Agenda and minutes

The Mayor referred to the recent tragedy that taken place on the previous Friday in Bosley. She called upon the Leader of the Council to provide an  update on this terrible event.

Following his update the Leader asked Members of the Council to thank all the emergency and other services who had assisted throughout  the tragedy  for their efforts, by way of applause, following which he handed over to the Chief Fire Officer, Paul Hancock, to address Council. He, in turn, thanked all the services for their support.

The Mayor then called upon her Chaplain to say prayers and this was followed by a minutes silence, in memory of those who had lost their lives in the tragedy.

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.

To approve the minutes of the Annual meeting of Council, held on 27 May 2015, as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That subject to an amendment to the minutes to correct a typographical error at minute number 14 to state that Cllr C Browne was nominated as Vice-chairman of the Northern Planning Committee and not Chairman of the Committee, the minutes be approved as a correct record

The Mayor:-

1.    Informed Members  of the death, on 11 July, of Honorary Alderman Alan Barnes. Mr Barnes was a former Cheshire County Councillor and served the Cheshire community for many years. The Mayor asked Members to join her in sending condolences to his family. As Council had already observed a period of silence at the meeting, she asked Members to pause for a moment to reflect on the life of Alan Barnes.

2.    Informed Members that, since the Mayor Making ceremony in May she and the Deputy Mayor had attended over 50 events. Details of these had been circulated around the Chamber.

3.    Stated that one of the joys of being Mayor was that she got to meet a very wide range of individuals and organisations and that her first two months in post had not let her down. At the Cheshire Show, she had had the privilege of welcoming HRH, the Countess of Wessex to Cheshire East. Two days later she had welcomed HRH, the Princess Royal to a Home Farm Trust event, at Arley Hall. She had attended charity, artistic and social events across the Borough and further afield and had received a very warm welcome on all occasions.

4.    Informed Members that she was delighted that the Tatton garden at the RHS Flower Show had won a Silver Gilt medal and the Connecting Cheshire garden a silver medal. These were tremendous achievements and those Members who had attended the Show would appreciate just how high the standard of the gardens were.

5.    Reported that it had been a great pleasure for either she or the Deputy Mayor to attend civic services in Chester, Halton, Alderley Edge, Macclesfield and Poynton. Her own Civic Service would be held at 11.00am on Sunday, 20 September, at St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield. She hoped that as many Members as possible would be able to attend and asked that Members make a note of the date. Formal invitations would be sent out very shortly. 

6.    Thanked those Members who had been able to join her at either of the two lunches that she had recently hosted. It had been good to meet both newly elected colleagues and those she had known for some time.

Mrs J Bennett used public speaking time to address Council concerning the closure of the Hollins View Care Home and the number of respite beds in Cheshire East.

Mrs P Newns, a past carer, used public speaking time to give her views on the closure of Hollins View and other respite care services and to talk about  the care facilities she had used when caring for her husband.

Mrs S Dykes used public speaking time address Council regarding the approach to strategic planning. She referred to the Northern Powerhouse/ Liverpool Superport and stated that she would like to see a different approach to strategic planning, with a better balance of open space, jobs, housing and comparison shopping.

Mrs C Peters Rock used public speaking time to present a petition, containing over 4,000 signatures, set up by Cheshire Area For Cheshire Action, asking for the reopening for local public use of public intermediate care and dementia care, respite and assessment care and ancillary facilities.

Mrs S Helliwell used public speaking time to address Council regarding item 10 of the agenda, relating to proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution.

Mr D Wood used public speaking time to request Cabinet and  relevant Scrutiny Committee, when considering the issue of respite care, that they  consider that this is not for only planned short stays, but also for unplanned short stays.

To endorse the appointment of Ms Kath O’Dwyer, as the Director of Children’s Services and to note her position as Deputy Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report regarding the appointment of he Director of Children's Services and Deputy Chief Executive.

The Staffing Committee had met on 11 June and unanimously agreed to the appointment of Ms Kath O’Dwyer, with a requirement for the Chief Executive to finalise the offer for full Council.

Subsequently Group Leaders had been consulted on the offer, and met with their Groups to consider the matter, and had been supportive.

Resolved

That the appointment of Ms Kath O’Dwyer, as the Director of Children’s Services, on a salary of £135,000 per annum be endorsed and her position as Deputy Chief Executive be noted.

To approve the recommendations as set out in the report.

(The Mayor stated that there were a number of officers present a the meeting who were directly affected by this report and asked whether Members were content for the officers to remain in the meeting. This was agreed. The Mayor reported that the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer would not advise the meeting on this issue.  The Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer stood aside from the dais and took no part in the meeting.

Consideration was given to a report, setting out proposals to further refine the Council’s senior management structure as a result of a review and a need to better align responsibilities within the senior management structure to deliver the Council’s priorities and all within a reduced funding envelope for senior management. 

It was  reported that the Council had previously delivered over £5M of management savings and would continue to ensure that costs of supervision and management were lean and kept under constant review to deliver value for residents as part of the service and financial planning work. Seeking greater synergies and continued alignment of responsibilities to reduce cost, improve productivity and efficiency would be an ongoing requirement. 

As referred to in the previous minute, the Staffing Committee had agreed to the appointment of Ms Kath O’Dwyer and had noted her appointment as Deputy Chief Executive.

RESOLVED

1.    That the appointment of Ms Kath O’Dwyer, as the Director of Children’s Services and to note her position as Deputy Chief Executive be noted.

2.    That the following recommendations be approved, at a reduced net overall cost for senior leadership and management:-

·         Delete the role Executive Director, Strategic Commissioning.

·         Transfer the client and strategic commissioning and other functions and posts from the Executive Director, Strategic Commissioning role to the Chief Operating Officer.

·         The reporting line for the roles of Director of Children’s Services and Deputy Chief Executive, Director of Public Health, and Director of Adult Services and Independent Living will remain reporting directly to the Chief Executive.

·         The amendment of the remuneration of the Chief Operating Officer to an inclusive salary of £135,000 per annum in recognition of additional responsibilities with effect from July 2015.

·         The amendment of the remuneration of the Executive Director, Economic Growth and Prosperity to an inclusive salary of £120,000 per annum in recognition of additional responsibilities with effect from July 2015.

·         The amendment of the remuneration of the Head of Legal Services, and Monitoring Officer role to an inclusive salary of £90,000 per annum with effect from April 2015.

·         The amendment of the remuneration of the Director of Adult Services and Independent Living to an inclusive salary of £110,000 per annum with effect from July 2015.

·         The mandating of the Chief Executive to review senior management pay including the performance related pay (PRP) elements in the contracts for senior managers currently in receipt of PRP, with the proviso that the overall pay bill for the most senior managers must decrease.

·         The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To consider the recommendations from Cabinet.

Cabinet, at its meeting on 21 July 2015, had considered a report setting out the Council’s continuing improved performance for 2014/15, and highlighting the latest progress towards achieving the Council’s Residents First Outcomes as described in the Council’s three year plan 2013 to 2016. Permanent savings of £5m in management costs had been achieved from 2013/14 to 2014/15.   

Cabinet had approved a number of recommendations, as set out in the Cabinet report and had requested that Council approve fully funded supplementary capital estimates and virements above £1,000,000 in accordance with Finance Procedure Rules, as set out in Appendix 7 of the Cabinet report; and the creation of earmarked reserves of £4.9m, as set out in Appendix 12 of the Cabinet report.

  RESOLVED

1.  That fully funded supplementary capital estimates and virements above £1,000,000, as set out in Appendix 7 of the Cabinet report be approved, in accordance with Finance Procedure Rules.

2.    That the creation of earmarked reserves of £4.9m, as set out in Appendix 12 of the Cabinet report be approved.

To consider the recommendations from the Constitution Committee.

The Leader of the Council stated that he considered that this matter required further cross party discussion and proposed that a cross party Task and Finish Group be established to give consideration to this issue.

RESOLVED

That this item be deferred and that a cross party Task and Finish Group be established to consider this issue and a further report be submitted to the next meeting of Council, to take place on 22 October 2015.

To receive the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report.

Consideration was given to the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2014/15.

In proposing the report, Cllr Margaret Simon paid tribute to the work of the late Cllr Phil Hoyland, for the work that he had carried out as Chairman of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Mayor thanked all the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairman for their work during the past year.

RESOLVED

That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2014/15 be received, noted and placed on the Council’s website.

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

The Leader of the Council announced the delivery of the second wave of companies to be attracted to the new science hub at Alderley Park, creating more jobs in the area. He also reported that more jobs would be created at the Astra Zeneca site in Hursdfield, Macclesfield.

He also announced  that a company had come forward, who were working with the Council to deliver jobs at Radway Green, Alsager.

He would have further detailed announcements to make at the October meeting of Council.

No Notices of Motion had been submitted.

Members asked the following questions:-

Cllr S Carter, in respect of Hurdsfield Library – The Leader of the Council, Cllr M Jones responded.

Cllr D Flude, in respect of ring fencing of the independent living fund – The Adults, Health and Leisure Portfolio Holder, Cllr J Clowes responded.

Cllr Corcoran, in respect of the Health and Wellbeing Board - The Leader of the Council, Cllr M Jones responded.

Cllr Rhoda Bailey, in respect of how MAELR highway improvements would be funded in the future – The Highways Portfolio Holder,Cllr D Brown, responded.

Cllr J Jackson in respect of the living wage - The Leader of the Council, Cllr M Jones responded.

Cllr S Gardiner in respect of the Graduates Award Ceremony - The Leader of the Council, Cllr M Jones responded.

Cllr H Davenport in respect of the cost of implementing a feasibility study to ascertain whether it would be possible to bring forward improvements to the A6 in Disley  - The Highways Portfolio Holder,Cllr D Brown responded.

Cllr G Barton, in respect of recent improvements to highway safety in Wilmslow and asking what progress had been made in the process to introduce a 20mph speed limit near to schools - The Highways Portfolio Holder,Cllr D Brown responded.

Cllr M Deakin in respect of brownfield sites earmarked for development in Alsager - The Leader of the Council, Cllr M Jones responded.

Cllr A Moran, in respect of progress on the Local Plan – The Children and Families Portfolio Holder, Cllr Rachel Bailey responded.

Cllr Murray, in respect of the Transport Research Laboratory research into reducing average speed limits and also in respect of the Poynton relief road – The Highways Portfolio Holder,Cllr D Brown responded.