Decisions made

Recommendations approved

Reasons for recommendation

The revised policy will:

a)        Better support residents by highlighting other help available, including referral to the council’s social prescribing team.

b)        Ensure the policy is relevant and up to date and meets the current needs of residents

c)         Make the policy more accessible for residents by simplifying the language

d)        Help with shared decision making across the councils

e)        Provide the increased resilience of sharing key processes

Other options considered and rejected

To continue with the existing policies was not considered as these policies are out of date and not aligned with other council policies including the Fair Collection Charter

Recommendations approved

Reasons for recommendations

The revised policy will:

a.    Tie the policy into the council’s Fair Collection Charter to provide greater assistance to businesses and charitable organisations in the current economic climate

b.    Ensure the policies are relevant and up to date and meet the current needs of businesses and charitable organisations

c.     Provide clarity, simplicity and make the policies more accessible to ratepayers

d.    Bring the policies in line with current legislation

e.    Help with shared decision making across the councils

f.      Provide the increased resilience of sharing key processes

g.    Reduce administration if discretionary charitable relief awards granted for 5 years

h.    The proposed policy protects current eligible ratepayers ensuring there is no financial impact for them.

Other options considered and rejected

To continue with the existing discretionary rate relief policy was not considered as the policy is out of date and not aligned with other council policies including the Fair Collection Charter.

Recommendation approved

Reasons for recommendation

Following lengthy negotiations with The Tenant’s Agent and correspondence with the Tenant’s Solicitor, the proposed revised terms have been provisionally agreed in conjunction with the Council’s Retail Consultants and reflect current market conditions within the Market Walk Centre in line with other leases of similar units which have recently been agreed/completed.

Other options considered and rejected

There were no other options considered and rejected as the Tenant occupies the premises on a protected Landlord and Tenant Act Tenancy and the Council has no grounds for opposing the grant of a new lease.

Approved.

1.         To accept grant funding of £100,000 from the Wolfson Foundation to carry out renovations to the West Wing of Astley Hall.

2.         To approve an increase in the capital budget at Astley Hall for an amount equivalent to the grant sum to reflect the receipt.

Noted.

1.         To accept the LAHG funding.

2.         To approve the establishment of a new capital programme budget to commence acquisition of housing stock and repairs to 17 – 23 Gillibrand Street.

3.         To approve the future Acquisitions for three Afghanistan resettlement properties.

4.         To approve the acceptance of the grant for three new Afghanistan refugee families following the acquisition of three new properties.

5.         To delegate the decision to award the contract for the repairs to Gillibrand Street to the Executive Member for Resources'.

6.         To authorise the Executive Member for Housing to take further decisions on the acquisitions of refugee properties, in accordance with standing orders and the financial regulations of the council.

An amendment was approved to the Notice of Motion which was approved.

This council notes the Labour government’s recent decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Allowance only to pensioners in receipt of means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, as announced recently by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. 

Chorley Council recognises that this decision was taken as part of measures to tackle the £22bn ‘black hole’ in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government.

The council acknowledges the significant role that Winter Fuel Allowance played in helping older residents in Chorley and across the UK to afford their heating bills during the winter months and the additional strain the removal of this allowance will place on vulnerable pensioners and those who do not claim or are not entitled to Pension Credit.

Therefore, the council resolves to undertake the following in support of our residents:

•        Bring forward a council led local awareness campaign to alert those eligible for Pension Credit, working with partners, charities and community organisations to ensure all eligible pensioners claim their entitlement. 

•        Continue Chorley’s Council’s ongoing work to support people with their fuel bills and assist those who are vulnerable during the winter months through schemes such as the

o       Affordable Warmth Grants,

o       Warm/Welcome Spaces Scheme,

o       UKSPF Cost of Living Grants

•        The Leader of the Council is to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to outline the concerns of councillors and members of the public in Chorley about the impact of this decision and urge the government to extend further targeted financial support to the most vulnerable groups who are impacted by this decision.

Noted.

Noted.