NOTICE OF MEETING
BOARD
DAY/DATE:
THURSDAY, 26TH JULY 2007
TIME:
6.00 PM
VENUE:
COUNCIL CHAMBER
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
EARLE STREET
CREWE
Despatch date:
17TH July 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
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 27th June 2007. (Attached)
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 Committee
Reports and Recommendations
4.1
To consider comments/observations from the Scrutiny Committees on
reports that fall within their remit.
At its meeting held on 31st May 2007, the Board
considered the report of Councillor Margaret Simon, Portfolio
Holder for Customers which contained details of Wulvern Housings
consultation on its proposals for changes to its governance. The
Board agreed to defer a decision and refer the matter to the
Organisation Scrutiny Committee.
The Organisation Scrutiny Committee held a special meeting on
25th June 2007 and the Board is invited to consider the
recommendations made at that meeting in respect of Wulvern Housing
Governance Arrangements.
5.1
Report of Councillor John Hammond, Portfolio Holder for Local
Environment.
5.2
Notice of the proposal to make an Off-Street Parking
Places Order to introduce a system of Pay and Display for
parking at Edleston Road Car Park, Crewe has been advertised
in accordance with statutory requirements.
5.3 One
objection has been received and the Board is asked to consider this
objection together with the response given in
the report.
5.4
Scrutiny Committee Local Economy and Environment.
6.1
Report of Councillor John Hammond, Portfolio Holder for Local
Environment.
6.2 The
report provides information in respect of the on-going preparatory
work being undertaken as part of the procedure to introduce
Decriminalised Parking Enforcement. This involves the
amendment and consolidation of the existing Off-Street Parking
Places Order.
6.3
Scrutiny Committee Local Economy and Environment.
7.1
Report of Councillor Margaret Simon, Portfolio Holder for
Customers.
7.2 The
Boundary Committee has published its final recommendations in
respect of the Electoral Review of Crewe and Nantwich. The
final recommendations will be made to the Electoral Commission to
make an order. The Commission will not make an order before 7
August 2007 which effectively is the date by which any further
representations should be made.
7.3 The
Board is invited to consider what response, if any, it would
recommend the Council to make to the Electoral Commission in
response to the Boundary Committee's recommendations.
7.4
Scrutiny Committee Organisation.
8.1 Report of
Councillor Jacquie Weatherill, Portfolio Holder for Human
Resources.
8.2 The
report summarises the performance activity of the key
basket of Performance Indicators during the first quarter of
the financial year 2007/08.
8.3 Scrutiny
Committees All.
9.
2007/08 Financial Monitoring Report
9.1
Report of Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for
Finance.
9.2 The
report provides Members with information in relation to the actual
expenditure and income in the current financial year for the period
April 2007 up to June 2007 compared with profiled budgets and
shows the projected out-turn for the 2007/08 year.
9.3 Scrutiny
Committees All.
10.1 Report of Councillor
John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
10.2 The report contains
details of a draft Asset Management Plan. This includes the
outcomes of the asset condition surveys which have given reliable
data to assist in planning the future maintenance. The report
also reflects on progress made in the management of the Council's
assets.
10.3 The Board is invited
to approve the draft Asset Management Plan and request that further
work be undertaken on the Action Plan prior to formal approval of
the Plan by Council.
The draft Asset Management Plan has been provided for Board
Members, Scrutiny Committee Chairs and Group Leaders only. A
copy is available in the Members' Room and will be published on the
Council's website.
10.4 Scrutiny
Committee Organisation.
11.1 Report of Councillor
Bill McGinnis, Portfolio Holder for Leisure.
11.2 The North West Regional
Development Agency has produced a set of guidelines titled
'Great Destinations Guidelines, Advice and Fresh Ideas on
Tourism for Local Authorities in England's North West' for
Local Authority Partners.
11.3 The Board is invited to
adopt, in principle, the guidelines set out in 'Great
Destinations' and take the actions recommended in
the report.
11.4 Scrutiny Committee
Local Economy and Environment.
12.1 Report of Councillor
Jacquie Weatherill, Portfolio Holder for Human Resources.
12.2 The Sex Discrimination
Act places a statutory duty on all public authorities.
This is known as the general duty. The duty is supported
by a set of specific duties, which include preparing
and publishing a Gender Equality Scheme.
12.3 The report details the
Council's Gender Equality Scheme and the Board is asked to approve
the scheme.
The Gender Equality Scheme has been provided for Board
Members, Scrutiny Committee Chairs and Group Leaders only. A
copy is available in the Members' Room and will be published on the
Council's website.
12.4 Scrutiny Committee
Organisation.
13.1 Report of Councillor
John Dwyer, Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities.
13.2 The Food Standards
Agency requires, as part of its Framework Agreement for Local
Authority Food Enforcement, every food authority to produce a
Food Service Plan conforming with the requirements set out in
the Framework Agreement. The plan must be reviewed every
year.
13.3 The Board is asked to
recommend to Council that the Food Service Plan 2007/08 be approved
and implemented.
The Food Service Plan 2007/08 has been provided for Board
Members, Scrutiny Committee Chairs and Group Leaders only. A
copy is available in the Members' Room and will be published on the
Council's website.
13.4 Scrutiny Committee
Organisation.
14.1 Report of Councillor
Jacquie Weatherill, Portfolio Holder for Human Resources.
14.2 The report
provides information on the progress that has taken place in
the development of health and safety systems in the Borough and the
Board is asked to note the content of the report.
14.3 Scrutiny
Committee Organisation.
15.1 Report of Councillor
Margaret Simon, Portfolio Holder for Customers.
15.2 The Scheme of Members'
Allowances currently in operation (2006/2007) expired at the
end of March 2007. For the reasons set out in the report
it is proposed that the 2006/2007 Scheme be extended to form
the 2007/2008 Scheme. It is also proposed that an
Independent Remuneration Panel be appointed to review the Members'
Allowance Scheme and make recommendations in time to inform
the 2008/2009 budget.
15.3 The Board is asked to
approve the recommendations as detailed in the report.
15.4 Scrutiny Committee
Organisation.
16.1 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 reports relating
to the remaining items 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 these matters 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 matters pursuant to Section
100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they
involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in
paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the
Act.
(Paragraph 1 information relating to any
individual.)
(Paragraph 2 Information that is likely to reveal the
identity of an individual.)
(Paragraph 3 Information relating to the
financial or business affairs of any particular person (including
the authority holding that information.)
18. Insurance
Cover and Capacity Issues within the Revenues Section (Paragraph
3)
18.1 Report of
Councillor John Hatfield, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
18.2 The Board is
asked to approve that the Council's Regulations as to Contracts be
waived to extend the Council's current Insurance agreement. In
addition the Board is asked to consider the establishment of
an additional post in the Council Tax Section.
18.3 Scrutiny Committee
Organisation.
19. Income/Debtors
Section Structure (Paragraph 2)
19.1 Report of
Councillor Jacquie Weatherill, Portfolio Holder for Human
Resources.
19.2 The report details the
temporary structure currently in place for the Income/Sundry
Debtors Section and makes recommendations for a permanent
structure to be adopted.
19.3 Scrutiny
Committee Organisation.
20. Homelessness
Contract (Paragraphs 1 and 3)
20.1 Report of
Councillor Rachel Bailey, Portfolio Holder for Planning.
20.2 The Board made
the following decision at its meeting held on 31st May
2007:
(a) That the
Council's Regulations as to Contracts be waived to allow the
current contract with Wulvern Housing to be extended for 12 months
from 10th March 2008;
(b) That the current
terms, plus an increase for inflation, be used as a basis for
negotiation with Wulvern Housing; and
(c) That, in the event of
a failure to reach a negotiated price, the issue be referred back
to the Board for
re-consideration.
20.3 The report
advises Members of the outcome of the negotiations with
Wulvern Housing.
20.4 Scrutiny
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