Agenda and minutes

The Member is reminded of his responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of membership of another public body or one to which the Member has been appointed by the Council then he only needs to declare it if he intends to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual Member should not participate in a discussion on the matter and not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

The Executive Member had no reason to clear an interest in the meeting’s agenda items.

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Corporate Director (People).

The Executive Member for Health, Leisure and Well-Being received and considered a report of the Corporate Director (People) on proposals to revise the partnership arrangements with the Lancashire County Council in relation to the Information and Advice Centre, Market Street, Chorley and the terms of the current lease.

The report explained that, in 1999, the Council had entered into a partnership agreement to develop a Performance and Advice Centre at 35-39 Market Street to accommodate Lancashire County Council’s Information Services officers and Welfare Rights Service, the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and the local Member of Parliament.  The partner organisations paid a rent and service charge to the Council, whose lease of the premises was due to expire in 2014 (with a break clause in June 2009).  The agreement also required Chorley Council to fund a Welfare Officer post.

The Lancashire County Council had intimated their intention to cease the information service at the Centre by 1 April 2008, thereby effectively terminating  the current partnership agreement.  However, the Welfare Rights Service had intimated a wish to remain in the Centre within the ground floor space to be vacated by the County Information Service, and had offered to provide a reception service to other partners in the Centre if the Council accepted payment of the £8,000 rent for the additional space.

The proposed revision of the partnership arrangements was envisaged to provide an annual financial saving to Chorley Council of £25,000.

The report also suggested a wider review of the future operation of the Centre within the first three months of 2008/09.  The Executive Member for Resources had indicated his consent to the review in the light of any potential implications for the property asset.

Decisions made under delegated power:

(1)    That approval be given to the revision of Chorley Council’s current lease and partnership agreement with the Lancashire County Council, in respect of the Information and Advice Centre, Market Street, Chorley, in order to effect:

?         Lancashire County Council’s occupation of the space currently used by the County Council’s Welfare Rights Service upon payment of the existing rent;

?         Lancashire County Council’s Welfare Rights’ occupation of the space vacated by the Information Service and the provision of a reception service for other partners within the Centre, subject to Chorley Council being responsible for payment of the rent on this element and ceasing to contribute towards the cost of the Welfare Rights Officer post.

(2)    That the new partnership agreement be entered into on a rolling 12 month basis, pending a further review of the operation of the Centre during the first quarter of 2008/09.

Reasons for decisions:

The revision of the partnership agreement will ensure the continued operation of the Customer Advice Centre on Market Street at a reduced annual cost of £8,000.

The review of the Centre’s operations will allow an opportunity for a comprehensive reappraisal of the effectiveness of the partnership arrangements and use of the Advice Centre.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

The withdrawal of all Chorley Council financial support to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following item 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.

Decision made:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item.

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Corporate Director (People).

The Executive Member for Health, Leisure and Well-Being received and considered a report of the Corporate Director (People) on the outcome of the consultation exercise on proposals to alter the senior management structure of the Directorate.

The proposals had been designed to take account of the functions that had been transferred to the Directorate as a result of the recent Business Process Architecture restructure and to create capacity to develop partnership working in the areas of health, children and young people, and older people.

The consultation responses had not highlighted any major material issues.  The Executive Member was, therefore, recommended to approve the implementation of the restructure proposals, subject to an alteration to the designation of the proposed post of Customer Services Manager to Head of Customer Services in order to reflect the strategic nature of the post.

Decision made under delegated powers:

That the plans to alter the senior arrangement structure of the People Directorate, as outlined in the report of the Corporate Director (People) to the Executive Cabinet on 6 December 2007, entailing the following proposals, be approved and adopted:

?       the deletion of the current posts of Cultural Services Manager and Leisure Services Manager;

?       the creation of the three new posts of Head of Customer Services (formerly Head of Customer and Information Services and altered from Customer Services Manager in the consultation proposals), Active People Manager (Leisure and Inclusion) and Active People Manager (Parks and Culture).

Reason for Decision:

Approval of the revised structure will provide capacity to manage the various functions of the Directorate, develop cross-cutting work both across the Council and with partners, and provide capacity for the Corporate Director (People) to champion the needs of the customer and contribute to the effective management of the Council.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

None.