STATEMENT OF DECISION MADE AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
BOARD
HELD ON 5TH
JUNE 2006
PRESENT:
Councillor Brian
Silvester
(Leader of the Council in the Chair)
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
Hammond
(Portfolio Holder for the Local Environment)
Councillor John
Hatfield
(Portfolio Holder for Human Resources)
Councillor Bill
McGinnis
(Portfolio Holder for Leisure)
Councillor Margaret
Simon
(Portfolio Holder for Customers)
Councillor Ray
Westwood
(Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods)
NON-BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Councillors T E Ankers, W T Beard, J A Beech, J D Bratherton,
P K Butterill,
M Campbell, R Cartlidge, G Griffiths, S W Hogben, M R
Jones, S Roberts and
M J Weatherill
OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Paul
Ancell
(Executive Director, Environment & Development)
Jenny
Cross
(Executive Director, Treasury and Corporate Support)
Bill
Howie
(Democratic Services Manager)
Carol
Jones
(Democratic Services Officer)
Alan
Warburton
(Assistant Chief Executive, Democratic Services and Human
Resources)
Alan
Wenham
(Chief Executive)
NOTE: The following Decision should be read in
conjunction with the corresponding report which accompanied the
Board Agenda issued on 25th May 2006 and Officer's
Report issued on 31st May 2006. The
agenda and report is available on the Council's Internet
Website. www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk
1.
CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS
The Chairman welcomed Members to the first meeting of the
Board following the elections on 4th May
2006. On behalf of the Board, he paid tribute to
the previous Board for its contribution to the work of the
Authority.
2.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No Member made any declaration of interest in any item of business
on the agenda.
3.
MUNICIPAL SQUARE, CREWE SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN WORKS
The Board considered the report of Councillor Brian
Silvester, Leader of the Council, together with an Officer's Report
on the technical and financial implications in respect of the
suspension of certain works on the square known as "Municipal
Square".
The Board intended to undertake a further consultation on the
siting of the War Memorial in Crewe. It was
considered inappropriate to complete the approved scheme for
"Municipal Square" until that consultation process had been
completed.
DECISION:
(A)
That Officers be instructed to progress the scheme for
"Municipal Square" as approved, except that no aspect of the
scheme which was connected with the memorial function be installed
until further notice. (For the avoidance of doubt, memorial items
included the Britannia statue, the plinth, any plaques or
commemorative panels or stones, any notices or informative boards,
or any item in the floorscape);
(B)
That Officers be instructed to secure urgent modifications
to the scheme detail so that practical completion can take place in
the absence of items specified in (A) above;
(C)
That any current or future additional costs arising as a
result of these instructions be contained within the £3m capital
provision for the renovation of the squares in Crewe, and to the
extent that any of these costs were deemed to be abortive, the
Board acknowledges that there will be a charge to the Revenue
Account to be met from virement, or by an additional budgetary
allocation from revenue reserves;
and
(D)
That a further report on costs, including any abortive
costs, be submitted to a future Board meeting.
Alternative Option:
To complete the "Municipal Square" scheme as originally
planned and then re-consult the public.
Reasons for the Decision:
(a)
The previous consultation was inadequate;
(b)
The consultation did not comply with the requirements of the
Council's Consultation Strategy; and
(c)
There had been widespread public concern about the proposed
re-siting of the war memorial, as evidenced by the submission of a
petition containing 10,000 names.
................................................................Signed