NOTICE OF
MEETING
BOARD
DAY/DATE:
THURSDAY, 3rd JANUARY 2008
TIME:
6.00 PM
VENUE:
COUNCIL
CHAMBER
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
EARLE
STREET
CREWE
Despatch
date:
20th December 2007
Enquiries
to:
Joanne
Smith
Tel: 01270 537032
Fax:
01270 537605
Board
Leader:
Councillor B G
Silvester Tel
: 01270 567757
Fax: 01270 567757
e-mail: cllr.brian.silvester@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
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. The Council’s four corporate priority areas are
underpinned by the following statements:-
Growing
Prosperity
·
Sufficient jobs available locally to meet the demands of population
growth and which are of particular quality and resilient to
economic downturn
Safer & Stronger
Communities
·
To ensure that no-one is disadvantaged by where they live.
·
To lead public agencies in providing an integrated service at
neighbourhood levels.
·
To achieve a significant improvement in the inequality index for
the Borough and reduce levels of anti-social behaviour and
crime.
Community
Leadership
·
A Council which organises itself and conducts its business so as to
maximise benefit and value to the people it serves and
represents
·
To achieve a significant improvement in overall satisfaction
levels
Making our Borough
Cleaner and Greener
·
A noticeable uplift in the appearance of the Borough complemented
by the enhancement of some key locations and with a particular
focus on tackling climate change issues.
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
2.1 To receive
the Statement of Decisions made by the Board at its meeting held on
15th November 2007. (Distributed in the Record of
Meetings issued on 20th November 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 Scrutiny CommitteeReports and
Recommendations
4.1 To consider
comments/observations from the Scrutiny Committees on reports that
fall within their remit.
CATEGORY
A- Key Issues
5. Consultation
Draft Budget 2008/09 and Budget Prospects 2008-2012
5.1 Report of
Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for
Finance.
5.2 The report
presents the Draft Budget for 2008/09 including the revised
estimates for the current year and the implications of the
provisional Local Government Finance Settlement.
5.3 The Board
is asked to approve the Draft Budget 2008/09 as the Consultation
Draft Budget, to be considered in various consultation exercises
through January and February 2008.
5.4 Scrutiny
Committees – All.
6.
Fees and Charges
2008-09
6.1 Report of
Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
6.2 The report
provides details of the proposed Scale of Fees and Charges for
2008-09.
6.3 The Board
is asked to approve the Scale of Fees and Charges 08-09, as set out
in the Schedule attached to the report, for inclusion in the
Consultation Draft Budget.
6.4 Scrutiny
Committee – Organisation.
7.
Introduction of Discretionary
Charging for Permitted Development Enquiries
7.1 Report of
Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for Planning.
7.2 A review
of the non-statutory functions of the planning service and
opportunities for discretionary charging for these services has
been undertaken. A number of options have been explored and the
report contains details of the preferred option for the
introduction of charges for enquiries related to whether planning
permission is required or not.
7.3 The Board is
asked to recommend to Council that a fee is charged for the
handling of enquiries relating to whether or not proposals
constitute permitted development and that the standard fee for this
service be set at
£30.
7.4 Scrutiny
Committee – Local Economy and Environment.
8.
Cheshire Local
Area Agreement
8.1 Report of
Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods.
8.2 The report
sets out the performance of the Cheshire Local Area Agreement
(LAA) 2007-10 at midyear. It also contains details of
the progress made by the Communities of Cheshire Partnership
on the delivery of the Cheshire LAA 2007-10 and the delivery
of the second generation Local Public
Service Agreement.
8.3 The Board
is asked to agree the Cheshire LAA performance reporting cycle
as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report and note progress made
on delivery of the Cheshire LAA 2007-10 and the second
generation Local Public Service Agreement.
8.4 Scrutiny
Committee – Community.
9.
Safeguarding Children
Policy
9.1 Report of
Councillor Ray Westwood, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods.
9.2 The Children Act
2004 places a duty on District Councils to ensure that all its
functions are discharged with regards to safeguarding and
promoting the welfare of children. In order to develop a framework
to promote safeguarding for Children and Young People the Council
needs to introduce a Safeguarding Policy. The proposed policy
and related documents are detailed in the report.
9.3 The Board is
asked to make a recommendation to Council to approve the
Safeguarding Policy and Procedures along with the recommendations
for Training and Development in accordance with Section 11 of the
Children Act 2004.
The Safeguarding Children Policy has been
provided for Members of the Borough Council. A copy
will also be published on the Council’s website.
9.4 Scrutiny
Committee – Community.
10.
Choice Based Lettings
10.1 Report
of Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for Planning.
10.2 In
July 2006, the Board approved, in principle, the participation
of Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council in a partnership bid
for funding from the Department of Communities and
Local Government to develop a Cheshire Sub-Regional Choice
Based Lettings Scheme. In December 2006 government
funding for a feasibility study was obtained and the report
provides details of the recommendations from the feasibility
study on options for the way forward.
10.3 The
report details the preferred option of the Cheshire Sub-Regional
Choice Based Lettings Partnership and asks for Board approval
to take this option forward as the Sub-Regional
Choice Based Lettings Scheme.
10.3
Scrutiny Committee – Community.
11.
Review of Crewe & Nantwich Private Sector Housing Renewal
Policy
11.1 Report
of Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for Planning.
11.2 The
current Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy was approved by
Council in June 2006 and came into force on the 1st July
2006. The report outlines proposals for the draft revised
policy which updates the Council’s policy on Private Sector Housing
Renewal and continues to introduce new initiatives for
improving housing provision in the Borough.
11.3 The
Board is invited to approve the Review of the Crewe and Nantwich
Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy for consultation.
11.4
Scrutiny Committee – Community.
CATEGORY C -
Organisational Matters
12.
Local Authority Business Growth
Incentive
12.1 Report
of Councillor David Brickhill, Portfolio Holder for Economic
Development.
12.2 Local
Authority Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) has been
a three-year initiative, rewarding past economic growth. The
report contains details of how the LABGI monies have been
spent or earmarked for allocation to date together with details of
the balance remaining. A balance of approximately £208,470
is available for ‘Business Growth’ spending.
12.3 The
Board is asked to approve the allocation of £165,000 of
the balance remaining for the schemes detailed in the
report.
12.4
Scrutiny Committee – Local Economy & Environment.
13.
Timetable of Public
Meetings
13.1 Report
of Councillor Margaret Simon, Portfolio Holder
for Customers.
13.2 The
report provides details of the draft Timetable of Public Meetings
for 2008/2009.
13.3 The
Board is asked to agree the Timetable of Public Meetings 2008/09
for approval at Annual Council on 14th May
2008.
13.4
Scrutiny Committee – Organisation.
14.
Mayoral Nomination 2008/09
14.1 Report
of Councillor Margaret Simon, Portfolio Holder for Customers.
(Report to Follow)
14.2
In Crewe and Nantwich, nomination for election to the Office
of Mayor is currently based on the Member who has the
longest accumulative service provided that the Member has not
previously held office and is not a candidate for
re-election at an election immediately prior to the Annual
Council Meeting at which he or she would otherwise have been
elected Mayor.
14.3
The Board is asked to recommend that the Annual Meeting of
the Borough Council to be held in May 2008 be invited to
consider the nomination of a Councillor for election to the
office of Mayor of the Borough for the year 2008/09.
14.4
Scrutiny Committee – Organisation.
15.
Review of
Cheshire Replacement Waste Local Plan
15.1 Report
of Councillor John Hammond, Portfolio Holder for
Local Environment.
15.2 The
Cheshire Replacement Waste Local Plan is subject to annual
monitoring and review. The monitoring and review
process provides the opportunity for Cheshire County Council
to consider removing the Clayhanger Landfill site allocation
from the Plan.
15.3 The
Board is requested to endorse and support the submission of a
letter by the Borough Solicitor to Cheshire County Council
to request that the Clayhanger landfill site allocation be
removed from the Plan when it is reviewed.
15.4
Scrutiny Committee – Community.
16.
Report of the
Executive Director, Direct Services (For
Information)
In accordance with contract regulations, the
Executive Director, Direct Services reports on tenders that
have recently been invited and received.
17. Exclusion of Press
and Public
17.1 The
report relating to the remaining item on the agenda has 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.
17.2 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.)
18. Proposed
Redevelopment on sites at Gateway and
Fourth Avenue, Crewe (Paragraph
3)
18.1 Report
of Councillor David Brickhill, Portfolio Holder for Economic
Development.
18.2 The
report relates to two separate sites within the ownership
of this authority on Gateway and Fourth Avenue, Crewe Gates
Farm Industrial Estate, Crewe. Crewe and Nantwich Borough
Council has been approached by a developer who would like
to redevelop the sites.
18.3 The
Board is asked to approve, in principle, the grant of a
new lease for the re-development of the sites.
18.4
Scrutiny Committee – Local Economy and Environment.
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.
If you require this
document or a summary version in large print, Braille, audiotape,
CD or in another language, please
contact:
Equality & Diversity
Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council,
Municipal Buildings
Earle Street, Crewe,
Cheshire, CW1 2JZ
Tel. 01270 537565