Agenda and minutes

To give consideration to the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2018.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interests.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of the existence of a party whip.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit 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 members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered. 

On behalf of Town Councillor Suzie Akers Smith from Congleton, Councillor Paul Bates read out a statement expressing concern about the fact that no shared space cycle/walkway, and other features such as dropped kerbs had been created at a development Galloway Green Congleton. This link would have helped children to cycle and walk to Eaton Bank Academy and through into Congleton Park and the town centre.

She suggested that unless cycling and walking links were created to facilitate cycling and walking within and around the new developments, the East/West Greenway in the Congleton North Masterplan would be ineffective.  She therefore sought an assurance that planners and highway engineers would create the walking and cycling infrastructure Congleton desperately needed so that the uptake of walking and cycling could be increased.

Town Councillor Ben Minshull from Crewe spoke about proposals to increase car parking in charges. He explained that as car parking charges were higher in Crewe than the rest of the borough there was a feeling that Crewe subsidised car parking in other parts of the borough and he made a plea for parity across the borough.

In addition he referred to the joint working between Crewe Town Council and this Council on the redevelopment of Crewe Town Council and questioned whether the time was right to increase charges. He also suggested that on street parking would increase in the vicinity of Thomas Street/ Brierley Street as a result of increased charges. In addition cuts to bus services would likely increase the number of car journeys into Crewe.

Further to the recent briefing session, to finalise the Committees comments on the  Council’s Pre-Budget Consultation 2018/21 document, specifically in relation to Outcome Two (Cheshire East has a strong and resilient economy) and Outcome Four (Cheshire East is a green and sustainable place).

The Pre-Budget Consultation 2018/21 Document has previously been circulated to Members.  Available online at:

https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/your_council/council_finance_and_governance/cheshire_east_budget/cheshire-east-budget.aspx 

On the 12 November 2018 the committee met in an informal session to consider the pre budget consultation 2019/22. The following comments which were made at that meeting on the pre budget consultation document were forwarded to Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 December 2018:-

In relation to outcome 2, the following comments were made:

Item 12 - Homelessness Reduction Act, Members questioned whether or not there would be any investment in housing, it was noted that a joint venture was currently being considered.

Item 13 - Community transport, it was agreed that the review of the Councils flexible transport little bus service would be considered by the Committee prior to Cabinet.

In relation to outcome 4, the following comments were made:

Item 24 – Parking Review, it was noted that the base budget was approved in February 2018 and there would be no further income growth until a detailed review had been undertaken.

Item 27 - Planning Reserve, this related to the withdrawal of funding for the Local Plan and was not a reduction to the planning team.

Item 28 - Environmental Services Base Budget – Members question why the original base budget was incorrect and suggested that this should be investigated.

Item 29 - Ansa Income Generation and Efficiencies - this may be done through changes to times and dates of collections or fewer vehicles.  The frequency of collections would not be affected. Members suggested that the Council needed to look at reducing costs through improved recycling and the Waste Management Strategy.

RESOLVED – That the comments set out above in respect of the pre budget consultation document be formally placed on record.

To give consideration to the place performance scorecard for quarter 2.

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Place containing a score card which provided an update on the latest available performance data for the Place Department for 2018/19 relating to quarter two.

It was suggested that in future the report could contain more qualitative information.

In response to a question about the affordable warmth grant, The Executive Director of place undertook to provide a written update for all Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be received.

To give consideration to the areas of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee.

Consideration was given to the areas of the forward plan which fell within the remit of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the forward plan be received.

To give consideration to the work programme

The Committee reviewed itswork programme..

RESOLVED

That an item be added to the work programme to review the home choice priority lists of major registered social landlords in order that they can be compared to the Council’s own priority list

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 has 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 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 item pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that itinvolves 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.

To give consideration to an update on the supported bus network

The Committee received a presentation on the supported bus network.

RESOLVED - That the presentation be received.