Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted for Councillor Alison Hansford. On behalf of all Members of the Council, the Mayor stated that she would send best wishes to Alison for the recovery of her son Matthew, following a serious motorcycle accident the previous week.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 27 September 2011 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Mayor.

Councillor Alan Cullens declared a personal interest in a key project in the revised Corporate Strategy – the relocation of the Council’s depot.

Councillor Eric Bell declared a personal interest in a key project in the revised Corporate Strategy – delivery of the allotment project.

The Mayor circulated a copy of her announcements. She wished to thank everyone for their involvement in the Remembrance Sunday event in Chorley – the parade, the service in St Laurence Church and the wreath laying at the Cenotaph. Many members of the public had lined the streets and were in Astley Park at the Cenotaph to remember those who had given their lives for their country.

The Mayor also reported on engagements she had attended since the last Council meeting including events at Albany Science College, Southlands School, Blackburn Cathedral and Chorley Home Start along with a host of musical events and more formal events including the Annual Service of the Duke of Lancaster Regiment and the Annual Judges Service. She also reported on those charities to whom she had given free use of the Lancastrian Suite for fundraising events – and on the amounts they had raised.

There had been no requests received from members of the public.

To consider the enclosed report of the Chief Executive.

Councillor Greg Morgan, Executive Member for Policy and Performance presented a report of the Chief Executive seeking approval to a refreshed Corporate Strategy for the Council for 2011/12 to 2014/15.

The Council’s Community Strategy is the main document in the organisation’s corporate business planning process setting out the Council’s long term vision, priorities, strategic outcomes and targets. It’s reviewed on an annual basis to provide a clear statement of what the Council aims to achieve over the next three years. In 2010 it was comprehensively reviewed to ensure consistency with the long term vision and outcomes of the new Sustainable Community Strategy.

The report summarised performance against Community Strategy targets in the current year and the changes proposed in the revised Strategy which was just in relation to key projects which this year totalled 17. The focus of projects was on town centre improvements, open spaces, improving performance and delivering value for money.

Councillor Peter Goldsworthy, Executive Leader referred to the need for the Community Strategy to help set the 2012/13 budget. The Conservative Group’s wish was to ensure that Council Tax was kept to a minimum; that services continued to improve and costs reduce; that the Council tries to retain funding to the voluntary sector at the current level; and that improvements to the town centre continue.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of the Labour Group on behalf of his Group expressed disappointment at the content of the strategy. Other Members commented on the role of PCSO’s; the use of targets in measuring performance; the problem of dog fouling in neighbourhoods; the Council’s responsibility in reducing carbon emissions; assistance for NEETs and health and wellbeing issues, in particular the White Ribbon Campaign against domestic violence.

Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and Councillor Peter Wilson seconded the following amendment:

“That the proposed Corporate Strategy is not acceptable and should be returned to the Executive Cabinet to be revised and expanded and brought back to a future meeting for consideration.”

On being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.

Councillor Greg Morgan, Executive Member for Policy and Performance proposed and the Executive Leader seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the refreshed Corporate Strategy for 2011/12 to 2014/15 be approved.

It was agreed at the last Council meeting that the motion detailed below would be deferred to this meeting in order to allow a business case to be drawn up for the provision of a new bus service in Euxton.

“The Council notes with concern the decision taken by Stagecoach to withdraw the Number 16 bus service leaving residents in many parts of the village of Euxton cut off from local services. The council further notes that it is set to receive £427,500 in Section 106 monies for the purposes of Public Transport and Community Facilities from the Group 1 development on Buckshaw Village. Given that Stagecoach have indicated that they would be happy to provide a new service, if the necessary funding was made available, to replace the Number 16 and thereby linking the two railway stations of Euxton and Buckshaw Village, Chorley Council supports the Member of Parliament for Chorley in his proposal to approach BAE Systems and lobby for the early release of the Section 106 monies in order to provide this important bus service for the residents of Euxton.”

The Leader of the Council will provide an update at the meeting.

At the last meeting of the Council on 27 September, it was agreed to defer discussion on a motion proposed by Councillor Peter Wilson on the provision of bus services in Euxton to allow a business case to be drawn up.

The Executive Leader reported that following the Council meeting, discussions had been held with Stagecoach, the bus company concerned. The cost of funding the no16 bus route in a modified form was around £74,000 per annum. This would be partially offset by ticket sales estimated at around 200 per week providing income of approximately £10,000 a year resulting in a subsidy of around £7 per ticket. This did not represent value for money or a reasonable business case, particularly in light of the small number of complaints received when the service was discontinued.

The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Group expressed concern at the estimated cost of the service and subsidy required and asked that the information be forwarded to them for their consideration.

RESOLVED – that the position be noted and the information be passed to the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Group.

To confirm Borough Council appointments to the Three Tier Forum.

Nominations were sought from political groups to appointments to the Chorley Three Tier Forum to be run by Lancashire County Council from December 2011.

RESOLVED that the following appointments be approved:

Conservative Group – Councillors Doreen Dickinson, Marie Gray and Debra Platt

Labour Group – Councillors Julia Berry and Matthew Crow

Liberal Democrat Group – Councillor Ken Ball

Independent Group – Councillor Ralph Snape.