Agenda and minutes

The reverend Charles Razzall said prayers, at the request of the Chairman.

The Youth Mayor presented the Borough Charter to the Chief Executive.

To elect a Mayor for 2009/10, who will also act at Chairman of the Council.

Council was requested to elect a Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire East, who would

also act as Chairman of the Council for the year 2009/10 and the Chairman of the

Council for that period.

It was proposed by Councillor Councillor RWJ Fitzgerald and seconded by Councillor

B Silvester and :-

RESOLVED

That Councillor Mrs M Simon be elected Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire East for

the year 2009/10.

The Chief Executive escorted the Mayor into the meeting.

The Mayor completed her Declaration of Acceptance of Office and was then invested

with the Chain of Office.

The Mayor thanked the Council for electing her to this office and informed Members

that her husband, Maurice Simon was to be her consort and he was then invested

with the chain of office.

To elect a Deputy Mayor for 2009/10, who will also act as Vice-Chairman.

Council was requested to elect a Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire East for

the year 2009/10.

It was proposed by Councillor R Fletcher and seconded by Councillor P Edwards and

:-

RESOLVED

That Councillor G Baxendale be elected as Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Cheshire

East, who would also act as a Deputy Chairman of the Council, for the year 2009/10

and the Deputy Chairman of the Council for that period.

The Deputy Mayor thanked the Council for electing him to this office and indicated that

his wife, Felicity Baxendale, would act as his Deputy Mayoress and

she was then invested with the chain of office.

The Mayor indicated that the Reverend Charles Razzall would be

her Chaplain for the forthcoming year.

The Mayor invited the Chief Executive to address the Council and then invited the following people who had indicated they would like to speak to address the Council :-

Edward Timpson MP

Councillor A Arnold

Councillor D Flude

Christopher Edwards – Youth Mayor

For Council to agree that the meeting be adjourned until 6pm on 2 April, in order to deal with the remainder of business on the agenda.

Council then agreed that the meeting would stand adjourned until 2 April 2009, at 6pm,.

The reverend Charles Razzall said prayers, at the request of the Chairman.

For any additional apologies for absence to be given, over and above those already given.

For any additional declarations of Interest to be made.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2009 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive such announcements as may be made by Mayor.

The Mayor thanked everyone who had attended the Mayor Making Ceremony on the

previous day indicating that she hoped that everyone had enjoyed the occasion and

had taken the opportunity to visit the gardens and Mansion House and had spoken to

the Youth Mayor.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Committee on any matter relevant to the work of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research it would be helpful if questions were submitted at least one working day before the meeting.

Mr K Edwards used public speaking time to ask the following question to the Portfolio Holder for Performance and Capacity, Cllr David Brown, as summarised below:-

Cheshire East Unitary Authority has taken a very strong line on developing local democracy through the creation of 7 Local Area Partnerships. The overall development will be led by the Local Strategic Partnership. I understand democratic responsibility is going to be extended to these new areas through bringing together Cheshire East, the police, the health service, the emergency services, Town and Parish Councils, the Voluntary Sector and local business interests. The basic brief is to improve the lives of people living in those areas by making a positive difference to locally agreed priorities through united working, public engagement and where appropriate the devolution of services.

Will the Executive Member outline plans for introducing neighbourhood working, including describing the role foreseen for Town and Parish Councils at the strategic, tactical and operational levels, describing a timetable for the implementation of neighbourhood working and the necessary budgetary provision to underpin its early operation? If a full answer cannot be provided immediately I would be grateful to know when a full answer could be forthcoming.

Cllr David Brown in reply stated:-

I am grateful for the questioner’s support for the Council’s proposals for partnership working, which have been developed after extensive consultation with key stakeholders including Town and Parish Councils. All members have also had the chance to influence the roll out of these arrangements at two of the member development sessions held in March.

I expect to present a detailed report to Cabinet in May on how the partnership arrangements will work in practice. This will include active involvement of Town and Parish Councils representing as they do the level of local democracy closest to people. They will continue to develop their own local communities and be involved operationally/tactically in LAP’s and thematic groups.  Strategically they will also be involved in the new Local Strategic Partnership Assembly, which is a wider group which will be convened from time to time to explore strategic priorities.

Mr B Evans used public speaking time to ask the following questions to the Leader of the Council, as summarised below:-

(!) Why was Tatton Park chosen as the venue for the Council meeting, when it is inaccessible to the public, particularly by public transport. It needs to be ensured that public transport is a major input into the venue choice.

The Leader of the Council in reply stated:-

It is not the Council’s role to provide public transport. However, we do intend to try to improve the situation. We also intend to have our meetings in various places and will do all we can to improve public transport in the future.

(2) With reference to paragraph 11.6 on page 48 of the report relating to the Boundary Committee Electoral Review, which states that in due course the Charter Trustees will be replaced by Town Councils for Crewe and Macclesfield. If  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.

To consider the attached Notice of Motion, submitted by Councillor DA Neilson.

Consideration was given to the following Notice of Motion, proposed by Cllr David Neilson and seconded by Cllr John Goddard :-

“That this Council asks all contractors supplying services to Cheshire East, for a Assurance, that they will not use companies that sell illegal, sensitive personal data, like “TheConsulting Association”, to vet potential staff”.

RESOLVED

That the motion stands referred to Cabinet.

To consider the attached Notice of Motion, submitted by Councillor S Jones.

Consideration was given to the following Notice of Motion, proposed by Cllr S Jones and seconded by Cllr A Arnold:-

“That this Council recognises the significant  work undertaken by the councils forming Cheshire East towards gaining Fairtrade Status.  That this Council will set up a member working group to carry forward the Fairtrade agenda  and the promotion of Fairtrade products within council premises to achieve Fairtrade status for Cheshire East”.

Amendment

An amendment, to replace the above wording with the following wording was moved by Cllr RWJ Fitzgerald and seconded by Cllr P Mason and was declared carried:-

“This Council generally supports Fair Trade principles and requests that an appropriate report be brought forward in due course”.

RESOLVED

That the motion, as amended, stands referred to Cabinet.

To consider the attached Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor R Fletcher.

Consideration was given to the following Notice of Motion, proposed by Councillor R Fletcher and seconded by Councillor D Nielson :-

Council regrets that Cheshire East is not one of the eighty listed  authorities that have signed up to the Sustainable Communities Act.  THIS ACT HAS ALL PARTY SUPPORT.  The philosophy behind the act being that as there are so many centrally imposed duties on councils, accepting this act will enable them to be more accountable to their electorate on a local basis.  Council asks the Cabinet to reconsider their position and sign up to the act for the benefit of the people of Cheshire East. 

Amendment

An amendment to replace the above wording with the following wording was moved by Cllr D Brown and seconded by Cllr B Silvester and was declared carried:-

This Council supports the principle of the Sustainable Communities Act 2008 and requests the Council’s officers to bring forward a report at a future date.

RESOLVED

That the motion, as amended, stand referred to Cabinet.

To Elect a Leader of the Council.

Council was requested to elect a Leader of the Council.

It was moved by Councillor A Knowles and seconded by Councillor D Topping and:-

RESOLVED

That Councillor RWJ Fitzgerald be elected as Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Council to present to Council the appointments made to the Cabinet and the functions delegated to them.

The Leader of the Council presented to Council the appointments made to the Cabinet

and the functions delegated to Cabinet Members, as set out in Appendix A, attached.

He proposed that these be noted.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor B Silvester.

RESOLVED

That the appointments made to Cabinet and the functions delegated to Cabinet

Members, as set out in Appendix A, attached be noted.

To determine the political representation on the Council’s Committees.

It was moved by Councillor RWJ Fitzgerald and seconded by Councillor B Silvester and:-

RESOLVED

1.      That the political group representation, as set out in Appendices One and Two to the report and the methods, calculations and conventions used in arriving at them as outlined in the report be adopted.

To determine the memberships, chairmanships and vice chairmanships of the Council’s decision-making bodies and the appointment of those bodies.

It was moved by Councillor RWJ Fitzgerald and seconded by Councillor B Silvester and:-

RESOLVED

1.That the bodies, as listed in Appendix Two of the previous agenda report and their Memberships, as circulated at the meeting and attached at Appendix B, be appointed; and

2. The Chairman and a Vice Chairman be appointed for each of these bodies, in accordance with the circulated material and as set out in Appendix B. 

To approve the Calendar of Meetings for 2009/2010.

Consideration was given to the Calendar of Meetings for 2009/10. An amended version of the Calendar was circulated at the meeting.

It was proposed by Councillor RWJ Fitzgerald and seconded by Councillor B Silvester and:-

RESOLVED

That the amended version of the Calendar of Meetings for 2009/2010, as circulated at the meeting, be approved.

To consider and approve the Submission on Council size to the Boundary Committee, prepared by the Task Group, in particular the proposal for the future number of Members for Cheshire East Council.

                      Council was requested to consider and approve the Submission on Council size to the Boundary Committee, prepared by the Task Group of Shadow Council members, set up to consider this matter, in particular the proposal for the future number of Members for Cheshire East Council.

                         An addendum to the report was circulated at the meeting, which stated that, at the same time as the Council agenda was published, Town and Parish Councils were consulted on the Council size paper. Representations received

                                 to date included general queries and concerns about the short consultation

                                 period (dictated by the Boundary Committee’s timetable) and more specifically, Poynton Parish Council was recommending a Council size of 95 Members, Stapeley and District Parish Council was suggesting of the order of 140 Members,Church Minshull & Barthomley Parish Councils were broadly supportive of the 82 member proposal as et out in the submission.

   It was proposed to add for greater clarity at the end of paragraph 10.6 of the proposed submission under the Local and Partnership working heading the following additional wording.

“The provisional number of councillors for each LAP area which would allow for nesting of ward boundaries within LAPs would be

Congleton                 21

Crewe                        17

Knutsford                      6

Macclesfield             16

Nantwich                      8

Poynton                        6

Wilmslow                      8

                                 82”

It was also noted that paragraph 11.6 needed to be amended to state that in due course the Charter Trustees “may be” replaced by Town Councils for both areas and not “will be”. The proposer and seconder also agreed that paragraph 8.2 of the submission should be deleted.

It was proposed by Councillor RWJ Fitzgerald and seconded by  Councillor P Mason and:-

  RESOLVED

 That, subject to the above amendments, the Submission on Council size to the 

 Boundary Committee, prepared by the Task Group, in particular the proposal

 for the future number of Members for Cheshire East Council be approved.

          To consider the report and recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and if appropriate, to adopt the recommendations of the Panel on the Member Allowances Scheme to apply to the Council for 2009/10.

Council was requested to consider the report and recommendations of the

Independent Remuneration Panel and, if appropriate, to adopt the recommendations

of the Panel on the Member Allowances Scheme, to apply to the Council for 2009/10.

In addition to the report and recommendations outlined within in it, the Independent

Remuneration Panel had considered several other matters and had made further

recommendations and comments, including upon the introduction of Cabinet Support

Members. The Panel had been provided with a proposed “job description” but found

it difficult to assess the time and commitment required in these posts. The Panel also

felt that it might be difficult for individual Members to provide support to all of the

Cabinet portfolios rather than specific ones given the breadth of knowledge involved.

However, should the Council choose to appoint these posts then the SRA be

recommended in a range between a gearing of 0.5 and 0.65 of the basic allowance.

The Leader of the Council proposed that a gearing of 0.4, amounting to £ 4480,

should be applied for Cabinet Support Members, to be appointed by the Leader.

It was proposed by Councillor RWJ Fitzgerald and seconded by Councillor B Silvester

and:-

RESOLVED

That the recommendations of the Panel on the Member Allowances Scheme, to apply to the Council for 2009/10, be adopted, subject to a gearing of 0.4 amounting to £ 4480,being applied to Cabinet support Members, to be appointed by the Leader.

.

In accordance with Procedure Rules 11, opportunity is provided for Members of the Shadow Council to ask the Chairman, the appropriate Cabinet Member or the Chairman of a Committee any question about a matter which the Shadow Council, the Cabinet or the Committee has powers, duties or responsibilities.

Questions must be sent in writing to the Interim Monitoring Officer at least 3 clear working days before the meeting.

No questions were submitted.