To note attendances, including officers, and any apologies for absence.

The Leader of the Council advised the Executive that this was the last meeting which Councillor Williams would be attending in his capacity as Deputy Leader; and expressed his thanks to Councillor Williams for his contribution to the Executive’s work over the period of his Deputy Leadership.

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 Executive Members.

To receive and, if so determined, to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 25.3.13.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 25^th March 2013 be approved as a correct record.

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

There were no issues to be reported to this meeting.

To receive a presentation from Alstrom and ESBI setting out progress to date, including employment and training opportunities.

The Executive received a presentation from representatives of Alstom and ESB International on the current progress of the development of the power plant at Carrington. This included details of the development partners, statistics in relation to the proposed power generation capacity, which was due to be on stream in 2015/16, employment opportunities within the development and operational phases, and engagement with the local community. An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions, which centred on environmental aspects of the development, the partners’ experiences on similar developments elsewhere, engagement with local schools, and opportunities for apprenticeships. The Leader then thanked the presenters for their attendance.

RESOLVED: That the content of the presentation, and the issues raised by Members, be noted.

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

NOTE: An extensive appendix is not being circulated in hard copy, but will be available on the Council’s Website, and a hard copy will be available at the meeting.

The Executive Member for Highways and Environment submitted a report seeking approval, for consultation purposes, of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping Report, produced jointly between Manchester City Council, Salford City Council and Trafford Council, under the terms of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

RESOLVED: That the Trafford Local Flood Risk Management Strategy SEA Scoping Report, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved for consultation purposes. 

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Economic Growth and Prosperity.

The Executive Member for Economic Growth and Prosperity submitted a report seeking approval, for consultation purposes, of the Trafford Community Infrastructure Levy, Draft Charging Schedule (DCS). In discussion it was agreed that the Executive Member would, outside of the meeting, provide clarification regarding the proposed charging schedule in relation to supermarkets.

            RESOLVED –

(1)       That the CIL Draft Charging Schedule (as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report) and supporting documentation be agreed for consultation purposes.

(2)       That the Draft SPD1: Planning Obligations SPD (as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report) be agreed for consultation.

(3)       That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Economic Growth and Prosperity, in consultation with the Acting Director of Legal and Democratic Services, for approving any minor amendments to the wording of the documents prior to consultation.

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

The Executive Member for Highways and Environment submitted a report proposing, for adoption by Council, a Sustainable Trafford Strategy and indicative Action Plan which set out Trafford’s approach to achieving a proportion of the Greater Manchester Climate Change Strategy target.

RESOLVED –

(1)       That the Sustainable Trafford Strategy and indicative Action Plan contained within Appendix 1 to the report, be approved for adoption by the Council.

(2)       That each project in the draft action plan will be considered on its merits at the appropriate time.

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

The Executive Member for Highways and Environment submitted a report which informed Members of a proposal to develop a Countryside Management Partnership for Trafford to facilitate the management of both the Mersey Valley and Bollin Valley.

            RESOLVED –

(1)       That support be given in principle to the proposal and that authority be delegated to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport to set up the arrangements for the Partnership.

(2)       That support be given to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Community Forest Trust (charitable arm of Red Rose Forest) and Trafford Council.

(3)       That the proposed partnership management structure (set out in appendix 1 to the report) be endorsed and that Members’ support be provided to the partnership steering group.

To consider a report of the Acting Director of Legal and Democratic Services.   TO BE CIRCULATED UNDER SEPARATE COVER

Consideration of this item was deferred.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Economic Growth and Prosperity.

The Executive Member for Economic Growth and Prosperity submitted a report giving details of the operation of the first Local Authority Mortgage Scheme launched in May 2012, and seeking approval to set up a second scheme.

            RESOLVED –

(1)       That agreement be given to the establishment of a Local Authority Mortgage Scheme as per the criteria set out in the report:-

(i) To set a maximum limit for total indemnity for the scheme of £1 Million;

(ii) For the scheme to be open to all qualifying post codes within the Borough of Trafford;

(iii) For a maximum loan size of £190,000. The maximum indemnity value per property would be £40,000;

(iv) That the Council shall indemnify the Council’s Monitoring Officer in relation to any liability that she may personally incur to Lloyds TSB under the LAM scheme in relation to the provision of a legal opinion regarding the Council’s authority and capacity to i) to participate in the LAM scheme and ii) to enter into the necessary contractual documentation with Lloyds TSB;

(v) For the Council to enter into an indemnity deed with Lloyds TSB.

(2)       That the following be recommended to Council:

i) the addition of £1 Million, in respect of the cash backed indemnities, to the 2013/14 Capital Programme;

ii) that additional borrowing be approved in the sum stated in the report and

iii) the changes to the prudential indicators as detailed in the report.

(3)       That this be deemed to be an urgent decision and not subject to call in given the associated report to Council on 30^th April.

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

NOTE: A number of extensive appendices – Amended versions of Parts 1-5 of the Constitution – are not being circulated in hard copy, but will be available on the Council’s Website.

The Acting Director of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer submitted a report seeking the Executive’s comments on a number of proposed changes to the Constitution, following a full review, prior to their submission to Council, in line with Article 15 of the Constitution, on 22^nd May 2013.

            RESOLVED –

(1)       That it be noted that Council will be recommended to approve the following:

a) That the amendments to Parts 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the Constitution be approved.

b) That Council notes that Executive functions not covered by the Officers’ Scheme of Delegation are delegated by the Leader of the Council as follows:

(i) functions are delegated to all individual Executive Members in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation set out in Part 3 of the Constitution;

            (ii) all other functions are delegated to the Executive.

c) That the Scheme of Delegation to Officers as set in Part 3 of the Constitution be confirmed.

d) That the Acting Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to amend the Constitution of the Council in accordance with and as a consequence of this report.

(2)       That the proposed changes be noted and that no adverse comment be made at this stage of consultation.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Finance and Director of Finance.

The Executive Member for Finance and Director of Finance submitted a report which informed Members of the current position regarding the regular monitoring of the Council’s revenue budget.

RESOLVED: That the latest forecast and planned actions be noted and agreed.

To note schedules of decisions from the respective meetings.

The Executive received for information details of decisions made by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and AGMA Executive Board at their meetings held on 26^th March 2013.

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

Motion   (Which may be amended as Members think fit):

            That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the remaining items on the agenda, because of the likelihood of disclosure of “exempt information” which falls within one or more descriptive category or categories of the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, as amended by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, and specified on the agenda item or report relating to each such item respectively.

In view of the fact that the following item was deferred, there was no need for the Exclusion Resolution to be moved.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Highways and Environment and Corporate Director, Environment, Transport and Operations.

Consideration of this item was deferred.