Agenda, decisions and minutes

Approved.

Resolved (unanimously) that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 July 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.

No declarations of interests were declared.

The Deputy Mayor updated members on fundraising activities and charity events, including a cricket match and a forthcoming Christmas Tea Dance.

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 consider a general report of the Executive Cabinet held on 13 September.

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 13 September.

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 consider a general report of the Governance Committee held on 2 August. 

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the Governance Committee meeting held on 2 August.

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.

To receive and consider the general report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1 August, the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 27 July and Task Group update.

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1 August, the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 27 July and Task Group update.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Aidy Riggott proposed the report and the Vice Chair, Councillor Roy Lees seconded, and it was Resolved (Unanimously) that the report be noted.

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

Noted.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Aidy Riggott, presented Scrutiny Reporting Back, a summary of the work of the Committee in 2022/2023. 

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Aidy Riggott proposed the report and the Vice Chair, Councillor Roy Lees seconded, and it was Resolved (Unanimously) that the report be noted.

To appoint to the following vacant seats

•         Overview and Scrutiny Committee

•         Planning Committee

•         Licensing and Public Safety Committee

•         Local Plan Working Group

1.         To note the election of Councillor Debra Platt at the by election on 14 September 20223.

2.         To note the following committee appointments

Overview and Scrutiny Committee              Councillor Debra Platt

Planning Committee                                     Councillor Debra Platt

Licensing and Public Safety Committee     Councillor Debra Platt

Local Plan Working Group                            Councillor Debra Platt

3.         To note Cllr Craige Southern as the Planning Shadow spokesperson.

The Returning Officer, Chris Sinnott, reported that Councillor Debra Platt had been elected at the by election on 14 September 20223.

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)

1.         To note the election of Councillor Debra Platt at the by election on 14 September 20223.

2.         To note the following committee appointments

Overview and Scrutiny Committee                      Councillor Debra Platt

Planning Committee                                                Councillor Debra Platt

Licensing and Public Safety Committee            Councillor Debra Platt

Local Plan Working Group                                    Councillor Debra Platt

3.         To note Cllr Craige Southern as the Planning Shadow spokesperson.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive and Returning Officer.

That polling station 31 which relates to polling district CHN&A04 currently hosted at St Peter’s CE Primary School, Eaves Lane, Chorley be relocated to St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Harpers Lane, Chorley.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson presented the report of the Chief Executive and Returning Officer.

The report advised that, due to increasing pupil numbers, the headteacher at St Peter’s CE Primary School had asked that an alternative venue be found to site polling station 31.  This was due to the room, that would normally be used as a polling station, had been turned into a permanent classroom.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) That polling station 31 which related to polling district CHN&A04 currently hosted at St Peter’s CE Primary School, Eaves Lane, Chorley be relocated to St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Harpers Lane, Chorley.

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

1.         That Council be recommended to appoint

• Lorraine Norris, former Chief Executive of Preston City Council

• Phil Davies, former Elections Manager at Chorley Council

• Diane Gradwell, Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice Lancashire West

as members of the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of three years.

2.         To reappoint Dennis Benson as the Chair of the Panel for the next three years.

3.         That the Panel be requested to consider particularly a new role within the Members Allowances Scheme, to review the annual uprate mechanism and make recommendations on any changes to the Scheme for Council approval.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the report of the Director of Governance.

The Council is required to appoint and instruct the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) to review the current Members Allowances Scheme and make recommendations on any changes to the Scheme for determination by Council.

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

1.         To appoint

•        Lorraine Norris, former Chief Executive of Preston City Council

•        Phil Davies, former Elections Manager at Chorley Council

•        Diane Gradwell, Chief Executive Officer, Citizens Advice Lancashire West

as members of the Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of three years.

2.         To reappoint Dennis Benson as the Chair of the Panel for the next three years.

3.         That the Panel be requested to consider particularly a new role within the Members Allowances Scheme, to review the annual uprate mechanism and make recommendations on any changes to the Scheme for Council approval.

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

1.         To approve the change of name of the Wholly Owned Company and Projects Working Group, to the Development and Assets Working Group.

2.         To approve the updated Terms of Reference for the Working Group.

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

The report requested to change the name of the Wholly Owned Company and Projects Working Group, to the Development and Assets Working Group, and to update the Terms of Reference accordingly.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Cullens, welcomed the report and the clarity regarding the positive function undertaken by the working group. 

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

1.         To approve the change of name of the Wholly Owned Company and Projects Working Group, to the Development and Assets Working Group.

2.         To approve the updated Terms of Reference for the Working Group.

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

To approve the request from Chorley Leisure Ltd for financial support of £1.122m, a breakdown of which is included in the body of the report.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson presented the report of the Director of Finance.

The report detailed a request from the Council’s wholly owned subsidiary company, Chorley Leisure Ltd, for financial support due to the extraordinary and unbudgeted increases in energy costs, an assumed increase in salary costs over the 5% budgeted (based on the latest offer made in the 2023/24 LJNCC pay negotiations), and a shortfall in income levels.

Members noted the work undertaken by the Council since taking the leisure function back in house, including an app.  Memberships had continued to increase and were now at 73% of pre-pandemic figures and swimming lessons were at 104% of these levels.

It was noted that the funding would come from a specific reserve for the Leisure Company. 

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) To approve the request from Chorley Leisure Ltd for financial support of £1.122m, a breakdown of which is included in the body of the report.

No questions were asked.

No Notice of Motion were received.

No petitions were received.

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).

Approved.

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.

To approve the recommendations as set out in the report.

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

Members noted the current position and that the current target date for the submission of the Local Plan was June 2025. 

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

1.         The Council reaffirms the commitment to the Central Lancashire Local Plan and to having a new Local Plan.

2.         The Council to seek to use reasonable endeavours via the plan making system to retain employment need within the borough, allocating sufficient future land supply to accommodate that need, as opposed to relying on provision being made by South Ribble or Preston.