Agenda and minutes

At the commencement of the meeting the Mayor asked everyone to pause for a two minutes silence as a mark of respect for remembrance day.

            The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 4 March 2020 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

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

            The Leader made the following announcements:

·         He outlined the significant work of the Council and its staff supporting the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. On behalf of the Council he thanked those staff, members of the voluntary sector, Halton CCG, the NHS, Liverpool City Region and Councillors for all their work; and

·         He also brought members attention to the impact COVID-19 had on the Council’s finances and budget. Despite these pressures the Council had met every target set by Government and would continue to lobby Government for a sustainable financial settlement for the Council for the upcoming year.

            The Council considered a report of the Chief Executive, on the urgent decisions taken since the last meeting of the Council.

            RESOLVED: That Council note the report.

            The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board meetings on 30 July 2020, 17 September 2020 and 15 October 2020.

            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

1)    the Masterplan and Delivery Strategy for Astmoor;

2)    a variation to the capital programme of £1.5m to cover the costs as outlined in section 6 of the report; and

3)    the extension to the Discretionary Business Rates Scheme of one year to March 2025

            The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the Astmoor Regeneration Programme.

            RESOLVED: That Council approve

1)    the Masterplan and Delivery Strategy for Astmoor ;

2)    a variation to the capital programme of £1.5m to cover the costs as outlined in section 6 of the report; and

3)    the extension to the Discretionary Business Rates Scheme of one year to March 2025.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve

1)    The revisions to the Council’s 2020/21 Capital Programme set out in paragraph 3.2.

            The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the 2020/21 Revised Capital Programme.

            RESOLVED: That the revisions to the Council’s 2020/21 capital programme set out in paragraph 3.2, be approved.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That

1)    Council set the 2021/22 Council Tax Base at 35,182 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:

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, P. Hignett R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, Leck, M. Lloyd Jones, P. Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan, A. Lowe, J. Lowe, MacManus, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Nelson, Nolan, Philbin, N. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Ratcliffe, Joe Roberts,  June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Teeling, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Whitley, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo .

There were no votes against the motion.

            There were no abstentions.

            RESOLVED: That

1)    the Council Tax Base for 2021/22 be set at 35,182 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police & 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:

The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 4 March 2020:-

·         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 4 March 2020:-

·         Development Control; and

·         Regulatory.

            The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy.

            RESOLVED: That Council

1.    adopt the Statement of Licensing Policy attached to the report to come into effect immediately following the expiry of the current Policy; and

2.    direct that the Operational Director – Legal and Democratic Services publishes the Statement of Licensing Policy in  Accordance with section 5 Licensing Act 2003.

UNION LEARNING FUND

Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order No. 6.

            The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Peter Lloyd Jones and seconded by Councillor Teeling:-

‘This Council notes the Department for Education intends to end the Union Learning Fund (ULF) from March 2021. The fund was established in 1998 to support trade unions to widen access to learning and training in workplaces for both union members and non-members. It benefits each year around 200,000 workers in providing learning and training, including basic literacy and numeracy, ICT skills, apprenticeships and traineeships, vocational training, and continuing professional development.

Council notes that this decision is contrary to the key government skills and retraining priorities at such a crucial moment for our economy and fails to put reskilling workers at the heart of its economic recovery plans after the pandemic.’

This Council RESOLVES: To write to the Secretary of State to express its concern at this decision and to appeal that government reconsiders this the ending of the ULF.