Agenda and minutes

            The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 21 May 2021 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            The Mayor made the following announcements:

·         He advised on the recent engagement he had attended at Runcorn Linnets; and

·         He presented ILM certificates to the following Councillors and congratulated them on their achievement:

-       Councillors Leck, Teeling and Whitley.

            The Leader made the following announcements:

·         this was his first full council since becoming leader and he thanked staff for the work they have done over the last eighteen months since the pandemic struck;

·         he remembered those who have lost loved ones during the pandemic and advised Members on the memorial gardens put in place in both Widnes and Runcorn;  

·         a leaders briefing would be issued to all members on a monthly basis; 

·         the Council faced significant challenges ahead not least emerging from Covid and with the Governments lifting of restrictions. The Council also faced a difficult budget setting for 2022-23 with the finance team forecasting a budget gap of c£20m over the next three years and changes in the way health services were commissioned and managed; and

·         on a brighter note, Council had received a presentation from the Chief Executive about some of the exciting developments that were happening and planned in the Borough that showed that businesses were still confident that Halton has a bright future.

            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.

The Council considered the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 24 March 2021.

            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 award of £1,295,846m from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund be noted; and

2)    Council be asked to include the Decarbonisation Scheme at a gross cost of £1,677,673 within the 2021/22 capital programme, to be funded as set out within paragraph 3.4.

            The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund.

RESOLVED: That Council approve

1)    the award of £1,295,846m from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund be noted; and

2)    the inclusion of the Decarbonisation Scheme at a gross cost of £1,677,673 within the 2021/22 capital programme, to be funded as set out within paragraph 3.4.

            The Audit and Governance Board considered the attached report:

RECOMMENDED:  That Council approve:

1.    The new Code of Conduct for Members; and

2.    The revised arrangements for dealing with standards allegations under the Localism Act 2011.

            The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the Members Code of Conduct.

RESOLVED: That Council approve

1.    the new Code of Conduct for Members; and

2.    the revised arrangements for dealing with standards allegations under the Localism Act 2011.

            The Audit and Governance Board considered the attached report:

RECOMMENDED:  That Council approve:

1)    the Audit and Governance Board assume responsibility for the work of the former Standards Committee and that its terms of reference be amended as set out in Appendix 1;

2)    the composition of the Appeals Panel be amended as set out in paragraph 3.4 of this report;

3)    a Taxi Sub-Committee be set up with terms of reference as contained in Appendix 2; and

4)    appropriate amendments to the Constitution are made in due course.

            The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the Revisions to Committee Structures.

RESOLVED: That Council approve

1)    the Audit and Governance Board assume responsibility for the work of the former Standards Committee and that its terms of reference be amended as set out in Appendix 1;

2)    the composition of the Appeals Panel be amended as set out in paragraph 3.4 of this report;

3)    a Taxi Sub-Committee be set up with terms of reference as contained in Appendix 2; and

4)    appropriate amendments to the Constitution are made in due course.

The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 3 March 2021:-

·         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 3 March 2021:-

·         Development Control;

·         Regulatory; and

·         Development Management Committee