Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Mayor invited Members to observe a minute’s silence in memory of Councillor Keith Iddon.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Cullens, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Alistair Bradley and Councillors Alistair Morwood and Craige Southern paid tribute and sent their condolences to the family.

Approved.

Resolved (unanimously) that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 16 May 2023 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Mayor. 

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

Councillor Aidy Riggott declared a personal interest in item 17. Asset Acquisition in Chorley Town Centre, as a Cabinet member at Lancashire County Council. 

The Mayor updated members on his fundraising activities and charity events, including a cricket match and nature walk. 

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask question(s) on any item(s) on the agenda will have three minutes to put their question(s) to the relevant Councillor. Members of the public will be allowed to ask one short supplementary question.

To view the procedure for public questions/ speaking click here and scroll to page 119

There were no public questions for consideration.

To receive and consider the general report of the Executive Cabinet held on 15 June and 13 July 2023.

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the meetings of Executive Cabinet held on 15 June and 13 July.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the Governance Committee held on 24 June 2023. 

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the Governance Committee meeting held on 24 June.

The Chair of the Governance Committee, Councillor Alan Platt proposed the report and the Vice Chair of Governance Committee, Councillor Mark Clifford seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

That Councillor Aidy Riggott be appointed Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Cullens proposed and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Platt seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) that Councillor Aidy Riggott be appointed Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

That the report be noted.

On behalf of the Council, the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley, thanked Vicky Willett, Director of Change and Delivery, for her hard work and commitment to the Council, and wished her all the best in her new role.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the Council’s Annual Report which summarised the council’s achievements during 2022/23.

The report detailed performance against each of the council’s key priority areas, highlighting successful delivery of key projects.  These include:

·            Involving residents in improving their local area and equality of access for all

·            Clean safe and healthy communities

·            A strong local economy

·            An ambitious council that does more to meet the needs of residents and the local area

Despite the challenging period due to the cost of living crisis and inflation affecting the economy, the Council had continued to deliver against its priorities and provided support to local residents and businesses that have been most impacted.

Looking ahead, challenges for the Council include continuing to support residents and businesses to recover from unprecedented challenges within the economy, including the cost of living crisis and managing the increase demand on services that the Council provides.

The Corporate Strategy for 2023/24 has been fully refreshed with new priorities and action, building on the work undertaken in 2022/23.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson, thanked officers of the council for their work on projects and their delivery of services for the residents of the Borough.

Councillors Mark Clifford and Jean Sherwood contributed to the debate. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Change and Delivery.

1.         To approve the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Delivery Framework for Chorley in order to progress delivery of the fund and to begin commissioning of the programmes within it.

2.         To accept £4,212,901 of the UKSPF and £400,000 of the Rural Economic Prosperity Fund (REPF) from the UK Government

3.         To approve a rural capital grants scheme utilising the REPF to enable eligible rural businesses to bid for funds to make capital improvements to their operations.

4.         The allocation of the funds will be administered by the Executive in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the report of the Director (Change and Delivery). 

The report provided members with an overview of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) framework for Chorley Council.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Cullens, supported the proposals, particularly in rural areas. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.         To approve the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Delivery Framework for Chorley, in order to progress delivery of the fund, and to begin commissioning of the programmes within it.

2.         To accept £4,212,901 of the UKSPF and £400,000 of the Rural Economic Prosperity Fund (REPF) from the UK Government

3.         To approve a rural capital grants scheme utilising the REPF to enable eligible rural businesses to bid for funds to make capital improvements to their operations.

4.         To note the allocation of the funds would be administered by the Executive in accordance with the terms of the scheme.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Communities. 

1.         To receive the Ukrainian guest funding allocation of £476,000 and create a budget to allocate the funding.

2.         To receive further Ukrainian guest grant funding allocations and create an equivalent level of budget to allocate the funding for subsequent financial years.

3.         The funds will be allocated by the Executive Member for Housing in accordance with the requirements of the scheme.

The Executive Member (Homes and Housing), Councillor Terry Howarth presented the report of the Director (Communities).  

The report provided a breakdown of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) funding committed to the council to assist with the costs of supporting Ukrainian refugees (also known as guests) and local sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine (HfU) Scheme.

The Executive Member (Homes and Housing), Councillor Terry Howarth proposed and the Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Beverley Murray seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.         To receive the Ukrainian guest funding allocation of £476,000 and create a budget to allocate the funding.

2.         To receive further Ukrainian guest grant funding allocations and create an equivalent level of budget to allocate the funding for subsequent financial years.

3.         To note the funds would allocated by the Executive Member for Homes and Housing in accordance with the requirements of the scheme.

No questions were asked under Council Procedure Rule 8.

To consider the attached Notices of Motion submitted by Councillor Ryan and Towers and Councillor Samantha Martin.

The Notice of Motion relating to Local Government Pay was supported.

The Notice of Motion relating to the closure of rail ticket offices was supported.

The Mayor noted there were two Notices of Motion for consideration. 

Councillor Ryan Towers presented a Motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 relating to Local Government Pay.  This was seconded by Councillor Kim Snape.

Councillors Michelle Le Marinel, Alan Cullens, Aidy Riggott, Joan Williamson, Karen Derbyshire and Alistair Bradley contributed to the debate.

Councillor Ryan Towers proposed, Councillor Kim Snape seconded, and it was Resolved (by majority 35:4:0) that the motion be supported.

Councillor Samantha Martin presented a Motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 relating to the closure of rail ticket offices.  This was seconded by Councillor Sarah Ainsworth.

Councillors Alan Cullens, Aidy Riggott, Jean Sherwood, Kim Snape and Matthew Lynch contributed to the debate.

Councillor Samantha Martin proposed, Councillor Sarah Ainsworth seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the motion be supported.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act.

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

1.         That the terms reported in this report are accepted and approval is confirmed to issue a 12-year lease to Panache Cruises.

2.         That authority is granted to instruct the Director of Governance to complete the legal formalities.

3.         That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive and the Executive Member for Resources to agree any subsequent variations to the terms reported.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the confidential report of the Chief Executive. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.      To accept the terms and approve the issue of a 12-year lease to Panache Cruises.

2.      To grant authority to instruct the Director of Governance to complete the legal formalities.

To delegate authority to the Chief Executive and the Executive Member for Resources to agree any subsequent variations to the terms reported.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

1.         That the terms reported be approved and authority granted to issue instructions to the Director of Governance to complete the Lease to the CFH (North West) Limited, subject to:

a)      Financial checks on CFH (North West) Limited being undertaken by finance and signed off by the Chief Executive;

b)      Parent company guarantee being provided to cover risk of council capital expenditure at lease outset;

c)      Net income after incentives equates to £58,000 per annum, in line with comparable properties on Market Walk and occupies a previously vacant unit.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson presented the confidential report of the Chief Executive.  

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.      To approve the terms and grant authority to issue instructions to the Director of Governance to complete the Lease to the CFH (North West) Limited, subject to:

a)        Financial checks on CFH (North West) Limited being undertaken by finance and signed off by the Chief Executive;

b)        Parent company guarantee being provided to cover risk of council capital expenditure at lease outset;

Net income after incentives equates to £58,000 per annum, in line with comparable properties on Market Walk and occupies a previously vacant unit.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

1.         To vire a budget of £321,000 from the existing, approved, Public Realm Town Centre capital budget to the Queens Road car park enhancement scheme.

2.         To approve the final design as shown in Appendix A

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the confidential report of the Chief Executive.

Members discussed the timescales for completion, the width of spaces, the future installation of Electric Vehicle charging points and considerations around CCTV. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.      To vire a budget of £321,000 from the existing, approved, Public Realm Town Centre capital budget to the Queens Road car park enhancement scheme.

To approve the final design as shown in Appendix A.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

1.         To approve the transfer of Chorley Bus Station and its associated staffing and operation from Lancashire County Council to Chorley Council

2.         To delegate to the Director of Governance, in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources, the authority to finalise and agree the heads of terms for the transfer.

Councillor Aidy Riggott declared a personal interest as a Cabinet member at Lancashire County Council. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the confidential report of the Chief Executive. 

In response to a query from the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Cullens, queried Councillor Bradley confirmed a condition survey had been undertaken and not that the building was not complex in design.  Risks associated with the proposals had been considered.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (by majority 35:3:1)

1.      To approve the transfer of Chorley Bus Station and its associated staffing and operation from Lancashire County Council to Chorley Council.

To delegate to the Director of Governance, in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources, the authority to finalise and agree the heads of terms for the transfer.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

1.         To approve an overall capital budget of £3,750,000 to re-locate the Bengal Street depot to the Common Bank Industrial Estate site.

2.         To approve a new revenue budget for the associated borrowing costs of £192k per annum from 2024/25 onwards.

3.         To approve the re-location of the Bengal Street depot and Streetscene function to the Common Bank Industrial Estate site.

4.         To approve the purchase of the long lease hold interest at Common Bank Industrial Estate site.

5.         To note the commencement of HR procedures to consult with employees regarding the change of working location.

6.         To note a further report will be brought forward and delegated for the Executive Members attention to review and approve the costs attributed to staff impacted with regards to the relocation of the workplace.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the confidential report of the Chief Executive. 

Members debated the proposals, with Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Cullens and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Platt.  It was noted that the future plans for the Bengal Street depot would be considered at the Wholly Owned Company working group.  The constraints of the former depot at Yarrow were acknowledged. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.      To approve an overall capital budget of £3,750,000 to re-locate the Bengal Street depot to the Common Bank Industrial Estate site.

2.      To approve a new revenue budget for the associated borrowing costs of £192k per annum from 2024/25 onwards.

3.      To approve the re-location of the Bengal Street depot and Streetscene function to the Common Bank Industrial Estate site.

4.      To approve the purchase of the long lease hold interest at Common Bank Industrial Estate site.

5.      To note the commencement of HR procedures to consult with employees regarding the change of working location.

6.      To note a further report will be brought forward and delegated for the Executive Members attention to review and approve the costs attributed to staff impacted with regards to the relocation of the workplace.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

1.         Approval to increase the capital budget by £980,000 to £17,130,000 covering the contractor’s claim and additional fees incurred throughout the negotiation process.

2.         Delegate authority to the Director of Governance in consultation with the Executive Leader to agree the final construction cost with the contractor within the approved capital budget.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the confidential report of the Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Cullens, supported the proposals, particularly the medical facility.  

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.      To approve the increase of the capital budget by £980,000 to £17,130,000 covering the contractor’s claim and additional fees incurred throughout the negotiation process.

2.      To delegate authority to the Director of Governance in consultation with the Executive Leader to agree the final construction cost with the contractor within the approved capital budget.

This item has been withdrawn from the agenda.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.