Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 22 July 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.

Councillor Mark Perks declared a pecuniary interest in item 6 and left the meeting for consideration of that item.

The Mayor announced some changes to the agenda order and also gave notice of an urgent item which was required to be considered prior to the item on Developing a Proposal for Unitary Status.

Report of the Chief Executive (enclosed).

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented a report which provided the results of consultation on the Chorley Local Plan 2012 – 26 Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Preferred Options document.

In order for the Local Plan to be found sound in relation to gypsy and traveller matters by the Local Plan Inspector, a site must be allocated for a minimum of five pitches with a number of modifications to the Plan. Further to a decision of the Annual Council meeting on 3 June 2104, consultation had taken place on 9 potential sites as follows:

1.    Cowling Farm, Chorley

2.    Yarrow Bridge Depot, Chorley

3.    Cabbage Hall Fields, Chorley

4.    Land off Westhoughton Rd, Heath Charnock

5.    Land at Ackhurst Rd, Chorley

6.    Land adjacent to Northgate Drive, Chorley

7.    Haworth Rd, (previously named Crosse Hall Lane) Chorley

8.    Harrisons Farm, Adlington

9.    Hut Lane, Heath Charnock

Cowling Farm was considered at that stage to be the preferred site for allocation. The site is allocated for a mix of housing and employment in the Local Plan and the report highlighted the positive attributes of the site. Consultation took place on all sites between 4 June and 16 July 2014 and 314 representations were received.

The report provided details of the consultation an overview of those consultation responses in relation to the sustainability appraisals; financial considerations; representations from statutory consultees and engagement with the existing gypsy and traveller community. The report then gave breakdowns of the comments received for each of the 9 sites and the Council’s responses to those comments.

The report included an update which was circulated on the cost of developing each site. The conclusion was that Cowling Farm remained the Council’s proposed allocation and is a suitable, available, achievable and sustainable site which accords with national policy on Gypsy and Travellers and Core Strategy Policies 1 and 8. The Council’s decision on a preferred site, together with any related Local Plan modifications, would need to be submitted to the Local Plan Inspector for consideration in advance of the reopened Examination Hearing on 23 and 24 September 2014.

The Council would fund any provision but would hope to achieve funding from the Homes & Communities Agency. Developing Cowling Farm would require a master planning process and the Council would work closely with partners and local residents to achieve a cohesive community.

The Council had tried to object and oppose the need for a dedicated site but this had not been successful and failure to identify one was now putting the Local Plan at risk. The Council had to work within the law and all political groups had been involved in that process.

The Mayor invited the five people who had submitted public questions to read their questions for the Executive Leader to respond to:

1.         Justin Taylor, Rivington View Residents Association

“Given the reasons stated by the Council to discount the Haworth Road site from further considerations as a Gypsy/Traveller provision, does this mean that the site will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.C.173

Report of the Chief Executive (enclosed).

Councillor Mark Perks left the meeting for the debate and decision on the following Motion and Unitary Status Proposals Report.

Motion to Grant Dispensation

The Executive Leader referred to the motion which had been circulated seeking agreement to a dispensation to permit all councillors to take part in a discussion and decisions on issues relating to the development of proposals for Chorley Council gaining unitary status, including involvement in a dedicated Working Group.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed, Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources seconded and it was RESOLVED-  That Chorley Council grants to all Councillors, a dispensation under section 33(2)(e) of the Localism Act 2011 to enable them to participate in Agenda Item 6, Developing a Proposal for Unitary Status and any subsequently convened working group connected to this matter.

The said dispensation to continue for a period of 12 months or until the subject of the Agenda Item is brought back to Full Council for further consideration.

Report on Developing a Proposal for Unitary Status

The Executive Leader presented a report on proposals for the development of a business case for Chorley Council becoming a single tier local authority and also circulated a letter from the Minister for Local Government on this matter.

The issue of unitary status was discussed at a recent meeting of the MP and Executive Leader of the Council with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The Secretary of State had indicated that the government would not block proposals that were financially robust and had a public mandate. 

In view of continuing change across the public sector and reductions in budget it was felt that an investigation into a move to unitary status would provide opportunities to review how local government could be delivered in the borough, working with other public sector bodies for more sustainable services into the future. The report provided the rationale for developing a business case for Chorley becoming a Unitary Council looking at:

·         Increasing strategic leadership and local accountability.

·         Scale, growth and comparable authorities.

·         Budget reductions and savings.

The proposal also included allocating funding to resource the exploratory work with a new dedicated post of Project Director on a fixed term contract; the establishment of an all-party working group of Elected Members to oversee the process; and consideration of a local poll being held in autumn 2015 to seek public opinion on a the proposal.

Member debated the matter and a number voiced concerns about population size and the viability of Chorley as a unitary authority. The Executive Leader stressed the opportunity would enable the Council to look at alternative ways of working with other partners to deliver services. Unitary status would only be recommended where there were clear organisational and financial reasons for doing so.

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

1.    That the Council supports the case to investigate the business case and viability of developing a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.C.174

The Chief Executive submitted a report which sought approval to consultation on a proposed change to the Council Tax Local Discounts and Exemptions Policy for properties which had been empty and substantially unfurnished for more than 24 months.

The report set out the existing policy and the suggested specific circumstances which should apply to any further discount or exemption on empty property. If approved, the change would become effective from 1 April 2015.

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

1.    Approval be given to consultation on a change to the Council Tax Local Discount & Exemptions Policy effective from 1 April 2015, as follows:

Provide for an exception to the charge of a 25% premium for properties which have been empty and substantially unfurnished for more than 24 months where the new owner(s) inherits this charge and where the property is actively being marketed for sale in line with average prices within the local area.

2.    The exception to be effective from the date the property is marketed for sale for a maximum period of 6 months, after which the 25% premium would reapply.

To approve the following change in Council appointments:

Councillor H Khan to replace Councillor J Berry as representative on the LCC Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed and Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources seconded and it was RESOLVED – that Councillor Hasina Khan replace Councillor Julia Berry on the LCC Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee.

The Mayor updated Councillors on his fundraising activities so far and gave the latest information about forthcoming charity events.