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 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 three clear working days’ notice, in writing, in order for an informed answer to be given.

There were no members of the public wishing to speak.

To consider proposals for the harmonisation of fees, charges and membership policies in leisure facilities inherited from former district authorities in Cheshire East.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing considered proposals for the harmonisation of fees, charges and membership policies in leisure facilities inherited from former district authorities in Cheshire East.

The Council had inherited a number of different approaches to fees and charges in leisure facilities from the former district authorities, which had resulted in quite significant differences in the prices charged to customers at Cheshire East leisure centres for comparable products and services.

On 1^st April 2010, a new harmonised membership scheme was launched (Everybody) along with a new concessionary discount scheme (Everybody Options). The new schemes provided a consistent approach to memberships and discounts which allowed access to any Cheshire East Council leisure facility.

The Bonus Card in the Congleton Area facilities, which was primarily a loyalty scheme, was not withdrawn at the time and as a result was beginning to cause confusion for both staff and customers having two concurrent schemes running. While the benefits of a loyalty scheme were recognised, the lack of a joined leisure management database made a common Cheshire East scheme impossible to manage and would be investigated for reintroduction at such a time when a single leisure management system was introduced.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing

(1)   approves the revised scale of fees and charges in leisure facilities with effect from 1^st October 2010 as part of a two-phase exercise to align pricing where appropriate; and

(2)   approves the phased withdrawal of the former Congleton Borough Council Bonus Card Scheme in line with the new Cheshire East Everybody memberships.

To consider a proposed Housing Fire Safety Protocol between Cheshire East Council and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to aid co-ordination of the actions of both bodies and promote fire safety.  

The Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities considered a proposed Housing Fire Safety Protocol between Cheshire East Council and

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to aid co-ordination of the actions of both bodies and promote fire safety.

Cheshire East had a legal duty to take enforcement action where a Category 1 hazard assessed under the Housing Act 2004 was present in a residential property, including hazards related to fire. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service also had a legal duty to ensure fire safety in common areas of multiple-occupied housing. The protocol clarified the lead responsibilities of each authority and joint working arrangements between the authorities to promote coordination of the way in which the respective duties were carried out.

There was no statutory duty to enter into a protocol with another statutory body to improve fire safety. Because responsibility for enforcing fire safety legislation overlapped between the authorities, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Chief Fire Officers’ Association had recommended that a protocol be established at a local level to clarify authorities’ lead roles.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities approves that the Housing Fire Safety Protocol appended to the report be agreed between Cheshire East Council and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to aid co-ordination of the actions of both bodies and promote fire safety.  

To consider proposed minor changes to the Council’s Media Relations Protocol.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity considered proposed minor changes to the Council’s Media Relations Protocol.

The Media Relations Protocol was required to guide officers and Members n their dealings with the media for the enhancement and protection of the Council’s reputation.  It had already been passed by Cabinet but there had  since been a couple of minor amendments which required approval.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity approves the

proposed minor changes to the Council’s Media Relations Protocol as highlighted in the Appendix to the report, as further amended at the meeting.

To consider the adoption of a Homelessness Strategy for Cheshire East.

The Cabinet Member for Prosperity considered the adoption of a Homelessness Strategy for Cheshire East.

Local authorities were required to undertake a homelessness review within their areas and use the information to formulate a homelessness strategy. The homelessness review, which was completed in 2009, looked at current and projected levels of homelessness within the Borough, and established the activities to be carried out to prevent homelessness and determine the accommodation and support needs of the homeless. The strategy had been completed in consultation with internal and external key partners, third sector organisations and service users.

The areas identified within the strategy for action focussed on five key areas: homelessness prevention, processes, temporary accommodation, tenancy support and permanent housing.

The Homelessness Strategy had completed a 12 week consultation period and further comments from Citizen’s Advice, Children’s Service and Domestic Violence services had been incorporated; the Strategy was now ready for adoption.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Prosperity approves the adoption of the Homelessness Strategy appended to the report.

To consider a report on Manchester City Council’s proposed policy approach to managing the growth of Manchester Airport through its Core Strategy.

The Cabinet Member for Prosperity considered a report on Manchester City Council’s proposed policy approach to managing the growth of Manchester Airport through its Core Strategy.

Manchester City Council had published its ‘pre-publication partial consultation’ on its Core Strategy for consultation between 4^th August and 15^th September 2010.  This included a proposed policy approach to managing the growth of Manchester Airport through its Core Strategy, so that the growth requirements for the airport set out by the Government (i.e. of accommodating 45 million passengers per annum by 2030) could be achieved.

The proposed approach to airport development would involve an enlarged operational area and the removal of the entire operational area from the Green Belt. This was considered acceptable on the grounds that there would be greater overall efficiencies in land use at the site by 2030 and that exceptional circumstances existed for Green Belt revision. However, the Council was not satisfied that sufficient provision was made in the proposed policy for the airport to take account of adverse impacts on the transport network that may result from its expansion. Therefore, the need to amend the policy in this respect was suggested.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Prosperity approves that Cheshire East Council supports Manchester City Council’s policy approach to dealing with growth at Manchester Airport as detailed in its Core Strategy, subject to reference being made in the policy to ensure that detailed planning application proposals for airport expansion show that they would have no adverse impact on the highways network.