Agenda and minutes

The Mayor referred to the current illness of Councillor Mark Perks and on behalf of the Council, she would send best wishes to him for a speedy recovery. Councillors Alistair Bradley and Ralph Snape also passed on their best wishes.

Councillor Paul Leadbetter reported that due to his ill health, Councillor Perks had decided to stand down as Leader of the Conservative Group and the Group would be electing a new Leader shortly. He thanked Mark for his commitment to the role and hoped that his health would improve shortly.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 19 May 2015 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Mayor.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Council held on 6 June 2015 be approved 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 Mayor provided an overview of her fundraising plans so far including a Golf Day in September; a Chorley’s Got Soul Night in October and a further Christmas one in December; and the Mayors Charity Ball which would be held at Shaw Hill Golf and Hotel Spa in February 2016. She thanked Councillor Khan for her fundraising through her fast for Ramadan and all Members who had sponsored her.

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 for consideration.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of the Council presented a report of the Chief Executive seeking formal adoption of the Chorley Local Plan for 2012 – 2026. This included accepting the contents of the Inspectors Partial Report from October 2013 and the more recent Inspector’s Supplementary Report on the Examination into the Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Policy and Site Allocation.

The Leader reported that it had been a long process, subject to wide consultation, and the Local Plan was now considered sound by the Local Plan Inspector. It was an important document for the Council and the future of the Borough. It determined specific sites for development or protection in accordance with relevant planning policies and would guide the area’s development needs to 2026.

The Inspector’s Supplementary report on Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople concluded that the part of the Chorley Local Plan that dealt with this provision was sound, providing that a number of main modifications are made.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of the Council proposed, Councillor Paul Walmsley, Executive Member for Public Protection seconded and it was RESOLVED –

1.   That the Inspectors modifications in relation to Gypsy and  Traveller and Travelling Showpeople issues be accepted and the Chorley Local Plan 2012-26 be varied accordingly; and

2.  That the amended Chorley Local Plan 2012 - 2026 (Appendix 1 to the report) be approved for adoption.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive. 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented Members of the Council with a report on the revised Central Lancashire Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) from June 2015.

The Leader explained that a revised draft GTAA published in May 2015  identified a need for 11 permanent pitches for Travellers in Chorley Borough, (an additional 6 to the 5 being progressed through the Chorley Local Plan 2012-26) 22 in Preston, 1 in South Ribble and a Central Lancashire wide need for 4 transit pitches to 2026. Following discussions and clarifications sought from the Council, this figure has been revised down to a need for 10 permanent pitches. In addition, It is understood that pitch requirement may be challenged by the local traveller community and that their position is that the Assessment may overstate the number of pitches needed to be provided. Local Circumstances is a relevant factor for considering the appropriate provision.

Since then, the Government had announced that they will be reviewing guidance on GTAA provision and so the Leader had written to Central Government to seek further clarification and some certainty before agreeing  final provision. In view of this, the Leader asked that the matter be deferred to the next meeting of the Council in September.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of the Council proposed, Councillor Paul Walmsley, Executive Member for Public Protection seconded and it was RESOLVED – That consideration of the Assessment Document and the progression of the Traveller Local Plan be deferred to the next Council meeting. 

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Members considered a report of the Chief Executive seeking approval to the adoption of the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Councillor Paul Walmsley, Executive Member for Public Protection presented the report, referring to the consultation process, subsequent changes to the SPD and the fact that once approved and adopted, it would form part of the  Local Plan Core Strategy.

Councillor Paul Walmsley, Executive Member for Public Protection proposed. Councillor Chris France seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Supplementary Planning Document be approved and adopted.

To consider the attached general report of the meeting held on 25 June 2015.

Members considered a general report of a meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 25 June 2015.

Councillor Paul Leadbetter referred to the item on the PCSO Deployment Update and asked about the role of PCSOs and how far the Council were receiving value for money in providing funding. The Leader of the Council responded saying he had asked a similar question when meeting recently with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire and he was assured that this was being pursued with the Chief Constable and that councillors would be asked to feed their views into a review.

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

To consider the attached report of Chief Executive. 

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources, presented the provisional Revenue and Capital Outturn Report for 2014/15 which had been approved by Executive Cabinet on 25 June but required Council approval to a number of recommendations. The report gave provisional revenue outturn figures compared against the budget and efficiency savings targets set for 2014/15 and also provisional outturn figures for the capital programme for 2014/15.

Councillor Eric Bell asked about the level of balances and the need to increase them to reflect the risks relating to the scale of projects the Council was undertaking. The Executive Member said that whilst the Council was pleased to achieve balances of £2.288m which was well above the target of £2m, the Council was striving in the long term to achieve balances of £3m. All projects sought to minimise risks as far as possible.

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

1.         Approval is given to slippage requests and other transfers to reserves as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report, to finance expenditure on specific items or projects in 2015/16.

3.         Approval be given to the financing of the 2014/15 Capital Programme to maximise the use of funding resources available to the Council.

To consider the attached general report of a meeting of the Committee held on 16 April and the Performance Panel held on 22 June 2015..

Members considered a general report of a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 16 April and the Performance Panel held on 22 June 2015.

Councillor John Walker, Chair of the Committee proposed, Councillor Hasina Khan, Vice Chair seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To consider the attached annual report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2014/15.

Councillor John Walker, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented Scrutiny Reporting Back, the Council’s Annual Report on the overview and scrutiny work undertaken in 2014/15.

He thanked Members for their participation in the work of the Committee, the Performance Panel and the Task Groups and officers for their support, in particular Democratic Services.

Councillor John Walker, Chair of the Committee proposed, Councillor June Molyneaux former Vice Chair, seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the report be noted.

To consider the attached general report of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 June 2015.

Members considered a general report of a meeting of the Governance Committee held on 24 June 2015.

The Chair asked the Executive Leader for progress in the Committee receiving the Labour Group’s view on guidance as to when a Councillor is acting in his capacity as a councillor and when acting in a personal capacity. The Executive Leader said this would hopefully be available for the next Governance Committee meeting in September.

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

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Executive Leader presented the Council’s Annual Report for 2014/15 which summarised the Council’s achievements over the past year, as well as highlighting the opportunities and challenges which the Council faces in 2015/16.

The Annual Report is a key mechanism for presenting information on the Council’s performance to residents, partners and key stakeholders. The Leader highlighted in particular the Council’s success in economic development with support for businesses, inward investment and employment initiatives. He also referred to increased volunteering and improvements in customer satisfaction. Councillor Peter Wilson referred to his pride in the achievements of the current administration and thanked members and officers for their involvement.

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

To agree a response to consultation on the Electoral Review of Lancashire. Report attached.

Members considered a report of the Chief Executive on a review being undertaken by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) on the electoral divisions of Lancashire. First stage consultation was currently taking place and views were invited by 31 August 2015 on whether there should be changes to the number and configuration of the current 7 electoral divisions in Chorley.

The report contained statistical evidence to support the creation of an eighth division in Chorley as both the current and projected average electorate per Chorley division was significantly higher than the Lancashire average per division.

Following a meeting of All Party Leaders, a supplementary report of the Chief Executive put forward two alternative configurations for the eight divisions. Both options sought to meet the LGBCE criteria of delivering electoral equality; reflecting the interests and identities of local communities; and providing effective and convenient local government. The two options were very similar, seeking to achieve co-terminosity with borough wards, the exception being that one option moved a polling district in order to include all of Coppull Parish in one division.

In presenting the proposals, the Executive Leader commented that he thought the review was badly timed and should have been undertaken at a later stage when other boundary inconsistencies could be addressed.

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

1.    That the Council makes a formal submission to the LGBCE requesting that Chorley is represented by 8 rather than 7 County Council electoral divisions, evidenced with current and projected electorate statistics.

2.    That the two proposals attached to the supplementary report as Appendices 4 and 5, be included in the formal submission as similar but alternative options for the configuration of the 8 Chorley divisions, both of which have the support of the Council.

To agree the following additional “Member Responsible” positions:

Governance – Councillor Anthony Gee

Equalities – Councillor Hasina Khan

Members considered a number of revisions to Council appointments in 2015/16.

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

1.    That Councillors Anthony Gee and Hasina Khan be appointed to the roles of Members Responsible for Governance and Equalities respectively;

2.    That the two main political groups be invited to appoint a third substitute member to the Development Control Committee, with Councillor Graham Dunn being appointed from the Labour Group, and a Conservative appointment to be confirmed; and

3.    That following the outcome of the Conservative Group Leadership decision, authorisation be given to any consequential changes to the Conservative Group appointments to Committees.

There were no questions received under Procedure Rule 8.

Submitted by Councillor Richard Toon

TOWNS AGAINST TAX DODGING The council notes:

·         It has been estimated that the UK Treasury loses as much as £12 billion to tax dodging by multinational companies every year. Developing countries lose three times more to tax dodging than they receive in aid each year - enough to give a basic education to the 57 million children currently missing out.

·         The UK has a particular responsibility to end tax dodging, as it is responsible for 1 in 5 of the world’s tax havens in the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

·         The use of tax havens by UK companies is rife, with 98 of the FTSE 100 companies routinely using tax havens.

·         Large multinational companies pay as little as 5% in corporate taxes globally, while smaller businesses pay up to 30%.

This council believes:

·         As a local authority we have a duty to provide the best possible public services.

·         Our ability to provide quality local services would be significantly enhanced by the increased revenues from the government tackling tax dodging.

·         All who benefit from public spending should contribute their fair share.

·         The UK must take a lead role in creating a fairer tax system and combatting tax dodging.

This council resolves:

- To support the campaign for tax justice, supporting the motion:

“While many ordinary people face falling household income and rising costs of living, some multinational companies are avoiding billions of pounds of tax from a tax system that fails to make them pay their fair share. Local governments in developing countries and the UK alike would benefit from a fairer tax system where multinational companies pay their fair share, enabling authorities around the world to provide quality public services. The UK government must listen to the strength of public feeling and act to end the injustice of tax dodging by large multinational companies, in developing countries and the UK.”

A second Notice of Motion has been submitted by Councillor Greg Morgan

Chorley Borough Council is concerned at the failure of Lancashire County Council to provide appropriate support to the Fleet Street Extra care Scheme.

The report that was presented to Council on 19th may outlined the care scheme proposal and recommended that approval in principle be given to Option 3 of the scheme which had been subject to the development of a full business case.  Funding for the scheme was to come from CBC, LCC and the Homes and Communities Agency and all 3 partners were aware of, and briefed on, the scheme.  Given the obvious benefits that the scheme held for the residents of Chorley it carried the full support of all councillors.

Subsequently LCC has withdrawn their specific funding commitment and are currently unwilling to place a figure on whatever support they may eventually choose to offer.  This withdrawal obliged CBC to submit a bid to the HCA containing finance proposals that they find unattractive, thus jeopardising the entire scheme.

The Council will therefore write to the LCC requesting urgent clarification  ...  view the full agenda text for item 15.C.265

1.    TOWNS AGAINST TAX DODGING

Councillor Richard Toon submitted the following motion, seconded by Councillor Gordon France

·        It has been estimated that the UK Treasury loses as much as £12 billion to tax dodging by multinational companies every year. Developing countries lose three times more to tax dodging than they receive in aid each year - enough to give a basic education to the 57 million children currently missing out.

·        The UK has a particular responsibility to end tax dodging, as it is responsible for 1 in 5 of the world’s tax havens in the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

·         The use of tax havens by UK companies is rife, with 98 of the FTSE 100 companies routinely using tax havens.

·         Large multinational companies pay as little as 5% in corporate taxes globally, while smaller businesses pay up to 30%.

This Council believes:

·         As a local authority we have a duty to provide the best possible public services.

·         Our ability to provide quality local services would be significantly enhanced by the increased revenues from the government tackling tax dodging.

·         All who benefit from public spending should contribute their fair share.

·         The UK must take a lead role in creating a fairer tax system and combatting tax dodging.

This Council resolves:

To support the campaign for tax justice, supporting the motion:

“While many ordinary people face falling household income and rising costs of living, some multinational companies are avoiding billions of pounds of tax from a tax system that fails to make them pay their fair share. Local governments in developing countries and the UK alike would benefit from a fairer tax system where multinational companies pay their fair share, enabling authorities around the world to provide quality public services. The UK government must listen to the strength of public feeling and act to end the injustice of tax dodging by large multinational companies, in developing countries and the UK.”

 Following debate, it was RESOLVED – that the motion be supported.

2.     LCC and FLEET STREET EXTRA CARE SCHEME

Councillor Greg Morgan submitted the following motion, seconded by Councillor Paul Leadbetter.

“Chorley Borough Council is concerned at the failure of Lancashire County Council to provide appropriate support to the Fleet Street Extra Care Scheme.

The report that was presented to Council on 19th May outlined the care scheme proposal and recommended that approval in principle be given to Option 3 of the scheme which had been subject to the development of a full business case.  Funding for the scheme was to come from CBC, LCC and the Homes and Communities Agency and all 3 partners were aware of, and briefed on, the scheme.  Given the obvious benefits that the scheme held for the residents of Chorley it carried the full support of all councillors.

Subsequently LCC has withdrawn their specific funding commitment and are currently unwilling to place a figure on whatever support they may eventually choose to offer.  This withdrawal obliged CBC to submit a bid to the HCA  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.C.265