Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Julie Buttery, Christine Melia, David Suthers, Ian Watkinson and Carol Wooldridge.  

No declarations of interest were received.

Resolved (unanimously) that the minutes of the Council meeting held on Wednesday, 28 April 2021 be approved as a correct record.

The Mayor welcomed Councillor Karen Walton as the new Leader of the Opposition.

The Mayor gave an update on her recent duties, including the opening of the Peace Garden, Tom Hanson House and events to support Dementia Action Week. 

To receive and consider the report of the Returning Officer.

The Mayor congratulated the two Councillors who had been elected on 6 May 2021.

The Returning Officer’s report indicated election results as follows:

Resolved: that the report be noted.

To note the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Members of Cabinet appointed by the Leader of the Council. 

Councillor Paul Foster, Leader of the Council informed the Council of his appointments to the Executive Cabinet and portfolio support roles for 2021/22.

Councillor Paul Foster - Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member (Strategy and Reform)

·         Corporate strategy

·         Performance

·         Public service reform

·         Communications

·         Events (including museums)

·         Human resources and member development

·         Strategic projects

Councillor Mick Titherington – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing)

·         Community resilience and health inequalities

·         Public health

·         Environmental health

·         Community safety

·         Leisure policy development

·         Homelessness

·         Green agenda

·         Air quality and climate change

Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder – Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building)

·         Customer services

·         Multi-agency working and South Ribble Hub

·         Welfare assistance (including revenues and benefits)

·         Digital strategy and ICT

·         Waste, street cleansing

·         Community development

·         Wealth building

·         Youth council

·         Equality and diversity

Councillor Matthew Tomlinson – Cabinet Member (Finance, Property and Assets)

·         Finance

·         Medium Term Financial Strategy

·         Major developments and asset management to include, parks, open spaces and leisure and community assets

Councillor Bill Evans – Cabinet Member Planning, Business Support and Regeneration)

·         Strategic Planning

·         Regeneration master planning

·         Housing strategy

·         Licensing

·         Economic development including support for business

·         Car parking

Lead Members

Youth and Mental Health Awareness – Councillor Matt Trafford

Social Equality and Justice – Councillor Jackie Alty

Climate Change – Councillor Keith Martin

Member Champions

Armed Forces – Councillor Derek Forrest

Older People – Councillor Jane Bell

Safeguarding – Councillor Jane Bell

Decision: To note the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Members of Cabinet appointed by the Leader of the Council.

To approve the appointment of Members of the Council to Committee’s, Working Groups, etc for 2021/22. 

The Council considered a schedule of nominations for the appointment of committees, working groups and panels in accordance with the political balance of the Council, together with nominations to Chair and Vice Chair positions.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster proposed, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing), Councillor Mick Titherington seconded, and Resolved (by majority) that

1.    The allocation of committee places in accordance with the Political Balance Rules as set out in the report be approved.

2.    The Members, Chairs and Vice Chairs for the committees, panels and working groups set out in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 to this report be appointed for the period of twelve months until the First Business Meeting of the Council in May 2022, subject to the replacement of Councillor Mrs Margaret Smith with Councillor Jon Hesketh on the Local Plan Member Working Group and to note that Councillor Stephen Thurlbourn is the Vice-Chair of the Climate Emergency Task Group.

3.    The Council’s Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend the Constitution to take into account the consequential changes as a result of this report.

To approve the appointment of the Community Hubs Chairs and Vice Chairs for 2021/22. 

A schedule setting out the Community Hubs Chairs and Vice Chairs was received.  It was noted that there were no changes proposed to the arrangements approved previously by the Community Hubs. 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster proposed, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing), Councillor Mick Titherington seconded, the Resolution (unanimously) the appointment of the Community Hubs Chairs and Vice Chairs for 2021/22 be as follows:

To appoint Members of the Council to represent the Authority on outside bodies in 2021/22. 

A schedule of nominations for the appointment of Council representatives on outside bodies for the forthcoming Council year was considered.

Members noted that for the Central Lancashire JAC it was proposed to replace Councillor Titherington with Councillor Caleb Tomlinson, with Councillor Titherington as a reserve, and that the Moss Side Community Forum and Higher Walton Community Centre were no longer in existence.   

A query was raised in relation to nominations for the Leyland Town Deal Advisory Board.  It was clarified that the membership of this Board was defined by Regulations and was presented for transparency purposes, rather than a decision. 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster proposed, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing), Councillor Mick Titherington seconded, the proposal to approve the appointments for 2021/22.  Councillor Mrs Margaret Smith requested a recorded vote.

For: Will Adams, Jacqui Alty, Jane Bell, Renee Blow, Aniela Bylinski Gelder, Malcolm Donoghue, Bill Evans, James Flannery, Derek Forrest, Paul Foster, Harry Hancock, Mick Higgins, David Howarth, Susan Jones, Chris Lomax, Keith Martin, Colin Sharples, David Shaw, Michael Titherington, Caleb Tomlinson, Matthew Tomlinson, Matthew Trafford, Angela Turner, Kath Unsworth and Paul Wharton-Hardman. 

Against: Damian Bretherton, Matt Campbell, Carol Chisholm, Colin Coulton, Mary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer.

Councillor Paul Foster, Leader of the Council, presented the report of the Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer which informs Council of a number of urgent decisions taken by the Executive (i.e. Cabinet or Individual Executive Members) in accordance with urgency procedures outlined in the Council’s Constitution since the last meeting of Council held on 28 April 2021.

Members spoke in support of the Council’s Holiday Hunger Scheme.  It was confirmed that the provision was in the form of a nutritious food parcel. 

The work on energy efficiency improvements to the Civic Centre was also supported. 

Resolved: To note the report. 

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Communities.   

Councillor Aniela Bylinski Gelder, Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building) presented the report of the Director of Communities which confirmed allocations from round one of the Community Hubs Boost Fund.

Members supported the positive community benefits being realised through the work of this Fund and noted that there were further projects planned across the Community Hubs.

Resolved: To note the following allocations from round one of the Community Hubs Boost Fund.

To note the programme of Council Meetings for 2021/22:

·                Wednesday, 21 July

·                Wednesday, 22 September

·                Wednesday, 24 November

·                Wednesday, 26 January

·                Wednesday, 23 February

·                Wednesday, 20 April

·                Wednesday, 18 May

Councillors noted the programme of Council Meetings for 2021/22 as follows:

·         Wednesday, 21 July

·         Wednesday, 22 September

·         Wednesday, 24 November

·         Wednesday, 26 January

·         Wednesday, 23 February

·         Wednesday, 20 April

·         Wednesday, 18 May

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 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

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 Alan Ogilvie queried the nature of the confidential information within the two items published as confidential.  The Monitoring Officer advised that item 14 relating to the wholly owned Council Trading Company for Leisure Centres contained information relating to financial modelling and staffing issues.  Item 15 Leyland Town Deal contained financial information relating to a procurement exercise. 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster proposed, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing), Councillor Mick Titherington seconded, a proposal that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act. 

Councillor Mrs Margaret Smith requested a recorded vote on item 14. Setting up of wholly owned Council Trading Company for Leisure Centres being held in public, seconded by Councillor Alan Ogilvie.

For: Will Adams, Jacqui Alty, Jane Bell, Renee Blow, Aniela Bylinski Gelder, Malcolm Donoghue, Bill Evans, James Flannery, Derek Forrest, Paul Foster, Harry Hancock, Mick Higgins, David Howarth, Susan Jones, Chris Lomax, Keith Martin, Colin Sharples, David Shaw, Michael Titherington, Caleb Tomlinson, Matthew Tomlinson, Matthew Trafford, Angela Turner, Kath Unsworth and Paul Wharton-Hardman. 

Against: Damian Bretherton, Matt Campbell, Carol Chisholm, Colin Coulton, Mary Green, Michael Green, Jon Hesketh, Cliff Hughes, Jim Marsh, Caroline Moon, Jacqui Mort, Peter Mullineaux, Alan Ogilvie, John Rainsbury, Margaret Smith, Phil Smith, Stephen Thurlbourn, Karen Walton, Gareth Watson and Barrie Yates

Abstention: None.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Commercial.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing), Councillor Mick Titherington, presented the confidential report of the Director of Commercial which proposes the establishment of a wholly-owned Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) to manage the council’s leisure centres.

Members supported concessions being given to veterans using the facilities in the future and noted that the Council is opposed to zero hour contracts. 

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Karen Walton, thanked officers for the briefing on the report and expressed a wish to be involved as the Leisure company moves forwards. 

Members debated the proposals and supported the aspirations to deliver excellent services to the residents of South Ribble. 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing), Councillor Mick Titherington proposed, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster seconded, to Resolve (unanimously)

1.    That Council agrees to establish a wholly-owned Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) as set out in the attached full proposal, and delegates to the Director of Governance authority to finalise the arrangements for its creation.

2.    Council appoints the Director of Finance, Director of Governance and Director of Commercial Services as Directors of the company when it is formed.

3.    Council notes the financial model for the company and approves the creation of additional capacity at the Council in support services for the LATC as set out in the full proposal attached to this report.

4.    Council approves the forecast management fee from the Council to the LATC

5.    That Council agrees to a two-phase approach to setting up the new wholly owned LATC.

a. Priority being given to the setting up of the company and realising the NNDR and Tax benefits

b. Allowing the Council supported by the new Company the time to put in place a long-term service specification and staffing structure that will put the Leisure Centres at the heart of delivering the ambitions of the Council’s new Leisure Strategy and the aspirations of the wider corporate plan.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Commercial.

The Cabinet Member (Planning, Business Support and Regeneration), Councillor Bill Evans, presented the confidential report of the Director of Commercial requested approval for the budget to progress the Leyland Town Deal business cases, design and planning application.

Councillor Evans thanked all those involved with the project and noted the tight timescales involved. 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, noted that the decision proposed was based on facts, but noted his preference for the government to have underwritten the project.

Members raised several queries, including the potential for an insurance product to cover any liability and the timescales involved.  It is not known when the decision will be made to move forward with the Deal. 

It was noted that the initial parameters for the Deal will change over time, including how private investors are involved, potentially investing in infrastructure or property. 

The local sign off was confirmed as the Cabinet Member (Planning, Business Support and Regeneration), the Chief Executive and the Chair of the Board. 

Councillor Phil Smith queried if the financial model had changed.  This will be clarified following the meeting. 

The Cabinet Member (Planning, Business Support and Regeneration), Councillor Bill Evans, proposed, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster seconded, to Resolve (unanimously)

1.    To approve a budget of £2,774,000 to progress the business case submissions, design to RIBA stage 3 and preparation and submission of a planning application for the three Town Deal projects.

2.    To approve the appointment of Steer to deliver the business cases.

3.    To approve the waiver of the Contract Procedure rules for the appointment of Steer for the reasons set out in the report.