Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 17^th December 2008, having been printed and circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record, subject to one amendment that it be recorded that there was one additional member of the public present at the previous Council meeting.

            It was reported that there were no Mayor’s announcements.

The Leader reported on the following issues:-

 

• The current economic climate was having an effect on the Borough in that three plants at Ineos Chlor had closed down. However, local authorities had always performed at the time of crisis and £1.5m of Working Neighbourhood Funds had been provided in order to produce 100 apprenticeships which would have a positive impact on the Borough when the economy came out of the recession;

 

• Reference was made to a leaflet claiming that there were intentions to toll the Silver Jubilee Bridge regardless of whether the Mersey Gateway was built.  The Leader confirmed that this was not the case.

 

• 3MG was progressing positively despite the economic downturn, which was a sign of a commitment to the future;

 

• Riverside College had recently published an Ofsted report, which had caused concerns. It was noted that the relevant agencies were currently working to address the issues. Members were referred to Minute EXB79 which noted that Halton Borough Council would discharge its future statutory responsibilities for planning and commissioning for 16 to 18 years in April 2010, for learning. This was part of the transfer of responsibilities from the Learning and Skills Council;

 

• There had been suggestions for a direct election for two Police Authorities. It was noted that this idea had now been dropped by the Government and a review had been taken with the outcome that  people elected councillors, not for specific expertise but as people they trust and know in order to look after their interests including political ones; and

 

• As from April 2009 Cheshire County Council would be disbanded to form two new local authorities named Cheshire West and Cheshire East. The two new unitaries and Warrington were setting up a successor association and Halton would remain associate members of it.

The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board from meetings held on 4^th December, 18^th December 2008 and 15^th January 2009.

 

RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board Sub-Committee from meetings held on 4^th December, 18^th December, 23^rd December 2008 and 15^th January 2009.

 

RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

            Councillor Inch asked the following question in accordance with Standing Order No. 8:

 

            “Has there been a formal resolution of either the Executive Board of the Council, authorising the Council Leader to sign up to the Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement?  If so when?”

 

            In response it was advised that the MAA established an arrangement for joint working to deliver better outcomes for Halton and the City Region and economies of scale delivering better value for money. It did not cede any powers from Halton.  It is not a formal contract, does not bear the signature of the Council’s Solicitor or the Council’s Seal and as such did not require specific authorisation before its completion.

 

(NB:The following declared personal interest in the following item due to being school Governors in the Borough: Browne, E Cargill, D Cargill, Dennett, Gerrard, Hignett, Hodgkinson, Horabin, Jones, Lloyd Jones, Loftus, A Lowe, J. Lowe, McInerney, Nelson, Norddahl, Philhin, Rowan, Stockton, Swain, Thompson, Wallace and  Wright)

(Councillor Wharton declared a personal interest in the following item as his son attends Fairfield High School.)

The Executive Board considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That the Schools Capital Programme 2009/10 be approved.

The Executive Board had considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People which provided a summary of the funding available for the Schools Capital Programme 2009/10. In addition, the report outlined the Access Initiative Funding for 2009/10, the Early Years Children’s Centre Capital and Childcare Capital 2009/10, Playbuilder Capital, Primary Capital, Diploma Exemplar Funding and Youth Capital Fund and Youth Capital Fund Plus.

 

RESOLVED: That the Capital Funding allocation detailed in paragraph 3.1 of the report for 2009/10 be approved.

The Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That the Calendar of meetings for the 2009-2010 Municipal Year be approved.

 

(NB An A3 copy of the calendar has been circulated with the agenda.)

Members considered the calendar of meetings for 2009-2010.  It was noted that on occasion Policy and Performance Board meetings did not align with performance monitoring reports.  It was reported that as there were 5 PPB’s a year it was difficult to accommodate this, however Members were advised that the information was made available immediately and discussions could be held at any time with the discretion of the Chair by way of Special meetings.

 

RESOLVED: That the Calendar of Meetings for the 2009-2010 Municipal Year, attached in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

The Mersey Gateway Executive Board considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That the Capital Programme be amended as outlined within the report.

The Mersey Gateway Executive Board had considered a report of the Strategic Director – Environment which provided an update of the information reported to the Mersey Gateway Executive Board on 15^th November 2007 in relation to funding required to support the acquisition of land, including the interests of tenants and freeholders prior to receiving Government Grant.

 

It was advised that there was a funding gap and options to manage this for land acquisition had been assessed in some detail.

 

In relation to where funds would come from to cover the costs, a number of avenues were being explored. It was reported that a number of factors depended on the date and outcome of the planning inquiry which was to be announced in the near future.

 

The Council was advised that it was a good time to invest in land and borrowing money in terms of interest rates etc.

 

RESOLVED: That the Capital Programme be amended as outlined in the report.

To consider the attached report.

The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy. It was noted that CIPFA and SOLACE (the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers) had published an updated governance framework for local authorities – “Delivering Good Governance in Local Government”. This draft Local Code of Corporate Governance had been developed in response to that publication.

 

In relation to page 42 paragraph 4.2 Members discussed the function of effective scrutiny arrangements.

 

RESOLVED: That the draft Local Code of Corporate Governance be approved and included in the Constitution.

To consider the attached report.

The Council received a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy in which it was advised that the current Local Area Agreement (LAA) was approved in June 2008 covering the period April 2008 to March 2011. It was noted it would be reviewed and refreshed annually. It was advised that the LAA draft version went to all Boards and Members for scrutiny before it was submitted.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1) the approval of Local Area Agreements for Halton be delegated to the Executive Board; and

 

(2) the Constitution be amended accordingly.

 

The Council considered the reports on the work of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of the Council on 17^th December 2008:-

 

Children and Young People

Employment, Learning and Skills

Healthy Halton

Safer Halton

Urban Renewal

Corporate Services

Business Efficiency Board

 

In receiving the minutes the Chair of the Children and Young People Policy and Performance Board brought to attention the good work of the Joint Working Oral Health Group, in terms of the good practice and scrutiny and it was noted that all children in the Borough had received free toothbrushes and toothpaste as a result.

            The Council considered the reports on the works of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of the Council on 17^th December 2008:-

 

Development Control

Standards

Regulatory

The following motion has been submitted in accordance with Standing Order No. 6:

 

Proposer: Councillor Redhead

 

Seconder: Councillor Hodgkinson

 

“Elected members should be informed of all important decisions or events involving the Council no later than the time when the information is released to the press.

 

The Leader of the Council signed the Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement on Monday 12^th January 2009. The local press received a briefing on this event in time to meet their deadline the following Thursday. Elected councillors had to wait until 5.30pm that evening to be formally notified of the signing event.”

The following motion was moved and seconded by Redhead and Hodgkinson respectively:

 

“Elected Members should be informed of all important decision or events involving the Council no later than the time when the information is released to the press.”

 

            The Motion related to the signing of the Liverpool City Region Multi Area Agreement. The local press received a briefing on this event in time to meet their deadline the following Thursday.  It was felt that if Members had been advised in advance of this it would have prepared them better to inform the public.

 

            Council was advised that the Leader had not been involved in the signing of the agreement, if this had been the case all Members would have been informed in advance.  It was reported that the Council did not have any control over the Daily Post and Echo in terms of what they publish.

 

            After discussion, Council agreed move the proposed Motion.

 

            RESOLVED: That the Motion be agreed.