Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Howarth, Hughes, Ms Mawson, Mullineaux, Patten, Watts and Woodcock.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):

That the minutes of the meetings held on 25 March and 20 May 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

Councillor Bennett was pleased to nominate Councillor Mrs Smith as Executive Leader. Councillor M Green seconded the nomination.

There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):

That Councillor Mrs M Smith be elected as Executive Leader.

Councillor Foster commented that the increased size of the Cabinet was extremely high. Councillor Foster indicated that although his group supported the appointment of the Executive Leader he felt that the formation of the Cabinet?s responsibilities had not been thought through enough. He expressed his concern that not one Cabinet Member had an overall responsibility for the City Deal and also the way in which Strategic Housing and Planning had been placed in different portfolios. He felt that these two responsibilities have close links with the City Deal.

The meeting was informed that the Cabinet was appointed by the Executive Leader and therefore the council was only asked to receive and note the names of the members of the Cabinet and their areas of responsibility.

The Leader referred to the Conservative Group?s manifesto and explained that the City Deal was very much part of the group?s big plan/vision for South Ribble. Although she (as the Executive) had overall responsibility for the City Deal however there would be many other related responsibilities Cabinet Members would have an involvement in, some of these being planning, regeneration, street scene etc. The Leader further explained that a lot of hard work takes place behind the scenes and the workload would intensify upon Cabinet Members to deliver the big plan within 4 years.

The Leader pointed out that there was movement within Lancashire County Council on public health and she felt that the Cabinet Member for Housing and Healthy Communities had close links with the county council. The Leader added that it was important that the council maintain its commitment to enhance the quality of life of residents and continue to make the borough a good place to live, work, play and visit.

The Leader concluded that this new Cabinet structure would deliver the council?s objectives.

Members received and noted the names of the members of the Cabinet and their areas of responsibility.

Councillor Bennett commended the report of the Governance Committee meeting held on 15 April 2015. The report was seconded.

(Councillor Bennett particularly reminded members that it was important to look at the new version of the Constitution (subject to confirmation by the Council later in the meeting).)

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):

That the constitution which had been updated to reflect the changes as referred to in the report of the Governance Committee (15 April 2015) be adopted.

The Leader presented the report outlining the nominations for membership of committees for 2015/16. The report was seconded.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):

That the Membership of Committees 2015/16 as detailed in the attached schedule to the report be approved.

The Leader presented the report outlining the appointments for the period until the First Business Meeting of the 2016 Municipal Year. The report was seconded.

Councillor Foster said that the Labour Group had fully supported My Neighbourhood Areas in the last four years, acknowledging that some area forums worked particularly well and some did not work to that level. He wondered whether all the My Neighbourhood Areas could be non-political.

Councillor Foster pointed out that although his group had control of the My Neighbourhood Area (Leyland), the vice chairman was offered to a member of the Conservative Group which was not accepted. Councillor Foster added that he did not have an issue with this however a similar offer was made at the My Neighbourhood Area (Penwortham) to the Liberal Democrats which was accordingly accepted.

Councillor Foster hoped that the My Neighbourhood Area (Eastern) would be non-political and that he would have liked to have been given a similar opportunity to be offered the vice-chairman to work together in an apolitical way. Councillor Foster further added that although this had not been taken up on this occasion, he hoped that the Council would reconsider this next year.

Reflecting on Councillor Foster?s comments, Councillor P Smith reported that he would have liked to see a member of his group (the second largest group in Penwortham) to have been given the vice chairman of My Neighbourhood Area (Penwortham). Councillor P Smith commented that it was important that members continue to attend and engage at area forums. He anticipated that a formal record of members? attendance would improve some members? poor level of attendance as he was aware that those members did not get involved.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):

That, in accordance with the Council?s Constitution, the appointments for the period until the First Business Meeting of the 2016 Municipal Year be ratified:
Central Area ? Chair: Councillor Walton; Vice-chair: Councillor Mort
Eastern Area - Chair: Councillor Nelson; Vice-chair: Councillor M Nathan
Leyland Area ? Chair: Councillor Ms Bell; Vice-chair: Councillor Heyworth
Penwortham Area ? Chair: Councillor Martin; Vice-chair: Councillor Howarth
Western Parishes Area ? Chair: Councillor Coulton; Vice-chair: Councillor Suthers

The Leader presented the report outlining the nominations to outside bodies for 2015/16. The report was seconded.

Notwithstanding the proposed nomination of Councillor Ogilvie as the Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Foster commented that he would have liked to have seen some form of dialogue with the opposition parties as there were other ex-members and long serving members of the forces on this Council.

Councillor Titherington enquired as to the reason why there was no representation from other political groups on the Three Tier Forum. He went on to asked why the council had not received any feedback from this forum. Councillor Bennett referred to minute no. 44 (1.2) of the Governance Committee held on 15 April 2015 and reported that a mechanism to enable representatives on outside bodies to report to the council would be looked at. Councillor Bennett particularly asked those members appointed to the outside bodies to note this information.

The comments were noted.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):

That the representation on Outside Bodies for 2015/16 be approved in accordance with the attached revised schedule.

Councillor Foster asked the Leader whether the time of Cabinet meetings could revert to 6.00pm because some members found it difficult to attend due to their work commitments. Councillor Foster also made reference to other meetings of the council some of these being Governance, Scrutiny and Planning Committees etc starting at 6.00pm.

The Leader said that the start time of Cabinet meetings had worked extremely well for the last two years. As the attendances at the meetings were actually less at 6.00pm than there were at 5.00pm (and they finished a lot earlier than other committee meetings without committee teas), the Leader felt it was appropriate to keep this time in place.

The Leader noted the comments made by Councillor Foster and agreed that this matter be monitored and kept under review by the Cabinet. The Leader added that she was happy to discuss this with any members who have difficulties in attending.

Regeneration and Leisure

Councillor Ogilvie referred to the huge success of last year?s Leyland Festival that appeared to get bigger and bigger every year and wondered if the Cabinet Member could provide an update on this year?s preparations for the festival.

The Cabinet Member concurred with Councillor Ogilvie?s comments and indicated that Leyland Festival had been a great success since the Council reintroduced it. As the festival grew bigger this was now as anticipated managed by various organisations. To run the event smoothly it could not take place without the generosity of volunteers and at present the Cabinet Member understood that they were still short of 40 volunteers.

The Cabinet Member asked if any members/public interested in helping out to contact the Regeneration Unit.

Corporate Support

Councillor Mrs Ball asked whether the Cabinet Member would join her by congratulating Gateway?s 10th anniversary on 19 May 2015.

The Cabinet Member concurred wholeheartedly with Councillor Mrs Ball and extended her thanks and appreciation to the Director of Corporate Governance & Business Transformation and the Gateway Manager (and his team).

The Cabinet Member recalled that this excellent service was opened by the Mayor at the time (Councillor M Tomlinson with the great late Sir Tom Finney). The Cabinet Member felt that it was important to note that this service had been supported by all parties across the council.

The Cabinet Member added that things had moved on since and there were 136 different services in Gateway now. 60 of those services were now available online for residents and 7000 people were now registered as e-citizens. Over 1m transactions had been dealt with through Gateway since it began. Year on year statistics showed that the customer satisfaction rate consistently stayed above 95% and the council had continuously been accredited with the Customer Services Excellence Award.

In response to a question from a member of the public, the Cabinet Member said she would look into the queries raised regarding public access of wi-fi facilities being made available in the building and the current microphone system in the council chamber.

There were no questions.

There were no questions.