Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Margaret Lees, Edward Smith, Shaun Smith and Mrs Stella Walsh.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial 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.

The Mayor informed the meeting that the Standards Committee had considered the Council’s request for a dispensation for Members of Chorley Borough Council to allow participation in Council meetings at which matters relating to the concessionary travel scheme are discussed.  At the last Council meeting consideration of a notice of motion on the concessionary travel scheme was adjourned to await the deliberation of the Standards Committee.  Over half of the Councillors would have a personal and potentially a prejudicial interest in the item.

The Standards Committee granted a dispensation to 27 Members of the Council, allowing them to participate in the Notice of Motion relating to the concessionary travel scheme to be considered later in the meeting (Minute 07.C.88 refers).

Accordingly the following Members were granted a dispensation:

Councillors Ken Ball, Nora Ball, Eric Bell, Judith Boothman, Alan Cain, Pat Case, Mike Devaney, David Dickinson, Mrs Doreen Dickinson, Dennis Edgerley, Anthony Gee, Daniel Gee, Peter Goldsworthy, Mrs Marie Gray, Pat Haughton, Margaret Iddon, Roy Lees, Mick Muncaster, Geoffrey Russell, Rosie Russell, Edward Smith, Iris Smith, Ralph Snape, Joyce Snape, John Walker, Stella Walsh and Mrs Mary Wilson.

To confirm the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 July 2007 as a correct record for signature by the Mayor (copy enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 July 2007 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Mayor.

As this was the first meeting following the death of Ex-Councillor Keith Lowe, the Mayor wished it to be placed on record his and his families thanks for the support and messages of condolence that had been received.

Charity Ten-pin Bowling Tournament

On Wednesday, 26 September the Mayor was holding a ten-pin bowling tournament at the Capitol Centre in Preston to raise money for his charities.  During the evening teams of six battled it out for the winners trophy.  A limited number of places were still available.  Tickets were priced at £10 per person, which included two games.

Charity Meal at the Coach House Brasserie

There was to be a change of venue for the Charity meal taking place following the next Full Council meeting on Tuesday, 30 October.  Members would be advised of the new venue in the next few days.

Remembrance Day

On Sunday, 11 November, all Members were invited to accompany the Mayor in the procession to St Laurence’s Church and to the Cenotaph in Astley Park for Remembrance Sunday.  If you are able to attend, please assemble in the Council Chamber no later than 9.15am.  Afterwards, tea and coffee will be served in the Council Chamber.

Christmas Card Donations

Do you spend hours each Christmas writing out cards for all your council colleagues?  Well, save time this year by making a donation to my charity fund instead.  A single Christmas card will be displayed in the Members Room with the names of everyone who has donated money, so that other members know you’ve not forgotten them.  A minimum donation of £5 is requested.

Report enclosed

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration presented a report seeking endorsement of the Sustainable Resources Development Plan to be submitted to the Government as the first policy document within Chorley’s new Local Development Framework.

The Development Plan had been compiled and refined following a series of consultation exercises.  The Borough was well placed to contribute to the reduction of the impact of climate change and the document aimed, through the development control process, to achieve more sustainable methods of construction of developments which would reduce carbon emission and enable renewable energy regeneration across Chorley.

A further six weeks consultation period would commence following the submission of the documents to the Government, during which time formal representations could be made, with objectors having the right to appear at a public hearing before an independent Inspector.  Ultimately, the Inspector’s recommendations on the document would be binding.

It was moved by the Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, seconded by the Executive Leader, and subsequently RESOLVED:

1)  That the Sustainable Resources Development Plan document be approved in the submitted form for submission to the Government, subject to the Director of Development and Regeneration being given delegated authority to make textual and presentational amendments to the document.

2)  That the Director of Development and Regeneration be given delegated power to approve minor amendments to the Development Plan document during the examination stage.

Report enclosed.

The Executive Leader presented a report which summarised the principal matters considered at the meeting of the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 9 August 2007.

It was moved by the Executive Leader, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council, and subsequently RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Report enclosed.

The Executive Leader presented a report which summarised the principal matters considered at the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 6 September 2007.

It was moved by the Executive Leader, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council and subsequently RESOLVED that the report be noted.

General Report enclosed.

The Chair of the Development Control Committee (Councillor H Heaton) presented a report which commented on a few of the more significant planning applications that had been determined at meetings of the Committee held on 17 July 2007 and 14 August 2007.

It was moved by the Chair of the Development Control Committee, seconded by the Vice-Chair, and subsequently RESOLVED that the report be noted.

General Report enclosed.

The Chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee (Councillor Mrs I Smith) presented a report which summarised the principal matters which had been considered by the Committee at its meeting held on 11 July 2007.

It was moved by the Chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee, seconded by Councillor John Walker and subsequently RESOLVED that the report be noted.

General Report enclosed.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Councillor D Edgerley) presented a report which summarised briefly the recent matters discussed at meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 August and 3 September 2007.  The report also summarised the activities and issues considered by the Committee’s associate Environment and Community and Corporate and Customer Overview and Scrutiny Panels at their recent meetings.

It was moved by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, seconded by the Vice-Chair (Councillor L Lennox) and subsequently RESOLVED that the report be noted.

General Report enclosed.

The Council received a report of the Chair of the Standards Committee (Mr R A Ellwood) which outlined the main issues discussed by the Committee at its meeting on 3 September 2007.

It was moved by Councillor A Cain, seconded by Councillor J Boothman and subsequently RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Report of Chief Executive enclosed.

The Executive Leader presented a report on a request received by the Council from Ulnes Walton Parish Council to exercise its powers under Section 39(4) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 to arrange a Parish Council by-election.

The Parish Council had two vacancies owing to having received insufficient nominations at the election in May.  The Parish Council had considered exercising its own powers to co-opt additional members and had received a number of expressions of interest from potential nominees.  In the light of the interest that had been expressed, the Parish Council believed that fairness required that an election should be held.  It was moved by the Executive Leader, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council and subsequently RESOLVED:

That the Council exercise its powers to direct that a by-election be held to fill current vacancies on Ulnes Walton Parish Council.

Councillor Rosemary Russell has resigned from her position as the Council’s representative on Homestart Chorley and South Ribble for personal reasons.

The Council is requested to approve the replacement appointment of Councillor Judith Boothman for the remainder of the current municipal year term.

The Council was informed that Councillor Rosemary Russell had resigned from her position as the Council’s representative on Homestart Chorley and South Ribble for personal reasons.

It was moved by the Executive Leader, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council and subsequently RESOLVED that Councillor Judith Boothman be the Council’s representative on Homestart Chorley and South Ribble for the remainder of the municipal year.

The following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor D Edgerley to the last Council meeting on 10 July 2007 stood adjourned to await the decision of the Standards Committee on applications from appropriate Councillors who would otherwise be precluded from participating in the discussion and voting on the Motion for dispensation to debate and vote on the Motion:

“That this Council calls upon the Executive Cabinet to implement a free off-peak concessionary travel scheme across the NOW area within one month of tonight’s meeting.”

The Standards Committee at its meeting on 3 September 2007 granted the applications from 24 Councillors for dispensation to debate concessionary travel scheme issues at Council meetings.

The following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor D Edgerley to the last Council meeting on 10 July 2007 stood adjourned to await the decision of the Standards Committee on applications from appropriate Councillors who would otherwise be precluded from participating in the discussion and voting on the Motion for dispensation to debate and vote on the Motion.

The Standards Committee had granted the applications from 27 Councillors for dispensation to debate concessionary travel scheme issues at Council meetings.

The following Notice of Motion was moved by Councillor D Edgerley and seconded by Councillor L Lennox.

“That this Council calls upon the Executive Cabinet to implement a free off-peak concessionary travel scheme across the NOW area within one month of tonight’s meeting”.

The Motion was put to the vote and the Mayor declared it lost.