Agenda and minutes

Council - Wednesday, 2nd March, 2016 6.30 p.m.

Venue: Council Chamber, Runcorn Town Hall

Contact: Angela Scott on 0151 511 8670 or Email: angela.scott@halton.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

70.

Council Minutes pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Minutes:

          The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 3 February 2016, having been circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

71.

Budget 2016/17 KEY DECISION (Minute EXB 109 refers) pdf icon PDF 469 KB

Executive Board considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A attached to the report, which includes setting the budget at £98,465m, the Council Tax requirement of £41,217m (before Parish, Police and Fire precepts), and the Band D Council Tax for Halton of £1,250.97.

Minutes:

          The Executive Board had considered a report setting out a recommendation to Council in respect of the Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax for 2016/17. Since then the Cheshire Fire Authority and the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner had set their budgets and council tax precepts and these had been included in the report to full Council.

 

          The report included detail on the following:-

 

·       Medium Term Financial Strategy;

·       Budget Consultation;

·       Review of the 2015/16 Budget;

·       2016/17 Budget;

·       the Local Government Finance Settlement;

·       Budget Outlook;

·       Halton’s Council Tax;

·       Parish Precepts;

·       Average Council Tax;

·       Police Precept;

·       Fire Precept;

·       Total Council Tax;

·       Capital Programme;

·       Prudential Code; and

·       School Budgets.

 

The Executive Board had recommended that Council adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A of the report, which included setting the budget at £98.460m, the Council Tax requirement of £41.217m (before Parish, Police and Fire precepts) and the Band D Council Tax for Halton of £1,250.97.

 

Councillor Wharton, Resources Portfolio Holder, thanked all the Officers involved for their support in producing this budget and wished to record his thanks to the Members of the Executive Board, the Budget Working Group and the Chairs of the Policy and Performance Boards for their contribution. In addition he thanked the Leader for his help and support in delivering this budget.

 

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

 

          The following Members voted FOR the motion:

 

Councillors S. Baker,  D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Cassidy, Cole, Dennett, Edge, Fry,  Gilligan,  P. Harris, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, M. Lloyd Jones, P. Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, A. Lowe, J. Lowe, MacManus, McDermott, A. McInerney,

T. McInerney, Nelson, Nolan, Osborne, Parker, Philbin,

N. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Joe Roberts, June Roberts, Sinnott,

G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo.

 

          There were no votes against the motion.

 

          There were no abstentions.

 

          RESOLVED: That Council adopt the following resolution

 

1)    The policies outlined in this paper be adopted, including the Budget for 2016/17, the savings set out in Appendix B and the Capital Programme set out in Appendix F.

 

2)    That it be noted that at the meeting on 09 December 2015 the Council agreed the following:

 

(a) The Council Tax Base 2016/17 for the whole Council area is 32,948 (item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the Act) and

 

(b) For dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates, be set out as follows:

 

Parish

Tax Base

 

 

Hale

659

Daresbury

159

Moore

326

Preston Brook

336

Halebank

499

Sandymoor

966

 

          being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its Council Tax Base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which special items relate.

 

3)    Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2016/17 (excluding Parish precepts) is £41,216,960.

 

4)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

72.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2016/17 (Minute EXB 110 refers) pdf icon PDF 702 KB

Executive Board considered the attached report.

 

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the policies, strategies, statements and prudential and treasury indicators outlined in the report.

Minutes:

          Executive Board had considered a report of the operational Director, Finance, on the proposed Treasury Management Statement, incorporating the Annual Investment Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy for 2016/17.

 

          RESOLVED: That Council adopt the policies, strategies, statements and prudential indicators outlined in the report.

(N.B. The following Councillors made a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business for the reasons stated; Councillor Edge as a Governor of St Bede’s Junior School; Councillor Joe Roberts as a Governor of Ditton Primary School)

73.

2015/16 Revised Capital Programme (Minute EXB 116 refers) pdf icon PDF 459 KB

Executive Board considered the attached report:-

 

RECOMMENDED: That, subject to Executive Board approval of the 2016/17 Quarter 3 Spending on 25th February 2016, the revisions to the Council’s 2015/16 Capital Programme set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report, be approved.

 

Minutes:

          The Executive Board had considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which summarised the overall revenue and capital spending position as at 31 December 2015.

 

          RESOLVED: That Council approve the revisions to the Council’s 2015/16 Capital Programme, as set out in the report.

74.

Calendar of Meetings 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 213 KB

Council are asked to consider the attached report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which sets out the Calendar of Meetings for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

 

RECOMMENDED: That Council

 

1)    approve the Calendar of Meetings for the 2016/2017 Municipal Year, attached at Appendix 1; and

 

2)    delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to set dates for the Health and Wellbeing Board and to advise all Members when these dates are agreed.

              

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

          Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which set out the Calendar of Meetings for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

 

          RESOLVED: That Council

 

1)    approve the Calendar of Meetings for the 2016/17 Municipal Year, attached to the report at Appendix 1; and

 

2)    delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to set dates for the Health and Wellbeing Board and to advise all Members when these dates are agreed.

75.

Pay Policy Statement pdf icon PDF 57 KB

RECOMMENDATION: That Council adopt the Pay Policy Statement for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

Minutes:

          Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which contained details of the Council’s recommended Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17.

 

          The Localism Act 2011 required every local authority to prepare a pay policy statement each year, which detailed the Council’s approach to a range of issues relating to the pay of its employees.

 

          The report detailed the following information:

 

·       Background to the Pay Structure;

·       Senior Management Remuneration;

·       Recruitment of Chief Officers;

·       Additions to Salaries of Chief Officers;

·       Pension Contributions;

·       Payments on Termination;

·       Publication;

·       Lowest Paid Employees; and

·       Accountability and Decision Making.

 

RESOLVED: That the Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 be adopted.

76.

Part II of Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (Minute REG 30 refers) pdf icon PDF 488 KB

Regulatory Committee considered the attached report:-

 

RECOMMENDED: That Council be requested to pass a resolution in the following terms:

 

“The Council intends to pass a resolution at a future meeting (the “Adoption resolution”).

 

1)    to adopt the extent that they are not already in force in the Borough the provisions of Part II of Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (the “1976 Act”), (other than section 45), to apply to the whole of the area of the Council on and after the appointed day stated in that resolution;

 

2)    the Operational Director Legal and Democratic Services be directed to publish and serve notice as required by section 45 of the 1976 Act which shall include a draft Adoption Resolution in the  terms set out in the report.

 

Minutes:

          Regulatory Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, on the proposal to re-adopt legislation which related to the private hire and hackney carriage controls.

 

          RESOLVED: That Council intends to pass a resolution at a future meeting (the Adoption Resolution)

 

1)    to adopt the extent that they are not already in force in the Borough, the provisions of Part II of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (the 1976 Act), (other than Section 45), to apply to the whole area of the Council on and after the appointed day stated in that resolution;

 

2)    the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services, be directed to publish and serve notice as required by Section 45 of the 1976 Act; and

 

3)    following compliance with item 2) of this resolution, the matter be reported back to Council for the Adoption Resolution to be considered.

77.

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Section 3 and Schedule 4 - Street Trading (Minute REG 31 refers) pdf icon PDF 441 KB

Regulatory Committee considered the attached report:-

 

RECOMMENDED: That the Council be requested to pass a resolution in the following terms:

 

1)    “the Operational Director Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to prepare and publish notice of intent to pass a Designation Resolution as required under Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982;

 

2)    the draft Designation Resolution be in the terms set out in the report.

 

 

Minutes:

          Regulatory Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which related to the designation of streets for street trading purposes.

 

          RESOLVED: That Council

 

1)    pass the Designation Resolution set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report; and

 

2)    that the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services, be authorised to prepare and to publish notice as required by Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

 

 

78.

Recommendation from Mayoral Committee (Minute MYR2 refers)

The Mayoral Committee considered a Part II item making recommendations for the appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2016/17 Municipal Year:-

 

Council is requested to note these recommendations as follows. Formal confirmation will be sought at the annual meeting.

 

1)          Councillor Ged Philbin be appointed as the Mayor; and

 

2)          Councillor Alan Lowe be appointed as the Deputy Mayor.

 

 

Minutes:

          The Mayoral Committee had considered a Part II item which made recommendations for the appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2016/17 Municipal Year. Formal confirmation would be sought at the Annual Meeting of Council.

 

          RESOLVED: That Council note that

 

1)    Councillor Ged Philbin be appointed Mayor; and

 

2)    Councillor Alan Lowe be appointed Deputy Mayor.