Agenda and minutes

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 the minutes of the last meeting of the Council held on 1 March 2016 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Mayor.

The Mayor reported the amounts raised by the two final fundraising events of her Mayoral year and thanked all councillors for supporting her charitable events throughout her term of office.

The Mayor referred to the forthcoming elections, wishing all Members well in contesting their councillor seats. In particular she referred to Councillors David Dickinson and Robert Finnamore who were not seeking re-election and she wished them well for the future.

Councillors Alistair Bradley, John Walker and Ralph Snape paid tribute to the work of the retiring Councillors, particularly David Dickinson who had served as Ward Councillor for Brindle and Hoghton for 16 years. They wished him well for the future and the Councillors responded accordingly.

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 general report of Executive Cabinet meetings held on 21 January, 18 February and 17 March 2016.

Members considered a general report of meetings of the Executive Cabinet held on 21 January, 18 February and 17 March 2016.

Councillor Paul Leadbetter raised questions relating to the Council funding of a number of bus routes following budget cuts announced by Lancashire County Council, in particular how those bus routes had been chosen. In response, the Leader referred to routes where people had come forward with major concerns about the loss of bus services and where the loss of routes directly impacted on Council key objectives, like preventing social exclusion. There was still an opportunity to support other routes and proposals were welcome.

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 general report of Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings held on 28 January and 31 March 2016 including Performance Panel and Task Group updates.

Members considered a general report of meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28 January and 31 March and also meetings of the Performance Panel and an update on Task Groups.

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

To consider the attached general report of Governance Committee held on 9 March 2016.

Members considered a general report of the Governance Committee meeting held on 9 March 2016.

Councillor Paul Leadbetter, Chair of Governance 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 Chief Executive submitted a report updating the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules in line with new requirements under the 2015 Public Contracts Regulations, plus new EU thresholds which became effective on 1 January 2016 and introduced a number of practical updates.

The revised Contract Procedure Rules had been considered and approved by Governance Committee in January but also required full Council approval as they formed part of the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Paul Leadbetter, Chair of Governance Committee proposed, Councillor Anthony Gee, Vice Chair, seconded and it was RESOLVED – that the Council approves the revised Contract Procedure Rules as set out in the appendix to the report, for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Executive Leader presented a report which updated Members on progress in the development of proposals for a Combined Authority for Lancashire and seeking formal agreement from Chorley Council to become a constituent member.

The Council had considered initial proposals in November 2015 to form part of the Combined Authority and following further development work, including a governance review and a period of public consultation, more detailed proposals were before Councillors for consideration. In summary:

·         The Lancashire Combined Authority would provide a legally constituted body operating across Lancashire to take strategic decisions on transport, economic development, and regeneration and strengthen the relationship with the LEP and local authorities;

·         A range of ambitions had been developed for Lancashire, with the key themes of Prosperous Lancashire; Connected Lancashire; Skilled Lancashire; Better Homes for Lancashire; and Public Services Working Together for Lancashire;

·         All the district councils in Lancashire (except Wyre); the two unitary authorities; and the County Council were expecting to become constituent members;

·         The scheme of governance provided one vote per local authority (excluding transport matters); each local authority to be represented by their Leader; there would also be scrutiny arrangements; and Councils would meet core costs, which would be kept to a minimum.

The public consultation exercise conducted during January and February 2016 showed that 70% of those who responded, were strongly or generally in agreement, with the establishment of a Combined Authority. The Shadow Authority would start to meet after the election period starting in July and at a later stage, a Parliamentary Order would be required to formally create the Lancashire Combined Authority. 

Lancashire Leaders had been working together on the Combined Authority plans over many months and had also considered devolution proposals to give greater control and influence over for example, strategic transport and development, employment and skills programmes, housing, growth funding and investment. Devolution proposals were subject to separate discussion and negotiation and would come back to the Council for a further decision in due course.

In discussion, Members raised questions regarding the Council’s position in relation to seeking unitary status; the link between devolution proposals and elected mayors; and the position of those authorities who didn’t join the Combined Authority or withdrew at a later stage. The Leader assured members that any devolution discussions would be subject to a further decision by full Council.

Councillor Paul Leadbetter, Leader of the Conservative Group thanked Councillor Bradley for taking a leading role in Lancashire on the Combined Authority work and gave his full support to the report.

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

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive submitted a draft Land and Infrastructure Payment Policy which it was proposed be approved and adopted with immediate effect. Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge on some forms of development which allows local authorities to raise funds from developers to pay for strategic and local infrastructure needed as a result of development.

The Land and Infrastructure Payment Policy sets out the circumstances and conditions for paying a part or the entire CIL amount in the form of land and/or one or more items of infrastructure. It is at the Council’s discretion whether to accept payments in kind for CIL rather than money. To permit this the Council needs to adopt and publish a Land and Infrastructure Payment Policy, a draft of which was included in the report.

Members raised questions regarding who would approve CIL payments of this nature; how valuations would be undertaken; and whether Parish Councils would still receive financial payments for CIL. In response, the Leader of the Council advised that valuations would be taken independently; CIL levels are set in conjunction with South Ribble and Preston Councils; and decisions would be taken by a combination of officers and Members. Parish Councils would still receive any CIL payments as direct funding.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed, Councillor Paul Walmsley, Executive Member for Public Protection, seconded and it was

RESOLVED – that the Land and Infrastructure Payment Policy appended to the report be approved for adoption.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Members considered a report of the Chief Executive requesting that Council Procedure Rules be amended to introduce a public questions provision at the Licensing and Public Safety Committee in line with those at Council, Executive Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This would allow a more structured approach to public involvement at meetings and by providing questions on notice, would allow a full answer to be provided to issues raised.

Councillor Roy Lees, Chair of Licensing and Public Safety Committee proposed, Councillor Anthony Gee, Vice Chair, seconded and it was RESOLVED –

There were no questions received under Procedure Rule 8.

There were no notices of motion received under Procedure Rule 10.