1 Apologies for absence.
2 To approve as correct records the minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of the Council held on 9 January and 7 February 2008 (pages 63 and 75 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) Mayor’s Charity update: The total raised to date is £46,600 with some money outstanding.
(b) Further issues (if any).
Open items:
4 To receive declarations of interest in any item for discussion at the meeting: see attached advice from the Deputy Director of Legal and Property Services (.pdf, 19 Kb).
5 Outstanding business from last Council meeting: Mayoralty 2008/09:
(1) The Council at minute 65(2) resolved as follows:-
“(2) The Council defers consideration of the Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan for the next Municipal Year to the next meeting of Council.”
(2) The Council at minute 74 resolved as follows:-
“This Council agrees to refer motions 13 and 15 set out below, submitted by Councillors J D Hodgkinson and G Wilkes respectively, be referred to the next meeting of Cabinet and reported back to the next Council meeting.
(13) That this Council considers when a member asks a pre-submitted question, besides being given a verbal reply, they also receive a written reply in due course.
(15) This Council believes that Enhanced Disclosure Checks, carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau, should be compulsory for all Elected Members in this Borough. This sends out a clear message to the general public that all 75 Councillors from Wigan Metro have been CRB checked and are suitable to work with young children or vulnerable adults.”
Motions Deferred from the 9th January 2008 Council Meeting Report (.pdf, 85Kb).
The Council is requested to amend Rule of Procedure 8(3) as described in paragraph 5 of this report,
6 To consider the incorporation of the following issues into the Policy Framework or the Budget Framework as appropriate:-
(a) Further issues (if any).
7 To consider the following Constitutional Issues:-
(a) Changes in membership/appointment of Members to Committees/Panels (if any):
(b) Quarterly monitoring of urgent items: To report that there were no urgent items taken to meetings under rule 16 of the access to information rules of the constitution during the period 1 September to 31 December 2007.
(c) Appointment of LEA Representative Governors (.pdf, 51Kb): 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.
(d) Further issues (if any).
8 Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places (.pdf,950Kb): report enclosed.
The Council is recommended to agree to Our Lady of the Rosary RC Church as the polling place for polling district LDE (Leigh West) in place of Heathside Lodge.
9 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.
10 Questions (if any) under Rule 8(1)(a).
11 Notice of Motion (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 the Deputy Director of Legal and Property Services on the competence and lawfulness of the motions is also enclosed (.pdf, 21Kb).
(1) To consider the following motion of which notice has been given by Councillor R M Bleakley:-
"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".
(2) To consider the following motion of which notice has been given by Councillor M W Winstanley:-
"This Council is opposed in principle of the imposition of Congestion Charging within Greater Manchester including Wigan. This Council calls upon the Wigan Local Authority to withdraw its support for congestion charging. Furthermore this Council believes that the Government should allow the 10 Authorities in Greater Manchester access to the TIF Fund without the need for the imposition of congestion charging".
(3) 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".
(4) To consider the following motion of which notice has been given by Councillor F B Walker:-
"This Council congratulates all concerned in the achievement of four star status every year since the inception of CPA and notes it and one other council are the only ones to achieve this in the North West of England.
This judgement by the independent professionals of the Audit Commission, even with the "Harder Test", means the public of our Borough can continue to be reassured about the quality of our services, whilst recognising that continuing improvement is part of our culture".
(5) To consider the following motion of which notice has been given by Councillor R M Bleakley:-
"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".
(6) To consider the following motion of which notice has been given by Councillor M W Winstanley:-
"This Council resolves to use every available method in dealing with anti social behaviour and youth nuisance. In particular the Council wholeheartedly endorses the use of Mosquito devices in dealing with youth nuisance".
