NOTICE OF
MEETING
BOARD
DAY/DATE:
THURSDAY, 8TH FEBRUARY 2007
TIME:
6.00 PM
VENUE:
COUNCIL CHAMBER
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
EARLE STREET
CREWE
Despatch
date:
30th January 2007
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
This agenda and reports are available on the
Council's Internet Website
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 M
embers 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 11th January
2007. (Distributed in the Record of Meetings
issued on 16th January 2007.)
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
CommitteeReports and
Recommendations
To consider comments/observations from the Performance and
Overview Committees on reports that fall within their
remit.
5.1
Report of Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for
Finance.
5.2
The report asks the Board to recommend to Council at its
meeting on 21st February 2007 approval of the Capital
Programme and the setting of a sustainable Revenue Budget and
Council Tax for 2007/08, along with proposed amendments to the
Scales of Fees and Charges.
(Appendices to the report will follow under separate
cover.)
This report refers to the document entitled
"Consultation Draft Budget 2007-2008 and Budget Prospects
2007-2011". Members are asked to bring their own
copy to the meeting.
5.3
Performance and Overview Committees All.
6.1
Report of Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for
Finance.
6.2
The report covers the various requirements of both the
Prudential Code for Capital Finance and the Code of Practice for
Treasury Management.
6.3
The Board is asked to recommend to Council the Prudential
Indicators for 2007/08, the Treasury Management Strategy for
2007/08 and the revised list of approved organisations for
investment purposes.
6.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
7.1
Report of Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder for
Neighbourhoods.
7.2
The report informs Members that the Social Inclusion Strategy,
which is the first produced by the Borough Council, focuses on
identifying and supporting traditionally excluded groups within the
Borough.
7.3
The Board is asked to approve the Social Inclusion Strategy for the
Borough.
7.4
Performance and Overview Committee Community.
8.1
Report of Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Human
Resources.
8.2
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 places a duty on all public
authorities to promote disability equality by imposing general and
specific duties.
8.3
The report contains details of the draft Disability Equality Scheme
and the Board is asked to approve it.
The Disability Equality Scheme 2006-2009 has been
provided for Board Members/Shadow Board Members, P & O
Committee Chairs and Group Leaders only. A copy
is available in the Members' Room.
8.4
Performance and Overview Committees All
9.1
Report of Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Human
Resources.
9.2
The report details the proposed new pay and grading structure and
associated work arrangements/benefits package for the organisation
with effect from 1st June 2007.
9.3
The Board is asked to recommend to Council approval of the new pay
and grading structure, and associated changes to employee terms and
conditions and that the total package be adopted with effect from
1st June 2007.
9.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation.
CATEGORY B
Performance
Management
10.
Progress Report on the Community and Neighbourhood Renewal
Strategies
10.1
Joint report of Councillor Brian Silvester, Leader of the Council
and Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder for
Neighbourhoods.
10.2
The Local Government Act 2000 and the subsequent White Paper,
placed a responsibility on local authorities to produce a community
strategy in partnership with other agencies to improve the social,
economic and environmental well-being of an
area. The latest Community Strategy was launched
in January 2006, followed shortly afterwards by the Neighbourhood
Renewal Strategy.
10.3
The report summarises progress to date and invites the Board to
note the contents of the report.
10.4
Performance and Overview Committees Community and Local Economy and
Environment.
11.1
Report of Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for
Finance.
11.2
The report provides Members with information in relation to actual
expenditure and income in the current financial year, for the
period 1st April to 31st December 2006.
11.3
The Board is asked to receive the report.
11.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation
12.1
Report of Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Human
Resources.
12.2
As a result of the Data Quality and BVPIs 2006/07 audit undertaken
by Baker Tilly, External Auditors, during July-August 2006, the
final draft report has now been issued stating that the authority
achieved a level 3 award, out of a grading system of 1 to 4, with 4
being ranked as performing strongly. However,
there were a number of recommendations raised by the auditors,
which have now been included in the Action Plan of the draft Data
Quality Strategy 2007-2010.
12.3
The Board is asked to approve the draft Data Quality Strategy
2007-2010, together with supporting Action Plan.
13.1
Report of Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Human
Resources.
13.2
The report gives details of the results of the key basket of
performance indicators for the third quarter of the financial year
and are submitted for the Board's attention, together with the
2005-2006 quartile positioning summary and proposed target
forecasts for the period 2007-2011.
13.3
The Board is asked to note the position in respect of the key
basket of performance indicators for the third quarter, together
with the 2005-06 quartile position summary; and to approve the
proposed target forecasts for the period 2007-2011.
13.4
Performance and Overview Committees All
CATEGORY C
Organisational
Matters
14.
Consultation Programme 2006-2009
14.1
Report of Councillor Margaret Simon, Portfolio Holder for
Customers.
14.2
The report sets out a proposed three-year Consultation
Programme, gives details of progress on the 2006/07 Consultation
Programme and provides brief information on the proposed three-year
Consultation Plan 2007-2009.
14.3
Recommended Decision -
14.4
Performance and Overview Committee Organisation
15.1
Report of Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder
for Neighbourhoods.
15.2
Strategic grant awards in excess of £5,000 require approval
by the Board. The Portfolio Holder's Grants Advisory Panel has made
recommendations for the annual award of core funding (running
costs) to voluntary organisations for 2007/08, which meet the
criteria approved by the Borough Council.
15.3
The Grants Advisory Panel is meeting on 1st
February 2007, following which further information will be issued.
15.4
The Board is asked to agree Strategic Grants, over £5,000,
for the financial year 2007/08.
15.5
Performance and Overview Committee Community.
16.1
Report of Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder for
Neighbourhoods.
16.2
The Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods has been granted
delegated power to determine applications under the Grants Scheme
(up to £5,000). Councillor Ray Westwood has
declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the Community Grant
Application for Wistaston Sports and Leisure (Soccer) on the basis
that he is a member.
16.3
The application has, therefore, been referred to the Board
for decision, as the body by which the delegation was
made.
16.4
Performance and Overview Committee Community.
17.1
Report of Councillor Bill McGinnis, Portfolio Holder for
Leisure.
17.2
The Council works in partnership with a number of
organisations to provide community development
activities. Details of the work undertaken by
partners, on the Council's behalf, are contained in Service Level
Agreements which are refreshed
annually.
17.3
In order for the annual grants to be paid, the Board is asked
to approve the Service Level Agreements for the coming
year.
17.4
Performance and Overview Committee Community
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