Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M Asquith.

Mike Flynn, Governance Lead Officer

Brian Reed, Democratic Services Manager

Carol Jones, Democratic Services Officer C&NBC

Julie Zientek, Democratic Services Officer CBC

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

There were no declarations of interest.

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 speeches or questions from members of the public.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 February 2009.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2009 be approved as a correct record, subject to the inclusion of the name of Councillor Mrs S Bentley in the list of apologies for absence.

To consider a report providing a procedure for making appointments to outside organisations.

Consideration was given to a report of the Outside Organisations Task Group, which had been established at a meeting of the Governance and Constitution Committee on 14 July 2008 in order to “devise a work programme and develop recommendations to deal with appointments [to outside organisations] and implement best practice.”

The report reiterated the criteria in respect of making appointments to outside organisations which had been adopted by the Governance and Constitution Committee on 6 October 2008 and recommended the addition of a criterion where an organisation was ward-specific.

The report outlined issues which the Task Group considered should be taken into account when making appointments to outside organisations, including political proportionality, continuity of representation, Members’ interests and terms of office.  It also recommended a procedure for dealing with casual vacancies in the event of appointments becoming vacant between annual appointments.

In addition, the report proposed nominations for appointment to the Category 2, 3 and 4 organisations, which fell within the remit of the Governance and Constitution Committee.

RESOLVED - That the procedure for making appointments to outside organisations, as detailed in paragraph 8 of the report, be approved, subject to the following:

(a)     That the additional criterion “Where an organisation is ward-specific, the Member appointed should be the appropriate Ward Member” be approved as part of the criteria to be adopted when making appointments to outside organisations.

(b)     That the appointments made by the Cabinet to the Category 1 organisations, as detailed on the amended schedule tabled at the meeting, be noted.

(c)         That appointments be made to the Categories 2, 3 and 4 organisations, as indicated on the schedules attached to the report, subject to the following amendments:

56 Cheshire Community Action Executive Committee – the nomination be A Ranfield in place of T Jackson

62 Community Transport (Dial-a-Ride) – the nominations be A Thwaite, D Bebbington and D J Cannon

70 King’s School, Macclesfield – the nominations be E Gilliland, P Findlow and W Livesley

92 University of Manchester General Assembly – the nomination be P Findlow in place of S Jones

93 Weaver Valley Regional Park – the nominations be D Topping and R Cartlidge

99 Alexandra Soccer & Community Association Trust - the nomination be T Beard

100 Alsager Leisure Centre Advisory User Panel – a third nomination be made, namely S Jones

103 C & N Gymnastics & Community Activities Association – A Moran be nominated as the deputy

113 Macclesfield College of Further Education – the nomination be H Davenport in place of D Neilson

124 Reserve Forces and Cadets Association – the nomination be G Baxendale, and should a second place become available it be taken by T Beard

125 Sandbach Partnership – the nomination be B Moran in place of E Alcock

(d)    That, in general, appointments be made for a term of office which is commensurate with the requirements of the organisation.

(e)     That appointments to outside organisations be reviewed on an annual basis.

(f)      That, notwithstanding (d) and (e) above,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

To consider the initial report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the Members Allowances Scheme to apply from April 2009.

Consideration was given to a report of the Borough Solicitor and Monitoring Officer relating to the initial report and recommendations of the Remuneration Panel on the Members Allowances Scheme which would apply from April 2009.

A scheme of Members Allowances was required for Day One, to apply for the whole of Year One and to form the basis of the Scheme thereafter.  On 1 December 2008, the Governance and Constitution Committee had formally appointed an Independent Remuneration Panel of five independent persons to consider and make recommendations on the Scheme’s provisions.

RESOLVED – That Council be recommended to adopt the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel:

• by the adoption of the allowances arrangements as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;

• by the adoption of the Shadow Council’s current levels of travelling and subsistence allowances, outlined in Appendix 2 to the report, subject to an adjustment (if necessary) for inflation (RPI) with effect from 1 April 2009;

and that these arrangements should apply to the Council from 1 April 2009 for the year 2009/10.

Councillor A Ranfield (Chairman)