1 Apologies for absence.
2 To approve as correct records the minutes of the proceedings of the two meetings of the Council held on 27 February 2008 and the meeting of the Council held on 5 March 2008 (pages 505, 507 and 515 respectively).
3 To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Executive Leader, Members of the Executive or the Head of Paid Service that they may desire to lay before the Council. In particular:-
(a) Death of Chief Constable of Greater Manchester – Mr Michael Todd.
(b) Members of the Council not seeking re-election in the forthcoming municipal elections.
(c) Mayor’s Charity update: The total raised to date is £51,062.40 with some money outstanding.
(d) Further issues (if any).
Open items:
4 To receive declarations of interest in any item for discussion at the meeting (.pdf, 19Kb): see attached advice from the Service Director, Borough Solicitor.
5 Outstanding business from last Council meeting: Notices of Motion:
The Council at minute 90 resolved as follows:-
(a) “This Council refers motion 1 as set out below, submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley, to Cabinet and to report back to the next Council meeting.
(1) Councillor R M Bleakley submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-
This Council believes that when people sign up to join the Armed Services they show that they are prepared to put their life on the line for their country. In return they should be certain that they and their family will be looked after appropriately both in relation to services provided be the Government and the Council.
It further believes that the recognition in medals and commendations does not meet the needs and care of many of our servicemen and women past and present and, accordingly, it supports the 'Honour the Covenant' campaign of the Royal British Legion.
This Council therefore calls upon her Majesty's Government to honour its life-long duty of care to those soldiers (both from Wigan Borough and beyond) making a unique commitment to their country by realising in full the demands laid out by the Royal British Legion in their 'Honour the Covenant' Campaign.”
At its meeting on 13 March 2008, Cabinet resolved to defer consideration of this item pending the receipt of information from the Minister of State for the Armed Forces.
(b) “Resolved: This Council refers motion 5 as set out below, submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley, to Cabinet and to report back to the next Council meeting.
(5) Councillor R M Bleakley submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-
This Council is disappointed at the handling of police pay by the Home Secretary and the negative impact this will have on police morale and the effect on the services provided in the Borough.
This Council believes that when any group of employees is expected to forgo some of their basic employment rights such as the right to strike they should be treated equitably in terms of pay and conditions. In the case of the police, this Council strongly believes they should receive the backdated full pay award recommended by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal, and resolves to ensure that all the Borough’s MPs are aware of this view.”
At its meeting on 13 March 2008, Cabinet considered this item and requested the Leader to respond to Council as agreed by Cabinet.
6 To consider the incorporation of the following issues into the Policy Framework or the Budget Framework as appropriate:-
(a) Determination of admission arrangements 2009-2010: community and voluntary-controlled schools (.pdf, 411Kb): report enclosed.
(b) Further issues (if any).
7 To consider the following constitutional issues:-
(a) Changes in membership/appointment of Members to Committees/Panels (if any):
(b) Appointment of Local Authority representative governors (.pdf, 55Kb): report enclosed.
The Council is recommended to:-
appoint the Governors as nominated and authorise the Director of Children and Young People’s Services to advise the Local Authority appointed Governors of their terms of office as set out in the report.
(c) Appointments to outside bodies (.pdf, 45Kb): report enclosed.
(d) Further issues (if any).
8 Review of polling districts and polling places (.pdf, 1000Kb): report enclosed.
The Council is recommended to agree to the relocation of polling places as follows:-
Portable polling station, car park, Dray King Public House, as the polling place for polling district LBA (Hindley Green) in place of Hollins School; and
Conference Suite, Britannia Hotel, Almond Brook Road, as the polling place for polling district WAA (Shevington with Langtree) in place of portable polling station, car park, Hesketh Arms, Shevington Moor.
9 To consider the state of the area report by the Executive Leader on the activities undertaken in the Borough during the last year and proposals for the forthcoming year
10 Questions and comments (if any) under rule 8(1)(b) in relation to the deliberations of the Cabinet, Committees and Panels set out in the separate minute book and circulated for information only.
11 Questions (if any) under Rule 8(1)(a).
12 Notice of Motions (a) Motions must be about matters for which the Council has a responsibility or which affect the area, Rule of Procedure 9.3
(b) Request for permission to alter a motion under Rule of Procedure 11.7(a).
(c) Request for permission to withdraw a motion under Rule of Procedure 11.8
(d) Previous decisions and motions, Rule of Procedure 13.
(e) Requests for the suspension of Rules of Procedure under Rule 20.1 (if any).
(f) Copy of the report of the Chief Executive and Service Director, Borough Solicitor on the competence and lawfulness of the motions is also enclosed. (.pdf, 20Kb):
(1) To consider the following motion of which notice has been given by Councillor M Klieve:-
“This Council believes the intention of Brighter Borough Funding is to allow Elected Members to work with local communities to improve the local area and should not be used to promote members as has happened in Golborne.”
(2) To consider the following motion of which notice has been given by Councillor C Ready:-
“I am sure Members would agree that recent behaviour in the Council Chamber is totally unacceptable with no respect shown to the office of the Mayor & other Members of the Council, which has resulted in one Member being voted to be not heard on more than one occasion. Therefore this Council asks the Chief Executive to include anger management in the courses for Members arranged for the new Municipal year.”
(3) To consider the following motion of which notice has been given by Councillor G W Fairhurst:-
“This Council now recognise that Councillors should be allowed to use some of their brighter borough money to help individual cases that merit help. Cases like little Naomi Farrington and Jack Orrell-Bancroft. Just a small help from any or all of us could help change these lives for ever. So with this in mind this Council asks that under Community a spirited issue that Councillors should be allowed to help out where they can if they feel it warrants it.”
(4) To consider the following motion of which notice has been given by Councillor M W Winstanley:-
“This Council calls upon all Agency's to work together in order to establish a clear procedure and protocol to ensure that walking days and parades can take place across the whole of the Borough without unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy.”
