Agenda, decisions and minutes

Decision: that the minutes of the Executive Cabinet meeting held 9 November 2023 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Executive Leader.

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 any interests.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) on the agenda will have three minutes to put their question(s) to the respective Executive Member(s).  Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one short supplementary question. 

There were no public questions.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Customer and Digital.

1.    Executive Cabinet approved the Print Strategy to be implemented at Chorley Council.

Councillor Adrian Lowe, Executive Member for Customer, Streetscene and Environment presented the report of the Director of Customer and Digital, which set out to review the proposed Print Strategy.

In summary, it was explained that the council aimed to provide and match residents need for on demand services and to provide further digital correspondence. There were three main principles behind the policy which were to set a standard and hierarchy for printing and mail, to maximise efficiency and minimise environmental impact and to reduce council costs associated with printing and mailing.  

Decision

1.    Executive Cabinet approved the Print Strategy to be implemented at Chorley Council.

Reasons for recommendation

1.    To ensure that the Council is leading by example in the delivery of the green agenda.

2.    To ensure that communications from the Council are delivered in real time and using a digital first approach.

Other options considered and rejected

The Council could continue to operate without a Print Strategy, however, if the Council is going to encourage residents to adopt a digital first approach to reduce waste, then it is important for the Council to lead by example and follow these principles.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Customer and Digital.

1.    Executive Cabinet’s views on the proposed aims, objectives, and actions were obtained

2.     Executive Cabinet approved the budget requirement for local priority actions.

3.    Executive Cabinet approved the strategy and action plan to be taken forward to full Council meeting in January for formal adoption.

Councillor Adrian Lowe, Executive Member for Customer, Streetscene and Environment presented the report of the Director of Customer and Digital which set out the new and innovative Recycling and Waste Strategy drafted for approval by full Council in January 2024. In summary, the strategy was designed to push the council towards achieving the waste reduction and recycling targets required in the Environment Act 2021 and the Resources and Waste Strategy for England, in addition to the council’s own target of 65% of waste recycled by 2035.

It was highlighted that within the short to medium term there were local priority actions that would require an investment of £110,000.

Decision

1.    The Executive Cabinet’s views on the proposed aims, objectives, and actions were obtained

2.    Approve the budget requirement for local priority actions.

3.    Approve the strategy and action plan to be taken forward to full Council meeting in January for formal adoption.

Reasons for recommendation

1.    To satisfy the requirement for a new strategy to drive the council towards its waste reduction and recycling targets and comply with new legislation and national waste policy.

2.    To support the council’s green agenda and climate change strategy objectives.

Other options considered and rejected

To not adopt and publish a strategy would fail to provide strategic direction at a time when there are significant national waste reforms including statutory requirements. 

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, 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

By Virtue of Paragraph 1: Information relating to any individual.

Condition:

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).

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).

By Virtue of Paragraph 4: Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under the authority.

Condition:

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).

To exclude the public and press.

Decision: To exclude the public and press for the following item of business on the grounds they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

1.    Executive Cabinet approved the proposals for implementation of the shared service, as set out in the table at paragraph 36.

Councillor Alistair Morwood, Executive Member for Planning and Development presented the confidential report of the Interim Deputy Chief Executive which outlined proposals for the shared building control service. In summary, the Shared Services Joint Committee agreed to commence a review into a shared building control service for Chorley and South Ribble to help ensure resilience for both councils given the technical and specialist skills required in building control.

Decision:

Approve the proposals for implementation of the shared service, as set out in the table at paragraph 36.

Reasons for Recommendation

The shared service will help to deliver resilience for the council’s building control function.

Other options considered and rejected

An alternative structure option was presented to the Shared Services Joint Committee and Executive Member Decision prior to formal consultation with staff. This structure had only one post instead of the two roles identified within the proposed structure. This option was rejected as it would provide less capacity and resilience.