Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Michael Muncaster and Shaun Smith.

To confirm the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 2 December 2008 (enclosed)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 2 December 2008 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

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.

Councillor Eric Bell declared a personal interest in the General Report from the Executive Cabinet of 8 January 2009 on the disposal of surplus land and assets.

The Mayor gave a number of announcements:

?       Tickets are on sale for the Charity Ball at Park Hall Hotel, Charnock Richard on Friday, 13 February.

?       A further quiz night will be held on Friday, 20 February at Sacred Heart Social Centre.

?       A Sportsman’s Dinner is planned for Friday, 3 March in the Lancastrian Suite with former Liverpool FC player Alan Kennedy and comedian Mike Farrell.

?       A Soul and Motown Night is taking place on Friday, 8 May, the last Mayoral Charity event of the year.

?         Sponsors are invited for the Mayor’s Mermaids and Mermen Swimathon on 7 February 2009 at All Seasons.

The proceeds from all these events would be donated to the Mayor’s Charity  Appeal.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask question(s) on any item(s) on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the Council. Members of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within their allocated 3 minutes.

There had been no questions submitted by any members of the public to speak at the meeting.

To consider a report of the Executive Cabinet on the monitoring of the 2008/09 Capital Programme (enclosed). The Draft Capital Programme for 2009 to 2012 will be considered at the next meeting of the Council as part of the budget process.

The Executive Member (Resources) submitted a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) monitoring the 2008/09 Capital Programme and proposing revisions and a reduction to the programme as a result of almost £1.3m slippage and net increases totalling £652,880.

It was moved by the Executive Member for Resources (Councillor A Cullens) seconded by the Executive Leader and subsequently RESOLVED that the 2008/09 revised Capital Programme be approved as set out in Appendix 1 to the report in the total sum of £8,582,620.

To consider a general report of the Executive Cabinet (enclosed).

The Executive Leader presented a report summarising key items of business considered at meetings of the Executive Cabinet on 11 December 2008 and 8 January 2009, including the draft budget proposals for 2009/10 and an update on concessionary travel pooling arrangements across Lancashire.

Councillor Dennis Edgerley raised issues regarding the Council’s draft Treasury Management Strategy; other aspects of the draft budget for 2009/10 and the Government Ministerial meeting regarding concessionary travel.

It was moved by the Executive Leader, seconded by the Deputy Leader (Councillor Pat Case), and subsequently RESOLVED that the report be noted.

A report of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 January 2009 is enclosed.

The Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Councillor Dennis Edgerley) presented a report summarising the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at meetings held on 1 December 2008 and 19 January 2009.  This included recommendations from the Task and Finish Groups undertaking enquiries into Chorley Community Housing and Streetscene and consideration of the draft budget and Treasury Management Strategy.

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

To consider a general report of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 January 2009 (enclosed).

The Council received a report of the work of the Audit Committee which had met on 15 January 2009.  The Committee had considered the Audit Commission’s final report on its assessment of the Council’s use of resources for 2007/08 where Chorley had again achieved the maximum score of 4, and also looked at changes being introduced for the 2009 evaluation.

It was moved by the Chair of the Audit Committee (Councillor Anthony Gee), seconded by the Vice-Chair (Councillor Laura Lennox) and subsequently RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To consider a report on Planning Application 08/00884/cb3 – Astley Hall, Astley Park, Park Road, Chorley (enclosed).

Members are invited to a drop in session at Astley Hall on Wednesday 21 January 2009 from 4.30 – 6.00pm to discuss the details of this project and view the plans.

The Chair of the Development Control Committee (Councillor Greg Morgan) presented a report seeking approval for planning permission for the installation of a CCTV system including six cameras and eight loudspeaker horns in Astley Hall and the Coach House and grounds.

The Development Control Committee had been minded to support the application but the application required Council’s approval.

The Committee had been concerned at the operational activity of the cameras but confirmation had been received that these would record 24 hours a day.

It was moved by the Chair of the Development Control Committee (Councillor Greg Morgan), seconded by the Vice-Chair (Councillor Geoffrey Russell) and subsequently RESOLVED that planning permission be approved for application 08/00884/CB3 for the installation of a CCTV system including six cameras (located on Astley Hall, the Coach House, wall mounted and on poles in the grounds) and eight loudspeaker horns on the roof of Astley Hall and the Coach House.

To consider the calendar of meetings for May 2009 to May 2010 (enclosed).

Members considered the draft calendar of meetings for 2009/10.

Councillor Dennis Edgerley requested that the Council meeting in December 2009 be moved later into the month.

The Executive Leader moved, the Deputy Leader seconded and it was subsequently RESOLVED that the draft calendar of meetings be approved subject to agreeing to look at the request for a change in the date of the December 2009 Council meeting.