NOTICE OF MEETING
BOARD
DAY/DATE:
THURSDAY, 30th NOVEMBER 2006
TIME:
6.00 PM
VENUE:
COUNCIL CHAMBER
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
EARLE STREET
CREWE
Despatch
date:
21st November 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.
2.1
To receive the Statement of Decisions made by the Board at
its meeting held on 19th October 2006 (Distributed in
the Record of Meetings issued on 24th October
2006).
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.
At its meeting held on 17th October 2006, the
Performance and Overview Committee (Local Economy and Environment)
received a presentation from Councillor R Cartlidge based on the
summary report of the launch of a document entitled "Open Space
Vision of the Future" on 21st August 2006 at the
Municipal Buildings. The Performance and
Overview Committee (LEE) agreed that the summary report should be
referred to the Board for consideration.
5.1
Report of Councillor Brian Silvester, Leader of the Council
and Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder for
Neighbourhoods.
5.2
The Cheshire Local Area Agreement (LAA) is a three year
service delivery arrangement, between the Government, Local
Authorities and Partners (working through the Local Strategic
Partnership) to improve public services. The
process has involved extensive consultation and discussion between
partners.
5.3
The draft agreement was submitted to Government Office North West
(GONW) on 29th September 2006 and the initial feedback
identified that there was more work to be completed before the
final submission on 20th December 2006.
5.4
The Board will be invited to:
a)
Note the latest version of the draft Cheshire LAA and comment
where necessary; and
b)
Grant delegated authority to the Assistant Chief Executive,
in consultation with the relevant portfolio holders, to endorse the
final draft LAA prior to its submission to GONW on 20th
December 2006.
5.5
Performance and Overview Committees All.
6.1
Report of Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for
Planning.
6.2
There has been significant progress in taking forward
proposals for the improvement and regeneration of Crewe Town
Centre, in particular the Modus scheme and town squares
enhancement. This has been achieved
despite the absence of an overall Masterplan.
6.3
A Masterplan is required to bring all the development
proposals together and guide decision making. The
Board will be asked to agree the commissioning of a Crewe Town
Centre Masterplan, to be funded from this year's Local Authority
Business Growth Incentive.
6.4
Performance and Overview Committee Local Economy and
Environment.
7.1
Report of
Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder
for Finance.
7.2
The report presents any amendments to the Medium Term
Financial Strategy for 2006-2011. The strategy
sets out the financial impacts of delivery of the Council's
existing key policy commitments in terms of revenue spending and
the capacity to fund these.
7.3
The Board is asked to make a recommendation to Council
that the updated Revenue Strategy 2006-2011 be
approved.
8.1
Report of Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for
Finance.
8.2 The
report provides details of the updated Capital Strategy for
2006-2011 which builds on previous work. It also includes a review
of the resources allocated to existing projects, which are underway
and to the new proposals which have been scored and ranked in the
usual way. The Capital Investment
Strategy 2006-2011 has been provided for Board
Members/Shadow Board Members, P & O Committee Chairs and Group
Leaders only.
8.3 The
Board is asked to recommend to Council approval of the 2006-2011
Capital Investment Strategy and that the Capital Programme be
amended to include the changes recommended in the Strategy.
8.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
9.1
Report of Councillor Brian Silvester, Leader of the
Council.
9.2
As part of the recently published White Paper the Government
has issued an invitation to authorities in the County areas to
formulate proposals for Unitary Local Government.
9.3
It is also proposed that in areas where it is not felt
desirable to make such a proposal then bids from County/District
partnerships for pathfinder status are sought.
The Board is invited to make a recommendation to Council on the
options detailed in the report.
9.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
CATEGORY B
Performance
Monitoring
10.1
Report of Councillor Brian Silvester, Leader of the
Council.
10.2
It was a requirement of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment
carried out in 2003 that the Council should produce a corporate
self-assessment. Although there is no statutory requirement to do
so, the assessment has been refreshed each year as a matter of good
practice.
10.3
The report presents the Corporate Self-Assessment 2006 to the Board
for approval.
10.4
Performance and Overview Committees All.
11.1
Report of Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for
Human Resources.
11.2 The
results of the key basket of performance indicators in the second
quarter for the financial year are submitted for Board's attention
together with the annual Borough Profile measures.
11.3
Performance and Overview Committees All.
12.1
Report of Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder
for Finance.
12.2
The report provides details of actual expenditure and income
in the current financial year 2006/07 up until 30th
September, compared to profiled budgets and shows an early
projected out-turn for 2006/07.
12.3
Performance and Overview Committees All.
CATEGORY C
Organisational
Matters
13.1
Report of Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for
Finance.
13.2
The report sets out the proposed fees and charges for
services for the period 2007-2008 to allow for greater opportunity
for consideration of potential variation in charging policy prior
to the normal timetable for final budget setting.
13.3
The Board is asked to approve the fees and charges as set out
within the schedule attached to the report.
13.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
14.1
Report of Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for
Finance.
14.2
The report provides details of the Council Tax Base
calculation for the forthcoming year. It
also details the Tax base for each Parish and Nantwich Town Council
and a proposal to determine the level of Council Tax discount
for second homes.
14.3 The
Board is asked to make a recommendation to Council to
:
(A) Approve
the discount for second homes at 25%;
(B) Approve
the Tax Base for the whole Borough (Appendix A1); and
(C) Approve the
Tax Base for the Parishes and Nantwich Town Council (Appendix
A2).
14.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
15.1
Report of Councillor John Hammond, Portfolio Holder for the
Local Environment.
15.2 Railway
Street Car Park is located at the rear of Nantwich Road, Crewe
adjacent to Virgin Rail's car park. The car park
is relatively underused at present and given its location would be
suited to increased use by rail travellers or anyone wishing to
leave their vehicle overnight.
15.3 The
Board is asked to consider amending the charging scheme to allow
customers to purchase tickets for more than one day's
stay.
15.4
Performance and Overview Committee Local Economy and
Environment.
16.1
Report of Councillor John Hammond, Portfolio Holder for the
Local Environment.
16.2
The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 received
Royal Assent on 7th April 2006. It
will replace the provisions of the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996
with broader powers to make Dog Control Orders.
The Act also gives Local Authorities new powers to improve and
protect environmental quality. Final Government Guidance was
published in March 2006 and many of the measures were effective
from April this year.
16.3
The Board is asked to approve statutory consultation in
relation to the making of a Dog Control Order.
16.4
Performance and Overview Committee Local Economy and
Environment.
17.1
Report of Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder
for Neighbourhoods.
17.2
The 'Big Lottery' has allocated a sum of £246,000 for the
Borough for use for children's play. In order to
receive the funding allocation, the Borough is expected to lead on
the development of a multi-agency working group, developing a
strategy for play with an action plan for delivery.
17.3
In 1998 the Borough produced its first play strategy which
helped to raise the profile of play. The
original play strategy is out of date with a requirement for a new
strategy to be developed and implemented. The Board is asked to
approve the Crewe and Nantwich Strategy for Play.
17.4
Performance and Overview Committee Community.
18.1
Report of Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for
Planning.
18.2
The report presents the draft Strategy for the Provision of
Young Persons Housing to
Members. The strategy details the
current accommodation and housing services available to young
people between the ages of 16 and 24 in the Borough and
makes recommendations to help improve the provision of
both.
18.3
The Board is invited to approve the adoption and
implementation of the Young Persons Housing
Strategy.
18.4
Performance and Overview Committee Community.
19.1
Report of Councillor Brian Silvester, Leader of the
Council.
19.2
Following public consultation a significant majority of the
Citizen's Panel voted in favour of siting the War Memorial in Crewe
on the Municipal Square and the Board resolved to complete the
relocation works. The Board requested that a
further report on costs, including any abortive costs, be
submitted to a future Board meeting.
19.3
The report provides the details as requested and the Board is
asked to approve that the costs detailed in the report be
funded through virement from the extra investment
income.
19.4
Performance and Overview Committee Local Economy and
Environment.
20.1 Report of
Councillor Bill McGinnis, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and
Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for Planning.
20.2 At its
meeting on 27th July 2006 the Board agreed (Decision no
56) to the commissioning of a commercial assessment up
to £10,000 of the Snowhill and Riverside area in Nantwich,
in advance of a wider feasibility study.
20.3 Funding for the
wider study is now available and it has become apparent that
the commercial assessment would be difficult to complete in
isolation. The Board is asked to rescind its
decision to commission a separate commercial assessment of the
Snowhill
and Riverside area in Nantwich, and to include commercial
considerations as part of the wider study.
20.4 Performance and
Overview Committee Community.
21.1 Report of
Councillor Bill McGinnis, Portfolio Holder for Leisure.
21.2 At its meeting
on 6th September 2006 the Board agreed :
'That a sum of up to £100,000 be allocated
from the Capital Contingency Fund to undertake site surveys
and develop improvement programmes with contractual
arrangements deferred until legal opinion had been obtained on
the implications arising from the Commons Act
2006.' (Decision no 63).
21.3 The report
contains details of the legal opinion obtained and the Board
is recommended to continue with the consideration
of the Open Space Review but to bear in mind the
possible implications of the Commons Act 2006 for individual
disposals.
21.4 Performance and
Overview Committee Local Economy and Environment.
22.1
Report of Councillor John Dwyer, Portfolio Holder for
Safer Communities.
22.2
Previous reports to Board on 28th March and
7th September 2006 have set out the background to a
proposal to declare an Air Quality Management Area in part of
Hospital Street in Nantwich. The consultation
period in respect of the planned definition of the area has
now ended and no objections have been received.
22.3 The Board is
asked to confirm the Order to make an Air Quality Management Area
in Hospital Street, Nantwich.
22.4
Performance and Overview Committee Local Economy
and Environment.
23.1 Report of
Councillor John Dwyer, Portfolio Holder for
Safer Communities.
23.2 In order
to carry out its new function as the licensing authority for
gambling, the Council must have in place a licensing policy known
as its Statement of Principles. The
Statement of Principles has been provided for Board
Members/Shadow Board Members, P & O Committee Chairs and Group
Leaders only.
23.3 The Board is asked to
recommend to Council:
(A) That the Statement of
Principles be approved and adopted:
(B) That all duties.
authorities and functions in the determination of fees to be
charged for premises licences be delegated to the Licensing and
Regulatory Committee; and
(C) That all duties,
authorities and functions in the exercise of the registration of
small society lotteries be delegated to the Licensing and
Regulatory Committee.
23.4 Performance and
Overview Committee Community.
24.1 Report of
Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for
Human Resources.
24.2 It is a
statutory requirement to review the Council's list
of functions, policies and proposed policies that are relevant
to Race Equality and the general statutory
duties every three years. The report contains
details of the Race Equality Scheme (RES) for 2006-2008.
The Race Equality Scheme 2006-2008 has
been provided for Board Members/Shadow Board
Members, P & O Committee Chairs and Group Leaders
only.
24.3 The Board is
asked to approve the Race Equality Scheme for 2006-2008 and
nominate a Councillor Champion whose Portfolio includes
Equality and Diversity.
24.4 Performance and
Overview Committees All.
25.1 Report of
Councillor John Dwyer, Portfolio Holder for
Safer Communities.
25.2 The
legislation relating to the practice of acupuncture, tattooing, ear
piercing and electrolysis has been updated to include new powers
for the regulation of cosmetic piercing and skin-colouring
practices. The Board is asked to recommend to Council that the
existing Byelaws be revoked and to approve the adoption, in their
place, of the Government's new consolidated model
Byelaws.
A copy of the Model Byelaws has been provided for
Board Members/Shadow Board Members, P& O
Committee Chairs and Group Leaders
only.
The Model Byelaws are available in the Members' Room
and has been published on the Council's
website.
25.3 Performance and
Overview Committee Community.
26.1 Report of
Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Human
Resources.
26.2 The
existing Redundancy and Redeployment Policy has been in place for
approximately ten years and there have been significant changes in
Employment Law since the Policy was introduced.
A review of existing policy has been carried out and a number of
recommendations for a variety of changes, both in style and
provision within the Policy are proposed. The
report outlines the main changes proposed to update the
Policy.
26.3 The Board is
asked to approve the amendments to the revised Policy and
recommend to Council that it be adopted.
26.4 Performance and
Overview Committee Organisation.
27.1 In
accordance with Contract Regulations, the Executive Director,
Direct Services, reports on tenders which have recently been
invited and received.
27.2 The
report of the Executive Director, Direct Services is
attached.
28.
Exclusion of Press and Public
28.1 The
report relating to the remaining item on the agenda have been
withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section
100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that this
matter may be determined with the press and public
excluded.
28.2 The
Board may decide that the press and public be excluded from the
meeting during consideration of the following matter pursuant to
Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds
that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as
defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of
the Act.
Paragraph 3 Information relating to the financial or
business affairs of any particular person (including the authority
holding that information.)
29.
Write Offs (Paragraph 3)
29.1 Report of
Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder
for Finance.
29.2 Financial
Regulations provide for Borough Council approval to be
obtained before any individual debt that exceeds £1,000 is written
off. The report makes recommendations for write
offs in connection with Sundry Debtors.
29.3 The Board
is asked to approve that the Sundry Debtor arrears detailed in
the report are written off.
29.4
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