Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Robert Finnamore.

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 received.

RESOLVED – that, subject to an amendment on minute 13.C.46 to correct the appointment of the shadow lead member on Development Control Committee from G Russell to J Dalton, the minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 14 May 2013 be approved and signed as a correct record by the Mayor.

The Mayor thanked all those who had attended his Silver Sparkle Summer Ball which had raised around £2000 for his chosen charities. He also referred to a sponsored event which Councillor Khan was holding for her 30 day fast during Ramadan and asked Members to consider sponsoring her.

Dates for the diary for forthcoming fundraising events in 2014 were 14 February for a Valentine themed Charity Ball and a comedy night with Dave Spikey on 28 March.

There were no public questions to be considered.

To consider the attached general report of  the meeting held on 20 June 2013.

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 20 June 2013.

Members raised questions on Chorley’s Inward Investment Plan and Member expenses claims.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed, the Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance, Councillor Peter Wilson  seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To receive and consider recommendation 3a within the attached report of the Chief Executive.  The recommendation was supported by Executive Cabinet on 20 June 2013. 

Member considered a report of the Chief Executive on the Provisional Revenue Outturn for 2012/13 which had been agreed at Executive Cabinet on 20 June but required Council approval to the slippage requests to finance expenditure on items or projects in 2013/14.

The report set out the provisional revenue outturn figures for the Council as compared against the budgets and efficiency savings targets which had been set for 2012/13.

Members raised questions regarding revenue from car parking; the development of the former McDonalds Market St site; improvements to the White Hart premises; and the prioritisation of the development of the town centre and the risks involved.

The Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed, the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that the slippage requests outlined in Appendix 2 of the report, be approved to finance expenditure on specific items or projects in 2013/14.

To receive and consider recommendation 3, 4, 5 and 6 within the attached report of the Chief Executive. The recommendation was supported by Executive Cabinet on 20 June 2013.

Consideration was given to a report on the provisional outturn figures for the 2012/13 capital programme and an updated capital programme for the financial years 2013/14 to 2015/16 to take account of the rephasing of expenditure from 2012/13 and other proposed budget changes.

The Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed, the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded, and it was RESOLVED -

1.    The financing of the 2012/13 Capital Programme, as presented in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

2.    The rephasing of capital budgets between 2012/13 and 2013/14, as presented in column (2) of Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

3.    The other amendments to the Capital Programme for 2013/14 to 2015/16, as presented in columns (3), (6) and (9) of Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

4.    The virement of £40,000 from the Head of Governance’s Bengal Street depot revenue budget to the budget for revenue financing of capital expenditure be approved.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy approved at Executive Cabinet on 20 June 2013. 

Members considered a report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy requesting approval to a Local Enforcement Plan which would form a framework to manage enforcement complaints in the planning service, including performance targets and service standards.

In 2012 the National Planning Policy Framework introduced a new approach to local enforcement and the proposed Local Enforcement Plan set out priorities for investigation; explained what would and would not be investigated; and outlined the Council’s general discretionary powers with regard to planning enforcement. The plan also gave the priorities for responses to complaints, clarified the timescales for responses, and set out the Council’s approach to handling enforcement matters and compliance checking.

The report had been considered at Executive Cabinet and been slightly amended to take into account Members comments. The Enforcement Plan would be subject to review 12 months after implementation.

The Executive Member for Planning and LDF, Councillor Dennis Edgerley proposed,  Councillor Paul Walmsley seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that the Local Enforcement Plan, performance targets and service standards be approved, as detailed in the report.

To consider the attached annual report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2012/13.

Members considered the annual report on the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 2012/2013, entitled Scrutiny Reporting Back.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Steve Holgate proposed, Councillor Roy Lees former Vice Chair in 2012/13 seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the annual report be noted.

To consider the attached general report of the meeting held on 27 June 2013.

Consideration was given to a general report of the Governance Committee meeting held on 27 June 2013.

The Chair reported that the Committee had held a thorough debate on the observations of the independent person on standards complaints and as a result, the Monitoring Officer would take a report to the next meeting of the Committee in September.

The Chair of the Governance Committee Councillor Paul Leadbetter proposed, the Vice Chair, Councillor Alison Hanford seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the report be noted and the update information on the Icelandic Bank Investment be circulated to all Councillors.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Members considered a report of the Chief Executive presenting the Annual Report of the Council for 2012/13 which provided a summary of progress during the year and identified areas for improvement and challenge in 2013/14.

Good progress had been made against the key priorities identified in the corporate strategy, in particular neighbourhood working and economic development. Areas for improvement remained reducing customer dissatisfaction; delivering more to strengthen the economy and get people into work; and overcoming the challenges linked with increasing deprivation and debt.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed, the Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the Annual Report be noted and the inclusion of comparative performance information over a 3 year period be considered.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy.

The Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy submitted a report on the adoption of a charging schedule for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

CIL is a new charge on some forms of built development which allows authorities to levy a charge on owners or developers carrying out built development so that they contribute to the costs of providing the infrastructure needed to support the development of the area. The levy would be charged by square metre based on internal floorspace. CIL replaces Section 106 in terms of “off site infrastructure” associated with new built developments, although Section 106 would still apply to larger schemes. A detailed explanation of the full implications for developers, the Council and Parish Councils would be provided to Members through a Member Learning Session.

The charging schedule had been subject to independent examination by the planning inspectorate who had made a number of recommendations with which the Council must comply. The proposed charging schedule was contained within the report.

The Executive Member for Planning and LDF, Councillor Dennis Edgerley proposed, Councillor Paul Walmsley seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that the Charging Schedule for the adoption of the Community Infrastructure Levy be approved as follows:

To consider the attached report of Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive submitted a report on the status of the Community Governance Review of Buckshaw which commenced with the publication of the terms of reference for the review in February 2011. The review was looking into whether the current parishing arrangements best served the local community and whether there should be a new parish council created for the Buckshaw area.

The first stage consultation had suggested mixed views on whether or not there should be a Parish Council for Buckshaw but overriding support for any decision to be postponed until the local authority boundary was reviewed to put all of Buckshaw under one principal council, be it Chorley or South Ribble.

The Community Governance Review had been halted when the Boundary Commission had indicated a possible boundary review but it emerged that this was only on the basis of an agreed approach to a new boundary by both Chorley and South Ribble Councils. This had not been possible due to the significant financial implications of such a boundary change and, coupled with the major development still to take place on  Buckshaw,  it was proposed that there was no real benefit in continuing with the review.

Some Members expressed concern at the Boundary Commission’s stance. Whilst the situation would not be resolved in the short term it was important that engagement with groups on Buckshaw continued and the issue be reconsidered in the future.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed, the Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was RESOLVED –

1.    The Community Governance Review of Buckshaw be discontinued and the Council makes a decision to make no recommendations to change the current parishing or boundary arrangements.

2.    The consultees from the first stage of the review be advised of the Council’s position.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive on recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Members considered a report of the Chief Executive on recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel on two issues relating to the Members Allowances Scheme.

Firstly the Panel had recommended that the independent person looking into standards complaints on the Governance Committee (and any second person appointed) should be remunerated with an allowance of £500 per year.

The second recommendation was following a change in Council positions from 5 lead members to 9 portfolio champions, each with a similar role but over a reduced service area. The proposal was that portfolio champions receive half the former lead member allowance. As a consequence Appendix 2 of the Constitution would be revised to reflect the change in the title of the position.

The Executive Leader Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed, the Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded and it was RESOLVED –

1.    The independent person on the Governance Committee be paid £500 per annum, reviewed after two years and if a second independent person is appointed they also be paid £500 per annum, also to be reviewed after two years. The position of any third independent person to be appointed would need to be clarified.

2.    The allowance paid to portfolio champions (formerly lead members) be £707.20 per annum.

3.    The definition of a lead member be maintained and renamed as portfolio champion and the consequential Constitutional change (to Appendix 2) be approved.

To approve the appointment of Councillor Hasina Khan as the Council’s representative on the Childrens Trust to replace the current representative, Councillor Bev Murray. Councillor Murray has been appointed to this group in her capacity as a County Councillor.

Further to two requests for changes in outside body representation, the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Executive Member for People, Councillor Bev Murray seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that the following two changes be approved:

·         Councillor Bev Murray be replaced by Councillor Hasina Khan as the Council’s representative on the Chorley Local Childrens Trust; and

·         Councillor Robert Finnamore and Sarah Ainsworth (Labour nominee) be replaced by Councillor Hasina Khan and Mike Handley (Labour nominee) on the Runshaw College Community Liaison Group.

There were no questions received under procedure Rule 8.

The Labour Group have submitted the following Notice of Motion:

Robin Hood Tax Motion

Council notes that:

•Local government will see real term cuts in central grant of 28% over the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review period, meaning a cut of £6bn in annual grant by 2015;

•Extending the current FTT on shares to other asset classes such as bonds and derivatives could raise £20bn of additional revenue in the UK a year; and

•At least 11 European nations including France and Germany are moving ahead with FTTs on shares, bonds and derivatives estimated to raise £30bn a year.

Council believes that:

•Revenues from the FTT could help repair the damage caused by cuts in public services since 2010;

•Local government deserves to receive a significant proportion of FTT revenues, making an important contribution to both capital and revenue expenditure such as reversing cuts to council tax benefits; and that

•Whilst an FTT might have a negligible effect on jobs in the City of London, investing FTT revenues in a smart and progressive way would see a significant increase in employment levels in other sectors.

Council resolves to:

•Write to the Government stating this Council's support for extending the current FTT on shares to other asset classes, such as bonds and derivatives and to use the revenues from this measure to reverse on-going shrinkage in central grants to Local Government.

Councillor Matthew Crow

Consideration was given to the following motion, submitted by Councillor Matthew Crow:

Robin Hood Tax Motion

The Council notes that:

·         Local government will see real term cuts in central grant of 28% over the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review period, meaning a cut of £6bn in annual grant by 2015;

·         Extending the current Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) on shares to other asset classes such as bonds and derivatives could raise £20bn of additional revenue in the UK a year; and

·         At least 11 European nations including France and Germany are moving ahead with FTTs on shares, bonds and derivatives estimated to raise £30bn a year.

The Council believes that:

·         Revenues from the FTT could help repair the damage caused by cuts in public services since 2010;

·         Local government deserves to receive a significant proportion of FTT revenues, making an important contribution to both capital and revenue expenditure such as reversing cuts to council tax benefits; and that

·         Whilst an FTT might have a negligible effect on jobs in the City of London, investing FTT revenues in a smart and progressive way would see a significant increase in employment levels in other sectors.

The Council resolves to:

·         Write to the Government stating this Council's support for extending the current FTT on shares to other asset classes, such as bonds and derivatives and to use the revenues from this measure to reverse on-going shrinkage in central grants to Local Government.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Matthew Crow and seconded by Councillor Steve Murfitt and following debate, where opposition Members spoke strongly against the motion, it was

RESOLVED – that the motion be supported and the Council write to the Government accordingly.