Agenda and minutes

          The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 22 May 2015, having been circulated, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting be confirmed and adopted.

          The Mayor made the following announcements:-

·       She had received a silver coloured plate bearing the South African Coat of Arms presented to her when she welcomed three Head teachers to three schools in Halton – Astmoor Primary, Moorfield Primary and St Bede’s Catholic Primary Schools. The motto, written in the Khoisan language of the Xam people read “Diverse people Unite”.

          The Leader made the following announcements:-

·       The Leader had circulated his briefing to Members;

·       He reported on the progress and activity of the building of the new Mersey Gateway Bridge; and

·       Encouraged Members to take up the offer of joining an organised tour of the Mersey Gateway Bridge site.

          The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board meetings of 9 April 2015, 19 May 2015, 4 June 2015 and 2 July 2015.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

The Council considered the minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting of 13 May 2015.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

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

The Council considered the report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator, outlining the Annual Reports for each of the Policy and Performance Boards (PPBs) for 2014/15, which had been submitted and which outlined their work and made recommendations for future work programmes.

          It was reported that the Annual Reports had been submitted to the appropriate PPBs for consideration and had all been agreed.

          RESOLVED: That the 2014/15 Annual Reports, submitted from the Policy and Performance Boards, be received.

Standards Committee had considered the Annual Report of the Operational Director/ Monitoring Officer, which summarised the work of the Committee in the last Municipal Year.

RECOMMENDED: That the report be noted and referred to Council for information.

Standards Committee had considered the attached report of the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services/Monitoring Officer, which summarised the work of the Standards Committee in its Annual Report.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

(N.B. The following Members declared a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business for the reasons stated; Councillor Wharton and Councillor Fry, as Governors of Hale Church of England Primary School; Councillor Chris Loftus and Councillor Martha Lloyd Jones as Governors of Beechwood Primary School)

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council be recommended to approve the Basic Need Capital Funding.

Executive Board had considered the attached report of the Strategic Director, Children and the Economy, on Basic Need Capital Funding.

RESOLVED: That the allocation and spending on Basic Need Capital Funding be approved.

(N.B. Councillor Martha Lloyd Jones declared a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business as she was a Governor of St Edward’s Catholic Primary School)

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council be recommended to approve the updated Capital Programme for 2015/18, including forecast spend and funding as set out in Table 1 and Table 2.

Executive Board had considered the attached report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the 2015/16 to 2017/18 Capital Programme.

RESOLVED: That the updated Capital Programme for 2015/18, including the forecast spend and funding as set out in Table 1 and Table 2, be approved.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council be recommended to approve the inclusion of £330,000 in the Capital Programme to provide the partial match funding required for the Major Maintenance bid.

Executive Board had considered the attached report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which sought approval to submit a Major Maintenance Bid for the Silver Jubilee Bridge (SJB) Complex.

RESOLVED: That the inclusion of £330,000 in the Capital Programme to provide the partial match funding required for the Major Maintenance Bid, be approved.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the report.

Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which described changes to the statutory employment protection of three senior officers, and amendments to Standing Orders contained within the Constitution, to comply with the new arrangements.

The report set out details of a number of changes to the statutory employment protection for the Head of Paid Service, the Chief Finance Officer and the Monitoring Officer. It also recommended changes to the Council’s Constitution to comply with the new requirements.

RESOLVED: That

1)    amendments to the Standing Orders relating to Staff and Officer Employment Procedure Rules, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, be approved;

2)    amendments to the Matters Reserved to Full Council, Terms of Reference for the Committees and the Standing Orders relating to the Conduct of Council Business which relates to the Constitution of Forums and Panels, as set out in Appendix 4 of the report, be approved; and

3)    the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, be authorised to invite the Council’s Independent Persons to be considered for appointment to the Panel.

(N.B. Councillor Polhill and Councillor Wharton declared a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business as they were Members of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board)

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the report.

Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services, on the proposed Mersey Gateway Bridge and Silver Jubilee Bridge Road User Charging Scheme Order (RUCSO).

Following Council approval on 18 March 2015, an Application was made to the Secretary of State for Transport for a RUCSO in relation to the Mersey Gateway Bridge and the Silver Jubilee Bridge. Notice of the Application was published on 25 March 2015, inviting representations to the Secretary of State by 14 May 2015.

Three objections had been lodged, details of which were set out in the report. The Council had been advised by the Secretary of State that it was not necessary to hold an inquiry or hearing in respect of the Application, but that the Council should submit written representations addressing each of the three objections by 9 July 2015.

It was reported that the Council must now formally confirm its wish to continue to promote the Application.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the Council confirms its wish to continue promoting the Application; and

2)    the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services, be authorised to take all necessary steps to secure the Proposed Order.

N.B. Under Section 239 of the Local Government Act 1972, it is a requirement to make the Resolution by a majority of the whole number of Members of the Council, whether present and voting at the meeting or not. This was complied with.

          The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 15 April 2015:-

·       Children, Young People and Families;

·       Employment, Learning, Skills and Community;

·       Health;

·       Safer;

·       Environment and Urban Renewal;

·       Corporate; and

·       Business Efficiency.

In considering the minutes, the following observations were made:-

Councillor Thompson highlighted:-

·       the presentation to the Safer Policy and Performance Board (Minute SAF7 referred), from the North West Ambulance Service and their annual review of the service; and

·       the Council-wide ban on the use of Novel Psychoactive Substances (‘Legal Highs’), (Minute SAF 10 referred).

Councillor Gilligan thanked Officers and Members for their work so far on the Scrutiny Review of Fees and Charges (Corporate Policy and Performance Board).

(N.B. Councillor Stan Hill declared a Disclosable Other Interest in Minute CYP7 as he was a Governor of Ashley School)

The Council considered the reports of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of Council on 15 April 2015:-

·       Development Control;

·       Regulatory; and

·       Appeals Panel.

In considering the minutes, the following observations were made:-

Councillor Kath Loftus advised Members that the results of the consultation exercise on the Statement of Licensing Policy and the Statement of Gambling Policy (Minutes REG 19 and REG 20 referred), would be reported to the next meeting of the Regulatory Committee in September 2015.