Agenda, decisions and minutes

Thee 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.

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.

Alsager Town Councillor Sue Helliwell asked whether a survey could be carried out of the drainage system in Alsager as the gullies in certain areas of the town were regularly blocked and the cause of complaint.  Particular reference was made to those in Crewe Road, Sandbach Road South, Cedar Avenue and Station Road.

The Portfolio Holder reported that all gullies were emptied at a minimum of once every three years, and measurements of the content removed used to calculate which needed to be emptied more often, on a programme of up to once or twice a year; the emptying regime also included reference to the number of complaints received and whether or not they were located in an area at risk of flood.

The Portfolio Holder said he would request the highways team to further investigate the complaints relating to gullies in the above mentioned areas, and to ensure that the complainants were fully advised of the inspection process and the programme of emptying they were on.

To consider the allocation of grants funded through the Sustainable Travel Transition Year.

That approval be given to the allocation of a grant for the amount shown to the following community organisations:

·        Community Recycle Cycles    £9,999

·         Christian Concern                   £9,500

It was reported that in June 2016 Cheshire East Council had been successful with a bid for funding of £350,000 from the Department of Transport’s Sustainable Travel Transition Year Fund which was now available for delivery up to March 2017 in the Crewe and Nantwich area.  The Council’s bid outlined the programme of delivery which included the allocation of Transport & Accessibility Grants, with £20,000 of it being allocated towards this funding element of the programme.

In October 2016 the Council launched a campaign to raise awareness that local organisations in these areas could apply for Transport and Accessibility Grants of up to £9,999; three organisations had applied for funding and two of these had been successful.

To ensure expenditure was in line with the approved grant application and was compliant with funding conditions the Policy set out a monitoring process, failure to comply with which could result in the Council recovering the grant paid.  Successful applicants had to sign a grant acceptance form and agree to the terms and conditions set out in the Policy.

The purpose of the grants was to support local people to develop community-led initiatives.  It was recognised that local communities were often best placed to identify their own transport and accessibility needs and these grants will enable the successful organisations the capacity to develop local solutions. 

RESOLVED

That approval be given to the allocation of a grant for the amount shown to the following community organisations:

·        Community Recycle Cycles    £9,999

·         Christian Concern                   £9,500

To consider the allocation of surplus vehicles to a number of organisations.

That approval be given to the allocation of surplus vehicles to the following organisations:

·         1nclu5ive Sandbach

·         Mobility & Access Group (MAG)

·         Healthbox CIC

·         Cheshire Fire Authority (Princes Trust)

·         Wishing Well Project

·         Church of the Resurrection

·         Disability Information Bureau

·         Space4Autism                                                       

The Council recognises the valuable role of the community and voluntary sector in providing access to essential services for residents. Local schemes and initiatives have wider social benefits through increasing independence and reducing isolation, particularly in rural communities.

It was reported that Transport Service Solutions Limited had recently entered into a long term contract hire arrangement for the provision of a fleet of new minibuses and, as a result, the Council had 8 vehicles which were surplus to requirements.  The Council had a policy for allocating surplus vehicles to the community and voluntary sector to help support community-led transport initiatives, tailored to the needs of local residents, the aim being to support local communities by providing means to improve access, particularly for disadvantaged groups, to services including health care, shopping and leisure facilities.

In the summer of 2016 the Council launched a competition and invited organisations to complete an application form to be allocated a surplus vehicle.  In total, 16 applications had been received and, following assessment against criteria, 8 had gone on to be allocated a vehicle.  Each organisation offered a vehicle had to sign an agreement to confirm they would become the owner and registered keeper of it in its current condition as of the date of transfer.  A monitoring process ensured that grants were used appropriately in line with the application and conditions of funding.

RESOLVED

That all those organisations that had applied be thanked for their application and that approval be given to the allocation of surplus vehicles as follows:  

·         1nclu5ive Sandbach

·         Mobility & Access Group (MAG)

·         Healthbox CIC

·         Cheshire Fire Authority (Princes Trust)

·         Wishing Well Project

·         Church of the Resurrection

·         Disability Information Bureau

·         Space4Autism