Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting on 14 October 2010 were taken as read and signed as correct record.

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Resources, on the public consultation on the Sustainable Community Strategy 2011-2026.

            The Board were advised that Local authorities and their partners had a statutory duty to develop a Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) which set out the strategic direction and long term vision for the economic, social and environmental well being of an area.  The targets in Halton’s existing strategy would run until 31 March 2011, and so Halton Strategic Partnership must produce a new SCS for adoption by the Council by April 2011.

            It was noted that the SCS was a long term plan that would guide Halton’s Strategic Partnership over the next 15 years and it was important to remain aspirational in outlook. In the short term, the financial climate and uncertainty over the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review on available budget may constrain the Council’s ability to deliver change on the ground. This uncertainty would be dealt with via a 5 year delivery plan that would be prepared once the budgetary position became clear.

            An extensive consultation plan had been prepared, and a number of methods would be employed with the aim of ensuring that the SCS and other documents reached as many interested parties as possible. Examples of consultation methods to be employed were outlined in the report.

            RESOLVED: That

(1)         the draft Halton Sustainable Community Strategy 2011-2026 be approved for the purposes of an eight-week period of public consultation;

(2)         further editorial and technical amendments that do not materially affect the content of the Sustainable Community Strategy 2011-2026 document be agreed by the Operational Director – Policy and Performance in consultation with the Leader of the Council, as necessary, before the document is published for public consultation; and

(3)         the results of the statutory public consultation exercise on the Sustainable Community Strategy document be reported back to the Executive Board following the consultation period. 

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy on the proposed policy for Vehicle Access Crossings over Footways and Verges.

            The Board were reminded that the existing policy was approved on 16 November 2000, and whilst it had been in use for ten years, its scope was limited largely to issues relating to enforcement of unsafe and non-approved access crossings and did not include more detailed procedural matters in connection with the construction of new access crossings.

            The Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board considered a proposed revised policy at its meeting on 25 November 2009, and endorsed the recommendation to refer the policy to the Executive Board for approval.

            RESOLVED: That

(1)       the revised policy and procedure for the construction and enforcement of vehicle crossings over footways and verges which covers:

(a) criteria for acceptance;

(b) the application procedure;

(c)     the incorporation of crossings into structural maintenance programmes;

(d) the procedure for enforcement of non-approved crossings;

as set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report be approved;

(2)       for the avoidance of doubt, and subject to the provisions of  Section 184(9) of the Highways Act 1980, the Council shall construct any or all access crossings within the Borough and recharge the costs to the frontage property owner; and

(3)       complaints and notifications regarding illegal access crossings continue to be prioritised for enforcement on the basis of risk to highway users, with those in an unacceptable position or with hazards such as channel ramps being given priority.

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy on the future of Runcorn Markets.

            The report outlined the history of the incentives offered to encourage and retain occupancy levels since the new Runcorn Market Hall opened in 2005, together with further action taken to encourage more market activity with the establishment of a Street Market in May 2009.

            The Board were advised that this item had been previously considered by the Market’s Working Party and the Corporate Policy and Performance Board, both of which had unanimously supported the proposal to close the Market. A number of options were included in the report for Members’ consideration.

            A letter from Mr Perriton, Field Support Manager of the National Market Traders’ Federation was read out at the meeting.

            RESOLVED: That

1.      the closure of Runcorn Market be approved, with effect from 31^st January 2011 in the light of the recent Internal Audit Report (July 2010) and general budget constraints announced in the Spending Review; and

2.      the development of proposals to relocate tenants as detailed in paragraph 3.12 of the report be supported, and that early discussions take place with existing traders to consider possible options.

MINUTES ISSUED:  10 November 2010

CALL-IN:   17 November 2010

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than  5.00pm on 17 November 2010