Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Virtual Meeting

Contact: Jo Maloney  Governance Officer

Items
No. Item

144.

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

A maximum of 15 minutes will be allocated to public questions submitted in writing to Democratic Services (democratic.services@trafford.gov.uk) by 4 p.m. on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must be relevant to items appearing on the agenda and will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

Minutes:

It was reported that the following question, supported by a map identifying the location, had been received from a member of the public.

 

“My name is Robert Bacon and I have been I discussing proposals for change to Oxford Road in Altrincham with Councillor Sean Anstee CBE Conservative Member for Bowdon Ward, Shadow Executive Member for Children’s Social Care, Trafford Council and Sir Graham Brady.

 

I have obtained overwhelming support from residence of Oxford Road and have numerous signed petitions is support of the following;

 

(a) Making Oxford Road a residence access only (or dead end either at Rigby Street or at the junction with Hale Road)), reducing traffic flow and subsequently encouraging walking and cycling whilst at the same time reducing water and tear on what is essentially a cut through route to Hale Road (see map).

(b) Oxford Road (and Peter Street) resurfacing. The road is in terrible condition and has been allowed to deteriorate terribly over the years which also impacts drainage causing flooding and subsequent property damage as a result and making it dangerous for cyclist and road users alike.

(c) Pavement refurbishments. The pavements are in very poor condition, and slope badly towards the road. Some residence are elderly and use wheel chairs and have to use the road because of the poor pavement condition and the very obvious slope especially on the right side as you travel down Oxford Road (fyi it's one way.)

 

By way of support for our proposals, I would like to request that funding is allocated from the Covid-19 Walking and Cycling funds etc to ensure these changes are put in place swiftly.

 

Additional benefits would be to provide a direct walking/cycling link between Altrincham and Hale, and as Oxford Road is purely a 'cut through' road to Hale Road, where access already exists via the main road (Ashley Road), it would have no major impact on traffic flow and or affect any emergency services.”

 

The Executive noted the content of the question, and requested that the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change issue a response to the questioner, to be copied to Councillor Anstee, the Ward Members and Graham Brady, M.P.

 

RESOLVED: That content of the question be noted, and that the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change be requested issue a response to the questioner.

145.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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.

Minutes:

No declarations were made by Executive Members.

146.

MATTERS FROM COUNCIL OR OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES (IF ANY)

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

Minutes:

As the Committee’s Chair, Councillor Acton provided a brief update on the work undertaken by the Pandemic Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Covid-19 health emergency, and expressed his thanks to those who had contributed to the Committee’s work.

 

            RESOLVED – That the content of the report be noted.

147.

PUBLIC INTEREST REPORT BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL CARE OMBUDSMAN (OMBUDSMAN): INVESTIGATION INTO COMPLAINTS AGAINST TRAFFORD COUNCIL WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE pdf icon PDF 245 KB

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change.

Additional documents:

Decision:

1. That the requirement be noted for the report to be considered in full by the Executive in accordance with the Local Government Act 1974.

 

2. That the content of the report and the Ombudsman’s appended report be noted.

 

3. That the remedial recommendations made by the Ombudsman be noted.

 

4. That the agreed remedial actions already taken by the Council in response to the Ombudsman’s recommendations be noted.

 

5. That the proposal to progress the completion of those agreed remedial actions which are yet to be undertaken by the Council be noted and approved.

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change submitted a report which report presented the public interest report issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman upon conclusion of their investigation into complaints made in respect of the Council’s waste and refuse collection service. The report detailed: the background to the complaints, the actions taken to date by the Council to address the issues raised in the report, the Ombudsman’s findings, the recommendations made by the Ombudsman, and the actions identified by the Council as being necessary in future to respond to those recommendations. The Executive Member noted that the aim was for significant improvement, with the service actively engaged in that task; and that he would liaise with the officers to determine the most appropriate method to secure the requested involvement of the Scrutiny Committee.

 

            RESOLVED -

 

(1)       That the requirement be noted for the report to be considered in full by the Executive in accordance with the Local Government Act 1974.

 

(2)       That the content of the report and the Ombudsman’s appended report be noted.

 

(3)       That the remedial recommendations made by the Ombudsman be noted.

 

(4)       That the agreed remedial actions already taken by the Council in response to the Ombudsman’s recommendations be noted.

 

(5)       That the proposal to progress the completion of those agreed remedial actions which are yet to be undertaken by the Council be noted and approved.

148.

Corporate Plan 2019/20 Quarter 4 Report pdf icon PDF 453 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Public Safety, Governance and Reform submitted a report which provided a summary of performance against the Council’s Corporate Plan, 2019/20, covering the period 1st January 2020 to 31st March 2020. Members’ attention was drawn to the exception reports which had been incorporated in relation to any indicator graded as red or amber; and that an additional indicator, relating to complaints received, had been incorporated since the previous quarter’s report.

 

RESOLVED – That the content of the Corporate Plan Quarter 4 Report be noted.

149.

Annual Report 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 299 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Public Safety, Governance and Reform submitted a report which provided a summary of performance against the Council’s Corporate Plan for the entire year 2019/20. Members’ were advised that a stocktake was being undertaken of deliverables and priorities, in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic. An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions on the report’s content. These centred on the priority accorded to the climate emergency, on which it was noted that it would be considered as part of the stocktake, and that the relevant Executive Member would be reporting to the Executive in the near future, on clarification of the indicator in relation to green flag parks, and on the levels of support provided to vulnerable people placed in Trafford accommodation by external authorities.

 

RESOLVED – That the content of the Corporate Plan Annual Report be noted.

150.

BUDGET MONITORING 2020/21 PERIOD 2 (APRIL - MAY 2020)

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Finance and Investment and the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems submitted a report which informed Members of the current 2020/21 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. Members were advised that this was a report early in the year, and there was scope for significant subsequent variances; and an update was provided on the emerging implications of the Government’s financial announcement on 2nd July 2020. An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions on the report’s content. In respect of an enquiry regarding Active Transport, it was noted that all current commitments were provided for within the capital Programme; and that the Corporate Director. Finance and Systems would provide an update, outside the meeting, on the longer term position. In respect of the position on support provided to care providers, it was agreed that the Corporate Director, Adult Services would arrange to brief Councillor Myers outside the meeting.

 

            RESOLVED – That the content of the report be noted.

151.

TREASURY MANAGEMENT ANNUAL PERFORMANCE 2019/20 REPORT pdf icon PDF 887 KB

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

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Finance and Investment and the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems submitted a report which outlined the key treasury management activities undertaken during 2019/20, including in relation to compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements, average level of external debt and interest rates payable, average level of treasury investments, and  net budget savings of £(1.2)m generated mainly as a result of increased levels of income received from Manchester Airport Holding Limited in the form of share dividends and loan contributions. Thanks were accorded to the Treasury team for performance achieved during the year. In response to a query, it was agreed that the Corporate Director, Finance and Systems would advise, outside the meeting, on the current level of inter-authority loans and any potential consequences of a Local Authority which owed money to this Council finding it necessary to issue a s.114 Notice.

 

            RESOLVED – That the content of the report be noted.

152.

RESPONSE TO THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S SCRUTINY COMMITTEE TASK AND FINISH GROUP REVIEW INTO THE EDUCATION, HEALTH AND CARE PLAN (EHCP) PROCESS IN TRAFFORD

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Children’s Social Care.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Children's Social Care submitted a report which set out a full response to the information and recommendations made within the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Task and Finish Group Review Report into the Education, Health and Care Plan process in Trafford. It was noted that the Covid-19 pandemic had delayed the submission of the response; but that this had allowed an opportunity to set out a more up to date reply and presentation of the action plan to address the issues identified. The Executive Member and the Chair of the Task and Finish Group both expressed thanks to the Members and officers involved in the study and the response. It was proposed that the report be presented to the next meeting of the Trafford Pandemic Scrutiny Committee, and confirmed that the identified actions and further work would be progressed and monitored.

 

RESOLVED – That the responses detailed in the draft report to the Trafford Pandemic Scrutiny Committee, attached at Schedule 1 to the report, be noted.