Agenda and minutes

The Mayor on behalf of the Council wished the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jane Bell a happy 75^th birthday.

The Mayor also thanked Dianne Scambler, the Democratic and Member Services Team Leader who was attending her last meeting of the Council and wished her all the best in her new job.

Apologies were received from Councillor James Flannery.

The Leader of the Council also submitted apologies on behalf of Councillors Ken and Susan Jones. Councillor Ken Jones was gravely ill, and Council extended their thoughts and prayers to the family.

Councillors Michael Green, Jim Marsh and Barrie Yates declared a personal interest as Lancashire County Councillors on item 19 – Future of City Deal.

Minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 November 2019 for signing by the Mayor.

In response to Councillor Alan Ogilvie, the Leader of the Council committed to circulating a copy of the borough wide tree planting maps to all Members.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 November 2019 be held as a correct record for signing by the Mayor.

The Mayor provided an update on the events he had recently attended and his forthcoming engagements.

To receive and consider the report of the Cabinet held on 22 January 2020 to follow.

Members considered the general report of the Cabinet meeting held on 22 January 2020.

The Leader of the Council reported that the Cabinet had accepted all of the recommendations of the cross party Working Group on the Community Involvement Review. He gave thanks to Councillor Stephen Thurlbourn, the Vice Chair of the Climate Emergency Task Group for his support to the Chair, Councillor Ken Jones and requested Members familiarise themselves with the Lancashire XX Care Strategy to help give them a better understanding of the need for the development of Extra Care schemes across the Borough.

The Leader also accepted that the 5% criteria weighting placed against Environmental Impact when procuring tenders was too low, especially considering the Council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030 and made a commitment to review this.

In response to a question from Councillor Trafford, the Leader explained that the other party (Leyland St Mary’s) of the dual use agreement at the Penwortham Leisure Centre, had confirmed their commitment to pay for those elements that they were responsible for.

The Leader of the Council also explained that a recent audit had identified that an annual amount of £5-6K had been paid since 2013, for a facility at Leyland St Marys that wasn’t there, and the Council would be seeking to recover this money.

Councillor Stephen Thurlbourn asked if the Council would consider moving their carbon neutrality target to 2050 following his attendance at a Climate Emergency conference. However, the Leader reiterated that it was still the aspiration of the administration to aim for 2030 and that every available resource would be given, to try.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Governance Committee held on 26 November 2019 attached.

Members considered a general report of the Governance Committee meeting held on 27 November 2019.

The Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ian Watkinson reported that five internal audit reviews were at draft report stage awaiting finalisation, a further four had commenced and two had been completed.  The completed reviews were on performance management information with a limited assurance rating and review of the Improvement Reference Group / annual governance statement without an assurance rating.  In order to ensure the audit plan is completed an additional auditor had been appointed.

The Chair also reported that the Committee had received a report on why the performance management information had a limited assurance rating at its meeting the night before, however as the governance report related to business that had been considered at its November meeting and the minutes for the Committee meeting held on 28 January had not yet been done, it was considered inappropriate by Council to deliberate these items further.

It was proposed by the Chair of Governance Committee, Councillor Ian Watkinson, seconded by Councillor Christine Melia, and subsequently

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To receive and consider a report of the Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 23 January 2020 to follow.

Members considered a general report of the Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 23 January 2020.

The Chair, Councillor David Howarth highlighted key findings within the report that related to the South Ribble Partnership and Worden Hall project.

RESOLVED That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Standards Committee held 21 January 2020 to follow.

Members considered a general report of the Standards Committee meeting held on 21 January 2020.

The Chair, Councillor Carol Wooldridge highlighted key findings within the Annual Standards report and thanked the Independent Persons who regularly provided support and advice to the Committee.

RESOLVED That the report be noted

Report of the Director of Customer and Digital attached.

Council considered a report of the Director of Customer and Digital that updated on the outcome of the consultation exercise carried out with preceptors and residents in relation to proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme (CTSS). The consultation exercise had informed the proposals for introducing an amended scheme for 2020/21.

The new administration is proposing the removal of the minimum £3.50 charge for passported claimants as part of their commitment to protect the most vulnerable applicants.

Councillor Caroline Moon, expressed her disappointment of the amended scheme, believing that the Council could have been more radical by empowering people to help themselves as opposed to taking them back to a state of dependency. This was not a view shared by many Members across the Chamber who wholeheartedly supported the amended scheme and Councillors David Howarth, Paul Foster, Mick Titherington, Matthew Tomlinson, Matthew Trafford, Will Adams and David Forrest spoke in favour of the proposals.

Councillor Michael Green argued that this decision was a wholly ideological one from the Labour Group and that it could make the current situation more difficult, it could also have a detrimental impact on County budgets, and he warned the Council to be aware of unintentional consequences.  

It was proposed by Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder, seconded by Councillor Derek Forrest and subsequently

RESOLVED (Yes 24: No 23):

1.    That the outcome of the report be noted.

2.    That Council approves the amended scheme to reflect the removal of the minimum (£3.50 charge for passported claimants).

3.    That Council notes the further work being undertaken in relation to the second homes and empty homes premium.

4.    That Council notes the budget implications.

Report of the Shared Services Lead – Legal attached.

Council considered a report of the Shared Services Lead – Legal, that sought authority to amend the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules as they are part of the Council’s Constitution.

It was noted that the appendices attached to the report were in the wrong order.

Councillor Colin Clark congratulated the work of the Constitution Task Group on this piece of work.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the updated provisions of the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules be approved.

Report of the Assistant Director of Scrutiny and Democratic Services attached.

Council considered a report of the Assistant Director of Scrutiny and Democratic Services that sought approval of the nominations for the Mayor Elect and Deputy Mayor Elect for 2020/21.

It was proposed by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, seconded by the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Mick Titherington and subsequently

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

1.    That Councillor Jane Bell be elected as the Mayor Elect for 2020/21.

2.    That Councillor David Howarth be elected as the Deputy Mayor Elect for 2020/21.

Councillor Jane Bell took the opportunity to thank everyone for their birthday wishes and for voting to elect her as Mayor next year. Councillor Bell said that being Mayor would be a great privilege and honour and that she hoped that she could be of some value to the lives of the residents.

Report of the Assistant Director of Scrutiny and Democratic Services attached.

The Council considered a report of the Assistant Director of Scrutiny and Democratic Services that sought approval to make appointments to the Council’s Committee’s and Working Groups.

The Leader of the Council explained that it was only down to the circumstances surrounding Councillor Ken Jone’s illness, that he was having to make these changes and asked for the Leader of the Opposition not to take this opportunity to try to seek an amendment to the political composition of the Committee’s.

It was proposed by Councillor Paul Foster, seconded by Councillor Mick Titherington that

1.    Councillor James Flannery replace Councillor Ken Jones on the Licensing and Public Safety Committee;

2.    Councillor James Flannery be appointed the Chair of the Licensing and Public Safety Committee;

3.    Councillor Colin Sharples replace Councillor Ken Jones on the Governance Committee;

4.    Councillor Colin Sharples be appointed the Vice Chair of Governance Committee;

5.    Councillor Keith Martin replaces Councillor Ken Jones as the Chair of the Climate Emergency Task Group

Whilst the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Margaret Smith had every sympathy with Councillor Jones’s situation, she felt that the report before her had to be dealt with and said that she did intend to propose an amendment.

Councillor Smith explained that Councillor Damian Bretherton was appointed to the Governance Committee in May and had since become an active member, attending every meeting and attending various conferences. The Local Government Association’s best practice guidance was for the Vice Chair of the Committee to be a member of the opposition, as was evidenced at Chorley Council.

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor Margaret Smith, seconded by Councillor Phil Smith, to appoint Councillor Damian Bretherton to Vice Chair of Governance Committee.

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment to the motion was lost (Yes: 23, No: 24).

A vote on the substantive motion was then taken and was subsequently

RESOLVED (Yes: 24:, No: 23) that the recommendations be approved.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster updated Members on the work of the Member Development Steering group and gave an appraisal of the training and development opportunities that have recently been delivered.

Several Member Briefings had taken place on policy development and compulsory training on GDPR and Safeguarding had been well attended. The Leader thanked the Democratic Services team for the delivery of the ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ session that had taken place prior to Council, in response to members’ requests.

Councillor Moon asked if a scheme for transferrable skills could be explored for those members able to evidence attendance on external training courses with other organisations on topics such as safeguarding. The Leader agreed to this, if the session covered all relevant aspects as it was recognised that there could be differences across different sectors.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

No questions were received.

The following written question has been received:

Councillor Colin Clark has submitted a written question to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets attached.

Questions to the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health, Wellbeing and Leisure).

Councillor Alan Ogilvie asked the Cabinet Member if he could provide an update on the safe and secure parking arrangements for the Leyland Festival.

In response, the Cabinet Member assured the ward member that he had due regard to residents when considering any proposals relating to car parking in his role on the Leyland Festival Committee and that he hoped to have a detailed proposition soon that he will be able to share with the local councillors.

A member of the public asked the Cabinet Member what view the Council would be taking at the Lancashire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee meeting on 4 February at County Hall on the Our Health Our Care proposal for a complete closure of a viable A&E department at Chorley and South Ribble hospital.

The Cabinet Member responded to say that he was not the Council’s representative on the Lancashire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee so was unable at this stage to share the Council’s view, however, he added that he was deeply concerned about the proposals and urged all Members to fully consider the implications of such a decision.

Questions to the Cabinet Member (Community Engagement, Social Justice and Wealth Building).

Councillor Karen Walton asked the Cabinet Member, that when she writes out to the Chairs of the Neighbourhood Forums, if they replied to request a change to the boundaries, would this go to Council for approval?

The Cabinet Member responded to say that the changes to the boundaries of the Neighbourhood Forums had already been determined at the first Council meeting of the 2019/20 municipal year and the Deputy Monitoring Officer confirmed that this had been the case. Any subsequent amendments to the delivery of the Forums would be considered by Governance Committee and then taken to Council for approval.

Councillor Karen Walton also asked the Cabinet Member how many Neighbourhood Forums and Parish Councils the Community Involvement Task Group had attended and consulted upon.

The Cabinet Member commented that Councillor Walton was a member of the cross-party working group so already knew this information and that the officers who supported the meetings had the full details.

Councillor Michael Green asked the Cabinet Member how she intended to change the standing orders of the Parish Councils to allow members of the Neighbourhood Forums to participate in their meetings as they were quite stringent. Councillor Green also asked the Cabinet Member if she was aware that the Western Parishes had four parish councils in its neighbourhood area, so any changes to standing orders or terms of references would be a formidable task.

The Cabinet Member responded to say that it was the intention of the Working Group to write to all the Chairs of the Neighbourhood Forums to ask for their ideas on how the Forums and Parish Councils could better work together for the benefit of the communities they serve and that the administration was prepared to work with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

Questions to the Chairs of Committee’s

No questions received.

Questions to the Chairs of My Neighbourhood Areas

Councillor David Howarth asked the Chair of the Western Parishes Neighbourhood Forum, if he would agree that the Forum could undertake more joint meetings with the four parish councils in their area to promote better working relations.

The Chair of the Neighbourhood Forum, Councillor Colin Coulton responded, yes.

Questions to Member Champions

Councillor Stephen Thurlbourn asked the Armed Forces Member Champion if he had managed to progress a request to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of VE day with the Kings Royal Hussar’s.

The Armed Forces Member Champion responded to say that he was having some difficulty contacting the unit but was hopeful that they would be able to organise an event sometime in May.

Questions to representatives of Outside Bodies.

No questions were received.

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 Paragraph(s) 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Paragraph 5: Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business as it involved the discussion defined as exempt from publication under paragraphs 3 and 5 of Part 1, of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, ‘Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)’ and ‘Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings’ and in which public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing it.

Councillors Michael Green, Jim Marsh and Barrie Yates left the meeting.

Report of the Director of Planning and Property attached.

Council considered a confidential report of the Director of Planning and Property that advised on progress made with discussions regarding the City Deal since its meeting on 25 September 2019. The report also provided Members with the opportunity to support a bid for external funding which would aid the City Deal.

The report was debated at length with Members on both sides of the Chamber having significant concerns around the City Deal finance model whereby costs, particularly for the major highway infrastructure have risen substantially. There is a realisation by all Councillors that the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal is at a critical point in shaping its future and it is felt that if it was to continue, new arrangements will need to be agreed between the partners.

The Leader of the Council advised Council that a joint letter from the Leaders of all the City Deal Partners had been sent to Central Government to request what action they intended to take to fulfil their responsibilities under the current Heads of Terms.

The emerging revised Heads of Terms will place a significant continued financial risk on the Council. However, there are a number of current external funding bids under development or consideration for City Deal projects, which if successful will assist significantly in meeting the financial funding gap and reducing the risk to South Ribble Borough Council.

One such example is the Homes England Small Sites Fund which could add additional income into the City Deal model but is contingent on further housing coming forward in both South Ribble and Preston over a longer time period.

If the Council did not support the Homes England SSF bid, it would clearly put at risk the potential to draw in significant funding in to the City Deal and may also put at risk other funding bids which are being used to match such finance and the Interim Chief Executive advised, that if the Council did not support this recommendation, it would pose a significant financial risk to the Council and that is of the upmost importance.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Margaret Smith asked for a short adjournment to allow the Conservative Group to discuss the amended recommendations further considering the debate and the advice of the Interim Chief Executive. The Mayor agreed to adjourn the meeting at 9.25pm for a five-minute period.

Upon the return of the Conservative Group to the Chamber at 9.30pm, an amendment to the motion, to include ‘subject to final Council approval at the end of the first recommendation, was proposed by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, seconded by Councillor Mick Titherington and subsequently

RESOVED (Unanimously):

1.    That Council supports the bid from the City Deal partners in to the Homes England Small Sites Fund (SSF) and agree to contribute an additional 3,900 homes on appropriate sites from South Ribble in to the SSF Bid, subject to final Council approval.

2.    That Council agree to the allocated Safeguarded Land and a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.