Present at the meeting:
- The Mayor (Councillor J D O’Brien)
- The Deputy Mayor (Councillor R Winkworth)
- Councillor K Aldred
- Councillor M Aldred
- Councillor K Anderson
- Councillor N D Ash
- Councillor J B Baldwin
- Councillor S C Barnes
- Councillor Mrs A Bennett
- Councillor Mrs J S Birch
- Councillor A M L Bland
- 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 R J Derricutt
- 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 J Haley
- Councillor T W Halliwell
- Councillor J Hilton
- 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 B Merry
- Councillor D T Molyneux
- Councillor J Moodie
- Councillor J A O’Neill
- Councillor Mrs J M Peet
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor P Prescott
- Councillor C Ready
- Councillor C Rigby
- 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 P Thompson
- Councillor Mrs A Turnock
- Councillor P A Tushingham
- Councillor F B Walker
- Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
- Councillor N R Whittingham
- Councillor G Wilkes
- Councillor W J Wilkes
- Councillor B M Wilson
- Councillor M W Winstanley
96 Apologies for Absence: Councillors Mrs J Beswick, R M Bleakley, M A Dewhurst, Mrs S Dewhurst, I A Franzen, P R Franzen, Mrs B Jarvis, K W McManus and J Miller.
97 Minutes: The minutes of the two meetings of the Council held on 27 February 2008 and the meeting of the Council held on 5 March 2008 were approved as correct records and signed by the Mayor.
98 Mayor’s Communications: (a)(i) Death of Councillor Michael Baines: The Mayor referred with deep regret to the death on 17 April 2008 of Councillor Michael Baines.
Michael Baines was elected to the Wigan West Ward of Wigan Council in May 2007. During that time he has served on the Licensing and Regulation Committees and the Community Protection Panel. He was a Board Member of Wigan and Leigh Housing from 2003 until 2007.
The Mayor advised Members that the funeral would take place on Thursday, 24 April 2008 at Twelve Apostles R C Church, Nel Pan Lane, Leigh at 1.30 p.m. followed by burial at Leigh Cemetery. Donations in memory of Councillor Baines would be forwarded to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal.
Councillor Baines leaves a wife Irene and three sons, David, Stephen and Martin.
The family wished to thank everyone for the cards and messages of condolence.
The Mayor extended the Council’s deepest sympathy to the family of Councillor Michael Baines.
(a)(ii) Death of Michael Todd: The Mayor referred with deep regret to the death on Tuesday, 11 March 2008 of the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Michael Todd.
Chief Constable Todd had had a long and distinguished career in various forces and had contributed greatly to the fight against crime and terrorism and was described as a "decent and committed policeman."
Chief Constable Todd leaves a wife, Carolyn and three children, a daughter and twin sons. A memorial service was held in Manchester on 11 April 2008.
The Mayor extended the Council’s deepest sympathy to the family of Chief Constable Michael Todd.
Members of the Council expressed their condolences in respect of the deaths of Councillor Michael Baines and Chief Constable Michael Todd. All present stood for a few moments in silence as a mark of respect.
(b) Members of the Council not seeking re-election in the forthcoming Municipal Elections: The Mayor and other Members of the Council paid tribute to the services of those Councillors who would not be seeking re-election at the forthcoming municipal elections on 1 May 2008.
Those retiring Members present responded accordingly.
Resolved: The Council places on record its appreciation of the services rendered by Councillors Mrs A Bennett, Mrs B Jarvis, J A O’Neill and A Robinson for their contribution to the Council during their periods of office, for their courtesy to fellow Councillors and wishes them all the best for the future.
(c) Mayoral charity update: The Mayor advised that the total amount raised for the Mayor’s charity to date was £52,298.00, with some money outstanding.
(d) Announcement by the Cabinet Member for the Environment (Councillor D T Molyneux) – Member of the Executive: Councillor D T Molyneux (Cabinet Member for the Environment made a statement about the collection of bulky waste and confirmed that a second trial service would be introduced in the Atherton and Tyldesley Township from 2 June until 31 August 2008.
99 Outstanding business from last Council meeting – Notices of motion: Further to minute 90, the Executive Leader informed the Council that Cabinet at minute 324 had deferred the issues raised in the motion about the armed forces submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley to a future meeting pending the receipt of further information from the Minister for the Armed Forces.
With regard to the motion about police pay also submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley, the Executive Leader stated that although Cabinet had sympathy with the issues surrounding police pay, this was not a direct issue involving the Council. Cabinet was of the opinion that this would not have a negative impact on police morale and the effect on the services provided in the Borough.
Resolved: The Council notes the decisions of Cabinet as now reported by the Executive Leader.
100 Policy and budget framework issues: (a) Determination of admission arrangements 2009-2010: community and voluntary-controlled schools: The Council considered a report on the Local Authority’s consultation on admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools and nurseries for 2009/10.
Resolved: The Council adopts the admission arrangements for 2009/10 as part of the Council’s policy framework.
(b) Further issues (if any): There were no further issues.
101 Constitutional issues: (a) Changes in membership/appointment of Members to Committees/Panels (if any): There were none.
(b) 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 which 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.
(c) Appointment to outside bodies: The Council considered a report dealing with the appointment of representatives to the vacancies on outside bodies. The report set out details of the nominations which had been received in respect of the vacancies.
Further nominations had been received since the report had been prepared and details were provided to the Council.
Resolved: The Council makes the following appointments to the undermentioned outside bodies for the periods specified:-
| Outside Body |
Representative(s) |
| Linen and Woollen Stock Charity |
Mr David McKendrick – to be appointed for a three year term until 31 May 2011. |
| Duckinfield Charity |
Councillor A Robinson - to be appointed for a three year term until October 2011.
Mr T Isherwood – to be appointed for a three year term until October 2011. |
| Mather Eleemosynary Charity |
Councillor A Robinson - to be appointed for a three year term until October 2011.
Mr T Isherwood – to be appointed for a three year term until October 2011.
Councillor J Talbot– to be appointed for a three year term until October 2011.
Mr J Topping – to be appointed for a three year term until October 2011. |
| Eckersley Charity |
Mr T Isherwood – to be appointed for a four year term until October 2012.
Councillor J Talbot– to be appointed for a four year term until October 2012. |
(Councillor G W Fairhurst requested that his vote against the appointments to the Mather Eleemosynary Charity be recorded).
(d) Further issues (if any): There were no further issues.
102 Review of polling districts and polling places: Further to Cabinet minute 364, the Council considered a report on alternative locations for the polling places identified as necessary during the recent review of polling arrangements.
Resolved: The Council agrees 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 district WAA (Shevington with Langtree) in place of portable polling station, car park Hesketh Arms, Shevington Moor.
103 State of the area report: The Executive Leader (Councillor P R C Smith) reported on the activities undertaken in the Borough during the current Municipal Year and on the proposals for initiatives and schemes to be undertaken in 2008/09 Municipal Year.
Resolved: The Council accepts the report.
104 Questions and Comments under rule 8(1)(b) in relation to the deliberations of the Cabinet, Committees and Panels:
Councillor J D Hodgkinson asked questions on minute 309 of the meeting of Cabinet (Wigan Pier Quarter – arts and heritage centre and Linacre theatre) of 21 February 2008.
Councillor J D Hodgkinson asked questions on minute 331 of the meeting of Cabinet (Mesnes Park restoration project – phase two) of 13 March 2008.
Councillor G Wilkes asked a question on minute 340 of the meeting of Cabinet (Changes to the dog warden service) of 13 March 2008.
Councillor C Ready made a comment on minute 347 of the meeting of Cabinet (Partnership and communities together (PACT)) of 27 March 2008.
Councillor B M Wilson made a comment on minute 352 of the meeting of Cabinet (Childcare sufficiency assessment) of 27 March 2008.
ouncillor G Wilkes asked a question on minute 353 of the meeting of Cabinet (Transport DSO vehicle replacement programme 2008/09) of 27 March 2008.
Councillor Mrs S Loudon made a comment on minute 362 of the meeting of Cabinet (Market Place, Atherton conservation area) of 10 April 2008.
Councillor J Hilton made comment on minute 363 of the meeting of Cabinet (Haigh village conservation area appraisal) of 10 April 2008.
Councillor G Wilkes asked a question on minute 365 of the meeting of Cabinet (Update on affordable housing) of 10 April 2008.
The Executive Leader (Councillor P R C Smith) responded to the above mentioned questions and/or comments.
Councillor Mrs S Loudon made a comment on minute 54 of the meeting of the Environment Panel (Wigan Borough in Bloom) of 19 March 2008.
The Cabinet Champion for the Environment responded to this comment.
105 Questions (if any) under Rules 8 (1)(a) and (c): There were none.
106 Notices of motion: The Chief Executive and the Service Director, Borough Solicitor submitted a joint report on the competence and lawfulness of the motions which had been received.
In accordance with rule of procedure 20.1, Councillor G Wilkes moved the following procedural motion, which was seconded:
The Council suspends the rules of procedure relating to motions (9.1) to allow his motion and subsequent amendment that was received after the closing time to be considered.
On the procedural motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it lost.
(1) Councillor M Klieve submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-
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.
During the debate, the Executive Leader (Councillor P R C Smith) moved the following procedural motion, which was seconded:
The Council suspends the rules of procedure relating to the duration of the meeting (4.2) to allow motion 1 to be fully debated.
On the procedural motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-
Resolved: The Council suspends the rules of procedure relating to the duration of the meeting (4.2) to allow motion 1 to be fully debated.
On the original motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-
Resolved: 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.
(Councillors Mrs A M L Bland, W Carney, B J Fagan, Ms L E Fagan, Mrs D Fairhurst, G A Fairhurst, G W Fairhurst, J D Hodgkinson, E N Houlton, J Haley, B Merry, Mrs J M Peet, R T Splaine, G Wilkes and W J Wilkes requested that their votes against this decision be recorded).
The Mayor hereby declared that during discussion of the above motion, the meeting had lasted for three hours and that all the remaining business should now be put to the vote.
(2) Councillor C Ready submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-
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 and 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.
On the motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-
Resolved: The Council agrees that recent behaviour in the Council Chamber is totally unacceptable with no respect shown to the office of the Mayor and 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) Councillor G W Fairhurst submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-
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.
On the motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it lost.
(4) Councillor M W Winstanley submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-
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.
The following amendment was moved by Councillor P R C Smith, which was seconded, to which the mover of the motion agreed:-
This Council calls upon all Agencies 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.
On the amended motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-
Resolved: This Council calls upon all Agencies 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.
