Agenda and minutes

Decision: That the minutes of the last Council meeting held on 23 January 2018 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Mayor.

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 interests received.

The Mayor referred to the forthcoming elections, wishing all Members well in contesting their councillor seats.  In particular he referred to Councillors Charlie Bromilow, Mark Jarnell and Richard Toon who were not seeking re-election and wished them well for the future.

Councillors Alistair Bradley and Alan Cullens paid tribute to the work of the retiring Councillors.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask question(s) on any item(s) on the agenda will have three minutes to put their question(s) to the relevant Councillor. Members of the public will be allowed to ask one short supplementary question.

There were no public questions for consideration.

To consider the general report of the Executive Cabinet held on 18 January, 15 February and 15 March. 

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader presented a general report of the Executive Cabinet meetings held on 18 January, 15 February and 15 March.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed, Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources, seconded the DECISION – that the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Director (Policy and Governance).

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources) presented the report of the Chief Finance Officer which set out the provisional revenue and capital outturn figures for the Council as compared against the budgets and efficiency savings targets set for the financial year 2017/18.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources proposed, Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader seconded the DECISION – to

1.         Note the full year forecast position for the 2017/18 revenue budget and capital investment programme.

2.         Note the forecast position on the Council's reserves.

3.         Approve the contribution of £60,000 from in-year revenue underspends to the Buildings Maintenance Reserve to finance one-off costs relating to the Council’s maintenance of offices and buildings.

4.         Approve the contribution of £100,000 from in-year revenue underspends to the Change Management Reserve to finance one-off redundancy and pension strain costs arising from transformation and shared service strategies.

5.         Approve the contribution of £40,000 from in-year revenue underspends to fund the revenue implications of future planning appeals.

6.         Approve the use of £40,000 from in-year revenue underspends to provide the council with external expertise for the furthering of income generation.

7.         Approve the contribution of £130,000 from in-year revenue underspends to enable the modernisation of the Council’s ICT and Streetscene services.

8.         Approve the budget changes to the capital programme outlined in paragraph 70.

To consider the general report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25 January and 22 March, the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 8 March and Task Group update. 

Councillor John Walker, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented a general report of the of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25 January and 22 March, the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel held on 8 March and Task Group update.

Councillor John Walker, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee proposed, Councillor Roy Lees, Vice Chair, seconded the DECISION – that the report be noted.

To consider the general report of the Governance Committee held on 24 January and 21 March. 

Councillor Paul Leadbetter, Chair of the Governance Committee presented a general report on the work of the Committee meeting on 24 January and 21 March.

Councillor Paul Leadbetter, Chair of the Governance Committee proposed, Councillor Anthony Gee, Vice Chair, seconded the DECISION – that the report be noted.

To consider the draft report of the Director (Policy and Governance).

Councillor Alistair Bradley Executive Leader, advised that the first meeting of the Electoral Review of Chorley Council Committee took place on 7 March 2018.  At that meeting, the committee considered evidence that is to be presented as part of the council’s submission to the LGBCE.

The LGBCE will re-draw ward boundaries so that they meet their statutory criteria. The council will have the opportunity to put forward its ideas in two phases of public consultation.

Councillor Alan Cullens, Leader of the Conservative Group, proposed an amendment, that Chorley Council should comprise of 39 councillors and move to all out elections.  This would save the council a considerable sum of money.  Councillor Martin Boardman, Shadow Executive Member (Resources) seconded the amendment. 

The proposal was put to the vote and LOST. 

Members considered the disadvantages to all out elections, particularly the political instability this could lead to.  Having elections by thirds enabled change to be more gradual and for councillors to build experience on each of the committees.  This also acted as a buffer for populism.

Members discussed the importance of having enough councillors to discharge the functions of the council, and to hold the Executive to account. 

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed an amendment to the council size submission document. On page 3 under the ‘Proposal’ heading there is a brief summary of the approach taken to develop and agree the council size proposal.  The Council’s submission has been developed by a cross party committee of 9 councillors. A meeting of the Electoral Review of Chorley Council Committee took place on the 7 March 2018, following a review of evidence, a positive discussion and due consideration the committee unanimously agreed that the  council size could be reduced from 47 to be 42 members with the frequency of elections continuing by thirds.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed, Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources, seconded the amended substantive motion, the DECISION

To approve the amended council submission on the future size and electoral cycle of Chorley Council, as agreed unanimously at the Electoral Review of Chorley Council Committee, that Chorley Council should –

•           comprise of 42 councillors, and

•           continue to undertake its elections by thirds

To appoint the Executive Member (Early Intervention and Support) to a new outside body: Chorley Football Club Community Trust. 

Agreement was sought to a new outside body appointment for Chorley Football Club Community Trust.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed, Councillor Peter Wilson, Deputy Leader, seconded and it was RESOLVED - To appoint the Executive Member (Early Intervention and Support) to Chorley Football Club Community Trust.

There were no questions for consideration under Procedure Rule 8.

There were no motions for consideration under Procedure Rule 10.

There were no petitions presented in accordance with Council procedure Rule 23.

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

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).

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader proposed, Councillor Peter Wilson, Deputy Leader seconded the DECISION that the press and public be excluded for the following items of business due to the disclosure of exempt information under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act.

Report of the Director (Business, Development and Growth)

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources) presented the report of the Director of Business, Development and Growth.  The report sought approval to purchase the building known as the former Hyatt Restaurant premises on the terms indicated in the report and shown edged red on the attached plan. 

The report also sought approval for a new Lease to be granted to the Chorley Little Theatre for the Hyatt Premises to be able to be occupied in connection with their use of the Chorley Little Theatre for studio space, rehearsals and storage.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources proposed, Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Leader seconded the DECISION – 

1.         That Council allocate the budget to be used for the purposes of purchasing the freehold of the Hyatt, 1 Dole Lane, Chorley.

2.         That Council note that on 15 March the Executive Cabinet resolved

a. To proceed with the freehold purchase of the Hyatt Premises, 1 Dole Lane, Chorley, PR7 2RL within the time frame so that preparations can be implemented by the Chorley Little Theatre for expansion and rehearsal rooms.

b. That authority is to be delegated to the Executive Member for Resources to negotiate the terms of the lease with the Chorley Little Theatre in accordance with those provisionally agreed and contained at paragraph 17.

c. That the Head of Legal, Democratic and HR Services be authorised to complete the documentation for both the purchase of the freehold from the existing vendor and complete the documentation for a Lease on terms to be negotiated in accordance with paragraph 2 to the Chorley Little Theatre.