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 18 April 2023 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Mayor, subject to the inclusion of apologies from Councillor Karen Derbyshire.

The Mayor welcomed newly elected members to the meeting. 

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 Mayor congratulated all those Councillors who had been elected or re-elected on 5 May 2022 and in particular welcomed the new and returning Councillors.

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 2023/24.

That Councillor Tommy Gray be elected as the Mayor of the Borough for 2023/24.

It was proposed by Councillor Danny Gee, and seconded by Councillor Adrian Lowe, that Councillor Tommy Gray be elected as Mayor of the Borough of Chorley for the forthcoming Council Year.

Resolved: (unanimously) that Councillor Tommy Gray be elected as the Mayor of the Borough of Chorley for 2023/24.

To formally elect the Deputy Mayor of the Borough for 2023/24.

That Councillor Gordon France be formally elected as the Deputy Mayor of the Borough for 2023/24.

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

Resolved: (unanimously) that Councillor Councillor Gordon France be elected as the Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Chorley for 2023/24.

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

Councillor Tommy Gray in the Chair

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

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

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

The Mayor thanked the Retiring Mayor, Councillor Julia Berry for her hard work as ambassador for Chorley during her 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 her charities.

Councillor Julia Berry responded, thanking Councillors for their kind words and support over the year. 

To receive a report of the Executive Leader.

That the Executive Cabinet appointments for 2023/24 be noted. 

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader informed the Council of his appointments to the Executive Cabinet for 2023/24.  He welcomed Councillor Margaret France as the new Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing & Partnerships.

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 high level role description (below).

Mental Health Awareness Council Champion

•        To maintain an understanding of mental health best practice across a range of topics.

•        To work with fellow elected members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To approve the appointment of Members of the Council to Committees, Working Groups, etc for 2023/24.

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 report be appointed for the period of twelve months until the first business meeting of the Council in May 2024.

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 set out in the report be approved.

2.The Members, Chairs and Vice Chairs for the committees be appointed for the period of twelve months until the first business meeting of the Council in May 2024 as follows:

To approve the appointment of Members on outside bodies for 2023/24.

That the appointment of Members of the Council to represent the Authority on outside bodies in 2023/24 be approved.

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 2023/24:

·                18 Jul 2023

·                19 Sep 2023

·                21 Nov 2023

·                30 Jan 2024

·                27 Feb 2024

·                16 Apr 2024

·                14 May 2024

That the programme of Council Meetings for 2023/24 be noted.

Councillors noted the programme of Council Meetings for 2023/24 as follows:

·                18 Jul 2023

·                19 Sep 2023

·                21 Nov 2023

·                30 Jan 2024

·                27 Feb 2024

·                16 Apr 2024

·                14 May 2024

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

1.         To receive the grant amount of £640,000 as per the details within the 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. 

The Household Support Fund (HSF) had been extended from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 with a further £842m of funding.  Lancashire had been awarded £19,356,470 of which Chorley Council were allocated £640,000.  The span for the fund was a full calendar year, where previously funds released have had a scope for spending over 6 months.

Local provision would focus on working in partnership with community organisations and develop a delivery plan that responds to current issues but also encourages those who are in difficulty to access wider and more impactful support.

The Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously):

1.      To receive the grant amount of £640,000 as per the details within the 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 receive and consider the report of the Director of Communities. 

1.         To receive the funding allocation of £109,750 and create a budget to allocate the funding.

2.         To receive subsequent grant funding allocations and create an equivalent level of budget to allocate the funding.

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

In March 2022, the government announced its decision to move to a full asylum dispersal model supported by grant funding. As part of this move, funding was allocated to local authorities for each new dispersal accommodation bed space occupied until 31 March 2023.

Asylum seekers were some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in society. Securing asylum status was difficult and complex and should this status be granted, asylum seekers were not permitted to work, leaving them dependent on government payments of approximately £5 per day.

The proposals were to undertake further scoping activity and develop a spending proposal for the grant funding which:

a. Attempts to mitigate the impact of asylum dispersal on internal teams

b. Aligns to the priorities of asylum seekers as identified during initial community consultation activity.

The Executive Member (Early Intervention), Councillor Bev Murray proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously):

1.     To receive the funding allocation of £109,750 and create a budget to allocate the funding.

2.     To receive subsequent grant funding allocations and create an equivalent level of budget to allocate the funding.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

That the proposed changes to the director structure approve for consultation in line with the council’s Change Policy.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the report of the Chief Executive which set out proposals for changes to the director structure to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

The director structure had vacancies, with temporary arrangements in place to manage services including the use of interim posts. It was an appropriate time to review those vacant posts and consider how they should be replaced or filled.

As the posts deleted were vacant, there were no redundancies expected as part of the proposed changes. However, as the proposals made changes to posts and the management structure, the council’s Change Policy would be followed.

If the proposals in this report were approved, there would be a period of consultation.  The feedback received would inform any changes that may be required to the proposed structure.  Following consultation, the final structure would be agreed by the Leader.

A comment regarding the need to hold the right member to account on the Leisure Company was noted. 

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

That the proposed changes to the director structure approve for consultation in line with the council’s Change Policy.