Agenda and minutes

            The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 16 October 2019 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Mayor made the following announcements:-

·         Following a recent delegation by Chinese teachers from the school in Tongling, the Mayor had been presented with a small replica  statue of the large statue situated in the Chinese style Friendship Garden at the entrance of Runcorn Town Hall. The replica statue would be displayed at the Town Hall.

            The Leader made the following announcements:-

·         He congratulated the two returning MP’s for the Borough following the results of the General Election on 12 December 2019;

·         Confirmed that the X1 Bus Service was to continue and thanked those Members that had actively supported the campaign;

·         The Council was awaiting the announcement of the grant settlement from Government, but given the delays to business caused by the General Election, it was unlikely to be announced until the New Year; and

·         Reported that currently, there was approximately a £6.5m gap in the Council’s budget for 2020/21.

            The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board meetings on 17 October 2019 and 14 November 2019.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

The Council considered the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 2 October 2019.

            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 Council approve the Halton SACRE Constitution.

The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on the adoption of the Halton Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) Constitution.

RESOLVED: That Council approve the Halton SACRE Constitution.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve

1)    setting the 2020/21 Tax Base at 35,359 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

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

The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the determination of the Council Tax Base for 2020/21.

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

            The following Members voted FOR the motion:

Councillors Abbott, Baker, M. Bradshaw, J. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Carlin, Dennett, Dourley, Fry, Gilligan, Harris, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, Leck, M. Lloyd Jones, P. Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan,  MacManus, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Nelson, Nolan, N. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Ratcliffe, Joe Roberts,  June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Teeling, Thompson, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Whitley, Woolfall and Wright .

There were no votes against the motion.

            There were no abstentions.

            RESOLVED: That

1)    The Council Tax Base for 2020/21 be set at 35,359 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

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

Executive Board considered the attached report.

            RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the revised Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on proposed revisions to the 2019/20 Capital Programme.

RESOLVED: That Council approve the revised Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the amendments to the scheme detailed in the appendix attached to the report, for the period 2019/2024.

The Council considered a report of the Returning Officer, on the results of the formal Polling District, Places and Stations Review, which highlighted recommended changes to the polling scheme and put forward a revised polling scheme for approval.

RESOLVED: That Council adopt the amendments to the scheme detailed in the appendix attached to the report, for the period 2019/2024.

Council is asked to consider the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve

1)    The Delivery and Allocations Local Plan Proposed Submission Document (August 2019) is submitted to the Secretary of State under Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2012 (see section 3.5 – 3.8);

2)    Delegated authority to make minor editorial amendments to the DALP be granted to the Operational Director for Policy, Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Physical Environment (see section 3.9);

3)    Delegated authority is granted to Officers (in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Physical Environment) representing the Local Planning Authority at examination to enter into discussions with relevant parties, and to suggest appropriate wording and policies map changes, as may be required to satisfy the examining Inspector on matters concerning the soundness of the Delivery and Allocations Local Plan (see section 3.14); and

4)    From the point of submission to Government, material weight is given to the Delivery and Allocations Local Plan Proposed Submission Document (August 2019) as a material consideration in decisions made under the planning Acts. As the DALP represents an appropriate development strategy for the Borough and has undergone public consultation, the DALP is capable of being a material consideration in planning decisions.

The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the Halton Delivery and Allocations Local Plan (DALP) – Submission to the Secretary of State.

Reason(s) For Decision

The next stage in the production of the Halton DALP was for the document to be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination. Full Council approval was sought to proceed to the examination stage for the draft of the DALP.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

No alternative options had been considered at this stage. Submitting the DALP for examination was the next step in the process of the Local Plan production and was in accordance with the associated legal regulations covering the production of Development Plan Documents.

Implementation Date

The DALP would be submitted to the Secretary of State as soon as practicably possible following approval by Council, with the examination phase commencing in Spring 2020, to be followed by adoption in Winter 2020/21. After its adoption, the DALP and saved policies from the Core Strategy 2013 would then be used for development management purposes in the determination of planning applications and to direct development to the most appropriate locations in accordance with the adopted Spatial Strategy for the Borough.

            RESOLVED: That Council approve

1)    the Delivery and Allocations Local Plan Proposed Submission Document (August 2019) is submitted to the Secretary of State under Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2012 (see section 3.8 – 3.11);

2)    delegated authority to make minor editorial amendments to the DALP be granted to the Operational Director for Policy, Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Physical Environment (see section 3.12);

3)    delegated authority is granted to officers (in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Physical Environment) representing the Local Planning Authority at examination to enter into discussions with relevant parties, and to suggest appropriate wording and policy map changes, as may be required to satisfy the examining Inspector on matters concerning the soundness of the Delivery and Allocations Local Plan (see section 3.17); and

4)    from the point of submission to Government, material weight is given to the Delivery and Allocations Local Plan Proposed Submission Document (August 2019) as a material consideration in decisions made under the planning Acts. As the DALP represents an appropriate development strategy for the Borough and has undergone public consultation, the DALP is capable of being a material consideration in planning decisions.

The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 16 October 2019:-

·         Children, Young People and Families;

·         Employment, Learning and Skills and Community;

·         Health;

·         Safer;

·         Environment and Urban Renewal;

·         Corporate Services; and

·         Business Efficiency.

The Council considered the reports of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of Council on 16 October 2019:-

·         Development Control;

·         Regulatory; and

·         Appeals Panel