Decisions

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Communication, Councillor A Stott, declared a non-pecuniary interest as the partner of Councillor J Nicholas.

Councillors S Hogben, A Moran, J Nicholas and B Puddicombe declared pecuniary interests in this matter and left the meeting prior to its consideration.

Cabinet considered a report on the appointment of Directors to the Council’s Alternative Service Delivery Vehicles.

Cabinet had regard to a decision taken by the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Communication on 18^th March 2019 which had been reviewed by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 6^th June 2019.  The decision by the Portfolio Holder included the removal of the statutory Directors of two ASDVs and the appointment of a sole statutory Director in their place. The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee had resolved to offer no advice on the decision which now stood to be implemented. The ASDVs in question were therefore excluded from consideration by Cabinet.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    confirms the appointment/re-appointment of Directors to the Council’s ASDVs as set out below:

2.    delegates authority to the Leader in consultation with the Deputy Leader to make any future appointments and/or remove Directors should the need arise.

Cabinet considered a report on the financial outturn and review of performance for 2018/19.

It was noted that the figure for the performance and turnaround of major planning applications in paragraph 1.10 of the report should read 94% and not 74% against a target of 90%.

The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at its meeting on 6^th June 2019. Councillor J Clowes, Chairman of the Committee, reported the Committee’s recommendations to Cabinet as follows:

That Cabinet be asked to consider the comments and recommendations raised by the Committee as follows:

(a)  Cabinet ensure that pragmatic actions are taken to resolve unexpected financial pressures that may impact on the Council’s approved budget for 2019/20.

(b)  The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee be involved in any consultation process undertaken for new, proposed ways that the Council may implement the New Homes Bonus (Phase 2).

(c)  Consideration be given to the air quality and pollution implications arising from motor traffic and highways, as part of any environmental improvement strategies.

(d)  The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee be kept informed of any review undertaken of, or modification to, the Medium Term Financial Strategy Reserve (or central contingency.)

In response to a question from members, the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste indicated that he had asked officers to assess and report back on the financial implications of a review of car parking charges in Crewe.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes and accepts the recommendations of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

2.    notes the balanced revenue position;

3.    notes the capital outturn position;

4.    notes the debt management position;

5.    receives and notes the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2018/19 as detailed in Appendix 7 to the report; and

6.    recommends that Council approve:

fully funded supplementary capital estimates above £1,000,000 in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules as detailed in Appendix 4, Table 6.

Cabinet considered proposals for the development and improvement of the Stableyard facilities at Tatton Park.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet delegates authority to the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration, to implement theTatton Vision 2 Stableyard Project, including procuring and entering into all necessary contractual arrangements.

Cabinet considered a report on the disposal of the farmhouse, buildings and paddock land of Blakeley Farm on the Mobberley Farms Estate.

It was suggested that in future, such sites could be considered for the provision of rural housing. In this respect, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Regeneration indicated that he would be bringing a report to a future meeting on proposals to increase the supply of rented social housing both in rural and urban areas.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves the disposal of the Mobberley Farms Estate – Blakeley Farm; and

2.    authorises the Executive Director Place in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 officer to take all necessary actions and enter into all legal agreements required to enable the disposal of the property.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval to enter into a contract for the expansion of Malbank School and Sixth Form College.

RESOLVED

That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of People to enter into a construction contract for additional places at Malbank School and Sixth Form College.

Cabinet considered a report on the formation of a Cheshire and Warrington LEP Urban Development Fund.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to act as General Partner for the proposed Urban Development Fund;

2.    delegates authority to the Executive Director Place in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer to approve a Limited Partnership agreement between the Council and the General Partner and a Management Agreement between the General Partner and the Fund Manager and any ancillary legal agreements required to ensure the Urban Development Fund is correctly constituted;

3.    delegates authority to the Executive Director - Place in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer to approve the creation of a Board of Directors of the Urban Development Fund SPV, made up of representatives as deemed appropriate;

4.    delegates authority to the Board of the Urban Development Fund SPV to act as the Investment Committee and approve investments, drawdowns and all matters relating to the Fund, and all steps necessary to comply with the Funding Agreement entered into with MHCLG;

5.    approves entering into a Service Level Agreement with the LEP as the Council’s delivery partner under the terms of the Funding Agreement, with regard to procurement of the Fund Manager and the management and operation of the Fund, to ensure appropriate input and oversight from the Council;

6.    approves undertaking the procurement of a Fund Manager;

7.    authorises the Executive Director Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Communication to approve the award of the contract to the Fund Manager; and

8.    authorises the Executive Director Corporate Services to take all necessary actions to implement these proposals.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval for the Council to become a Qualifying Authority for the construction of phase 2a of High Speed Rail 2 (HS2).

The Deputy Leader indicated that nothing in this or the next following report would predetermine the Council’s decision on whether to support phase 2b of the scheme.

Members emphasised the need for local communities affected by the scheme to be consulted on any proposals.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet recommends to Council that Cheshire East Council become a Qualifying Authority as specified in part 2 of Schedule 17 of the High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Bill and authorises the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the Monitoring Officer to sign the Planning Memorandum to enable this to happen.

Cabinet considered a report a report on the re-commissioning of food contracts for fresh meats and poultry in schools.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves the re-commissioning processes for food contracts for fresh meats and poultry in schools in line with Public Contract Regulations 2015; and

2.    delegates authority to the Executive Director People in  consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children and Families to award contracts to the successful bidders by Lot.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval to progress the work necessary to enable the delivery of the Crewe Hub Station and essential works in the surrounding area.

Again, members emphasised the need for public consultation on any proposals.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves the continued project development works of Crewe Hub Station and the preparation and submission of a planning application by Summer 2020 to enable delivery of the scheme within the required timeframes;

2.    authorises the Executive Director Place, subject to the required funding approvals being in place, to:

(a)  approve and enter into any future Development Services Agreements (or other agreements required  between the Council and Network Rail) to authorise Network Rail to continue to manage the remaining project development work for the Crewe Hub Station  in partnership with the Council to meet the timetable and requirements of the Governance for Railway Investment projects (GRIP) process;

(b)  take all necessary actions to prepare and submit all necessary applications for planning permission, including jointly with Network Rail, and to implement any planning permission necessary to deliver the project;

(c)  take all necessary actions to prepare and submit a listed building application and implementation of any listed building consent in relation to Crewe Hub Station;

(d)  negotiate and seek to conclude terms to acquire land and rights (or extinguish the same) as are necessary to deliver the Crewe Hub Station scheme;

(e)  make the Compulsory Purchase Order(s) to acquire the necessary land and interests to deliver the Crewe Hub Station and ancillary infrastructure;

(f)   take all necessary actions to support the Local Enterprise Partnership to submit an Enterprise Zone or equivalent Tax Increment Financing application and supporting business case to Government, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer, to enable delivery the Crewe Hub Station; and

3.    notes that a Full Council investment decision to progress with the scheme and approve any resulting Capital Contribution from the Council will be sought, recognising the ongoing financial risk with progressing this project.