Decision: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 21 January 2020 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Mayor. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Martin Boardman noted that a comment had been made by a Councillor during 20.C.13 Market Walk Update which referred to himself as “stupid”.  This had resulted in a complaint under the Code of Conduct.  Councillor Boardman reminded all Members of the need to refrain from personal insults and requested an apology from the Councillor, stating that he will not attend meetings when the Councillor is present until an apology is received.  The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson, agreed that there is a need to maintain respect when debating. 

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.

There were no declarations of interests received.

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, wished Councillor Debra Platt best wishes for her ongoing treatment for breast cancer.

The Mayor explained that a hand carved gavel had recently been presented to the Council in memory of Councillor Ralph Snape.  Mr Corbett, a local woodturner, had presented the gavel in the presence of Councillor Joyce Snape, her son, Russell and the Mayor. 

The Mayor thanked all those who attended her Valentine’s Bollywood Ball and highlighted her Spring Concert featuring the Sing It Big Community Choir and Sing It Big Youth Choir will take place on 24 March at 7pm. 

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.

There were no public questions for consideration.

To seek approval to recommendations from the Executive contained in the attached report of the Chief Finance Officer (Introduced by the Executive Member for Resources) and within the appendices listed below.

The Mayor explained that this item and item 6. Fees and Charges Review 2020/21 will be considered at the same time. 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the Executive's General Fund Revenue and Capital Budget and Council Tax 2020/21 and item 6. Fees and Charges Review 2020/21.

Councillor Wilson thanked the officers and the Labour Group for their hard work and input into the proposed budget.  The Council is facing uncertainty in terms of funding streams, with a one-year funding settlement for 2020/21 only from the Government, changes to the Business Rate Retention system and New Homes Bonus. 

Councillor Wilson referred to the achievements of the council in recent years, and the plans within the Corporate Strategy, which will be delivered by this proposed budget. 

The council has been ambitious in its approach to meeting the budget deficit through generating efficiency savings and additional income.  However, there remain large forecast budget deficits of £1.087m in 2021/22 and £2.061 in 2022/23.  To achieve a sufficient reduction in net expenditure the Council’s strategy will be:

1.         To make the council more financially self-sufficient with specific emphasis on creating investment that generates income.  This includes identifying future uncommitted resources to support income generating schemes.

2.         To realise savings through the procurement of its contracts. 

3.         To identify the efficiencies through investment in infrastructure, ICT and through exploring alternative delivery models that will enable the council to balance the budget whilst seeking to minimise the impact on front line service users. 

In summary, the proposals will:

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

·                £50,000 ongoing investment in neighbourhood projects identified as priorities by local residents.

·                £60,000 to fund resource for digital inclusion to ensure that residents from across the borough are enabled to access services online.

Clean, safe and healthy homes and communities

·                £120,000 to support the ongoing work of the Youth Zone to continue to deliver high quality diversionary and wellbeing activities for young people in Chorley.  This includes budget for additional outreach for those living further from the town centre.

·                £50,000 to improve street cleaning and litter collections. Resident dissatisfaction was 12.79% for September 2019 compared to a target of 20%.

A strong local economy

·                £125,000 to deliver an ambitious events programme including the Flower Show, Chorley Live and Christmas attractions attracting more than 69,000 people.

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

·                £60,000 to support over 230 vulnerable individuals, achieving better wellbeing outcomes £70,000 to run and improve key bus routes in the borough to mitigate the impact of county wide cuts, ensuring that residents can access all areas of the borough.

With reference to the Capital Programme there will be investment in the Markets, on Chapel Street, affordable housing and local service centres.  In addition, there will be investment in Westway Playing Fields, improvements to Union Street Offices, Astley Hall and Park and Whittle Health Hub.  Large sites will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.C.18

To consider a report of the Conservative Group. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Martin Boardman, presented the Alternative Budget 2020/21.  This follows on from the alternative corporate strategy and sets out the Opposition’s plan putting the wellbeing of residents and businesses at the heart of everything it does, while providing high quality services at a cost the people of Chorley can afford.

Councillor Boardman advised that, broadly, the Opposition support the direction of the administration’s budget, but do not agree with the level of borrowing and risk undertaken by the administration. 

The proposals within the Alternative Budget include revenue investment totalling up £1.4m per year and savings and additional income of up to £2.2m per year to ensure the budget is balanced without the need to increase Chorley Council’s council tax charge.

The proposals include working better across teams and with partners to make many small changes that can have significant impacts across five themes:

·                The Environment

·                Economy & Education

·                Commmunity Safety

·                Housing

·                Health

In debating the proposals put forward by the opposition, Members raised issues around the proposed reduction to the annual charge for garden waste collection, savings from staffing, housing proposals and transport provision to enable young people to access the Youth Zone. 

Members then debated the General Fund Revenue and Capital Budget and Council Tax 2020/21 and the Fees and Charges Review 2020/21.

In debating the proposals Members raised issues around the allocation of Section 106 money in Buckshaw Village, affordable housing provision, outreach work undertaken by the Youth Zone and the differing approaches of community centres. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Martin Boardman, made comments in relation to investment within the Town Centre and rural areas, the outcome of the pension review and works planned to Union Street offices. 

There was general support for the proposals around the green agenda. 

AMENDMENT

The adoption of the Alternative Budget as set out in the report, was moved as an amendment by the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Martin Boardman and seconded by the Shadow Cabinet Member (Early Intervention and Support), Councillor John Walker.

In line with the legal requirement for all budget decisions to be recorded, this proposal was put to the vote and recorded as follows:

FOR: E Bell, M Boardman, V Caunce, K Iddon, J Walker. 

AGAINST: H Khan, S Holgate, A Beaver, T Brown, M Clifford, J Cronshaw, J Fitzsimons, C France, P Gabbott, A Gee, D Gee, T Gray, A Hilton, Z Khan, M Lees, R Lees, L Lennox, A Lowe, M Lowe, M Lynch, J Molyneaux, A Morwood, S Murfitt, B Murray, G Sharples, P Sloan, J Snape, K Snape, P Walmsley, N Whitham, A Whittaker, P Wilson. 

The vote was LOST.

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION

The substantive motion, as indicated in Agenda Items 5 and 6, with the additional recommendations relating to delivering the green agenda was proposed by the Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson, and seconded by the Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray, was then put to the vote.

In line with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.C.19

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Early Intervention. 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the report of the Director of Early Intervention, which requests approval to the Memorandum of Understanding and Statement of Co-operation which has been subject to consultation.

The three Central Lancashire Councils intend to implement a distribution of housing based on robust evidence.  The evidence contained within the Central Lancashire Housing Study, produced by consultants Iceni, recommends that the most appropriate distribution of the minimum number of homes needed in the area is

Preston City Council                             40%                410 homes per annum

South Ribble Borough Council            32.5%            334 homes per annum

Chorley Council                                     27.5%            282 homes per annum

Total                                                         100%             1,026 per annum

This will be reviewed as the new local plan emerges and the spatial development policies are prepared.

The Deputy Leader andExecutive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Member (Public Protection), Councillor Alistair Morwood seconded the unanimous Decision –

1.         To approve the Memorandum of Understanding and Statement of Co-operation between the Central Lancashire authorities as set out in Appendix 2 of this report, to take effect immediately following the approval by Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council and Chorley Council;

2.         To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive to amend the revised Memorandum of Understanding and Statement of Co-operation by way of minor alterations which do not effect the substance or general content of the said document prior to it taking effect;

3.         To note that on the date of effect, the Memorandum of Understanding and Statement of Cooperation will be implemented for Development Management purposes in the determination of planning applications; and

4.         The preparation of a single five year housing land supply for the purposes of determining planning applications & appeals which will include sharing information about specific sites.

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

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the report of the Returning Officer which proposes the location of polling stations based on the new ward boundary arrangements, as determined by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, following its electoral review of Chorley Council in 2018/19.

Councillor Wilson proposed an amendment to the recommendation within the report “to delegate the final decision for the location of the temporary mobile polling station intended to replace St Laurence’s Primary School in the Chorley North West Ward to the Returning Officer in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources”.

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Member (Customer and Digital), Councillor Adrian Lowe seconded the unanimous Decision –

1.         To approve the amended list of polling stations detailed in the table at paragraph 13 which has been updated following further consultation. 

2.         To delegate the final decision for the location of the temporary mobile polling station intended to replace St Laurence’s Primary School in the Chorley North West Ward to the Returning Officer in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources.

3.         That the council launch a publicity campaign advising voters of any changes.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive. 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the report of the Chief Executive which provides an update on the actions that the council has, and will, take to address the Climate Change Emergency.  This included giving away trees and positive action undertaken by council staff. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Martin Boardman, commented on the diesel generators used for the ice rink and the Flower Show and estimated that the CO2 produced over three years could amount to 100,00kg.  Councillor Wilson noted the difficult balance when hosting events and environmental considerations. 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray seconded the Decision – that the report be noted.

To consider any changes to Committee appointments.

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray seconded the unanimous Decision -

To reduce the number on Appointments Panel from 9 to 6. (5:1:0)

Membership to be Councillors A Bradley, M Boardman, T Brown, J Fitzsimons, B Murray and P Wilson.

Reserves to remain Cllr M Lees and J Walker.  

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 Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray seconded the Decision  –  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 Director of Commercial Services. 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the confidential report of the Director of Commercial Services. 

The report advised Members of a proposal to purchase a site within Chorley as a commercial investment / potential future redevelopment asset and seeks approval to the making of a tender bid in respect of the purchase.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Martin Boardman, raised concerns over the level of borrowing required for this purchase and noted the late nature of the report. 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Member (Early Intervention) Councillor Bev Murray seconded the Decision by majority –

1.         To approve the submission of a tender bid for the purchase of a site within Chorley for the amount set out in the report. 

2.         To approve additional PWLB borrowing to fund the total purchase costs including stamp duty at 4%.

3.         To note the intention to hold the site for investment and future development possibilities.

4.         That the decision for the final submission of the bid, any conditions attached to the submission and any issues arising from pre-submission due diligence be delegated to the Executive Member.