Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 12 October 2016, having been circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Mayor made the following announcements:

·       He thanked everyone involved in the recent Town Hall Open Day event, which had been a great success;

·       Welcomed Mil Vasic, newly appointed Strategic Director, People, to the Council.

The Leader made the following announcements:

·       The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority would consider the draft Liverpool City Region Order at its meeting on 9 December 2016, and if agreed, would set out the powers to be devolved to the Combined Authority and the Directly Elected Mayor. Members would be advised of the outcome of that meeting.

The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board meetings on 20 October 2016 and 17 November 2016.

RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

The Council considered the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 12 October 2016.

RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

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

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That

1)       Council set the 2017/18 Council Tax Base at 33,818 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police & Crime Commissioner and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

2)       Council set the Council Tax Base for each of the Parishes as follows:

The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the determination of the Council Tax Base for the Borough and the Council Tax Base for each Parish.

 In accordance with Standing Order 16 (3), a recorded vote was taken.

          The following Members voted FOR the motion:

Councillors J.Abbott, S. Baker, M.Bradshaw, D. Cargill, Cole, Dennett, Edge, Fry, Gilligan, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, M.Lloyd Jones, P.Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan, A. Lowe, J. Lowe, MacManus, McDermott, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Nelson, Nolan, Osborne, Philbin, C. Plumpton Walsh, N. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Joe Roberts, June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J.Stockton, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo.

There were no votes against the motion.

          There were no abstentions.

RESOLVED: That

1)    The 2017/18 Council Tax Base be set at 33,818 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

2)    The Council Tax Base for each of the parishes be set as follows:-

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the revisions to the Council’s 2016/17 Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 3.0 of the report.

The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which sought approval to a number of revisions to the Council’s 2016/17 Capital Programme.

RESOLVED: That the revisions to the Council’s 2016/17 Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 3.0 of the report, be approved.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the initial budget proposals for 2017/18, as set out in Appendix 1.

Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on initial revenue budget proposals for 2017/18.

The Council wished to place on record their thanks to all Officers, Executive Board Members, Members of the Budget Working Group and the respective Trade Unions for their contribution to the budget process so far.

In accordance with Standing Order 16 (3), a recorded vote was taken.

          The following Members voted FOR the motion:

Councillors J.Abbott, S. Baker, M.Bradshaw, D. Cargill, Cole, Dennett, Edge, Fry, Gilligan, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, M.Lloyd Jones, P.Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan, A. Lowe, J. Lowe, MacManus, McDermott, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Nelson, Nolan, Osborne, Philbin, C. Plumpton Walsh, N. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Joe Roberts, June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J.Stockton, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo.

There were no votes against the motion.

          There were no abstentions.

RESOLVED: That the initial budget proposals for 2017/18, as set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report, be approved.

Business Efficiency Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council opt into the sector-led procurement of external auditors that will be undertaken by Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited (PSAA).

The Business Efficiency Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the arrangements for appointing external auditors.

RESOLVED: That Council opt into the sector-led procurement of external auditors that will be undertaken by Public Sector Audit Appointments Limited (PSAA).

(N.B. Councillors Joan Lowe and Alan Lowe declared a Disclosable Other interest in Minute HEA27 of the Health Policy and Performance Board as their sons’ partner worked for a care provider; Councillor Osborne declared a Disclosable Other Interest in Minute HEA 27 of the Health Policy and Performance Board, as his wife was an employee of Halton Borough Council.)

The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 12 October 2016:-

·       Children, Young People and Families;

·       Employment, Learning and Skills and Community;

·       Health;

·       Safer;

·       Environment and Urban Renewal;

·       Corporate Services; and

·       Business Efficiency Board.

The following observations were made:-

·       Councillor Thompson commented on the progress made for the Council to seek corporate status for the Borough in connection with the White Ribbon Campaign. He also referred to the support for the campaign across all Cheshire authorities, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire and the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The Council considered the reports of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of Council on 12 October 2016:-

·       Development Control; and

·       Regulatory.

Support For Women Against State Pension Inequality

Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order Number 6.

          The following motion was proposed by Councillor John Abbott and seconded by Councillor Pauline Sinnott:-

“Council supports the Campaign known as Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI). It is the view of the Council that changes to the state pension age will place many women in Halton at a disadvantage, forcing them to work in some cases many years later than had been expected with little prior notice.

Council resolves that it:

1)    Supports equalisation of the pension age but the short notice of change and the speed of the implementation is likely to have very serious consequences for women in Halton, who had previously planned for an earlier retirement date;

2)    Supports the aim of WASPI that there should be a fair transition towards equal pension ages, with arrangements being put in place by the Government to help those affected by this change, including suitable changes to compensate women;

3)    Writes to the Secretary of State at the Department of Work and Pensions to express its concern at the unfair implementation of this change in pension rights”.

RESOLVED: That the motion be agreed.