Agenda and minutes

          The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 6 February 2019, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          The Mayor made the following announcements:-

·       The Mayor and Mayoress thanked everyone that had attended or been responsible for organising their Civic Ball on 8 February 2019 which was a very successful event in the Mayoral calendar.

          The Leader made the following announcements:-

·       He thanked colleagues and Officers for their work in balancing the budget;

·       Reported that the Boundary Commission’s report and recommendations on the Boundary Review for Halton was expected at the end of March 2019.

          The Council considered the minutes of the Executive Board meetings held on 13 December 2018, 17 January 2019 and 21 February 2019.

          RESOLVED: That the minutes be received.

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

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That

1)    Council adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A attached to the report, which includes setting the budget at £108.621m, the Council Tax requirement of £49.597m (before Parish, Police and Fire and LCR Combined Authority precepts) and the Band D Council Tax for Halton of £1,419.08; and

2)    From 1 April 2019 the level of Empty Homes Premium on dwellings that have been unoccupied for more than 2 years be increased to 100%.

          The Executive Board had considered a report setting out a recommendation to Council in respect of the Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax for 2019/20. Since then Cheshire Fire Authority had set its budget and council tax precept and this had been included in the report to full Council.

          The Executive Board had recommended that Council adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A of the report, which included setting the budget at £108,621m, the Council Tax requirement of £49,597m (before Parish, Police, Fire and LCR Combined Authority precepts), and the Band D Council Tax for Halton of £1,419.08.

          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 Abbott, Baker, M. Bradshaw, J. Bradshaw, D. Cargill, E. Cargill, Carlin, Cassidy, Dennett, Dourley, Fry,  Gilligan, Harris, P. Hignett, R. Hignett, S. Hill, V. Hill, Horabin, Howard, Jones, Leck,  C. Loftus, K. Loftus, Logan, A. Lowe, J. Lowe, MacManus, McDermott, A. McInerney, T. McInerney, Morley, Nelson, Nolan, Philbin, Polhill, C. Plumpton Walsh, N. Plumpton Walsh, June Roberts, Rowe, Sinnott, G. Stockton, J. Stockton, Teeling, Thompson, Wainwright, Wall, Wallace, Wharton, Whitley, 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 and council tax for 2019/20, 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 12 December 2018 the Council agreed the following:

(a)      the Council Tax Base 2019/20 for the whole Council area is 34,950 (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:

          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 2019/20 (excluding Parish precepts) is £49,596,846.

4)       In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (Sections 31 to 36), the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2019/20 and agreed as follows:

(a)      £384,739,650 – being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

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

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the Treasury Management Statement, which incorporated the Annual Investment Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy for 2019/20.

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

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the 2019/20 Capital Strategy, as presented in the Appendix attached to the report.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on the Council’s Capital Strategy for 2019/20.

          Members noted that the Capital Strategy should be read in conjunction with the Treasury Management Statement, also considered at this meeting. The successful delivery of the Capital Strategy would assist the Council in planning and funding its capital expenditure over the next three years.

          RESOLVED: That Council approve the 2019/20 Capital Strategy, as presented in the Appendix attached to the report.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the Capital Allocations set out in the report.

          The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which provided a summary of the Capital Programmes for 2019/20 for the People Directorate.

          RESOLVED: That the Capital Allocations, included in the Budget report, be approved.

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

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the revisions to the Council’s 2018/19 Capital Programme set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

          The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which sought approval to 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 approve the Calendar of Meetings for the 2019/20 Municipal Year, as appended to the report.

          The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on a calendar of meetings for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

          RESOLVED: That the calendar of meetings for the 2019/20 Municipal Year, as appended to the report, be approved.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the Unison “End Violence at Work Charter” and works with Unison representatives to ensure the standards within the Charter are adhered to.

          The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which set out details of Unison’s End Violence at Work Charter.

          The Council had been approached by Unison seeking support and to adopt their End Violence at Work Charter. The Charter reflected the Council’s own philosophy and practices and had established policies and practices in place designed to protect its employees.

          RESOLVED: That Council adopt the Unison “End Violence at Work Charter”, and works with Unison representatives to ensure the standards within the Charter are adhered to.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council adopt the IHRA working definition of Anti-Semitism.

          The Council considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and working definition of Anti-Semitism.

          The IHRA was an intergovernmental organisation which strengthened, advanced and promoted Holocaust education worldwide. The Council had been approached by the Jewish Leadership Council to adopt this definition.

          RESOLVED: That Council adopt the IHRA working definition of Anti-Semitism.

RECOMMENDED: That Council consider

1) the recommendations of the Independent Members’ Allowances Panel as set out in Paragraph 6 of the report; and

2) having regard to the Panel’s recommendations, determine the Members’ Allowance Scheme to be effective from April 2019 for a  3 year period.

          The Council considered a report of the Independent Remuneration Panel following the Triannual Review of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances.

          Under the Local Authority (Members’ Allowances) Regulations 2003, the Scheme of Members’ Allowances must be reviewed tri-annually. Three independent private sector representatives were invited to sit as an Independent Panel to review the Council’s Scheme of Members’ Allowances and to make recommendations to the Council.

          The Panel were provided with, and appraised of, the Council’s current Scheme of Allowances, as set out in the report. The Panel met and corresponded on a number of occasions, considered papers supplied in advance of their meetings and received a briefing by the Chief Executive. In addition, the Panel invited comments from the Leaders of the three Political Groups, considered written representations submitted by Councillors and considered information which had been shared with the Local Government Boundary Commission on the role of Councillors in Halton. The Panel’s conclusions and recommendations were set out in the report for information.

          RESOLVED: That Council

1)    note and agree the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel; 

2)    agree that the current Members’ Allowance Scheme is ‘fit for purpose’ and represents  excellent value for money as concluded by the Independent Remuneration Panel; and

3)    make and adopt a Members’ Allowance Scheme in the form contained in the Appendix attached to the report, to be effective from 1 April 2019 for a period of three years.

          The Council considered the reports of the following Boards in the period since the meeting of Council on 12 December 2018:-

·       Children, Young People and Families;

·       Employment, Learning and Skills and Community;

·       Safer; and

·       Corporate Services.

In moving the minutes of the Children, Young People and Families Policy and Performance Board, Councillor Dennett encouraged all Members to read the Annual Headteacher’s report of the attainment progress of Halton’s Children in Care, given their Corporate Parenting role (Minute CYP 33 referred).

The Council considered the reports of the following Committees in the period since the meeting of Council on 12 December 2018:-

·       Development Control;

·       Regulatory; and

·       Standards.

The Local Government Ombudsman has issued a report following its investigation of a complaint against Halton Borough Council. The complaint was about a Highways and Transport matter relating to the Mersey Gateway. (Copy enclosed separately).

The Ombudsman made no fault finding on the part of the Council and found no injustice.

The Ombudsman made no recommendations.

          The Council considered a report of the Local Government Ombudsman, following an investigation into a complaint against the Council.

The complaint was about a Highways and Transport matter relating to the Mersey Gateway, a copy of which was appended to the report. The Ombudsman made no fault finding on the part of the Council and found no injustice. No recommendations were made.

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

The Mayoral Committee considered a Part II item making a recommendation on the appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

Council is requested to note the following recommendations, formal confirmation of which will be sought at Annual Council.

1)   Councillor Margaret Horabin be appointed as the Mayor

2)   Councillor Chris Rowe be appointed as the Deputy Mayor.

          The Mayoral Committee had considered a Part II item which made recommendations for the appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2019/20 Municipal Year.

Formal confirmation would be sought at the Annual Meeting of Council.

RESOLVED: That Council note that

1)    Councillor Margaret Horabin be appointed as Mayor; and

2)    Councillor Christopher Rowe be appointed as Deputy Mayor.