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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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 if the Council would consider installing defibrillators on its buildings.  The Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Regeneration undertook to provide a comprehensive list of buildings with defibrillators to Sue Helliwell.

At the Chairman’s invitation, Councillor D Flude mentioned that the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service had defibrillators which she believed could be made available to other organisations. Councillor B Moran suggested that any list of buildings with defibrillators should include defibrillators installed by town and parish councils. The Leader asked that the list of buildings with defibrillators be sent to Sue Helliwell and copied to members present at the meeting in view of their contributions.

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 Rhoda Bailey referred to the funding that had been made available for domestic abuse and asked whether, given that it would be spread across three authorities, it would be worth having. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Integration responded that the three authorities in question worked closely together across boundaries in tackling domestic abuse and that this would ensure that the funding was well-used. The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families added that the funding was over two years which would allow for a longer-term project. The Portfolio Holder for Health referred to the White Ribbon event held last Friday which had focused on domestic abuse and the ways in which businesses and the community could encourage people to speak out.

Councillor D Flude asked what the Council would do to make town centre redevelopments more disabled and dementia-friendly. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Integration responded that she wanted to see the Borough’s town centres as dementia-friendly but that this would have to be achieved in partnership with local residents and third sector organisations. The Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Regeneration added that any regeneration proposals that came forward for town centres would be considered in terms of whether they were dementia-friendly and accessible, and that this would be built into the planning process.

Councillor Flude also referred to text messages that residents were receiving from the Council, asking them to confirm their mobile phone numbers. She asked for confirmation that the messages were being sent by the Council. The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Communication responded that the messages were being sent by the Council and that consideration was being given to how the Council could better communicate the legitimate nature of the messages.

Councillor S Corcoran referred to a question he had asked at the previous meeting regarding EU Solutions Limited and an email from the Leader to a member of the public in 2016 confirming that all creditors had been paid in full. He understood that a standards investigation had now been undertaken. In response, the Leader confirmed that the outcome of the standards investigation would be circulated to all Members prior to the Council meeting on 13^th December 2018.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th November 2018.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th November 2018 be approved as a correct record.

To consider a report on the Notice of Motion.

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

“Recognising the implications of both GDPR and Freedom of Information Act legislation, this Council defers any changes to the policy the retention of emails until all police investigations, Crown Prosecution decisions and possible court actions are complete.”

Since the notice of motion, briefings had taken place with relevant parties to ratify that the Council’s email retention policy was compliant, fit for purpose and in accordance with legislation. All consulted parties had endorsed and approved the policy.

Councillor D Flude spoke on the matter as the proposer of the motion.

RESOLVED

That

1.    the implementation of the email retention policy be endorsed; and

2.    the policy be technically enabled to the groups idenitifed as in scope this financial year, with a view to implementing the policy across the whole organisation, where appropriate, by April 2020.

To consider a report which sets out the Council Tax base calculation 2019/20 for recommendation from Cabinet to Council.

Cabinet considered a report on the Council Tax base calculation 2019/20 for recommendation to Council.

The calculation set out the estimates of new homes less the expected level of discounts and the level of Council Tax Support. This resulted in a band D equivalent tax base position for each Town and Parish Council.

The tax base reflected growth of £3.6m (1.7%) on the 2018/19 position, highlighting the positive changes locally. Additional new homes, and more properties brought back into use over the last nine years, had increased the tax base by 13%.

RESOLVED

That Council be recommended to approve

1.    that in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount to be calculated by Cheshire East Council as its Council Tax Base for the year 2019/20 be 149,517.54 for the whole area;

2.    that no changes be made to the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2019/20, other than the annual increase in the allowances used and clarification following changes in other state benefits; and

3.    that the following changes be made in respect of empty property charges:

(a)  the period for the award of discount in respect of empty rental property be reduced from 8 weeks to 6 weeks; and

(b)  the premium charged for property that has been empty for 2 years or longer be increased from 50% to 100%.

To consider a report which seeks approval to award a contract to improve the public realm on Castle Street, Macclesfield.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval to award a contract to improve the public realm on Castle Street, Macclesfield. The package of works, which had been approved by the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Regeneration, included widened footways, tactile paving, provision for limited tree planting and engraved text and public art to promote Macclesfield’s culture, heritage and local distinctiveness. 

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal Services and the S151 Officer, to enter into contractual arrangements to deliver works to improve the public realm on Castle Street Macclesfield, following a compliant procurement process;

2.    notes the package of works approved by the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Regeneration for Castle Street; and

3.    notes the requirement to close temporarily part of Churchill Way Car Park to accommodate a site compound for the duration of construction works subject to any required statutory processes.

To consider a report which seeks approval for the Council to enter into a contract for works at Macclesfield Leisure Centre.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval for the Council to enter into a contract for works at Macclesfield Leisure Centre. The works related to the swimming pool village change facility, spa, fitness studio spaces and customer reception.

Councillor L Durham spoke in support of the proposal as a local ward member.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Director of Legal Services and the S151 Officer, to enter into a contract to deliver works at Macclesfield Leisure Centre.

To consider a report recommending the approval of the Cheshire East Air Quality Strategy.

Cabinet considered a report recommending the approval of the Cheshire East Air Quality Strategy. The purpose of the Strategy was to ensure that air quality was taken into account in all relevant decisions of the Council.

In response to concerns expressed by Councillor S Corcoran regarding poor air quality levels in Middlewich Road, Sandbach, and the health implications for children walking to school, the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Planning and Regeneration confirmed that air quality levels in Middlewich Road were being monitored and were currently below the level at which they would be considered unsafe.

RESOLVED

That the Air Quality Strategy be approved.

To consider a request from the Governors of Havannah Primary School for a permanent change to the age range of the school from 4-11 to age 3-11, to take effect from January 2019.

Cabinet considered a request from the Governors of Havannah Primary School, Congleton for a permanent change to the age range of the school from 4-11 to age 3-11, to take effect from January 2019.

Following a four week representation period, no objections to the proposal had been received.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves the proposed change in age range for Havannah Primary School, Congleton from 4-11 year olds to 3-11 year olds for implementation from January 2019, having given due consideration to the response to the statutory public notice.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance and wished them a Happy Christmas.