Agenda and minutes

The Mayor, Councillor John Walker welcomed all Councillors, in particular those newly elected to the Council, to the Annual Meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors R Finnamore, C France, S Holgate, A Morwood, P Phipps and R Toon.

RESOLVED – that’s the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 1 April 2014 be confirmed as a correct record for signature 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.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The Chief Executive as the Returning Officer will report that at the Elections held on 22 May 2014, the following persons were duly elected as Councillors for the wards stated:

Wards

Adlington and Anderton – Graham Dunn

Astley and Buckshaw – Matthew Lynch

Chorley East – Hasina Khan

Chorley North East – Alistair Morwood

Chorley North West – Ralph Snape

Chorley South East – Bev Murray

Chorley South West – Roy Lees

Chisnall – Alan Whittaker

Clayton le Woods North – Charlie Bromilow

Clayton le Woods West and Cuerden – Mick Muncaster

Clayton le Woods and Whittle le Woods – Eric Bell

Coppull – Richard Toon

Eccleston and Mawdesley – Keith Iddon

Euxton North – Mike Handley

Euxton South – Mark Jarnell

Pennine – Gordon France

Wheelton and Withnell – Margaret France

Members received a report of the Returning Officer formally reporting that at the Local Elections held on 22 May 2014, the following Councillors had been elected:

Wards

Adlington and Anderton – Graham Dunn

Astley and Buckshaw – Matthew Lynch

Chorley East – Hasina Khan

Chorley North East – Alistair Morwood

Chorley North West – Ralph Snape

Chorley South East – Bev Murray

Chorley South West – Roy Lees

Chisnall – Alan Whittaker

Clayton le Woods North – Charlie Bromilow

Clayton le Woods West and Cuerden – Mick Muncaster

Clayton le Woods and Whittle le Woods – Eric Bell

Coppull – Richard Toon

Eccleston and Mawdesley – Keith Iddon

Euxton North – Mike Handley

Euxton South – Mark Jarnell

Pennine – Gordon France

Wheelton and Withnell – Margaret France

RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To formally elect the Mayor of the Borough for 2014/15.

It was formally proposed by Councillor Anthony Gee, and seconded by Councillor Adrian Lowe, that Councillor Roy Lees be elected as Mayor of the Borough of Chorley for the forthcoming Council Year.

RESOLVED – that Councillor Roy Lees be elected as Mayor of the Borough of Chorley for the forthcoming Council year.

Councillor Roy Lees in the Chair

The Mayor signed the declaration of acceptance of office and thanked all present for his election to the office of Mayor. He informed Members that he would be undertaking fundraising activities throughout his Mayoral year in support of St Catherine’s Hospice, Home-Start and Help the Homeless. He introduced his wife Mrs Margaret Lees as his Mayoress for the year.

To formally elect the Deputy Mayor for the Council Year 2014/15

It was formally proposed by Councillor Danny Gee and seconded by Councillor Anthony Gee that Councillor Marion Lowe be elected as Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Chorley for the forthcoming Council Year.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Marion Lowe be elected as Deputy Mayor for the Borough of Chorley for the forthcoming Council Year.

The Deputy Mayor signed the declaration of acceptance of office and introduced her husband Councillor Adrian Lowe, as her Deputy Consort for 2104/15.

The Retiring Mayor will be presented with a portrait, medallion and plaque bearing the Borough’s Coat of Arms as a token of thanks for his year of office.

·         Vote of thanks to the Retiring Mayor.

·         The Retiring Mayor to address the Council.

The Mayor presented the Retiring Mayor, Councillor John Walker with a portrait of himself in the Mayoral Robes; a past Mayor’s badge of office; and a plaque bearing the Council’s Coat of Arms, as tokens of his past year of office as Mayor of Chorley. The Retiring Mayoress, Mrs Marie Walker was presented with a past Mayoress’s badge of office.

Political group leaders and ward colleagues paid tribute to Councillor Walker as an excellent ambassador for Chorley during his Mayoral Year and also to the fundraising activities John and Marie Walker had undertaken on behalf of their chosen charities which had raised over £13,000.

Councillor John Walker responded, saying he had been proud to serve as Mayor of the Borough, it had been a privilege and extremely enjoyable. He thanked Members and the Mayoral staff for their support and Reverend Cox for serving as his chaplain. He also thanked his wife, Marie for serving alongside him as Mayoress. He presented to the Council, a framed painting of scenes from Yarrow Valley by a local artist.

Information attached.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader informed the Council of his appointments to the Executive Cabinet for 2014/15 including a change to the content and title of portfolios and also a change to the portfolio support roles from Portfolio Champions, to Member Responsible and Council Champion positions.

Appointment to the Executive Cabinet and portfolio support roles were reported as follows:

RESOLVED – that the Executive Leaders appointments for 2104/15 be noted.

Report of Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking approval to changes in the Council’s management structure to reflect the realigned executive portfolios and as a consequence to agree changes to the proper officer and delegated authority provisions within the Council’s Constitution.

The report listed the new areas of business and titles of the revised executive portfolios and appended a proposed management structure which, in summary:

·         Moved the economic development section under the management of the Chief Executive;

·         Revised the job title of the existing Director of People and Places to become the Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community and in doing so, also take on management of the planning section; and

·         Revised the job title of the existing Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy to become the Director of Customer and Advice Services undertaking the management of the customer and ICT services for the Council plus the housing section.

Information was circulated at the meeting indicating that those affected, would be subject to a 5 working day consultation period to allow them to comment on the proposed changes.

Councillor Greg Morgan expressed concern at the range of changes being proposed and asked how they would contribute to the increased efficiency of the organisation. In response, the Executive Leader referred to the need to focus the Council’s limited resources on Council priorities and he believed this structure would enable this to take place more effectively.

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

1.    That the proposed changes to the management structure outlined in the report be approved for consultation with the officers directly affected, namely the Director of People and Places, the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy, the Heads of Planning, Economic Development and ICT and Transactional Services. The consultation period to commence on 4 June and end on 11 June 2104.

2.    Subject to there being no objections to the proposals, the Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer to make the necessary consequential changes to the Constitution which will be deemed to be adopted from 11 June 2104. Any sustainable objection received would be considered by the General Purposes Committee.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

Members considered a report of the Chief Executive on proposed changes to partnership working through the Chorley Partnership Executive and the Equality Forum.

The Chorley Partnership Executive had reviewed their structure and governance arrangements and proposed that they become the Chorley Public Services Reform Board with the redefined purpose of “working together to ensure high quality public services with the best outcomes and value for residents and providing better coordinated and integrated services which are intelligence led.”

The Equality Forum arrangements had also been reviewed with the intention of adding greater value and input from the wider community and introducing closer working with the Chorley VCFS Network.

The Executive Leader proposed and the Executive Member for Resources seconded and it was RESOLVED –

1.    That the Chorley Partnership Executive be deleted in its current form and replaced with a Chorley Public Services Reform Board with the Executive Leader of the Council and an Opposition Member being appointed to the Board.

2.    That the changes be agreed to the Equality Forum with a view to introducing closer working with the Chorley VCFS Network.

To approve the appointment of Members of the Council to Committees, other bodies and positions on the Council and to note shadow appointments for 2014/15 (information attached).

The Council considered a schedule of nominations for the appointment of committees, working groups and panels in accordance with the political balance of the Council, together with nominations to Chair and Vice Chair positions and a list of shadow portfolio positions.

The Executive Leader proposed, the Executive Member for Resources seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the following appointments be approved for 2014/15:

To appoint Members to represent the Council on Outside Bodies in 2014/15 (information attached).

A schedule of nominations for the appointment of Council representatives on outside bodies for the forthcoming Council year was circulated.

The Executive Leader proposed, the Executive Member for Resources seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the following appointments be approved for 2104/15:

To confirm the following timetable of Council Meetings for 2014/15.

All will be held in the Council Chamber at Chorley Town Hall at 6.30pm:

·         22 July 2014

·         4 September 2014 (Special Meeting)

·         23 September 2014

·         25 November 2104 (Policy Council)

·         13 January 2015

·         3 March 2015 (Budget Council)

·         14 April 2015

The Executive Leader proposed and the Executive Member for Resources seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that the Council Meetings in 2104/15 take place as follows:

22 July 2014

4 September 2014 (Special Meeting)

23 September 2014

25 November 2014 (Policy Council)

13 January 2105

3 March 2105 (Budget Council)

14 April 2105

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 & 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

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

Report of the Executive Leader enclosed.

The Executive Leader presented a report on the approach the Council was taking on the selecting of a site for a preferred location of a minimum 5 pitch permanent gypsy and traveller site.

At previous meetings, Members had been advised that in order for the Local Plan to be found sound in relation to gypsy and traveller matters by the Local Plan Inspector, the Council must allocate a site for a minimum number of 5 pitches, and a number of modifications must be made to the Plan.

The report set out the following information:

·         The background to the requirement to make gypsy and traveller site provision through the Local Plan Examination Hearings, the subsequent Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment and the modifications to the Local Plan then requested by the Local Plan Inspector.

·         The approach the Council had taken to selecting potential sites including the factors which were required to be taken into account and a suggested 9 potential sites within the Borough. All 9 sites were in Council ownership.

·         A detailed assessment of each of those 9 alternative sites including a sustainability appraisal in each case and the financial implications for the Council in developing those sites as a permanent gypsy traveller site.

·         the proposed preferred site of Cowling Farm and the reasons for that selection as preferred site

·         a schedule of further modifications needed to the Plan in accordance with the Inspectors suggestions

·         the next stages  in the process which was a public consultation process with a final decision being made at a Special Council meeting on 4 September 2104.

The Executive Leader proposed and the Executive Member for Resources seconded, and it was RESOLVED –

1.      That the ‘preferred option document’ appended to the report which proposed the preferred site of Cowling Farm be endorsed for the purpose of public consultation for a six week period from Wednesday 4 June to Wednesday 16 July 2014; and

2.      That delegated authority be given to the Executive Leader to approve the following additional documents for consultation - Habitats Regulations Supplement, Sustainability Appraisal Supplement, Statement of Consultation Supplement, and Duty to Co-operate Supplement.

Report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy (enclosed).

The Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy submitted a report on changes to the governance arrangements for Chorley Community Homes (CCH) and Adactus Housing Group and seeking approval to an associated Supplemental Deed to the original Transfer Agreement.

The Council transferred its housing stock to Chorley Community Housing Ltd (with Adactus Housing Group as parent company) in March 2007. The Council had recently been informed by CCH and Adactus of a review in their governance arrangements which revised the current structure and number of members on their new Board (which was an overlapped structure including CCH, Adactus Housing Association, Adactus Group and Beech Housing Association). The impact for Chorley Council was a reduction from 4 to 2 places for councillors on the Board.

In addition, the Council had used the opportunity to address a number of outstanding issues requiring formal variations to the Transfer Agreement. These included for support schemes to deal with disabled adaptations and the impact of welfare reform, and the use of VAT shelter monies held by Council.

Members were asked to approve a schedule of variations to the original transfer document to formalise agreement to these matters.

The Executive Leader proposed and the Executive Member for Resources seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that the Supplemental Deed to the CCH Transfer Agreement (attached as Appendix 1 to the report) be approved and it be noted that as a result there will be a reduction from four to two representatives the Council nominates to the Board of Chorley Community Housing.