Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor H Gaddum.

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

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.

In order for an informed answer to be given, where a member of the public wishes to ask a question of a Cabinet Member three clear working days notice must be given and the question must be submitted in writing.  It is not required to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision but, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours notice is encouraged.

Mr L Burton, Chairman of Knutsford Town Plan Implementation Committee, spoke regarding his concerns at the proposed temporary closure of Bexton Court Community Support Centre.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2010.

The minutes will be circulated as soon as they are available.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2010 be approved as a correct record.

To approve the Corporate Asset Management Plan for 2011/2014.

(During discussion of this item Councillor D Flude declared a personal interest by virtue of being a member of the Cheshire Local History Association, the Family History Society, Cheshire and CreweTown History Society.)

Consideration was given to the Corporate Asset Management Plan, setting out Cheshire East’s approach to capital investment and disposals.   The document, closely linked to the Council’s Capital Strategy, showed how the Council was prioritising, targeting and measuring the performance of its capital resources in order to maximise the value of its property assets, to support key cross-cutting activities, initiatives and local and national priorities. 

In response to a question regarding consultation to date the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the Asset Management Plan would be the subject of future and further discussions with the Corporate Scrutiny Committee. 

RESOLVED

That the approval be given to the Corporate Asset Management Plan for 2011/2014

To approve the Single Equality and Inclusion Scheme and Action Plan 2010/2013, and the Equality Impact Assessment Guidance.

Consideration was given to the Single Equality and Inclusion Scheme (SEIS) and Action Plan 2010/2013, and to the Equality Impact Assessment Guidance.  The SEIS is a public commitment showing how the Council intends to meet the duties placed on it by equality legislation, relevant to all activities of the Council, employees and Cheshire East citizens.

RESOLVED

That approval be given to the Single Equality and Inclusion Scheme and Action Plan 2010/2013, and to he Equality Impact Assessment Guidance.

To note the report, and to approve the receipt of regular progress updates.  

(During discussion of this item Councillor D Flude declared a personal interest by virtue of being a School Governor at Pebble Bank and Westminster StreetSchools, and of EiC Ltd.)

Consideration was given to the results of a recent inspection of Cheshire East Council Children’s Services by OFSTED under Section 138 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006; the findings of the report had been published on 18 August 2010.  An action plan to address the areas for development was in the process of being compiled. 

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report be noted, and that regular updates be made on progress to address the areas for development that had been identified.

To note the thematic priorities for the Local Transport Plan Strategy, and to approve the Draft Strategy for consultation.

Consideration was given to the draft Local Transport Plan Strategy setting out the proposed priorities for transport.  The strategy was directly linked to the Sustainable Community Strategy and showed how transport contributes to the wider ambitions of the area.

RESOLVED

1. That the proposed thematic priorities for the Local Transport Plan Strategy - ‘ensure a sustainable future’ and ‘create conditions for business growth’ - be noted.

2. That approval be given for the draft Local Transport Plan Strategy to be released for public consultation on 19 October.

To consider the requirement for the Council to maintain a five year supply of deliverable housing land, the appropriate figure for the housing requirement, and to approve the Interim Planning Policy on the Release of Housing Land for consultation.

Consideration was given to the requirement for the Council to supply a five year supply of deliverable housing land, to the appropriate figure for that requirement, and to the approval of the Interim Planning Policy for consultation. 

At the meeting it was reported that since the agenda had been published an addition had been made to paragraph 2.10 of the Draft Interim Planning Policy on the Release of Housing Land (Appendix A, page 295 of the agenda) as follows:-

   The availability of a five year land supply is a key consideration in planning appeals for housing development on sites outside settlement boundaries. In determining appeals elsewhere in the country, the continued use of the RSS housing requirement has been accepted by the Inspector as appropriate pending the formal review of the figure through the Local Development Framework process. The use of other figures in the interim could leave the Local Planning Authority open to challenge from the developer or other interested parties.

RESOLVED

1.      That approval be given to the housing requirement figure for a minimum of 1150 net additional dwellings to be delivered annually, to be used pending the adoption of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy.

2.      That the Council’s five year land supply at 1 April 2010 be noted.

3.      That, subject to the amendment to paragraph 2.10 of the Draft Interim Planning Policy on the Release of Housing Land, as detailed above, approval be given to the Interim Planning Policy on the Release of Housing Land for consultation purposes and for it to be used in the determination of planning applications pending its adoption.

To approve the Issues and Options report for the Local Development Framework Core Strategy for consultation purposes.

The minute from the Strategic Planning Board meeting held on 6 October 2010 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Consideration was given to the Local Development Framework Core Strategy Issues and Options report.  The report had been prepared to generate discussion on the challenges facing the future planning of the Borough over the next twenty years; it included a draft vision for the future of Cheshire East in 2010 and the impact of different strategic objectives.  It also looked at three options for housing and jobs growth and how this growth could be distributed to the various towns in Cheshire East. 

The Consultation Paper had been considered by the Strategic Planning Board at its meeting on 6 October at which it had recommended the approval of the paper to Cabinet; the comments of the Committee were circulated.

RESOLVED

1. That the comments of the Strategic Planning Board be noted.

2. That the Issues and Options Report for the Local Development Framework Core Strategy be approved for consultation purposes.

To consider the report of the Director of Adults, Community, Health and Wellbeing on the closure of some buildings in Adult Services.

(During discussion of this item Councillor D Flude declared a personal interest by virtue of being a member of the South Cheshire Alzheimers Society and of Cheshire Advocacy.)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Adults, Community, Health and Wellbeing on the closure, and temporary closure, of some buildings in Adult Services; the report to Cabinet on 19 July had outlined a range of options for delivering the same level of service from fewer buildings in Adult Services. 

The report also detailed the temporary closure of the Tatton Ward of Knutsford Hospital by the East Cheshire Acute Health Trust.  The closure had been considered by the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee on 9 September and at that meeting the Director had indicated that there would be both financial and practice impacts on Cheshire East Council; this report detailed that impact on Bexton Court a community support facility linked to Tatton Ward. 

In considering the proposed closures it was confirmed that decisions on the future of both 291 Nantwich Road and on Bexton Court would be the subject of further reports to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED

1.      That approval be given to the closure of Jubilee House and the transfer of services to the Hilary Centre once minor works are carried out to ensure the suitability of the Hilary Centre.

2.      That it be noted that, as a result of discussions with users of 291 Nantwich Road, it is not proposed to close that facility at this stage but to re-examine the future of that building in March 2011.

3.      That approval be given to the temporary closure of Bexton Court, a Community Support Centre that is linked to Tatton Ward, subject to the consideration of this matter by the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee on 11 November 2010 and discussions with those directly concerned about alternative options.

4.      That it be noted that currently the East Cheshire Acute Trust is intending to re-open Tatton Ward in January 2011 and Cabinet agrees that Cheshire East Council work with the Trust on its plans for the future of Tatton Ward and link its own approach to Bexton Court to this process.

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 Paragraphs 1 and 2 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 the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To consider the report of the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development.

RESOLVED

1. That Cabinet supports the decision of the Chief Executive to release the employees whose roles are listed as 1 to 66 in Appendix A of the report under the arrangements agreed in relation to voluntary severance provisions for employees in the Council.

2. That Cabinet notes the two employees listed as 67 and 68 in Appendix A of the report who may become compulsorily redundant and would receive payments under the arrangements agreed in relation to severance provisions for employees.