NOTICE OF
MEETING
BOARD
DAY/DATE:
THURSDAY, 15TH JUNE 2006
TIME:
2.00 PM
VENUE:
COUNCIL CHAMBER
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
EARLE STREET
CREWE
Despatch
date:
6th June 2006
Enquiries
to:
Joanne
Smith
Tel: 01270 537032
Fax: 01270 537605
Board
Leader:
Councillor B G
Silvester Tel
: 01270
567757
Fax: 01270
567757
To: Board
Members (for attendance)
All other Members of the Borough Council
Management Team
Local Press and Radio
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO
ATTEND THIS MEETING
Notes for Members of the Public
The Board consists of 10 elected Members and
Councillor Brian Silvester, the Council Leader, is the
Chairman.
The Borough Council welcomes and encourages members of the
public to attend its Board, Committee and Council meetings.
If you plan to attend, please report to the Reception Desk in
the Municipal Buildings, where you will be provided with a
Visitor's Pass.
Car parking is not available at the Municipal Buildings, but
there are several town centre car parks. There
is a disabled access to the rear of the Municipal Buildings, and
this can be accessed through the side door on Vernon
Way. Please press the button for attention, and
someone will meet you and escort you through to the main reception
area.
You are asked to remain quiet whilst the meeting is taking
place, and to enter and leave the meeting room, or public gallery
of the Council Chamber, as quietly as possible.
Please ensure that if you have a mobile phone or pager, it is
switched off for the duration of the meeting.
You are not allowed to have drinks or food in the meeting
rooms, nor in the Public Gallery. A "No Smoking"
policy operates in the Municipal Buildings.
Fire Evacuation
If the fire alarm rings, you should make your way to the
nearest exit with your belongings, as quickly as possible, and
leave the building. Please follow any
instructions from staff about evacuation routes.
Copies of the agenda will be available if you attend. Agendas
are also made available on the Internet and can be accessed via the
Council's website see front page for details.
On occasions, members of the press and public will be excluded
from the meetings when the business to be transacted is of a
confidential nature, for example, dealing with individual people,
contracts and financial affairs of other parties.
If you require any further information, please contact Joanne
Smith (details on front page).
Agenda Information
Items on the agenda have been grouped together in 3
categories:
Category "A"
Key issues; constitutional matters; matters having a strategic
or significant community impact; new policy or changes to existing
policy
Category "B"
Performance Management issues
Category "C"
Organisational and other matters
The reports in "Category "A" reflect the
priorities identified in the current Corporate Strategy which the
Borough Council has set itself to achieve continuous improvement in
the environmental, economic and social well being of the Borough of
Crewe and Nantwich. These are:
Improve the Area's Appearance to improve the
physical environment of the Borough to be achieved by noticeable
uplift in the appearance of the Borough complemented by the
enhancement of some key locations.
Neighbourhood Action recognising that the
Borough is made up of a large number of communities and
neighbourhoods the Borough Council wants to lead public agencies in
providing integrated services at neighbourhood level, particularly
in areas of high economic and social stress.
Push for Prosperity aimed at ensuring the
Borough has a strong local economy and that sufficient jobs are
available locally to meet the demands of population growth and
which are of a particular quality and resilient to economic
downturns.
Customer Focus to be a Council which
organises itself and conducts its business so as to maximise the
benefit and value to the people it serves.
REVISED 19 January 2004
AGENDA
1.
Declarations of Interest
1.1
Any Members present (including non-Committee Members) to
declare any personal or prejudicial interest, and the nature of
those interests, which they have in any item of business on the
agenda and, if necessary, to leave the meeting prior to discussion
of that item.
1.2
Members who also serve as County, Town or Parish Councillors,
are reminded of the need to make declarations in respect of any
item which directly concerns the business of the appropriate
authority.
1.3
Declarations are a personal matter for each Member to
decide. Whilst Officers will advise on the Code
of Conduct and its interpretation, the decision to declare, or not,
is the responsibility of the Member, based on the particular
circumstances.
2.
Board Decisions
To receive the Statement of Decisions made by the Board at the
Meeting held on 29th March 2006. (attached for
information)
2.2
To receive the Statement of Decisions made by the Board at a
Special Meeting held on 5th June 2006. (attached for
information).
3.
Reconsideration of Decisions
3.1
In accordance with Rule 14 of the Performance and Overview
Procedure Rules and Rule 2 of the Executive Procedure Rules
contained within the Council's Constitution, Members are asked to
reconsider any decisions referred back to the Board.
4.
Consideration of any Performance and Overview
Committee Reports and
Recommendations
4.1
To consider comments/observations from the Performance
and Overview Committees on reports that fall within their
remit.
5.1
Report of Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder
for Neighbourhoods.
5.2
The report
contains details of the setting of the priority outcomes for
the Local Area Agreements (LAA) for Cheshire from
April 2007.
5.3
The Board is invited to comment on the report, agree to the
Local Area Agreement outcomes to be submitted to the Communities of
Cheshire Partnership on 13th June 2006 and advise
Officers on the preferred method of involving elected Members in
the LAA process.
5.4
Performance and
Overview Committee Community.
6.1
Report of Councillor Brian Silvester, Leader of the
Council.
6.2
Following its Special Meeting held on 5th June
2006, the Board will consider options for consultation in respect
of the siting of the War Memorial.
6.3
Performance and Overview Committee Local Economy &
Environment
CATEGORY B
Performance
Management
7.1
Report of
Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder
for Finance.
7.2
The report summarises the efficiency gains achieved against
the targets for 2005/2006 including any on-going savings from
2004/2005.
7.3
Performance and Overview Committee -
Organisation.
8.1
Report of Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for
Human Resources.
8.2 The
report provides out-turn performance information against
all statutory BVPIs and Local PIs for 2005/06 and a
brief commentary on the main
variances.
A full copy of the performance data is available in the Members'
Room and has been published on the Council's
website.
8.3
Performance and Overview Committees
All
9.1
Report of Councillor Brian Silvester, Leader of the
Council.
9.2
The Board is asked to recommend to Council the
approval of the Best Value Performance Plan. The
Plan has been provided for Board Members/Shadow Board Members, P
& O Committee Chairs and Group Leaders only.
The Best Value Performance Plan is available in the Members' Room
and has been published on the Council's website.
9.3
Performance and Overview Committees All.
10.1
Report of Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for
Planning.
10.2 The Best
Value Review of the Housing Service has been concluded and the
Final Report and associated Action Plan are attached for Board
Members/Shadow Board Members, P & O Committee Chairs and Group
Leaders only. The Board is asked to accept the
findings.
The Final Report and Action Plan is available in the
Members' Room and has been published on the Council's
website.
10.4
Performance and Overview Committee Community.
CATEGORY C
Organisational
Matters
11.1
Report of Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for
Finance.
11.2 In
accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Internal
Audit in Local Government, and to accord with the requirements
of Corporate Governance, the Internal Audit Annual Report
for 2005/2006 has been prepared. The report
provides a summary of the activities of the Internal Audit
Section during the financial year, together with the main
findings on audits completed. The report has
been provided for Board Members/Shadow Board Members, P
& O Committee Chairs and Group Leaders
only.
The report is available in the Members' Room and has been
published on the Council's website.
11.3 The
Board is asked to note that the Annual Internal Audit
Report has been prepared and presented in accordance with the
CIPFA Code of Practice.
11.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
12.1
Report of Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder
for Finance.
12.2
The report presents the Annual Audit Plan for 2006/2007
which identifies the scope of the internal audit work for the
year, together with the strategic plan for the three years
ending 2008/2009. Both plans comprise two
elements: (1) Audit Resources and (2) Planned Systems
Audits. The background documents have been
provided for Board Members/Shadow Board Members, P & O
Committee Chairs and Group Leaders
only.
The background documents are available in the
Members' Room and have been published on the Council's
website.
12.3
The Board is asked to approve the 2006/2007 Annual Audit Plan
and the Three-Year Strategic Plan.
12.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
13.1
Report of Councillor John Dwyer, Portfolio Holder for Safer
Communities.
13.2At its meeting on 29th
March 2006 the Board agreed (Decision No 176) to consult with
the appropriate groups to establish their views on the potential
effectiveness of Police Community Support
Officers in tackling anti-social behaviour issues and report
back to the June meeting. The Board also agreed
to take no action to recruit two additional Community Wardens
prior to the Board meeting in June.
13.3
The report details the outcome of consultation and invites
the Board to consider making a commitment, in principle, to
contribute £50,000 towards the cost of five Police Community
Support Officers (PCSOs). The report also
suggests that an offer from Wulvern Housing to fund two additional
PCSO posts be accepted and that the arrangement be subject to the
satisfactory completion of a Service Level Agreement with the
Police Authority.
13.4Performance and Overview Committee
Community
14.1
Report of Councillor John Dwyer, Portfolio Holder for Safer
Communities.
14.2 The
report contains details of the current proposals for Police Service
re-structuring and the proposed merger of Cheshire and Merseyside
Police.
14.3 The
Board is invited to submit a formal objection to the proposals on
financial and operational grounds and that in the event of the
merger proceeding, assurances be sought that the financial burden
will not be placed on local Council Tax payers.
14.4
Performance and Overview Committee Community.
15.1
Report of Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for
Planning.
15.2 At
its meeting on 29th March 2006 the Board approved the
revised Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy for public
consultation (Decision No 180).
The report provides details of the consultation responses and
the revised policy for approval.
15.3 The
Board is asked to recommend to Council that the revised Crewe and
Nantwich Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy be approved as
Council policy with effect from the 1st July
2006.
15.4
Performance and Overview Committee Community.
16.1
Report of Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for
Human Resources.
16.2
The report contains proposals to impose a restriction on
appointments and promotions within the authorised establishment to
all posts below those shown on the Management Structure chart in
Part 7 of the Council's Constitution.
16.2
The Board is ask to grant authority to the Executive
Directors to make appointments and promotions within the authorised
establishment, subject to a requirement that no appointment or
promotion be made without first being authorised by the Portfolio
Holder for Human Resources and the Leader of the
Council.
16.3
Performance and Overview Committee -
Organisation
17.1
Report of Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder for
Neighbourhoods.
17.2
The report contains details of an application by Wistaston
Cricket Club for a grant to assist the purchase of coaching mats
and balls, the total cost of which is
£400.
17.3
Responsibility for grants of this size is delegated to the
Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods (Councillor
Westwood). However, Councillor Westwood has
declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this application on
the basis that he is Vice-chair of the Wistaston Sports &
Leisure Association, of which Wistaston Cricket Club is a member.
The application has, therefore, been referred to Board for
decision.
17.4
The Board is recommended to award a grant of £300
to Wistaston Cricket Club.
17.5
Performance and Overview Committee Community.
18.1
Report of Councillor Margaret Simon, Portfolio Holder
for Customers.
18.2 The
Board is required to make appointments to
outside organisations where no political consensus can be
reached and Trusts where re-appointments are
required.
18.3The report gives details of organisations
and Trusts where appointments are required.
18.4The Board is invited to appoint:
(a)
Three Members to Muir Housing Group (two
substantive and one deputy) for a 2-year
period;
(b)
Four
representatives to Wulvern Housing Board for a 2- year
period;
(c)
One Member to
Beth Johnson Housing Association for one year;
(d)
Two Members to
Crewe & Nantwich Community Trust;
(e)
Two Members to
the Citizens' Advice Bureau for a 3-year period;
and
(f)
One
representative to the Alexandra Soccer &
Community Association.
18.5
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
19.1Report of Councillor Margaret
Simon, Portfolio Holder for
Customers.
19.2 The
Board is asked to appoint a Panel of Members to a
Housing Benefits Review Board which is legally required by the
provisions of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security
Act 2000.
19.3
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation
20.
Appointments to ICT Partnership Board
20.1 ICT Partnership
Board comprises four Members, two of whom are appointed by the
Executive of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council from its
executive membership. The terms
of reference for the Partnership Board allow for two
named substitutes to be nominated from the
Executive.
20.2 The Board is
invited to appoint two Members and two substitutes to the ICT
Partnership Board.
21.
Appointment to Portfolio Holders' Advisory Groups
21.1The Board is invited to review
appointments to, and membership of, various advisory groups
which were set up during the last Municipal Year.
21.2
Portfolio Holders are asked to inform the Assistant Chief
Executive (Democratic Services and Human Resources) of any advisory
groups which they set up, or re-constitute, during the
year.
22.
Report of the Executive Director, Direct Services and
Executive Director, Treasury and Corporate
Support (For Information)
22.1 In
accordance with Contract Regulations, the Executive Director,
Direct Services and Executive Director, Treasury and Corporate
Support, report on tenders which have recently been invited and
received.
23.1
Report of Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for
Human Resources.
23.2 The
report gives details of three temporary posts within the
ICT Department. The Board is asked to
consider adding the three posts to the
establishment.
23.3
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation
24.1 Report of
Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
24.2 To
approve the waiving of Contract Regulations to appoint
a contractor for the Municipal Buildings windows
maintenance contract.
24.3
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
NOTE:
In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, the
Council is required to notify those attending meetings of the fire
evacuation procedures. A copy has previously
been distributed to Members and instructions are located in all
rooms within the Civic Suite.
This agenda can be made
available in larger text on
request