Agenda and minutes

          The Mayor reported on the sad passing of Councillor Arthur Cole.

          The Council stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

          The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 18 October 2017, having been circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting be confirmed and adopted.

          The Leader made the following announcements:-

·       He had recently circulated the Leader’s Briefing to Members;

·       Members had attended a seminar which briefed them on Boundary Review proposals; and

·       Each Member was in receipt of a commemorative coin to mark the opening of the new Mersey Gateway Bridge in October 2017.

          The Council considered the minutes of the meetings of Executive Board on 19 October 2017 and 16 November 2017.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

          The Council considered the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board on 4 October 2017.

          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 amend the Capital Programme to provide 50% match fund for the project, as required by the European Regional Development Funding Renewable Energy Scheme (ERDF).

          The Council considered a report of the Chief Executive on an amendment to the Capital Programme to provide 50% match funding for the Renewable Energy Scheme by developing a solar farm on the former St Michael’s Golf Course.

          RESOLVED: That the Capital Programme be amended to provide 50% match funding for the project, as required by the European Regional Development Funding Renewable Energy Scheme.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve

1)    The Council Tax Base for 2018/19 be set at 34,435 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority and the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

2)    The Council Tax Base for each of the Parishes be as follows:-

                    The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the determination of the Council Tax Base for 2018/19.

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

          The following Members voted FOR the motion:

Councillors J. Abbott, S. Baker, J. Bradshaw, M. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Dennett, Edge, Fry, Gilligan, J. Gerrard, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, M. Lloyd Jones,

P.Lloyd Jones, C.Loftus, K.Loftus, Logan, A.Lowe, J.Lowe, MacManus, McDermott, T. McInerney, Morley, Nelson, Nolan, Parker, Philbin,

C. Plumpton Walsh, N. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Joe Roberts,

June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo.

(N.B. Councillor Cassidy was not present in the Chamber when this recorded vote was taken)

There were no votes against the motion.

          There were no abstentions.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    The Council Tax Base for 2018/19 be set at 34,435 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

2)    Council set the Council Tax Base for each of the Parishes as follows:-

(N.B. Councillor Ron Hignett declared a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business as he was a member of the Daresbury Public Sector Joint Venture Board)

Executive Board considered the attached report.

          RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the budget proposals for 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on a set of initial revenue budget proposals for 2018/19.

The Council wished to place on record their thanks to all Officers, Executive Board Members, Members of the Budget Working Group and the respective Trade Unions for their contribution to the budget process so far.

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

          The following Members voted FOR the motion:

Councillors J. Abbott, S. Baker, J. Bradshaw, M. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Dennett, Edge, Fry, Gilligan, J. Gerrard, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, M. Lloyd Jones,

P.Lloyd Jones, C.Loftus, K.Loftus, Logan, A.Lowe, J.Lowe, MacManus, McDermott, T. McInerney, Morley, Nelson, Nolan, Parker, Philbin,

C. Plumpton Walsh, N. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Joe Roberts,

June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo.

(N.B. Councillor Cassidy was not present in the Chamber when this recorded vote was taken)

There were no votes against the motion.

          There were no abstentions.

          RESOLVED: That the initial budget proposals for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report, be approved.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council

1)    approve the revisions to the Council’s 2017/18 Capital Programme set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report; and

2)    endorse the urgent action taken by the Chief Executive as outlined in paragraph 3.3 of the report.

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

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the revisions to the Council’s 2017/18 Capital Programme set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report, be approved; and

2)    the urgent action taken by the Chief Executive, as outlined in paragraph 3.3 of the report, be endorsed.

          The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 18 October 2017:-

·       Children, Young People and Families;

·       Employment, Learning and Skills and Community;

·       Safer;

·       Environment and Urban Renewal; and

·       Business Efficiency.

          The Council considered the reports of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of Council on 18 October 2017:-

·       Development Control; and

·       Regulatory.

In moving the minutes of the Development Control Committee, the Chair, Councillor Nolan, paid tribute to the positive and enthusiastic contribution which the late Councillor Cole had made to the work of the Committee during his membership.

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

          The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Wainwright and seconded by Councillor Abbott:-

ISS FACILITY MANAGEMENT

“Council notes that staff employed by ISS Facilities Management Limited (ISS) provide vital services at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust (RLBUHT), cleaning hospital wards, transporting patients around hospital departments and cooking for patients, visitors and staff.

Council notes the changes that ISS have made to the sick pay scheme for facilities management workers at RLBUHT and only one other NHS Trust in the country, which has reduced sick pay to 12 days. Council notes that this means that staff who are the most seriously ill and most in need of time away from work, workers suffering from illnesses like cancer, heart problems or other physical injuries, are the people faced with the difficult decision of either working when medically unfit to do so or facing severe financial difficulties due to not being paid.

Council further notes the collective grievance containing over 270 names submitted by Unite the Union to ISS Management calling for the full sick pay scheme to be reinstated, which has so far been repeatedly ignored by ISS Management.

Council therefore calls on ISS to negotiate with Unite with a view to reinstating the full sick pay regime so that ISS Facilities Management staff at RLBUHT have access to a fair sick pay scheme on the same basis available to NHS  workers and ISS workers at other NHS Trusts and also calls on RLBUHT Board and management to put pressure on ISS to make this happen”.

          RESOLVED: That the Motion be agreed.