Agenda and minutes

Resolved: That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

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.

No interests were declared.

There were no public questions.

To consider the Executive Cabinet minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 14 July 2022 (enclosed).

Members queried the progress at Brinscall swimming baths, due to the previous meeting of the Executive Cabinet cancellation, decisions would be made at the next Executive Cabinet.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Executive Cabinet be noted.

To view the latest notice of Executive Decisions click here: Forward plan - Notice of Executive Decisions - published September 2022 (chorley.gov.uk) .

The document is also attached and correct as of 28 September 2022.

Resolved: That the notice of Executive Decisions be noted.

To consider the Work Plan of Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee, and an update to be provided by the Council’s representative.

Written reports were provided by Councillor Alex Hilton and Councillor Margaret France.

The Committee wished Councillor Hilton a speedy recovery from Covid-19.

The updates highlighted that two hospitals were likely to be built, one in Preston and the other in Lancaster. There was uncertainty as to when work would be started, and it was estimated it could take up to six years for completion.

Members that observed the meeting stated that the news was positive, however, no information was provided as to the funding of the hospital or where the staff would come from.

Members were happy that there were no plans to close Chorley Hospital.

Resolved: That the update be noted.

This item has been deferred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee due to take place 26 January 2023.

This item was deferred to the next Overview and Scrutiny Meeting due to take place Thursday, 26 January 2023.  

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

Zoe Whiteside, Service Lead – Spatial Planning presented the final Monitoring report for Sustainable Public Transport.

18 of the recommendations were completed or close to completion, 5 were in progress, and a number of recommendations would be ongoing within the team due to progress and development of the local plan, which were routinely monitored by the Local Plan Working Group and the Central Lancashire Strategic Planning Joint Advisory Committee.

Key recommendations were highlighted by Zoe and Members.

Recommendation 1 - Chorley Council to proactively lobby and engage with Lancashire County Council to encourage a greater role on bus route tendering, service enhancement and communication between all parties.

Details provided by the County Council of their Enhanced Partnership plan, and it aimed to deliver key objectives which included lower fares, simplified ticketing, and a customer charter and in place from 1 April 2022. The partnership contained a governance structure, with a management board and a forum of stakeholders.

Members wished for the Enhanced Partnership to be monitored, in respect to the impact on Chorley, it was noted that fares increased due to Greater Manchester’s proposed clean air zone, and again with franchising in Greater Manchester on cross border routes.

It was highlighted that monitoring the Enhanced Partnership would be a considerable piece of work and Chorley Council would be unable to influence decisions, but an update could be provided in the future.

Members praised the potential of the offers, incentives and support available but  expressed concern with the logistics of discount for jobseekers and claimants of Universal Credit, and did not run the risk of any benefit claimants being humiliated on the bus by requiring proof, and desired the process to frictionless.

Recommendation 3 - Spatial Planning to invite Lancashire County Council to participate in a Member Learning session on the Central Lancashire Highways and Transport Masterplan draft proposals

The County Council were still in the early stages of the Masterplan and commissioned Jacobs. Lancashire County Council to run a Member Learning Session 14 November 2022. The session to provide details on public transport, the work undertaken, funding, the local plan and the model used to identify investment in transport. Details to be provided to the County Council to ensure the session was not too broad.

Recommendation 7 - The Council engage with Greater Manchester Combined Authority/Lancashire County Council on cross boundary routes should the Greater Manchester Combined Authorities instigate franchising and request to be consulted on how bus services are run across cross boundary routes and be included in their integrated ticketing scheme.

Members noted that the County Council would not engage with Chorley Council but a follow up would be beneficial.

It was highlighted that as it was a County responsibility, it was not information that would be collected, however concerns could be vocalised and fed back. Members expressed concern about the implications for Chorley with the integrated ticketing scheme.

Recommendation 9 - The Council continues to progress discussions with Lancashire County Council to take over the Chorley Interchange.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To receive and consider the final report of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Select Move.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Select Move Councillor June Molyneaux presented the Final Report, thanked, the Vice Chair Councillor Sarah Ainsworth, the membership of the task group and the officers involved.

The Task Group was formed as there were concerns that the recommendations made in 2014 by a previous Task Group were no longer being adhered to. The Task Group engaged with partner Local Authorities, South Ribble Borough Council and Preston City Council, and shared concerns and issues were highlighted. A survey to users went out and it was noted that there was a low response rate, but the views provided patterns and reiterated common concerns raised throughout the Task Group, and it was felt that Select Move was not currently fit for purpose, and the report reflected the changes required.

The recommendations within the report were identified throughout the course of the Task Group with and formed following discussions with the neighbouring local authorities, RP’s in the partnership, the Allocations Policy Consultant, the MP, the results from the survey, the Select Move Co-Ordinator.

Members of the Task Group believed that the recommendations from the Task Group should provide positive momentum and change within the Select Move partnership.

Members felt that it was a good recommendation to frequently provide a questionnaire to monitor the feedback and views of users, and would be worthwhile to incentivise the completion the surveys, it was acknowledged that those that were happy or satisfied may not fill in a survey where as those discontented would be more likely to reply, however the survey did contain positive feedback, but over half the respondents were unsatisfied.

Jennifer Mullin (Director of Communities) acknowledged that there were concerns, but what could be delivered from the Task Group would be, and it was stated that there were shared concerns with Preston City Council and South Ribble Borough Council, and the partners were aware of issues and with regular meetings, and information sharing, all within the partnership want to make the process easier, straightforward and efficient.

Resolved: That the Task Group Final Report be noted

To consider the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2022/23.

An informal workshop to be held in November to decide the next Overview and Scrutiny Task group.

Resolved: That the Work Programme be noted.