Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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

Members gave a general declaration of personal interest in respect of items on the agenda where an individual member was a Member of Cheshire County Council and/or one of the Borough Councils or Parish Councils.  In accordance with the Code of Conduct they remained in the meeting during consideration of these items.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a total period of 10 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.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2009.

RESOLVED

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 February were approved as a correct record.

To recommend to Cabinet that Members be made aware of their duties under the DCSF Transformation of Services – ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children and their Families’, and endorse the proposals being put in place to take this forward.

Cabinet gave consideration to this report which outlined their duties under the Department for Children Schools and Families Transformation of Services programme ‘Aiming High for Disabled Children’.  It was reported that the People Advisory Panel had considered the matter the previous day and had revised the recommendations being made to Cabinet; these were reported by the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and were agreed by the Cabinet. 

RESOLVED

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

1. That Cabinet welcome the Aiming High Initiative for the recognition which it gives to the distinctive needs of disabled children and for the new resources which are to be made available to help address them.

2. That steps be taken to ensure that Aiming High is effectively incorporated into the structure of Cheshire East Council and that appropriate Governance arrangements be put in place.

3. That steps be taken to ensure that services for children and families and services for adults are required to work together on the implementation of Aiming High and particularly to ensure that the issue of transition is addressed at the design stage and not as an afterthought.

To consider whether the Council should make an annual determination in respect of its powers to make awards to students.

Consideration was given to this report which requested that the Cabinet make an annual determination in respect of their powers to make awards to students.  This was in accordance with the Local Education Authority (Post Compulsory Education Awards) Regulations 1999, which requires Local Education Authorities make an annual determination before the start of the following financial year.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

That the Council does not take up the power to grant discretionary awards for the 2009/10 academic year.

To consider the draft ICT Strategy for Cheshire East.

Consideration was given to the draft Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Strategy prior to it progressing to publication.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

That the draft ICT Strategy be endorsed for publication.

To outline arrangements for making appointments to the Category 1 list of outside organisations, appointments to take effect from 1^st April 2009.

Consideration was given to appointments to be made to the Category 1 list of outside organisations, with effect from 1 April 2009.  Category 1 being top level strategic organisations at national, regional and local level such as the Fire Authority and the Police Authority.

At the meeting it was reported that since the publication of the agenda a number of amendments had been made to the Schedule and these were reported as follows: -

RESOLVED

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

1. That subject to the above amendments approval be given for appointments to be made to the Category 1 schedule of outside organisations as detailed in the appendix to the report.

2. That the appointments commence on 1 April 2009.

3. That all appointments be made for a 2-year term of office, terminating in May 2011.

To note the progress made and the steps to be taken for the next reporting period.

Cabinet was requested to note the progress of the Local Government Reorganisation Programme with particular focus on customer access and staffing issues.  Achievements made within the reporting period and steps to be taken were highlighted.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

That the report be noted and that the steps to be taken in the next period be recognised.

To receive a report on a S24 Specific Consent issued under delegated powers since the last Cabinet meeting in respect of Brine Leas.

 Consideration was given to the report of the Monitoring Officer and the Chief Finance Officer on a Section 24 Consent issued under delegated powers since the last meeting in respect of Brine Leas for a capital scheme to develop post 16 provision at Brine Leas High School in Nantwich. 

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

That the report be noted.

In accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 the Chairman has agreed to allow consideration of this report as an item of urgent business due to the importance and complex nature of the continuing negotiations; the need to finalise arrangements by 1 April 2009 make it essential that Cabinet receive the most current position statement available at the date of the meeting.

To consider the progress made in collaborating with Cheshire West and Chester Council on the delivery of a number of shared services.

In accordance with Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 the Chairman agreed to allow consideration of this report as an item of urgent business due to the importance and complex nature of the continuing negotiations; the need to finalize arrangements by 1 April 2009 made it essential that Cabinet receive the most current position statement available at the date of the meeting.

Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Treasurer and Head of Assets on progress made in collaborating with Cheshire West and Chester Council to deliver a number of the Council’s functions on a shared basis.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report: -

1. That the list of services and functions to be shared (Appendix 1) including the proposed allocation of host and non-host for each and, in the case of transitional arrangements, the projected dates for each be endorsed.

2. That the supplementary list of services (Appendix 2) that have been provisionally considered for sharing by the Joint Programme Development Team be noted.

3. That the proposed governance framework between the two Councils and the structure of the Inter-Authority Agreement that will support it (Appendices 3 and 4) be noted.

4. That the proposed approach to dealing with staffing (Appendix 5) be noted.