Agenda and minutes

            The minutes of the meetings held on 18 December 2019 and 22 January 202, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            The Leader made the following announcements:-

·         Changes to the Ward Boundaries, following the Boundary Commission Review, woud be detailed in the next edition of ‘Inside Halton’;

·         The Council budget continued to be challenging; Councillor Wharton would present the 2020/21 Budget report at this meeting of Council, but it was noted that approximately £53m had been cut from the budget since 2010;

·         A number of Members would be retiring or standing down from the Council at the May 2020 elections. The Leader wished to place on record his thanks for their services to Halton and wished them all well in their future endeavours; and

·         The Leader thanked the retiring Mayor, Councillor Margaret Horabin, for her dedication and commitment during her Mayoral year, and as she was also retiring from the Council, wished her well for the future.

            The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board meetings on 12 December 2019 and 16 January 2020.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

The Council considered the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board  meeting on 15 January 2020.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

            It was noted that no questions had been submitted under Standing Order No. 8.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council be recommended to approve the amendment of the Capital Programme to £50m in respect of the SJB Delinking and Runcorn Station Quarter, to reflect the updated position with respect to opportunities for grant funding.

            The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the major projects underway in the Borough and new relevant funding opportunities.

            RESOLVED: That Council approve the amendment of the Capital Programme to £50m in respect of the SJB de-linking and Runcorn Station Quarter, to reflect the updated position with respect to opportunities for grant funding.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council be recommended to

1)    adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A, which includes setting the budget at £115.770m, the Council Tax requirement of £52.179m (before Parish, Police, Fire and LCR Combined Authority precepts) and the Band D Council Tax for Halton of £1,475.70;

2)    approve the revenue budget proposals for 2020/21 set out in Appendix B and Capital Programme set out in Appendix F; and

3)    approve that from 1 April 2020 the level of Empty Homes Premium on dwellings that have been unoccupied for between 2 and 5 years remain at 100%. The level of Premium on dwellings unoccupied for more than 5 years be increased to 200%.

            The Executive Board had considered a report setting out a recommendation to Council in respect of the Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax for 2020/21. Since then, Cheshire Fire Authority had set its budget and Council Tax precept and this had been included in the full report to Council.

            The Executive Board had recommended that Council adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A of the report, which included setting the budget at £115.70m, the Council Tax requirement of £52,179m (before Parish, Police, Fire and LCR Combined Authority precepts) and the Band D Council Tax for Halton of £1,475.70.

            Councillor Wharton, Resources Portfolio holder,  thanked all Officers involved, for their support in producing this budget and wished to record his thanks to the Members of executive Board, the Budget Working Group and the Chairs of the Policy and performance Boards for their contribution.  In addition, he thanked the Leader for his help and support in delivering this budget.

            In accordance with Standing Order 16 (3), a recorded vote was taken.

            The following Members voted FOR the motion:-

Councillors Horabin, Abbott, Baker, J. Bradshaw, M. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Carlin, Cassidy, Dennett, Dourley, Fry, Gilligan, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Howard, Jones, Leck, M. Lloyd Jones, P. Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan, A. Lowe, J. Lowe, MacManus, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Morley, Nelson, Philbin, Polhill, C. Plumpton Walsh, N. Plumpton Walsh, Ratcliffe, Joe Roberts, June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Teeling, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Whitley, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo

            There were no votes against the motion.

            There were no abstentions.

            RESOLVED: That Council adopt the following resolution:-

1)    The policies outlined in this paper be adopted, including the budget and Council Tax for 2020/21, the savings set out in Appendix B and the Capital Programme set out in Appendix F.

2)    That it be noted that at the meeting on 18 December 2019 the Council agreed the following:

(a)       The Council Tax Base 2020/21 for the whole Council area is 35,359 (item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended) (the Act); and

(b)       For dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates, be set out as follows:

            being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its Council Tax Base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items relate.

3)    Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2020/21 (excluding Parish precepts) is £52,179,276.

4)    In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (Sections 31 to 36), the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2020/21 and agreed as follows:

(a)       £395,341,557 – being the aggregate of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council be asked to approve the revised Capital Programme as set out in the Appendix attached to the report.

            The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which sought approval for a number of revisions to the Council’s 2019/20 Capital Programme.

            RESOLVED: That the revisions to the Council’s 2019/20 Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report, be approved.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the 2020/21 Capital Strategy, as presented in the Appendix attached to the report.

            The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the Council’s Capital Strategy for 2020/21.

            Members noted that the Capital Strategy should be read in conjunction with the Treasury Management Statement, also considered at this meeting. The successful delivery of the Capital Strategy would assist the Council in planning and funding its capital expenditure over the next three years.

            RESOLVED: That Council approve the 2020/21 Capital Strategy, as presented in the Appendix attached to the report.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the policies, strategies, statements, prudential and treasury indicators outlined in the report.

            The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the Treasury Management Statement, which incorporated the Annual Investment Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy for 2020/21.

            RESOLVED: That Council adopt the policies, strategies, statements, prudential and treasury indicators, outlined in the report.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the Calendar of Meetings for the 2020/21 Municipal Year, as appended to the report.

            The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on a calendar of meetings for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

            RESOLVED: That the calendar of meetings for the 2020/21 Municipal Year, as appended to the report, be approved.

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopts this Pay Policy Statement for the Financial Year 2020/21.

            The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the Pay Policy Statement for 2020/21.

            The Localism Act 2011 required every local authority to prepare a Pay Policy Statement each year, which detailed the Council’s approach to a range of issues relating to the pay of its employees, principally its Chief Officers and the Authority’s lowest paid employees.

            The purpose of the Statement was to provide transparency with regards to the Council’s approach to setting the pay of its employees by identifying the following:-

·         The methods by which salaries of all employees were determined;

·         The details and level of remuneration of its most senior staff (i.e. its Chief Officers); and

·         The Committee responsible for ensuring the provisions set out in the Statement were applied consistently throughout the Council and recommending any amendments to the Full Council.

The report also detailed the requirement from April 2018 for employers with more than 250 employees to report on the gender Pay Gap. The calculation was prescribed statutorily, based on a snapshot date of 31 March the previous year.  Detailed information was published on the Council’s web site.

The following information was included in the report:-

·                     Background to the Pay Structure;

·                     Senior Management Remuneration;

·                     Recruitment of Chief Officers;

·                     Additions to Salaries of Chief Officers;

·                     Pensions Contributions;

·                     Payments on Termination;

·                     Publication;

·                     Lowest Paid Employees; and

·                     Accountability and Decision Making.

RESOLVED: That the Pay Policy Statement for 2020/21 be adopted.

            The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 18 December 2019:-

·         Children, Young People and Families;

·         Employment, Learning and Skills and Community;

·         Safer; and

·         Corporate Services.

In moving the minutes of the Children, Young People and Families Policy and Performance Board, the Chair, Councillor Mark Dennett, wished to record his thanks to retiring Councillor Margaret Horabin for her many years of service as a member of the Board and he wished her well for the future.

In moving the minutes of the Employment, Learning and Skills and Community Policy and Performance Board, retiring Chair, Councillor Andrew MacManus, wished to record his thanks to his Board colleagues for their support in carrying out the work of the PPB.

The Council considered the reports of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of Council on 18 December 2019:-

·         Development Control; and

·         Standards.

FIREWORKS

Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order No. 6.

            The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Ellen Cargill and seconded by Councillor June Roberts:-

‘This Council expressed concern at harm that can result from the irresponsible use of fireworks. While safely displayed fireworks bring enjoyment to some people, the uncontrolled misuse of fireworks can result in distress, injury or anxiety to people, as well as death, injury or distress to animals. In advance of Bonfire Night there is increased likelihood of fireworks being a cause of nuisance in anti-social behaviour incidents.

Council endeavours to dissuade people from risks by holding a safety led annual fireworks display each November and to actively enforce the existing laws on the control of fireworks; this includes the licensing and inspection of firework retailers and investigation into unlicensed traders. However, Council considers the existing laws do not go far enough to protect the public and added actions are required.

Council resolves to support the RSPCA campaign aimed at strengthening actions to prevent distress, injury or anxiety to people, as well as death, injury or distress to animals.

This Council agrees:

1)    To actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks;

2)    To write to the Government urging it to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays and to introduce a limit on the public use of fireworks on or close to specific dates and times; and

3)    To encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public display’

The motion was put and carried.

            RESOLVED: That the motion be approved.

VOTER IDENTIFICATION

Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order No. 6.

            The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Mark Dennett and seconded by Councillor Kath Loftus:-

‘ This Council expresses grave concern at proposals within the Queen’s Speech to prevent people from voting at elections unless they provide photographic ID at polling stations. Further, Council considers the proposal  would suppress voters’ rights and lead to many electors being unfairly prevented from voting.

Council notes specifically that:

1)    Cases of electoral fraud involving people falsely claiming another person’s identity are extremely low in the UK and no cases have ever been known in Halton;

2)    An Electoral Commission study of trails has previously found that requiring voter identification many voters were turned away from polling stations for not having the correct form of ID – with some not returning later to vote; and

3)    The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) have stated the plan risks ‘raising the drawbridge to huge number of marginalised voters’, including the elderly and BAME voters. It said that out of millions of votes cast in the UK last year, there were just eight allegations of personation fraud – the type of fraud that voter ID is meant to prevent.

This Council agrees to write to the prime Minister calling upon Government to abandon plans to implement restrictive identification requirements that will make it harder for people to vote and to express Council’s view that enforcing stricter voter identification measures are wholly unnecessary, more likely affect residents who do not have a passport or driving licence and will lead to people not exercising their right to vote’

A request for a recorded vote was made by Councillor Gareth Stockton. However, the requisite number of Members to request this was not obtained and so Council moved and seconded the Notice of Motion as set out in the Council summons.

The motion was put and carried.

            RESOLVED: That the motion be approved.

The Mayoral Committee considered a Part II item making a recommendation on the appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

Council is requested to note the following recommendations, formal confirmation of which will be sought at Annual Council.

1)    Councillor Christopher Rowe be appointed as the Mayor; and

2)    Councillor Mark Dennett be appointed as the Deputy Mayor.

            The Mayoral Committee had considered a Part II item which made recommendations for the appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

            Formal confirmation would be sought at the Annual meeting of Council.

            RESOLVED: That Council note that

1)    Councillor Christopher Rowe be appointed as Mayor; and

2)    Councillor Mark Dennett be appointed as Deputy Mayor.