- The Mayor (Councillor J D O’Brien)
- The Deputy Mayor (Councillor R Winkworth)
- Councillor K Aldred
- Councillor M Aldred
- Councillor K Anderson
- Councillor J B Baldwin
- Councillor Mrs A Bennett
- Councillor Mrs J Beswick
- Councillor Mrs J S Birch
- Councillor A M L Bland
- Councillor R M Bleakley
- Councillor Mrs B Bourne
- Councillor B Bowen
- Councillor N A Bradbury
- Councillor G M Bretherton
- Councillor H L Cadman
- Councillor W Carney
- Councillor R Clayton
- Doctor Councillor C M Cottam
- Councillor Mrs P Cullen
- Councillor K Cunliffe
- Councillor G Davies
- Councillor M A Dewhurst
- Councillor J Eccles-Churton
- Councillor B J Fagan
- Councillor Ms L E Fagan
- Councillor Mrs D Fairhurst
- Councillor G A Fairhurst
- Councillor G W Fairhurst
- Councillor I A Franzen
- Councillor P R Franzen
- Councillor J Haley
- Councillor T W Halliwell
- Councillor J D Hodgkinson
- Councillor Ms P L Holland
- Councillor E N Houlton
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor M Klieve
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon
- Councillor K W McManus
- Councillor B Merry
- Councillor D T Molyneux
- Councillor J A O’Neill
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor P Prescott
- Councillor C Ready
- Councillor A Robinson
- Councillor W Rotherham
- Councillor Mrs E Smethurst
- Councillor P R C Smith
- Councillor R T Splaine
- Councillor C Sweeney
- Councillor J Talbot
- Councillor Mrs A Turnock
- Councillor F B Walker
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor W J Wilkes
- Councillor B M Wilson
- Councillor M W Winstanley
81 Apologies for Absence: Councillors N D Ash, M Baines, S C Barnes, R J Derricutt, Mrs S Dewhurst, J Hilton, Mrs B Jarvis, J Miller, J Moodie, Mrs J M Peet, C Rigby, P Thompson, P A Tushingham and G Wilkes.
82 Minutes: The minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 9 January and 7 February 2008 were approved as correct records and signed by the Mayor.
Councillor P R Franzen challenged the accuracy of minute 68(a).
(Councillor P R Franzen requested that his vote against approving the accuracy of minute 68(a) of 9 January 2008 be recorded).
83 Mayor’s Communications: (a) Mayoral charity update: The Mayor advised that the total amount raised for the Mayor’s charity was, to date, £46,600, with some money outstanding.
(b) Councillors G W Fairhurst and Mrs D Fairhurst: The Mayor welcomed back and congratulated Councillors Debbie and Gareth Fairhurst on the birth of their daughter Hannah.
(c) Councillor P Thompson – birth of son: The Mayor congratulated Councillor P Thompson and his family on the birth of their son.
(d) Announcement by the Deputy Leader (Councillor J A O’Neill) – Member of the Executive: Councillor J A O’Neill (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Champion for Regeneration) made a statement about the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Plan document.
(e) Further issues (if any): There were no further issues.
84 Outstanding business from last Council meeting – (a) Mayoralty 2008/09: The Council considered minute 65(2) of Council which deferred consideration of the Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan for the next Municipal Year to this meeting of the Council.
Resolved: The Council agrees that Councillor M Aldred is a fit and proper person to become Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan for the next Municipal Year.
(b) Motions deferred from 9 January 2008 Council meeting: Further to minute 74, the Council considered a report, which has been considered by Cabinet, dealing with the following motions submitted to the last 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.”
With regard to the Enhanced Disclosure Checks carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau, Cabinet had requested the Chief Executive and the Deputy Director of Legal and Property Services to investigate a more co-ordinated process to minimise duplication of checks.
Resolved: (1) The Council amends Rule of Procedure 8(3) to read as follows:-
(3) An answer may take the form of:-
(a) a direct oral answer followed up by a written answer where this is considered to be appropriate; or
(b) where the desired information is contained in a publication of the Council, a reference to that publication; or
(c) where the reply to the question cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated to members of the Council.
(2) The Council notes the position in relation to CRB checks.
85 Policy and budget framework issues: There were none.
86 Constitutional issues: (a) Changes in membership/appointment of Members to Committees/Panels (if any): There were none.
(b) Quarterly monitoring of urgent items: The Mayor reported 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 local authority representative governors: The Council considered a report which gave details of schools within the Borough where appointments of local authority representative Governors were required. The report also set out details of nominations that had been received in respect of some of the vacancies.
Resolved: The Council:-
- approves the local authority representative governor nominations as set out in the report now submitted; and
- requests 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.
(Councillor B J Fagan declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a governor at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Hindley Green).
(d) Further issues (if any): There were no further issues.
87 Review of polling districts and polling places: The Council considered a report on an alternative location for the polling place identified as necessary during the recent review of polling arrangements.
Resolved: The Council agrees the relocation of a polling place as follows:-
Our Lady of the Rosary RC Church as the polling place for polling district LDE (Leigh West) in place of Heathside Lodge.
88 Questions and Comments under rule 8(1)(b) in relation to the deliberations of the Cabinet, Committees and Panels:
Councillor M W Winstanley asked a question on minute 269 of the meeting of Cabinet (Phase 3 Children’s centres) of 24 January 2008.
Councillor W J Wilkes asked two questions on minute 275 of the meeting of Cabinet (Children’s play programme and strategy) of 24 January 2008.
Councillor R M Bleakley asked a question on minute 275 of the meeting of Cabinet (Children’s play programme and strategy) of 24 January 2008.
The Executive Leader (Councillor P R C Smith) responded to the above mentioned questions.
Councillor F B Walker made a comment on minute 49 of the meeting of the Standards Committee (Draft response to the Standard’s Board Direction) of 29 January 2008.
Councillor H L Cadman withdrew his comment relating to minute 6 of the Licensing Sub Committee (application to vary a premises licence – Bel – Air Hotel, Wigan Lane, Wigan) of 18 December 2007.
Councillor P Thompson had given notice that he wished to make a comment relating to minute 49 of the Standards Committee (draft response to the Standard’s Board Direction), but was not present at the meeting.
Councillor R M Bleakley asked two questions on minute 63 of the meeting of the Community Protection Panel (Housing strategy / housing revenue account business plan - progress report) of 21 January 2008.
The Cabinet Champion for Neighbourhood responded to the abovementioned questions.
Councillor R J Derricutt had given notice that he wished to ask a question relating to minute 51 of the Environment Panel (questions by Members at Panel meetings), but was not present at the meeting.
89 Questions (if any) under Rules 8 (1)(a) and (c): There were none.
90 Notices of Motion: The Chief Executive and the Deputy Director of Legal and Property Services submitted a joint report on the competence and lawfulness of the motions which had been received.
(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.
In accordance with Rule of Procedure 20.1, Councillor P R C Smith moved suspension of Council procedure rules, to enable him to move a motion without notice, which was seconded.
On the motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried.
Councillor P R C Smith then moved the following procedural motion, which was seconded:
This Council refers motion 1 as set out above, submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley, to Cabinet and to report back to the next Council meeting.
On the procedural motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-
Resolved: This Council refers motion 1 as set out above, submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley, to Cabinet and to report back to the next Council meeting.
(Councillor P R Franzen requested that his vote against this decision be recorded).
During the debate, the Mayor moved the following procedural motion, which was seconded:
This Council agrees that Councillor P R Franzen be no longer heard for the remainder of the meeting in accordance with rule of procedure 18.3.
On the procedural motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was
Resolved: This Council agrees that Councillor P R Franzen is not heard further for the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Rule of Procedure 18.3.
(Councillor P R Franzen requested that his vote against this decision be recorded).
(Councillors G Davies and R T Splaine declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this motion because they were members of the Royal British Legion).
(2) Councillor M W Winstanley submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-
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.
Councillor Mrs A M L Bland supported by 10 Members, asked for a recorded vote to be taken, indicating the names for and against the motion or abstaining from voting.
For the Motion (16): Councillors Mrs J Beswick, Mrs A M L Bland, R Bleakley, H L Cadman, W Carney, R Clayton, Mrs D Fairhurst, G W Fairhurst, G A Fairhurst, J D Hodgkinson, K McManus, B Merry, R T Splaine, N R Whittingham, W J Wilkes and M W Winstanley.
Against the Motion: (38): The Mayor (Councillor J D O’Brien), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor R Winkworth), Councillors K Aldred, M Aldred, K Anderson, J B Baldwin, Mrs A Bennett, Mrs J S Birch, Mrs B Bourne, B Bowen, N Bradbury, G D Bretherton, Dr C Cottam, Mrs P Cullen, K Cunliffe, G Davies, M A Dewhurst, J Eccles-Churton, T W Halliwell, P L Holland, Mrs J Hurst, M Klieve, Mrs S Loudon, D T Molyneux, J O’Neill, Mrs J Prescott, P Prescott, C Ready, A Robinson, W Rotherham, Mrs E Smethurst, P R C Smith, C Sweeney, J Talbot, Mrs A Turnock, F B Walker, Mrs M J Whiteside and B M Wilson.
Abstention (1): Councillor J Haley.
On the motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it lost.
(Councillors M Aldred and Mrs A Bennett declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because they are Members of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority appointed by the Council).
(3) Councillor M Klieve withdrew the motion, notice of which he had given and referred to on the supplementary Council Summons dated 22 February 2008.
(4) Councillor F B Walker submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-
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.
On the motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was
Resolved: 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) 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.
Councillor P R C Smith moved the following procedural motion, which was seconded:
This Council refers motion 5 as set out above, submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley, to Cabinet and to report back to the next Council meeting.
On the procedural motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-
Resolved: This Council refers motion 5 as set out above, submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley, to Cabinet and to report back to the next Council meeting.
(The Mayor declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this motion because his son is a police officer).
(6) Councillor M W Winstanley submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-
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.
In accordance with Rule of Procedure 11.7, Councillor Winstanley then moved the following alteration to the motion, which was seconded:-
This Council resolves to use every available method in dealing with anti social behaviour and youth nuisance, and wholeheartedly endorses the use of mosquito devices in dealing with youth nuisance.
Councillor K Anderson supported by 10 Members, asked for a recorded vote to be taken, indicating the names for and against the altered motion or abstaining from voting.
For the Motion (54): The Mayor (Councillor J D O’Brien), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor R Winkworth), Councillors K Aldred, M Aldred, K Anderson, J B Baldwin, Mrs A Bennett, Mrs J S Birch, Mrs A M L Bland, R Bleakley, Mrs B Bourne, B Bowen, N Bradbury, G D Bretherton, H L Cadman, W Carney, R Clayton, Dr C Cottam, Mrs P Cullen, K Cunliffe, G Davies, M A Dewhurst, J Eccles-Churton, Mrs D Fairhurst, G W Fairhurst, G A Fairhurst, J Haley, T W Halliwell, J D Hodgkinson, P L Holland, Mrs J Hurst, M Klieve, Mrs S Loudon, K McManus, B Merry, D T Molyneux, J O’Neill, Mrs J Prescott, P Prescott, C Ready, A Robinson, W Rotherham, Mrs E Smethurst, P R C Smith, R T Splaine, C Sweeney, J Talbot, Mrs A Turnock, F B Walker, Mrs M J Whiteside N R Whittingham, W J Wilkes, B M Wilson and M W Winstanley.
Against the Motion: (1): Councillor Mrs J Beswick.
On the altered motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-
Resolved: This Council resolves to use every available method in dealing with anti social behaviour and youth nuisance, and wholeheartedly endorses the use of mosquito devices in dealing with youth nuisance.
