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

No interests were declared.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 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 meeting. 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. 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 three clear working days’ notice, in writing, in order for an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public were present.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd February 2010.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd February 2010 be approved as a correct record.

To seek authority to proceed with the formal consultation on the draft homelessness strategy.

The Cabinet Member considered a report seeking authority to proceed with the formal consultation on the draft homelessness strategy.

Under the Homelessness Act 2002, Local Authorities were required to have a strategy in place to prevent and deal with homelessness. The strategy was not only for preventing homelessness but also for ensuring the availability of sufficient accommodation for people who were or could become homeless, and for securing the provision of satisfactory support for people who were or could become homeless or who had been homeless and needed support to prevent them becoming homeless again.

The Council, as local housing authority and social services authority, had to take its homelessness strategy into account in the exercise of its functions.

Before adopting a homelessness strategy the Council was required to consult such public or local authorities, voluntary organisations and/or other persons as it considered appropriate. The consultation period would be for 12 weeks. The strategy would be updated in the light of the consultation and would then be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

RESOLVED

That approval is given to proceed with the public consultation on the draft homelessness strategy for Cheshire East.

To consider a report about ongoing capital projects from legacy authorities and the need to spend the funds on various housing-related schemes.

This item was deferred as the decisions required had already been dealt with in part and the remaining proposals needed to be reviewed in the light of further advice from the Borough Solicitor and Borough Treasurer.