PRESENT:   The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor H W Curran;

Deputy Mayor, Councillor M R Jones, 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, R Cartlidge, D H D Charlesworth, S G Conquest, A Crawford, W S Davies, R E Dodd, T R Dunlop, J V Dwyer, B H Dykes, B Evans, A Fawcett, G Fenton, M Grant, G Griffiths, J Hammond, S W Hogben, M A Hollins, E Howell, R Jones, A C Johnson, J Lewis, M A Martin, W S McGinnis, A Moran, S J S Mottram, J A Pearson, A Richardson, M Roberts, S Roberts, R Salmon, B G Silvester, M J Simon, D J Straine-Francis, J I Stockton, C G Thorley, C Waling, M J Weatherill, R Westwood, L T Wood and J Wright

 

ADMISSION OF LESLIE DAVIES TO THE ROLL OF HONORARY ALDERMEN

 

73        In pursuance of Notice given, it was

 

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:  That in recognition of his eminent services to the Borough Council, Leslie Davies be admitted to the Roll of Honorary Aldermen of the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich in pursuance of Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 and thereby entitled to the title and privileges of an Honorary Alderman.

 

(NOTE:  The Motion was formally proposed by Councillor C G Thorley, seconded by Councillor G Griffiths and supported by Councillor M J Weatherill.)

 

At this point in the proceedings, Father Ralph Powell was invited to lead the Council and guests in prayer.

 

Following the passing of the resolution by the Borough Council, Honorary Alderman Davies signed the Roll of Honorary Aldermen and responded to his admission.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor H W Curran, presented Honorary Alderman Davies with a bound illuminated copy of the Council's resolution.

 

 

74        The Chief Executive read out congratulatory messages.

 

 

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

 

 

76            Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D J Cannon, P A Hallett, J K Hatfield, Z S Krizanac and R Stafford.

 

 

77            RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd August 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.  

 

 

78        It was reported that on this occasion, three questions had been received in accordance with the Public Question Time Procedure Rule No. 31(2).  The first two questions were from Mr R Oultram and the third question was from Mr R J Copping.

 

Councillor B Evans, the Council Convenor, read out Mr Oultram's first question which related to the set-up costs of Wulvern Housing;  he had quoted from a comment made by the District Auditor in May 2004 to support his question.  Councillor Fenton, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, responded, drawing Mr Oultram's attention to the remainder of the District Auditor's comment which addressed the question he had posed.

 

Mr Oultram asked a supplementary question and the Portfolio Holder indicated that he had no further response.

 

Councillor B Evans read out Mr Oultram's second question which related to a continuation of the "right to buy" scheme for Council housing.  Councillor Fenton responded to the effect that tenants who had transferred from the Council to Wulvern Housing in March 2003 had retained the "right to buy" including any appropriate discounts.  New tenants of Wulvern Housing had a different right, known as the "right to acquire", but Mr Oultram would need to take up this matter direct with Wulvern Housing. 

 

Mr Oultram asked a supplementary question. The Portfolio Holder suggested that Mr Oultram take up the issue with Wulvern Housing.

 

Councillor Evans read out the third question which was from Mr Copping.  Mr Copping wished to know when members of the public would be permitted to speak at Development Control Committee meetings.  Councillor R A Bailey, the Portfolio Holder for Planning replied to the effect that the introduction of the Site Inspection Protocol and a Call-In procedure was the first of an on-going review and public speaking at Committee would be considered in due course.

 

Mr Copping asked a supplementary question.  The Portfolio Holder confirmed that the proposal in respect of public speaking required due consideration before reaching a decision on whether or not to introduce it at Development Control Committee meetings.

 

 

79            Council received the Mayor's communications and a resumé of civic life in the Borough since the last meeting. 

 

 

80            RESOLVED: That the Council now sit as a Committee of Full Council.

 

 

81        No Member made any declaration of interest in any item of business on the agenda at this point in the proceedings.

 

 

82        There were no reports or recommendations from the Performance and Overview Committees on this occasion.

 

 

83        At its meeting held on 6^th September 2006, the Board considered the report of Councillor R A Bailey, the Portfolio Holder for Planning, which set out proposed arrangements for a joint Building Control Service with Congleton and Macclesfield Borough Councils.  The proposal had been formulated following agreement, in principle, to joint working from all three authorities.

 

RECOMMENDED: (a) That Crewe and Nantiwch Borough Council's Building Control functions be delegated to the proposed Joint Committee (with any necessary changes made to this Council's Constitution);

 

(b)       That Councillors R A Bailey and C G Thorley be nominated to sit on the Joint Committee; and

 

(c)        That the shared set-up costs of £50,000 be funded from the Building Control accumulated surplus.

 

 

84        At Annual Council on 17^th May 2006, Councillor J K Hatfield had been elected Deputy Council Convenor.  At that time, the Conservative Group had agreed to review this on account of Councillor Hatfield's position as a Member of the Board. 

 

Councillor Hatfield had now resigned his position as Deputy Council Convenor.  It was proposed

 

In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 18 (1), a named vote was requested

 

 

Councillors T E Ankers, R A Bailey, D N Bebbington, J A Beech, D Brickhill, D H D Charlesworth, W S Davies, R E Dodd, J V Dwyer, B H Dykes, G Fenton, J Hammond, M A Hollins, A C Johnson, J Lewis, W S McGinnis, A Moran, S J S Mottram, J A Pearson, A Richardson, B G Silvester, M J Simon, C Waling, M J Weatherill and R Westwood.

 

 

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor M R Jones, Councillors W T Beard, J D Bratherton, M Campbell, R Cartlidge, S Conquest, A Crawford, T R Dunlop, M Grant, G Griffiths, S W Hogben, E Howell, R Jones, M A Martin, M Roberts, S Roberts, R Salmon, D J Straine-Francis, C G Thorley, L T Wood and J Wright.

 

 

The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor H W Curran and Councillors P K Butterill, B Evans, A Fawcett and J I Stockton.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor announced the result of the recorded vote:  25 Members voted for the Motion, 21 Members voted against the Motion and 5 Members abstained from voting.

 

 

 

85              Councillor A Moran (Nantwich Independent Group) had resigned as a Member of the Development Control Committee, with immediate effect.  Council was asked to approve the appointment of Councillor J I Stockton, (Nantwich Independent Group).

 

RECOMMENDED: That Councillor J I Stockton be appointed to the Development Control Committee, with immediate effect.

 

           

86        The Committee of Full Council was invited to ask questions of the Board or Committee Chairs in accordance with Procedure Rule No. 9. These were responded to by the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders and Committee Chairs, as appropriate. 

 

Councillors B G Silvester, G Fenton and W S McGinnis undertook to provide written responses to all Councillors in respect of specific issues raised on their respective reports.

 

(Notes:  (a) During discussion of the issue of enforcement in rural areas,   Councillor G Griffiths declared a personal interest on the basis that he was a Clerk to two Parish Councils;

 

(b) During discussion of the Local Strategic Partnership, Councillor D Brickhill declared a personal interest on the basis of his County Council membership.)

 

 

87            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 involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Act.

 

 

APPLICATION FOR EARLY RETIREMENT (CHIEF EXECUTIVE) APPLICATION FOR VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY AND EARLY RETIREMENT (ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE DEMOCRATIC SERVICES & HUMAN RESOURCES)

 

88        At its meeting on 6^th September 2006, the Board had considered the application of the Chief Executive for early retirement and the application of the Assistant Chief Executive (Democratic Services & Human Resources) for voluntary redundancy and early retirement.  Both applications were recommended to Council for approval.   The reports of the Portfolio Holder for Human Resources considered by the Board, in respect of these applications, were submitted.

 

The Board had also authorised the appointment of an appropriate external adviser to provide an independent view on capacity within the remaining establishment of Chief Officers and other Senior Managers should the applications be approved.  The consultant's report was now submitted for consideration.

 

Council was invited, inter alia, to appoint a Members' Working Group of 8 Members, in accordance with the rules of proportionality (4 Conservative, 3 Labour, 1 Liberal Democrat).  On behalf of the Liberal Democrats Group, Councillor Griffiths declined to accept a place on the Working Group. 

 

RECOMMENDATION:  (a) That the application of the Chief Executive for early retirement, be approved, with discretion exercised to award up to 6.66 compensatory added years, according to age and length of service, enabling retirement to take effect on 30^th September 2006;

 

(b)       That the application of the Assistant Chief Executive (Democratic Services and Human Resources) for voluntary redundancy and early retirement be approved, with discretion exercised to award full redundancy compensation based on actual salary and up to 4.44 compensatory added years to pension, proportionately according to age and length of service, enabling redundancy and early retirement to take effect on 30^th September 2006;

 

(c)        That the related post of Secretarial Assistant be deleted from the establishment and the current post-holder be re-deployed, as appropriate;

 

(d)       That the new top-tier management structure be led by a Chief Executive;

 

(e)       That the Council seek, initially, to make an appointment to this post internally;

 

(f)         That a Members' Working Group of eight Members be established in accordance with proportionality rules (4 Conservative, 3 Labour, 1 Independent);

 

(g)       That Councillors B G Silvester, M J Simon, J K Hatfield and R Westwood, with J Hammond as deputy, be appointed from the Conservative Group;

 

(f)         That the Labour and Independent Groups give notification of their   representatives, outside the meeting;

 

(g)       That the Members' Working Group meet at the earliest opportunity

 

(i)      to consider the job profile documentation and person specification for the new Chief Executive role; and

 

(ii)     to agree the selection process prior to the final appointment of the new Chief Executive at Council on 1^st November 2006.

 

In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 18 (2), Councillor S Roberts requested that his vote be recorded;  he had voted to reject the application of the Chief Executive for early retirement.

 

 

 

89            RESOLVED:  That the press and public be re-admitted to the meeting.

 

 

 

90            Following the recommendation made in Minute No. 88 above, it was noted that this was the last Council meeting at which Mr A Wenham and Mr J A Warburton would be in attendance.   Both Officers took the opportunity to address Members.

 

Mr Wenham had enjoyed his tenure as Chief Executive over the previous 15 years and he thanked Members for their support and friendship during this time.

 

Mr Warburton had been employed by the Council for 25 years and had enjoyed the variety and challenges presented.  He too thanked Members for their support.

 

In response, the Worshipful the Mayor and Group Leaders, paid tribute to the individual contributions made by each Officer to the work of the authority over many years and offered their best wishes for their retirement.

 

 

91            RESOLVED:  That Full Council be now reconvened.

 

 

 

92            RESOLVED:  That the recommendations of the Committee of Full Council be approved and adopted.

 

 

...................................................Mayor