Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Judith Boothman, Magda Cullens and Dennis Edgerley.

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.

There were no declarations of interest by any Members in relation to matters under consideration at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the enclosed minutes of the Council meeting held on 2 November 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held on 2 November 2010 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Mayor.

The Mayor asked Members to join him in supporting his Charity Christmas raffle and Christmas card donation appeal.  He also referred to his Charity Ball which would take place on Friday, 4 February 2011 in the Lancastrian Suite.

The Mayor and Mayoress wished all those present a happy Christmas and healthy new year.

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 requests from any member of the public to speak at the meeting on any of the agenda items.

Report of the Chief Executive (attached).

The Executive Member for Policy and Performance, Councillor Greg Morgan, presented a report proposing a revised Corporate Strategy for 2010/11 to 2013/14.  The Corporate Strategy is the key document in the Council’s Corporate business planning process and helps deliver the Council’s vision, priorities, strategic outcomes and targets.

The revised Corporate Strategy had been refreshed in the light of recent changes made to the Sustainable Community Strategy which had been subject to extensive consultation with residents, Members and partners.

The report summarised the changes proposed including:

·              a change to the Council’s vision statement;

·              changes in the Council’s priorities to match those in the Sustainable Community Strategy;

·              changes to the strategic objectives and long term outcomes with nine strategic objectives setting out how the Council will reach its priorities and vision;

·              a reduced number of measures but with a greater focus on the long term with targets based on the latest performance to ensure the Council remains top performing.

Members debated the provisions within the Corporate Strategy with comments raised about town centre floorspace; healthy lifestyle; the new NHS Commissioning Board; targets for volunteering; older people and physical activity; winter maintenance in the Town Centre; and PCSO provision.  Members were advised that the Council was awaiting details of the financial settlement for 2011/12 and therefore delivery of the Strategy would be dependent on the funding made available by central government.

The following amendment was proposed by Councillor Peter Wilson and seconded by Councillor Alistair Bradley:

“that two new measures be included under You and Your Family

         ·       a target of 22.6% by 2012 for older people volunteering; and

         ·       to seek year on year increases in the rate of physical activity in older people.”

A recorded vote was requested and taken:

For:          N Ball, J Berry, A Bradley, T Brown, C France, A Gee, C Hoyle, H Khan, R Lees, L Lennox, A Lowe, M Lowe, J Molyneaux, B Murray, J Snape, R Snape, P Wilson and K Ball.

Against:  E Bell, P Case, H Caunce, A Cullens, M Devaney, David Dickinson, Doreen Dickinson, P Goldsworthy, M Gray, A Hansford, P Haughton, H Heaton, K Iddon, K Joyce, P Malpas, G Morgan, S Moulton, M Muncaster, M Perks, A Platt, D Platt, G Russell, R Russell, E Smith, J Walker and S Walsh.

The amendment was LOST.

A further four amendments, proposed by Councillor Alistair Bradley and seconded by Councillor Peter Wilson were put forward for improving Chorley:

“1.     In order to deliver a Safer Cleaner Chorley, the Council will guarantee funding of PCSOs to at least the current level plus annual inflation cost, the restitution of the Alley Gate Scheme, increased street cleaning and the additional gritting of Town and Village Centres.  (4, 5, 6)

 2.     In order to encourage strong family and respectful communities, the Council will re-instate the key project to promote and support an action plan to increase volunteering.  (1, 5)

 3.     To increase Health and Family Support the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 155.