Council - Wednesday 10 March 2010

Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 10 March 2010

Present at the meeting:

The Mayor (Councillor M Aldred)
Councillor Mrs K Aldred
Councillor K Anderson
Councillor N D Ash
Councillor J B Baldwin
Councillor S C Barnes
Councillor Mrs J Beswick,
Councillor AML Bland
Councillor B Bowen
Councillor N A Bradbury
Councillor G M Bretherton
Councillor R Brierley
Councillor W Carney
Councillor R Clayton
Councillor Mrs P Cullen
Councillor K Cunliffe
Councillor S Dawber
Councillor M A Dewhurst
Councillor Mrs S Dewhurst
Councillor J Eccles-Churton
Councillor S Ell
Councillor B J Fagan
Councillor Ms L E Fagan
Councillor G A Fairhurst
Councillor G W Fairhurst
Councillor Mrs S J Greensmith
Councillor J N Grundy
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 Y Klieve
Councillor Mrs S Loudon
Councillor B Merry
Councillor J Miller
Councillor D T Molyneux
Councillor J Moodie
Councillor J D O’Brien
Councillor Mrs J M Peet
Councillor Mrs J Prescott
Councillor P Prescott
Councillor C Ready
Councillor C Rigby
Councillor W Rotherham
Councillor E Russon
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 F B Walker
Councillor Mrs M J Whiteside
Councillor N R Whittingham
Councillor G Wilkes
Councillor W J Wilkes
Councillor R Winkworth
Councillor M W Winstanley

63 Apologies for Absence: Councillors Ms J Atherton, J S Birch, R M Bleakley Mrs B Bourne, H L Cadman (Deputy Mayor), Dr C M Cottam, R J Derricutt, J Ellis, Mrs D Fairhurst, P A Liptrot, K W McManus and P A Tushingham.

64 Illness of Deputy Mayor (Councillor H L Cadman): The Mayor informed Members of the illness of the Deputy Mayor, Councillor H L Cadman and sent him best wishes on behalf of the Council for a speedy and complete recovery to health.

64 Minutes: The minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 13 January 2010 were approved as a correct record, subject to the names of Councillors N A Bradbury and R T Splaine being recorded against the amendment put forward by Councillor Mrs S Loudon in relation to motion (6) concerning Hesketh Fletcher High School.

65 Mayor’s Communications: (a) Mayor’s charity update: The Mayor advised the Council on recent Mayoral events and thanked everyone who had supported and who continued to support his charity which had currently raised in the region of £22,444.05.

(b) Announcement by the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, Councillor Mrs S Loudon – Reduction in the number of Children not in education, employment and/or training: The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, Councillor Mrs S Loudon, on behalf of this Council, placed on record her appreciation to the work of the Children and Young Peoples Services Department and other stakeholders involved in reducing the number of Children in the borough who were not in education, employment or training.

66 Outstanding business from last Council meeting: There was no business.

67 Policy and budget framework issues - (a) Housing Allocation Policy: The Council considered a report of the Interim Executive Director of Environmental Services on the revised policy for the allocation of social rented housing in the borough.

Councillor J D Hodgkinson asked the following question on this item

Section 3.5 of the report states 5% of all available properties, except those in very short supply such as 4-bedroom houses and bungalows, be advertised through Pinpoint, the Greater Manchester sub-region choice-based letting service, to enable mobility across the local authority boundaries.

Does this mean these applicants from other areas in Greater Manchester with higher bands rates will take precedent over a Wigan Council resident with a lower band rate?

Resolved: The Council agrees the Housing Allocations Policy as part of the budget and policy framework.

(Councillors J B Baldwin, F B Walker, Mrs M J Whiteside and M W Winstanley declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as they are Board Member of Wigan and Leigh Homes appointed to by the Council. Councillor Ms P L Holland declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as her partner’s father is Chairman of Wigan and Leigh Homes Board.)

(b) Implications of change of status of Schools (minute 164 of Cabinet refers): The Council considered a joint report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services, David Smith, and the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services Nick Hudson, on the consequences for the Council of schools’ governing bodies deciding to change the status of the school to foundation status and to put in place arrangements to facilitate such changes

Councillor J D Hodgkinson asked the following question on this item

Is it now the intention or desire of this Council to encourage schools to apply for a change in status of the school to foundation status? If so, what does this mean for the future for Wigan's educational management?

The decision to designate the non teaching staff as eligible for membership of the LGPS is a function reserved to full Council. So why is it not practical to report this to full Council and let us decide?

I do not think this authority should delegated to the Executive Director Business Support Services to make such designations so that the transfer of staff can take place without and concerns as to the security of the non teaching staff pensions.

Resolved: The Council:-

notes the implications for the Council of a school governing body changing the school status to foundation; and
delegates to the Executive Director Business Support Services authority to approve all necessary steps to facilitate a school changing its status to a Trust School where the Council does not object to the proposals.

(c) Further issues (if any): There were no further issues.

68 Constitutional issues: (a) Changes in membership/appointment of Members to Committees – Audit Governance and Improvement Review Committee Independent Members: The Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services, which advised that the terms of office of the independent members of the Audit Governance and Improvement Review Committee had expired. The Council was requested to approve a further three year term of office for the independent members.

Resolved: The Council approves a further three year term of office for Mr P Connor, Mr W Anderston and Mr T Addison the independent members of the Audit Governance and Improvement Review Committee commencing on the expiration of the existing term of office.

(b) Appointment of local authority representative governors: The Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services, 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:-

appoints the Governors nominated, as set out in the report, in accordance with the Local Authority Governor guidance; and
authorises the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services to advise the Local Authority representative governors of their terms of office as set out in the report.

(Councillor J Miller declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is School Governor at Golborne and Lowton Junior and Infants School. Councillor M Klieve declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is a school governor at Golborne High School.)

(c) Appointments to outside bodies: The Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Business Support Services which dealt with the appointments to outside bodies.

Resolved: The Council:-

approves the re-appointment of Mr J Seddon and Mr D Boardman as Nominated Trustees to Leigh Educational Endowment for a five year term from September 2009;
agrees that the Service Director – Borough Solicitor and the Service Director – Corporate Services be appointed as alternate Directors to the Local Education Partnership company where one of the two can attend meetings when the nominated Director is unable to attend.

(d) Single Commissioning Agency formal arrangements approval: The Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Health and Wellbeing, which sought approval for the governance and financial arrangements to create a single commissioning approach to health, care and support services.

Resolved: The Council:-

approves the recommended Single Commissioning Agency governance and funding proposals including the entry of an Agreement with Ashton Leigh and Wigan NHS Trust under S.75 of the National Health Services Act 2006 upon the terms indicated and authorises the Service Director Borough Solicitor in consultation with the Executive Director of Health and Well being and the Service Director Corporate Services to determine the detailed terms of that Agreement; and
approves the delegations to the Single Commissioning Agency Board as detailed in Paragraph 6.3 of the report

(e) City Region Governance: The Council considered a joint report of the Chief Executive, Joyce Redfearn and the Service Director – Borough Solicitor, Kevin Lawson, which detailed the outcome of a consultation paper issued by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) as part of a review of governance arrangements in Greater Manchester.

Resolved: The Council:-

notes the outcome of the review of City Region governance arrangements including the results of the consultation exercise and the business case prepared by KPMG;
agrees that the establishment of a Combined Authority in Greater Manchester would be likely to improve the exercise of statutory functions relating to economic development, regeneration and transport in the area, the effectiveness and efficiency of transport in the area and economic conditions in the area for the reasons set out in the review document;
endorses the Final Scheme as agreed by the AGMA Executive Board on 26 February and agrees to publish the scheme pursuant to Section 109(2) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;
consents to the inclusion of Wigan in the area of the Combined Authority;
authorises the Chief Executive to submit the scheme to the Secretaries of State for Communities and Local Government and Transport;
agrees that a formal agreement be completed in terms of a draft side agreement as tabled at the AGMA Executive Board meeting which supplements paragraph 46 of the scheme relating to the support given by other authorities to an individual authority wishing to withdraw from the Combined Authority;
approves the proposals contained in paragraph 66 of the review report for a review of scrutiny arrangements and support as endorsed by the AGMA Scrutiny Pool; and
endorses the commitment given by the AGMA Executive Board regarding the future role of the Joint Committee as set out in the Final Scheme and note that, to this end, a draft scheme of delegation of powers by the Combined Authority to the Joint Committee will be brought forward for approval by the Executive Board and Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority no later than June 2010.

(The Mayor (Councillor M Aldred) and Councillor Ms P L Holland declared a personal and non prejudicial interest this item as they are Board Members of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority appointed to by the Council.)

(f) Quarterly monitoring of urgent items: The Council was advised that the following urgent item was taken to Cabinet under rule 16 of the access to information rules of the constitution during the period 30 September to 31 December 2009

Saddle Junction Relief Road update (minute 132 of Cabinet refers)

Resolved: The Council notes the report.

(g) Further issues: There were none.

69 Questions and comments under rule 8(1)(b) in relation to the deliberation of the Cabinet, Committees and Joint Authorities:

Councillor J Talbot asked the following question on minute 171 of the meeting of Cabinet (Unannounced inspection of Children’s Social Services) on 21 January 2010.

I call upon the Executive Leader to comment on the recent unannounced inspection of Children’s Social Services.

The Executive Leader (Councillor P R C Smith) responded to the question.

Councillor P Prescott asked the following question on minute 84 of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee (Local Life Centre Township Network 2010/11) on 8 February 2010.

I call upon the Cabinet Champion for Improvement to comment on the opening of the Marsh Green Local Life Centre earlier this year.

The Cabinet Champion for Improvement (Councillor C Ready) responded to the question.

70 Questions (if any) under Rules 8(1)(a): There were none.

71 Notices of motion: The Chief Executive and Service Director – Borough Solicitor submitted a joint report on the competence and lawfulness of the motions which had been received.

(1) Councillor P Prescott submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-

This Council recognises and congratulates Wigan Trading Standards on its Pioneering “Good Trader” scheme. The scheme which was launched 12 months ago with the aim of providing a list of reliable and honest traders that can be used by citizens of the Borough to ensure that they get the right person for the job.

Since the launch of this Council scheme more than 600 people have used the service and it now has more than 100 local business taking part. This Council will always endeavour to encourage schemes such as the Good Traders scheme which are mutually beneficial to its Citizens and Local businesses.

On the motion being put to the vote the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-

Resolved: This Council recognises and congratulates Wigan Trading Standards on its Pioneering “Good Trader” scheme . The scheme which was launched 12 months ago with the aim of providing a list of reliable and honest traders that can be used by citizens of the Borough to ensure that they get the right person for the job.

(2) Councillor C Ready submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-

This Council congratulates Aspull, New Springs and Whelley Forum on reaching over a decade of work in the community and offers special thanks to founder members Ron Conway (Chairman) and Keith Burns (President).

On the motion being put to the vote the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-

Resolved: This Council congratulates Aspull, New Springs and Whelley Forum on reaching over a decade of work in the community and offers special thanks to founder members Ron Conway (Chairman) and Keith Burns (President).

(3) Councillor M W Winstanley submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-

In light of the imminent General Election this Council urges the Chief Executive to make an announcement and clarify the position of the declaration of the result and the timing of the Count for the said Election in Wigan. In addition also urges the Chief Executive to ensure that the Counts for the three Parliamentary Constituencies of Wigan, Makerfield and Leigh are commenced, concluded and results declared as soon as possible following the close of Poll at 10 pm on General Election day.

Councillor G W Fairhurst moved the following amendment, which was seconded:-

This Council urges the Chief Executive to ensure that the Counts for the three Parliamentary Constituencies of Wigan, Makerfield and Leigh are commenced, concluded and results declared as soon as possible following the close of Poll at 10 pm on General Election day and that the Count of the Local Elections are commenced, concluded and results declared as soon as possible following the close of Poll at 10 pm on Local Election day.

On the amendment being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it lost.

On the original motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-

Resolved: In light of the imminent General Election this Council urges the Chief Executive to make an announcement and clarify the position of the declaration of the result and the timing of the Count for the said Election in Wigan. In addition also urges the Chief Executive to ensure that the Counts for the three Parliamentary Constituencies of Wigan, Makerfield and Leigh are commenced, concluded and results declared as soon as possible following the close of Poll at 10 pm on General Election day.

(4) Councillor P R C Smith submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-

This Council welcomes the reduction in crime of 11.2% year on year as evidence of the success in the partnership between Greater Manchester Police and AGMA which has increased the number of police on the streets.

On the motion being put to the vote the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-

Resolved: This Council welcomes the reduction in crime of 11.2% year on year as evidence of the success in the partnership between Greater Manchester Police and AGMA which has increased the number of police on the streets.

(5) Councillor P R C Smith submitted the following motion, which was seconded:-

This Council welcomes the building of over 100 new Council houses with funding for the Labour Government as help for those who need affordable homes.

Councillor G Wilkes moved the following amendment, which was seconded:-

This Council accepts the need to engage in a mass building programme to address not only the Boroughs’ need for more Council properties but the Country.

The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive will write a letter to the Government at their earliest convenience after the General Election this year, to express this Councils support for more Council properties.

On the amendment being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it lost.

In accordance with Rule of Procedure 11(c) Councillor G Wilkes moved the following procedural motion, which was seconded:-

That the question on this motion be now put.

On the procedural motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it lost.

On the original motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-

Resolved: This Council welcomes the building of over 100 new Council houses with funding for the Labour Government as help for those who need affordable homes.

(Councillor G W Fairhurst declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item due to his employment as a mortgage consultant.)

In accordance with Rule of Procedure 10(m) Councillor G Wilkes requested that the guillotine be suspended in order to debate the remaining motions on the Council agenda. The Mayor declined this request.

In accordance with Rule of Procedure 10(m), the Executive Leader requested that the guillotine be suspended so that he may respond to the above motion. The Mayor agreed to this request.

At this point the guillotine was reached and the Mayor called for a vote on the following items without further debate in accordance with rules of procedure 4.2 and 4.3 of the Constitution. The motions were then considered in the order of the Council Summons.

(6) This motion was declared not competent for debate.

(7) Councillor G Wilkes withdrew the following motion which would now be considered at the next Council meeting to be held on 28 April 2010:-

In view of the financial constraints placed on the Council, Councillors acknowledge the need to reduce costs.

As from the start of the new tax year, April 2010, this Council will no longer provide hot meals currently provided for Councillors six or more who attend meetings.

This Council will replace the current arrangement with a hot drink and a Sandwich, ordered at least 24 hours before any such meetings.

This arrangement will be reviewed annually by the Councillors service group.

(8) Councillor G Wilkes withdrew the following motion which would now be considered at the next Council meeting to be held on 28 April 2010:-

In view of the planned expenditure for Capital Projects recently discussed at the Joint Cabinet and Overview Scrutiny meeting, this Council views the planned expense for a replacement Mayoral vehicle as a waste of tax payers money.

In view of this Scrutiny, this Council will not be spending £27,000 on a replacement Mayoral vehicle, it will instead, postpone this project until the Council is in a much better financial position than it is at present.

(9) Councillor Mrs J M Peet submitted the following motion, which was deemed to be seconded:-

This Council congratulates the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and Wigan Council on obtaining Lottery Funding to enable the complete restoration of the Museum of Wigan Life, formally the History Shop and Wigan Central Library and the first Wigan Grammar School. This will ensure that not only will one of Wigan's finest buildings be restored to its former glory but it will ensure that Wigan children are aware of their heritage.

On the motion being put to the vote the Mayor declared it carried and it was:-

Resolved: This Council congratulates the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and Wigan Council on obtaining Lottery Funding to enable the complete restoration of the Museum of Wigan Life, formally the History Shop and Wigan Central Library and the first Wigan Grammar School. This will ensure that not only will one of Wigan's finest buildings be restored to its former glory but it will ensure that Wigan children are aware of their heritage.

(Councillor J B Baldwin declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this motion as he is Board Member of Wigan Leisure Culture Trust appointed to by the Council.)

(10) Councillor B J Fagan withdrew the following motion which would now be considered at the next Council meeting to be held on 28 April 2010:-

This council calls for action regarding the need to find savings and prevent Council Tax increases for those many hard working families who are struggling to pay their bills during this recession.

We call for a reduction of 50% in councillors allowances right across the board and a 10% salary cut for council employees earning over £50,000 per year. This will show that councillors and senior councillor officers are prepared to lead by example and start by finding savings out of their own income at this difficult time for the economy.

(11) Councillor B J Fagan withdrew the following motion which would now be considered at the next Council meeting to be held on 28 April 2010:-

This Council calls for more adequate rock salt supplies to be stored and sufficient gritting vehicles to be kept as this year the response to the snow has been a disaster with schools closing, people unable to get to work and the elderly being trapped in their homes because the pavements were lethally slippy due to not being treated with rock salt.

This Council calls for more grit boxes to be located throughout the borough so they are accessible for local people during bad weather. Due to the long periods of untreated icy roads and pavements we are now experiencing high numbers of pot holes and roads breaking up like on Crossdale Road in Hindley Green where the road is crumbling and cannot be repaired until money is available in next financial year.

This is happening on many roads in the borough. Prevention is better and less expensive than having to pay for repairs.

(12) Councillor J N Grundy submitted the following motion, which was deemed to be seconded:-

This Council recognises the concerns of the service users of Lowton Civic Hall with regards to the proposal to replace the Civic Hall as part of the BSF scheme for Lowton & Golborne. Consequentially, this council commits to ensuring that the replacement for Lowton Civic Hall is of an equal or superior standard than the current facilities, able to sustain all current uses the current facilities are able to sustain, and that the replacement facilities will not merely be a school hall, but a fully functioning theatre and community facility.

On the motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it lost.

(Councillor M Klieve declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in thi item as he is a School Governor at Golborne High School,)

(13) Councillor J N Grundy submitted the following motion, which was deemed to be seconded:-

This Council recognises the concerns of the residents of Lowton regarding the access to the site of the proposed new school on the current site of Lowton Civic Hall, and the potential for rat-running on the Oaklands & Meadows estate should the scheme go ahead in its current form. Furthermore, this Council recognises that Hesketh Meadow Lane is inadequate for the purposes of access to the proposed site of the school, and that alternative access should be found for the proposed site.

On the motion being put to the vote, the Mayor declared it lost.

(Councillor M Klieve declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is a School Governor at Golborne High School,)

How do you rate the information on this page?

March 2010

Council - Wednesday 10 March 2010

Present at the meeting:

How do you rate the information on this page?

Print this page