Agenda and minutes

Decision: The minutes of the meeting were 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (enclosed).

Victoria Willett, Shared Service Lead - Transformation and Partnerships provided a brief overview and summary of the report. It was explained the Commercial and Property Directorate contained Commercial and Assets, Development and Business and more recently Projects and Development which was a South Ribble function.

The Directorate had a large number of capital schemes with major projects underway, which included but was not limited to Alker Lane, Tatton Development and Whittle GP.

The directorate was heavily involved with Covid-19 emergency response and had supported local businesses with the administration of grants through online support and workshops.

The report contained an update on the budget and performance contextualised with key measures of each service. The report was accurate as of the end of Quarter Three.

A query was raised about the impact of new Government guidance relating to the use of Public Work Loan Funds by Wholly Owned Companies. It was confirmed, that the last-minute changes made by the Government about the use of the Public Works Loan Board for commercial investment had caused delay, but noted Chorley Council would not be impacted by the change as the Council’s focus and investment took place within the Borough. The changes were aimed at authorities that made large scale investments outside their boundaries and across the country. It was hoped when released there were not considerable changes required to the document already drafted before going to Council.

Councillor Alistair Bradly addressed a question from Members about the bus station and potential funding from Lancashire County Council. Due to the current operational loss, a significant amount of time and money would be required to make the changes. It was proposed that for three to five years Chorley and the County Council made equal contributions. The response was negative from Lancashire County Council, and as a result Chorley would be unable to afford the cost alone. Disappointment was expressed about the lack of investment Chorley received by the County Council when compared to Preston.

Decision: The report was noted. 

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (enclosed).

Victoria Willett, Shared Service Lead - Transformation and Partnerships summarised the Business Planning update.

15 business plans produced the previous year had been completed and the plans identified 189 projects,

-       33 were complete

-       118 were ongoing

-       11 had yet to start

-       27 were on hold

In September 2020, it was reported that Covid-19 and related implemented measures impacted the ability to deliver some projects, but most projects were able to move forward, either as they were, revised, or rescoped. There were several reasons that projects that were on hold or yet to start, these included the inability for the requirements to be progressed, that projects required physical or face to face involvement, or they were projects that would span several years.

Despite Covid-19, performance had been similar to the previous year.

It was expected that for the remainder of the year, virtual meetings would remain in place of face to face meetings and workshops, but the process for directors and service managers to deliver the projects remained the same.

In response to a query from Members about the leisure contract and an update on Active Nation seeking costs, Councillor Alistair Bradley said that Chorley Council did not believe that Active Nation had a claim, and that going forward, it would be likely that future Council contracts would include pandemic clauses.

Decision: The report was noted.