Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.

In order for an informed answer to be given, where a member of the public wishes to ask a question of a Cabinet Member three clear working days notice must be given and the question must be submitted in writing at the time of notification.  It is not required to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision but, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours notice is encouraged.

The following members of the public spoke in respect of agenda item 5 (Improvements to Adults Social Care Services).

Charlotte Peters Rock asked a number of questions on behalf of Knutsford Area for Knutsford Action including what plans were there for day and respite services in the Knutsford area, what were the number of people in the Knutsford area needing those services and where did they currently go for that care; what arrangements are made for carers to oversee the care of those they care for; how is Cheshire East Council meeting its legislative care requirements and when would any of the currently closed day care and respite care  facilities in the area  be re-opened.  In addition she sought a number of assurances regarding the Stanley Centre.  As requested these questions are appended in full to the minutes of this meeting.  

Mike Card, the parent of two daughters using the facilities at Queens Drive, Congleton, made a statement concerning his calculation of the costs resulting from its closure and the move of its customers to Lincoln House.  He was concerned at the lack of alternative respite provision, especially for weekends, and at what he considered to be the inappropriate mixing of young and elderly people in the same facility.

John Coupland, who was also the parent of a child at Queens Drive, expressed similar concerns as Mike Card.  He did not consider Lincoln House was the right place for the care of young adults and asked for further consideration to be given to the retention of such an excellent facility as Queens Drive. 

Mabel Taylor, a resident of Knutsford, spoke in respect of the temporary and proposed permanent closure of Bexton Court and was concerned at the overall lack of provision in Cheshire East in the light of the forecast increase in the population of over 65 year olds.  In addition she expressed the suspicion among local residents that facilities were being closed in order to facilitate the development of a health and well being centre.

Judie Collins spoke on the lack of public consultation on the temporary closure of Bexton Court, and that its permanent closure was now being proposed along with that of the Tatton Ward before the findings of the Task and Finish Group study of dementia, set up by the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee, was known.  She asked that consideration be given to the timings of these closures; to the public consultation arrangements and also that the Head of Adult Services meet with KafKa as a matter of urgency.  

The Chairman thanked everybody for their contributions and confirmed that written responses would be given to the points raised on submission of a written copy of what was asked or said. 

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2012.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2012 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the results of the public consultation on proposed changes, and the proposals in the Business Case. 

(A copy of the full petition is available on request and will be available at the meeting).

Consideration was given to the results of the public consultation on proposed changes to enhance facilities and to transfer some day and short break services, the aim of which was to improve services and match supply with demand.  The report included a detailed business case for the proposals made now made.

In developing the final proposals it was stressed that Officers had been proactive in their engagement with the community, had listened to the wide range of opinions expressed by the public during the consultation, and had incorporated them where practicable into the final recommendations; this included a full debate on the petition from KafKa (Knutsford Action for Knutsford Area) by the Council at its meeting on 23 February 2012.

The Adult Services Portfolio Holder gave a detailed resume of the process leading to the proposals now under consideration, the aim being to provide the best possible level of adult social care provision with facilities that were fit for this day and age, that those services were affordable, sustainable and in the right places. 

Councillors welcomed the very comprehensive consultation exercise that had been carried out and thanked both the Officers concerned and the public for their extensive involvement.  All the responses received during the consultation exercise had been looked at in depth as evidenced by the time it took to analyse and evaluate them, and to the changes made to the original proposals.

RESOLVED

1. That the importance be recognised of ensuring that the outcome of the public consultation was carefully considered in the evaluation of the proposals in the business case. 

2. That approval be given to the recommendations in the business case (Appendix B of the report) summarised along with the key considerations as follows:

KNUTSFORD/WILMSLOW/POYNTON

Overall 23 options were considered. There was additional consultation specifically related to the Knutsford developments and the original proposal to close the Stanley Centre and to re-provide locally has been modified to retain local services whilst releasing Stanley House.  Work continues to engage with Health regarding future opportunities with local development on the Bexton Court site.

a)     Invest in new Changing Places facilities and enhanced lifestyle facilities at Wilmslow Leisure Centre;

b)     Separate the Stanley Centre from Stanley House and make improvements to bathroom facilities. This will permit Stanley House to be returned to the corporate landlord property pool whilst retaining local Learning Disability day care facilities;

c)      Confirm the permanent closure of Bexton Court acknowledging that local demand for dementia respite is adequately provided for by the independent sector.  Work with partners from Health to assess the future usage of the site;

a)     Invest in modifications to Redesmere to develop it as a multi purpose centre and permit the transfer of Learning Disability day care services from Dean Row.  Subsequently to declare Dean Row surplus to requirements and return it to the corporate landlord property pool.  The longer term goal is to move as soon as possible towards an integrated service which includes an integrated SMART, Frontline and Independent Living Centre (ILC)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 121.

To receive an update on the implementation of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Broadband Plan and to consider the investment needed, and the programme of, the wider Connecting Cheshire Partnership with Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington and Halton Councils.

Consideration was given to the implementation of the Cheshire and Warrington Broadband Plan, to the investment needed, and to the programme of the wider Connecting Cheshire Partnership with Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington and Halton Councils. 

The report detailed the financial support available from the UK Government whose objective was to deliver the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015, with funded Local Broadband Plans being in place by the end of April 2012. 

RESOLVED

1.      That the Cheshire Warrington and Halton Local Broadband Plan, as detailed in Appendix B of the report, be received and endorsed.

1. That the Council investment of £1.2 million, profiled over three years to provide for 90% superfast broadband coverage across the Borough, with an ambition to achieve 100% coverage by leveraging European Grant Funding, be noted.

2. That approval be given for the Strategic Director Places and Organisational Capacity, and the Director of Finance & Business Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity, to be given delegated authority to make necessary decisions on approved matters to enable the delivery of the Superfast Broadband project.

3. That approval be given for the Director of Finance and Business Services, the Borough Solicitor and the ICT Manager to prepare, negotiate and sign off legal documentation required between the Council and the Secretary of State, and the Connecting Cheshire Partnership, as required.

To consider a revised programme for preparing the draft Local Plan for inclusion in the Local Development Scheme for 2012-14.

Consideration was given to a revised programme for preparing the draft Local Plan for inclusion in the Local Development Scheme for 2012-14.  The Local Development Scheme is a statutory document setting out the plans and policies the Council seeks to rely on in decision making.  The revised programme aimed to ensure that the Council had a three year programme for the preparation of the various documents making up the Local Plan but also to allow sufficient time for input for Members, local Councils and key stakeholders. 

RESOLVED

1.      That the proposed Core Strategy and Site Allocations Timetable, as set out in Appendix 3, be included within the Local Development Scheme.

2.      That, notwithstanding the powers already delegated by full Council and recorded in the Constitution, but for the avoidance of doubt, the Portfolio Holder for Performance and Capacity be granted delegated power to approve all elements of the Final Local Development Scheme as would be lawfully exercisable by the Cabinet.

3.      That Cabinet further consider measures and resources that would enable an improved ‘two stage’ timetable for site allocations to be achieved.

To receive and comment on the Annual Audit Letter for 2010-11.

Cabinet was asked to receive and comment on the Annual Audit Letter for 2010-11; Judith Tench of the Audit Commission was present to introduce the item and to answer any questions from Members.  The report summarised the Audit Commissions findings and included a summary of the Commissions opinion on the Council’s financial statements, an assessment of the adequacy of its arrangements for securing value for money, and outlined some of the future challenges facing the Council.

RESOLVED

That the Annual Audit letter for 2010-11 be received and noted.

The reports relating to the remaining items on the agenda have been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

PART 2 – MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS PRESENT

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To consider a report of the Strategic Director Places and Organisational Capacity.

Consideration was given to the report of the Strategic Director Places and Organisational Capacity.

RESOLVED

1.      That the freehold interest in the Land at Pyms Lane, Crewe be sold as detailed and upon the terms outlined in Section 10 of this report.

2.      That the Strategic Director for Places and Organisational Capacity and Borough Solicitor be given delegated authority to finalise the details of the sale in accordance with the terms and conditions contained in this report.

3. That the Strategic Director for Places and Organisational Capacity be authorised to explore further the implications of the offer received simultaneously the company concerned in respect of the Land at Minshull New Road and that any decision to sell this land be subject to a further report to Cabinet.

To consider a report of the Strategic Director Places and Organisational Capacity.

Consideration was given to the report of the Strategic Director Places and Organisational Capacity regarding future options for the Waste Treatment PFI Project.  It was noted that the same recommendations had been considered and approved at the meeting of the Cheshire West and Chester Council on 23 February 2012.

RESOLVED

That approval be given to the recommendations, made by the Joint Waste Board on 8 December 2011, that Cheshire East Borough Council and CheshireWest and Chester Borough Council both agreed that:

1. The Waste Treatment PFI procurement project be formally abandoned.

2. To note the write off of capitalised project expenditure.

3. That Council be recommended to approve this decision. 

To consider a report of the Strategic Director Places and Organisational Capacity (Key Decision not on Forward Plan).

In accordance with Access to Information Procedure Rule 14 Members are asked to note that this matter has not been included in the Forward Planof Key Decisions to be taken between 1 March 2012 and 30 June 2012. Prompt action is, however, required in order to meet the planned implementation date and it would be impracticable to defer the decision until it could be included in the next Forward Plan.  The Chairman of the Environment and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee has been notified and public notice given.)

Consideration was given to the report of the Strategic Director Places and Organisational Capacity on the procurement of waste transfer station capacity in the north of the Borough.  At the meeting the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services provided further details on the range of options available, the associated costs of those options, and the advantages of following the proposed course of action. 

RESOLVED

1. That the strategic and operational importance of proceeding with this procurement be noted.

2. That the forecast financial implications of this procurement activity, which will be reported as part of the 2012/13 1^st Quarter Performance report to Cabinet when the final outcome is known, be noted.

3. That approval be given to the procurement of waste transfer capacity through the Open Procedure (Option 1), as fully detailed in this report.

To consider a report of the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development. 

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet supports the decision of the Chief Executive to release the employees whose roles are listed as 1 to 15of Appendix A of the report under the arrangements agreed in relation to voluntary severance provisions for employees in the Council.