Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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.

No members of the public were present.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 3 May 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 May 2012 were approved as a correct record.

To consider representation on the Audlem Education Foundation and to review the responsible body for making the appointments.

At the request of the Constitution Committee consideration was given to representation on the Audlem Education Foundation Awards Committee, and also to the responsible body for making those appointments. 

The need to consider the matter had arisen as a result of there being a vacancy on the Awards Committee, in addition to which meetings had regularly been inquorate which affected its ability to make decisions.  In order to improve the situation the Foundation had asked for the number of representatives on the Awards Committee to be increased from 5 to 6 with Mrs Helen Rounding and Peter Marshall being added as Members. 

The report detailed the history of the Foundation with the former Cheshire County Council having been set up as Trustee in 1973.  It was noted that under the terms of the Foundations Constitution the Council had full power to make and alter rules for the management of the Foundation.

Members noted that when it was originally established the geographic area covered by the Foundation was the Ancient Parish of Audlem  which comprised the civil parishes of Audlem, Buerton and Hankelow, part of Dodcott-cum-Wilkesley, and Newall. 

It was proposed that:

·         Based on these Parishes, the representatives on the Awards Committee should be one person from each Parish (Audlem, Buerton and Hankelow, Dodcott-cum-Wilkesley, and Newall) plus one from Cheshire East Council; this would provide a membership of 6 as had been requested. 

·         The Awards Committee should be responsible for appointing the five Parish representatives and Cheshire East would continue to appoint its one representative as before.

·         To ensure that the Awards Committee could operate during the time it would take for the matter to be referred to the Foundation, and for the Parish appointments to be made, it was further proposed that Helen Rounding and Peter Marshall be added as representatives for the intervening period. 

·         It was proposed that the quorum for the meetings of the Awards Committee should be half of its membership.

RESOLVED

1.    That the number of representatives on the Audlem Education Foundation Awards Committee be increased to six with one representative from each of the Parishes of Audlem, Buerton and Hankelow, Dodcott-cum-Wilkesley, and Newall, plus one from Cheshire East Council.   

2.    That the Awards Committee be directly responsible for appointing the five Parish representatives and that Cheshire East Council continue to appoint its one representative as before.

3.    To ensure that the Awards Committee can operate during the time it will take for the matter to be referred to the Foundation, and for the Parish appointments to be made, that Helen Rounding and Peter Marshall be added as representatives for the intervening period. 

4.    That the quorum for meetings of the Awards Committee be half of its membership.

To consider the addition of the Nantwich Partnership to the list of approved organisations.

Consideration was given to a request for this new organisation to be added to the approved list of outside organisations.  Membership of the Partnership was open to any individual, group or organisation etc actively involved in regenerating Nantwich and in furthering the work of the Partnership.  A Management Team of between 5 and 11 representatives was proposed.

In accordance with the established procedure and criteria the Sub-Committee considered whether or not the Nantwich Partnership should be added to the list of approved organisations;  having agreed that it was suitable it was then agreed that it should be a Category 2 (Constitution appointed) organisation.

The Sub-Committee requested clarification of the number of Cheshire East Councillor representatives to be appointed and it was proposed that, subject to further clarification, approval be given for up to two representatives to be appointed and that the appointments be dealt with by way of the Casual Vacancies Procedure.

RESOLVED

1.    That approval be given for the Nantwich Partnership to be added to the list of Category 2 (Constitution Committee) Outside Organisation appointments.

2.    That, subject to further clarification, up to two Cheshire East Councillors be appointed to the Partnership and that the appointments be finalised in accordance with the Casual Vacancies Procedure.

To consider the outstanding responses from Councillors and organisations surveyed in Phase 2 of the review, and the responses received to those contacted in Phase 3.

N.B: A schedule of the responses received will be circulated in the near future. 

Consideration was given to the replies received from those organisations and Members surveyed in Phase 3 of the review.

Each set of responses was considered in turn and the further actions below were proposed for the organisations shown:-

1.    Maw Green Landfill Site Community Liaison Meeting –  Clarification be sought of the number of Councillor representatives to be appointed. 

2.    Northern Regional Association for Sensory Support – delete from the list as no meetings have been held, correspondence to the organisation has been returned marked ‘gone away’, and no further information has been found.

3.    Over Peover Educational Foundation – delete from list as no meetings have been held and no response received from the organisation; the organisation to be advised it can ask to be added back on if it is necessary.

4.    Public Transport Association – Response to be requested from Cllr Davenport, and further contact details to be sought from Cllr Fletcher.  In the light of information received further consideration to be given to whether this should be a Category 1 or 2 appointment.

5.    Sandbach Park Steering Group – delete from the list as it is not an outside organisation and relates to a Cheshire East function. 

6.    Sir John Deane’s College, Northwich – Response from the College to be requested.

7.    Sir Thomas Delves Foundation, Wybunbury – that the vacancy be filled with in accordance with the Casual Vacancies Procedure.

8.    Stanley and Brocklehurst Almshouses Trust – that a response be sent to confirm that from now on Cheshire East Council will appoint one representative, rather than the previous four, and that this would also pertain for the Fence Trust.

9.    Transport Futures – further information to be sought from Cllr Davenport.

10.University of Keele Court – Noted that this was now defunct.  Further information to be sought from the Organisation regarding successor arrangements for local representation.  

11.Youth Federation of Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and Wirral - Delete from list as no meetings have been held and no response received from the organisation; the organisation to be advised it can ask to be added back on if it is necessary.

During the course of the discussion it came to the attention of the Sub-Committee that South Cheshire College of Further Education did not have any Cheshire East Councillor representation on its Board of Governors.  The Sub-Committee considered that it should in line with other similar establishments in the area such as Macclesfield College, and Reaseheath.  It was therefore proposed that the Chairman of the Sub-Committee write to the College to see if they would like a Cheshire East Councillor representative on their Board or as a co-opted member.

RESOLVED

1.    For the reasons set out above the Northern Regional Association for Sensory Support, the Over Peover Educational Foundation, Sandbach Park Steering Group, the University of Keele Court and the Youth Federation of Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and Wirral, be removed from the list of outside organisations appointed to by the Council.

2.    That further information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

To consider the ongoing work programme, copy attached. 

The progress of the review was noted, and of the remaining items on the work programme.

The date of the next meeting was set for Wednesday 12 December 2012 at 10.00am at which time consideration would be given to any outstanding matters on the review.