PRESENT:   The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor M Grant,

Deputy Mayor, Councillor M Roberts, Councillors T E Ankers, R A Bailey, W T Beard, D N Bebbington, J A Beech, J D Bratherton, D Brickhill, P K Butterill, M Campbell, D J Cannon, R Cartlidge, D H D Charlesworth, S G Conquest, A Crawford, H W Curran, W S Davies, R E Dodd, T R Dunlop, J V Dwyer, B H Dykes, B Evans, A Fawcett, G Fenton, G Griffiths, P A Hallett, J Hammond, J K Hatfield, S W Hogben, M A Hollins, M R Jones, R Jones, A C Johnson, Z S Krizanac, J Lewis, M A Martin, W S McGinnis, A Moran, S J H Mottram, J A Pearson, A Richardson, S Roberts, R Salmon, B G Silvester, M J Simon, R Stafford, D J Straine-Francis, C G Thorley, C Waling, M J Weatherill, R Westwood, L T Wood and J Wright.

 

 

1       The Mayor's Chaplain, the Reverend Charles Razzall said prayers.

 

 

2       With the Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Maureen Grant presiding, it was -

 

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Councillor Howard Curran be elected Mayor of the Borough of Crewe & Nantwich to hold office pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 of the Local Government Act 1972 until the next Annual Meeting of the Borough Council.

 

Following his installation as Mayor, Councillor Curran responded to his election and assumed the Chair for the meeting.

 

 

3          The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Howard Curran indicated that his wife, Mrs Sheila Curran, would act as Mayoress for the ensuing Municipal Year.

 

 

4          RESOLVED:  That Councillor Maurice Roy Jones be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Crewe & Nantwich, to hold office pursuant to Section 5 of the Local Government Act 1972 until the next Annual Meeting of the Borough Council.

 

Councillor Jones was invested by the Mayor with his Medallion of Office.

 

 

5          The Deputy Mayor indicated to the Council that his wife, Mrs Ann Jones, would act as Deputy Mayoress during the year.

 

The Mayoress then invested the Deputy Mayoress with her Chain of Office.

 

 

6          The Mayor signified to the Borough Council his appointment of Father Ralph Powell as his Chaplain for the ensuing Municipal Year.

 

 

7       Communications were read by the Chief Executive.

 

 

8          RESOLVED:  That a vote of thanks be accorded to the retiring Mayor and Consort, Councillor Maureen Grant and Mr Michael Grant, and to the retiring Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress, Councillor Michael Roberts BEM and Mrs Ann Roberts for their services during the year.  Councillor Grant responded to the vote of thanks following which the Mayor presented Councillor Grant and Mr Michael Grant with their medallions of office.

 

 

9       At this point in the proceedings the meeting was adjourned.

 

 

10        The Mayor reported, with regret, the sad death of former Councillor Walter Harding on 15^th May 2006, following a six-month illness.  Walter Harding, who was aged 85, had been a Borough Councillor for a total of 14 years, firstly from 1976 to 1986, and then after a year's gap he was re-elected in 1987 and served until 1991.  He served on several committees, including Community Services, Housing Management and Technical Services, and had been the Deputy Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee in 1987/88.

 

Members stood for a moment's silence in memory of Walter Harding, following which personal tributes were made.

 

 

11        RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 5^th April 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

 

 

12        Apologies for absence were received from Councillors E Howell and J I Stockton.

 

 

13        No declarations of interest were declared in any item of business on the agenda.

 

 

14        Council was invited to appoint an Executive.

 

A proposal was moved and seconded that the following Members comprise the Council's Executive   -

 

Councillors B G Silvester, R A Bailey, D Brickhill, J V Dwyer, G Fenton, J K Hatfield, J Hammond, W S McGinnis, M J Simon and R Westwood.

 

Before the vote was taken, at least six Members of the Borough Council requested that the vote be recorded to show whether each Member present voted for or against the motion, or abstained from voting, in accordance with Procedure Rule No. 18.

 

The recorded vote was as follows

 

There Voted For the Motion:

 

Councillors Ankers, Bailey, Bebbington, Beech, Brickhill, Charlesworth, Davies, Dodd, Dwyer, Dykes, Fenton, Hallett, Hammond, Hatfield, Hollins, Johnson, Lewis, McGinnis, Moran, Mottram, Pearson, Richardson, Silvester, Simon, Waling, Weatherill and Westwood

 

There were no votes against the Motion.

 

There Abstained From Voting:

 

The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor H W Curran,

Deputy Mayor, Councillor M R Jones, Councillors Beard, Butterill, Campbell, Cannon, Cartlidge, Conquest, Crawford, Dunlop, Evans, Fawcett, Grant, Griffiths, Hogben, R Jones, Krizanac, Martin, M Roberts, S Roberts, Salmon, Stafford, Straine-Francis, Thorley, Wood and Wright

 

The Worshipful the Mayor announced the result of the recorded vote in that 27 Members voted for the motion, there were no votes against the motion and 26 Members abstained from voting. 

 

RESOLVED:  That the Executive (hereafter referred to as the Board) be appointed and that the membership comprise Councillors B G Silvester, R A Bailey, D Brickhill, J V Dwyer, G Fenton, J K Hatfield, J Hammond, W S McGinnis, M J Simon and R Westwood.

 

 

15        The Council was asked to appoint a Leader of the Council.  A proposal was moved that Councillor B G Silvester be elected Leader of the Borough Council.

 

Before the vote was taken, at least six Members of the Borough Council requested that the vote be recorded to show whether each Member present voted for or against the motion, or abstained from voting, in accordance with Procedure Rule No. 18.

 

The recorded vote was as follows

 

There Voted For the Motion:

 

Councillors Ankers, Bailey, Bebbington, Beech, Brickhill, Charlesworth, Davies, Dodd, Dwyer, Dykes, Evans, Fenton, Hallett, Hammond, Hatfield, Hollins, Johnson, Lewis, McGinnis, Moran, Mottram, Pearson, Richardson, Silvester, Simon, Waling, Weatherill and Westwood

 

There Voted Against the Motion:  

 

Councillors Bratherton, Butterill, Campbell, Cannon, Fawcett, Griffiths, Krizanac and Stafford

 

There Abstained From Voting:

 

The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor H W Curran,

Deputy Mayor, Councillor M R Jones, Councillors Beard, Cartlidge, Conquest, Crawford, Dunlop, Grant,  Hogben, R Jones, Martin, M Roberts, S Roberts, Salmon, Straine-Francis, Thorley, Wood and Wright

 

The Worshipful the Mayor announced the result of the recorded vote in that 28 Members voted for the motion, 8 Members voted against the motion, and 18 Members abstained from voting. 

 

RESOLVED: That Councillor B G Silvester be elected Leader of the Borough Council.

 

 

16       The Council was asked to appoint a Deputy Leader of the Council.

 

RESOLVED:  That Councillor M J Simon be elected Deputy Leader of the Borough Council.

 

 

17        The Council was asked to determine the Board Portfolios and their allocation.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Board Portfolios and their allocation be as follows:

 

          Portfolio                                                  Holder

 

          Leader                                                      B G Silvester

          Customers                                                M J Simon

          Economic Development                              D Brickhill

          Finance                                                    G Fenton      

          Human Resources                                      J K Hatfield

          Leisure                                                     W S McGinnis

          Local Environment                                      J Hammond

          Neighbourhoods                                         R Westwood

          Planning                                                   R A Bailey

          Safer Communities                                    J V Dwyer

 

 

18     Council was invited to elect a Council Convenor to act in accordance with paragraph 5.04 of Article 5 of the Council's Constitution.

 

RESOLVED:  That Councillor B Evans be appointed Council Convenor for the ensuing Municipal Year in accordance with paragraph 5.04 of Article 5 of the Council's Constitution.

 

 

19     Council was invited to elect a Deputy Council Convenor to act in accordance with paragraph 5.04 of Article 5 of the Council's Constitution.

 

RESOLVED:  That Councillor J K Hatfield be appointed Deputy Council Convenor for the ensuing Municipal Year to act in accordance with paragraph 5.04 of Article 5 of the Council's Constitution.

 

 

20     Council was invited to appoint a Chair of the Standards Committee which required the support of not less than two-thirds of Council Members present and voting.

 

RESOLVED: That Mr Nigel Briers be appointed Chair of the Standards Committee for the ensuing year.

 

 

21     At its meeting on 9^th March 2006, the Modernising Agenda Working Group  considered a request from the Standards Committee that the number of independent members on the Committee be increased from two to three.  There were currently two independent members on the Committee which was not permitted to meet in the absence of an independent member.  This placed an onerous responsibility on those two members.

 

The Modernising Agenda Working Group had accepted the reasons for the request and recommended that Council increase the number of independent members on the Standards Committee from two to three.

 

RESOLVED:  That the number of independent members appointed to the Standards Committee be increased from two to three.

 

 

22     RESOLVED:   That the Development Control, Licensing and Regulatory, and Standards Committees of the Borough Council be appointed in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the Council's Constitution comprising the number of members specified for each committee and in accordance with the nominations of the respective political groups further to Section 15 of the Local Government Act 1989, such committees having powers and duties described in Part 3 of the Council's Constitution and that the membership thereof be as indicated in Appendix A attached to these Minutes.

 

 

23     RESOLVED:  That the Performance and Overview Committees of the Borough Council be appointed in accordance with Article 6 of the Council's Constitution, comprising the number of members specified for each Performance and Overview Committee and in accordance with the nominations of the respective political groups further to Section 15 of the Local Government Act 1989, such Performance and Overview Committees having powers and duties described in Part 3 of the Council's Constitution and that the membership thereof be as indicated in Appendix A attached to these Minutes.

 

 

24     Council was invited to appoint a Chair and two Deputy Chairs for each of the Performance and Overview Committees of the Borough Council and to appoint a Chair and Deputy Chair of the Development Control and Licensing and Regulatory Committees and to appoint two Deputy Chairs to the Standards Committee.

 

RESOLVED: That Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the Committees, as indicated above, be as detailed in Appendix A attached to these Minutes.

 

 

 

25       The Central Cheshire Local Health Scrutiny Committee was a joint committee established under Article 12 of Cheshire County Council's Constitution.  The Local Committee covered the local authorities of Crewe and Nantwich, Congleton, Vale Royal and Cheshire County Council.  There were 14 elected Members on the Committee (5 Crewe and Nantwich, 2 Congleton, 4 Vale Royal and 3 Cheshire County Council).

 

Council was invited to appoint five Members based on this Council's proportionality arrangements.

 

RESOLVED:  That membership of the Central Cheshire Local Health Scrutiny Committee be as detailed in Appendix A attached to these Minutes.

 

APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO CHESHIRE WEST LOCAL HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

 

26     The Cheshire West Local Health Scrutiny Committee was a joint committee established under Article 12 of Cheshire County Council's Constitution.

 

The Local Committee covered the local authorities of Chester city, Crewe and Nantwich, Vale Royal and Cheshire County council.   There were 14 elected Members on the Committee (8 Chester City, 1 Crewe and Nantwich, 2 Vale Royal and 3 Cheshire County Council).

 

RESOLVED: That Councillor R A Bailey be appointed as Member to the Cheshire West Local Health Scrutiny Committee.

 

 

27          The Highways and Transportation Local Joint Committee is established under Article 12 of Cheshire County Council's Constitution.  The Local Joint Committee comprises eight Borough Council representatives and eight County Council representatives.

 

Council was invited to appoint eight Members based on this Council's proportionality arrangements.

         

RESOLVED: That the appointment of Members to the Highways and Transportation Local Joint Committee be as detailed in Appendix A attached to these Minutes.

 

 

28          RESOLVED:  That the appointment of Members to the Coppenhall Leisure Centre Joint Management Committee, the Shavington Leisure Centre Joint Management Committee and the Victoria Community Centre Joint Management Committee be as detailed in Appendix A attached to these Minutes.

 

 

29     Council was invited to appoint the following Working Groups

 

29.1  Modernising Agenda Working Group

 

RESOLVED: (a) That Councillors W T Beard, J D Bratherton, M Campbell, M Grant, J K Hatfield, M A Hollins, S Roberts and M J Simon be appointed to the Modernising Agenda Working Group ;

 

          (b) That the Working Group include Group Leaders; and

 

          (c) That the Council Convenor, Councillor B Evans, be appointed, ex-officio Chair of the Working Group.

         

29.2  South-East Quadrant of Crewe Steering Group

 

Council was invited to appoint four Members to this Steering Group. 

         

RESOLVED:  (a) That Councillors P A Hallett, J Hammond, S W Hogben and C G Thorley be appointed to the South-East Quadrant of Crewe Steering Group; and

 

          (b) That Councillors G Fenton and M Grant be appointed substitutes.

 

 

29.3       Council was invited to appoint two Members to the Crime and Disorder Steering Group, one of whom should be the appropriate Portfolio Holder. 

 

RESOLVED: That Councillors W T Beard and J V Dwyer be appointed to the Crime and Disorder Steering Group.

 

 

30        The Central Health and Safety Committee was an internal committee which established and maintained standards of health and safety which were consistent with legal requirements and within the policies and procedures of the Council.

 

The membership of the Committee comprised management and union representatives and one Councillor who was the Chair of the Committee and one named deputy. 

 

Council was invited to appoint one Member and one named deputy to the Committee. 

 

RESOLVED:  That Councillor C Waling be appointed to the Central Health and Safety Committee and Councillor M R Jones be appointed Deputy.

 

 

31     At its meeting on 21^st July 2005, the Board approved a revised management structure for implementation. One of the newly-created posts was Head of Communications.

 

In accordance with the Council's Constitution (Paragraph 4 of the Officer Employment Rules) a Committee or sub-Committee of Council must make the appointment, and the Committee must include at least one Member of the Board.  Council was invited to appoint a Committee of six Members in accordance with the proportionality rules.

 

RESOLVED: (a) That, in accordance with Paragraph 4 of the Officer Employment Rules of the Council's Constitution, a Committee of Appointment be established to appoint to the post of Head of Communications;

 

(b) That the Committee comprise Councillors J K Hatfield, S W Hogben, E Howell, M R Jones, B G Silvester and M J Simon.

 

 

32     RESOLVED: That the dates of meetings of the Borough Council, the Board, the Committees and Performance and Overview Committees for the year 2006-2007, be confirmed in accordance with the Timetable of Meetings attached as Appendix B to these Minutes.

 

 

 

33     The political groups represented on the Borough Council signified their respective Leaders and Deputy Leaders as follows:

 

Conservative Group         Councillor B G Silvester with Councillor M J Simon as Group Deputy

 

Labour Group                   Councillor S W Hogben with Councillor M Grant as Group Deputy

 

Liberal Democrat             Councillor G Griffiths

Group                                  

 

Nantwich Independent    Councillor A Moran (No Deputy)

Group                                  

 

Independent Group          Councillor B Evans (No Deputy)

 

 

34       The Chief Executive reported the results of the Borough Council elections and Referendum held on 4^th May 2006 and detailed in Appendix C to these Minutes.