Agenda item

At its meeting held on 15^th October 2009, Council considered the results of the first stage of the consultation process and resolved “to accept the vote of the people of Crewe and to reject the notion of a town council for Crewe at the current time”.

The Council is now required to publish the decision as the Council’s draft recommendation for the outcome of the Review and to take steps to ensure that interested persons are informed.

At the last meeting of the Member Group, it was agreed that the Stage 2 consultation would consist of information and an electronic feedback form on website, public notices, press releases and correspondence with stakeholders. 

The second stage of the consultation was due to start on 19^th November.  However, Officers considered that it was important for a further meeting of the Member Group to be held so that the wording of the consultation documents could be agreed by Members.  This means that a new timeframe for the second stage of consultation is required.

Members are now asked to approve:

At its meeting on 15^th October 2009, Council had considered the results of the first stage of the consultation process and had resolved to “accept the vote from the people of Crewe and to reject the notion of a town council for Crewe at the current time“.

Cheshire East Council was now required to i) publish the decision as the Council’s draft recommendation for the outcome of the review; and ii) take steps to ensure that all interested parties were informed.  The Sub Committee was invited to approve the content of three documents; a consultation paper publicising the Council’s decision; a press release inviting the public to participate in Stage 2 consultation process and a public notice describing the position to date; all of which would, as appropriate, be placed on deposit at Council information points, sent to consultees and made available on the Council‘s website.

Stage 2 consultation was originally due to commence in October 2009 but, as the documents would need to be ‘signed off’ by the Sub Committee prior to publication, the timeframe had been revised and would now run between November 2009 - January 2010.  As the Boundary Committee’s consultation period was due to conclude before Council met to consider its decision on 25 February 2010, the Sub Committee was advised that there may be a need to hold meetings of the Sub Committee, Governance and Constitution Committee and Council earlier than scheduled. 

Comment was made that some organisations had indicated that they had not received any communication from the Council as part of Stage 1 consultation.  Members were invited to speak to officers outside of the meeting to update the distribution list for Stage 2 of the consultation.     

30.1    Draft Recommendation Consultation Document 

The outcome of the first consultation period was set out on page 7 of the agenda.  A Member proposed that the number of individuals who had abstained from responding to question 1 but had answered question 2 should be included in the document, which was supported. 

Having been moved and seconded, the amendment was then put to the vote.  Two voted for the motion, three voted against the motion and there were no abstentions.  Accordingly, the amendment to the motion was lost. 

The Chairman then moved that the draft recommendation as printed on the agenda be approved.  Having been moved and seconded, the motion was put to the vote.  Three voted for the motion, two voted against the motion and there were no abstentions.  Accordingly, the motion was carried.  

RESOLVED: That the content of the draft Recommendation Consultation Document arising from the first phase of consultation be approved as printed on the agenda. 

(Note:  Councillors Cannon and Cartlidge voted against the motion which has been recorded in accordance with Procedure Rule 31.4)

30.2         Draft Press Release

The Sub Committee was invited to approve a draft press release, subject to the substitution of the quotation in the body of the text from Councillor Davenport in place of Councillor Kolker. 

RESOLVED: That subject to the substitution of quotations as described above, the draft press release as set out in the agenda be approved. 

30.3    Public Notice        

Members were advised of two typographical errors within the public notice which required correction prior to publication i.e. 

Third paragraph second line.  The sentence beginning “A public meeting was..” to be replaced by “Public meetings were…”  

Fourth Paragraph, second line.  The word ‘of’ to be replaced by ‘from’.

To ensure that maximum publicity was given to the Stage 2 Consultation, a request was made for the notice to be included in the next issue of Cheshire East News, publication dates permitting.

RESOLVED: That subject to the amendments listed above, the public notice be approved. 

30.4    Boundary Committee          

To ensure that the Boundary Committee was advised of the position in respect of Crewe Community Governance Review, it was proposed that a copy of the consultation document be sent to it.  

RESOLVED: That Cheshire East Council be instructed to write to the Boundary Committee, enclosing a copy of the consultation document.