Agenda and minutes

Councillor Barks was a substitute for Councillor Taylor.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 September 2024, be approved as a correct record.

There were none.

      i.        Disclosable Pecuniary Interests;

     ii.        Other Interests.

There were none.

Question received from Cllr Aberley:-

With the recent letting of 1 Market Square, and purchase of Cheadle Market Hall, can you confirm what the impact on the short and medium term efficiency program would be and if it will make a positive or negative impact to the overall targets?

Response from Cllrs Wood, Price and Swindlehurst. Portfolio holders for Finance, Regeneration and Tourism, Leisure and Tourism respectively.

1. Letting of 1 Market Square. We are better off with a rent paying tenant and the income will contribute to our income targets that are built into the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).
2. Purchase of Cheadle Market Hall. Through taking swift action, we have been able to secure funding from the UKSPF towards the purchase costs and will be able to utilise our capital budgets for any required works and Cheadle’s regeneration. However, we must conclude the transaction and assess the facility fully to determine any work it might need once we have done that. The purchase of the market is with the intention of using it to help with the regeneration of Cheadle, and continuing with the market’s operation is an important element to this. From completion, we will be assessing the effectiveness of its operation and impact on the MTFP as well as assessing how we might improve this and ensure it has a positive contribution to economic, social and community activity in Cheadle.

In response to a further question regarding timescale and costs for Cheadle Market, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Tourism advised that a piece of work had been commissioned to report on viable options. The report was expected to be completed by March 2025.

Members commented at their disappointment to not receive the Annual Performance Review from Alliance Norse. Members required that the future report be up to date at the time of presentation and for it to be presented in person.

RESOLVED:
That the deferred report from Alliance Norse be bought to the January 2025 meeting.

Members received a report which updated update councillors with details of the key aspects of health and safety which occurred across the Alliance during the period from April 2023 to March 2024. The annual report provided detail on training information, emerging risks, and supporting statistical information.

The report covered the following;

1.    Summary

2.    Corporate commitment to health and safety

3.    Provision of competent health and safety advice and support

4.    Systems in place to identify and assess risks to the organisation

5.    Monitoring of contractors

6.    Consultative arrangements

7.    Corporate health and safety training

8.    Proactive health and safety monitoring

9.    Reactive health and safety monitoring

10. Progress against the action plan for 2023/24

11. Proposed plans and targets for 2024/2025

12. Significant and emerging risks

13. Conclusion

Members thanked Officers for their factual and comprehensive report and congratulated the Corporate Health and Safety Manager on his 35 years of service. They discussed fire doors, lighting near Moorlands House carpark, threats to front line staff and counter terrorism training.

It was suggested that mental health training post pandemic be reviewed and that local elected members be the first point of contact for issues raised during closed churchyard inspections.

Members raised concerns with communication and scheduling of key Officers during fire evacuations.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That an Evacuation Procedures report be returned to the next meeting.

Members received a report informing them of the project management strategy (2025-2028) and framework that had been developed to ensure consistent good practice in project delivery. It covered lifecycle, controls, tools and templates and risk management.

Members thanked Officers for a comprehensive report recognising the amount of work that was involved.

Members discussed transparency, visibility, communication and how they could support the council.

RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.