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 its work.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or 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 at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

There were no members of the public present.

The Cabinet Member is recommended to approve the Cheshire East Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2011-2026 Implementation Plan 2011-2015, as detailed in the report.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing considered a report on the Cheshire East Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2011-2026 Implementation Plan 2011-2015.

It was a statutory duty under section 60 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 for every local highway authority to prepare and publish a Rights of Way Improvement Plan. The Cheshire East Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2011-2015 had been approved on 17^th January 2011. 

The Rights of Way Improvement Plan must set out a statement of action detailing how the authority would implement improvements; this was presented in the Implementation Plan 2011-2015.

RESOLVED

That the Cheshire East Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2011-2026 Implementation Plan 2011-2015 be approved.

The Cabinet Member is asked to approve the surrender of the existing lease and granting of a new 50 year lease to 1^st Alsager Scout Group on terms and conditions to be determined by the Assets Manager and Borough Solicitor.

The Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services considered a report on the surrender of the existing lease and granting of a new 50 year lease to 1^st Alsager Scout Group.

The 1st Alsager Scout Group wished to surrender their existing lease agreement of 7 years unexpired and to enter into a new 50 year lease agreement. This would allow the group to apply for grant funding and provide the security to continue to improve the existing facilities.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services approves the surrender of the existing lease and granting of a new 50 year lease to 1st Alsager Scout Group on terms and conditions to be determined by the Assets Manager and Borough Solicitor.

The Cabinet Member is asked to consider authorising the grant of an easement over the land identified in the report on terms and conditions to be determined by the Asset Manager and Borough Solicitor.

The Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services considered the proposed grant of an easement over Wilmslow Park, Wilmslow.

The Council had been approached by National Grid to grant an easement over land at Wilmslow Park. The land was designated as public open space and was currently managed by the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Department. The land was currently used for recreational purposes and was not subject to any other leases or licences to third parties. The laying of the pipes was scheduled to commence in spring 2011, with the route taking about a month to lay and back fill. The required working area would be securely fenced for both security and safety and this would allow the footpath through the park to remain open.

RESOLVED

That an easement be granted to National Grid over the land at Wilmslow Park, Wilmslow, as referred to in the report, on terms and conditions to be determined by the Asset Manager and the Borough Solicitor.

To consider a request from the Trustees of Bollington Leisure Centre to surrender their current leases and to grant a new ground lease which would expire on 30 April 2032.

The Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services considered a request from the Trustees of Bollington Leisure Centre to surrender their current lease and to grant a new ground lease which would expire on 30 April 2032.

The leisure centre was situated on land owned and leased out by Cheshire East Council. The Trustees of the leisure centre wished to extend the facilities and therefore wished to surrender their current agreements and have a new lease incorporating the additional piece of land for the extension.

RESOLVED

That the ground lease to the Trustees of Bollington Leisure Centre be surrendered and re-granted to incorporate an additional piece of land to enable the Trustees to extend the gymnasium (subject to planning permission), the lease to be subject to such terms and conditions as the Assets Manager and Borough Solicitor deem appropriate.

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 Cabinet Members may decide to exclude the press and public 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 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

RESOLVED:

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 disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and the public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

To consider a proposal to declare a number of properties surplus to Cheshire East Council’s requirements and to place them on the open market for disposal on terms and conditions to be determined by the Borough Solicitor and Assets Manager.

The Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services considered a proposal to declare a number of properties surplus to Cheshire East Council’s requirements and to place them on the open market for disposal.

The properties had all been declared surplus by the former Service occupiers. All Cheshire East Services had been asked to confirm if there was an internal re-use for any of the properties; there were none. The properties were therefore surplus to Cheshire East Council requirements.

Each Property had been incurring grounds maintenance, insurance and term maintenance costs and, in some instances, intermittent security costs all of which would be saved upon disposal.

Each property would produce a capital receipt if sold on the open market, subject to market demand and the current property market downturn. The estimated value of each property was listed in the report.

RESOLVED

That the properties referred to in the report be declared surplus to the requirements of Cheshire East Council and placed on the open market for disposal on terms and conditions to be determined by the Borough Solicitor and Assets Manager.

To consider entering into an option agreement to dispose of land off Canal Street, Congleton

The Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services considered a proposal to enter into an option agreement with the John Holford Charity to dispose of land off Canal Street, Congleton.

The option would be triggered upon the sale of adjoining land by the Charity, subject to there being outline permission for a residential development.

RESOLVED

That the Council enter into an option agreement with the John Holford Charity on the basis set out in the report to enable the Charity to acquire from the Council an area of land off Canal Street, Congleton as shown edged red on the plan attached to the report subject to such terms and conditions as the Assets Manager and Borough Solicitor deem appropriate.

To consider entering into an option agreement in respect of land off Windsor Place, Congleton

The Cabinet Member for Procurement, Assets and Shared Services considered a proposal to enter into an option agreement with Alchemy Homes Limited in respect of land off Windsor Place, Congleton.

The land in question was currently used as a garage site that was retained by the former Congleton Borough Council as a strategic site providing potential access to land off Windsor Place.

RESOLVED

That the Council enter into an option agreement with Alchemy Homes Limited on the basis set out in the report to enable the company to acquire from the Council an area of land off Windsor Place, Congleton as shown edged red on the plan attached to the report, subject to such terms and conditions as the Assets Manager and Borough Solicitor deem appropriate.