Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of 4 November 2010 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy on the Halton Core Strategy Proposed Submission Document for Public Consultation.

            The Board were advised that the Core Strategy was the main document in the Local Development Framework (LDF) which formed the statutory development plan for Halton. The Strategy had been prepared against a backdrop of significant changes to the planning system. At the national level, the forthcoming Localism Bill was expected to include provisions affecting planning, whilst planning policy statements and guidance (PPSS and PPGS) were expected to be replaced by national planning statements.

            The Board were reminded that the consultation was the last formal public consultation process which was designed to test the soundness of the plan. Such tests for soundness included whether the plan was justified and the most appropriate in the circumstances, whether it was flexible, effective and could be delivered as well as whether it was consistent with national policy and complied with all legal requirements.

             The proposed submission document was attached at Appendix A to the report, and would be subject to an eight week consultation period commencing 29 November 2010.

            RESOLVED: That

(1)         the Halton Core Strategy Proposed Submission Draft  be approved as ‘sound’;

(2)         the Proposed Submission Draft be approved for the purposes of ‘Publication’ for an eight week period of public consultation under Regulation 27 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004;

(3)         the following supporting documents be approved for a concurrent period of public consultation;

·        Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix B)

·        Infrastructure Plan (Appendix C)

·        Statement of Consultation (Appendix D)

·        Habitats Regulations Assessment (Appendix E)

·        Equality Impact Assessment (Appendix F);

(4)         further editorial and technical amendments that do not materially affect the content of the Halton Core Strategy Proposed Submission document or the supporting documents be agreed by the Operational Director - Environmental and Regulatory Services in consultation with the Executive Board Member for Physical Environment as necessary, before they are published for public consultation; and

(5)         the results of the statutory public consultation exercise on the Halton Core Strategy Pre-Submission document be reported back to the Executive Board following the consultation period, prior to seeking approval of Full Council for Submission to the Secretary of State. 

            The Board received a report of the Chief Executive on the adoption of a Statement of Licensing Policy.

A consultation exercise was authorised at the meeting of the Executive Board on 9 September 2010 (Minute EXB 37 refers) to review the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy. The consultation period ended on 15 October 2010 and the consultation draft of the Statement of Licensing Policy was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Board were advised that only one response had been received from Cheshire Constabulary in support of its own proposed Cumulative Impact Policy as described in the report. The rules relating to Cumulative Impact Policies were set out in statutory guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 and attached at Appendix 3 to the report for Members’ information. Cheshire Constabulary had submitted a request to include a Cumulative Impact Special Policy in respect of the Victoria Square Area in Widnes.

               The Board were reminded that the Council was under a duty to have an adopted Statement of Licensing Policy in place by 7 January 2011 together with a newspaper advertisement confirming the adoption prior to that date. Once adopted, the policy would remain in place for a three year period unless amended before that time. Any changes in legislation or in the Statutory Guidance would also override the policy.

               RESOLVED: That Council be recommended to

1) adopt the Statement of Licensing Policy as attached to the report; and

2) defer consideration of the Cumulative Impact Special Policy as proposed by Cheshire Constabulary.

            The Board received a report of the Operational Director, Finance on the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

The Board were advised that the Medium Term Financial Forecast (MTFF) set out a three-year projection of resources and spending based on information currently available following the Comprehensive Spending Review. However, as there was information yet to be received any revisions would need to be made as new information became available.

The projections in the forecast clearly showed there was need to make a significant level of savings over the next three years, and provided initial guidance to the Council on its financial position into the medium term.

The MTFF showed that in order to balance the budget there was a requirement to make significant cost savings of up to £20m in 2011/12 and £16m and £12m for the following two years respectively.  In making these savings the Council would need to have in mind the objectives of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as set out in the report.

The Board were reminded that the MTFS represented the “finance guidelines” that formed part of the medium term corporate planning process. These guidelines identified the financial constraints that the Council would face in delivering its key objectives, and were an important influence on the development of the Corporate Plan and Service Plans and Strategies.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the Medium Term Financial Forecast be noted;

(2)       the base budget be prepared on the basis of the underlying assumptions set out in the Forecast;

(3)       the Budget Strategy and Capital Strategy be approved;

(4)       the Reserves and Balances Strategy be approved; and

(5)       further reports be considered by the Executive Board on the budget.

MINUTES ISSUED:  22 November 2010

CALL-IN:   29 November 2010

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than   29 November 2010