Decisions

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval to enter into a construction contract for works at Wilmslow High School.

Councillor T Fox sought clarification of the current position regarding developer contributions for the scheme. The Portfolio Holder for Children and Families asked the officers to provide a written response.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves the procurement of a contract of works and authorises the Executive Director People to award a construction contract to facilitate the provision of additional places at Wilmslow High School, together with any other agreements associated with or ancillary to the contract.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval to enter into an arrangement with the Regional Adoption Agency, Adoption Counts.

Councillor B Puddicombe spoke on this matter as the Council’s representative on the Adoption Panel.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    Agrees to enter into arrangements with the Regional Adoption Agency, Adoption Counts, to manage and deliver the Adoption Service for Cheshire East Council alongside Trafford, Stockport, Salford and Manchester local authorities, subject to completion of a TUPE consultation exercise and final agreement of the Integrated Services Agreement (ISA);

2.    Authorises the Executive Director People, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children and Families, to take all steps to finalise the arrangements following completion of the TUPE consultation exercise, and final agreement of the ISA between the parties, and to take any action necessary under the terms of the ISA; and

3.    Notes that in order to transition to this arrangement a Portfolio Holder decision will be made to further extend the current ISA to 31^st December 2020.

Cabinet considered a report which proposed that the Council’s agreements for Microsoft Licences be aligned where appropriate and that a single contract be awarded to a Microsoft Licence Reseller. 

RESOLVED

That Cabinet authorises the Executive Director of Corporate Services in, consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, ICT and Communication, to award and enter into a contract to deliver Microsoft licences for Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council, infrastructure and desktop estate via a single Licence Service Provider, with an estimated total cost of up to £35m (excluding VAT) as determined by the Council over two 3 year periods (6 years in total).

Cabinet considered a report on a three-year programme of activity to enhance access to digital technology in Cheshire.

Councillor S Pochin, speaking as the Council’s Business Champion, asked about the perceived risks to the project being completed in full, on time and within budget. The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration responded, outlining the approach the Council would be taking to ensure the successful completion of the project.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves the establishment of the Digital Cheshire programme with Cheshire East Council acting as the Accountable Body and signatory to all contracts and funding agreements;

2.    notes that the partners of Connecting Cheshire i.e. Cheshire West and Chester Council, Warrington Borough Counci and Halton Borough Council similarly need to secure their own approvals for the acceptance of funding and to enter into the programme, the following recommendations and delegations being subject to all partners securing their necessary approvals;

3.    delegates to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration and the Director of Governance and Compliance, authority to accept an offer of European Regional Development Fund funding and to finalise the terms and conditions of the legal agreement between the Council and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in respect of the grant and the associated governance processes required;

4.    delegates to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Director of Governance and Compliance, authority to finalise and enter into an infrastructure delivery contract (following due internal dilligence and external State Aid approval processes) with an external supplier in order to deliver the physical broadband connectivity;

5.    authorises the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Director of Governance and Compliance, to enter into any necessary legal documentation to give effect to the above recommendations, including entering into an updated Collaboration Agreement between Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington and Halton Borough Councils for the Digital Cheshire programme; and

6.    authorises Officers to take all necessary actions to implement the above recommendations with particular reference to decision-making in relation to the Connecting Cheshire Partnership, the final programme scope and design of the Digital Cheshire programme, all grant and grant-related procurements and award of contracts, and the day-to-day management necessary to implement the programme.

Cabinet considered an update on the work undertaken in response to the pandemic and on the work being undertaken to support the recovery from the pandemic.

The Chairman of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor J Clowes, reported the comments of the Committee which had considered the report at its meeting on 3^rd September 2020. In particular, the Committee had thanked the Council’s staff for their work in responding to Covid, had welcomed the information on financial implications, and had recognised the need for more support for young people.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes the issues outlined in the report;

2.    notes the significant financial implications relating to COVID-19 as detailed in Section 7 and Appendix 1; and

3.    will continue to lobby to press the Government to fund the total financial impact of the pandemic on Cheshire East Council.

Cabinet considered a review of the Capital, Investment and Treasury Management Strategies for the 2019/20 financial year.

The Chairman of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor J Clowes, reported that the Committee had considered the report at its meeting on 3^rd September 2020 and had expressed its support.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes the content of the appendices to the report;

2.    approves, in accordance with Finance Procedure Rules, fully funded supplementary capital estimates over £500,000 and up to £1m (Appendix 1, Annex B);

3.    approves, in accordance with Finance Procedure Rules,  capital virements over £1,000,000 and up to £5,000,000 (Appendix 1, Annex B);

4.    recommends to Council to approve:

(a)  capital virements above £1,000,000 in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules as detailed in Appendix 1, Annex C; and

(b)  supplementary capital estimates above £1,000,000 in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules as detailed in Appendix 1, Annex D.

Cabinet considered a report on the proposed adoption of the Brooks Lane (Middlewich) Development Framework as a Supplementary Planning Document.

The Strategic Planning Board, at its meeting on 26^th August 2020, had recommended that Cabinet adopt the Brooks Lane (Middlewich) Development Framework (Masterplan) as a Supplementary Planning Document subject to any reference within the document to the provision of a circa 20-berth marina being amended to the provision of a marina for up to 50 berths. Councillor S Gardiner spoke on this matter as Vice-Chairman  of the Strategic Planning Board.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning confirmed that the amendment recommended by the Strategic Planning Board could be accommodated within the Framework.

Councillor S Pochin, speaking as the Council’s Business Champion, asked how many businesses currently located on the site might have to be relocated. She also asked about the sustainability of the development in terms of energy usage. Finally, she asked Cabinet to reconsider the proposed use of the site.

With regard to sustainability, the Leader responded that the Council needed Government rules to change to require developers to build to high environmental standards. The Portfolio Holder for Planning added that no businesses would be forced to relocate as a result of the allocation of this site or the adoption of the Supplementary Planning Document.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes the views of Strategic Planning Board on the Brooks Lane (Middlewich) Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document;

2.    notes the key issues raised in the responses received to the public consultation that took place between January and March 2020 and the corresponding modifications to the Brooks Lane (Middlewich) Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document as set out in the Report of Consultation (Appendix 1); and

3.    having considered the consultation results and the views of the Strategic Planning Board, approves the Brooks Lane (Middlewich) Development Framework (Masterplan) as a Supplementary Planning Document, subject to any reference within the document to the provision of a circa 20-berth marina being amended to the provision of a marina for up to 50 berths.