Agenda and minutes

Decision: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 21 July 2020, and decisions from 14 August and 4 September 2020 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.

There were no declarations of interests received.

The Mayor thanked staff involved in helping under demanding circumstances, and thank those involved in the town centre chats, the closer contact with the faith communities and the Mayor of Chorley Facebook page.

The Mayor thanked all those who made a donation in support of the Moonlight and Memories 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.

One public question was received from Mr David Harrison.

Following the declaration of a Climate Emergency in November 2019 can the Council confirm that financial and policy measures are now in place to reduce carbon emissions from the Borough so that the net zero target of 2030 will be achieved?

What financial provision has been made for air quality monitoring arrangements including for particulates (PM2.5)?

Motorways contribute significantly to high levels of nitrogen oxide in the Borough, will the Council press Government to extend 60mph speed limit restrictions to include the M6 and M61?

In response, the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley, advised that the council put aside a reserve of £500,000 in its budget in February to support the work to reach the net zero target by 2030.  The challenge of overcoming the Climate Emergency is not one that can be completed in isolated and requires coordination, cooperation and collaboration between Council’s, communities and partners.

In November 2020, a meeting is to be held to set the strategy for the Council for the coming years which will include a detailed report covering policy and financial plans.

The council already undertakes air quality monitoring in the borough and publish the findings on the council’s website on an annual basis.  Air quality monitoring needs to change and improve – and the council are aiming to introduce monitoring of particulates (in particular particulates (PM2.5), potentially funded by some of the money put aside to fight climate change and its effects.

The decision around speed limits rests with Highways England and the government.  The council will pay close attention to the results of the trials that are currently being undertaken and will use the results to see what the best approach is.

Smart motorways can already vary speed limits to reduce bi-products of vehicle emissions and air pollution in local hot spots, such as Botany Bay.

A supplementary question was asked relating to the consideration of issuing an advisory notice to residents not to use log burners.  This is particularly important during the current pandemic.

To consider a general report of the Executive Cabinet held on 30 July 2020. 

Members considered a general report of the meeting of Executive Cabinet held on 30 July 2020.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded the Decision – that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

The Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

The potential medium-term impact of Covid-19 on the council’s budget is a reduction in the retained business rates, council tax and increase in service demand, such as homelessness.

Councillor Martin Boardman queried the 2019/20 variance regarding Strawberry Fields Digital Office Park of £147,000.  It was noted that this is a loss against a target budget.  This was due to delays in the development of the access road on the adjacent site meaning that the office park opened five months later than originally budgeted.  The centre did close for a time due to Covid-19, but has now reopened with some restrictions relaxed by the funding body.  The hot desking section is not currently being used for hot desking due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor John Walker, queried whether the Tatton project ought to be put on hold.  Councillor Peter Wilson highlighted the need for this project to continue for those residents within the area, particularly the new GP surgery.

The Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded the unanimous Decision – that approval be given to the following:

1.         To note the full year forecast position for the 2019/20 revenue budget and capital investment programme.

2.         To note the slippage requests outlined in Appendix 2 of the report to finance expenditure on specific items or projects in 2020/21.

3.         To note Request Executive Cabinet approval for the contribution of £63k from in-year revenue underspends to the Change Management Reserve to finance one-off redundancy and pension strain costs arising from transformation and shared service strategies. This will bring the reserve to £250k.

4.         To note Executive Cabinet approval for the contribution of £100k from in-year revenue underspends to fund the revenue implications of future planning appeals. This will bring the reserve to £100k.

5.         To note Executive Cabinet approval for the contribution of £100k from in-year revenue underspends to fund crucial works to the council’s CCTV operations centre.

6.         To note Executive Cabinet approval for the contribution of £203k from in-year revenue underspends to increase the business rates retention reserve.

7.         To note the 2019/20 outturn position on the Council's reserves outlined in Appendix 4.

8.         To note the impact of the final capital expenditure outturn and the re-phasing of capital budgets to 2020/21 and approve the adjustments to the capital programme outlined in paragraph 61.

9.         To request Council approval of the financing of the 2019/20 capital programme to maximise the use of funding resources available to the Council.

To receive and consider the general report of the Governance Committee held on 16 September 2020. 

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 16 September 2020.

The Chair of the Governance Committee, Councillor Debra Platt proposed and the Vice-Chair, Councillor Anthony Gee seconded the DECISION – that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the General Purposes Committee held on 16 September 2020.

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 16 September 2020.

Members thanked the Executive and the officers involved in dealing with taking on the running of the leisure centres again.

The Chair of the General Purposes Committee, Councillor Aaron Beaver proposed and the Vice-Chair, Councillor Gordon France seconded the DECISION – that the report be noted.

To consider any changes to Committee appointments.

No changes to appointments were required.

No questions were asked under Council Procedure Rule 8.

The Mayor has accepted, as an urgent item, the enclosed Notice of Motion, which has been submitted by Councillor Peter Wilson.

Councillor Peter Wilson presented the following Motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.

Chorley Council notes with great disappointment the failure of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust to re-open Chorley Accident & Emergency Department by their expected target date of 28th September. The Council expresses grave concern that the Trust only intend to review the position on 3rd December. The Council re-affirms its strong belief that residents of the borough deserve an A&E facility at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital and supports the work of local MPs Lindsay Hoyle, Katherine Fletcher and Nigel Evans in their lobbying of Ministers and senior health officials to bring about the re-opening of our A&E department as soon as possible.

Following debate, Members made the unanimous Decision - 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 and 4 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).

By Virtue of Paragraph 4: Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under the authority.

Condition:

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 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 and 4 of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act.

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley, presented the confidential report of the Deputy Chief Executive which sets out proposals to create a new grade structure for shared services and adopt a shared approach to job evaluation.  The report also sets out proposals for new travel benefits for shared services as the final element of the terms of conditions.

Members thanked all those involved with this piece of work. 

Councillor Martin Boardman suggested that the car allowance should incentivise green options.  Councillor Alistair Bradley advised that this proposal will be examined for the next corporate strategy. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded the unanimous Decision -

1.         That the council adopts the grade structure set out at appendix B for staff working within shared services.

2.         The NJC job evaluation scheme, as set out in paragraph 17 to 21, is utilised for shared services.

3.         The council adopts an essential car user policy based on the definition set out at appendix C.

4.         The council introduces a car allowance of 6% of the top of the grade for posts at Level 10 to level 16 inclusive.

5.         That the pay policy be updated accordingly and approved by delegation.