The Mayor invited Members to observe a minute’s silence in memory of Florence Molyneaux, former councillor and Mayor of Chorley in 1999 to 2000 and former Councillor and Council Leader Jean Rigby.

Approved.

Decision (unanimous) that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 22 February 2022 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 Mayor welcomed a number of former apprentices and their managers to Council as they have been formally recognised by Runshaw College in 2020 and 2021 as outstanding in their area, due to their dedication and commitment. 

The Mayor thanked everyone who supported his Charity Ball and the Mayoress’ Easter Coffee Morning.  He also explained that Councillors Hasina, Samir and Zara Khan were fasting for Ramadan – a time for prayer, reflection, empathy and compassion. 

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.

To view the procedure for public questions/ speaking click here and scroll to page 119

There were no public questions for consideration.

To consider a general report of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 24 February. 

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the meetings of Executive Cabinet held on 24 February.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded the (unanimous) Decision that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 27 January and 17 March, the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 10 March and Task Group update.

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 27 January and 17 March, the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 10 March and Task Group update.

The Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Roy Lees proposed and Councillor Aidy Riggott seconded the (unanimous) Decision that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the Governance Committee held on 16 March. 

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the Governance Committee held on 16 March.

The Chair of the Governance Committee, Councillor Debra Platt proposed and the Vice-Chair, Councillor Hasina Khan seconded the (unanimous) Decision that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Planning and Development.

1.         To approve a capital budget of £1,590,085 funded by £285,290 grant and £1,304,975 of borrowing to finance the works to decarbonise the Town Hall and reduce the footprint of the building by 58%.

2.         To note the works are procured in conjunction with the Accommodation project at the Town Hall that forms part of the previously approved Workplace Strategy.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the report of the Director of Planning and Development which outlined work required to reduce the carbon footprint of the Town Hall and sought approval to commence the works, estimated to cost £1,590,085.

The Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and set an ambitious target for Chorley to be net zero carbon by 2030.  The recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group for the Green Agenda included actions to reduce the carbon footprint of the Councils’ assets and these were also proposed as part of the draft Climate Change Strategy.  The Town Hall was the first of these assets to have a detailed assessment and proposal for decarbonisation, with others to follow in coming months and years.

Members noted that PSDS3 grant funding was conditional on the completion of all decarbonisations works by end March 2023.  With grant funds released 1 April 2022, all works must be completed and reported by 31 March 2023.  Failure to comply could result in money being withheld from the grant or returned.

It was clarified that the projected figures within the report were from 2019.  There was a general wish to reduce the use of gas and the boilers at the Town Hall were end of life so it made sense to focus on the Town Hall first.  A report would be brought to a future meeting regarding the Accommodation project which considered the use of Council buildings post Covid.  This report would include updated figures regarding carbon savings. 

A typographical error was noted relating to the annual cost of energy, but it was noted that the decarbonisation work would lower the carbon footprint of the Town Hall by at least 58% from 100,522.48 kg CO2e to 58,522.48 kg CO2e.  This was a significant reduction which would contribute to the achievement of the commitment to reducing the footprint of the council. 

The cost of borrowing to achieve this would be repaid over 30 years and was considered to be the right thing to do, particularly given the current uncertainty regarding energy costs. 

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded the (by majority 25:0:10) Decision

1.         To approve a capital budget of £1,590,085 funded by £285,290 grant and £1,304,975 of borrowing to finance the works to decarbonise the Town Hall and reduce the footprint of the building by 58%.

2.         To note the works are procured in conjunction with the Accommodation project at the Town Hall that forms part of the previously approved Workplace Strategy.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive.

1.         That following a meeting of the Shared Services Joint Committee Appointments Panel on 25 March 2022, Chris Sinnott be appointed as the Council’s new Shared Chief Executive with effect from 1 January 2023.

2.         That the new Shared Chief Executive also undertakes the statutory role of Head of Paid Services and is the Council’s Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley, presented the report of the Chief Executive which proposed the appointment of a new Chief Executive, shared with South Ribble Borough Council.

A robust recruitment process had been undertaken and the Shared Services Joint Committee Appointments Panel agreed unanimously that Chris Sinnott be recommended to Council for formal appointment.

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

1.         That following a meeting of the Shared Services Joint Committee Appointments Panel on 25 March 2022, Chris Sinnott be appointed as the Council’s new Shared Chief Executive with effect from 1 January 2023.

2.         That the new Shared Chief Executive also undertakes the statutory role of Head of Paid Services and is the Council’s Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer.

No questions were asked under Council Procedure Rule 8.

To consider the attached notice of motion submitted by Councillor Julia Berry.

Approved.

Councillor Julia Berry presented a Motion submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.  This was seconded by Councillor Karen Derbyshire.

Councillors Hasina Khan, Jean Sherwood, Martin Boardman, Aidy Riggott, Sam Chapman, James Nevett, Alistair Bradley Alistair Morwood, Mark Clifford, Christine Turner and Steve Holgate and contributed to the debate. 

Councillor Julia Berry proposed, and Councillor Karen Derbyshire seconded the (by majority 35:0:1) Decision

1.         To ensure that Chorley Council continues to do everything in its power to build a borough free of misogyny and violence against women and girls.

2.         That this Council recognises that it is vital that women’s and girl’s voices are heard; and that the Council will bring forward a process through our Equalities forum so that, it proactively encourages and listens to women’s voices across the borough.

3.         This task force will seek to involve all women Councillors as community leaders and champions

4.         This Council will call upon the Government to listen to the lived experience of women and girls across our country and to urgently act on any recommendations the Law Commission makes to strengthen the law on hate crime, and to reform legislation around harassment to recognise it as an offence

5.         This Council will also call on the Government to provide the resource and funding for police forces across the UK to effectively tackle harassment, misogyny and domestic abuse.

6.         The Council further calls on Lancashire Police to continue beyond the ‘pilot’ period to record harassment of women as a hate crime.

7.         Chorley Council also will formally request that the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner seek make the tackling of Domestic Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls a priority, including the delivery of additional funding to support both the wider strategy and improved services locally

8.         That the Council Leader writes to our Members of Parliament requesting that they write to the Home Secretary asking that the government takes action to support the #notjustanother campaign asking that all Domestic Abuse and stalking deaths are counted and investigated.

9.         And to promote Chorley Council as an Accredited White Ribbon Organisation and work towards becoming a White Ribbon town.