Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

Councillor S Corcoran declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 8 – Everybody Sport & Recreation Performance Report 2017/18 and Leisure Operating Agreement – as a member of the ESAR Trust.

Councillor P Bates declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 10 – Approval to Commission a Universal Information and Advice Service – as a former vice-chairman of the Citizens’ Advice Cheshire East Board and indicated that he would take no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Councillor S Corcoran declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 10 – Approval to Commission a Universal Information and Advice Service – as a member of the Board of the Cheshire Neighbours Credit Union.

Councillor P Bates declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 12 – Acquisition of Land for Employment Use – as a local ward member for the area concerned.

In accordance with paragraph 3.33 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules, a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the Cabinet. Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

Sue Helliwell asked the Council to stipulate that any entrances to new builds that were vertical structures be made into living walls in order to boost biodiversity and absorb pollutants. The Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Regeneration responded that living walls were a useful option when considering a new development, but they were not an appropriate solution in every case and the Council could not stipulate their use.

Deborah Darnes commented that the report on the agenda relating to a definition of antisemitism was deficient and that the motion should not be accepted.

Richard Walton, Branch Secretary of the Congleton Town Labour Party, asked the Portfolio Holder for Health for assistance with the campaign to oppose the downgrading of services at the Congleton War Memorial Hospital. The Portfolio Holder for Health responded that she was not aware of any formal consultation concerning Congleton War Memorial Hospital but that any such consultation, and any significant changes proposed, would be considered by the Council’s overview and scrutiny committee for Health.

A period of 20 minutes is allocated for questions to be put to Cabinet Members by members of the Council. Notice of questions need not be given in advance of the meeting. Questions must relate to the powers, duties or responsibilities of the Cabinet. Questions put to Cabinet Members must relate to their portfolio responsibilities.

The Leader will determine how Cabinet question time should be allocated where there are a number of Members wishing to ask questions. Where a question relates to a matter which appears on the agenda, the Leader may allow the question to be asked at the beginning of consideration of that item.

Councillor G Baxendale asked if the timeline for the commencement and finishing time of the Congleton link road could be published in a local paper. The Leader agreed to circulate details to members.

Councillor Rhoda Bailey referred to the sum of £200M available for improving Broadband and asked if some of this could be used to improve connectivity in rural areas. The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Communications responded that this fund was to be used to support innovative approaches to deploying full fibre Internet into rural areas, starting with primary schools and the Cabinet was considering was of tapping into this opportunity as well as looking at other innovative ways of delivering Broadband to rural areas for which funding might be available. The Portfolio Holder for Integration and Social Care added that fibre may not be the most appropriate option for rural communities and that other options such as 4G and 5G would also be considered.

Councillor D Flude referred to a letter she had written to the Council in October in relation to the trees in Lunt Avenue, Crewe. The Leader undertook to review the correspondence and respond.

Councillor B Roberts referred to the condition of the trees in Gainsborough Avenue, Crewe which were causing damage to the footpaths and blocking out light from the street lights. Councillor Roberts also referred to the condition of Hightown and Wistaston Road in Crewe and asked when they would be fully reinstated. The Leader undertook to provide a written response in relation to the Highways question.

Councillor S Corcoran referred to a member of the public at the last Council meeting who had said he had received an email from the Leader of the Council to the effect that all creditors of EU Solutions Limited had been paid in full. Councillor Corcoran commented that this was not the case and he cited a sum owed to Trafford Borough Council. The Leader responded that the matter had originally been investigated in 2016 by the then Monitoring Officer. Following the public question at the last Council meeting, she had asked for the matter to be fully reviewed.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th October 2018.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th October 2018 be approved as a correct record.

To report an urgent decision under Paragraph 3.43 and Appendix 4 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules.

Cabinet received a report concerning an urgent decision taken by the Portfolio Holder for Children and Families in accordance Paragraph 3.43 and Appendix 4 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules. The decision authorised the entering into of a construction contract for the building of the replacement facility for Oakfield Lodge Pupil Referral Unit at Crewe.

RESOLVED

That the decision taken by the Portfolio Holder for Children and Families under the urgency provisions be noted.

To consider and respond to a notice of motion on the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.

Cabinet considered the following motion which had been moved by Councillor S Gardiner and seconded by Councillor M Deakin at the Council meeting on 18th October 2018 and referred to Cabinet for consideration:

"We call upon this Council to adopt formally the definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2016 and to ensure that its Equality and Diversity Policies clearly state that there will be no tolerance of antisemitism by its officers or elected members.

Additionally, we call on the Council to declare that it stands four-square behind all Jewish people living in Cheshire East; together with their family members, in these difficult times for their community.

Furthermore, we request that the Director of People be charged with putting in place community cohesion strategies that will help and support any victims of antisemitism or other religious intolerances that may manifest themselves within this Borough."

The Government had formally adopted the working definition in December 2016. The definition stated:

“Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government had written to local authorities in May 2017, asking them to adopt the working definition.

The report set out the actions the Council would commit itself to in adopting the working definition.

Councillor S Gardiner attended the meeting and spoke in support of the motion.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves the adoption by the Council of the International Holocaust Remembrance working definition of antisemitism and supports the proposed actions set out in the report.

To consider the annual Performance Report from “Everybody Sport & Recreation” for the financial year 2017-18; and to consider an extension of the current Leisure Operating Agreement with Everybody Sport & Recreation for the delivery of the Council’s leisure and sports development services.

Cabinet considered the annual Performance Report from Everybody Sport and Recreation for the financial year 2017-18. The report also asked Cabinet to consider an extension to the current Leisure Operating Agreement with Everybody Sport and Recreation for the delivery of the Council’s leisure and sports development services.

The Chairman of the Everybody Sport and Recreation Trust, Councillor A Kolker, and its Chief Executive, Peter Hartwell, attended the meeting and spoke in relation to the report.

Councillor S Corcoran, whilst welcoming the report, and in particular the significant increase in attendance figures, drew attention to the Trust’s pensions costs and the implications these might have for the Trust’s trading surplus and overall financial position. Mr Hartwell advised that the Trust’s notional pensions debt had been treated consistently over the life of the Trust and was not going to be realised any time soon. He added that the Trust’s auditors had concluded that the Trust was solvent and viable and they had not expressed any concerns over the Trust’s pensions position.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes the progress made by the Trust in its fourth year of trading as an independent Charitable Trust and the performance achieved to date;

2.    approves the extension of the Leisure Operating Agreement with Everybody Sport and Recreation for a further five years subject to the terms being agreed with the Executive Director, Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Health; and

3.    delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Health to finalise the details of the contract extension and agree to the final terms.

To consider a report seeking approval to recommission care and support services in a number of Extra Care Housing schemes.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the recommissioning of the five existing Extra Care Housing schemes and the possible inclusion of additional schemes. The report also drew attention to consultation to be undertaken with residents and stakeholders in relation to care bands and charges.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves the recommissioning of care within the five existing Extra Care Housing settings, adding further Registered Provider Extra Care Housing schemes to the commission where this is considered desirable by the Executive Director of People; and

2.    delegates authority to the Executive Director of People to award contracts to the successful supplier(s).

To consider a report seeking approval to commission a Universal Information and Advice Service from April 2019. 

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to commission a Universal Information and Advice Service from April 2019. The service would be jointly commissioned across the Place and People Directorates to ensure that there were strong links with Early Intervention, Prevention services and Adult Social Care Services.

Councillor S Corcoran asked why the procurement framework was being re-opened and what implications this would have for the current contractor, Citizens’ Advice Cheshire East. At the Chairman’s invitation, the Executive Director of Place clarified that the current contract, which was with Citizens’ Advice Cheshire East, was coming to an end and that it was now necessary to start a new procurement process with a view to re-letting the contract.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    agrees that a competitive procurement exercise is undertaken for the provision of a Universal Information and Advice Service; and

2.    delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Health and the Acting Executive Director of People, to award a contract for an initial period of 3 years with options to extend for a maximum of 2 years.

The report or a part thereof relating to the remaining item on the agenda has been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matter may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Cabinet may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the 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 Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and the 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 Paragraph 3 of Part 1of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and the public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To consider the report.

Cabinet considered the report set out in Part 2 of the agenda.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    authorises the acquistion of the sites identified in Appendix 1 to the report; and

2.    delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Regeneration and the Director of Legal Services, to enter into the legal agreements requried to complete the purchase of the land.