Members to give notice of any interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

No declarations were made by Members of the Executive.

To receive and, if so determined, to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 30/10/17.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 30th October, 2017, be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters referred by the Council or by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Councillor M. Young, as Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, advised Members that that Committee would be meeting on 28^th November, 2017, to consider a called in decision in relation to a Pilot for Enhanced Littering and Alleyway Dumping Enforcement in Old Trafford and the Wider Stretford Locality.

            RESOLVED – That the update be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Highways, Parks and Environmental Services.

[Please note: The HIAMP document, owing to its size, is not being reproduced in hard copy; but is available on the Council’s website with this agenda.]

1. That the HIAMP 2017 be approved as the guiding plan for highway infrastructure asset management for which Trafford Council is responsible.

2. That the indicative five year highway maintenance programme be published for consultation.

The Executive Member for Highways, Parks and Environmental Services submitted a report which presented, and sought approval for, the Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HIAMP) 2017 and related documents. An opportunity was provided for Members to ask questions on the report’s content. These focussed on the cost and timescales associated with improving “red” category roads to amber or green, and the extent to which financial projections allowed for such factors as materials and pay inflation. It was agreed that the Executive Member would respond outside the meeting.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the HIAMP 2017 be approved as the guiding plan for highway infrastructure asset management for which Trafford Council is responsible.

(2)       That the indicative five year highway maintenance programme be published for consultation.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning.

1. That agreement be given to bring into force (i.e. “Make”) the ATCNBP (as set out at Appendix 2 to the report).

2. That the ATCNBP be submitted to Council for it to be adopted as part of the Development Plan for Trafford pursuant to the provisions of section 38 (A) (4) of the 2004 Act.

3. That this decision be deemed urgent, in order to allow timely referral to Council on 29/11/17, and thus not subject to call-in.

The Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning submitted a report which provided a summary of the outcome of the residential and business referendums which were held on 19^th October 2017, in relation to the Altrincham Town Centre Neighbourhood Business Plan (ATCNBP). It also sets out the steps which the Council needed to take in relation to the ATCNBP and the status that the ATCNBP would have following its adoption. In discussion it was noted that the Plan needed to be formally in force in order for the Council, at its meeting on 29^th November 2017, formally to consider adopting it; and it was thus agreed that the Executive’s decision should be deemed urgent and not subject to call-in.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That agreement be given to bring into force (i.e. “Make”) the ATCNBP (as set out at Appendix 2 to the report).

(2)       That the ATCNBP be submitted to Council for it to be adopted as part of the Development Plan for Trafford pursuant to the provisions of section 38 (A) (4) of the 2004 Act.

(3)       That this decision be deemed urgent, in order to allow timely referral to Council on 29/11/17, and thus not subject to call-in.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Corporate Services.

That the Executive recommend to Council the proposed changes to the Council Tax Support scheme for 18/19.

The Executive Member for Corporate Resources submitted a report which summarised the current Council Tax Support Scheme and the proposed changes which would ensure that Care Leavers, where a Council acts as the corporate parent, do not have to pay Council Tax up to their 25th birthday; that UC claimants’ start dates were aligned with CTS start dates; and that Company Directors would be treated in the same way as self-employed claimants to ensure a fair and consistent approach. The report also summarised the feedback from the consultation which has been undertaken on these changes. It was noted that the Executive’s recommendation would be forwarded to Council for decision.

RESOLVED - That the Executive recommend to Council the proposed changes to the Council Tax Support scheme for 18/19.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning.

The Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning submitted a report which set out the reasons behind proposals to introduce a borough-wide Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights for changes of use from dwellings (Use Class C3) to Houses in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4). It advised the Executive of the proposal and of the steps which would be required to be taken should authority to make the Article 4 Direction be approved by the Planning and Development Management Committee, including undertaking statutory consultation requirements. In discussion the Executive Member advised that the introduction of the Order was one element of a broader approach to dealing with potential issues arising from HMOs; and that other impacts would be considered via the Planning and Licensing processes, as appropriate.

RESOLVED – That it be noted that the Planning and Development Management Committee is to be asked to consider a Report containing the following recommendations:-

(i) To resolve that the making of a direction pursuant to Article 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 on a Boroughwide basis to withdraw the permitted development rights to convert a dwellinghouse (C3) to a House in Multiple Occupation (C4) is appropriate, and justified, in order to prevent harm to local amenity and the wellbeing of the Trafford area.

(ii) To approve the making of the Article 4(1) Direction for the Borough Boundary.

(iii) To delegate authority to the Director of Legal Services and the Director of Growth and Regulatory Services to make the Article 4(1) Direction for the Borough boundary and to carry out all necessary consultation following the making of the Direction, to notify the Secretary of State in accordance with statutory requirements and to take all other action considered necessary or expedient to give effect to the matters set out in this report.

(iv) To confirm that, the Boroughwide Article 4(1) Direction will be effective with immediate effect once made.

(v) To note that following public consultation a further report will be presented to the Committee reporting on the outcome of the consultation and recommending whether or not to confirm the Direction.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Corporate Services and Chief Finance Officer.

The Executive Member for Corporate Resources and the Chief Finance Officer submitted a report which informed Members of the current 2017/18 forecast outturn figures relating to both Revenue and Capital budgets. It also summarised the latest forecast position for Council Tax and Business Rates within the Collection Fund. An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions on the report’s content. These centred on the analysis of vacancies, restructures and underspends within Children’s Services and the allocation of additional Highways funding (on which responses would be provided outside the meeting), and on measures to support Dedicated Schools Grant expenditure.

            RESOLVED –

(1)       That the forecast revenue budget underspend of £941k be noted.

(2)       That the one-off receipt relating to the 2016/17 Business Rate Growth Pilot of £1.3m be noted, which will be transferred to a new earmarked reserve to mitigate future business rates related risks.

(3)       That the changes to the Capital Programme as detailed in paragraph 17 of the report, be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Corporate Resources and Corporate Director, Transformation and Resources.

The Executive Member for Corporate Resources submitted a report which provided a summary of performance against the Council’s Annual Delivery Plan, 2017/18, covering the period 1^st July to 30^th September 2017. An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions on the report’s content. These centred on delayed transfers of care and strategies to mitigate providers’ business continuity issues, and sickness absence levels and the extent they would be addressed as part of the ongoing CFW review; further detail of these issues would be provided outside the meeting.

RESOLVED – That the content of the Annual Delivery Plan Second Quarter Performance Report be noted.

To receive and note the following:

The Executive received for information details of forthcoming GMCA Key Decisions published on 31^st October, 2017, and of GMCA and AGMA decisions taken on 27^th October, 2017.

            RESOLVED – That the content of the decision summaries be noted.