The Governance Lead Officer introduced a paper updating the Committee on the proposed application for Borough status, as agreed in principle by Council on 30 July 2008.
The paper set out the circumstances in which the Shadow Authority may petition for Borough status, and through the Privy Council Office, seek the grant of a Charter conferring Borough status on the whole area. Such a grant would mean that the Council would elect a Mayor, rather than a Chairman of the Council. The Council would also be able to appoint Honorary Freemen and Honorary Aldermen. It was noted that Honorary Freemen could only be appointed if Borough status was achieved
To seek the grant of the Charter, a Petition in the appropriate format would have to be presented to the Privy Council Office, together with the proposed wording of the Charter. Drafts of both documents were appended to the paper and considered prior to submission to the full Council.
It was noted that the Local Government Act 1972 provided that “a Petition for a Charter shall not be presented except on a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the Members voting thereon at a meeting of the Council specifically convened for the purpose with notice of the object”. Appropriate provision would be made to enable the Council on 20 October to consider the formal presentation of the Petition for Borough status.
The Committee noted the differing responses of Macclesfield Borough Council, Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, and Cheshire County Council to Cheshire East’s Petition for Borough status, and proposals to seek Charter Trustees to provide for a Mayor for Macclesfield and Crewe Towns. It was noted Congleton Borough Council had not yet considered the issue of Borough status for Cheshire East.
RESOLVED -
1. To recommend a Special Meeting of the Council to approve:
a) the formal presentation of a Petition seeking the grant of a
Charter for Borough status; and
b) the form of the Council’s Petition for Borough status and of the
proposed Charter for submission to the Privy Council Office.
2. That Council be advised to support applications for Charter Trustees which may be made by any unparished area of Cheshire East.