Agenda, decisions and minutes

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 made.

Approved.

Resolved (unanimously) that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 16 April 2024 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Mayor.

The Mayor welcomed newly elected members to the meeting.  He thanked those councillors who stood down or were not elected, for their service.

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 the report of the Returning Officer.

That the report be noted.

The Returning Officer, Chris Sinnott, presented his report.

The Returning Officer’s report indicated election results as follows:

Resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To formally elect the Mayor of the Borough for 2024/25.

That Councillor Gordon France be elected as the Mayor of the Borough for 2024/25.

It was proposed by Councillor Kim Snape, and seconded by Councillor Jenny Whiffen, that Councillor Gordon France be elected as Mayor of the Borough of Chorley for the forthcoming Council Year.

Resolved (unanimously) That Councillor Gordon France be elected as the Mayor of the Borough for 2024/25.

To formally elect the Deputy Mayor of the Borough for 2024/25.

That Councillor Alistair Morwood be formally elected as the Deputy Mayor of the Borough for 2024/25.

It was proposed by Councillor Jean Sherwood, and seconded by Councillor Alistair Bradley, that Councillor Alistair Morwood be elected as Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Chorley for the forthcoming Council Year.

Resolved (unanimously) that Councillor Alistair Morwood be elected as the Deputy Mayor of the Borough for 2024/25.

There was a brief adjournment to allow the Retiring Mayor and Mayoress; the newly elected Mayor and Mayoress; and the newly elected Deputy Mayor and Mayoress to exchange robes and badges of office.

Councillor Gordon France in the Chair

On resuming the meeting, Councillor Gordon France signed the declaration of acceptance of office of Mayor, and thanked Councillors for his appointment.

Councillor Alistair Morwood signed the declaration of acceptance of office of Deputy Mayor, and thanked Councillors for his appointment.

The Retiring Mayor will receive tributes following his year in office.

The Mayor thanked the Retiring Mayor, Councillor Tommy Gray for their hard work as ambassador for Chorley during their year of office.

Political group leaders also paid tribute to the Retiring Mayor for a very successful year and the positive work undertaken in support of their charities.

Councillor Tommy Gray responded, thanking Councillors for their kind words and support over the year.

To elect an Executive Leader for the Council.

This is a four-year appointment, last elected in 2020.

To approve that Councillor Alistair Bradley be appointed as Executive Leader to the Council for a four year term.

The Mayor asked for nominations for the role of Executive Leader on the Council. This was a four-year appointment as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

It was proposed by Councillor Peter Wilson, and seconded by Councillor Bev Murray and Resolved (unanimously) to approve that Councillor Alistair Bradley be appointed as Executive Leader to the Council for a four year term.

To receive a report of the Executive Leader.

That the Executive Cabinet appointments for 2024/25 be noted.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader informed the Council of his appointments to the Executive Cabinet for 2024/25. 

Appointments to the Executive Cabinet and portfolio support roles were reported as follows:

The remit for these roles will be defined by the relevant Executive Member, except the Mental Health Awareness Council Champion which has a defined role description.

Resolved (unanimously) that the Executive Cabinet appointments for 2024/25 be noted.

To approve the appointment of Members of the Council to Committees, Working Groups, etc and to note shadow appointments for 2024/25.

1.         The allocation of committee places in accordance with the Political Balance Rules as set out in the report be approved.

2.         The Members, Chairs and Vice Chairs for the committees set out in the appendix to this report be appointed for the period of twelve months until the first business meeting of the Council in May 2025.

3.         To note the Shadow Cabinet appointments for this municipal year.

The Council considered a schedule of nominations for the appointment of committees, working groups and panels in accordance with the political balance of the Council, together with nominations to Chair and Vice Chair positions.

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

1.         The allocation of committee places in accordance with the Political Balance Rules as set out in the report be approved.

2.         The Members, Chairs and Vice Chairs for the committees set out in the appendix to the minutes be appointed for the period of twelve months until the first business meeting of the Council in May 2025.

3.         To note the Shadow Cabinet appointments for this municipal year.

To approve the appointment of Members on outside bodies for 2024/25.

A schedule of nominations for the appointment of Council representatives on outside bodies for the forthcoming Council year was circulated.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed, the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) that appointments to outside bodies be approved as follows:

Appointment by role

General appointments

To note the programme of Council Meetings for 2024/25:

·                16 July 2024

·                17 September 2024

·                19 November 2024

·                28 January 2025

·                25 February 2025

·                15 April 2025

·                13 May 2025

That the programme of Council Meetings for 2024/25 be noted.

Councillors noted the programme of Council Meetings for 2024/25 as follows:

·                16 July 2024

·                17 September 2024

·                19 November 2024

·                28 January 2025

·                25 February 2025

·                15 April 2025

·                13 May 2025

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

1.         To receive the grant amount of £310,345 as per the details within this report and create an expenditure budget to administer the grant.

2.         To proceed to develop a delivery plan which reflects specific criteria set out in the government guidance published to allocate and administer the grant.

The Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray, presented the report of the Director of Communities and Leisure.

The report provided details on the district element of the government’s Household Support Fund Phase 5 (HSF5), which was allocated to Chorley Council by Lancashire County Council.

It also sought approval to receive £310,345 allocated to Chorley to deliver the fund using specific criteria set out in the government guidance and to provide an overview of the proposed approach.

The Councils Communities team have been working in partnership with community partners to develop a delivery plan that responds to current issues but also encourages those who were in difficulty to access wider and more impactful support.

This approach was achieved by directing applicants through community organisations, social prescribing and other health pathways to provide a more holistic approach to resolving issues and encourage the development of skills and social contacts that would increase resilience and wellbeing as well as providing financial support.

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Debra Platt, thanked the officers, community organisations and those involved in delivering this, noting the funding originated from central government.

The Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray proposed and Deputy Portfolio Holder - Early Intervention, Councillor Hasina Khan seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.         To receive the grant amount of £310,345 as per the details within this report and create an expenditure budget to administer the grant.

2.         To proceed to develop a delivery plan which reflects specific criteria set out in the government guidance published to allocate and administer the grant.

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 * 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 1972.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Planning and Property.

1.         Approve the allocation of a further budget for the delivery of the new pavilion, ancillary facilities and improved playing pitches at Gillett Playing Fields.

2.         Approve the submission of a planning application for a comprehensive new changing facility at Gillett Playing Fields.

The Executive Member (Planning and Development), Councillor Alistair Morwood presented the confidential report of the Director of Planning and Property.

The report proposed improvement of Gillett Playing Fields with comprehensive new changing facility and playing pitch improvements.

The vision for Gillett Playing Fields sought to combine cricket use with reintroduced junior football use with pitch enhancements and a comprehensive new pavilion with improved access and car parking. 

The provision of improved cricket and junior football provision would help to address Borough-wide needs identified in the Open Space, Sports and Recreation Strategy (OSSR).

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Platt, queried where in the Borough the funding had received from.  Councillor Morwood undertook to provide this detail outside the meeting.

Following a query, it was noted that the detail of regarding the remaining Section 106 funds was set out in the table at paragraph 18 within the report. 

The Executive Member (Planning and Development), Councillor Alistair Morwood proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded and it was Resolved (37:0:1)

1.         Approve the allocation of a further budget for the delivery of the new pavilion, ancillary facilities and improved playing pitches at Gillett Playing Fields.

2.         Approve the submission of a planning application for a comprehensive new changing facility at Gillett Playing Fields.