Members of the Crewe and Nantwich

           Borough Council

 

You are invited to attend a meeting of the Borough Council to be held on Wednesday, 28^th June 2006 in the Council Chamber, Municipal Buildings, Earle Street, Crewe commencing at 2.30pm for the transaction of the business set out overleaf. 

 

                   Note:  Group meetings have been booked as follows: 

 

Conservative:                                       East Committee Room        -          1.00 pm

Labour:                                              Mayor's Reception Room      -          1.30 pm

Nantwich Independent Group:               Interview Room 1                    -        1.30 pm

Independent                                        Council Chamber                 -          1.30 pm

 

 

                                                                                                         Alan Wenham

                                                                                                      Chief Executive

 

Despatch date: 20^th June 2006

 

 

 

1.         APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

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2.         MINUTES

 

Appendix A -  Annual Council - 17th May 2006 - Board & Committee                     

Appendix B -  Timetable

Appendix C -  Council Election Results

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 17^th May 2006. (2)

 

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3.         PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

To consider questions and petitions received in accordance with the Question Time Procedure [Procedure Rule No. 31(2)] and to consider any supplementary questions. 

 

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4.         MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES

 

To receive the Mayor's Communications and a resumé of Civic life in the Borough since the last Council meeting. (4)

 

 

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5.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

           

Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests which they have in any item of business on the agenda, the nature of the interest, and, if necessary, to leave the meeting prior to discussion of that item.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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6.         CONSIDERATION OF ANY PERFORMANCE AND OVERVIEW COMMITTEE REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 

To consider any recommendations or reports from Performance and Overview Committees.

 

6.1       In accordance with Paragraph 18 of the Performance and Overview Committee Procedure Rules, the Local Economy and Environment Committee called in Decision No. 3 (Municipal Square Suspension of Certain Works) [Statement of Decision - 5^th June 2006].

 

The Committee considered the issue at a special meeting held on 15^th June 2006 and agreed that the matter be referred to Council on the grounds that "reconsideration of the decision was of particularly high local significance and of public interest and that Council, not Board, was the appropriate forum for further consideration or review".  The Record of the Meeting is attached for Members' consideration. (6.1)

 

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7.         NOTICE OF MOTION

 

To consider the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor J Lewis, and supported by Councillor G Fenton, in accordance with Procedure Rule No. 7(1). 

 

 

 

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8.         Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP)

 

The Council is required to produce a Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP) each year which sets out its principal objectives and shows the method by which they are to be met. The BVPP must be published by 30^th June 2006.

 

At its meeting on 15^th June 2006, the Board considered the report of Councillor Brian Silvester, Leader of the Council.  A copy of the BVPP is enclosed.   The report of the Portfolio Holder, as submitted to Board is attached. (8)

 

Council is recommended to approve the Best Value Performance Plan for 2006/2007.

 

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9.         Review of the Crewe and Nantwich Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy

 

Following the introduction of the Housing Act 2004, the capital grant of £779,000 from the Regional Housing Pot, the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and the results from the Private Sector Stock Condition Survey, a draft revised policy on private sector housing has been produced. Consultation has taken place and amendments made as necessary.

 

At its meeting held on 15^th June 2006, the Board considered the report of Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for Planning. 

 

The Board recommends that the Review of the Crewe and Nantwich Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy be approved as Council policy with effect from the 1^st July 2006.

 

The report of the Portfolio Holder, as submitted to Board, is attached. (9)

 

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10.       Statement of Accounts 2005-2006

 

The Board, at its meeting to be held on 28^th June 2006 will consider the report of Councillor Graham Fenton, the Portfolio Holder for Finance. The report will present the Statement of Accounts for 2005/2006.

 

The Board is asked to recommend to Council approval of the Statement of Accounts 2005/2006. The report of the Portfolio Holder, together with the Statement of Accounts, will be included in the Board agenda which is issued to all Members. 

 

 

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The Board, at its meeting to be held on 28^th June 2006, will consider the report of Councillor Graham Fenton, the Portfolio Holder for Finance.  The report will present the Statement on Internal Control.   

 

The Board is asked to recommend to Council approval of the Statement on Internal Control.  The report, together with the Statement on Internal Control, will be included in the Board agenda which is issued to all Members. 

 

 

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12.1 Licensing & Regulatory Committee

 

Councillor A Moran has advised that for personal reasons he wishes to relinquish his place on the Licensing and Regulatory Committee. 

 

Nominations for this place will be advised at Council.

 

12.2 Conservative Group Committee Placement Performance and Overview Committee (Community)

 

The Conservative Group has advised that for personal reasons, Councillor J A Pearson wishes to relinquish her place on the Performance and Overview Committee (Community). 

 

Nominations for this place will be advised at Council.

 

12.3 Conservative Group Committee Placements Local Health Scrutiny Committees

 

At Annual Council on 17^th May 2006, Councillors D Brickhill and R A Bailey were appointed to the Central Cheshire Local Health Scrutiny Committee and Cheshire West Local Health Scrutiny Committee, respectively. 

 

These Committees are joint committees established under Article 12 of Cheshire County Council's Constitution. Under the law, an Executive Member cannot serve on a Scrutiny Committee and this is reflected in the Constitutions of both the Borough Council and the County Council.  As a consequence, Councillors Brickhill and Bailey have relinquished their places on the Health Scrutiny Committees.

 

Nominations for the two places will be advised at Council.

 

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The report relating to agenda item 14 has been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that these matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

 

The Committee of Council 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.)

 

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At its meeting on 15^th June 2006, the Board considered the report of Councillor Bill McGinnis, the Portfolio Holder for Leisure. 

 

The Board recommends that the "No Smoking" policy be suspended at the Lyceum Theatre to enable smoking in the ground-floor bar only, until the national policy of "No Smoking in Public Buildings" is introduced in the Summer of 2007.

 

The report of the Portfolio Holder, as submitted to Board, is attached. (14)

 

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The Committee of Council is invited to re-admit the press and public to the meeting.

 

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            COMMITTEE CHAIRS

 

            To receive the Board's report. (16)

 

Councillors may ask questions of the Board or Committee Chairs in accordance with Procedure Rule No. 9.  Members are reminded that questions should only be raised on matters which are being discussed by the Board or Committee.