Agenda and minutes

          The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 17 October 2018, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          The Mayor made the following announcements:-

·       He welcomed newly-elected Councillor Eddie Dourley to his first Council meeting;

·       He reported on a recent event he and the Mayoress had attended at Churchill House at Chester University, to re-sign the Cheshire Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of the Borough.

          The Leader made the following announcements:-

·       The Local Government Boundary Commission for England had published its draft recommendations at the start of the second consultation period, on the new electoral arrangements for the Borough. He reported that the Ward Boundary Working Group would be considering the contents of the publication and a formal response from the Council would be submitted to the Commission by 11 February 2019;

·       Each Member had been given a souvenir publication booklet on ‘The Mersey Gateway – A Bridge to Prosperity’.

          The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board meetings on 18 October 2018 and 15 November 2018.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

          The Council considered the minutes of the Health and WellbeingBoard meeting on 3 October 2018.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

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

(N.B. The following Councillors declared a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business as they all had family members employed by Halton Borough Council: Councillors Baker, E.Cargill, D.Cargill, Cassidy, Horabin, Nelson, Philbin, C. Plumpton Walsh, Polhill, Sinnott, Thompson, Wall and Wallace).

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council

1)    approve the initial budget proposals for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report; and

2)    determine the position of the Council on a proposal to continue the 4 days unpaid leave arrangement.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on an initial set of budget proposals for 2019/20.

          An amendment in respect of the saving proposal at Item 28 in the Appendix to the report was proposed by Councillor Wharton. This referred to the bowling greens at Crow Wood Park, Hough Green Park and Leigh Recreation Ground being closed, or offered to bowling clubs to operate. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Polhill.

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

          The following Members voted FOR the motion:

Councillors Abbott, Baker, M. Bradshaw, J. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Carlin, Cassidy, Dennett, Dourley, Fry, Gerrard,  Gilligan, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, Leck, M. Lloyd Jones, P. Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan,  MacManus, McDermott, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Morley, Nelson, Philbin, Polhill, C. Plumpton Walsh, Joe Roberts,  Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Teeling, Thompson, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Whitley, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo

There were no votes against the motion.

          There were no abstentions.

          RESOLVED: That Council

1)    approve the initial budget proposals for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report, subject to the following alteration:-

That, following consultation with all bowling clubs in the Borough, Item No 28 in Appendix 1, should now read “ The bowling greens at Crow Wood Park, Hough Green and Leigh Recreation Ground be closed or offered to the bowling clubs to operate” and that the annual charge to individual bowlers be increased from £25 per annum to £30 per annum.

2)    the present arrangement for four days unpaid leave for staff be continued for the next three years, commencing with the 2019/20 financial year; and

3)    a Task and Finish Group be established to review those arrangements with a view to reporting back to Council on alternative options for the future.

(N.B. Councillor Ron Hignett declared a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business as he was a member of the Sci-Tech Public Sector Joint Venture Board)

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve

1)    Setting the 2019/20 Council Tax Base at 34,950 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

2)    The Council Tax Base for each of the Parishes be set as follows:

The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the determination of the Council Tax Base for 2019/20.

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

          The following Members voted FOR the motion:

Councillors Abbott, Baker, M. Bradshaw, J. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Carlin, Cassidy, Dennett, Dourley, Fry, Gerrard,  Gilligan, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, Leck, M. Lloyd Jones, P. Lloyd Jones, C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan,  MacManus, McDermott, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Morley, Nelson, Philbin, Polhill, C. Plumpton Walsh, Joe Roberts,  Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Teeling, Thompson, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Whitley, Woolfall, Wright and Zygadllo

There were no votes against the motion.

          There were no abstentions.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    The Council Tax Base for 2019/20 be set at 34,950 for the Borough, and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

2)    Council set the Council Tax Base for each of the Parishes as follows:

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the revised Capital Programme 2018/19, as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which set out a number of revisions to the Council’s 2018/19 Capital Programme.

          RESOLVED: That the revisions to the Council’s 2018/19 Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report, be approved.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the updated Operational Boundary and Authorised Limits as detailed in paragraph 3.18 of the report.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which provided an update on the Treasury Management Half Year Report 2018/19.

          RESOLVED: That Council

1)    adopts the updated Operational Boundary and Authorised Limits, as detailed in paragraph 3.18 of the report; and

2)    notes the report.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve an amendment to the Capital Programme and a £50k capital allocation be approved to provide a contribution towards the costs involved in developing Community Shop in Halton.

          The Council considered report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the introduction of a Community Shop in Halton.

          RESOLVED: That Council approve an amendment to the Capital Programme and a £50k capital allocation to provide a contribution towards the costs involved in developing a Community Shop in Halton.

          The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 17 October 2018:-

·       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 17 October 2018:-

·       Development Control; and

·       Regulatory.

PERIOD POVERTY

          Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order No. 6.

          The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Lauren Cassidy and seconded by Councillor Angela Teeling:-

“Halton Borough Council calls for women and girls to be shown the dignity they derive when dealing with their periods.

The cost of sanitary products is unfair and exacerbates ‘Period Poverty’. Council notes that VAT continues to be charged on sanitary products, yet they are not luxury products but essential to both women and girls.

This Council is committed to supporting women within our workplaces, ensuring our employees have the dignity they deserve.

This Council RESOLVES:

1)    To seek to ensure women and girls in Halton gain better access to sanitary products and to receiving a more positive, supportive culture towards periods in the workplace and at schools in Halton;

2)    To write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, calling for an end to VAT on sanitary products; and

3)    To support campaigns so that no women or young girls face ‘Period Poverty’ “

FOOD INSECURITY

Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order No. 6.

          The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Andrea Wall and seconded by Councillor Chris Loftus:-

“Halton Borough Council calls for the Government to take urgent measures to end food insecurity and the growing reliance of families being dependent upon Food Banks.

Council supports the End Hunger UK campaign supported by Oxfam, Child Poverty Action Group, UK Churches and the Trussell Trust amongst many others. A report from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation previously suggested that as many as 8.4 million people in the UK are ‘food insecure’ and struggle to put enough food on the table to sustain themselves and their families.

This Council commends the good work undertaken by the Runcorn and Widnes Food Banks to help aid and support people in Halton.

Council further notes that, over the last six financial years due to the welfare reform brought in by Central Government, including a new sanctions regime, the spare room subsidy or bedroom tax and the roll out of full service Universal Credit, Halton has seen a 471% increase in the number of 3-day emergency food supplies distributed by foodbanks in Runcorn and Widnes.

This Council RESOLVES:

1)    To write to the Prime Minister expressing grave concern at the UN findings on food insecurity, whilst the UK remains the sixth richest country in the world;

2)    Council asks her to note that there are now approximately 2,000 food banks and food bank centres in operation and we are seeing rising levels of hospital admissions due to malnutrition and record levels of in-work poverty; and

3)    Council calls on the Government to recognise that food insecurity is a worsening crisis in Halton and around the UK, making more people impoverished, impacting the NHS and worsening health deprivation.”

PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING

Council considered a Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with Standing Order No. 6.

          The following Motion was proposed by Councillor Sandra Baker and seconded by Councillor Pauline Sinnott:-

“Halton Borough Council calls on Government to support an increase in public health funding and to ensuring a ‘prevention first’ approach in the health and social care system. In turn, the Council will, for its part, continue to support and fund public health initiatives to the best of our abilities - to prevent ill-health, reduce inequalities and support a health and social care system that is fit for the future. Around four in ten cancer diagnoses are preventable, largely through avoidable risk factors, such as stopping smoking and healthy diets.

This Council believes that the impact of cuts to public health on our communities is becoming difficult to ignore. This case becomes more pressing given the Government’s consideration of a ten-year plan for the NHS.

Council supports the view that:-

·       It is harmful to our residents that the Council will have less grant and support from Government than in previous years.

·       Without added investment in public health, people will needlessly suffer, families and community suffer and employers face a burden through staff sickness and lost productivity.

Council RESOLVES to write to the Secretary of State for Health to call for an increase in public health funding and not to phase out the Public Health Grant by 2020/21, as is currently proposed.”

        In this case Council has a discretion to exclude the press and public and, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, it is RECOMMENDED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, having been satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Please note that if this resolution is passed, members of the press and public will be asked to leave the room prior to the consideration of the following business.

Council considered:

(1)      whether Members of the press and public should be excluded from the meeting of the Board during consideration of the following item 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 outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information, members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item 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, exempt information would be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council include an amount as stated in the report, in the Capital Programme, which will be fully funded by NHS England, to meet the cost of the Orchard House scheme.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, People, on the acquisition and re-modelling of Orchard House.

          RESOLVED: That Council include an amount, as stated in the report, in the Capital Programme, which will be fully funded by NHS England, to meet the cost of the Orchard House scheme.