Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Alison Hansford, Keith Iddon and Rosemary Russell.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary 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 submitted.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the last meeting held on 25 September 2012 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor reminded Members of the Remembrance Service and Parade on Sunday 11 November at St Laurence Church and then at the Cenotaph in Astley Park, inviting all Members to attend. This would be followed by a short act of remembrance at 12 noon at the Chorley Pals Memorial statue.

The Mayor referred to a range of fundraising activities she was organising including stalls at the Christmas Lights Switch On on Saturday 23 November; Christmas Raffles and a Big Band Night during December. In addition she was hosting a Prayer Breakfast in Committee Room 1 to which Members were invited to attend.

There were no public questions to be considered.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance presented a report of the Chief Executive seeking approval to a new Corporate Strategy for the Council for 2012/2013 to 2015/2016.

The Corporate Strategy is the key document in the Council’s corporate business planning process and a key driver for delivering the Council’s long term vision, priorities, strategic outcomes and targets. This year it had been completely revised to ensure it could deliver the new priorities of the current administration.

The proposed new vision for the Council was “An ambitious council that achieves more by listening to the whole community and exceeding their needs.”

Four new priorities were proposed to replace the current strategic objectives as follows:

·         Involving residents in improving their local area and equality of access for all;

·         Clean, safe and healthy communities;

·         A strong local economy; and

·         An ambitious council that does more to meet the needs of residents and the local area.

The vision, priorities and long term outcomes had been subject to comprehensive consultation to ensure they remained relevant to the needs of residents and businesses within Chorley.

Nineteen key projects were being proposed for delivery over the next 12 to 18 months to directly support the delivery of the new priorities and long term outcomes. The report listed each of the key projects including a project outline and expected outcomes.

Councillor Peter Goldsworthy, Leader of the Conservative Group proposed and Councillor Greg Morgan, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group seconded the following amendment:

“This Corporate Strategy is not fit for purpose. It fails to recognise health issues, it fails to recognise duplication, it fails to spell out a coherent strategy for dealing with Council Tax, levels of debt and balances. This Corporate Strategy fails the people of Chorley. It must be withdrawn and reworked in order to address these failures and then re-presented.”

The Executive Leader stated that health issues were key to a significant number of projects including the development of more affordable homes; local solutions to address homelessness; working together with families; and tackling fuel poverty.

On being put to the vote the amendment was LOST.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance then proposed, Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that the new Corporate Strategy for 2012/2013 to 2015/2016 be approved.

To consider the attached report which was agreed at Governance Committee on 27 September 2012 and requires full Council approval.

Members considered a report of the Statutory Finance Officer which had been agreed by the Governance Committee on 28 September 2012 which provided half yearly investment performance up to August 2012 and sought full Council approval to the increase in the limit on investment from £3m to £5m.

The report advised that the average daily amount invested, totalled £17.58m on which a return of 1.48% was received, which exceeds the benchmark. The report confirmed that the prudential indicators specified in the Treasury Strategy had been complied with and sought approval to the limit on investments with the two part nationalised banking groups being increased to £5m from the current £3m. This could generate an additional return of up to £80k at current rates, with minimum risk.

Councillor Paul Leadbetter, Chair of the Governance Committee proposed, Councillor Alan Platt seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that the limit on investments with the part nationalised UK banks be increased from £3m to £5m.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Members approval to the resolution of a longstanding footpath diversion issue at Croston. The proposals involved the agreement to a public path extinguishment order under section 118 of the Highways Act 1980 and a public path creation agreement under section 25 of the Highways Act 1980.

Councillor Dennis Edgerley, Executive Member for Planning and LDF proposed, Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader seconded and it was RESOLVED that:

1.     Members support a proposed public footpath creation agreement under s.25 Highways Act 1980 between the landowner and Lancashire County Council adjacent to a ditch under the railway line at Croston as shown approximately on the map in Appendix 1 to the report.

2.     Members approve the certification of the footpath diversion order made under s.257 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in 1996 and confirmed in 2011, once the works required to bring that footpath into the specified condition, except where it crosses the ditch, and those works requested by Lancashire County Council and notified to the landowner in respect of the public path creation agreement under s.25 Highways Act 1980 have been completed to the satisfaction of Lancashire County Council.

3.     Members approve a subsequent public path extinguishment order by Chorley Borough Council under s.118 Highways Act 1980 in respect of a short length of newly diverted Footpath No.1 Croston subject of the 1996 Order once it has been certified.

4.     Members approve the placing of any notices required under legislation to effect the above including advertisement in the local press.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Mayor presented a report of the Chief Executive proposing the creation of the role of sporting ambassador to recognise athletes who live in the borough and have demonstrated excellence in their chosen sport and represented the country. 

This followed on from an announcement at the last Council meeting that the role would be offered to those who had represented the country in the Olympics and Paralympics. Since then Rik Waddon, Natalie Jones, Graeme Ballard and Holly Bleasdale had been contacted and had accepted the offer and would be invited to a presentation from the Mayor and the Christmas Lights Switch On event on 23 November,

The Mayor, Councillor June Molyneaux proposed, Councillor Bev Murray, Executive Member for People seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the role of sporting ambassador be confirmed and residents from the borough who represented Team GB and Paralympics GB at London 2012 and are interested in taking up the role, be appointed.

The Mayor announced that she had agreed that Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader, could raise three Council appointments to allow the changes to be made as soon as possible.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed, Councillor Peter Wilson, Deputy Leader seconded, and it was RESOLVED that the following three appointments be approved:

·         Councillor Steve Holgate to replace Councillor Danny Gee as a Board Member on Chorley Community Housing;

·         Councillor Danny Gee be appointed as a Lead Member for Town Centre and Businesses and replace Councillor Alistair Bradley on the Town Team; and

·         Councillor Julia Berry be appointed to represent the Council on the Management Committee of the Preston Domestic Violence Service.