Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Mayor invited Members to observe a minute’s silence in memory of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Councillors Alistair Bradley and Alan Cullens paid tribute and sent their condolences to the Royal Family.

Approved.

Resolved (unanimously) that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 19 July 2022 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.

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

1.         To reaffirm Chorley Council’s continued commitment and support to the Armed Forces Community via its Armed Forces Covenant work.

2.         To agree that Chorley Council should continue its pursuit of The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), Gold Award in 2023.

The Mayor explained that she had decided to take this item next as colleagues from the armed forces family were in attendance. 

The Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Aaron Beaver, presented the report of the Director of Communities which informed members of the commitment and support to the Armed Forces Community, via its Armed Forces Covenant work.

The Armed Forces Covenant was a pledge from the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served, and their families, are treated fairly; and it recognised the sacrifices they make on behalf of the country.  The Chief Executive, Gary Hall, recently signed the ‘Armed Forces Covenant’ at The Flag Raising Celebration Event during Armed Forces Week in June 2022.

Members supported the work undertaken and several spoke in support, including Councillor Karen Derbyshire and Alan Cullens. 

The Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Aaron Beaver proposed and the Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray seconded and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.      To reaffirm Chorley Council’s continued commitment and support to the Armed Forces Community via its Armed Forces Covenant work.

To agree that Chorley Council should continue its pursuit of The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), Gold Award in 2023.

The Mayor invited Members to observe a minute’s silence in memory of former Councillor and Mayoress, Nora Ball, and former member of staff, James Thompson, who was the Deputy Director of Finance before leaving the Council in March this year.

The Mayor updated members on her fundraising activities and charity events. 

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 and consider the general report of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 27 July, 22 September (to follow) and Task Group update.

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 27 July and 22 September.

Councillor Walker noted there were a number of projects ‘on hold’ and that these would be monitored. 

Councillor Martin Boardman queried the missed bin performance.  The Executive Member for Customer, Streetscene and Environment, Councillor Adrian Lowe, explained that staffing issues had impacted on the missed bin performance, but noted that this was monitored and financial penalties were in place with the contractor.  It was suggested that ward councillors be kept informed if there were issues in their area. 

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor John Walker proposed and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Roy Lees seconded and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the Governance Committee held on 3 August 2022. 

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 3 August.

The Chair of the Governance Committee, Councillor Debra Platt proposed and the Vice-Chair, Councillor Mark Clifford seconded and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the General Purposes Committee held on 7 September 2022.

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 7 September.

The Chair of the General Purposes Committee, Councillor Aaron Beaver proposed and the Vice-Chair, Councillor Alex Hilton seconded and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Change and Delivery.

To consider and approve the Chorley Economic Strategy for implementation.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley, presented the report of the Director of Change and Delivery. 

The pandemic had a dramatic impact on the economic environment and demonstrated that economic circumstances are intrinsically connected to overall wellbeing and potential.

The Economic Strategy set out a clear ambition and vision for Chorley, considering the local, regional and national context.  It set out a new vision, priorities, objectives and action plan to provide direction and guide the allocation of resources and was developed based on data relating to the local business demography, economic trends and national economic policy.

In response to a query Councillor Bradley noted that there was a lack of investment in the east of Lancashire and that there was a ‘travel to work’ area, which included neighbouring authorities.  The new ‘investment zones’ had been announced the previous week so more information was needed about them before any decisions relating to them. 

Members discussed the potential to invite businesses from the local service centres to future discussions. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded and it was Resolved (by majority 37:0:1)

To consider and approve the Chorley Economic Strategy for implementation.

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

To note that there will be no change to polling station locations, except for St Chad’s parish hall which will be used instead of a portacabin, which returns to the original approved recommendation at the council meeting held on 16 November 2021.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the report of the Director of Governance, which inform members on the outcome of the recent Polling Station Review 2022 survey. 

Each year it is customary for the Returning Officer to review the success of the polling stations used at that year’s election.

To gain a greater understanding on the suitability of polling stations used, members of the council were invited to complete a short survey which consisted of questions about the suitability of premises for the use as a polling station and the ability of the polling station staff employed. 

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

To note that there will be no change to polling station locations, except for St Chad’s parish hall which will be used instead of a portacabin, which returns to the original approved recommendation at the council meeting held on 16 November 2021.

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).

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

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

To approve the changes proposed to the council’s management structure within the review of management capacity.

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

The report presented the review of management capacity and sought approval for changes to the council’s management structure to ensure that it is able to deliver its priorities.

Members debated the proposals, including the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Cullens, Councillors Aidy Riggott and Martin Boardman. 

Councillor Martin Boardman proposed, and Councillor Alan Cullens seconded an amendment that the post ‘Head of Economic Growth’ be a non-shared post. 

A vote was undertaken and the amendment was lost (by majority 7:31:0).

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded and it was Resolved (by majority 31:1:6)

To approve the changes proposed to the council’s management structure within the review of management capacity.