Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 16^th May 2008, having been printed and circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

 

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

The Mayor made the following announcements:-

 

·        A copy of the New Testament which had been presented to The Right Honourable Gordon Oakes MP and had been sworn by Her Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council on 26^th June 1979, and signed by the Lord President of the Council had been represented to Halton Borough Council on 6^th June 2008 by the family of the late Right Honourable Gordon Oakes MP.  The Right Honourable Gordon Oakes MP had been an MP for Halton for many years;

 

·        A book about Marzahn und Hellersdorf had been presented to the Mayor at the musical concert ‘Halton Welcomes the World’ held at the Brindley on 13^th July 2008;

 

·        A book  ‘Shadower’s Crossing’ had been presented to the Mayor by a local author Chris Kirwan;

 

·        Photographs of Berlin had been presented to the Council; and

 

·        A cap Badge had been presented at Veterans Day by Widnes S.C.C.

The Leader reported on the following issues:

 

·        That the Council meeting in July had been re-arranged due to industrial action concerning the annual pay award process. He reported that negotiations were ongoing.

 

·        Halton had been one of the first authority’s to award members with the ILM.  During the last year, every member had participated in a training session, of which 28 had received awards and 33 had received a certificate of achievement.   Members and the staff who organised the training events were congratulated on their achievements;

 

·        Halton Council had received the highest grade in its Corporate Assessment and an excellent report following the Joint Area Review on services for children and young people.  The authority was proud to maintain its ‘excellent’ status and the report had been circulated to members of the Council.  Actions were being taken to address a few weaknesses that had been identified in the report;

 

·        The KS2 SAT results had been announced and the Leader took the opportunity to congratulate teachers in the Borough on their excellent achievements;

 

·        Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus had received £65m capital funding for the new computer centre;

 

·        The proposals for the Building Schools for the Future Programme had been passed to DfES for approval.  As the programme developed, further reports would be presented to Council.  Preliminary meetings had taken place to set up a joint governing body for the Federation of Wade Deacon and Fairfield High School;

 

·        Mersey Gateway was on the agenda and an update would be given at that time;

 

·        The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 had come into effect in December.  The Act placed duties on the Council to decide on a system of internal governance. There would be a future consultation on internal governance in respect of the Council having an elected Mayor or Cabinet.  If the Mayor option was adopted, it would not necessarily be a member or Leader of the Council.  In this respect, no change to the current system was not an option.

 

·        The 2007 Act also allowed the Council to opt for a four yearly election pattern. There was an option to opt for ‘no change’ to the current system.

 

·        Members would have the opportunity to express their views on these internal governance and election matters and it was anticipated that decisions would be taken by May 2009.

 

·        Members would be consulted on a White Paper ‘Communities In Control’ in the near future; and

 

·        Mr Peter Fay, the Chief Constable of Cheshire Police was moving to Manchester.  Mr Fay had addressed the Council on numerous occasions. The Leader took the opportunity to place on record his thanks to Mr Fay and extend best wishes to him for his future career.

The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board from meetings held on 10^th April, 14^th May, 19^th May, 5^th June, 19^th June and 26^th June 2008.

 

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board Sub-Committee from meetings held on 10^th April. 8^th May, 5^th June and 25^th June 2008.

 

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

The Council considered the minutes of the Mersey Gateway Executive Board from the meetings held on 19th May and 21^st July 2008.

 

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

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

To consider the attached report

The Council received a report of the Strategic Director, Environment which related to the order under section 3 of the Transport and Works Act 1992 (the TWA Order) that was being promoted by the Council in order to secure powers to promote the elements of the Mersey Gateway, Project (the Project) that related to the Mersey Gateway Bridge, in particular (and among other matters), to authorise interference with public rights of navigation by the construction of a new bridge over the River Mersey comprised in the Project.

 

In accordance with the provisions of section 239 of the Local Government Act 1972 as applied by section 20 of the Transport and Works Act 1992, the Council resolved on 23 April 2008 to promote the TWA Order.  A copy of the report to Council was attached as Annex 1 to the report. 

 

On 30 May 2008 the Council had made an application under section 6 of the Transport and Works Act 1992 to the Secretary of State for Transport for the TWA Order – the proposed River Mersey (Mersey Gateway Bridge) Order. 

 

The application for the TWA Order having been made, in accordance with the provisions of section 239 of the local Government Act 1972, the Council was required to confirm its decision to promote the application for the TWA Order in order for the matter proceed.

 

The report sought the Council’s confirmation of its decision to promote the TWA Order in accordance with the requirements of section 239 of the Local Government Act.

 

Reason for Decision

 

            The recommended decisions were required to support the delivery of Mersey Gateway.

 

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

 

            Alternative options for securing the powers to construct, maintain and operate, including tolling, the Mersey Gateway project had been assessed and rejected.

 

Implementation Date

 

            The recommended decisions were required to be made as soon as possible after the application for the TWA Order was made, in accordance with the provisions of section 239 of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

            By a show of hands it was unanimously

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)              the content of the report and the appendices be noted; and

 

(2)    in accordance with section 239 of the Local Government Act 1972 as applied by the Transport and Works Act 1992, the Council confirms the resolution of the Council made on 23^rd April 2008 to promote  the TWA Order, it being expedient to do so.

The Executive Board considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That

 

(1)               electors in the Castlefields Ward be consulted on the proposed change of name; and

 

(2)       a Working Party of elected representatives be nominated to consider any representations received following the consultation.

The Council considered a report of the Chief Executive which informed Members of a request to change the name of Castlefields Ward to Castle Ward.

 

RECOMMENDED: That

 

(1)         electors in the Castlefields Ward be consulted on the proposed change of name; and

 

(2)         a Working Party of elected representatives be nominated to consider any representations received following the consultation.

To consider the attached report.

The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy, outlining the Annual Reports of each of the Policy and Performance Boards (PPBs), which had been submitted in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

 

            RESOLVED: That the 2007-2008 Annual Reports submitted from the Policy and Performance Boards be received.

To consider the attached report.

 

(NB The list of appointments will be circulated as soon as possible.)

The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy regarding the appointment of Members to serve on various outside bodies. A document was tabled showing recommendations put forward.

 

            It was reported that the Liberal Democrat group, would notify the Chief Executive of any changes/amendments in respect of their representatives on outside bodies.

 

            RESOLVED: That representatives be appointed to outside bodies in accordance with:

 

1)     the tabled report (see appendix to these minutes); and

 

2)     the Liberal Democrat group notifying the Chief Executive of any changes/amendments to their representatives on outside bodies.

To consider the attached report.

The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Corporate and Policy which recommended the appointment of a new independent member to the Council’s Standards Committee.

 

RESOLVED: That the Council appoint Mr Rob Garner as a new independent member of the Council’s Standards Committee until the end of the 2011/2012 municipal year.

In accordance with Standing Order 30(4) the Council is advised of the following change of representation on the Healthy Halton Policy and Performance Board:-

 

Councillor Bryant has stood down leaving a Liberal Democrat vacancy on the Board.

The Council was advised that in accordance with Standing Order 30(4) there would be a change of representation on the Healthy Halton Policy and Performance Board.  Councillor Bryant had stood down leaving a Liberal Democrat vacancy on the Board. 

 

The Council was also advised that Councillor Wharton would replace Councillor Nelson on the Regulatory Committee.

 

(NB: Councillor Dennett declared a personal interest in respect of minute number CYP7 in the following item of business due to being a trustee of Halton Play Council.

 

Councillor J Lowe declared a personal interest in respect of minute number CYP10 in the following item of business due to being a governor at Weston Primary School).

The Council considered the reports on the work of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of the Council on 23^rd April 2008:

 

Children and Young People

Employment, Learning and Skills

Healthy Halton

Safer Halton

Urban Renewal

Corporate Services

Business Efficiency Board.

 

(NB:  Councillor Wainwright declared a personal interest in respect of minute number DEV9 08/00173FUL due to representing ward constituents).

The Council considered the reports on the work of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of the Council on 23^rd April 2008:

 

Development Control

Standards

Regulatory