STATEMENT OF DECISIONS MADE AT A MEETING OF THE
BOARD
HELD ON 15th
JUNE 2006
PRESENT:
Councillor Brian
Silvester
(Leader of the Council in the Chair)
Councillor Margaret
Simon
(Portfolio Holder for Customers)
Councillor Rachel
Bailey
(Portfolio Holder for Planning)
Councillor David
Brickhill
(Portfolio Holder for Economic Development)
Councillor John
Dwyer
(Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities)
Councillor Graham
Fenton
(Portfolio Holder for Finance)
Councillor John
Hatfield
(Portfolio Holder for Human Resources)
Councillor John
Hammond
(Portfolio Holder for the Local Environment)
Councillor Ray
Westwood
(Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods)
NON-BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Councillors P K Butterill, M Campbell, M R Jones, S W Hogben,
S Krizanac, A Moran, A Richardson and M J Weatherill.
OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Paul
Ancell
(Executive Director, Environment &
Development)
Alastair
Bain
(Team Leader Private Sector Housing)
Lisa
Carr
(Principal Policy Officer)
Jenny
Cross
(Executive Director, Treasury and Corporate
Support)
Bill
Howie
(Democratic Services Manager)
Bernadette
Hurst (Assistant
Chief Executive, Community Development and Social
Policy)
Vikki
Jeffrey
(Head of Housing)
Carol
Jones
(Democratic Services Officer)
Joanne
Smith
(Democratic Services Officer)
Keith
Sutton
(Head of ICT)
Su
Turner
(Local Strategic Partnership Manager)
Alan
Warburton
(Assistant Chief Executive, Democratic Services and Human
Resources)
Alan
Wenham
(Chief Executive)
NOTE: The following Decisions should be read in
conjunction with the corresponding reports which accompanied the
Board Agenda issued on 6th June 2006 and the subsequent
letters sent out on 8th and 13th June
2006. The agenda and reports are available on
the Council's Internet Website. www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
4.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor M Simon declared a personal interest in Agenda Item
5 Local Area Agreements as she was a Cheshire County
Councillor.
Councillor B Silvester declared a personal interest in Agenda
Item 6 War Memorial Consultation as he was a member of the
citizens' panel (Platform).
Councillor M Campbell declared a personal interest in Agenda
Item 6 War Memorial Consultation as she was a member of the
citizens' panel (Platform).
Councillor D Brickhill declared a personal interest in Agenda
Item 5 Local Area Agreements as he was a Cheshire County
Councillor and a personal interest in Agenda Item 14 Police
Service Restructuring as his son was a police officer.
Councillor R Westwood declared a personal and prejudicial
interest in Agenda Item 17 Community Grant Application in
respect of the decision on the award of a grant to Wistaston
Cricket Club on the basis that he was Vice-chair of the Wistaston
Sports & Leisure Association of which Wistaston Cricket Club
was a member.
No other Member made any declaration of interest in any item
of business on the agenda.
5.
BOARD DECISIONS 29th MARCH AND 5TH JUNE
2006
The Board received the Statement of Decisions made at a
meeting held on 29th March 2006 and
a special meeting held on 5th June 2006.
6.
RECONSIDERATION OF DECISIONS
No decisions had been referred back to the Board for
reconsideration.
7.
CONSIDERATION OF ANY PERFORMANCE AND OVERVIEW
COMMITTEE REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Performance and Overview Committees had been invited to
comment on Board reports. Comments received from the three
Performance and Overview Committees were considered under the
appropriate headings.
8.
LOCAL AREA AGREEMENTS
The Board considered the report of Councillor Ray Westwood,
Portfolio holder for Neighbourhoods.
Cheshire would be subject to a full Local
Area Agreement (LAA) with effect from April 2007. The report
contained details of the setting of priority outcomes for the Local
Area Agreements for Cheshire.
DECISION:
(A) That the
content of the report be noted;
(B) That delegated
authority be granted to the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and
the Assistant Chief Executive, Community Development and Social
Policy to approve the high level outcomes when they are agreed by
the Communities of Cheshire Partnership;
(C) That a
training day on Local Area Agreements be arranged for Members;
and
(D) That quarterly
monitoring reports be submitted to Board.
Alternative Options:
None considered.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) The Government
has launched the guidance for third round LAA's
which states the processes and timescales that must be met to
enable the agreements to receive Ministerial sign-off prior to
being launched in April 2007. The timetable states that
stakeholders in the partnership should be involved in the
identification of the high level outcomes for the agreement in
April and June 2006.
(b) The new
arrangements will ultimately help to make the public services more
responsive to community needs and develop sustainable
communities.
9.
CONSULTATION WAR MEMORIAL
The Board considered the report of Councillor Brian Silvester,
Leader of the Council.
The report outlined a number of issues to be considered when
making the decision about the nature of the consultation to be
carried out in relation to the location of the War Memorial in
Crewe. It also provided details of a number of
options for further consultation that had been investigated.
Comments received from Members of the Performance and Overview
Committee, Organisation which expressed concern over the late
publication of the report were noted. Comments
from Performance and Overview Committee, Local Economy and
Environment that the decision to further delay the erection of the
War Memorial was flawed and to cause additional cost to Council Tax
Payers by way of further consultation was unreasonable were also
noted.
DECISION:
(A) To carry out
consultation on the location of the War Memorial in Crewe town
centre using Platform at the earliest possible date;
(B) That the
Electoral Reform Society or other similar third party be asked to
scrutinise the question and any accompanying statement to be
considered by consultees;
(C) That, should
it be necessary and following consultation with the Portfolio
Holder for Customers, virement of £10,000 from the budget for
procurement advice be approved to meet the costs of carrying out
this consultation and any activity related to it;
(D) That the
additional costs will be identified and contained within existing
budgets; and
(E) That the
public should be aware that the War Memorial might not be in place
for Remembrance Sunday if the decision is to site it on Market
Square but the public will be assured that a Remembrance Day
service will be held in the centre of Crewe
regardless.
Alternative Options:
A number of options for consultation are contained within the
report.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) In light of significant local
concern the Board felt that it was necessary for further more
reliable consultation to be carried out.
(b) The advantages
of using the Citizens' Panel for the consultation are that the
result would be statistically robust and would be more cost
effective than a referendum. The consultation
would be carried out relatively quickly and the panel normally has
a high percentage response rate.
(c) Using the
Citizens' Panel is in compliance with the Council's Consultation
Strategy.
(d) Any valid
consultation exercise must be seen to be carried out in a fair and
unbiased way while ensuring that consultees are fully informed
before they make their views known.
10.
OUT-TURN EFFICIENCY GAINS 2005/2006
The Board considered, for information, the report of
Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
The report summarised the efficiency gains achieved against
the targets for 2005/2006 including any on-going savings from
2004/2005.
11.
BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OUT-TURN
FOR 2005/2006
The Board considered the report of Councillor John Hatfield,
Portfolio Holder for Human Resources.
The report contained commentaries on the progress on key
aspects of performance and suggested areas where improvement was
required. The report also contained details of
proposals to change the content of the information presented.
Councillor Hatfield welcomed the suggestion received from
Performance and Overview Committee, Organisation that, due to the
increase in long-term sickness absence (BVPI 12), the Committee
would be willing to set up a working group to consider the issue of
early diagnosis intervention.
DECISION:
(A) That the commentaries on key
indicators be noted and the suggestions for improvements
accepted;
(B) That the existing list of key
indicators be approved;
(C) That the
changes to the content of the data set be accepted;
and
(D) That the Board monitors progress
on the Local Public Service Agreement on a regular
basis.
Alternative Options:
To amend or reject the proposals contained within the
report.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) The new local indicators proposed
would assist in improving the performance management
framework.
(b) The Council contributes to the
targets set out in the Cheshire Local Public Service Agreement and
it is good practice to monitor the progress of this Council's
contribution.
12.
BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE PLAN 2006/2007
The Board considered the report of Councillor Brian Silvester,
Leader of the Council.
The report satisfied the statutory requirement to set out the
way in which the Council intended to deliver its key policy
priorities and its proposals for continual improvement in its
standards of performance.
RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL:
That the Best Value Performance Plan be
approved.
Alternative Options:
Not Applicable.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) The Best Value
Performance Plan (BVPP) is a statutory document, prescribed by
Government for all local authorities to complete so that they can
be held to account by those who pay for local
services.
(b) The document has
been produced in accordance with the Local Government Act 1999 :
Part 1 Best Value and Performance Improvement and follows guidance
issued by the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), in
Circular 02/2004; Addendum to ODPM Circular 03/2003 Local
Government Act 1999: Part 1 Performance Improvement.
(c) The BVPP
provides the means by which performance is planned, monitored and
reported and must be published by 30th June
2006.
13.
BEST VALUE REVIEW OF HOUSING SERVICES
The Board considered the report of Councillor Rachel Bailey,
Portfolio Holder for Planning.
The report provided details of the final report and associated
action plan for the Best Value Review of Housing
Services. The main findings of the report were
that the Housing section provided an extremely competitive service
of which a large amount had been outsourced to other
agencies. The review also concluded that there
were areas of work which the Housing section and its agents were
currently unable to carry out or carry out comprehensively because
of a lack of resources.
It was noted that Performance and Overview Committee,
Community commended the report to Board and recommended that the
Council make a commitment to fund the additional posts
proposed.
DECISION:
That the findings of the final report on the Best
Value of Housing Services be accepted.
Alternative Options:
Not to accept or to amend the recommendations in the final
report.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) From
1st April 2000 all local authorities are under a duty of
Best Value as laid out in the Local Government Act
1999.
(b) The action plan
will ensure that the Housing Service continues to develop to meet
legislative and political priorities and customer and stakeholder
expectations. In conjunction with this,
opportunities for collaborative working especially with other local
authorities in Cheshire will be encouraged and examples are
included in the action plan.
14.
ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT 2005/2006
The Board considered, for information, the report of
Councillor Graham Fenton, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
The report presented the Annual Internal Audit Report for the
financial year 2005/2006 together with performance management
statistics relating to the section.
15.
ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN 2006/2007 AND THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC
PLAN
The Board considered the report of Councillor Graham Fenton,
Portfolio Holder for Finance.
The report presented the Annual Audit Plan for 2006/07
which identified the scope of the internal audit work
for the year, together with the strategic plan for the three years
ending 2008/09. Both plans comprise two
elements: (1) Audit Resources and (2) Planned Systems
Audits.
DECISION:
That the 2006/07 Annual Audit Plan and the Three-Year
Strategic Plan be approved.
Alternative Options:
Not to approve or to amend the Audit Plans.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) In accordance with the
CIPFA Code of Practice for Internal Audit in Local Government, the
Audit Section prepares a three-year Strategic Audit Plan, and from
this an Annual Plan is prepared.
(b)
Internal Audit has an important role to play in Corporate
Risk Management and a decision is required to approve audit plans
which have been prepared on a risk based approach.
(c) The
Audit Plan for 2006/07 identifies the scope of the Internal Audit
work for the year, together with the Strategic Plan for the three
years ending 2008/09.
16.
POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICERS
The Board considered the report of Councillor John Dwyer,
Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities.
At its meeting on 29th March 2006 the Board agreed
(Decision No 176) to consult with the appropriate groups to
establish their views on the potential effectiveness of Police
Community Support Officers in tackling anti-social behaviour issues
and report back to the June meeting. The Board
also agreed to take no action to recruit two additional Community
Wardens prior to the Board meeting in June.
The report detailed the outcome of consultation and invited
the Board to consider making a commitment, in principle, to
contribute £50,000 towards the cost of five Police Community
Support Officers (PCSO's). The report also
contained details of an offer from Wulvern Housing to fund two
additional PCSO posts.
DECISION:
(A) That a commitment be
made, in principle, to contributing £50,000 this financial year
(2006/07) and in three successive financial years (2007/08, 2008/09
and 2009/10) towards the costs of a team of five Police Community
Support Officers to focus on tackling anti-social behaviour issues
in the Borough;
(B) That the offer
from Wulvern Housing to partner in this process by supporting two
additional Police Community Support Officers in the team be
accepted;
(C) That the Police Authority be
informed of the Council's commitment subject to the satisfactory
completion of a Service Level Agreement for the entire
Borough;
(D) That the Portfolio Holder for
Safer Communities be authorised to agree a Service Level
Agreement on behalf of the Board; and
(E) That the
Home Secretary be asked for an assurance that for the longer term
Police Community Support Officers are regarded as an addition to,
not a replacement for, Police Officers.
Alternative Option:
Not to proceed and to invest in two Community
Wardens.
Reasons for Decision:
(a) The scheme will
assist with the Council's obligations under Section 17 of the Crime
and Disorder Act 1998.
(b) Sponsorship of a
number of PCSO's will assist the Council in achieving its
objectives in respect of anti-social behaviour and the reduction of
fear of crime.
(c) The three year
funding for the scheme begins in April 2007. If
a commitment is made now, then the recruitment and training process
would start; allowing the PCSO team to form between January and
March 2007. There is also the prospect that the Home Office will
commit to mainstream funding in
2010.
17.
POLICE SERVICE RE-STRUCTURING
The Board considered the report of Councillor John Dwyer,
Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities.
The report contained details of the current proposals for
Police Service re-structuring and the proposed merger of Cheshire
and Merseyside Police. The Board were invited to
make a response to the Home Secretary on the proposal and a number
of areas of potential concern were highlighted in the report.
DECISION:
(A) That an
objection be made to the proposed merger on the grounds that the
financial and operational advantages are dubious and are outweighed
by the risk of a deterioration in policing standards in
Cheshire;
(B) That in
the event that the merger is approved, assurances be sought from
the Home Secretary that Council Taxpayers should not be required to
pay more as a consequence and that the commitment to effective
community policing be maintained, with no reduction in the number
of Police Officers available; and
(C) That
both local Members of Parliament be contacted and asked to give
their support in rejecting the Home Secretary's
proposals.
Alternative Option:
To make no objection to the proposed merger.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) The Home
Secretary gave formal notice at the beginning of May 2006 that he
intended placing Orders before Parliament in late July to effect a
merger between the Cheshire and Merseyside Police Forces. A formal
consultation has been announced, but in practice the intentions are
now so well-developed that only an outright objection to the
proposal is likely to carry weight.
(b) The Council Tax
precept for Merseyside Police is £15 higher (Band D) than
Cheshire's. There will be difficulties in equalisation resulting in
local increases.
(c) It is unknown
whether the current commitment to community policing would
continue. Issues may arise around the ability of local communities
to exert influences over a far larger Force with a changed set of
priorities.
18.
REVIEW OF CREWE AND NANTWICH PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING RENEWAL
POLICY
The Board considered the report of Councillor Rachel Bailey,
Portfolio Holder for Planning.
At its meeting on 29th March 2006 the Board
approved the revised Private Sector Housing Renewal Policy for
public consultation (Decision No 180). The
report provided details of the consultation responses and the
revised policy for approval.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL:
That the Review of the Crewe and Nantwich Private
Sector Housing Renewal Policy be approved as Council Policy from
1st July 2006.
Alternative Option:
To reject the revised Private Sector Housing Renewal
Policy.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) The
introduction of the Housing Act 2004 contains new provisions to
assist in bringing unsuitable Houses in Multiple Occupation and
long-term empty properties back into use where appropriate and
provisions have been taken into consideration in the revised
policy.
(b) The draft policy
has taken account of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, Private
Sector Stock Condition Survey and the Housing Capital Funding
Grant.
(c) The
revised policy will assist in the key objective of "ensuring
housing conditions do not adversely affect people's health" and
helps to maintain private sector stock.
19.
FILLING OF VACANCIES REQUIREMENT FOR LEADER OF THE COUNCIL AND
PORTFOLIO HOLDER AUTHORITY
The Board considered the report of Councillor John Hatfield,
Portfolio Holder for Human Resources.
The report contained proposals to impose a restriction on
appointments and promotions within the authorised establishment to
all posts shown below those shown on the Management Structure chart
in Part 7 of the Council's Constitution. A set
of operational protocols were also outlined in the report.
DECISION:
That the authority delegated to Directors to make
appointments and promotions within the authorised establishment be
exercised subject to a requirement that no appointment or promotion
within the authorised establishment shall be made without first
being authorised by the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio
Holder for Human Resources.
Alternative Option:
To retain the existing process.
Reasons for the Decision:
The introduction of a Vacancy and Recruitment Protocol is
intended to provide a basis for assessment by recruiting managers
that establishes a clear need for the post, gives an opportunity to
consider appropriate alternative solutions and reinforces the
Council's commitment to equal opportunities best practice.
20.
GRANTS COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATION
The Board considered the report of Councillor Ray Westwood,
Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods.
The report contained details of an application by Wistaston
Cricket Club for a grant to assist with the purchase of coaching
mats and balls for the total cost of £400.
Responsibility for grants of this size was delegated to the
Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods (Councillor Westwood). However,
Councillor Westwood declared a personal and prejudicial interest in
the application on the basis that he was the Vice-chair of the
Wistaston Sports Association, of which Wistaston Cricket Club was a
member. The application had, therefore, been
referred to Board, as the body by which the delegation was made,
for a decision.
DECISION:
That a grant of £300 be awarded to Wistaston Cricket
Club.
Alternative Options:
(a)
Award a grant of a different amount; or
(b)
Decline the application.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a)
The grant will assist projects in the community.
(b)
The grant is within existing budget provision and meets the
criteria.
(Note: Having declared a personal and prejudicial
interest Councillor R Westwood withdrew from the meeting for this
item).
21.
APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS
The Board considered the report of Councillor Margaret Simon,
Portfolio Holder for Customers.
The Portfolio Holder for Customers had been given delegated
authority to make appointments to the majority of outside
organisations, in consultation with an Advisory Group comprising
the Council Convenor, Deputy Council Convenor and the political
Group Whips.
The Board retained responsibility for making appointments
where no political consensus could be reached and was invited to
make a total of 13 appointments to the Outside Organisations
detailed in the report.
DECISION:
(A) That the following
Members, be appointed to Muir Group Housing, comprising two
substantive places and one deputy place, for a 2-year
period:
Councillor M Martin
Councillor S Mottram
Councillor M Campbell (Deputy)
(B) That the following
representatives be appointed to Wulvern Housing Board for a 2-year
period:
Councillor W T Beard
Councillor B H Dykes
Councillor R Westwood
Officer David Marren, Executive Director, Direct
Services
(C) That the following Member be
appointed to Beth Johnson Housing Association for
1-year:
Councillor R A Bailey
(D) That the following Members be
nominated to Crewe & Nantwich Community
Trust:
Councillor T E Ankers
Councillor J A Beech
(E) That the following
Members be appointed to the Citizens' Advice Bureau for a
3-year period:
Councillor R Cartlidge
Councillor J A Pearson
(F) That the following Member
be appointed to the Alexandra Soccer and Community Association for
a 2-year period:
Councillor T E Ankers
Alternative Option:
To appoint alternative Members to the organisations.
Reasons for the Decision:
The Council's role as a Community Leader is significantly
enhanced by the involvement of Members in the network of local
organisations that operate throughout the Borough.
22.
APPOINTMENTS TO THE HOUSING BENEFITS REVIEW BOARD
The Board considered the report of Councillor Margaret Simon,
Portfolio Holder for Customers.
The Council is required by the provisions of the Child
Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 to appoint Members
to a Housing Benefits Review Board to determine appeals relating to
discretionary housing payments. The Council's
Board had the authority to appoint a panel of Councillors from
which Members of each Review Board may be selected.
DECISION:
That the following Members be appointed to the Housing
Benefits Review Board:-
Councillor D Bebbington
Councillor M Campbell
Councillor R Jones
Councillor J A Pearson
Councillor A Richardson; and
Councillor R Salmon
Alternative Option:
To appoint alternative Members to the Review Board.
Reasons for the Decision:
The Board is legally required to appoint a Panel of Members to
form a Housing Benefits Review Board.
23.
APPOINTMENTS TO ICT PARTNERSHIP BOARD
The ICT Partnership Board comprises four Members, two of whom
were appointed by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council from its
executive membership (Board). The terms of
reference for the Partnership Board also allowed for two named
substitutes to be nominated from the Executive.
DECISION:
(A)
That Councillors G Fenton and J K Hatfield be
appointed as Members of the ICT Partnership Board;
and
(B) That Councillors M J Simon and
R Westwood be appointed as the two named substitutes to the ICT
Partnership Board.
Alternative Options:
None considered.
Reasons for the Decision:
The ICT Partnership Board has been set up between Members and
Officers of Chester City Council and Crewe & Nantwich Borough
Council to promote closer working on ICT initiatives for the
purpose of more cost effective ICT service delivery for the
partnership.
24.
APPOINTMENT TO PORTFOLIO HOLDERS' ADVISORY GROUPS
The Board was invited to review appointments to, and
membership of, various advisory groups that had been set up during
the last Municipal Year. A schedule of Portfolio Holders' Advisory
Groups which had been set up for 2005/06 was circulated at the
meeting for information.
It was noted that the relevant
Portfolio Holders would notify the Assistant Chief Executive
(Democratic Services and Human Resources) of any Advisory Groups
which they set up or reformed during the year.
This information would be published in the Members'
Bulletin.
25.
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DIRECT SERVICES AND THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TREASURY AND CORPORATE SUPPORT (FOR
INFORMATION)
In accordance with Contract Regulations,
the Executive Director, Direct Services and the Executive Director,
Treasury and Corporate Support reported on tenders that had
recently been invited and received.
26.
ICT STAFFING STRUCTURE
The Board considered the report of Councillor John Hatfield,
Portfolio Holder for Human Resources.
The report outlined the current level of staffing in the ICT
applications section which contained three temporary posts. These
posts formed part of the temporary structure put in place in
September 2004 to enable the Council to meet the E-Government
Agenda. A proposal to revise the ICT staffing structure and make
these three posts part of the staff establishment was detailed in
the report.
Comments received from Unison supporting the proposals were
noted.
DECISION:
That the revised ICT staffing structure be
approved.
Alternative Options:
(a) To use
external consultants to enable the required development of the
Council's systems; or
(b) To extend the
temporary contracts to enable the required development of the
Council's systems.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a)
The revised structure will help to enhance the development of
the Customer Relationship Management system and Planning system
enabling improved service and choice to the Council's customers by
improving the use of information within the
Council. This will allow for a more efficient,
lower cost service to customers.
(b)
Although the BVPI 157 target has been met further support and
development of the Council's systems is required to achieve the aim
of part of the Customer Service Strategy to establish one point of
contact for the customer.
27.
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS WINDOW MAINTENANCE WAIVING CONTRACT
REGULATIONS
The Board considered the report of Councillor Graham Fenton,
Portfolio Holder for Finance.
The report contained details of a request to waive Contract
Regulations to appoint a contractor for the Municipal Buildings
windows maintenance contract.
DECISION:
That the requirements of the Crewe and Nantwich
Borough Council Regulations as to Contracts be waived under
Regulation 6 and the contract for repairs and re-decoration of the
Municipal Buildings opening windows be awarded to Dorothea for the
sum indicated in paragraph 1.5 of the report.
Alternative Option:
To go out to tender for the contract.
Reasons for the Decision:
Because of the relatively small size of the contract and the
specialist nature of the metal window works, and taking account of
the cost of completing the tender process, competitive tendering is
unlikely to provide a cheaper option. It would
also be a lengthier process which may mean that the opportunity to
take advantage of the better weather over the Summer would be
lost.
28.
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED : That the press and public be excluded from
the meeting during consideration of the
following item 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.
29.
LYCEUM THEATRE, CREWE NO SMOKING POLICY (PARAGRAPH
3)
The Board considered the report of Councillor Bill McGinnis,
Portfolio Holder for Leisure.
The report contained details of the impact
of the introduction of the Council's no smoking policy on the
income in both the restaurant and bar at the Lyceum Theatre.
Crewe.
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL:
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.
Alternative Option:
To continue to apply the no smoking policy at the
Theatre.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a) It is important
that the catering services at the Lyceum Theatre remain a viable
option and that the catering contractors can compete
with other local businesses.
(b) The catering
contractors have expressed concern that if positive action is
not taken to address the fall in sales there is some uncertainty
regarding their future at the theatre as current sales levels do
not provide for an effective business.
................................................................Signed