Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor David Dickinson.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial 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 in any of the meeting’s agenda items by any of the Executive Cabinet members.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 18 February 2010 (Minutes enclosed).

The minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 18 February 2010 were confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Executive Leader.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the respective Executive Member(s).  Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes. 

The Executive Leader reported that there had been no requests from any member of the public to speak on any of the meeting’s agenda items.

To receive and consider the enclosed final report and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group inquiry into Town Centre issues.

That the findings and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group be received and that the Executive’s response to the recommendations be determined at a future meeting.

The Executive Cabinet was presented with the findings and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group that had been set up to consider Town Centre issues.

The report contains a number of recommendations aimed at enhancing the vitality and viability of the town centre, including measures to improve the marketing and promotion of the town, the signage strategy and the development of short and long term action plans for the markets.

Decision made:

That the findings and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group be received and that the Executive’s response to the recommendations be determined at a future meeting.

Reason for decision:

The decision will allow the Executive the opportunity to assess the inquiry’s findings and recommendations before firm decisions on implementation are reached.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

None.

Recommendation approved.

Decision made:

Reasons for decision:

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy, with attached draft Strategy.

Recommendation approved.

The Executive Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy seeking endorsement of the refreshed Economic Regeneration Strategy for consultation purposes.

The current strategy had been introduced in 2006 to maximise economic opportunity and to drive up value added activity, in order to achieve sustainable growth over the next 10 – 15 years.  Following a workshop event with the Chorley Partnership Board a revised draft Strategy had been drawn up both to highlight the past successful initiatives and to define future key priorities and actions that would reflect current economic circumstances.

The Executive Leader commended the refreshed Strategy and suggested that greater prominence be given to the encouragement of efforts to realise the potential of the district for growing food.

Decision made:

That the first draft refresh of Chorley’s Economic Regeneration Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to the submitted report, be approved for consultation purposes.

Reason for decision:

Since the delivery of the refreshed Strategy will be reliant on a cross-sector partnership and collaboration, it is important for the respective partners and stakeholders to be consulted before the finalised version is agreed.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

None.

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy, with attached policy document.

Recommendations approved.

The Executive Cabinet received and considered a report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy recommending approval in principle to the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy for 2010 – 2012, incorporating amendments to reflect the consultation responses received to date.

The Executive Cabinet had, in December 2009, agreed the draft Policy for consultation purposes, with the consultation period being due to expire on
13 April 2010.

The Policy was designed to offer a mechanism for the provision of housing assistance to customers in private housing, by integrating the various strands of housing assistance in a manner that would maximise the effective use of resources and target resources to customers in most need.

In response to a number of Member queries during the debate on the new Policy, the Members were informed of the Council’s intention to pursue the introduction of a Private Sector Landlords’ Accreditation scheme on a voluntary basis, with the aim of creating a list of accredited landlords that could be recommended to potential tenants and letting agents.

Decisions made:

(1)       That approval in principle be given to the private Sector Housing Assistance Policy, as attached to the submitted report, following its update to reflect the consultation responses received to date.

(2)       That the Executive Member (Business) be granted delegated authority to approve the final version of the Policy, including any minor amendments required at the conclusion of the consultation period on 13 April 2010.

Reasons for decisions:

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Director of People and Places.

Recommendation approved.

The Executive Cabinet considered a report of the Director of People and Places seeking the Members’ instructions on applications for Core Funding grant aid in 2010/11.

The report contained the Director’s recommendations on the award of grant aid to the organisations whose activities contributed towards the Council’s strategic objectives and themes within the Sustainable Community Strategy.

The Core Funding for 2010/11 had amalgamated the grant assistance from Chorley Council’s Core Fund budget provision, Chorley Partnership funding and Central Lancashire Health Inequalities Grants, which would streamline and reduce administrative procedures and enable the compilation of a central database for partners.

Decisions made:

(1)       That approval be given to the making of the following Core Fund grants, subject to the Director of People and Places agreeing and signing off a Core Funding Agreement with each organisation:

            ·          ‘Improving Life Chances for Young People at Risk’ (The Arts Partnership) – Grant of £7,000, together with a grant of £7,940 for the Aspects Project;

            ·          ‘Family Support’ (Homestart) – Grant of £20,000;

            ·          ‘Manage your Money Better’ (Citizens’ Advice Bureau) – Grant of £10,000;

            ·          ‘Core Advice Services’ (Citizens’ Advice Bureau) – Grant of £75,000 (including accommodation costs);

            ·          Chorley and District Sports Forum – Grant of £5,000;

            ·          ‘Chorley Pensioners’ Running Costs’ (Chorley Pensioners’ Association) – Grant of £350;

            ·          Chorley and South Ribble Council for Voluntary Service – Grant of £4,165;

            ·          ‘Chorley Street Pastors’ (Ascension Trust) – Grant of £7,000;

            ·          ‘Chorley Lifestyle Centre’ (Age Concern) – Grant of £7,600;

            ·          Chorley Women’s Centre – Grant of £4,550;

            ·          ‘Evening and Saturday Dial-a-Bus Service’ (Central Lancashire Dial-a-Ride) – Grant of £2,080, provided NowCards are not used on the service and that the service is developed further with Lancashire County Council and Central Lancashire Dial-a-Ride;

(2)       That the application from Chorley and South Ribble Shopmobility be removed from the Core Grants application process and that funds be found from the mainstream budget to support the essential service.

(3)       That no Core Grant be provided in 2010/11 in respect of the application from the Preston and Western Lancashire Racial Equality Council for support of ‘Chorley Discrimination and Racism Assistance’ initiatives, as the application failed to meet the funding criteria.

(4)       That the Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust be requested to provide financial support for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau’s ‘CABability’ service for 2010/11.

(5)       That, in respect of the Chorley and South Ribble Council for voluntary Service’s application for funding of the ‘H Factor’ project, the Central Lancashire PCT be requested to collaborate with the CVS to arrange a health awareness event.

(6)       That the Central Lancashire PCT be requested to provide support to the Saheliyaan Asian Women’s Forum for their ‘Health and Well-Being for BME Older People and Families’ service.

(7)       That further information be sought in respect of the applications for grant assistance from the following organisations and that delegated authority be granted to the Executive Member (People) to determine the applications on receipt of the requested information:

            Groundwork Lancashire West and Wigan;

            The Chorley Help Hub.

Reason for decision:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 156.

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 Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Recommendation approved.

Decision made:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that it includes the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Director of Transformation.

Recommendation approved.

The Executive Cabinet received and considered a confidential report of the Director of Transformation on the progress and successes to date of the Council’s collaborative working with South Ribble and Preston on a number of ventures.

In order to achieve the targets identified in the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2010/11 – 2012/13, the report recommended an examination of the further development of collaborative working with South Ribble Council on two identified services

The Members were assured that the proposals would be assessed on the assumption that any prospective venture would not result in any diminution of service and would effect financial savings.

Decisions made:

That approval be given to the further development of collaborative working with South Ribble Council along the lines outlined in the submitted report, and that detailed plans be drawn up and presented to the Executive Cabinet for consideration.

Reason for decisions:

To progress the Council’s collaborative working agenda.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

None.

(NB  The meeting was re-opened to the press and public at this point.)

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Director of People and Places, with attached Neighbourhood Action Plans.

The Head of Leisure and Neighbourhoods will make a short presentation on the current progress of neighbourhood working at the Executive Cabinet meeting.

Recommendation approved.

The Executive Cabinet received a report of the Director of People and Places on the progress so far of the neighbourhood working regime and putting forward revised action plans and proposals for 2010/11.

The Head of Leisure and Neighbourhoods also gave a short presentation, which illustrated the progress and success of the on-going initiative and highlighted the plans for future projects and ways in which Member engagement could be developed.

The Executive Cabinet confirmed its commitment to the introduction of the neighbourhood working initiative as a means of encouraging the development of more community links and partnership working, and generating external funding for the betterment of the seven neighbourhood areas.

Decision made:

That the progress report on the neighbourhood working regime activities in 2009/10 be noted and that the draft Neighbourhood Action Plans and proposals for 2010/11, as appended to the submitted report, be approved.

Reasons for decision:

Strong partnership working and community engagement are key elements to the achievement of the Council’s corporate priorities.

The neighbourhood working venture is perceived as the best means of making the most effective use of shared resources to achieve real benefits for the seven neighbourhood areas.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

While other models and ventures have been tested, the current model appears to be a closer ‘fit’ for Chorley’s purpose and demographic.

Discontinuing neighbourhood working could jeopardise the further development of community engagement and partnership working at a neighbourhood level.