Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Buckley, Mrs Case, Caunce, Perks and Russell.

Members of the Council are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct.  If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual Member should not participate in a discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the Council Chamber and not seek to influence a decision on the matter.

No Member disclosed an interest in relation to matters under consideration at the meeting.

Annual Council meeting held on 17 May 2005 – Confirmation as a correct record as signature by the Mayor

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 17 May 2005 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

Members observed a one minute silence for the victims of the bombings which occurred in central London on Thursday 7 July 2005.

It was moved by Councillor J Wilson and seconded by Councillor Goldsworthy:

“That a letter be sent to the Mayor of London on behalf of the Council and Citizens of Chorley, expressing deepest sympathy for the victims of the bombings which occurred in central London on Thursday 7 July 2005 and support and admiration for the work undertaken by the emergency services and voluntary support organisations”.

Councillors Ball and Snape spoke in support of the resolution.

RESOLVED – Thata letter be sent to the Mayor of London on behalf of the Council and Citizens of Chorley, expressing deepest sympathy for the victims of the bombings which occurred in central London on Thursday 7 July 2005 and support and admiration for the work undertaken by the emergency services and voluntary support organisations.

The Mayor informed Members of the following:

(a)            The annual Mayor’s Charity Cricket Match will take place at Chorley Cricket Club on Friday, 15 July commencing at 6.00pm.  This always proves to be an enjoyable evening with hot pot provided after the match.  Tickets are available from the Mayor’s Secretary.

(b)            A Mayoral Charity Coffee Morning will be held at 3 The Brookes, Chorley on Saturday, 16 July from 10.00am to 12 noon.  Tickets are available from the Mayor’s Secretary, price £1.

(c)            The Mayor’s Summer Lunch and Jazz event will be held on Sunday, 31 July, from 12.30pm at Blue Dye House, Brinscall Mill Road, Wheelton.  Tickets are available from the Mayor’s Secretary, price £10, which includes a free drink on arrival and lunch.

(d)      The “Travelling Mulberries” Concert will be held on Friday, 16 September at St Josephs Parish Centre, Harpers Lane commencing at 7.30pm.  Tickets are available from the Mayor’s Secretary, price £6, which includes Hot Pot Supper.

(e)      The Mayor’s Charity Meal will be held on the evening of Tuesday, 20 September after the Council meeting.  The venue has still to be determined.

The Mayor requested Members to kindly donate any unwanted gifts or provide a raffle prize for any forthcoming events including the Charity Cricket Match to the Mayor’s Secretary.

General Report

The Chair of the Development Control Committee presented a report summarising the more significant proposals considered at meetings of the Committee held on 26 April, 24 May and 28 June 2005.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

General Report

The Chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee presented a report summarising the principal matters considered at meetings of the Committee held on 25 May and 3 June 2005.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

General Report

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented a report summarising the principal matters considered at a meeting of the Committee held on 16 June 2005 and the ongoing work of its Panels.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

General Report

The Vice-Chair of the Standards Committee presented a report summarising the principal matters considered at a meeting of the Committee held on 25 April 2005.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

General Report

The Chair of the General Purposes Committee presented a report summarising the principal matters considered at a meeting of the Committee held on 8 June 2005.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

The Executive Member for Environment and Community Safety presented a report

recommending amendments to the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s

Constitution to allow the Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator to consult and make applications for Anti Social Behaviour Orders on behalf of the Council.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to an amendment to Part D of Appendix 2 to the Council’s Constitution allocating Executive Functions to Council Officers, to allow both the Head of Corporate and Policy Services and the Community Safety Co-ordinator to conduct any necessary consultations with agencies and make applications for Anti-Social Behaviour Orders on behalf of the Borough Council under Sections 1 and 2 of the Crime and Disorder Act, 1998.

The Executive Member for Development and Planning presented a report

recommending amendments to the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s

Constitution to allow the Head of Planning Services to deal with complaints relating to high hedges, to make minor amendments to Section 106 agreements and to refuse planning permission in relation to major applications in specified circumstances. The report also recommended an extension to the powers of the Development Control Committee to deal with high hedges.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the following amendments the Council’s Constitution:

          (a)     The insertion of the words “47A - Powers relating to complaints about high hedges under Part 8 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003” in Appendix 2 Part 1 Miscellaneous Functions.

          (b)     The insertion of the words “(d) powers relating to complaints about high hedges” in paragraph 2 of Appendix 2, Part B below the Development Control Committee heading.

          (c)     The insertion of an addendum to Paragraph 9.5 of Appendix 2, Part C under the heading of Head of Planning Services to read: “Where a planning application as defined in (c)(i) above is unable to be determined within the statutory period because all material is not available then, exceptionally, the Head of Planning Services following consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair may refuse planning permission”.

          (d)     The amendment of the wording in paragraph 9.12 of Appendix 2, Part C to read: “Authority to exercise all powers (except for setting fee levels) under Part 8 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 in relation to complaints relating to high hedges”.

          (e)     The insertion of a new paragraph 9.13 in Appendix 2, Part C to read as follows:  “That where a Section 106 Agreement has been adopted by the Development Control Committee, the Head of Planning Services be given delegated powers following consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair to make minor amendments to the Section 106 Agreement”.

The Executive Leader submitted a report which recommended that budgetary

provision  be made in the Capital Programme for the extension of the

Council’s ICT network.

RESOLVED – That the Council is recommended to approve the increase

of the 2005/06 Capital Programme provision for the additional cabling

work and extension of the Council’s ICT network to £68,040.

The Executive Leader presented a report on the provisional outturn figures for the Capital and General Funds (including the direct service functions) and the Housing Revenue Account (including the building maintenance direct service) for 2004/05.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to:

(1)   The allocation of the additional £199,000 General Fund savings towards funding for the Job Evaluation Programme (£125,000); recruitment costs (£50,000); Member Development programme (£14,000); and Long Service event (£10,000);

(2)   the financing of the Capital Programme as shown below and the updated Capital Programme of 2005/06, including slippage:

          (3)     the additional Capital Programme expenditure being financed from either additional unallocated resources or by way of budget adjustments from approved commitments.

          (4)     the addition of £22,000 to the Capital Programme to cover the cost of the Bengal Street Depot welfare facilities to be met from existing resources.

The Executive Leader presented a report which incorporated the report from the Independent Remuneration Panel on the review of the Members Allowances Scheme it had undertaken in accordance with statutory provisions. The Executive Cabinet had considered the Panel’s report at its meeting on 30 June 2005 and resolved that the recommendations be not accepted in their present form.

RESOLVED – That the views of the Executive Cabinet on the Independent Remuneration Panel’s report be accepted and that a Members Panel comprising of Councillors Ball, Edgerley, Goldsworthy, R. Snape and J. Wilson be established to take the issue of members allowances forward.

The Executive Leader presented a report summarising the more significant items of

Business dealt with at meetings of the Executive Cabinet held on 26 May and 30 June

2005.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.