Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Buckley and Parr.

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.

Council meeting held on 24 January 2006 – Confirmation as a correct record and signed by the Mayor

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 24 January 2006 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor welcomed a delegation of Members and Officers from Wyre Borough Council who were attending the meeting to see how we debate and consider reports.

The Mayor informed Members of the following:

(a)       A Ladies Luncheon - Women of Achievement be held at The Pines Hotel, on Tuesday, 16 March 2006.

(b)       A boat trip on Sunday, 19 March from 1.00pm to 5.00pm with 60’s music band ‘Full Circle’.

(c)        An army event on Saturday, 25 March between 9.00am and 5.00pm in Astley Park.

(d)       A fashion show with Cameo held on  Wednesday, 26 April at St Joseph’s Parish Centre.

General Report

The Chair of the Development Control Committee presented a report summarising the more significant proposals considered at a meeting of the Committee held on 14 February 2006.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

General Report

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented a report summarising the principal matters discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny  Committee held on 19 January 2006 and the Special meeting held on 16 February 2006 as well as a brief summary of the recent activities and matters discussed at meetings of the Customer, Community and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

To re - constitute the Special Committee for the Chief Executive’s Appointment as the Chief Officer Appointments Panel with the membership remaining the same with Councillors J Wilson (Chair), Ball, Mrs. Case, Edgerley, Goldsworthy, Hoyle, and R Snape

RESOLVED - That the Special Committee for the Chief Executives Appointment be reconstituted as the Chief Officer Appointments Panel with the membership remaining the same with Councillors J Wilson (Chair), Ball, Mrs Case, Edgerley, Goldsworthy, Hoyle and R Snape.

The Executive Member for Customers, Policy and Performance presented a report seeking approval of the draft Corporate Strategy for 2006/07 - 2008/09.

The draft Strategy set out the Council’s vision, priorities and strategic objectives for the next three year period up to 2009 and identified a series of measures, targets and key proposals for delivery in 2006/07.

The Strategy had been developed through a series of focus meetings and consultation sessions with Council Members, Officers and community groups to highlight the relevant issues raised during the Authority’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment and to report the adopted Community Strategy’s five priorities.

The key projects identified in the draft Strategy had influenced the budget consideration for 2006/07, and progress on the achievements of the projects would be reviewed annually.

RESOLVED - That the Corporate Strategy for 2006/07 and 2008/09 as presented be approved.

The Executive Member for Customers, Policy and Performance presented a report seeking approval of the Performance Agreement for 2006/07.

The aim of the Performance Agreement was to ensure delivery in 2006/07 of the key projects that will contribute to the achievement of the new priorities and strategic objectives identified in the Corporate Strategy for 2006/07 and 2008/09.

While overall responsibility for each of the projects would be assigned annually to an Executive Member and a Group Director, Chief Officers and senior managers would be responsible for the day to day project management of the initiatives.  Subsequently, all elements of the Performance Agreement would be monitored through the Council’s performance management database (Performance Plus), with periodic reports being presented to the Executive Cabinet and the Overview and Scrutiny bodies.

RESOLVED - That the Performance Agreement for 2006/07 as presented be approved.

The Executive Leader presented a report seeking the Council’s endorsement of the draft timetable of meetings for the 2006/07 Municipal Year from the Annual Meeting on 16 May 2006.

With the exception of the summer holiday period, the timetable proposed a six weekly cycle of Council and Licensing and Safety Committee meetings, and an average four week frequency of meetings of the Executive Cabinet, Development Control Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its Associate Panels.  The draft schedule also took account of local school holiday weeks and the need to arrange appropriate meetings in line with the budget scrutiny exercise.  In addition, dates had been allocated for two further meetings of the three Area Forum pilots, three Borough/Parish Council Liaison meetings, monthly Member Development Steering Group meetings and Member Learning Hours and quarterly meetings of a number of the liaison meetings.

RESOLVED - That the timetable of meetings to be held during the 2006/07 Municipal Year as presented be approved.

The Executive Leader presented a report proposing a number of amendments to the location and designation of Polling Places within the Borough.

The alterations were recommended after taking account of operational experiences during the 2005 elections, requests to consider newly available attendance facilities and the recent closure of a current polling place.

RESOLVED - 1) That the following amendments to Polling Places be approved.

Ÿ       Clayton-le-Woods and Whittle-le-Woods (Register 10B)

         The substitution of Whittle Village Hall, Union Street for the current designated station at Whittle-le-Woods, Primary School, Preston Road.

Ÿ       Clayton-le-Woods North (Register 11A)

         The substitution of the current designated station at Clayton Youth and Community Centre, Manor Road by two stations at St Bede’s School (Old School), Preston Road and Clayton-le-Woods Primary School (Old School), Back Lane, Clayton-le-Woods.

Ÿ       Chorley North East (Registers 6A and 6B)

         The substitution of the current designated station and St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Railway Road, Chorley by a mobile station to be located on the car park between All Seasons Leisure Centre and the former Bentwoods Factory.

         2)      That the above new polling stations be designated as Polling Places for Chorley.

The Executive Leader presented a report summarising the more significant items of business dealt with at a meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 9 February 2006 and a non-scheduled meeting on 23 February 2006.

RESOLVED - That the report be noted.

(Councillor Lennox declared an interest in relation to a question raised during the above item regarding the Housing Revenue Account reserves of £150,000 and the allocation of £100,000 for the replacement of soffits in HRA properties in the Longfield Estate, Coppull.  She remained in the meeting, but did not take part in the discussion).

Report of Director of Finance

The Financial Strategy incorporates the requirements of the Prudential Code on Capital Finance in Local Authorities and needs to be approved to ensure that the Council meets the requirements of Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003

The Director of Finance submitted a report to satisfy the provision of Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 requiring the Officer to report independently to Members on the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves.  Good practice was for such advise to be set within the context of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy which should cover both revenue and capital spending issues also includes specific requirements arising from the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities.

RESOLVED - 1) That the advice of the Chief Finance Officer under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, as set out in the submitted report be noted and the Council have regard to it when considering the budget for 2006/07.

2) That the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2006/07 - 2008/09, including the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators as shown in Appendix to the submitted report be approved.

Report of Executive Leader on the recommendations of the Councils Executive Cabinet

The following appendices support this report.

1. Summary of responses to consultation. Including the Executives response to Budget Scrutiny
2. Overall Budget Variations Proposals.
3. Savings Proposals
4. Growth Proposals
5. Special Expenses.
6. Council Tax Resolution

In connection with this item the Council needs to pass the necessary formal resolution on the setting of the 2006/07 Council Tax for the Borough

Conservative Group budget proposals for 2006/07 – Report attached

(Note: Members will find it helpful to bring with them the draft budget booklet issued in January 2006 for consideration of items a) and b) above)

The Leader of the Council presented a report seeking the Council’s approval of the Executive Cabinets budget spending proposals for 2006/07.

The Executive Leader explained that the proposals had been formulated to feed directly into the Council’s key objectives, targets and action for 2006/07 and beyond.  The Council’s priorities address the key issues identified and codified in the updated Corporate Strategy.  The Corporate Strategy represents the Council’s contribution to achieving the objectives and outcomes specified.

The report set out the Executive Cabinet’s proposals, including appendices relating to budget consultation responses, including the Executive’s response to issues raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to its review of the budget and savings and growth items.

It was moved by the Executive Leader and seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council that the Executive Cabinets budget proposals to achieve a total budget requirement of £13,751,100, as detailed in the submitted report, be approved.

In terms of the total Council Tax bill, when the precepts of the County Council, Police and Fire Authorities were taken into account the average bill across the Borough including Parish precepts would increase by 5.1% or 127p per week at Band D.  Excluding Parish precepts the increase will be 4.9% or 120p.  The Borough increase equates to 4.8% or 15 per week on the average Band D property.

In respect of the budget proposals for 2006/07 it was moved by Councillor Goldsworthy and seconded by Councillor Mrs Case that the budget and estimates of the Executive Cabinet be amended as follows:

At this level of expenditure the average Band D Council Tax for the Borough Council’s services would remain at the level set in 2005/06 of £163.63 and that the Council Tax resolution be amended accordingly.

In accordance with the requirement of Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, to provide the Council with the Chief Finance Officer’s views on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of resources in the budget proposals, the Director of Finance submitted a report on the risks and robustness of the alternative budget proposals.

A request was made under the Council Procedure Rule 17(2) for a recorded vote on the Conservative Group amendment.

For:           Councillors Bedford, Bell, Mrs Case, Caunce, Cullens, Culshaw, D Dickinson, Mrs D Dickinson, Goldsworthy, Mrs M Gray, Heaton, Livesey, Malpas, Morgan, Perks, Russell, Mrs Smith, E Smith, S Smith and Walker.  (20)

Against:    Councillors Ball, Birchall, Brown,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

The Executive Leader presented a report of the Director of Finance on proposals for the revision of the 2005/06 Capital Programme and the formulation of the Capital Programme for 2006/07 to 2008/09.

the revised Capital Programme agreed in January 2006 had totalled £15,749,770, but the latest forecast, after taking account of slippages to 2006/07 and additional expenditure on the Strategic Regional Site at Euxton, had revealed a reduction in total expenditure of £15,202,760.

The report identified in Appendix 1, the Category A and B schemes included in the three year Capital Programme from 2006/07 to 2008/09, classified into the respective corporate priorities, the expenditure for which totalled, £14,659,970, after taking account of charges to the phasing of programmes and slippage of expenditure in other schemes.

The report also included, at Appendix 2, a list of reserve schemes in respect of which outline business cases have been presented to the Capital Programme  Board.  The Executive Cabinet was asked to determine which, if any, of the reserve Category C schemes, will be added to the three year Capital Programme.  The Cabinet, considered that until feasible business cases had been produced and the revenue consequences identified, it would be unwise to make firm commitments on the reserve schemes.

RESOLVED 1) That the reduction of the 2005/06 Capital Programme from £15,749,770 to £15,202,760, be approved.

2) That the Capital Programme for 2006/07 to 2008/09 comprising the Category A and B schemes identified in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, at a total expenditure of £14,659,970, be approved.

3) That approval be deferred of any schemes from the reserve list pending further detailed consideration of the relative merits and costs of each individual scheme.

‘That this Borough Council agrees to undertake a comprehensive consultation exercise with Chorley residents exploring their views regarding the restoration of the town’s original motto ‘Beware’ which was replaced by ‘Be Aware’ in 1988’

Councillor J E Bell

The following Notice of Motion submitted in accordance with provision of Rule 8 of the Countil Procedure Rules was moved by Councillor Bell and seconded by Councillor Goldsworthy,

“That this Borough Council agrees to undertake a comprehensive consultation exercise with Chorley residents exploring their views regarding the restoration of the town’s original motto ‘Beware’ which was replaced by “Be Aware” in 1988.”

An amendment was moved by Councillor R Snape and seconded by Councillor Iddon as follows:

“That the Director of Finance investigate the costings of this exercise and bring it with the support of the Chief Executive to the Executive Cabinet and then to Council”.

Councillor Bell accepted the amendment to the Notice of Motion.  The amendment was put to the vote and the Mayor declared it carried.

RESOLVED - That the Director of Finance investigates the costings of this exercise and bring it with the support of the Chief Executive to the Executive Cabinet and then to Council.”