CREWE TOWN BOARDTERMS OFREFERENCE
1.
Key Objectivesof theCrewe TownBoard
The primary objective of the town board is to provide oversight and
scrutiny of the Town Investment Plan and the subsequent Town Deal
for Crewe.
The role of the Board is advisory to Cheshire East Council and it
is to:
·
Develop an evidenced based Town Investment Plan
·
Develop a clear programme of interventions
·
Provide oversight and scrutiny of this programme, and
·
Coordinate resources and influence stakeholders
In addition, the Board will:
·
Build on the Crewe regeneration framework and the town investment
plan to inform a vision and strategy to secure the long term
economic, physical, environmental, cultural, and social development
of Crewe.
·
Inform an action plan, which includes the short and medium-term
actions required to deliver the Vision and Strategy
·
Inform any key investment and funding decision to be taken by any
individual stakeholder in the town
2.
Main responsibilitiesof theCrewe TownBoard
·
Inform the long-term vision, strategy and plan for Crewe
·
Review and advise on any partner strategies and plans that relate
to economic, physical and social development in Crewe.
·
Consider and advise on funding applications that support the key
objectives of the Board
·
Influence new proposals so that they maximise their contribution to
the key objectives of the Board.
·
Influence the development and delivery of sub-regional and national
policies and programmes that have a bearing on the key
objectives.
·
Work with partners to promote and market the town to residents,
partners, businesses, inward investors and visitors (existing and
potential)
·
Build and maintain strong effective relationships with key local,
sub-regional and national stakeholders to help secure further
investment and ensure a positive impression of the town.
·
Ensure appropriate engagement arrangements are in place with all
stakeholders
·
Specifically, to ensure the voice of all groups is fed into the
vision and its strategy and delivery e.g., young people, vulnerable
groups, people from ethnic minority backgrounds (current govt
guidance, see:
https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/style-guide/writing-about-ethnicity).
3.
Scope
3.1
The focus of the Board will be on the urban areas of Crewe.
However, in some instances it may be appropriate to consider Crewe
as having a wider economic geography extending across south
Cheshire and/or the CW postcodes.
3.2
The Board’s remit shall encompass oversight of the economic,
physical, environmental and social development of Crewe. For
purposes of clarity this should include the following:
§
Physical development including buildings and infrastructure
§
The retention and creation of jobs and increased productivity
through Crewe’s employers
§
The skills, education, aptitudes, and experiences of people that
live or work in Crewe
§
The physical built and green environment of Crewe
§
The public health and broader welfare of Crewe’s
residents.
4.
Membership
4.1.
The Board will comprise up to 17 members, reflecting the different
types of stakeholders required to support effective working whilst
representing the different interests of the town. These will
include the MP for Crewe & Nantwich and representatives from
Cheshire East Council, Crewe Town Council and Cheshire &
Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.
4.2.
Organisations represented on the Board will determine and review
their own appointments in accordance with their internal
arrangements.
4.3.
Individual members of the Board will be responsible for the
induction of new members as appropriate.
5.
Chair andVice Chair
5.1.
The Chair and Vice-Chair will, unless otherwise agreed, be elected
for a period ofthree yearsbut thiswill be reviewed annually bythe
Board.
5.2.
The annual review by the Board for the Chair and Vice Chair review
will follow thisprocess:
5.2.1.
The current Chair will email the Board on an annual review basis to
ask ifanyone wishes to put themselves forward as Chair or Vice
Chair and if thecurrent electedrepresentatives are happy tocontinue
in theirroles.
5.2.2.
Should further nominations be received for either positions, this
will result in an anonymous vote by the Board conducted by either
the current Chair or Vice-Chair, dependant on the role being
considered.
5.2.3.
The Chair or Vice-Chair will collate the votes and communicate the
results.
5.2.4.
The Chair or Vice-Chair elected will take up their position upon
announcement of the outcome.
5.3.
The Chair should normally be a private sector representative.
5.4.
The Vice-Chair may be from any sector.
5.5.
If the Chair resigns or is otherwise unable to continue in office,
the Vice-Chair will perform the functions of the Chair until the
Board has elected a new Chair.
5.6.
Similarly, if the Vice-Chair is unable to continue in office, the
Chair will prompt an election for a new Vice-Chair.
6.
LeadAuthority andAccountable BodyArrangements
6.1.
Cheshire East Council will be the Lead Authority and will carry out
the role of Accountable Body for the Towns Fund.
6.2.
Cheshire East Council will take responsibility for ensuring that
decisions are made by the Town Deal Board in accordance with good
governance principles.
6.3.
The Board will provide an annual update to the accountable body on
the work of the Board and progress that is being made by
projects.
7.
Secretariat
7.1.
Cheshire East Council will provide secretariat support for the
meetings of the Board.
7.2.
The Executive Director of Place or the Director of Growth and
Enterprise of Cheshire East Council will act as Secretary of the
Board for the purpose of co-ordinating advice to the Board.
7.3.
The Head of Democratic Services and Governance of Cheshire East
Council will be responsible for providing secretariat support for
the Board.
7.4.
The Director of Finance and Customer Service, as Section 151
Officer, will sign off project business cases and summaries to be
submitted to the government for projects finial assessments.
7.5.
The S151 officer will also provide government with a comprehensive
set of data relating to each Town Deal project, including both
total and forecast spend, and output metrics in line with the Towns
Fund guidanceAgendas and reports will be
published at least five clear working days in advance of a meeting
and sent to all members of the Board.
7.6.
Agendas, reports and minutes will be published on the
Council’s website, and will be publicly accessible documents,
subject to the requirements of confidentiality.
8.
BoardMeetings
8.1.
To be quorate, two thirds of members must be present, of which two
must be from the private sector. No decisions may be taken by the
Board if a meeting is inquorate.
8.2.
Substitute members at a meeting will not be permitted NOTE –
substitutes do not provide good continuity of oversight and do not
demonstrate best practice as substitution is habit forming.
8.3.
Meetings are to be held at least four times per year.
8.4.
Minutes of the meeting will focus on actions rather than provide a
record of all discussion points
8.5.
The Board may invite appropriate organisations/individuals to give
presentations on priority issues
8.6.
At every meeting, the Chair will confirm: all decisions taken;
actions agreed; and media messages.
8.7.
Where a decision is required, the Board will try to reach a
consensus view. Where this is not possible, there will be a vote.
Each member of the Board will have one vote and matters will be
determined by a simple majority of those present at the meeting. In
the case of an equality of voting, the Chair shall have a second or
casting vote.
8.8.
A matter needing board approval can be considered by exception by
correspondence if the matter is time critical. Most of the Board
will have to approve the matter and copies of emails confirming the
position and any comments will be kept by the Secretariat. The
matter will then need to be formally ratified at the next board
meeting and minuted.
8.9.
The Board will make its governance structures, profiles on key
stakeholders, meeting agendas and minutes (in accordance with the
Local Government Act 1972) evidence and any supporting documents
for Town Investment Plans publicly available (e.g. through the
website of Cheshire East Council).
8.10.
Where is it necessary for a matter to be dealt with in confidence,
all relevant papers will be marked as confidential and shall not be
disclosed outside the Board.
9.
Declarationsof Interest andConduct ofMembers ofthe Board
9.1.
Members must declare a personal, pecuniary, prejudicial or other
interest in any matter under discussion at a meeting and this must
be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
9.2.
Declaration includes stating the nature of the interest.
9.3.
Where a pecuniary or prejudicial interest is declared, the member
in question must absent themselves from the meeting for that item
and take no part in the discussion or voting.
9.4.
Elected members of Cheshire East Council who sit on the Board are
bound by the Council’s Member Code of Conduct.
9.5.
The Board will establish a register of interests to be completed by
all members of the Board. The register will be
maintained by the Lead Authority.
9.6.
All members of the Board are expected to adhere to the Nolan
Principles: The Seven Principles of Public Life:
9.6.1.
Selflessness
9.6.2.
Integrity
9.6.3.
Objectivity
9.6.4.
Accountability
9.6.5.
Openness
9.6.6.
Honesty
9.6.7.
Leadership
10.
Changesto theTerms ofReference
10.1.
These terms of reference will be reviewed annually or sooner if
deemed appropriate.
10.2.
Any changes to the terms of reference must be approved by a
majority of the Board’s membership.