To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 19 February 2020 for signature by the Mayor as Chair of the Council.

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 19 February 2020, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To note that the Chief Executive approved, under delegated authority, the appointment of Councillor Newgrosh as a replacement for Councillor Minnis on Standards Committee, with effect from 28 February 2020.

RESOLVED: That the Council notes the following membership change to Standards Committee and the reported change to the Council’s Outside Bodies appointments, both agreed by the Chief Executive under delegated authority:

(a)    Standards Committee

        Councillor Newgrosh was appointed as a replacement for Councillor Minnis on Standards Committee, with effect from 28 February 2020.

(b)    Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel

        Councillor Andrew Western nominated as a substitute member of the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Panel for the remainder of the 2019/20 municipal year, to be appointed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council, Members of the Executive, Chairs of Scrutiny Committees and the Head of Paid Service.

(a)        Councillor Jane Baugh

The Mayor referred with sadness to the recent death of former Mayor and serving Councillor, Jane Baugh and recalled her dedication to the Sale community as a whole and the Broadheath and Priory wards she had represented. Councillor Baugh represented the Broadheath ward from 1990-2004 and the Priory ward from 2004 onwards and had served as the Borough’s Mayor in 2011/12. The Mayor also remarked upon Jane’s successes as an Executive Member and her particular passions for the Waterside Arts Centre, Music and Children’s Services.

The Leader of the Council, having known Jane all his life as a friend, mentor and work colleague, above all considered her a shining example of what public service was about and that her role went far beyond that of a ward Councillor. After her long career in the National Health Service, the Leader remembered Jane as a remarkably talented politician who had encouraged so many Members on the Council. Jane was a brilliant public speaker who was absolutely committed, especially in her desire to see young people do well and enjoy their lives and also her passion for arts and culture particularly shone through. Without fail, Jane encouraged and supported everyone and wished them to fulfil their potential and would be enormously missed by all in the Chamber and the residents of Trafford.

The Group Leaders all conveyed their condolences and recognised Jane’s enormous and outstanding contribution to the Borough. Echoing her commitment to the community and her support for fellow Councillors, Jane, having touched so many, would be remembered as being inspiring, friendly and welcoming by all.

The Council expressed its sincere condolences to Jane’s husband Peter and family and as a mark of respect, stood in silence to pay tribute to a colleague, one of the giants of Trafford Council.

(b)    Coronavirus Pandemic

The Leader of the Council took the opportunity to thank all residents for their efforts in their communities during the current health crisis and indicated that the Council was working as quickly as possible to embed the support available to residents both looking to help and in need of help and support.  As everyone was aware, the impact the virus would have on services was an incredibly wide-ranging and unprecedented, however, the Council would do its upmost to support its residents and businesses.

Placing on record his appreciation of the Group Leaders who had committed to working on a cross-party basis, the Leader conveyed an enormous thank you to the Council’s staff for their astonishing response so far and the way they would respond in the weeks and months ahead. On behalf of the Council he wished to reassure every one of the Council’s absolute support.

The Mayor echoed the Leader of the Council’s comments and praising the Council’s fantastic staff, asserted that the issue rose above politics. All would await guidance to enable the best co-ordination of the Council’s communities.

This is an opportunity for Members of Council to ask the Mayor, Members of the Executive or the Chairs of any Committee or Sub-Committee a question on notice under Procedure Rule 10.2.

The Mayor reported that 7 questions had been received under Procedure Rule 10.2 and that written responses would be conveyed to Members outside of the meeting.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of People, further to a referral from Employment Committee held on 2 March 2020.

The Council received a report of the Corporate Director of People providing information relating to Trafford’s Pay Policy for 2020/21, in line with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011, and advising of the recommendation from Employment Committee at its meeting held on 2 March 2020 (Minute No. 23 refers).

The recommendation was moved, seconded and put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and the 2020/21 Pay Policy Statement, as set out in appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of People, further to a referral from Employment Committee held on 2 March 2020.

The Corporate Director of People submitted a report detailing a proposal agreed by Employment Committee on 2 March 2020 (Minute No. 28 refers) to pay a market supplement to the Director of Development post given recent recruitment difficulties.

The recommendation was moved, seconded and put to the vote and was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED: That the Council approves a payment of a salary of £105,000 per annum in relation to the post of Director of Development (to be appointed at Director grade SM3A with a market supplement).

To consider a report of the Corporate Director of Governance and Community Strategy.

The Corporate Director of Governance and Community Strategy submitted a report setting out a provisional timetable of Council and Committee meetings for the 2020/21 municipal year.

The Corporate Director of Governance and Community Strategy as Monitoring Officer also requested the Council to consider an associated report recommending new emergency provisions to the Council’s Constitution to enable the Council to operate more flexibly and expediently in light of the unprecedented circumstances presented by the current Coronavirus Pandemic.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That the provisional timetable of Council and Committee meetings for the 2020/21 municipal year, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved and recommended to the Annual Meeting of the Council on 27 May 2020. 

(2)        That the Council approves the addition of new emergency provisions to the Council’s Constitution as detailed in the associated report entitled “Proposed Emergency Amendments to the Council’s Constitution”.

To consider the following motions submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 11:

RESOLVED: That the three Motions submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 1, regarding Domestic Violence; UK Cities, Towns and Districts Standing Up for Responsible Tax Conduct; 20 mph Zones; and Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, be deferred to a future meeting of the Council.