To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 23 January 2013 for signature by the Mayor as Chairman.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 23 January 2013, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

(a)        Mrs. Daphne Golding

The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect to former Mayoress Daphne Golding who had passed away in hospital on 27 January aged 85 years. Mrs. Golding was the widow of John Golding and they were the Mayor and Mayoress of the Borough in 1987/88.

(b)        Scrutiny Committee

The Chairman of Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Shaw, provided an update on the work of the Scrutiny Committee and given the business of Council that evening, again thanked Members and officers for their support to Budget Scrutiny. Scrutiny Members had made a number of recommendations in relation to the draft budget and the responses were considered at Scrutiny Committee on 6 February 2013. The action plan would come back to the Scrutiny and Health Scrutiny Committees at a later stage to ensure that the recommendations were monitored effectively.

In respect of the review of domestic violence, Councillor Shaw announced that the Executive had accepted Scrutiny Members’ recommendation to establish a coordinating Executive Member and it would become part of the Community Health and Wellbeing Portfolio. Councillor Shaw would be meeting Councillor Dr. Barclay, the Executive Member on 4 March 2013 to discuss this further.

(c)        Health Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Lloyd, Chairman of Health Scrutiny Committee provided an update on the work of the Health Scrutiny Committee since the last Council meeting, advising that the referral to the Secretary of State for Health in relation to the New Health Deal for Trafford had been sent and that an acknowledgement was awaited.  Members were also aware that a Peer Review on the Council’s safeguarding arrangements had recently taken place and it was hoped that a meeting of Scrutiny Members would be convened to consider the Executive’s response once published.

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

The Mayor reported that a question had been received under Procedure Rule 10.2.

Councillor Boyes asked the following question for which notice had been given:

“Given that empty shops detract from the experience of shopping, what are the Council doing to encourage businesses to invest in Altrincham, Sale, Stretford and Urmston?"

Councillor Hyman, Executive Member for Economic Growth and Prosperity reported that the Council had launched an interest free loans scheme as an incentive for businesses seeking to establish a presence in the Borough’s Town Centre’s, with £350,000 of funding made available to revive vacant properties. The Council had allocated £250,000 to be split equally amongst its town centres, whilst an additional £100,000 of funding from the Government’s High Street Innovation Fund had been earmarked for Altrincham. Businesses could apply for funding of between £1,000 and £10,000.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director Environment, Transport and Operations.

The Corporate Director Environment, Transport and Operations submitted a report seeking approval to relocate 6 existing Licenced Pitch sites, known as Licenced Pitch numbers 3 to 8, to Victoria Place, off Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park.

RESOLVED –

(1)        That the relocation of existing licenced pitch traders be approved because there is not enough space in the street for the licence-holders to engage in the trading permitted by the licence without causing undue interference or inconvenience to persons using the street as a result of a recently approved Hotel and Supporters Club development.

(2)        That the Council resolves to relocate the existing pitches to positions noted within the schedule attached to the report, with effect from 21 March 2013 and therefore the junction of Waters Reach and Victoria Place shall be licenced streets to the extent of the new pitches referred to above otherwise, to the extent that they are not already so designated, they shall be prohibited streets.

(a)        To receive and consider the capital and revenue budget estimates presented by the Executive, together with the summaries, statements, schedules of fees and charges and reports of the Executive in relation thereto and to adopt resolutions therein.

(b)        To set and approve the Council Tax Requirement for the District for the year beginning 1^st April 2013, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended.

(c)        To set and approve, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended the amounts as the amounts of the Council Tax for the year 2013/2014 for each of the categories of dwellings included in the respective valuation bands A to H.

(d)        To agree the Treasury Management Strategy 2013/14 – 2015/16.

(Members are requested to refer to the reports circulated in respect of Agenda Items 4-7 for the Executive meeting on 20 February 2013 and also the Fees and Charges Book 2013/14* which will be made available, with the rest of the agenda papers, on the “Council and Democracy” area of the Council’s website at www.trafford.gov.uk > Home > Council and democracy > Committees > Council > 20/02/2013.)

*Note: a hard copy will be made available to Members upon request.

(Note: PROCEDURAL ARRANGEMENTS - In respect of the main item of business on the agenda, the Mayor announced that the Leader of the Council (or his nominee) would have a maximum of 15 minutes to make the initial speech and a further maximum of 15 minutes to finish the debate. The Leaders of the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups (or their respective nominees) would each have a maximum of 15 minutes to make their initial speeches and a further maximum of 5 minutes to wind up on behalf of their respective Groups. The Mayor also outlined the approach for dealing with amendments, should any be made to the main motion, and indicated that the mover of an amendment would have 5 minutes, whilst the time for all other speeches would be restricted to 3 minutes.)

The Executive Member for Finance presented a number of reports setting out the proposed budget for the forthcoming year, together with the recommendations from the Executive meeting held earlier that evening.

It was moved and seconded that the Executive’s recommendations for the budget, circulated to Members at the meeting, be approved.

Councillors Brotherton and Bowker responded to the Motion on behalf of the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups respectively, after which the proposals were debated by the Council.

(Note: During the debate on the Motion, the time being 8.35 p.m. the Mayor indicated that the length of speeches would now be restricted to a maximum of two minutes per speaker. With the time being 8.50, the Mayor further reduced speeches to 1 minute.)

In accordance with procedures agreed at the outset of the debate, the Political Group Leaders summarised the essential views of their respective group. The Motion was then put to the vote and declared carried.

        RESOLVED -

(1)    That the Council approves the overall 2013/14 budget at £158.947 million, a decrease of £(11.063) million, (6.5)%, on a like for like basis over the current year’s budget as per the budget report.

(2)    That there will be no increase in the Council Tax level for Trafford related services in 2013/14, and agrees the calculation and Council Tax Requirement for 2013/14 as set out in (9) – (13) below.

(3)    That the minimum level of reserves be set at £6 million.

(4)    That the fees and charges be set per the booklet available alongside this report on the Council’s website, including specifically:

·        an increase in the weekly charge for Allotment fees in 2014/15 (12 month notice period is required);

·        cease contributions to Mersey Valley and Bollin Valley Partnerships in 2014/15 (12 month notice period required).

(5)        That, as a continuation of previously agreed delegated powers, the Director of Finance, in consultation with the relevant Corporate Director, be delegated authority to amend fees and charges during 2013/14 in the event of any change in the rate of VAT, as appropriate.

(6)        That the overall Capital Investment Programme level for 2013/16 of £77.0 million be approved.

(7)        That the Prudential Borrowing Indicators contained within the Treasury  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

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

This Council supports the comments of the Local Government Association Chairman that Local Government has borne the brunt of the cuts to public spending and that further severe cuts will be unsustainable. 

The level of cuts in Trafford are savage and have resulted in closures of children centres, day care services, elderly people’s homes, with severe cuts in youth and children services, libraries, elderly peoples services, and services to people with disabilities, and much more, all of which are having a devastating impact for people and our communities.

Economic Experts - the Institute for Fiscal Studies have given dire warnings about the economic direction of the Government and that the Chancellor will have to borrow a further £64 billion more than planned this next year. A sure sign that the Government Austerity plans are just not working.  

This Council therefore resolves to campaign for a change in economic direction, and a need for Government to understand the increasing difficulty that local authorities face in protecting front line essential services in Trafford and elsewhere. The campaign should be badged as a ''Fair Deal for Councils''.

The Mayor informed Members that the Motion as set out on the Council Summons had been submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.

[Note: Prior to the debate on this item, the time being 9.18 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the proposer of the Motion would be permitted 3 minutes whilst all other speeches would be limited to a maximum of two minutes per speaker.]

It was moved and seconded that:

This Council supports the comments of the Local Government Association Chairman that Local Government has borne the brunt of the cuts to public spending and that further severe cuts will be unsustainable.

The level of cuts in Trafford are savage and have resulted in closures of children centres, day care services, elderly people’s homes, with severe cuts in youth and children services, libraries, elderly peoples services, and services to people with disabilities, and much more, all of which are having a devastating impact for people and our communities.

Economic Experts - the Institute for Fiscal Studies have given dire warnings about the economic direction of the Government and that the Chancellor will have to borrow a further £64 billion more than planned this next year. A sure sign that the Government Austerity plans are just not working.

This Council therefore resolves to campaign for a change in economic direction, and a need for Government to understand the increasing difficulty that local authorities face in protecting front line essential services in Trafford and elsewhere. The campaign should be badged as a ''Fair Deal for Councils''.

[Note: During the debate on the Motion, the time being 9.24 p.m., the Mayor indicated that speeches would now be limited to a maximum of one minute per speaker.]

The Motion was put to the vote and declared lost.

Note:        At the conclusion of the meeting it is intended to hold an informal meeting of the Council to consider issuing invitations to Members of Council to be the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Borough for 2013/2014.

(Note: At the conclusion of the formal meeting of the Council, an informal meeting was held to extend an invitation to:

Councillor Dylan Butt to be the Mayor of the Borough of Trafford for 2013/14;

and

Councillor Ejaz Malik to be the Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Trafford for 2013/14.

The informal meeting concluded at 9.32 p.m.)