Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor H Caunce.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held on 1 March 2011 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Mayor.

Councillor Peter Malpas declared a personal interest in item 11 (notice of motions) as an elected Member of Lancashire County Council.

The Mayor thanked Councillors for their support for his fundraising activities over the year and referred to his Easter Raffle for which tickets were on sale. He reported that Alan Whittaker, a former Mayor of the Borough, was undertaking a sponsored bike ride to Hungary and was seeking sponsors in aid of both the Royal British Legion and Help the Homeless.

The Mayor referred to the forthcoming elections and paid tribute to the work of Councillors Laura Lennox, Pat Haughton and Ted Smith who were not seeking re election this time. All other political group leaders responded with their thanks to the three Councillors for their commitment to the work of the Council and their contributions to their political groups.

There had been no requests from any members of the public to speak at the meeting on any of the agenda items.

A report of the meeting held on 31 March 2011 is now attached.

Members considered a general report of four meetings of the Executive Cabinet held on 1 November and 9 December 2010; 17 February and 31 March 2011.

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

To consider the enclosed report of the Director of People and Places, and adopt the reviewed Licensing Policy. 

The Council meeting considered a report of the Director of People and Places on the adoption of the revised Licensing Policy Statement under the Licensing Act 2003.

The Council had a statutory duty to produce a Licensing Policy Statement demonstrating how the Council would determine applications for licences under the Licensing Act 2003 for the forthcoming three years. The Policy Statement had already been considered by the Licensing and Public Services Committee and Executive Cabinet and also been subject to extensive consultation. Minor changes had been made as a result of the consultation process.

The Chair of Licensing and Public Safety Committee (Councillor Keith Iddon) proposed, the Vice Chair (Councillor Pat Haughton) seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the reviewed Licensing Policy Statement (Licensing Act 2003) be approved and adopted by the Council, with comments arising from the consultation and the responses to those comments, being noted.

To consider the enclosed report of the Chief Executive and confirm the membership of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Executive Leader presented a report to the Council seeking approval to the appointment of an Independent Remuneration Panel to undertake a review of the current Members Allowances Scheme.

In line with the Members Allowances Regulations, Chorley Council’s elected Member Allowances Scheme was due for review and this was required to be undertaken by a panel of independent members. The current panel had one vacancy and the report suggested a replacement member along with the reappointment of the other two members for a period of three years.

The Executive Leader (Councillor Peter Goldsworthy) proposed, the Deputy Leader (Councillor Pat Case) seconded and it was RESOLVED: that Allan Jones, Chair of Chorley Partnership Board be appointed to the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel to serve alongside Dennis Benson and Tom Waring for a period of three years.

To consider the enclosed report of the Director of Transformation.

This item was withdrawn at the meeting as the information had been superceded by the budget position agreed at Council on 1 March 2011.

A report of the meeting held on 28 March 2011 is now enclosed.

Members considered a general report of four meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8 November and 6 December 2010; 14 February and 28 March 2011.

It was moved by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Councillor Adrian Lowe), seconded by the Vice Chair (Councillor Alan Cullens) and RESOLVED that the report be noted.

A report of the meeting held on 17 March 2012 is now enclosed.

Members considered a general report of two meetings of the Audit Committee held on 20 January and 17 March 2011.

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

To consider the enclosed report of the Monitoring Officer on changes to the Constitution.

The Executive Leader presented a report on changes to the Council’s Constitution covering three areas of provision.

The first was to make Constitutional provision for the implementation of the Strong Leader Model for the governance of the Council which was agreed in April 2010 but would come into effect from Annual Council on 17 May 2011.

The second provision was to introduce a mechanism of Substitute Members for Development Control and Licensing and Public Safety Committees. This would take effect from 17 May 2011 and would allow each political group to nominate one Substitute Member each for these two committees. Nominated substitutes must have received appropriate training to allow them to serve on those Committees.

The third area of change was to agree revised Contract Procedure Rules to more closely align Chorley and South Ribble Council in undertaking joint procurement work  to achieve greater efficiencies.

It was moved by the Executive Leader (Councillor Peter Goldsworthy), seconded by the Deputy Leader (Councillor Pat Case) and RESOLVED:

that the following changes to be agreed and that the Constitution be revised accordingly:

3.    The revised Contract Procedure Rules be approved as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

There had been no requests for questions from Members under Procedure Rule 8.

To consider the attached four motions from Councillor Peter Wilson.

The Council meeting considered four motions put forward by Councillor Peter Wilson.

1. Community Transport

The Council considered the following motion moved by Councillor Dennis Edgerley and seconded by Councillor Terry Brown.

“This Council welcomes the decision to maintain community transport service levels for the next three months.   The Council recognises the valuable role community transport services play and the importance to pensioners of using their NowCards on these services. Therefore we urge the Council to make representations to Lancashire County Council to use this three month period to make arrangements for maintaining all community transport services in the future at their current levels.”

RESOLVED – That this motion be supported.

2. Social Care

The Council considered the following motion moved by Councillor Alistair Bradley and seconded by Councillor Laura Lennox.

“Chorley Council recognises the huge contribution that parents who act as full time carers to disabled children make to our society. We also acknowledge and applaud the help and support they have been given by Lancashire County Council in the past through the provision of much needed respite care. Chorley Council, however, wishes to express its’ opposition to the County Council’s decision to reduce this provision as a part of its response to the Government’s cut in funding. We request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Leader of Lancashire County Council and demands that the LCC Cabinet reconsiders this decision which has caused heartache and distress to so many.”

The following revised wording was put forward by the Executive Leader (Councillor Peter Goldsworthy) and seconded by the Deputy Leader (Councillor Pat Case).

“Chorley Council recognises the huge contribution that parents who act as full time carers to disabled children make to our society. We also acknowledge and applaud the help and support they have been given by Lancashire County Council in the past through the provision of much needed respite care.

Chorley Council notes the publicity given to the changes being made to respite care and that the changes are designed to improve respite care provision in the county making it fit for purpose. We request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Leader of Lancashire County Council seeking assurances that no families are disadvantaged and no respite care will be removed from anyone.”

RESOLVED – that the amended motion be supported.

3. Support For Senior Citizens

The Council considered the following motion moved by Councillor Peter Wilson and seconded by Councillor Anthony Gee.

“As part of this Council’s ongoing support and commitment to ensure good health and wellbeing amongst older people, we call on the government to immediately restore the proposed cut in winter fuel payments proposed in the recent Budget.”

RESOLVED – that this motion be supported.

4. Local Democracy and the Planning Process

The Council considered the following motion moved by Councillor June Molyneaux and seconded by Councillor Roy Lees.

This Council recognises the importance of empowering local people in the decision making process and supports the Council’s vision outlined in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 180.

The Mayor reported that there was a need to increase the number of Councillors serving on the Human Resources Appeals Committee as a matter of urgency.

RESOLVED – That the following additional Members be appointed to the Human Resources Appeals Committee; Councillors Judith Boothman, Mike Devaney, Marion Lowe and Stella Walsh.