a number of matters on which the Committee had sought further clarification.”

is amended to:

“Councillor J Clowes, as Chairman of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, reported the Committee’s comments on the report.”

To consider a further update report on the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cabinet considered a further update report on the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration commented that the Council had been successful in its application for funding under the Government’s Next Steps programme. He also clarified that the funding under the Discretionary Business Grant scheme had come from central government.

In response to a question from Councillor R Fletcher, the Leader clarified that the areas used to report infections were not ward boundaries but middle super output areas. He undertook to provide Councillor Fletcher with a link to a map of the areas.

In response to a question from Councillor S Gardiner, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Communication provided a breakdown of the estimated potential gross financial pressure of £70m referred to in paragraph 7.2.4 of the report. She could provide further details in writing if needed.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet notes the issues outlined in the report.

To consider a report on the arrangements and timescale for consultation on the 2021/22 to 2024/25 Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Cabinet considered a report on the arrangements and timescale for consultation on the 2021/22 to 2024/25 Medium Term Financial Strategy.

It was noted that the date of the Cabinet meeting referred to in the Appendix should be 1^st December.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes the Pre-COVID financial assumptions, contained within the financial implications of the report, that were originally included as part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (Council - February 2020) and identified potential financial deficits beyond 2020/21;

2.    notes the approach to consultation; and

3.    approves the timescales for consultation on the 2021/22 to 2024/25 Medium Term Financial Strategy as identified in Appendix 1 to the report.

To consider a report on the arrangements in place for public consultation on the Council’s draft Corporate Plan 2020-2024.

Cabinet considered a report on the arrangements for public consultation on the Council’s draft Corporate Plan 2020-2024.

In response to a question from Councillor S Gardiner, the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Corporate Services undertook to discuss with officers a possible extension to the consultation period.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes the content of the report, including the timeline and activities to be undertaken as part of a public consultation on the Council’s draft Corporate Plan 2020-2024; and

2.    notes the content of Appendix 1.

To consider a programme of interventions to support the regeneration of Crewe.

Cabinet considered a report setting out a programme of interventions to support the regeneration of Crewe.

Councillor S Gardiner asked whether a supplementary planning document should be drawn up to revitalise Crewe, based on more residential and less commercial development, which in turn would require less green field release at the next stage of the Local Plan. The Portfolio Holder for Planning undertook to provide a written response.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes that the Council is the Accountable Body for the Crewe Town Board with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration being the Council’s representative on it;

2.    delegates authority to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration, in consultation with the Executive Director Place and with the approval of the Crewe Town Board, to:

          (a)        submit a Town Investment Plan to Government; and

          (b)        submit a bid for the Towns Fund to Government;

3.    delegates authority to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Director of Governance and Compliance, the Director of Finance and Customer Service, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration and the Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Communication to:

          (a)        accept a government grant (Towns Fund – Accelerated project funding) and the associated conditions, to support the proposed Ly² project;

          (b)        accept a government grant (Future High Streets Fund), and the associated conditions, to support a range of measures to support the regeneration of Crewe town centre;

          (c)        approve Supplementary Capital Estimates up to the value of the grants accepted under (a) and (b) above, to facilitate expenditure within the associated conditions;

          (d)        approve capital and revenue budgets associated with co-funding delivery of the measures proposed; and

          (e)        take all necessary actions to implement the proposals;

4.    notes that the review has been undertaken for the Crewe hub station scheme taking account of the impact of Covid-19;

5.    approves the proposed revisions to the Crewe hub station scheme;

6.    authorises the Executive Director Place to:

          (a)            commission the detailed design for Crewe Hub Station;

          (b)            agree terms with Network Rail and Avanti West Coast for the release of land necessary to deliver the scheme; and

          (c)            negotiate and agree a funding deal with Government and Avanti West Coast to secure the necessary funding to deliver the Revised Initial Scheme; and

7.    notes that further approvals will be sought from Cabinet to approve a preferred Crewe Hub Station scheme and seek any powers of compulsory purchase required to deliver the preferred scheme.

To consider a report on proposed consultation to inform the future provision of Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Cabinet considered a report on proposed consultation to inform the future provision of Household Waste Recycling Centres.

A briefing for all members had been held on the morning of the Cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes the contents of the report and authorises the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste, to take all necessary actions to consult on the future service provision of household waste recycling centres, including the four options outlined in the appended report; and

2.    notes that a further report will be presented to Cabinet to outline the results of the consultation and to seek approval for the preferred model, and also to seek approval to commence procurement for a new contract.

To consider a draft Social Value policy.

Cabinet considered a draft Social Value policy.

Councillor L Wardlaw, as Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, reported the Committee’s comments on the report.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    adopts the draft Social Value Policy as outlined at Appendix 1 to the report; and

2.    agrees that all future executive decisions relating to the commissioning and  procurement of goods and services should outline the contribution they will make to the delivery of social value.

To consider a draft Crowd Funding Policy.

Cabinet considered a draft policy on Crowd Funding.

Councillor J Clowes, as Chairman of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, spoke in relation to the Committee’s comments as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves the draft Crowd Funding Policy as a sub-policy document to the Grant Policy as set out in appendix A to the report; and

2.    delegates authority to the Executive Director People to procure a platform provider to enable the authority to implement a crowd funding solution.