Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12^th December 2007, having been printed and circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

 

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

The Mayor welcomed the Youth Parliament representatives to the meeting and congratulated Owen, the successful National Representative in the 7^th Parliament.

(NB Councillor Sly declared a personal interest in the following item of business in respect of the second bullet point due to being employed by a company based at the Daresbury Innovation Centre.)

The Leader of the Council also welcomed the Youth Parliament representatives to the meeting and reported on the following issues:

• The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Seminar held on Monday evening had been very informative and well attended. Two major areas of consultation were now to take place, one around the Federation of Fairfield High School and Wade Deacon High School, and the other around the suggested sites for the Halton High Academy.

• The Scientific Research Council had decided not to fund the Fourth Generation Light Source at Daresbury Laboratory. The fact that it had been rejected in its present form was a blow but the Government had been anxious to state that this did not imply a lack of commitment to the Daresbury site as a research centre.

• The Heath Business Park had been very successful and was now full and unable to accommodate all businesses. It was therefore looking to extend.

• Jonathan Davies was to visit the Borough the following week to open the office accommodation at Widnes Waterfront.

• The leisure development at Venture Fields had experienced some problems, mainly due to Environmental Health intervention, for example around flooding. The questions required had now been answered and work was due to start imminently.

• The Blue Ice Rink at Victoria Square had had some difficulties in setting up over the half term week and so, in order to compensate, the company had agreed to keep the rink open through the Easter holidays.

• The Government had invited bids for growth points some time ago regarding housing regeneration developments. Halton had submitted a bid with Warrington and St Helens, the results of which would be reported back in due course.

• The Executive Board was to consider recommendations the next day in respect of the Council’s budget, including the precepts of the two new Parish Councils to be set up in Sandymoor and Halebank. The full Council would then determine the budget at a special meeting to be held on 5^th March.

The Council considered the Minutes of the Executive Board from meetings held on 12^th December and 13^th December 2007, 10^th January, 24^th January and 7^th February 2008.

 

In considering the Minutes:

 

• Minute No. EXB70 - Municipal Waste Management Strategy – the Environment, Leisure and Sport Portfolio Holder advised that targets within the strategy  had been based on latest models and were expected to be achievable. In addition, the Portfolio Holder undertook to respond in writing to Councillor C. Inch providing details of the consultation process that had been undertaken in this respect.

 

• Minute No. EXB77 – Out-Borough School Transport – the Leader undertook to respond in writing to Councillor D. Inch’s question regarding whether a self-financing bus service option had been given to parents before the Council had served notice to withdraw the current subsidised service.

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received.

The Council considered the Minutes of the Executive Board Sub-Committee from meetings held on 13^th December 2007, 10^th January and 24^th January 2008.

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received.

The Council considered the Minutes of the Mersey Gateway Executive Board from the meeting held on 24^th January 2008.

 

RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received.

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

(NB The Councillors shown below declared personal interests in the following item of business due to being governors of the schools described:

 

Councillor Dennett – Gorsewood

Councillor Harris – Bankfield

Councillor Nelson – Grange

Councillor Polhill – Brookfields

Councillor Swain – Pewithall and Halton High and Chair of the IEB at Simms Cross Primary School.)

The Executive Board considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That the Capital Programme detailed in Appendix 1 of the report for 2008/2009, and the Children’s Personal Social Services Capital Allocation detailed in Appendix 3 of the report, be approved.

The Executive Board had considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People providing a summary of the funding available for the Schools Capital Programme 2008/09, the process for prioritisation for capital repairs and the proposed programme. The report also provided an update of the Children’s Personal Social Services Capital Allocation.

 

RESOLVED: That the Capital Programme detailed in Appendix 1 of the report for 2008/2009, and the Children’s Personal Social Services Capital Allocation detailed in Appendix 3 of the report, be approved.

The Executive Board considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That the Calendar of Meetings for the 2008-2009 Municipal Year, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

The Executive Board had considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy outlining a proposed calendar of meetings for the 2008-2009 Municipal Year.

 

RESOLVED: That the Calendar of Meetings for the 2008-2009 Municipal Year, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

The Executive Board considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the amendments to the scheme detailed in the appendix to the report for the period 2008-2011.

The Executive Board had considered a report of the Chief Executive outlining the results of the formal Polling District, Places and Stations Review carried out in accordance with the Electoral Administration Act 2006, and highlighting recommended changes to the polling scheme.

 

RESOLVED: That the amendments to the polling scheme detailed in the Appendix to the report for the period 2008-2011 be adopted.

The Executive Board considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That the Transport Implementation Programme for 2008/09 in the sum of £8,237,000 (shown in Appendix A) be included in the Council’s 2008/09 Capital programme.

The Executive Board had considered a report of the Strategic Director – Environment advising Members of the announcement of the three-year Local Transport Settlement (2008/09 – 2010/11) that had been made on 27^th November 2007, and seeking approval to the Transport Implementation Programme for 2008/09 being included in the Council’s 2008/09 Capital Programme.

 

RESOLVED: That the Transport Implementation Programme for 2008/09 in the sum of £8,237,000 (shown in Appendix A of the report) be included in the Council’s 2008/09 Capital Programme.

The Executive Board Sub-Committee considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That the Council’s Constitution be amended to include the delegation of the enforcement of Part 3 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in Halton, to Birmingham City Council (pursuant to Section 101(5) of the Local Government Act 1972, Regulation 11 of the Local Authority (Arrangements for Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2000, Section 20 of the Local Government Act 2000 and all other enabling powers) up to 31^st March 2009. This delegation relates to the joint exercise of functions and does not affect the delegation of the enforcement of the Consumer Credit act already furnished to Halton Borough Council.

The Executive Board Sub-Committee had considered a report of the Strategic Director – Health and Community seeking approval for a scheme of delegation to authorise Birmingham City Council and officers of the Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) to investigate and institute proceedings against illegal money lenders operating within the Halton Borough Council area.

 

RESOLVED: That the Council’s Constitution be amended to include the delegation of the enforcement of Part 3 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in Halton, to Birmingham City Council (pursuant to Section 101(5) of the Local Government Act 1972, Regulation 11 of the Local Authority (Arrangements for Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2000, Section 20 of the Local Government Act 2000 and all other enabling powers) up to 31^st March 2009. This delegation relates to the joint exercise of functions and does not affect the delegation of the enforcement of the Consumer Credit Act already furnished to Halton Borough Council.

Council is advised of the following change of Board Membership, which has been made in accordance with Standing Order No. 30(4):

 

3MG Executive Sub-Board – Councillor Nelson replaced Councillor McDermott

The Council noted that Councillor Nelson had replaced Councillor McDermott on the 3MG Executive Sub-Board. This change had been made in accordance with Standing Order No. 30 (4).

The Council considered the reports on the work of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of the Council on 12^th December 2007:

 

Children and Young People

Employment, Learning and Skills

Healthy Halton

Safer Halton

Urban Renewal

Corporate Services

Business Efficiency Board

 

In receiving the Minutes the following was noted:

 

1)         The Chairman of the Children and Young People Policy and Performance Board (PPB) thanked the Community Portfolio Holder for attending a question and answer session at the PPB meeting. In addition, he reported that the review regarding the strategy for inclusion of pupils with Special Educational Needs (minute no. CYP39) had enabled nearly £½m to be recycled back into schools whilst children received the same level of support.

 

2)         The Chairman of the Corporate Services PPB thanked and congratulated managers and the trade unions for the successful conclusion of Job Evaluation process.

The Council considered the reports on the work of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of the Council on 12^th December 2007:

 

Development Control

Regulatory