Agenda item

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

1.         Recommendation approved.

2.         Recommendation approved.

3.         Recommendation approved.

4.         Recommendation approved.

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration presented a report which sought approval to establish pilot arrangements with Lancashire County Council to replace the current 3 Tier Forum.

The 3 Tier Forum was a Lancashire County Council meeting of the seven County Councillors and seven Borough Councillors and one Parish Councillor which was introduced by the County Council in 2011/12, across all districts as a replacement to the Lancashire Locals.  At the time, Parish Councils expressed considerable concern that they did not have sufficient representation on the new forum.

In recent months the County Council indicated it wished to review existing 3TF arrangements and had invited views and ideas on alternatives, including looking at different arrangements for different districts.  Chorley and Lancaster Councils have been approached to pilot new arrangements and discussions have taken place between the leadership of both Chorley and Lancashire County Councils and a proposal had now been developed.

Chorley’s proposal was to take the best of current successful liaison arrangements with the parish and town councils, build in existing neighbourhood working provision and integrate County Council representation.  This minimised duplication and would hopefully ensure full involvement and participation from the three Council tiers.

The new joint body would primarily be a consultative forum and would consider strategic issues which impacted on local communities.  Membership would be: all seven County Councillors; the eight Borough Councillors which Chaired the eight Neighbourhood Area meetings; an additional Councillor who represented Chorley town (as a non parished area); and one councillor representative from each of the Parish and Town Councils in the Borough.

Members agreed that one system would not fit all of the Borough’s within Lancashire and the importance of questions being received in advance to enable responses to be given to people at the meeting.  It was also important that the relevant officers be in attendance at the meeting. 

Members supported the aspiration that the pilot would not damage the positive relationship the Council had with the Parishes through the Borough Parish Liaison, and noted that there was still the option to call a meeting of the Borough Parish Liaison. 

Decision made

1.      Approval granted to the proposed pilot arrangements with Lancashire County Council to replace the existing Lancashire County Council 3 Tier Forum and Chorley Borough/Parish Council Liaison Meeting with a new body which included all three levels of local government in Chorley, entitled the Chorley 3 Tier Liaison.

2.      Approval granted that the terms of reference and procedural details for this new body be as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

3.      Approval granted that, subject to Lancashire County Council also agreeing this proposal at their Cabinet meeting on 8 May 2014, full Council be asked to agree the necessary Constitutional changes to replace the Borough Parish Liaison with the new joint arrangements and Annual Council in June 2014 be asked to appoint Members to the new body.

4.      Should Lancashire County Council, in considering this proposal at their Cabinet meeting in May, make comment or disagree with any element of these proposals then the Executive Leader, in consultation with the Chief Executive be given delegated authority to discuss and resolve matters with the County Council and report back.

Reason(s) for decision

This proposal aims to allow meaningful consultation and discussion about strategic issues across the full three tiers of local government.  It builds LCC inclusion and involvement into a successful existing borough parish liaison meeting in Chorley.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

Discussions have taken place with Lancashire County Council on alternative options and this appears to best meet the requirements and resources available at both Councils to support meetings.