Agenda and minutes

The Council stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for former County Councillor Bill Leathwood.

            The Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary, Mr David Whatton, addressed Members of the Council on current policing matters affecting the Borough, implications on staffing levels of their reduced budget and partnership working.

            There was an opportunity for Members to ask questions on current policing issues.

            The minutes of the Council meetings held on 15 December 2010, having been printed and circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            RESOLVED: That, subject to the following amendment, the minutes of the meetings be confirmed and adopted:-

Minute COU53 – should read “In seconding the minutes, Councillor Nelson reported that every household would have access to Recycle Bank by the end of January 2011”.

            The Mayor announced that she had received a copy of a book,

‘Gardens of the World’, about the establishment of a unique garden in Berlin, which featured Europe’s only garden of its kind in nature, culture, recreation and discovery. Paul Wright and the Landscape Team from Halton Borough Council had advised on certain aspects of the scheme.

            The Leader reported on the following issues:

• Executive Board would meet on 10 February 2011 to discuss the 2011/12 Budget report, which would  then be presented to full Council on 2 March 2011;
• The Ofsted Inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Services for Children was taking place between 7 and 18 February 2011;
• The Coalition Government had recently announced the Localism Bill, which contained extra powers for local authorities.

            The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board from meetings held on 16 December 2010, 13 January 2011 and 27 January 2011.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board Sub-Committee from meetings held on 16 December 2010 and 13 January 2011.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be received

The Council considered the minutes of the Mersey Gateway  Executive Board from 27 January 2011.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be received

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

            The Executive Board had considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy on the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Development Plan Document - Preferred Options 2 - New Sites Consultation.

            RESOLVED: That Council

(1)    note the results of consultation on the Waste Development Plan Document Preferred Options Report; and

(2)   approve the Preferred Options 2: New Sites Consultation Report and a six-week public consultation commencing in early 2011.

Further to the above minutes, the dates required to be inserted for the purposes of Section 2 and Schedule 3 of the above Act have now been calculated as have the dates for the statutory advertisements.  The above provisions shall come into effect within the borough on and after 18 March 2011. 

RECOMMENDED: That

1)       Schedule 3 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act  1982 as amended shall apply within the Borough of Halton on and after 18 March 2011.

2)       The consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution referred to in minute COU 56 shall be adopted on and after 18 March 2011.

            Further to minutes EXB 57 and COU 56, it was

            RESOLVED: That Council approve

1)       Schedule 3 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act  1982 as amended shall apply within the Borough of Halton on and after 18 March 2011; and

2)       The consequential amendments to the Council’s Constitution referred to in minute COU 56 shall be adopted on and after 18 March 2011.

(N.B. Councillor P Lloyd Jones declared a Personal Interest in the minutes of the Health Policy and Performance Board of 11 January 2011 in that he was a non-executive Director of the Halton and St Helens NHS Trust)

            The Council considered the reports on the work of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 15 December 2010:-

Children, Young People and Families

Employment, Learning, Skills and Community

Health

Safer

Environment and Urban Renewal

Corporate

Business Efficiency

            In receiving the minutes, the following comments were made:

• Councillor Findon was present at the meeting of the Children, Young People and Families Policy and Performance Board on 6 January 2011;

• Councillor Osborne thanked Councillor Wallace for her work on the Working Group which looked at Alleygates (minute SAF 40 refers, Safer Policy and Performance Board 16 January 2011);

• Councillor Swain wished to place on record his thanks to all involved in the Safeguarding Adults and Service Inspection of Adult Social Care (SAF 38 refers, Safer Policy and Performance Board 16 January 2011);

• Councillor Hignett, as Chair of the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board, wished to record his thanks to all refuse collectors who worked so hard during the adverse weather conditions in the Borough during December 2010.

(N.B. Councillor Wainwright declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in the minutes of the Development Control Committee of the 10 January 2011-Application 10/00386/FUL - as it was for a family member)

            The Council considered the reports on the work of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of Council on 15 December 2010:-

Development Control

Regulatory

Standards

            Councillor Murray asked if he could be permitted to make an amendment to the Minutes of the Regulatory Committee under Observations; he was advised by the Mayor that he should raise this at the next meeting of the Regulatory Committee. Following a brief exchange, the Chief Executive confirmed the position as stated by the Mayor.