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 the County Council, one of the Borough Councils or Parish Councils.

Councillor D Brown declared a personal interest in minute number 161 – Key Decision CE58 and CE59, Development of Partnership Arrangements in Cheshire East due to being the Chairman of the LSP for Congleton.

Councillors D Brown and R Domleo declared a personal interest in minute number 170 – Key decision CE61 Waste Treatment PFI Contact due to being shareholders of one of the companies.

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 3 February 2009.

RESOLVED

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 February 2009 were approved as a correct record

Report to follow.

            Consideration was given to a report demonstrating the fact that Cheshire East Council had set a balanced budget for 2009/10 in line with its corporate priorities, provided a summary view of the Medium Term Financial Strategy in light of the Budget Setting proposals and informed Members of future financial pressures and risks.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

1. That the 2009/10 Budget as detailed in the report be recommended to Council for approval
2. That the draft three-year Capital Programme for 2009/10 to 2011/12 be recommended to Council for approval
3. That a Band D Council Tax of £1,196.01 (1.14% increase, based on Crewe & Nantwich Band D for 2008/09 of £1,182.56) be recommended to Council for approval.
4. That the view of the Borough Treasurer and Head of Assets (Chief Finance Officer), regarding the level of reserves held by the Council based on this budget, be noted
5. That the Reserves Policy & Strategy be recommended to Council for approval.
6. That the fees and charges be recommended to Council for approval with the exception of those prices for services and facilities where the setting of fees and charges is already delegated to other Committees, Panels or individuals, as indicated.
7. That the 2009/10 Specific Grants (excluding DSG be agreed.
8. That Portfolio Holders be authorised to agree any necessary amendment to particular grants within their area of responsibility in the light of further information received from Government Departments or other funding bodies.
9. That the 2009/10 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) of £194.101m (including central expenditure of £26.179m) and incorporating the policy proposals be agreed.
10. That the Children and Family Service Portfolio Holder be authorised to agree any necessary amendment to the DSG position in the light of further information received from DCSF and the actual balance brought forward from 2008/09.
11. That the results of the Budget Consultation exercises undertaken by the Council be noted.
12. That the Prudential Indicators for capital financing as detailed in Section 14 of the report be recommended to Council for approval.
13. That the risk assessment be noted.

Report to follow.

Consideration was given to the outcome of the three quarter year review of Transitional Costs and an update on the review of Transitional Costs, spending levels and the various sources of funding.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

That the outcome of the three quarter year review be noted

To consider the Council’s draft Corporate Plan prior to it being considered by Council on 24 February 2009.

Consideration was given to the Council’s draft Corporate Plan

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

That Council be recommend to approve the Corporate Plan substantially in the form submitted.

To consider a report on the development of partnership arrangements in Cheshire East.

Consideration was given to a report on the work that had been done on the development of partnership arrangements in Cheshire East and, in particular, the establishment of a Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Executive Board and the agreement of boundaries for the Local Area Partnerships.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

1. That the establishment of an LSP Executive Board for Cheshire East comprising key statutory agencies and service providers be noted.
2. That Council be represented on the Executive Board by the Chief Executive with the Leader acting as Chairman of the Board and Portfolio Holder acting as observer.
3. That the position regarding the establishment of a thematic partnership structure supporting the Executive Board be noted.
4. That the establishment of seven Local Area Partnerships based on the boundaries shown in the Appendix attached to the report be noted.
5. That development of implementation arrangements for each Partnership to include terms of reference, membership etc be endorsed
6. That the development of neighbourhood projects which will form the subject of a further report to Cabinet be noted.

Report to follow.

            Consideration was given to the Treasury Management Strategy for 2009/10 to 2011/12 including the prudential indicators and limits required under Part 1 of the Local Government Act 2003 and the Annual Investment Strategy 2009/10 and Annual Policy Statement on Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) for the redemption of debt 2009/10.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

            That Council be recommended to approve the Treasury Management Strategy and the MRP Statement for 2009/2010.

To consider increasing fostering allowances to the Fostering Network recommended rate.

Consideration was given to a report seeking agreement to increase fostering allowances.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

That the Fostering Allowances be increased to the Fostering Network recommended rate.

To consider the school funding formula to be used in setting school budgets and the Scheme for Financing Schools.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to the school funding formula to be used in setting school budgets and the Scheme for Financing Schools for 2009/10

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

That the Cheshire County Council’s school funding formula and Scheme for Financing Schools for 2009/10 be approved for use in Cheshire East

To consider the outcomes of the formal consultations held on options identified by the Locality Review, and the recommendations being made to the County Council and the Children’s Services Executive of the County  Council.

Consideration was given to the report informing Members of the outcome of the formal consultations held on options identified by the Locality Review, and the subsequent recommendations which were being made to the County Council and the Children's Services Executive of the County Council.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

That Cabinet notes the proposed actions by the County Council in respect of the Alsager, Congleton, Sandbach and Holmes Chapel TLC Review, following the recommendations made by Cheshire County Council's School Planning Select Panel on the 26 January 2009, which were that:

·        the Council on 12 February support, and that the Children's Services Executive on 17 February authorise the publication of statutory notices proposing the closure of Church Lawton Primary School in Summer 2009, subject to any further developments concerning the school's recovery plan;

and that the Children's Services Executive authorise

·        the changes proposed in the net capacities of Sandbach Community Primary School (from 210 to 105) and of Offley Primary School (from 420 to 315) from September 2010, and;

·        the change proposed in the net capacity of Cranberry Primary School (from 315 to 210) from September 2010 and;

·        the change proposed in the net capacity of Daven Primary School (from 420 to 210) from September 2009.

To consider the Cheshire East Local Development Scheme.

            Consideration was given to a report recommending that the Cheshire East Local Development Scheme be brought into effect, within the inclusion of a caveat recommended by the Government Office for the North West.

            RESOLVED

            For the reasons set out in the report:-

1. That a caveat be included within the Local Development Scheme alongside the table and profile of the Minerals DPD highlighting that the timetable/DPD could be changed should it be decided in future that joint working with Cheshire West and Chester would be more appropriate on this matter.

2. That the Cheshire East Local Development Scheme come into effect from 18^th February 2009 in accordance with Regulation 11(2)(a) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2008.

To consider adopting the new model publication scheme for principal councils issued by the Information Commissioners Office.

Consideration was given to a report recommending Members to adopt a new model publication scheme for principal councils issued by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO)

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

That the model publication scheme for public authorities set out by the Information Commissioners Office in June 2008 be approved.

There are no items to report at the time of publication; a report will be provided in the event of any consents having been approved by the time of the meeting.

.

Cabinet were informed that no delegated decisions had been made since the last meeting of the Cabinet.

RESOLVED

That it be noted that no delegated decisions had been made since the last meeting of the Cabinet

The reports relating to the remaining items on the agenda have been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

PART 2 – MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT THE PUBLIC AND PRESS PRESENT

RESOLVED

That in accordance with Section 100(A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that it may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph  Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.

To consider the report of the County Manager Waste and Planning.

Consideration was given to the report as submitted.

RESOLVED

For the reasons set out in the report:-

That Cheshire County Council be advised that Cheshire East Council supports the recommendations for deselection of solutions and Participants in the Waste Treatment PFI Contract as set out in Paragraph 7.18 of the report