Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor L Roberts.

RESOLVED

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

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 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 relating 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.

The Chairman explained that he proposed to allow members of the public to speak at the end of the meeting in connection with the main item of business on the agenda, but offered the opportunity for any members of the public to raise any other matters at this point in the proceedings.

Mr Warren, Brookfield Lane, Chairman of the Allotments Association, referred to the meeting of the LSDC held on 23 January 2013 when a small working party of Members had been established to look at a locally focused method of management of allotments with a view to making recommendations. Mr Warren asked what options had been considered and whether any recommendations had been made to the Cabinet. Cllrs Edwards, Hardy, and Jackson responded (as the appointed members of the working party) and indicated that a site visit to the Moss Lane Allotment site had taken place, but that the matter had since been suspended, given the subsequent progress of the Macclesfield Community Governance Review. In the event of the establishment of a parish council for Macclesfield, allotments would automatically be vested with the new parish council.        

Liz Braithwaite asked if there was any danger of organisations in Macclesfield, other than the proposed new parish council, being offered assets by Cheshire East Council, if they were not immediately transferred. The Head of Communities indicated that any future considerations would be community lead. Members added that unfortunately it was not possible to give any assurances at this stage, as any future decisions could not be pre-empted.           

The Local Service Delivery Committee is invited to discuss and submit its views to the Community Governance Review Sub Committee on 16 January 2015, on which assets might be transferred from Cheshire East Council to the proposed Macclesfield Parish Council from the date of its inception, having regard to officer and legal advice.

The minutes of the Community Governance Review Sub Committee held on 9 December 2014 are attached to aid discussions.

The Community Governance Review Sub Committee will then make a  recommendation to the Constitution Committee, in respect of this  matter, in due course.     

The Committee was invited to discuss and submit its views to the Community Governance Review Sub Committee on 16 January 2015, on which assets might be transferred from Cheshire East Council to the proposed Macclesfield Parish Council from the date of its inception, having regard to officer and legal advice.

The minutes of the Community Governance Review Sub Committee held on 9 December 2014 were considered to aid discussions. The Community Governance Review (CGR) Sub Committee will make recommendations to the Constitution Committee, in respect of this  matter, in due course.

Karen Bowdler, Principal Accountant, circulated a draft budget requirement calculation 2015/16 for discussion, based upon the potential assets and services identified by the CGR Sub Committee, at its last meeting, for transfer to the Parish Council.

The Chairman invited the Committee to discuss each of the following items in turn, which were included in the draft budget calculation as potential operating costs:

1)    Allotments

2)    Senior Citizens Hall

3)    Weston Community Centre

4)    Markets

5)    Public Conveniences  

6)    Town Centre Management

7)    Christmas Lights

8)    Street Furniture

9)    Floral Displays

10) CCTV

11)Visitor Information Centre

12)Estimated Operational Management and Support Costs

13)Administrative costs                

(Note: Cllr Carter left the meeting and Cllr Druce joined the meeting during the discussions on the Senior Citizens Hall).

The Chairman suggested that an officer report to be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee on the viability, financial and legal implications of :

1)    The Parish Council receiving the rental income from the Wilson Bowden Development;

2)    The Freehold of the Macclesfield Town Hall being transferred to the Parish Council, with a lease back of office accommodation to Cheshire East Council;

3)    The transfer of car parking provision and parking income to the Parish Council.

Concerns were aired by some members that the running of the Town Hall would be financial burden upon Macclesfield Tax payers if this facility was transferred to the Parish Council. A further view was expressed that a local mandate from electors should be obtained, as a matter of principle, before such an option was considered.

In response to questions raised by Cllr Jackson, the Registration Service and Business Manager reported that the Community Governance Review Sub Committee would consider and determine transitional arrangements. This would include the arrangements and agenda for the Annual Parish Meeting, which would take place within 14 days of the election of councillors, and would include the proposal for the Parish Council to be designated as a Town Council. The Sub Committee would also discuss and determine arrangements for an interim parish clerk.

The Committee discussed a suggestion that the Parish Council should have occupational rights to the Council Chamber, Mayor’s Parlour and office accommodation within the Town Hall.

The Committee discussed whether an additional budget provision should be included for the award of grants. A sum of £15,000 was proposed.

It was noted that the Charter Trustees expected to have a sum of approximately £15,000 operating surplus  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.