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.

Councillor L Durham declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 9 (Proposed Transfer of Former MMU Campus in Alsager) as she had been involved with the consideration of the related planning application as a member of the Strategic Planning Board. Councillor Durham took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 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 body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question 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 asked if the Council would consider a trial using an effective waste management programme for dealing with dog fouling, matching un-scooped waste to the canine offender through DNA.

In response, the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Health outlined the technical difficulties with DNA profiling. The Council was aware of the public concern over dog fouling and had run three successful Dog Watch campaigns in Cheshire East this year, involving the issuing of fixed penalty notices and information reminding dog owners of their responsibilities. The campaigns had been well received and there were plans to extend them to areas such as Alsager. The Council’s Senior Community Enforcement Officer would welcome the chance to speak further with the questioner to consider ways of working together utilising both the Community Enforcement Officers and Kingdom patrols to address the issues in Alsager.  

Ben Wye asked how local cyclists would be effectively engaged in supporting the planning and engineering of the high quality infrastructure needed to realise, and exceed the CEC cycling strategy ambition, and whether cyclists would be part of the evaluation process before final plans were made.

The Chairman, as Portfolio Holder for Highways and Infrastructure, replied that the Council had engaged widely with local cyclists regarding the development of the cycling strategy and would continue to do so. In particular, the Council would organise a workshop following adoption of the strategy to provide advice and resources to local cycle groups, so that communities could develop local cycling delivery plans. A cycle audit process would also be established to review facilities for cyclists. Interested parties (including the cycling community), were encouraged to make comments as part of the consultation on future schemes.

Peter Hall of the South East Cheshire Cycling Action Group commented that with regard to the development of the cycle network and securing developer funding for the development of cycle infrastructure, the only Council Departments put forward as responsible partners were Cheshire East Highways/Strategic Infrastructure and Highways Development Control. He asked how, if only highways departments were to be involved and not planning or the local cycling communities, new developments could achieve meaningful cycling infrastructure.

The Chairman responded that the Highways Development Management Team was responsible for providing specialist recommendations to the Planning Case Officer regarding highways impacts and mitigation measures for new development. This advice encompassed all highways users, including cyclists. Responses from the Highways Development Management Team would be enhanced with the utilisation of the Cycling-Proofing Toolkit promoted through the Cycling Strategy and subsequent best practice workshops / training to ensure officer awareness and implementation. Interested parties (including the cycling community) could make comments regarding planning applications on a ‘self-service’ basis via the planning portal. Finally,  the emerging Cheshire East ‘Urban Design Guide’ promoted the inclusion of cycling through good design thus encouraging active travel.

Councillor David Latham, Middlewich Town Council, asked why the Council, after receiving the past three year mean air quality test results for the A553 Lewin Street, Middlewich had not made this area  ...  view the full minutes text for item 108.

A period of 20 minutes is allocated for questions to be put to Cabinet Members by members of the Council. Notice of questions need not be given in advance of the meeting. Questions must relate to the powers, duties or responsibilities of the Cabinet. Questions put to Cabinet Members must relate to their portfolio responsibilities.

The Leader will determine how Cabinet question time should be allocated where there are a number of Members wishing to ask questions. 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 N Mannion referred to a recent incident in which a pack of hunting dogs ran through a suburb of Macclesfield, causing distress to local residents and a potentially dangerous traffic situation. In light of this incident, he asked if the Council would assure local residents that it would not allow hunting with dogs to take place on its land. The Chairman responded that the Council had a policy on hunting which would be reviewed and a report would be submitted to the next Cabinet meeting.

Councillor S Corcoran referred to a report to Cabinet last year which had indicated that the Council could accept up to 52 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children at a cost of £200,000. He asked if the offer had been communicated to the Government and if so, why it had not been taken up. The Chairman asked the Executive Director People to give a written response. The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families added that the Council had accepted 20 unaccompanied asylum seeking children to date.

Councillor R Fletcher referred to the fact that pedestrian crossings had not been provided for Sandbach Road North and Sandbach Road South, Alsager, despite the need for such crossings having been identified by the former County Council in 2007. He also asked for an update on the provision of a crossing on Crewe Road and the provision of a footway from Goss Place towards the centre of Alsager. The Chairman replied that the matters would be investigated and a formal written response would be made following that investigation.

Councillor L Jeuda referred to a recent decision by the Government to restrict the number of Syrian refugee children coming to the UK on the basis that local authorities could not accommodate greater numbers. A number of authorities had indicated that they had not been consulted prior to the Government’s decision and would have been willing to accept more refugees. Councillor Jeuda asked if Cheshire East had indicated that it was prepared to accept more refugees. The Chairman referred to the response to the earlier question on the matter by Councillor Corcoran and undertook to give a written reply.

Councillor J Nicholas, referring to Item 6 on the agenda relating to Available Walking Routes to Schools, asked for the study which showed that the installation of a crossing in Silk Road would make it a safe walking route to school when the only study available assessed the suitability of the location of the crossing but not the suitability of the walking route. He asked why the walking route assessment was being undertaken after £200,000 had been spent on the provision of a crossing over Silk Road. The Chairman replied that the designated available walking route was Middlewood Way and not Silk Road.

Councillor A Stott referred to the designation of Silk Road as a safe walking route to school and asked the Council to provide an assurance that the Middlewood Way would be undesignated as an available walking route. The Portfolio Holder for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 109.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th February 2017.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th February 2017 be approved as a correct record.

In relation to Minute 95 concerning the Council’s Corporate Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy, the Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Integration announced that in the light of the budget last week, the Council had been identified as a recipient of some of the £2bn that had been allocated nationally for adult social care, the Council receiving approximately £10.5M over the three year period, to be implemented through the Improved Better Care Fund. The Council was awaiting guidance from the Government on the conditions that would apply, including how the money could be spent. The Council had also become aware that with regard to business tax and the discretionary tax fund, there would be a national pot of £300M, but details of allocations were still awaited.

Progress Update to follow.

Cabinet received a progress update providing information on the actions taken to date to implement local infrastructure measures necessary to enable the Council to designate additional Available Walking Routes to Schools.

The update addressed the following motions discussed at Council on 23^rd February 2017:

Council approved the amendment to Motion 1, “The Council requests that Cabinet defers implementation of its decision made on 18th October 2016 to withdraw free school transport from Bollington to Tytherington High School via the Middlewood Way, until a toucan crossing for pedestrians and cyclists has been installed and is operational, and its operational safety has been assessed and evaluated, adjacent to the roundabout on the A523 Silk Road, at the junction with the B5090”.

Council approved the amendment to Motion 2, “The Council requests that Cabinet defers implementation of its decision made on 18th October 2016 to withdraw free school transport from Willaston to Malbank School and Brine Leas School until such time as Network Rail have provided an assessment as to whether they consider the London Road level crossing to be safe for pedestrians to use, and this Council has accepted the assessment, in the light of the fact that there is potential for an additional 64 pupils to walk that route.

The update summarised how these matters had been addressed within the implementation programme.

A letter from the Executive Director Place to Network Rail was circulated at the meeting which asked Network Rail to update its risk assessment on the suitability of the Automatic Half Barrier Crossing in London Road, Nantwich, and requested a timeline for related mitigation measures.

To consider the motion.

Cabinet considered the following motion which had been moved by councillor S Corcoran and seconded by Councillor H Murray at the Council meeting on 15^th December 2016 and referred to Cabinet for consideration:

“This Council supports the Space for Cycling process promoted by Cycling UK and commits to providing the funding to implement its cycling policy effectively.”

Councillor S Corcoran attended the meeting and spoke in support of the motion.

RESOLVED

That the motion be supported, it being noted that the aims of the ‘Space for Cycling’ campaign are consistent with the objectives of the new Cheshire East Council Cycling Strategy, which is being presented to Cabinet today for adoption.

To consider a report on Cheshire East Council’s Cycling Strategy.

Cabinet considered a report on Cheshire East Council’s Cycling Strategy.

The strategy set out the vision for cycling within the Borough and provided a strategic framework that could shape policy, planning and design decisions.

RESOLVED

That

1.    the vision and objectives set out in the Cycling Strategy (Appendix 1 to the report) be approved and adopted as a part of the Council’s transport strategy framework; and

2.    the Executive Director of Place be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Infrastructure, to finalise the Executive Summary of the strategy as a shortened public facing document (Appendix 2).

To consider a report on the transfer of the former Manchester Metropolitan University Campus in Alsager.

Cabinet considered a report on the transfer of the former Manchester Metropolitan University Campus in Alsager.

The report sought approval for Cheshire East Council to accept the freehold transfer of the land shown edged in red on the plan attached to the report from David Wilson Homes and to complete a modification of contract and a back-to-back lease of the property to Everybody Sport & Recreation Ltd (ESAR). The site would be redeveloped to provide 407 new homes and sports and leisure facilities. The proposal also included a financial contribution to extend the existing facilities at the Council’s nearby Alsager Leisure Centre. Further details were set out in the report.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves the freehold transfer of the Property from David Wilson Homes to the Council and the simultaneous lease of the Property from the Council to ESAR on terms to be agreed by the Assets Manager;

2.    authorises the Asset Manager to provide Sport England with written confirmation that the Council will accept a transfer of the Property for the purposes of providing public open space and leisure facilities required as a result of DWH’s planning application;

3.    notes that such facilities will be built on site by David Wilson Homes and approved by the Council prior to transfer of the Property;

4.    agrees that the lease of the Property to ESAR will be conditional on a modification of the operating contract for the remainder of the existing term (currently a ten year lease from 2014 with an option for a further 5 years) during which period ESAR will run the facilities on the Council’s behalf; and

5.    authorises the Director of Legal Services to enter into all legal documentation required to effect the transfer and the lease of the Property, including any licence agreements or deeds of covenant which may be required and to complete any variation/modification to the ESAR contract which may be required.

To consider a report on the outcome of work to provide assurance that the wellbeing of staff is aligned to best practice and organisational values. 

Cabinet considered a report on the outcome of work to provide assurance that the wellbeing of staff was aligned to best practice and organisational values. The project had confirmed that the wellbeing of staff was aligned to best practice and values and it had increased confidence that appropriate HR processes were in place for staff to speak out on matters of concern. 

The Staffing Committee had recommended that Cabinet endorse the outcome of the project.

RESOLVED

That the outcome of the Reassurance Project be endorsed.

To consider a report on some of the work done to connect services to communities.

Cabinet considered a report on some of the work done to connect services to communities, which was one of the key themes of the Connecting Communities Strategy.

The Council had been part of a Government pilot called ‘Delivering Differently in Neighbourhoods’ which had been assessing how communities could become more engaged in service delivery and policy and how this could influence priority and budget setting. The pilot had been operated in Macclesfield and details were set out in the report.

The Chairman announced that following the closure of the Cabinet meeting, a short film would be presented on Delivering Differently.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    welcomes the excellent progress made to date in ‘Delivering Differently in Macclesfield’;

2.    agrees that this is the blueprint for the future model of delivery of connecting communities to services in the future and looks forward to receiving a report in September 2017 that sets out the work that has been undertaken to make this a reality across Cheshire East;

3.    recognises and gives thanks for the significant contribution that local community organisations and ward members in Macclesfield have made in making this such a success and continues to support this initiative;

4.    recognises that Cheshire East-commissioned services and resident-led initiatives should, where possible, be directed to deliver from Connected Community Centres based on local need;

5.    notes the continued relationship with DCLG as they continue to monitor the progress of this work and regard it as a leading example of innovative community development; and

6.    agrees to promote the success of this at a national level to share best practice and influence Central Government policy setting.