Agenda and minutes

The Mayor invited Members to observe a minute’s silence in memory of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Decision (unanimous) that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 23 February 2021 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 invited members to sponsor Councillors Hasina and Zara Khan who are undertaking fasting for Ramadan. 

The Mayor advised that he will be attending the Service of Thanksgiving at Blackburn Cathedral on Sunday for HRH Prince Philip. 

The Mayor referred to the forthcoming elections, wishing all Members well in contesting their councillor seats. 

Councillors Alistair Bradley and John Walker paid tribute to the work of the retiring Councillors. In particular, they referred to those twelve Councillors who were not seeking re-election and wished them well for the future.  A special event will be held once restrictions have been removed.   

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 meetings held on 21 January, 25 February and 25 March. 

Members considered a general report of the meetings of Executive Cabinet held on 21 January, 25 February and 25 March.

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 general report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings held on 28 January and 18 March, the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 4 March and Task Group update.

Members considered a general report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28 January and 18 March, the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 4 March and Task Group update.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor John Walker proposed and the Vice-Chair, Councillor Roy Lees seconded the Decision that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the Governance Committee meetings held on 20 January and 1 April. 

Members considered a general report of the meetings of the Governance Committee held on 20 January and 1 April 2021.

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 11 March.

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 11 March.

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 receive and consider the report of the Director of Development and Place.

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

Bretherton Parish Council wishes to develop a Neighbourhood Plan and has requested the parish boundary be designated as a Neighbourhood Area. The Council held a six-week statutory consultation, inviting interested parties to make representations to the Council on the proposed boundary for the area of the Neighbourhood Plan.  Once designated, Bretherton Parish Council will prepare an evidence-based draft Neighbourhood Plan.  

The Executive Member (Public Protection), Councillor Alistair Morwood proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded the unanimous Decision to approve the designation of the Neighbourhood Plan area boundary for Bretherton as shown at Appendix 1.

No questions were asked under Council Procedure Rule 8.

No Notices of Motion were submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.

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 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 Deputy Chief Executive.

The Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Beverly Murray, presented the confidential report of the Deputy Chief Executive which proposes  the establishment of a wholly-owned company with charitable purposes to manage the council’s leisure centres. 

Councillor Murray set out the business case for the establishment of a wholly owned leisure company for the council and the different options available to the council in determining the management model for its leisure centres. 

Members considered the establishment of the company, governance arrangements, financial considerations and staffing arrangements (including terms and conditions and staffing structure).

Members supported this proposal, particularly for the staff involved. 

The Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Beverly Murray proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded the unanimous Decision

2. That the council agrees the establishment of a wholly-owned company with charitable purposes as set out in the attached business case, and delegates to the Director of Governance authority to finalise the arrangements for its creation.

3. The council appoints the Director of Finance, Director of Governance and Director of Commercial Services as Directors of the company when it is formed.

4. The council notes the financial model for the company and approves the creation of additional capacity in support services.

5. The council approves for consultation the proposed terms and conditions for staff working for the company and delegates to the Executive Member (Resources) authority to agree the implementation.

6. The council approves for consultation the proposed staffing structure and delegates to the Executive Member (Early Intervention) authority to agree the implementation.