NOTICE OF MEETING

COMMITTEE:   LOCAL ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT

Despatch date:     12^th  November 2007    

Enquiries to:         Joanne Smith   

Tel:       01270 537032

Fax:      01270 537605

Email: agendas@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

Chair:    Cllr Peter Hallett  

Tel/Fax: 01270 663549

Email: cllr.peter.hallett@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk

To:  Members of Local Economy & Environment Scrutiny Committee [Cllrs Campbell, Cartlidge, Crawford, Hallett, Healey, Hollins, Johnson, Mottram, Parker, S Roberts, Stafford and Wood]          

Chief Executive, Executive Directors, Assistant Chief Executive

Local Press and Radio

Notes for Members of the Public

The Local Economy and Environment Scrutiny Committee consists of 12 elected Members and Councillor Peter Hallett is the Chair.  There are 6 Conservative, 4 Labour, 1 Liberal Democrat and 1 Independent Member.

The Borough Council welcomes and encourages members of the public to attend its Committee, Board 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 the Committee Officer (details on front page).

AGENDA

PART I  CONSTITUTIONAL BUSINESS 2.00PM – 2.05PM

1.                  Apologies

2.                  Declarations of Interest

Any Member present (including non-Committee Members) to declare any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, in any item of business on the agenda and, if necessary, to leave the meeting prior to discussion on 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.    

3.         Record of Meeting

To approve as correct the record of the meeting held on 16^th October 2007 (3).

4.         Whipping Declarations

Members to declare in respect of items where the whip has been applied. 

PART II  BOARD/COUNCIL BUSINESS 2.05PM – 2.30PM

5.         Responses from the Board

No comments were forwarded to the Board from the Committee’s meeting on 16^th October 2007; therefore there are no responses to report.  

6.         Referrals from the Board/Council

To consider any matters which the Board or Council may have referred to the Committee.

7.         Forward Plan of Board Decisions

To consider the Board's Forward Plan for January, February and March 2008 [7a, b and c respectively]  

PART III COMMITTEE BUSINESS 2.30PM ONWARDS  

8.         Rural Housing

To tackle the complicated process of providing affordable housing, two Rural Housing Enablers have been appointed to co-ordinate a network of individuals and organisations including Parish Councils,  Landowners, Planning Officers and Housing Associations with the purpose of moving the process forward.

Bob Vass, Rural Housing Enabler for East Cheshire, will report on his work with the parishes to increase awareness of affordable housing need and develop solutions to deliver affordable housing within the rural areas.

9.         Local Area Agreements: 4^th Block – Economic Development and Enterprise

At its meeting on 16^th October 2007 the Committee received a report setting the context for the Cheshire Local Area Agreement (LAA) and changes to the LAA from 2008. 

The Senior Economic Development Manager has compiled a further report (9) which provides information on how the Cheshire LAA 4^th block is managed, the current priority outcomes and the results of the Mid-Year performance report.

10.      2007- 2008 Financial Monitoring Report – to 30^th September 2007

The Committee is invited to consider the Financial Monitoring report for the period 1^st April to 30^th September 2007.

A copy of the Financial Monitoring report (10) which was submitted to Board on 15^th November 2007 is attached.

11.      Best Value Performance Indicators – Progress Report for Quarter 2 – 2007- 2008

The report (11) summarises the performance activity of the Committee’s key basket of Performance Indicators during the second quarter of the financial year 2007 – 2008 (up to 30^th September 2007).

12.      Queen’s Park Restoration Project – Progress Report

At it’s meeting on 16^th October 2007 the Committee requested that a detailed programme of works for the project be submitted to the November meeting.  The report of the Project Officer (12) provides the details of the construction programme for the Queen’s Park Restoration Project.   

13.      Crewe Town Centre Update

To receive an update on Town Centre developments.    

14.      Vacancy Panel Decisions

To receive an update on the management of vacant posts which fall under the remit of the Committee (14). 

15.      Work Programme

15.1    Task Group Update          

To receive update reports, if appropriate from the Committee’s Task Groups –

Climate Change

Notes of the meeting held on 1^st November 2007 (15.1)

Town Centres

Waste Management    

16.       Date of Next Meeting

8^th January 2007

........................... Chair