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.

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, wishing to address the meeting.

With reference to minute 16, Cheshire Homechoice Common Allocations Policy, clarification was sought in respect of the situation with regard to local connection criteria, as raised by Members at the last meeting. It was reported that a meeting had taken place of Project Board, where this issue had been considered and that there were some concerns regarding legality and discrimination. Officers were examining the legal issues and also looking at best practice in other areas. A new Project Manager had now been appointed, who would  take this matter forward and there would be a report back to a future meeting on the findings.

RESOLVED

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

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

Car Parking –  Report attached

Waste Collection and Disposal -  Task Group Minutes attached

Strategic Development  - Nothing to report since the last meeting

Local Development Framework- Report relating to Development Management attached

Crime and Disorder Reduction and Partnership – Report attached

Manchester Airport – Task Group Minutes attached

Consideration was given to updates in respect of the Task Groups, including reports relating to actions arising from the Task Groups as follows:-

Car Parking

Consideration was given to a report updating the Advisory Panel on discussions held at the last meeting of the Parking Task Group on 14 January 2009.

In considering the report it was noted that the Task Group had requested a list of all the public car parks situated in the Cheshire East area, including criteria and classification and it was urged that this information be provided to the Task group as soon as possible.

With regard to car parking charges, it was considered that this needed to be progressed as quickly as possible in order to satisfy budgetary requirements.

Waste collection and disposal

   It was reported that the group had met in November 2008 to consider a  number of reports but the December meeting had been cancelled.  The main output from the Group in the last couple of months has been a report to the Places Advisory Group on the collection of garden waste in the former Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council area.  As a result a report to Cabinet is being drafted to take forward recommendations on the options for implementing free garden waste collections. A meeting of the Task Group had taken place on 14 January 2009 and the minutes of the meeting were appended to the agenda.

Reference was made to discussions which had taken place at the meeting to consider future wheeled bin procurements, where it had been suggested that views be sought from the Advisory Panel on all future bins being purchased in a single colour, but that different colour lids attached to identify what is placed in that receptacle. It was queried whether this would provide a cost saving and this was confirmed.

It was noted that a report had been considered relating to approval of  a Recycling Branding for Cheshire East and the Task Group had concluded that Cheshire East should retain the “Recycle for Cheshire” branding, but to monitor usage.

The next meeting was scheduled to take place on 18 February.

Local Development Framework and Strategic Development

It was noted that no meetings of the above Task Groups had taken place

since the last meeting of the Panel.

Development Management

The Above Task Group had met on three occasions and two reports had been 

produced for consideration by the Panel as follows:-

Proposed arrangements for Governance, Planning Committees and a   

scheme of delegation for planning functions.

Consideration was given to a report relating to arrangements for Planning

Governance, Committees and a scheme of officer delegation across

Cheshire East, post vesting day. The Panel was recommended to propose to the Governance and Constitution Committee that the Council’s development control functions be discharged by a Strategic Planning Board, supported by two Planning Committees and a scheme of officer delegation, details of which were set out in the report.

In considering the report Members of the Panel raised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

            To recommend to Cabinet that the Cheshire East Local Development  

                  Scheme be brought into effect, within the inclusion of a caveat

                  recommended by the Government Office for the North West.

           Consideration was given to a report requesting the Advisory Panel to recommend to Cabinet that the Cheshire East Local Development Scheme be brought into effect, within the inclusion of a caveat recommended by the Government Office for the North West.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet be recommended :-

To include a caveat within the Local Development Scheme alongside the  table and profile of the Minerals DPD highlighting that the timetable/DPD could be changed should it be decided in future that joint working with Cheshire West and Chester would be more appropriate on this matter.

That the Cheshire East Local Development Scheme, appended to this report, shall come into effect from 4^th February 2009 in accordance with Regulation 11(2)(a) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2008.

To consider and comment on the Cheshire East Interim Private Sector Assistance Policy.

           Consideration was given to a report, which had been prepared to allow the Places Advisory Panel to consider and comment on the Cheshire East Interim Private Sector Assistance Policy. Cheshire East Cabinet approved the Policy in principle at their meeting on 6 January 2009, subject to there being no significant changes following circulation of the Policy for public response.

It was noted that all Member should have received an Executive Summary   questionnaire relating to the document and Members were requested to complete the questionnaire and return it.

With reference to paragraph 7.4 of the report it was queried whether the safety net in respect of assistance allowed for a fall in property prices, as well as an increase and it was confirmed that this was based on a percentage of the property price.

The fact that funds were repaid and recycled was welcome, however, it was queried why this did not apply in all cases.

RESOLVED

That the Cheshire East Interim Private Sector Assistance Policy be supported.

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 Paragraph 3 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information. (Paragraph 3 relates to information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, (including the Authority holding that 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 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information. (Paragraph 3 relates to information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, (including the Authority holding that information).

To consider a report updating the Council on progress with the procurement of new waste treatment facilities, which outlines the methodology that has been used to arrive at a shortlist of Participants for the final stage of the Competitive Dialogue and thereafter the Final Tender stage for the Waste Treatment Services PFI Contract.

           Consideration was given to a report updating the Advisory Panel on progress with regard to the procurement of new waste treatment facilities and outlining the methodology that had been used to arrive at a shortlist of Participants for the final stage of the Competitive Dialogue and thereafter, the Final Tender stage for the Waste Treatment Services PFI Contract. A fuller report was tabled at the meeting, which indicated the recommendations for de-selection of Participants to a shortlist of two.

           RESOLVED

           That the Cabinet be advised that the supplementary recommendations for deselection, as set out in paragraph 7.18 the report, as circulated at the meeting be supported.