To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 20 February 2013 for signature by the Mayor as Chairman.

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 20 February 2013, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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 two questions had been received under Procedure Rule 10.2.

[Note: Prior to their consideration, the Mayor indicated that Members asking and responding to a question would be limited to a maximum of two minutes each, with a further maximum of one minute respectively for a supplementary question.]

(a)        Councillor Chilton asked the following question for which he had given notice:

        "This week is National Apprentices Week. Could I ask the Chairman of the Employment Committee if this Council is actively supporting apprenticeships and if so to what extent?”

Responding to the question, Councillor Rigby, Chairman of Employment Committee, informed Members that the Council actively supported Trafford residents into employment, launching an apprenticeship scheme in July 2011. Since then 62 apprentices had started work and 5 had secured permanent positions, one of whom Liam Baum had been named Apprentice of the Year 2012 by Trafford College. Councillor Rigby also provided statistical information in respect of the priority groups for recruitment and advised of work being undertaken with local businesses and parents to encourage new opportunities.

(b)        Councillor Mrs. Wilkinson asked the following question for which she had given notice:

"Can the Executive Member for Transformation and Resources provide details of any improvements planned in our library service in the near future?"

In response, the Executive Member, Councillor Williams referred the Council to a recent decision of the Executive on 4March 2013 which sought to protect front line services despite budgetary pressures and included the extended use of volunteers across all Trafford libraries. The Executive Member reported on the introduction of the new ‘Spydus’ library management system and advised of its benefits which included: text and email notifications for new loans and returns; book reviews and recommendations by users; and access to out of borough libraries using the same system. Councillor Williams indicated that Spydus was cheaper than the existing system and would go live on 25 March 2013.

To consider a report of the Acting Director of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Acting Director of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report advising of the changes to the Council’s Constitution required as a result of changes arising from the Health and Social Care Act 2012 that take effect from 1 April 2013. The report referred to changes relating to the transfer of the public health function to the Council, the formal establishment of the Health and Wellbeing Board and revisions to health scrutiny regulations.

Further to the report’s recommendations, the Leader of the Council consented to a request from the Opposition Group Leader’s for further discussion concerning the political membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

        RESOLVED -

(1)        That the Council notes the transfer of the Public Health function pursuant to the Health and Social Care Act 2012, along with related staff to the Local Authority with effect from 1 April 2013.

(2)        That the Council establish a Health and Wellbeing Board with the membership and terms of reference as set out in the report with effect from 1 April 2013.

(3)        That the Council membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board, as nominated by the Leader of the Council, be agreed.

(4)        That a meeting of the Political Group Leaders be held to discuss, in more detail, the composition of the Health and Wellbeing Board and if necessary, determine future political entitlements for recommendation to the Council.

(5)        That the Council confirms that, with effect from 1 April 2013, responsibility for the scrutiny of health services continue to be discharged by the Health Scrutiny Committee and that the arrangements agreed by the Council at its meetings held on 23 May and 19 September 2012 (Minute numbers 11 and 40 refer), be retained. 

(6)        That Council authorises the Acting Director of Legal and Democratic Services to make the necessary changes to the constitution in relation to:

(a)        the transfer of the Public Health function;

(b)        the establishment of the Health and Wellbeing Board; and

(c)        health scrutiny arrangements.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Member for Highways and Environment.

The Executive Member for Highways and Environment submitted a report proposing the adoption of new byelaws relating to the practice of acupuncture and the business of tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis. The proposed byelaws specified standards of cleanliness of premises, fittings and operators, together with the appropriate cleaning arrangements for instruments, materials and equipment, so as to protect customers from the risk of disease and would update and extend byelaws previously made by the Council in 1987.

RESOLVED –

(1)    That Sections 14 – 17 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, as amended by the Local Government Act 2003 to include the regulation of cosmetic piercing and semi-permanent skin-colouring businesses, shall apply to the Borough from 13 May 2013.

(2)    That the Council:

(a)    adopts the new byelaws covering acupuncture, tattooing, semi-permanent skin-colouring, cosmetic piercing and electrolysis;

(b)    authorises the affixing of the common seal to the new byelaws and;

(c)    authorises the Chief Executive to carry out the necessary procedures in affixing the seal, publicising the Council’s intention to apply for confirmation of the byelaws by the Secretary of State for Health, and subsequently applying for confirmation of the new byelaws.  

(3)    That, subject to the Secretary of State for Health confirming the new byelaws, the Council will revoke the existing byelaws relating to acupuncture, tattooing, ear piercing and electrolysis which are dated 27 July 1987 and which were confirmed by the Secretary of State for Social Services on 13 January 1988.

(4)    That the fees to be charged for registration under the new byelaws be set in line with the fees currently charged under the existing byelaws.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Economic Growth and Prosperity recommended to the Council by the Executive at its meeting held on 4March 2013.

Please note: There are a number of extensive appendices to this report

including the Final GMJMDPD document and 4 Trafford Maps which are not

being circulated in hard copy, but which will be posted on the Council’s

website with this agenda. Alternatively, all of the GM Minerals Development

Plan Documents are available to view on a separate website at:

http://www.gmmineralsplan.co.uk/docs.html#Post_Examination .

The Executive Member for Economic Growth and Prosperity submitted a report seeking the adoption of the joint Development Plan Document covering planning for minerals, following a series of public consultations and submission to the Secretary of State in November 2011 for Examination. The Examination hearing sessions took place over two days during February 2012 and an additional session in November 2012 and the Inspector had now confirmed the soundness of the Submission Plan, subject to a modest number of changes.

        RESOLVED –

(1)        That the Council notes the publication of the Inspector’s Report on the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals Development Plan Document.

(2)        That the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals Development Plan Document, together with consequential changes to the Trafford Local Plan Policies Map, be adopted and brought into force on 26 April 2013.

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

a)     Motion submitted by the Labour Group – Locality Boards

        This Council is mindful of increasing disquiet from Trafford's community groups and panels regarding the format, membership and responsibilities to be delegated to new Locality Boards being introduced by the Trafford Strategic Partnership from April 2013.
 

        This Council is also concerned that existing representative bodies such as Town or Parish Councils and many Elected Members are being excluded in this new model. It is also concerning that there doesn't appear to be a commitment for all the Locality Partnerships to be held in open public session. There are real concerns also that there are no defined funding streams which will enable the Partnership Boards to operate effectively

This Council therefore calls for a temporary halt on the introduction of the Locality Partnership Boards until such time that the community concerns and Parish Council concerns and technical / democratic / financial issues are fully address to the satisfaction of all Members of this Council, and that a report be brought back to Council at the next full Council which addresses all of these concerns.

b)     Motion submitted by the Labour Group – Fire Service

        This Council has deep concern with regard to the letter sent out by Brandon Lewis, Communities and Local Government Parliamentary Under Secretary (Minister for Fire and Rescue Service) where he promotes a proposal to enable Fire and Rescue Authorities to contract out the full range of their services to a suitable provider, including a public service mutual.

        Clearly if this became law it would open the doors for the privatisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. We should not be introducing the profit motive into our emergency services. We pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those on the front line, shareholder dividends have no place in that covenant.
 
In light of the above this Council calls on the Government to abandon any plans to privatise our Fire and Rescue Services now and in the future.

c)     Motion submitted by the Labour Group – Mersey Valley

        On 5 December 2011 the following resolution was made by this Council:

        ‘That in light of public concern with regard to the deterioration of Sale Water Park and its environment, we call on the Council to continue a wide ranging review of its existing maintenance and management of the Water Park, with a view to implementing a significant maintenance improvement for Sale Water Park’.

        There continues to be very considerable public concern at the continued deterioration of the Water Park and lack of investment designed to improve the facilities and environment currently exacerbated by the works being carried out to extend the Metrolink system and this Council’s announcement at the budget council meeting of their intention to cease contribution to the Mersey Valley Partnership from 2014 to save £117,000 and Groundforce cuts of £1.2 million over the next two years which includes the loss of 10 members of  ...  view the full agenda text for item 80.

The Mayor informed Members that 7 Motions had been submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.

[Note: In view of the amount of business to be transacted and having consulted with the Group Leaders, the Mayor indicated that each Motion would be allocated an equal amount of time with the speaking rights being: a maximum of three minutes each for moving, seconding, the right of reply and 2 opposing Members; and a maximum of two minutes each for all other speakers.]

(a)    Motion submitted by the Labour Group – Locality Boards

It was moved and seconded that:

        “This Council is mindful of increasing disquiet from Trafford's community groups and panels regarding the format, membership and responsibilities to be delegated to new Locality Boards being introduced by the Trafford Strategic Partnership from April 2013.
 

        This Council is also concerned that existing representative bodies such as Town or Parish Councils and many Elected Members are being excluded in this new model. It is also concerning that there doesn't appear to be a commitment for all the Locality Partnerships to be held in open public session. There are real concerns also that there are no defined funding streams which will enable the Partnership Boards to operate effectively.

This Council therefore calls for a temporary halt on the introduction of the Locality Partnership Boards until such time that the community concerns and Parish Council concerns and technical / democratic / financial issues are fully address to the satisfaction of all Members of this Council, and that a report be brought back to Council at the next full Council which addresses all of these concerns.”

[Note: During the debate on the Motion, the time being 7.39 p.m., the Mayor indicated that, with the exception of the Member with the right of reply, all remaining speakers on this item would now be restricted to a maximum of one minute each.]

Following the debate, the Motion was put to the vote and declared lost.

(b)    Motion submitted by the Labour Group – Fire Service

[Note: As Chairman of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Councillor Acton declared a personal interest in this item and remained in the meeting during consideration of the matter.]

It was moved and seconded that:

        “This Council has deep concern with regard to the letter sent out by Brandon Lewis, Communities and Local Government Parliamentary Under Secretary (Minister for Fire and Rescue Service) where he promotes a proposal to enable Fire and Rescue Authorities to contract out the full range of their services to a suitable provider, including a public service mutual.

        Clearly if this became law it would open the doors for the privatisation of the Fire and Rescue Service. We should not be introducing the profit motive into our emergency services. We pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of those on the front line, shareholder dividends have no place in that covenant.
 
In light of the above this Council calls on the Government to abandon any plans to privatise  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.