Notices of Motion
To consider the attached Notices of Motion, which have been received in accordance with Procedure Rule 12
Minutes:
Consideration was given to the following Notices of Motion :-
1 Proposed by Cllr G Baxendale and seconded by Cllr M Jones
Armed Forces Community Covenant
“The Council’s formal signing of the Community Covenant scheme which clearly demonstrates its commitment and support to the Armed Services is to be welcomed. However, this Motion seeks to ask the Cabinet to take responsibility for the development of a detailed Action Plan, based on the Scheme, which will outline, by Service area, the practical support that the Council can provide to those currently serving in the Armed Services, their families and those that have served in the past.”
RESOLVED
That the motion stands referred to Cabinet for consideration.
2 Proposed by Cllr A Moran and Seconded by Cllr P Edwards
Right to Speak at Meetings
“That visiting Members to all Cabinet meetings, Committees and Sub Committees have the right to speak once on each separate item on the agenda before the debate proper commences. This will apply to all items on the agenda including part 2 items.”
RESOLVED
That the motion stands referred to the Constitution Committee for consideration.
3 Proposed by Cllr B Murphy and Seconded by Cllr M Parsons
Corporate Communications Function
“This Council calls for an immediate all-party inquiry into the Council’s corporate communications function with particular reference to:
- its purpose, relevance and value-for-money
- overall cost, budgetary provision/resource allocation and cost effectiveness
- political impartiality and support for members
- the corporate culture it seeks to foster
- its policies/protocols for media relations, publications, communication technology, corporate ID, corporate communications/marketing, and internal communications."
RESOLVED
That the motion stands referred to Cabinet for consideration.
4 Proposed by Cllr D Brickhill and Seconded by Cllr P Edwards
Consultants
“No outside consultants (other than clerical staff) shall be employed by the Council without their specific instruction.”
RESOLVED
That the motion stands referred to Cabinet for consideration.
5 Proposed by Cllr D Brickhill and Seconded by Cllr A Moran
Road Maintenance
“That all pre planned road maintenance (except pothole filling) is to be carried out on an equal expenditure basis per Ward in direct proportion to the electorate in that Ward, unless the relevant parish councils resolve that they are satisfied with the state of their roads. A monthly report to all Councillors is to be published by 15th of each month by the Highways Department showing the work done in the previous month and the work to be done in the next month.”
That the motion stands referred to Cabinet for consideration.
6 Proposed by Cllr A Moran and seconded by Cllr D Brickhill
Notices of Motion
“That all Motions that are referred by Council to a Committee or Cabinet must be put on the agenda for the next meeting of that body or brought back to the next Council meeting for vote on afinal decision.”
That the motion stands referred to the Constitution Committee for consideration.
7 Proposed by Cllr D Brickhill and Seconded by Cllr S Hogben
Location of Strategic Planning Board Meetings
“That when the Strategic Planning Board agenda contains a majority of items from the south of the Borough, the meeting will be held in Crewe or Sandbach.”
That the motion stands referred to the Constitution Committee for consideration.
8 Proposed by Cllr B Murphy and seconded by Cllr P Edwards
Confidentiality
“In the light of the ever-growing demand for public accountability in public services and the need to sustain public trust and confidence in democratic governance, this Council calls for a review of its policies and protocols in relation to confidentiality.”
RESOLVED
That the motion stands referred to the Constitution Committee for consideration.
9 Proposed by Cllr B Murphy and seconded by Cllr P Edwards
Suspension of Employees Accused of Misconduct
In the light of apparent inconsistencies in the use of suspension for disciplinary offences, this Council calls for a review of its practices in this respect with particular reference to the criteria used to determine whether or not suspension is appropriate.
RESOLVED
That the motion stands referred to Cabinet for consideration.
10 Proposed by Cllr G Boston and Seconded by Cllr L Jeuda
Quality Care Commission Report – Learning Disability Services
On the 25th June 2012 the Care Quality Commissions (CQC) published the results of its damming National Review Report in to Learning disability services. It found over 50% of services inspected did not comply with CQC regulations and 27 of those services had safeguarding concerns identified.
In addition findings showed that “some assessment and treatment services are admitting people for long spells of time, and discharge arrangements are taking too long to arrange.”
Given that CQC have recommended:
· Commissioners need to urgently review the care plans for people in treatment and assessment services and identify and plan move on arrangements to the next appropriate service and care programme.
· Commissioners also need to review the quality of advocacy services being provided, particularly in those locations where we identified non-compliance with the standards.
Motion
“That Members are advised of any Cheshire East people placed in any of the services that have safe guarding issues and those people have their placements reviewed as a matter of urgency.
That Members are advised how many people are currently in treatment and assessment services and the length of time they have been there.
That Members are advised of the steps being taken to “urgently review the care plans for people in treatment and assessment services and identify and plan move on arrangements to the next appropriate service and care programme.”
That Members are advised when the review of the quality of advocacy services being provided, particularly in those locations where CQC identified non-compliance with the standards, will take place.”
RESOLVED
That the motion stands referred to Cabinet for consideration.
11 Proposed by Cllr G Boston and Seconded by K Edwards
Planning
“Cheshire East Council recognises and accepts that the decisions in relation to planning applications submitted to the Northern and Southern Planning committees and to the Strategic Planning Board should be left to the detailed consideration and decision by the members both individually and collectively of those Committees.
Those Committees are in a quasi judicial position and need to approach those decisions in an objective and fair manner in relation to considering how to decide such applications. Whilst recognising the right of individual councillors who are not on planning committee to express personal views, this Council rejects and deplores public comment from any Councillors especially the Leader of the Council who ought to be more careful with his comments, that might imply that decisions have been taken by the Council weeks or even months before the Planning Committees or Planning Board have met.
Council also agrees as a matter of urgency that all Members who have not already done so attend planning training whether or not they sit on the planning committee to ensure that in future inexperiencedElected Members whatever their role do not inadvertently compromise the Council.”
The Mayor stated that given the nature of the motion he had determined that it should be debated and disposed of at the meeting, in accordance with Constitutional rules. A debate on the motion therefore took place.
A note clarifying the rules on pre-determination was circulated to all Members of the Council at the meeting, at the request of the Leader of the Council, Cllr Michael Jones.
RESOLVED
The motion was not agreed by Council.
12 Proposed by Cllr L Jeuda and Seconded by Cllr G Boston
In proposing the motion Cllr Jeuda corrected the figure in respect of unclaimed pension credit from £2.8million to £2.8billion.
Benefit Awareness
A recent report by the WRVS, Ageing across Europe, has found that older people in the United Kingdom have the highest rates of loneliness and isolation than in Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. Many older people are living in poverty and this affects their life expectancy and risk of social isolation. Given that £2.8billion in Pension Credit goes unclaimed every year in the UK, whilst 1.8 million older people are living in poverty demands urgent action.
Motion
“This Council undertakes to conduct a campaign aimed at older people making them aware of benefits they are entitled to.
At the same time Cheshire East to provide additional funding to those organisations currently struggling to meet the demand for Benefits advice.”
RESOLVED
That the motion stands referred to Cabinet for consideration.
13 Proposed by Cllr D Druce and seconded by Cllr W Livesley
South Macclesfield Development Area
“This Council supports the development of South Macclesfield Development Area which would deliver many regeneration and wider benefits including a new link road connecting Congleton Road and Leek Road."
RESOLVED
That the motion stands referred to Cabinet for consideration.
Supporting documents:
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