Agenda and minutes

Decision: That the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 10 April 2018 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 interests received.

The Chief Executive as Returning Officer will report that the following persons were duly elected as councillors for the wards stated at the Borough elections on 3 May 2018:

The Mayor congratulated all those Councillors who had been elected or re-elected on 3 May 2018 and in particular welcomed the three new councillors and one returning councillor.

The Returning Officer’s report indicated election results as follows:

Decision: that the report be noted.

To formally elect the Mayor of the Borough for 2018/19.

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

Decision: that Councillor Margaret Lees be elected as Mayor of the Borough of Chorley for the forthcoming Council year.

To formally elect the Deputy Mayor of the Borough for 2018/19.

It was formally proposed by Councillor John Walker, and seconded by Councillor Alan Cullens, that Councillor Greg Morgan be elected as Deputy Mayor for the forthcoming Council Year.  Councillor Morgan introduced his Deputy Mayoress, Mrs Jocelyn Morgan.

Decision: that Councillor Greg Morgan be elected as Deputy Mayor for the Borough of Chorley for the forthcoming Council year.

There was a brief adjournment to allow the Retiring Mayor and Mayoress; the newly elected Mayor and her Consort; and the newly elected Deputy Mayor and Mayoress to exchange robes and badges of office.

Councillor Margaret Lees in the Chair

On resuming the meeting, Councillor Margaret Lees signed the declaration of acceptance of office of Mayor, and thanked Councillors for her appointment. She introduced her Consort for the year, her husband Councillor Roy Lees and presented him with his badge of office.

Councillor Greg Morgan signed the declaration of acceptance of office of Deputy Mayor, and thanked Councillors for his appointment.

The Retiring Mayor will receive a vote of thanks for his year in office.

The Mayor referred to the Retiring Mayor, Councillor Mark Perks year of office, along with his Mayoress, Mrs Pat Haughton, and how they had served as first class ambassadors for Chorley.

Political group Leaders also paid tribute to the Retiring Mayor and Mayoress for a very successful year and the positive work undertaken with young people in conjunction with Young Adaction and Lancashire MIND. 

Councillor Mark Perks responded, thanking Councillors for their kind words and their support over the year.  He noted that there had been challenges through the year with being a carer for his mother.  He thanked his Mayoress, Mrs Pat Haughton, and the Civics team for their support and assistance. 

Mayor’s Announcements

The Mayor advised that her chosen charities are Derian House Children’s Hospice, Homestart Central Lancashire and Chorley Mencap.

The Mayor invited all members to Civic Sunday for the mayoral procession to St Laurence’s Church for a service at 11.30am.

The Mayor advised that her first charity event, a Golf Tournament at Duxbury Park Golf Course, will be held on Monday 18 June.  Councillors Hasina and Zara Khan are aiming to fast for a full 30 days for Ramadan and all money raised will go to the Mayor’s Charities.

To receive a report of the Executive Leader.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader informed the Council of his appointments to the Executive Cabinet for 2018/19.

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

To approve the appointment of Members of the Council to Committees, Working Groups, etc and to note shadow appointments for 2018/19.

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 Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed, the Deputy Leader Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and the Decision that the following appointments be approved for 2018/19:

To appoint Members of the Council to represent the Authority on outside bodies in 2018/19.

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

The Executive Leader Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, the Decision that appointments to outside bodies be approved as follows:

To note the programme of Council Meetings for 2018/19:

·         Tuesday, 24 July 2018 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 18 September 2018 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 20 November 2018 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 22 January 2019 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 26 February 2019 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 9 April 2019 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 14 May 2019 at 6.30pm

Councillors noted the programme of Council Meetings for 2018/19 as follows:

·         Tuesday, 24 July 2018 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 18 September 2018 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 20 November 2018 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 22 January 2019 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 26 February 2019 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 9 April 2019 at 6.30pm

·         Tuesday, 14 May 2019 at 6.30pm

To consider the report of the Director (Policy and Governance).

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources, presented the report of the Director (Policy and Governance). 

The EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) will come into force on 25 May 2018.  These introduce a new data protection regime to be enforced against any organisation doing business or providing services within the European Economic Area. This includes Local Government.

The GDPR provide new principles to be applied placing new obligations on data holders and new rights are granted to data owners. There is also a new role created who is responsible for the monitoring of the Data Protection regime in each organisation, the Data Protection Officer.

A Member Learning Session has been scheduled on 24 July, prior to the next Council meeting, all about the impact of GDPR, in addition to the elearning course made available to all members. 

The Executive Member for Resources, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded the Decision

1.    To approve the adoption of the policies contained at Appendix 1.

2.    To approve the appointment of the Council’s Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal, Democratic and HR Services to the role of Data Protection Officer.

To consider the report of the Director (Policy and Governance).

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley presented the report of the Director (Policy and Governance). 

This report provides a summary of the current financial position regarding the provision of Council-funded bus services within Chorley. It also outlines the proposals to move to a tendered solution, to provide a more sustainable suite of subsidised bus provision, funded by the Council, and LCC within the borough.

The overall subsidy contribution funds four current routes. The current cost arrangements are expensive, and are not sustainable.  Over recent months, a significant amount of work has taken place between both Chorley Council and Lancashire County Council to seek a more sustainable approach to the provision of these routes within Chorley.

In order to deliver more sustainable bus services, and increase LCC funding into the subsidised routes, the existing routes have been re-designed into three routes combining the majority of the current 7C and 6/6Aprovision into a new 357 service. Details of these routes are outlined within the report.

As the initial 12 month tender will span both the 18/19 and 19/20 financial year, approval is sought to support the current subsidy, and new tendered arrangements until 30 September 2019.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded the Decision

1.    To increase the 2018/19 LCC Transformation Fund budget by £58,000, to a total of £158,000 to subsidised bus services in the borough.

2.    That the awarding of the Tender for the proposed 357 service, be awarded by the Executive Member for Economic Development and Public Service Reform via an EMD once a cost tender exercise has been undertaken by LCC.

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

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

Decision: that the press and public be excluded for the remaining items of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To consider the report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support).

The Executive Member (Homes and Housing), Councillor Jane Fitzsimons presented the confidential report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support). 

The preferred option is for the council to seek to purchase properties that will be used to house refugees as part of the Syrian Refugee Programme. The rationale for this proposal is that it provides the council the best opportunity to manage the programme so that the refugee families are well-supported and become well integrated into the community. In addition, following the end of the programme, the council will have assets in the properties that can be used in the future.

Members discussed the different options considered.  Councillor Alan Cullens, Leader of the Opposition expressed concern about the timescales involved and the town centre location of the proposed properties.  He suggested that rental properties should be the preferred option.  He queried the costing within the report and the options if properties cannot be purchased and renovated for when the refugees arrive.

Councillor Fitzsimons explained that timescales are tight, but that the Council, as a community leader, is best placed to ensure that the refugees are supported in settling in Chorley, with access to services and education.  Until the Council knew the families were coming it was not possible to purchase properties, but long term the proposal will increase the Council asset base, in line with the proposal for the housing company.   

The Executive Member (Homes and Housing), Councillor Jane Fitzsimons proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded the Decision

1.    To increase the Capital Programme by £1.672 million for the purpose of purchasing 10 properties and that prudential borrowing is used to fund this purchase.

2.    To set aside a revenue reserve of £60k to create a building maintenance fund to bring any homes that require refurbishment up to the necessary standard.