Agenda and minutes

None.

Minute10 (Key Decision A34 Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley By Pass)

Councillors D Brickhill, P Findlow and P Mason declared personal and prejudicial interests by virtue of being Members of Cheshire County Council.  Councillors F Keegan and W Fitzgerald declared personal and prejudicial interests by virtue of owning properties in the area concerned.  In accordance with the Constitution they left the meeting during consideration of this item.

Minute 11 (Application for Consent – Queens Park, Crewe)

Councillors D Brickhill and B Silvester declared personal and prejudicial interests by virtue of being Members of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council.  In accordance with the Constitution they left the meeting during consideration of this item.

A total period of fifteen minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Cabinet on any matter relevant to the work of the Cabinet, subject to the Chairman’s discretion.

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.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes.

There were no public speakers.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2008.

RESOLVED

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2008 were approved as a correct record subject to Minute 1 (Declarations of Interest) being amended to refer to Councillor P, not D, Mason and to show that he was a Member of Cheshire County Council not Congleton Borough Council.

To consider the report of the Places Block Lead.

(Councillors D Brickhill, P Findlow, W Fitzgerald, F Keegan and P Mason had declared personal and prejudicial interests in this item.  In accordance with the Constitution they left the meeting during its consideration.  Councillor R Domleo took the Chair for this item.)

Councillor R Domleo in the Chair.

Consideration was given to a report by the Places Block Lead on the progress of this scheme, and on the decisions required for the A34 Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley By Pass at a critical stage of the works procurement.  Members received an update on the estimated costs of the scheme taking into account the latest information available.

In addition to the decisions requested in the report Cabinet was asked to give authorisation to the Lead Officer for the Joint implementation Team Council to sign the letter of assurance to the Department for Transport.    

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

1. That the decisions made by the Joint Committee on 15 April 2008 be confirmed.

2. That the progress of the scheme be noted.

3. That consent be given to Cheshire County Council to enter into the contracts for the main road/bridge works, Network Rail underbridge and other associated works.  This approval is required to satisfy the direction issued by DCLG under section 24 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 regarding contracts let by the existing authorities from 26 May 2008 onwards.

4. That confirmation be given that Cheshire East Council will oversee the contract by means of appointment of relevant personnel after 31 March 2009.

5. That the Lead Officer for Joint Implementation Team be authorised to send the appropriate assurance letter to the Department for Transport.

To consider an application for consent by the Places Block Lead Officer.

(Councillors D Brickhill and B Silvester had declared personal and prejudicial interests in this item.  In accordance with the Constitution they left the meeting during its consideration.)

Consideration was given to a report by the Places Block Lead advising Cabinet of the ongoing programme of restoration works at Queens Park, Crewe, and seeking consent to enter into a contract for bridge and lake works.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

That consent be given for Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council to enter into a contract with Wrekin Construction for Bridge and Lake works at Queens Park, Crewe, and for delegation of consent for future contracts connected with this programme  to be given to the Interim Chief Finance Officer of Cheshire East Council.

To consider a report of the Interim Chief Financial Officer.

Consideration was given to a report by the Interim Chief Finance Officer on the progress of work being undertaken to identify transitional costs and existing sources of funding.  The report also requested Cabinet to approve the expenditure in specified areas with the aim of achieving a total cost within the current projected maximums.

In response to a request by Members for further information on the summary of costs it was agreed that a more detailed breakdown be circulated to Cabinet Members.  The Portfolio Holder (Finance, HR, Legal and Democratic, IT) was therefore delegated to agree to the decision requested in the light of any comments received following the consideration by Members of the Cabinet of the more detailed figures. 

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report and as now given: -

That the progress on identifying transitional costs and existing sources of funding be noted and that the ongoing efforts to refine and where possible reduce costs be endorsed.

That the Portfolio Holder (Finance, HR, Legal and Democratic, IT) designate be given delegated powers to authorise the commencement/continuation of expenditure in the blocks and workstreams as requested in the report in the light of any further comments received from Members of the Cabinet. 

To consider a report of the Interim Chief Financial Officer,

Consideration was given to a report by the Interim Chief Finance Officer on the financial planning process for 2009 – 2010 and beyond.  The report set out an initial assessment of the financial responsibilities likely to be inherited by the Council and highlighted some of the key dependencies between the financial planning process and other workstreams, and the linkages with similar processes in Cheshire West and Chester.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

1. That approval be given to the high level financial planning process and the

      next steps as detailed in Appendix A.

2. That the initial assessment of the notional 2008-09 budget as detailed in

      Appendix B be noted.

3. That the key dependencies with other workstreams and with similar work in

      Cheshire West & Chester be noted.

To consider a report of the People Workstream Lead Officer.

Consideration was given to a report by the Cheshire East People Workstream Lead Officer on the national and local agendas for the integration of social care and health services, and on the direction of travel recommended in respect of the future commissioning and development of service delivery.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

1. That the general direction of travel towards greater integration of Social Care and Health be supported.

2. That it be supported as a fundamental design principle in putting together the Social Care services of the new Council.

3. That the Chairman of the People Workstream and the Chief Executive of the Primary Care Trust be requested to bring forward specific, detailed proposals in relation both to the commissioning and the delivery of services as and when appropriate, in pursuit of that direction of travel.

To consider a report of the People Block Lead Officer.

Consideration was given to a report by the People Block Lead Officer setting out the background and issues in relation to Children’s Trust arrangements from 1 April 2009 for both the East and West Cheshire areas.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

Having regard to 2.1 and 2.2 of the report that the principle of separate Shadow Trusts be approved to be set up before 1 April 2009 to enable continuity between current and future Trust arrangements, and in particular to advise each authority on the separate Children Plans and related targets that each authority has a duty to develop.

To consider a report of the Chairman of the Cheshire East People Workstream.

Consideration was given to a report by Chairman of the Cheshire East People Workstream on the Government’s plans to develop personalisation and to transform adult social care services.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

1. That the work done and under way to deliver Personalisation and Transformed Social Care Services for Adults be noted and endorsed.

2.      That agreement be given for further work to be carried out through the People Workstream to develop and deliver those agendas.

3.      That the implications of the Personalisation and Social Care Transformation agendas be considered and addressed by all the Directorates of the Cheshire East Unitary Council.

4. That the manager leading the People Directorate, in collaboration with appropriate Members and Officers, be required to work up recommendations for the use of the Social Care Reform Grant in 2009/10 and 2010/11, in the context of the Revenue Budget setting process.

To consider a report by the Places Block Lead on consultation responses to the Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration Review, and to the partial review of the Regional Spatial Strategy.

Consideration was given to a report by the Places Block Lead on current consultation exercises taking place on the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration, and on the Partial Review of the Spatial Strategy. 

The recommended response and a summary of key comments was attached to the report.  On the consultation on the partial review of the Regional Spatial Strategy members expressed concerns at the extremely short timescale of the consultation exercise and felt representations should be made about this to the Government Office North West an that the Local Government Association should be informed of those concerns.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

1. That the response to the Sub-National Review (SNR), formulated by the

      Sub-Regional Leaders at its meeting on 13 June, be endorsed.

2. That delegated authority be given to the Places Block Lead Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder (Prosperity) designate to respond to the partial review of the Regional Spatial Strategy on behalf of Cheshire East and to pass on the Cabinets concerns about the timescale as outlined above. 

To consider a report by the Policy Support Team on progress made against key milestones, and activities to be undertaken.

Consideration was given to a report by the Policy Support Team on progress made against key milestones, and on activities to be undertaken.  A further update was given on the milestones that were due to have been completed during May with HR matters now to be considered in July, and IT Knowledge/Management in June.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

That the report be noted. 

To note the proposed meeting dates for the Cabinet for 2008/09.

The proposed meeting dates for the remainder of 2008/09 were submitted.

RESOLVED

That the proposed meeting dates for 2008/09 be approved with the exception of the meeting on 31 March 2009 which would be rescheduled.