Decision details

Constitutional Review - Area Committees

Decision Maker: Executive

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The Leader of the Council at the Council Meeting on 30 June 2016 reported that he had requested the Monitoring Officer in conjunction with Democratic Services to undertake a democratic and constitutional review through the Constitution Working Party. The aim is to conclude the review in time for any revised arrangements to be in place for the Annual Council Meeting in May 2017 and so be operational for the 2017-18 municipal year.

This report specifically deals with:

The definition of the strategic planning applications currently submitted to the Town Centre Committee.
The issue of the Cheadle Hulme North Ward and the Cheadle Hulme South Ward being in two different Area Committees.
The proposed delegation of the Area Flexibility Budget to Area Committees
Area Committees acting as “Trustees” in relation to the disposal of Charitable land.
The use of Commuted Sums.

Decision:

The Executive considered proposals for changes to the Constitution relating to the area committees and agreed that the following be approved or recommended to the Council Meeting for approval as appropriate:-

 

·           abolish the Town Centre Committee and adopt the planning decision making procedures set out in paragraph 3.1.3 of the report;

·           alter the definition of strategic planning applications to include Environmental Impact Assessment applications, as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report;

·           delegate the Ward Flexibility Fund be delegated to Area Committees, as out in paragraph 3.4 of the report;

·           that Ward and Joint Committees requested by Ward Councillors, as set out in paragraph 3.5 of the report, be established by the Council Meeting;

·           the proposals relating to Area Committees acting as ‘Trustees’ in relation to the disposal of Charitable land, as set out in paragraph 3.6 of the report and Appendix 3;

·           the proposals relating to Commuted Sums, as set out in paragraph 3.7 of the report, be approved;

·           the miscellaneous Drafting Matters, as set out in paragraph 4 of the report, with the exception of those relating to property matters;

·           the revised delegations to Area Committees, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, but that the issue be reconsidered in twelve months’ time in the light of health and social care integration.

 

In relation to the Cheadle Hulme North Ward and the Cheadle Hulme South Ward being in two different Area Committees the Executive agreed that in its view the Council Meeting should establish a joint ward committee to address the concerns of ward councillors.

 

The Executive also recommended that the Council Meeting change the name of the Marple Area Committee to the ‘Marple and High Lane Area Committee’ and the Werneth Area Committee to the ‘Bredbury, Romiley and Woodley Area Committee’ to improve clarity of the geographical remits of those area committees.

 

 

 

 

 

Alternative options considered:

None

Equality and/or Environmental Impact Assessment: N/A

Decision Reference: ED1899

Declarations or conflicts of Interest: None

Other reasons / organisations consulted

CWP & Area Committees

Contact: Craig Ainsworth, Corporate and Support Services Email: craig.ainsworth@stockport.gov.uk Tel: 0161474 3204.

Report author: Craig Ainsworth

Publication date: 15/03/2017

Date of decision: 14/03/2017

Decided at meeting: 14/03/2017 - Executive

Effective from: 22/03/2017

This decision has been called in by:

Accompanying Documents: