Agenda and minutes

          The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 18 October 2023 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          The Mayor reported that she was pleased to announce that Councillor Carol Plumpton Walsh had given birth to a baby boy George James, and both mother and baby were doing well. On behalf of the Council the Mayor sent her congratulations to Councillor Carol Plumpton Walsh and Councillor Norman Plumpton Walsh.

          The Mayor also thanked everyone who had helped and attended the Town Hall Open Day. The event had raised £1075 towards the Mayor’s Fund.

          The Leader in his report to Council:

·       expressed his disappointment at the lack of acknowledgement from central government in its recent autumn statement, to provide much needed additional funding towards Social Care Services;

·       he reported that the Ofsted Inspection of the Council’s SEND service was completed and a report was expected soon; and

·       he wished everyone very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

          The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board meetings on 19 October 2023 and 16 November 2023.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

The Council considered the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 11 October 2023.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

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

N.B. Councillors A. Lowe and J. Lowe declared a Registrable Other Interest in the following item of business as they have a family member employed at St Lukes Care Home.

RECOMMENDED: That, the revisions to the Council’s 2023/24 capital programme outlined in paragraph 3.2, be approved.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which set out a number of revisions to the Council’s 2023/24 Capital Programme.

          RESOLVED: That the revisions to the Council’s 2023/24 Capital Programme outlined in paragraph 3.2, be approved.

          Executive Board had considered a report on the requirement for the Council to determine the Council Tax Base for its area and the Council Tax Base for each of the Parishes.

          RECOMMENDED: That

1.     Council set the 2024/25 Council Tax Base at 36,409 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 2024/25.

The Mayor asked it there were any observations or amendments to the proposals set out in the report and none were received. The recommendation was unanimously approved by Council as detailed below.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the Council Tax Base for 2024/25 be set at 36,409 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:

          Executive Board had previously considered a report which sought approval to accept funding to complete the full business case in support of the East Runcorn Connectivity Scheme project elements, that were deliverable within the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). The report sought Council approval to accept funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and to amend the Capital Programme accordingly.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement be accepted and the Council be recommended to amend the Capital Programme accordingly;

2)    Mott MacDonald Ltd are retained as external consultant for the project up to a value of £1.61m, via the Warrington Consultancy Framework; and

3)    the Operational Director – Policy, Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder,  Environment and Urban Renewal, be delegated to procure and implement the necessary works to deliver the A56 East Runcorn Connectivity (ERC) Scheme and active travel routes within funding deadlines.

             RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the Polling Places Scheme as detailed in the appendix to the report for the period 2024-2029.

          Council considered a report of the Chief Executive, that sought authority to approve a revised Polling Places Scheme. The Electoral Administration Act 2006 required the Council to carry out a review of all its polling stations every five years. As part of the review process, a consultation exercise had been carried out and comments were required by 13 November 2023. It was noted that those comments received had been taken into account and the recommendations were detailed in the appendix to the report.

          It was noted that on page 9 of the report there was a typing error in the electorate figures for the Polling Districts in Daresbury Moore and Sandymoor Wards, DM1 and DM3. The figures should read DM1 - 3110 and DM3 - 296.

          RESOLVED: That the Polling Places Scheme as detailed in the appendix to the report for the period 2024-2029 be adopted.

          The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 18 October 2023:-

·       Children, Young People and Families;

·       Employment, Learning and Skills and Community;

·       Safer;

·       Environment and Urban Renewal;

·       Corporate Services; and

·       Audit and Governance.

          The Council considered the reports of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of Council on 18 October 2023:-

·       Development Management; and

·       Appointments.