Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Peter Goldsworthy and Mark Perks.

In welcoming Members to the meeting, the Mayor indicated that agenda item 12, a Motion submitted by Councillor Peter Wilson, was likely to be considered whilst the press and public were excluded because of the likely disclosure of confidential information during the discussion.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 25 February 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

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.

Councillor Matthew Crow declared an interest in agenda item 12, a Motion relating to the provision of a Youth Zone in Chorley.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask question(s) on any item(s) on the agenda will have three minutes to put their question(s) to the relevant Councillor. Members of the public will be allowed to ask one short supplementary question.

There were no public questions.

General report of meetings of Executive Cabinet held on 16 January and 13 February 2014 (enclosed). A report of the meeting on 20 March 2014 will follow.

Members received general reports of the last three meetings of Executive Cabinet held on 16 January, 13 February and 20 March 2014.

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

To consider a general report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Performance Panel and Task Groups (enclosed).

Members considered a general report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for meetings held on 9 January and 5 February 2014 and including the work of the Performance Panel and Scrutiny Task Groups.

Councillor Steve Holgate, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee proposed and Councillor Marion Lowe seconded it and it was RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To consider a general report of the meetings of Governance Committee held on 16 January and 13 March 2014.

Members considered a general report of two meetings of Governance Committee held on 16 January and 13 March 2014.

A request was made for the business of the Governance Committee to be more evenly spread across the four meetings in the year and the Chair agreed to look into this.

Councillor Paul Leadbetter, Chair of the Governance Committee proposed and Councillor Alison Hansford Vice Chair seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of People and Places (enclosed) agreed at Licensing and Public Safety Committee on 19 March 2014, and requiring Council approval.

Members considered a report seeking approval to a proposal to extend the current scheme of delegation to the Director of People and Places to deal with minor issues   in relation to licensed hackney carriage and private hire drivers. The report had been agreed by Licensing and Public Safety Committee on 19 March 2014 and required full Council approval as a change to the Constitution. The new power would complement current powers for the Director to agree driver applications with minor issues outside the normal licensing policies.

Councillor Adrian Lowe, Executive Member for Places proposed and Councillor Marion Lowe, Chair of Licensing and Public Safety Committee seconded and it was

RESOLVED – that approval be given to the proposed changes to the Scheme of Delegation in relation to existing hackney carriage and private hire drivers to enable the Director of People and Places, in consultation with the Chair or Vice Chair of Licensing and Public Safety Committee, to exercise the powers of the General Licensing Sub-Committee to issue written warnings as to future conduct. These would remain on the driver’s licensing file in relation to drivers who already hold a private hire driver licence or hackney carriage driver licence.

To consider a report of the Head of Governance (enclosed).

 The Head of Governance submitted a report proposing that the Market Walk Steering Committee, established in 2013 to investigate and make recommendations on the purchase of Market Walk Shopping Centre, be re designated a Working Group, with new terms of reference. The Group would receive periodic management information about the shopping centre; consider proposals for improvements; and make recommendations to Council. The Steering Group would meet on a quarterly basis with additional meetings as and when required. It would have five members but with provision for a number of other councillors to attend in an observer capacity. The suggested new terms of reference were appended to the report.

Members of the opposition expressed concern that future decisions on the management and development of Market Walk may be made on a party political rather than commercial basis. The Leader of the Council assured Members that this would not be the case. The Council would set the strategic approach, supported by the views of the Steering Group. Day to day management would continue to be undertaken by officers under the leadership of the Executive. In response to a question, he also confirmed that Market Walk would be subject to scrutiny, as with other areas of Council business.

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

1.    That the establishment of a Market Walk Steering Group be agreed (to replace the current Market Walk Steering Committee) with the terms of reference as set out in the appendix to the report; and

2.    That any Councillor who is not a full Member of the Steering Group, be entitled to attend meetings of the Market Walk Steering Group, in an observer capacity.

To consider a report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy (enclosed).

Members received a report on the recommended actions from the Town Centre Masterplan and also a Masterplan for the Fleet Street investment opportunity.

As part of approving a new economic development strategy in 2012, Members had agreed to develop a town centre Masterplan with the key priority of creating a vibrant town centre that attracts people from both the local community and visitors in the day and evening, for shopping, eating and entertainment. The Masterplan had now been completed and a range of key actions were recommended for different areas within the town centre, along with a timeframe for delivery.

In addition, an investment opportunity had been investigated for the development of residential/supported housing uses at Fleet Street and Gillibrand Street, including a potential specialist dementia care unit. Working with the Homes and Communities Agency, the Council had developed a detailed Masterplan and was looking at a phased approach to developing the sites of Fleet Street North and South, followed by Gillibrand Street North and South. If Members were in agreement to the proposals, the Council would look to secure a developer as a partner to progress the residential development.

In considering the Masterplan, some Members expressed concern about the traffic proposals, particularly in relation to the Civic Quarter. The Executive Leader assured Members that these were purely for illustrative purposes at this stage and would be subject to further discussion, however he agreed to take back the concerns for reconsideration of the traffic proposals.

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

1.    That the report be noted

2.    That the recommended actions from the Town Centre Masterplan be endorsed; and

3.    That the proposals of the Fleet Street investment opportunity be approved for public consultation. Should any minor amendments to the proposal be required before the formal consultation process commences, the Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance be authorised to agree them in consultation with the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy.

There were no questions under Procedure Rule 8.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED – that the press and public be excluded for the following two items of business on the grounds that it is likely that exempt information will be disclosed as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act.

Councillor Matthew Crow declared an interest in the following item and left the room for the consideration of that item.

The following motion has been received from Councillor Peter Wilson:

“This Council asks that Lancashire County Council gives assurances that it will use its planned Youth Zone budget for Chorley to support a multi-agency approach to delivering services to all the young people of Chorley. The site selected for development should be the one that attracts the most aggregate funding and offers the widest use by young people. We would request that any facility be delivered by LCC  working with Chorley BC, local Voluntary Groups and private partners to deliver  as wide as possible a service as part of a larger scheme to cater for all young people, not just those requiring specific early intervention support. This will be more cost effective in the construction phase and reduce risk to all partners in the ongoing operation of any facility. It would also remove any potential for duplication of provision and resultant waste of Council Tax payers money.”

The following motion was submitted by Councillor Peter Wilson:

“This Council asks that Lancashire County Council gives assurances that it will use its planned Youth Zone budget for Chorley to support a multi-agency approach to delivering services to all the young people of Chorley. The site selected for development should be the one that attracts the most aggregate funding and offers the widest use by young people. We would request that any facility be delivered by LCC  working with Chorley BC, local Voluntary Groups and private partners to deliver  as wide as possible a service as part of a larger scheme to cater for all young people, not just those requiring specific early intervention support. This will be more cost effective in the construction phase and reduce risk to all partners in the ongoing operation of any facility. It would also remove any potential for duplication of provision and resultant waste of Council Tax payers money.”

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed the motion and Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance seconded the motion and following debate it was RESOLVED -  that there be unanimous support for the motion.

To consider the enclosed report of the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council.

Members considered a report of the Chief Executive and Executive Leader on development options for Market Walk and seeking agreement to undertaking a feasibility study into progressing any viable option to the detailed planning stage.

Further to the all Member briefing provided by Deloitte prior to the Council meeting, and information provided within the report, Members considered development options which focussed on high street retailer requirements, car parking, existing tenants and traders, leisure provision, other town centre projects and overall commercial feasibility.

Councillor John Dalton proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Greg Morgan, to defer the decision on the recommendations contained in the report to the next Council meeting to enable Members further time to consider the report.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST

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

The press and public were readmitted for the following item.

As this was the final Council Meeting before the European and Local Elections on 22 May, the Mayor wished all those Councillors standing for election this year, the best of luck. He also passed on his best wishes and thanks to those Councillors who had chosen to step down this year – Councillors Rosie and Geoff Russell, Magda Cullens and in particular a special tribute to Councillor Dennis Edgerley who had served as an Elected Member for Chorley for almost 40 years.

There followed many tributes, thanks and words of appreciation to the retiring Councillors from group leaders and ward colleagues, in particular for Dennis Edgerley who had served as Deputy Leader of the Council, Leader of the Labour Group, Mayor of the Borough and in many Executive Member positions and as Chair of a number of Committees. Councillor Edgerley responded and thanked everyone for their kind words. Councillor Edgerley received a standing ovation from all those present.