Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Cullens, Heaton, Lennox and S Smith.

Members of the Council are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct.  If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual Member should not participate in a discussion on the matter and must withdraw from the Council Chamber and not seek to influence a decision on the matter.

No Member disclosed an interest in relation to matters under consideration at the meeting.

Confirmation of the minutes of the Council meeting held on 1 November 2005 as a correct record for  signature by the Mayor

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 1 November 2005 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor  informed the Members of the following

(a)            Tickets are now available from the Mayor’s Secretary for the Mayoral Christmas Raffle at a price of 50p. The draw will take place during the week commencing 19 December 2005.

(b)       A Mayoral Charity Meal will be held on the evening of Tuesday, 24 January 2006 after the Council meeting at Parmesan and Pepper. The tickets for the three course meal are available from the Mayor’s Secretary, price £20.

(c)        A “Gradely Lancashire Neet” (songs, poetry and clog dancing) will be held on Friday, 27 January 2006 commencing at 7.30pm at Whittle-le-Woods Village Hall.  Tickets are available from the Mayor’s Secretary, price £5 which includes hot pot supper.

(d)       The Mayor’s Charity Ball will be held on Friday 3 February 2006 at the Park Hall Hotel, Charnock Richard.  Further details of the event and an application form for tickets will be circulated but in the mean time, it would be appreciated if any gifts for the tombola could be given to the Mayor’s Secretary.

(e)       A Mayoral Quiz evening will be held at Chorley Cricket Club on 17 February 2006. Please contact the Mayor’s Secretary if you wish to enter a team for the event.

(f)         The Mayor wished Members and Officers a Merry Christmas and invited them to a drink and mince pie at the conclusion of this meeting and the Informal meeting to follow.

The Mayor informed Members that this would be the last Council Meeting that the Chief Executive, Mr Jeffrey Davies will be attending before his retirement on 2 January 2006. She thanked him for his commitment and dedicated service to the Council during the last 18 years and wished him every success and happiness for the future.

The Executive Leader along with the Leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups and Councillor R Snape expressed their appreciation to Mr Davies for his service to the Council and extended best wishes to him for the future.

General Report (enclosed)

The Chair of the Development Control Committee presented a report summarising the more significant proposals considered at a meeting of the Committee held on 29 November 2005.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Copy enclosed

The Chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee presented a report summarising the principal matters considered at meetings of the Committee held on 2 November and 6 December 2005.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report enclosed

The Chair of the Statutory Licensing Committee presented a report, which gave details of the costs to the Council of administering the Licensing Act 2003 procedures and the number of licensing applications under the Act dealt with by the Licensing Section.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report enclosed

The Chair of the Statutory Licensing Committee presented a report

recommending amendments to the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s

Constitution to allow the Statutory Licensing Committee and the Director of

Legal Services to deal with the various aspects of the licensing regime for

gaming and gaming machines (also known as amusement with prizes

machines) in alcohol licensed premises under the Licensing Act 2003.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the amendment of Appendix 2, Part B of the Councils Constitution to enable the Statutory Licensing Committee to deal with the following matters under the Licensing Act 2003:

·               Grant/renewal of Section 34 permits exceeding two machines in alcohol licensed premises

·               Orders under Section 6 of the Gaming Act 1968

(2) That approval be given to the amendment of Appendix 2, Part C of the Councils Constitution to enable the Director of Legal Services to deal with the following matters under the Licensing Act 2003:

·               Grant/renewal of Section 34 permits for up to two machines in alcohol licensed premises

·               Grant/renewal of Section 16 permits in alcohol licensed premises

·                Change of name as a result of conversion of Justices Licence/Premises Licence

General Report (enclosed)

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented a report summarising the principal matters considered at a meeting of the Committee held on 17 November 2005 and the ongoing work of its Panels.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

General Report (enclosed)

The Vice Chair of the Standards Committee presented a report summarising the principal matters considered at a meeting of the Committee held on 15 November 2005.

General Report (enclosed)

The Chair of the General Purposes Committee presented a report summarising the principal matters considered at a meeting of the Committee held on 16 November 2005.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report enclosed

The Executive Leader presented a report which incorporated a copy of the report produced by SOLACE Enterprises on the outcome of its review of the Council’s political relationships.

The review was commissioned by the Council principally as a consequence of

the Council’s 2003 Comprehensive Performance Assessment report

identifying as a weakness in capacity, the ‘poor political relationship

with the main opposition’. Taking this into account, the Council’s Corporate

Improvement Plan commits the Council to ‘develop mechanisms to improve

political relationships’ in order to achieve ‘good relationships between the

main political groups, helping to maximise the collective value of all members

towards the achievement of the Council’s objectives’.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations in paragraph 4.10 of the report by SOLACE  Enterprises be accepted and implemented.

Report enclosed

The Executive Leader presented a report on proposals for the addition to the

2005/06 Capital Programme of expenditure totalling £65,080 and proposed

revisions to the categorisation of schemes in the Programme.

The report incorporated a copy of the Director of Finance’s report to the Executive Cabinet to enable Council Members to take account of all relevant factors before reaching a decision.

RESOLVED - (1) That approval be given to the addition to the 2005/06 Capital Programme of expenditure totalling £65,080, as shown in the appendix to the attached report, to be financed from savings and virements, if appropriate;

(2) That the changes made to the categories of the Capital Programme be

noted.

Report enclosed

The Executive Member for Customers, Policy and Performance presented a report on the draft arrangements for the introduction of a Area Forum pilot scheme within the areas of Clayton-le-Woods North Ward, Coppull Parish and Lostock Ward. The report incorporated a copy of the Chief Executive’s report to the Executive Cabinet and the draft terms of reference and procedure rules for the pilot scheme.

The report indicated that Paragraph 27.2 of Part A of Appendix 3 to the Council’s Constitution requires that any motion to add to, vary or revoke any of the Council’s Standing Orders (including the Council and Contracts Procedure Rules) shall, when proposed and seconded, stand adjourned without further discussion to the next Ordinary Meeting of the Council.

It was moved by Councillor Edgerley and seconded by Councillor J Wilson  that  the following members be apointed as the Chair and Vice Chair of the respective Pilot Area Forum, subject to the adoption of the draft Procedure Rules at the next ordinary Council meeting:

 Area Forum                                           Chair                                            Vice Chair

Clayton-le-Woods                   nominations to be submitted

North Ward                             by the Conservative Group

Coppull Parish                                     Cllr Birchall                            Cllr Mrs Walsh

Lostock Ward                                         Cllr Iddon                                    Cllr D Dickinson

It was moved by Councillor Goldsworthy, seconded by Councillor Mrs Case and accepted that Councillor Cullens be appointed as the Chair of the Clayton-le-Woods North Ward Area Forum and Councillor Livesey be appointed as the Vice Chair of that Forum.

It was moved by Councillor Goldsworthy and seconded by Councillor Mrs Case that Councillor D Dickinson be appointed as the Chair of the Lostock Ward Area Forum and Councillor Iddon be appointed as the Vice Chair of that Forum.

The amendment was put to the vote and the Mayor declared it lost.

It was moved by Councillor Ball and seconded by Councillor Mrs Walsh that Councillor Mrs Walsh be appointed as the Chair of the Coppull Parish Area Forum and Councillor Heaton be appointed as the Vice Chair of that Forum.

The amendment was put to the vote and the Mayor declared it lost.

At this point, Councillor Ball indicated that Councillor Mrs Walsh did not wish to be appointed as the Vice Chair of the Coppull Parish Area Forum. No other nominations were submitted for the post of Vice Chair to that Forum and the Mayor indicated that it would be deferred for further consideration at the next Council meeting.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the terms of reference for the Area Forum Pilot Scheme, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, and their inclusion as Article 16 in Part 2 of the Council’s Constitution;

(2) That the proposal to adopt the draft Procedure Rules for the Area Forum Pilot Scheme as set out in Appendix 2 to the report, for inclusion in the Council’s Constitution as Part D of Appendix 3, be noted and stand adjourned to the next ordinary meeting of the Council on 24 January 2006 in accordance with Paragraph 27.2 of Part A of Appendix  ...  view the full minutes text for item 111.

Report enclosed

The Executive Member for Development and Planning presented a report seeking endorsement of the draft Preferred Options Document and the Supplementary Planning Document on Sustainable Resources that will form part of the Local Development Framework.

RESOLVED – (1) That approval be given to the contents of the Preferred Options Document and the Supplementary Planning Document, in the form as now presented, for consultation and community involvement purposes; and

(2) That the Head of Development and Regeneration be granted delegated authority to make any minor textural amendments to the documents.

Report enclosed

The Executive Member for Service Delivery and Procurement presented a

report which indicated, that the Council at its last meeting on 1 November

2005 had received a recommendation of the Executive Cabinet to approve

and adopt a revised set of Contract Procedure Rules for inclusion in the

Council’s Constitution. The report incorporated a copy of the Director of Legal

Service’s report to the Executive Cabinet and the revised Contract Procedure

Rules

The Council had noted the request, which, in accordance with Paragraph 27.2

of Part A of Appendix 3 to the Council’s Constitution, stood adjourned to

this meeting of the Council.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the new Contract Procedure

Rules, in the form now presented, for inclusion in Part C of Appendix 3

to the Council’s Constitution

Copy enclosed

The Executive Leader presented a report summarising the more significant items of business dealt with at meetings of the Executive Cabinet held on 3 November and 1 December 2005.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.