Agenda item

The Head of Legal and Monitoring Officer made a statement regarding decision making in respect of the decision concerning the Waste Transformation Project, at Lyme Green, Macclesfield as follows:-

 

“Cabinet on 14 March 2011 approved the Waste Transformation Project. On 14 September 2011 a delegated decision was taken by an officer to waive the requirement for an additional tendering exercise before awarding the interim recycling contract at a value of £240,000. On 4 October 2011 a further delegated decision was taken by an officer to approve the main contract for works. Cllr Michael Jones assumed responsibility as Finance Portfolio Holder on 01 September 2011 and did not take any of the decisions I have set out”.

 

Consideration was given to the following Notices of Motion:-

 

Motion of No Confidence

 

Proposed by Councillor D Newton and Seconded by Councillor
S Corcoran

 

This Council has no confidence in its Leader.

 

AMENDMENT

 

The following amendment was proposed and seconded and declared carried :-

 

“We are greatly disappointed that the Labour group resort to dubious and personal attacks as opposed to serious debate on issues that affect our residents and retain full confidence in the Leader”.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion, as amended, be accepted.

 

2          Farewell

 

Proposed by Councillor S Corcoran

 

This Council bids you farewell.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion be accepted.

 

 

3          Party Political Communications

 

Proposed byCouncillor R Cartlidge and seconded by Cllr B Murphy.

Following the recent controversial incident of party-political twittering, this Council

 

1.    deplores the involvement of council officials in party political communications of any kind,

 

2.    welcomes the Chief Executive's commitment to appropriate disciplinary measures to ensure a "zero tolerance" policy for the future

 

3.    looks forward to the early publication of a protocol in this respect,

 

4.    requests that a thorough and comprehensive review of the communications function in all respects be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.

 

4          Confidentiality Agreements

 

Proposed by Councillor A Moran and Seconded by Councillor B Murphy

 

Subject to statutory and common law requirements and what can be deemed “good and fair practice in relation to innocent third parties”, this Council calls for an outright ban on Confidentiality Agreements (aka compromise/non-disclosure/gagging agreements), particularly in relation to financial payments by the Council. In the interests of transparency, honesty and public accountability, the Council requests the Cabinet to produce a protocol or policy document for this Council’s approval.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.

 

5          Incentive Payments

 

Proposed by Councillor B Murphy and Seconded by Councillor A Moran

 

This Council recognises that the successful delivery of its services depends on the team effort of every single employee and therefore calls for the immediate suspension of any performance related pay or bonus scheme that is not available to every single employee.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.

 

6          Planning Policy on Method Statements

 

Proposed by Councillor B Murphy and Seconded by Councillor
M  Parsons

 

The Council requests the production of a planning protocol to ensure Method Statements entailed in Planning Applications contain a “neighbourhood impact appraisal” and that the Statement should be submitted to affected ward members at pre-application discussion stage when applicable.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.

 

NOTED - The following motion was withdrawn by the proposer.

 

7          Provision of I-Pads and/or Similar Equipment for Councillors

 

Proposed by Councillor B Murphy and Seconded by Councillor
L Roberts

 

In view of the arbitrary distribution of I-Pads and similar equipment, such equipment as from the date of the motion being approved shall no longer be made available to Members except for those Members who agree to pay for the cost of the equipment.  This policy shall apply to current holders of such equipment if they are re-elected to the Council on 7 May 2015.

 

8          Planning

 

Proposed by Councillor J Jackson and Seconded by Councillor
S Hogben

 

This Council fully supports the practical introduction of Neighbourhood Plans for identifiable communities in Cheshire East. Given the perceived weakness of current, extant Borough Plans and the lack of an established new Cheshire East Local Plan, Council recognises that fully endorsed and adopted Neighbourhood Plans offer some appropriate guidance and protection in relation to the development of local communities.

 

The Council will therefore:

 

a.    continue to support the current programme of supported Neighbourhood Planning;

b.    invite further interest from local communities in pursuing Neighbourhood Plans on an annual basis;

c.    set up, in accordance with available resources, a rolling programme of supported Neighbourhood Planning;

d.    continue with this rolling programme after the Cheshire East Local Plan is adopted and in place.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.

 

9          Local Democracy

 

Proposed by Councillor K Edwards and Seconded by Councillor
D Newton

 

This Council recognises the value of local councils throughout Cheshire East. It wishes to work in partnership with them on a continuous basis to improve the well-being of local residents, the prosperity of local businesses, and to enhance the quality of the visitor welcome throughout the borough.

 

In particular, this Council recognises the strong programme of support for local democracy through:

 

a.    welcoming the establishment of new local councils for Crewe, Handforth, Styal, and Wilmslow;

b.    welcoming the forthcoming establishment of a local council for Macclesfield;

c.    supporting the work of the National association of Local Councils, through partnership with Cheshire Association of Local Councils;

d.    looking every opportunity to work positively with local councils to attract external resources, including grants, to improve the quality of life for local residents.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.

 

10        Transition to Work

 

Proposed by Councillor K Edwards and seconded by Cllr L Jeuda

 

Cheshire East Council is committed to encouraging economic growth for the area in general, and to offer opportunities to residents for gainful employment.

 

The Council will therefore:

 

a.    ensure that the local living wage is paid as a minimum throughout all the companies where it has overall control;

b.    encourage, through contractual arrangements, the local living wage as a minimum by those companies from which it procures services and materials;

c.    encourage the location of highly skilled and well paid jobs in Cheshire East;

d.    provide and encourage a full range of apprenticeship schemes throughout the Borough, and throughout those companies with which it has contractual arrangements;

e.    provide and encourage high level training courses to ensure that school and college leavers have the best opportunities available;

f.     target young people who are not likely to be in education, training or employment when they leave school.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.

 

11        OFSTED

Submitted by Councillor D Flude and seconded by Cllr I Faseyi

This Council calls on the Secretary State for Education to mandate Ofsted that it will inform this and other Boroughs Nationally when private, not for profit or charitable residential homes for children and young people are opened in a Borough, thus informing that Borough that there are Children or Young people residing in that Borough who were not residents of that Borough before their placement.

RESOLVED

 

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.

 

12    Affordable Housing in Cheshire East

 

Proposed by Councillor L Jeuda and Seconded by Councillor M Grant

 

Cheshire East will resist the Government's recent policy of allowing property developers to 'opt out' of providing affordable homes when submitting planning applications.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the motion stand referred to Cabinet.