Agenda and minutes

Councillor S Wilkinson said prayers, at the request of the Mayor.

RESOLVED

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

To receive such announcements as may be made by the Mayor.

The Mayor :-

(1) Extended a warm welcome to a new member of our Corporate Management Team, Interim Borough Solicitor, Caroline Elwood and reported that Caroline had over 30 years' experience in local government, holding senior legal positions at Sefton Council, Salford City Council, Vale Royal Borough Council and Preston City Council. Caroline replaced Chris Chapman, who left the authority to commence his new role at Herefordshire Council.

(2) Announced that, in early November, Cheshire East had the privilege of hosting three Homecoming Parades for the 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire) and that It had been a wonderful sight to see over 500 soldiers marching through the streets of Macclesfield, Crewe and Congleton and to witness the wonderful reception they received from the public. There had been some really positive feedback from The Mercians and the Mayor thanked all those who had supported the events and stated that, hopefully, next year the regiment would be visiting some of the other towns in Cheshire East. 

(3) Following on the military theme, the Mayor reported that, as a fundraiser for his charity, the Army Benevolent Fund, he had organised a Dress Down Friday for staff at Cheshire East.  During the day he had visited Macclesfield Town Hall, Dalton House, Emperor Court, Delemere House and Westfields and was delighted to report that a fantastic £638.39 had been raised for the charity.

(4) Announced that, in the previous month, the Council had published a “What’s on in Cheshire East” guide, which was funded by the Cheshire East Economic Recovery Task Group. The 16 page guide highlighted all the activities and events taking place across Cheshire East’s towns during the festive season. If Members hadn’t already received a copy they were available to collect after the meeting.

(5) Announced that that the Council had also published a 2011 ‘Open Air’ calendar, put together by the Council’s Rangers, which featured some stunning photos taken by staff, showing Cheshire East throughout the seasons. The calendar also promoted events and activities in the 2011 Open Air programme. It was a perfect stocking filler and Members could obtain copies for £2.50 each from the Visitor Information Centre at the Town Hall, in Macclesfield.

(6) Announced that the grand opening of the £52m Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley bypass had taken place on 19 November, almost a century after the first plans were drawn up. The three-mile route, one of the biggest current highway schemes in the North West, was officially opened by the Right Honourable George Osborne, MP for Tatton. More than 150 invited guests had attended the ceremony, followed by a tour of the bypass and a celebratory lunch at Festival Hall, Alderley Edge. The Mayor congratulated all those involved in what has been an incredibly complex and demanding engineering project, undertaken by contractor, Birse Civils and was completed more that six months early. This represented an excellent example of partnership working.

(7) As this was the last meeting before the end of the year and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

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

Councillor Fletcher declared a personal interest in item 14 of the agenda, relating to the Wilmslow Community Governance Review, by virtue of the fact that his wife was related to one of the people involved in lobbying for a Parish Council for Styal.

Councillor Flude declared a personal interest in the item relating to questions, by virtue of the fact that she was a member of the Alzheimer’s Society and of the Central Cheshire Advocacy for People with Learning Difficulties.

Also, personal interests were declared by all Members of the Council in respect of item 11 of the agenda, in view of the fact that the Item related to the rights and privileges of Members and Aldermen.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 35 and Appendix 7 to the rules, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to speak at Council meetings. 

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.

Members of the public must provide 3 clear working days notice, in writing, if they wish to ask a question at the meeting.  It is not a requirement to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours notice is encouraged.

There were no members of the public present, wishing to use the public speaking facility.

To consider the attached Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor S Jones, in accordance with Procedure Rule 12.

Consideration was given to the following Notice of Motion, submitted by Councillor Shirley Jones :-

Fairtrade is an alternative approach to international trade.  It is a trading partnership which aims at sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers.  It seeks to do this by providing better trading conditions  by awareness raising and by campaigning.

Cheshire East Council has already resolved to support Fairtrade in principle, but must develop a strategy, if it wishes to formally acquire Fairtrade status for the Borough. This would be achieved by :-

i) continuing to offer Fairtrade marked food such as tea, coffee and sugar internally for meetings and functions.

ii) promoting the Fairtrade Mark using Fairtrade Foundation materials in refreshment areas keeping our commitment to value for money in mind.

ii)  promoting the Fairtrade Towns initiative in internal communications and external newsletters.

iv)  encourage  towns,  schools, businesses, faith groups and voluntary organisations in the Borough to promote  Fairtrade

v) use its influence to urge local retailers to provide Fairtrade options for the residents of the borough

vi) participating in community activities during Fairtrade Fortnight .

vii)   setting up a Steering Group in partnership with Fairtrade organisations in the Borough, representatives of businesses, not for profit organisations , schools and other public bodies to oversee this strategy.

Therefore, Council is requested to consider taking these steps in order to acquire Fairtrade status.

RESOLVED

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendation of the Constitution Committee,  proposing the appointment of two Local Service Delivery Committees for the unparished parts of Crewe and Macclesfield respectively.

RESOLVED

(1)   That a Local Service Delivery (Crewe) Committee be constituted on a 5/1/1 membership basis, with all other local Members being invited to participate, with the arrangements being reviewed in May 2011.

(2)   a Local Service Delivery (Macclesfield) Committee be similarly constituted;

(3)   the powers of each committee be:

“To make representations to Cabinet and Council about the delivery of local services in the area and to monitor local services where a town or parish council acting under local devolution arrangements would have been expected to do so (but not otherwise).”

To consider the recommendation from Constitution Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendation from the Constitution Committee regarding the Calendar of Meetings 2011/12.

RESOLVED

That the Calendar of Meetings for the municipal year 2011/12 be approved and that the starting time of Council meetings be included on the agenda for the first meeting of the new Council in May 2011.

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution Committee.

Consideration was given to the report back from the Constitution Committee on the Notice of Motion relating to the Crewe Community Governance Review. 

Rather than conducting Community Governance Reviews in a piecemeal fashion, it had been suggested that the Constitution Committee may wish to take a more holistic approach by considering the needs of the Borough as a whole. The Committee, had, therefore, recommended that Council defer any further consideration of the subject matter of the Motion until after the May 2011 elections.

RESOLVED

That any further consideration of the subject matter of the Motion be deferred until after the May 2011 elections, at which time Council also be asked urgently to consider undertaking a holistic Borough-wide review of community governance arrangements in Cheshire East.

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendation from Constitution Committee on the rights and privileges to be extended to Honorary Aldermen and Freemen of the Borough.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the rights and privileges of all Cheshire East Honorary Aldermen and Freemen be extended to include:

a.     Admission tickets to the Cheshire County Show and the RHS Flower Show, provided for by the Council, for themselves and one guest;

b.      A life Pass for Tatton Park, provided for by the Council;

(2)  That the rights and privileges of all Cheshire East Members be extended to include:

a.      Admission tickets to the Cheshire County Show and the RHS Flower Show, provided for by the Council for themselves and one guest;

b.      A pass for Tatton Park provided for by the Council for Members on Council business.

(3)  That  the organising committee for the Cheshire County Show, with the support of Cheshire East Council, be invited to consider the reintroduction of a lunch for civic and other dignitaries on a similar basis to that organised by the former County Council, with tickets being offered to Cheshire East Honorary Aldermen and Freemen, Members or other local dignitaries on the basis that the cost of the tickets would be met by those invited.

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendation from Constitution Committee on options for future executive arrangements for Cheshire East Council.

RESOLVED

That

(1)   the outcome of the public consultation exercise undertaken between 1^st October and 12^th November 2010 on the options for future executive arrangements for Cheshire East Council be noted;

(2)   the new Strong Leader and Cabinet model of governance be adopted by the Council, this to be brought into effect at the beginning of the next municipal year, subject to any subsequent amending legislation;

(3)   the Borough Solicitor be authorised to amend the Constitution as necessary, to give effect to the decision of Council; and

(4)   those who responded to the public consultation exercise be notified of the Council’s decision at the appropriate time.

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendation from Constitution Committee on a proposed revision to the scheme for dealing with petitions, to include provision for e-petitions.

RESOLVED

That the Petitions Scheme be amended to include the additional section dealing with e-petitions, as set out in Appendix A to the Constitution Committee report and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution Committee.

Consideration was given to the recommendations from the Constitution Committee, following the second stage of public consultation in respect of the Wilmslow Community Governance Review.

In moving the recommendations, Cllr Findlow, the Chairman of the Constitution Committee, thanked all those who had been involved in the work of the Sub-Committee for their hard work.

RESOLVED

Having taken into account all responses made during the Second Stage of consultation and the recommendations of the Constitution Committee and having regard to the need to ensure that Community Governance within the area reflects the identities and interests of the Community, and is effective and convenient, that Council’s recommendations made on 22^nd July 2010 be reaffirmed, and that:

(1)   having regard to comparator information for Parish Councils in Cheshire East, and having regard to electoral equality, three new parishes be created and the number of Councillors to serve on each of the new Parish Councils be as follows:

a. Handforth: 7 Councillors

b. Styal: 7 Councillors

c. Wilmslow: 15 Councillors

(2)   four wards be created for the Wilmslow Parish and named as follows, to provide as far as possible coterminous boundaries for electoral purposes:

i. Wilmslow West (comprising 5 Councillors: polling districts 8FH1, 8FJ1, 8FG1, 8FC1, 8FA1(part), 8FB1(part), 8FD1(part);

ii. Lacey Green (comprising 2 Councillors: polling districts 8EK1, 8EA1(part), 8FD1(part);

iii. Dean Row (comprising 4 Councillors: polling districts 8EA1(part), 8EB1, 8EC1, 8ED1, 8EE1); and

iv .Wilmslow East (comprising 4 Councillors: polling districts 8FD1(part), 8FA1(part), 8FB1(part), 8FE1, 8FF1)

(3)   three wards be created for the Handforth Parish and named as follows:

i. Handforth West (comprising 3 Councillors: polling districts 8EG1, 8EJ1)

ii.Handforth East (comprising 2 Councillors: polling district 8EH1); and

iii.Handforth South (comprising 2 Councillors: polling district 8EF1)

(4)   accordingly, and subject to the following, the detailed provisions of the draft Cheshire East Borough Council (Re-organisation  of Community Governance) Order 2011, as submitted to the meeting be approved  and that the Borough Solicitor be authorised to issue the Order and to make any necessary technical and detailed amendments as may be required:

a.     the transitional arrangements for the proposed town and parish councils be dealt with by the Wilmslow Community Governance Review Sub-Committee in consultation with relevant local Ward Members; and

b.     the proposed budgets for the first year of the new councils be as follows:

Wilmslow Parish Council   -   £244,275 Indicative Council tax of

£23.00 per Band D property

Handforth Parish Council   -    £85,000 Indicative Council tax of

£28.00 per Band D property

Styal Parish Council           -      £8,200 Indicative Council tax of

£28.00 per Band D property

(5)   in accordance with Section 96 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, the Borough Solicitor be authorised to make the necessary arrangements to publicise the outcome of the Community Governance Review.     

To consider the recommendation from the Resources Portfolio Holder Meeting.

Consideration was given to the recommendation from Resources Portfolio Holder relating to the setting of the Council Tax Base.

RESOLVED

That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount to be calculated by Cheshire East Council as its Council Tax Base for the year 2011/12 is:

for the whole area – 146,899.21 

for each Parish area as set out in Appendix A to the report submitted to the Resources Portfolio Holder and to Council.

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

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

The following questions had been submitted :-

(1)     Lyceum Theatre Crewe

Cllr Thorley had submitted the following question :-

The report by FMG Consulting, Review of the Operations and Operating Models the Lyceum Theatre.

Will the Portfolio Holder Health and Wellbeing inform this Council of the source of the funding recently found to enable the Theatre to continue to operate?

Response

Cllr Knowles, the Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, undertook to provide a written response to the question, to all Members.

(2)     The proposed closure of the Information Offices located at the Bus Stations in Macclesfield and Crewe.

Cllr Flude had submitted the following question :-

Can this Council be assured that a Equality Impact Assessment has been carried out?

In relation to:

People with sight impairment and people who are blind.

People who are deaf.

People who have a learning difficulty.

People who have a physical disability

What cooperation has taken place within this council’s Adult Services Travel Trainers and the Places Directorate?

Response

Cllr Knowles, undertook to ensure that a written response to question be provided to all Members, on behalf of Cllr Macrae, the Prosperity Portfolio Holder.

(3)     The Information Point at Macclesfield Bus Station

Cllr Arnold had submitted the following question :-

The information point at Macclesfield bus station is well used by the travelling public In Macclesfield. The staff maintain the general upkeep of the station and help prevent A.S.B. They also ensure that the toilet facilities are kept well maintained, all important elements in encouraging public transport use. Given the wealth of opposition by bus users and other groups to the proposed withdrawal of staff from bus station, could  I ask if the Cabinet Member has reviewed the proposed closure of the information point and if in light of this opposition, he is now seeking alternative options for savings, other than the loss of staff at the bus station?

Response

Cllr Knowles responded on behalf of Cllr Macrae, the Prosperity Portfolio Holder, as follows :-

“ We examined a variety of alternative savings proposals prior to considering the proposed closure of the information offices in both Crewe and Macclesfield Bus Stations.  Whilst the service offered by the two information points has always been of a high standard – and therefore valued by the travelling public – there has been a decline in usage in recent years as others sources of travel information have become more widely used.  For example, the number of hits on the council’s transport information pages on the website exceed 25,000 a year, with over 1,000 unique downloads of bus timetables each month – more than 30 a day – and these sources of information are growing significantly with each passing month.

I accept that not every person has easy access to the internet yet; so we have put in place plans for a direct link to the Traveline telephone information service. This service – which will be free to use for the general public – will provide up to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.

The Leader reported to Council upon two matters as follows

1.      The first announcement related to recent Cabinet changes. The former Portfolio Holder for Resources was no longer a Cabinet member and the Leader had assumed responsibility for all Resources Portfolio responsibilities and powers.

2.      The second announcement related to urgent action taken under Council Procedure Rules 18 & 25 of the Constitution on 27^th October. The Leader was required to inform Council of Key Decisions taken during the previous quarter, where it had not been possible to include details on the Forward Plan.  There had been one such decision during the last quarter, this relating to the acquisition of land at Crewe.  Members had received separate notification of this matter, on 29^th October.  As the matter was, commercially sensitive the Leader did not provide further details.  However, the Leader referred to correspondence already sent out to Members, which provided further information and that they should, therefore, rely upon this if more detail was needed.