Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

To approve the minutes as a correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest at this point in the meeting. However, Cllr Edwards declared a personal and prejudicial interest at minute 19, by virtue of being a member of Bollington Town Council, when discussion took place regarding the role of the Town Centre Manger and left the room during consideration of 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 meeting. 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.

Honorary Alderman, Norman Edwards attended the meeting and used public speaking time to highlight problems regarding accessibility by electric scooters, provided for people with disabilities, in Macclesfield Town Centre and on the Middlewood Way. He referred to the former Macclesfield Borough Council Access Panel, which had dealt with such issues and suggested that a similar Panel/Committee be introduced by Cheshire East Council.

The Committee agreed to pass this request to the appropriate body within the Council for consideration.

Mr Bob Toms used public speaking time to express concern regarding the introduction of a second tax on the people of Macclesfield, to pay for local facilities and questioned how many local people were aware of the possibility of a special levy being introduced. He considered that the residents of Macclesfield would be paying twice for the facilities. He also asked why there was not a Town Council for Macclesfield and commented that the Local Service Delivery Committee members were selected, rather than elected.

A discussion took place on the merits of working locally, what this meant in Cheshire East and how the Local Delivery Committee could support this process. As part of this discussion attendees gave views on special expenses levy, the particular situation in Macclesfield and the desire to make sure that solutions were appropriate for the local area. The membership of the local service delivery committee was discussed as well as the influence that the committee could have in the future.

To make a recommendation to Cabinet on the level of service and related budgets the Committee wishes to see continue to be provided in the unparished area of Macclesfield, potentially leading to the levying on a relevant charge. 

At the previous meeting of the Committee, Members had requested some additional information to help inform their recommendations to Cabinet on the level of service and related budgets they wished to see continue to be provided in the unparished area of Macclesfield.

This information was now been provided, together with a summary of the 2012/13 budget for Macclesfield, including individual service budgets and a breakdown of support services charges.

The Committee made recommendations to Cabinet in respect of each of the areas under consideration as follows :-

Allotments  

RESOLVED

That Cabinet be informed that the Committee does not feel it is appropriate for these costs to be included in a special expenses levy, as they are a statutory duty of the lowest level of government, this being Cheshire East Council.

(Councillor Edwards abstained from voting).

Senior Citizens Hall

It was noted that, at the previous meeting of the Committee, it had been questioned whether this item should be considered, when the hall fell within the Macclesfield Town Centre Development area.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet be informed that that the Committee does not feel it is appropriate for these costs to be included in a special expenses levy, at this point in time, when the status of the hall is uncertain. The Committee may wish to reconsider its position when the hall’s status becomes more certain.

(Councillor Edwards abstained from voting).

Weston Community Centre

Concern was expressed regarding the condition of the Centre and it was felt that it needed to be brought up to a reasonable standard. It was also considered that the library room, situated within the Centre, was a vital cultural resource for the community and should be retained and that any future proposals relating to the library should be brought back to the Committee for consideration.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet be recommended to defer the decision in respect of the Weston Community Centre, until such a time as the Centre is brought up to a reasonable standard and that the position regarding the library be the subject of further discussion.

(Councillor Edwards abstained from voting).

Markets

Further information was requested, for consideration at the next meeting, to include a budget forecast for the next five years for the indoor and outdoor markets, including an analysis with regard to assets and clarification regarding the figure relating to service management and support services for the markets. It was also suggested that the Council should review and reduce the figures in respect of overtime, as part of its harmonisation of terms and conditions. 

RESOLVED

That Cabinet be informed that the Committee is minded to make a recommendation to accept that it is appropriate for these costs to be included in a special expenses levy, on condition that a five year forecast for the indoor and outdoor markets is provided for the next meeting of the Committee, to include an analysis with regard to assets; and that Cheshire East Council reviews and reduces the figures in respect of overtime, as part of its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The next meeting would take place, at 9.15am on Monday 19 December 2011, at Macclesfield Library.