Agenda and minutes

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

A number of Councillors who were existing County Councillors, Borough Councillors and Town and Parish Councillors declared a personal interest in the business of the meeting en bloc.

Councillor R West declared a personal interest in the item relating to Cheshire Home Choice Common Allocations Policy, by virtue of the fact that he was a Director of the Cheshire Peaks & Plains Housing Trust.

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 members of the public present who wished to address the Panel.

To approve the minutes as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That the minutes be approved as a correct record subject to an addition to Minute 2 to state that Councillor Barry Moran was the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development for Congleton Borough Council.

To receive updates and any recommendations from the Places Advisory Panel Task Groups :-

Car Parking – Attached

Waste Collection – Attached

Strategic Development – Attached

Local Development Framework – Attached

Safer Communities – Verbal update

Consideration was given to reports updating the Panel in respect of the work carried out by the Task Groups for Car Parking, Waste Collection, Strategic Development and Local Development Framework.  Before consideration of the reports, the Chairman stated that he would like to make it clear that the Task Group reports were a preliminary review and any statements and options discussed did not relate to any policy decisions made to date.

In considering the report relating to the update on Civil Parking Enforcement and proposals for Pay and Display Charging in Cheshire East, Members expressed concern that the report did not include an options appraisal and did not state how the decisions had been arrived at. Reference was made to paragraph 3.3 of the report and it was noted that the proposed charges related to all car parks within the new Cheshire East Authority area. It was suggested that paragraph 3.3 of the report should be incorporated into the objectives and that the charges should be cost neutral.  It was reported that work in relation to the various options had taken place and officers undertook to examine whether the work carried out had been appropriate and would bring a report back to the Panel.

With reference to paragraph 1.1 of the report, the Portfolio Holder sought clarification in respect of civil parking enforcement and stated that it had already been agreed that the new Cheshire East Authority would be adopting the Civil Enforcement powers.  It was reported that Cheshire County Council legal advice had been in line with this, however confirmation was awaited.  Officers had been in liaison with CLG in respect of the transitional arrangement regulations, which had been through Parliament and would allow parts of the Cheshire East Authority area to be subject to civil parking enforcement. The Prosperity Portfolio Holder reported that notwithstanding some capacity issues and the fact that Congleton Borough On Street Enforcement remained the responsibility of the police, he considered that steps needed to be taken to ensure that there was continuity in respect of civil enforcement in the areas of the Cheshire East Authority.  He had been in discussions with the Transport Director at the Government Office and was producing a paper for her with a view to progressing this matter.

RESOLVED

That officers examine the work which has already taken place in respect of the current position with regard to car parking and any options appraisals which had taken place to establish whether this work had been appropriate and a report in respect of this be submitted to a future meeting.

Waste Collection

It was noted that the report relating to Aligning the Green Waste Collection Services in Cheshire East, set out at item 7 of the agenda, superseded the update report attached at item 5 and consideration was given to this report.

It was noted that kerbside collection of green waste was currently free, at point of dlivery, to residents of Congleton and Macclesfield Boroughs, whereas there was a charge levied  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

To update the Places Advisory Panel on the implementation of Choice Based Lettings and to seek approval for the Cheshire Homechoice common allocations policy to be progressed to Cabinet for adoption.

Consideration was given to a report updating the Panel on the implementation of Choice Based Lettings and seeking approval for the Cheshire Home Choice Allocations Policy to be progressed to Cabinet for adoption.

In considering the report, Members of the Panel welcomed the document.  However, it was considered, that in rural areas, priority should be given to applicants who lived in the community where a particular property was situated, and that this comment should be passed to the Cabinet when considering this matter.

It was noted that if any changes were made to the policy, it would be necessary to agree them with the various partners as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

That the Common Allocations Policy be recommended to Cabinet for approval, but that clarification be sought with regard to the possibility of imposing a local connection criteria in relation to rural property and that any changes to the document be made as necessary.

To consider a report relating to aligning green waste collection services in Cheshire East and to consider any recommendations which the Panel might wish to make, firstly to the Management Team, to enable them to scrutinise the report, prior to its submission to Cabinet.

Note – This item was considered under the Task Group Update reports.

To consider a report, which has been prepared to allow Members of the

Cheshire East Council Places Advisory Panel to consider and comment on

Cheshire’s Local Transport Plan (LTP) Progress Report for 2008. It also

seeks views on emerging issues that may need to be considered during the

remainder of the plan period.

The Panel received a presentation in respect of progress with regard to the Local Transport Plan.  Consideration was also given to a paper which had been prepared to allow Members of the Panel to consider and comment on the Local Transport Plan progress report for 2008.  It also sought views on managing issues that may need to be considered during the remainder of the Plan period.  A short summary setting out details of the LTP process was attached as an appendix to the report.

It was noted that a summary of the document had been circulated with the agenda, however the full document would be circulated to Members of the Panel.

In considering the report, Members of the Panel raised the following issues:

(i)      With reference to the presentation, it was noted that it had been stated that there were no significant air quality problems in the area and this was questioned as the area was above the North West and National average for CO2.  It was reported that within the document with regard to air quality there were seven listed pollutants and CO2 was not one of them.

(ii)   Reference was made to the pie chart within the document, which showed that approximately half of the capital expenditure for 2006-2008 had been spent on public transport, and it was queried how much of this had been spent in the Cheshire East area.  It was noted that, broadly speaking, 50% had been spent in the Cheshire East area, but that more had been spent in the rural areas.

(iii)   Reference was made to the recent result of the TIF referendum and it was considered that the new Cheshire East Authority needed to ensure that there was fairness in respect of the distribution of funding and that  the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities engaged with the Cheshire East Authority in respect of the receipt of national funding.  It was noted that the new Cheshire East Authority would be the third largest unitary in the North West, and the advent of the new authority would provide the opportunity to apply for appropriate funding.  It was also noted that currently the provision of public transport in Cheshire was complex and there would now be an opportunity to consider how to deliver Public Transport in a more efficient way.

(iv)    It was queried whether there would be a Local Transport Plan for Cheshire East and if so, when. It was noted that the current Local Transport Plan would be adopted and central Government guidance was expected shortly, which would need to be taken into account, with a view to publication of a document for Cheshire East in 2010, to commence in 2011.

(v)   Reference was made to traffic congestion in Crewe and it was considered that this was exacerbated by the fact that the traffic lights were not co-ordinated.  The Portfolio Holder stated that the introduction of urban traffic control measures would benefit all areas of Cheshire East in this regard, including Crewe & Nantwich.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The Places Advisory Panel is requested to consider the draft statement and

to make any comments prior to submission to Cabinet. 

Consideration was given to a report requesting the Panel to consider the draft Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles and to make any comments prior to submission to Cabinet.

With reference to the Table of Delegation of Licensing Functions, it was noted that fee setting would be a function of the full Licensing Committee and not officers as set out in the document.

RESOLVED

That the Gambling 2005 Statement of Principles be recommended to Cabinet for approval.

(Councillor D Neilson requested that it be recorded that he abstained from voting.)

The Places Advisory Panel is requested to consider the draft policy and to

make any comments prior to submission to Cabinet. 

Consideration was given to a report requesting the Panel to consider the draft Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy and to make any comments prior to submission to Cabinet. It was noted that paragraph 12.1 of the document should state that a reviewed policy would be published no later than 7 January 2014 and not 2011 as set out in the document.

Clarification was sought in respect of the responsible authority and children as set out in paragraph 9.8 of the policy.  It was noted that the police would carry out the initial sift of applications and would flag up if there were any concerns.

RESOLVED

That the Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy be recommended to Cabinet for approval.