Agenda and minutes

            The Sub-Committee considered the proposed admission charges for 2008/09 for the Council Libraries, the Kingsway Learning Centre, Leisure Centres, parks and playing pitches, community centres and The Brindley Arts Centre.

 

            It was noted that as an amendment to the proposed charges crown green bowling fees were to be suspended for 2008/09.

 

            RESOLVED: That the charges as outlined in the report be approved.

The Committee considered:

 

(1)            whether Members of the press and public should be excluded from the meeting of the Committee during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with Sub-Section 4 of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 because it was likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be considered, exempt information would be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972; and

 

(2)            whether the disclosure of information was in the public interest, whether any relevant exemptions were applicable and whether, when applying the public interest test and exemptions, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed that in disclosing the information.

 

            RESOLVED: That as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with Sub-Section 4 of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 because it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business, exempt information will be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

            The Sub-Committee considered a report which sought approval to waive Standing Orders in order to add defined work to an existing contract for the remediation of St. Michael’s Golf Course, Widnes. Following lengthy statutory processes, work was now at a stage where Land and Water Remediation Limited needed to undertake assessment actions. These were required by the Environment Agency and DEFRA to support the final remediation technique selection and they would facilitate its implementation following approval by the Environment Agency.

 

                        In waiving standing orders and allowing Land and Water to proceed with an extension to their existing contract, the process would not be further unduly delayed. Also, as the contract was a design and build it would be advantageous for the existing Contractor to carry out these actions to ensure continuity of design and to enable the liability for the remediation solution to be retained by Land and Water Remediation Limited.

 

                        RESOLVED: That

 

(1) the Operational Director, Major Projects Department, be authorised to approve the addition of work to the existing contract for the remediation of St. Michael’s Golf Course for the sum of £188,012 (this being the sum received in grant for this work from DEFRA) to the existing appointed contractor, Land and Water Remediation Limited. This is in the interests of efficiency, continuity and ensuring the clarity of design and work responsibility which would derive from extending the current contract with Land and Water Remediation Limited;

 

(2) in accordance with Procurement Standing Order 1.6, Standing Orders 3.1, 3.7 and 3.10 be waived as necessary on this occasion in view of Procurement Standing Order 1.6 reasons (b), (c), (d) and (e); and

 

(3) the Operational Director, Major Projects, in consultation with the Chair of Executive Board Sub-Committee and the portfolio holder for Environment, Leisure and Sport be authorised to approve any other unforeseen work necessary for the delivery of the remediation, subject to the availability of approved funding.

            The Sub-Committee was requested to recommend to the Council the appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the year 2008/09 Municipal Year.

 

            The Council’s Mayoral Selection Guidelines provided for the Councillor appointed as Deputy Mayor in one Municipal Year to succeed as the Mayor in the subsequent Municipal Year. It was therefore suggested that Councillor K. Loftus be recommended to Full Council for appointment as Mayor for the 2008/09 Municipal Year.

 

            With regard to Deputy Mayor, the Council’s Mayoral Selection Guidelines provided that it be based on the length of service with the Council (and its predecessor authorities). This year, there were a number of Members with the same length of service. Councillor F. Frazer had been approached as the most senior. It was therefore suggested that Councillor F. Frazer should be recommended to Full Council for appointment as Deputy Mayor for the 2008/09 Municipal Year.

 

            It was noted that there were Members with a longer period of length of service who did not wish to be considered as Deputy Mayor at the present time.

 

            RESOLVED: That Council be recommended:

 

(1) that Councillor Loftus be appointed as the Mayor for the 2008/09 Municipal Year; and

 

(2) that Councillor F. Frazer be appointed as the Deputy Mayor for the 2008/09 Municipal Year.

MINUTES ISSUED: 29^th February 2008

CALL IN:  7^th March 2008

Any matter decided by the Executive Board Sub Committee may be called in no later than 7^th March 2008