Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

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

Councillor Rachel Bailey declared an interest in Item 7 – Crewe and Nantwich Twinning Association (CANTA) – Request for Grant, as she was a past member of CANTA.

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 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. It is not required to give notice of the intention to make use of public speaking provision, however, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public should provide 3 clear working days notice, in writing, if they wish to ask a question at the meeting, and submit the question at the time of notification, in order for an informed answer to be given.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos. 11 and 35, a total period of 10 minutes was allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to its work.

Two members of CANTA - Mr T Lightfoot and Mr C Mosby, addressed the meeting in relation to Item 6 – Crewe and Nantwich Twinning Association (CANTA) – Request for Grant.

The report of the Director of Children’s Services invites the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services to grant approval to change the age range from 4-11 to 3-11 years old at Cledford Primary School, Long Lane South, Middlewich.

The Cabinet Member for Children & Families considered a report on a proposal to change the age range from 4-11 to 3-11 years old at Cledford Primary School, Middlewich.  A change in the age range would enable the school to continue to provide the Free Early Education Entitlement to children aged 3 and 4 years

Cledford Infant and Junior Schools amalgamated in January 2009 to create Cledford Primary School.  The age range of the School was 4 to 11 years old.  Due to the Local Government Review and changes in project leads, Officers were unclear why this was the case when the new school included a nursery.  At present the nursery was operating under the Governors’ powers to temporarily extend the age range of the school for a period of up to 2 years.  This would expire on 31 December 2010. 

The proposal to change the age range at Cledford Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 years was a prescribed alteration under the Education and Inspections Act 2006 and consultation had been carried out in accordance with the statutory process.  Twenty two formal responses had been received, with nineteen supporting the proposal and three against.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Children and Families approve the change of age range from 4-11 to 3-11 years old at Cledford Primary School, Middlewich.

The Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities is invited to consider the report of the Legal Team Manager (Regulatory) which details a proposal to re-adopt the provisions of Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 within the Borough of Cheshire East.

The Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities considered a report which detailed proposals to re-adopt the provisions of Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 within the Borough of Cheshire East.

Re-adoption of the legislation was proposed in order to consolidate the three previous resolutions of the predecessor district authorities into one resolution and to ensure certainty in any enforcement action taken under the legislation.

Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 contained provisions in relation to the licensing of private hire and hackney carriage vehicles, drivers and operators.

The Licensing Committee, at its meeting on 8 November 2010, resolved to recommend to the Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities that they authorise the Borough Solicitor to provide notice, in accordance with section 45 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, of the Council’s intention to re-adopt the provisions of Part II of the 1976 Act in relation to the Council’s administrative area.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities

(1)       note the legislative position, as outlined in the Report, and express the intention to pass a resolution to adopt the provisions of Part 11 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

(2)       authorise the Borough Solicitor or an officer acting on their behalf to provide notice, in accordance with section 45 of the Local Government Act (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, of the Council’s intention to pass a resolution to adopt the provisions of Part II of the 1976 Act in relation to the Council’s administrative area.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity is asked to consider a request for a grant from Crewe & Nantwich Twinning Association (CANTA).

The Cabinet Member for Performance & Capacity considered a report on a request from the Crewe and Nantwich Twinning Association (CANTA) for grant funding.

CANTA was the twinning association for the former Borough of Crewe and Nantwich and therefore its remit extended to the former Borough’s Wards.

The Council was undertaking a review of twinning activity for the whole of the East Cheshire Borough, which would have an impact in the future of its relationship with CANTA.  The emerging policy was for the Council to withdraw from civic and ceremonial twinning and encourage and support local groups to continue with the historical links from the demised authorities. 

In the mean time requests for grant funding would be dealt with as they arose. 

Provision of £17,000 had been made for twinning in the Council’s Revenue Budget for 2010/11 and was held by Democratic Services.  No spend had occurred from this budget during 2010/11.

CANTA had made a response to the Council’s review of twining arrangements and had included in this submission a further request for funding.  Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council used to provide an annual grant to CANTA in the sum of £5000.  CANTA had received £5000 from Cheshire East Council during 2009/10 financial year.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity approve a grant of £5000 to the Crewe and Nantwich Twinning Association (CANTA) in the current financial year.

(Note: Councillor Rachel Bailey declared an interest in this item as she was a past member of CANTA)

The report of the Communications and PR Manager presents a revised Media Relations Protocol for approval by the Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity.

The Cabinet Member for Performance & Capacity considered a report which sought approval for minor changes to the Council’s Media Relations Protocol.

The Media Relations Protocol was required to guide Elected Member and Officers in their dealings with the media to ensure that best practice was followed in enhancing and protecting the reputation of the Council.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Performance and Capacity approve the proposed minor changes to the Council’s Media Relations Protocol, as explained in Appendix B to the Report.