Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Leader of the Council and Chair of Cabinet will introduce this first “Cabinet in the Community” meeting.

A promotional leaflet and a copy of the location map is attached.

The Leader of the Council welcomed everyone in attendance, particularly members of the public and thanked the staff and volunteers of Bamber Bridge Methodist Church for providing the venue and facilitating this meeting.

He explained that this “Cabinet in the Community” meeting was part of an initiative for Cabinet to be held in local communities, in order to make the Cabinet more visible and accessible to the public and to encourage greater public participation in the decision making process.

He then introduced members of the Cabinet and officers.

Members of the public to ask any questions of the Leader and Cabinet for up to an hour.

Decision made

1.    That the Director of Planning and Development:-

a) writes to Lancashire County Council Highways expressing concerns regarding the traffic issues below, expressing a willingness to work together to resolve the issues with traffic calming measures and enforcement:-

- Withy Trees Avenue - Issues re HGVs driving down a narrow road exceeding 20 mph speed limit.  HGVs should be prohibited

- Brindle row – new developments concerns about increased traffic

- also Level crossing at Hospital Inn – concerns about increased traffic

b) check planning conditions regarding development of the Sports Hub and ensure that any council owned HGVs are diverted

2.    That the Council works towards achieving Green Flag status for Withy Grove Park and report back on progress as soon as possible

3.    That the Council install additional litter bins in Withy Grove Park and send officers to the park as necessary

The Leader of the Council invited members of the public in attendance to ask questions of any member of the Cabinet for up to one hour.

The following issues were raised by Ms Bernadette Loffler from the local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme:

1)  Withy Trees Avenue –

Whilst the planned development of a Sports Hub is a superb initiative, there is an issue with HGVs cutting through above the 20mph speed limit. The road is very narrow at the entrance and I am concerned about the risk to children from the speed of HGV vehicles.

Arising from the debate the following other areas of concern were identified:

Brindle row – new developments

Level crossing at Hospital Inn

The Leader fully supported the concerns raised and gave assurances that the Council would write to and engage with Lancashire County Council, the Highways Authority on these matters.

County Councillor Couperthwaite, representing Lostock Hall and Bamber Bridge was also in attendance. He acknowledged the historical issues in the area and agreed with the matters raised and the need to for both Councils to work together on traffic calming measures and enforcement.

It was also agreed the Director of Planning and Development would check planning conditions regarding development of the Sports Hub and ensure that any council owned HGVs are diverted.

2) Withy Grove Park – request that this be designated a Green Flag Park as it is an excellent park and would raise the profile of the Borough.

The Leader of the Council supported the request and it was agreed that the Council progress this.

3) Shortage of bins in Withy Grove Park and Council wardens/officers

The Leader of the Council indicated that officers would address this issue.

The Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building) also indicated that there was to be an audit of all litter bins in the area in order assess and respond to changing needs.

Decision made

1.     That the Director of Planning and Development:-

a) writes to Lancashire County Council Highways expressing concerns regarding the traffic issues below, expressing a willingness to work together to resolve the issues with traffic calming measures and enforcement:-

- Withy Trees Avenue - Issues re HGVs driving down a narrow road exceeding 20 mph speed limit.  HGVs should be prohibited

- Brindle row – new developments concerns about increased traffic

- also Level crossing at Hospital Inn – concerns about increased traffic

b) check planning conditions regarding development of the Sports Hub and ensure that any council owned HGVs are diverted

2.     That the Council works towards achieving Green Flag status for Withy Grove Park and report back on progress as soon as possible

3.     That the Council install additional litter bins in Withy Grove Park and send officers to the park as necessary.

There were none.

Members are requested to indicate at this stage in the proceedings any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that if the interest is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct) they must leave the room for the whole of that item. If the interest is not a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, but is such that a member of the public could reasonably regard it as being so significant that it is likely that it would prejudice their judgment of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may make representations, but then must leave the meeting for the remainder of the item.

There were none.

Minutes of the last meeting held on 15 September 2021 attached to be signed as a correct record.

Decision made

That the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 15 September 2021 be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Notice of Decisions / Cabinet Forward Plan is available to view on the Council’s web page for the period 1 October 2021 – 30 September 2022.

The Notice of Executive Decisions (Cabinet Forward Plan) for the period 1 October 2021 -  30 September 2022 was presented for information.

Decision made

That the Notice of Executive Decisions (Cabinet Forward Plan) for the period 1 October 2021 -  30 September 2022 be noted.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

Decision made

1.    That the final report be accepted;

2.    That the action plan is approved for delivery;

3.    That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee be approved as follows:

The Scrutiny Committee:

1.    welcomes the report and the outcome of the Peer Review and looks forward to working together on delivering the action plan;

2.    is grateful for the commitment to develop clear measures and that progress monitoring reports would be presented to Cabinet and the Scrutiny Committee;

3.    asks that recommendation 3 be strengthened to reflect that capacity requirements will be assessed and put in place to ensure delivery of the corporate projects;

4.    is grateful for the offer of the employee survey results being made available to the Scrutiny Committee once completed; and

5.    suggests that examples of best practice adopted across both South Ribble and Chorley Councils as a result of shared services be presented to a future Shared Services Joint Committee meeting.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member (Strategy and Reform) presented a report of the Deputy Chief Executive to share the final report of the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Challenge 2021.

The Cabinet Member (Communities, Social Justice and Wealth Building) referred the action plan which outlined the Council’s response  to the matters raised by the Peer Review.  She further indicated that the she had met with the Panel three times and with Chairs of Community Hubs. She also announced that she had been invited to give a presentation to Strasbourg next year.

One member referred to pages 38 and 39 regarding the growth of capital programme from £3m in 2019 -20 to £24.4m and the Treasury Management Strategy, (which highlighted that the Council had a risk averse strategy following the collapse of Icelandic Banks), suggesting that the Council discuss alternative investments. It was highlighted that the growth of the capital programme indicated a substantial increase in borrowing, and that given a forecasted rise in inflation (under which circumstances interest rates tend to go up), cash balances will effectively give a negative return.

The Cabinet Member (Finance, Property and Assets) agreed that the Council needed to review its investments. He indicated, however, that in the case of projects such as the Extra Care Scheme, an income stream will be linked to the capacity of flats which ensures that the loan can be repaid. In addition, the Council has now completed its Asset Review which in appropriate cases may lead to sales to generate capital receipts.

Concern was expressed regarding affordability in that if the cost of borrowing increases, income streams may not cover the cost. The Leader of the Council agreed that every project must be viable and that hopefully by bringing a number of planned projects to Cabinet in near future, they would not be adversely affected by rising interest rates.

Decision made

1.     That the final report be accepted;

2.     That the action plan is approved for delivery;

3.     That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee be approved as follows:

The Scrutiny Committee:

1.     welcomes the report and the outcome of the Peer Review and looks forward to working together on delivering the action plan;

2.     is grateful for the commitment to develop clear measures and that progress monitoring reports would be presented to Cabinet and the Scrutiny Committee;

3.     asks that recommendation 3 be strengthened to reflect that capacity requirements will be assessed and put in place to ensure delivery of the corporate projects;

4.     is grateful for the offer of the employee survey results being made available to the Scrutiny Committee once completed; and

5.     suggests that examples of best practice adopted across both South Ribble and Chorley Councils as a result of shared services be presented to a future Shared Services Joint Committee meeting.

Reasons for decision

To ensure the ongoing improvement of the Council in response to the findings of the Peer Team.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, as the Council is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

Decision made

That the report be noted.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member (Strategy and Reform) presented a report of the Deputy Chief Executive providing a summary of the Council’s achievements during 2020/21 and an overview of the challenges and opportunities facing the Council in 2021/22.

Decision made

That the report be noted.

Reasons for decision

The  Annual Report is for information only; it forms part of the Council’s performance management framework and supports the Council in reflecting on its performance over the previous year.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Not applicable.

Report of the Director of Planning and Development.

Decision made

1.    That Cabinet note the contents of the report and congratulates the Group on their work over the past 18 months.

2.    That Cabinet support the recommendations arising from the Group which will be the subject of future discussions and reports for key decisions.

The Cabinet Member (Planning, Business Support and Regeneration) presented a report of the Director of Planning and Development summarising the activity and actions of the Member Working Group following their final meeting in August 2021.

The Leader thanked the Group for its work over the course of the pandemic.

Decision made

1.     That Cabinet note the contents of the report and congratulates the Group on their work over the past 18 months.

2.     That Cabinet support the recommendations arising from the Group which will be the subject of future discussions and reports for key decisions.

Reasons for decision

The Group has met regularly during the COVID Pandemic and served as an extremely useful vehicle to shape business support. Given that we are emerging from the pandemic now it was felt that the group’s business is done but could be reconvened should the need arise in the future.

The Cabinet supports the recommendations made by the Working Group outlined at paragraph 21 of the report.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, for the reasons given above.

Report of the Director of Communities.

Decision made

1.    To note the progress that has been achieved towards the Council’s net-zero goal and completion of the air quality and Climate Emergency Action Plans;

2.    That officers be requested to provide detail on which of the actions in the Air Quality Action Plan have been completed and which are outstanding;

3.    That with regard to paragraph 44 of the report, officers be requested to provide clarification that the Council is expected to contribute an amount equivalent to the cost of replacing a like for like fossil fuel heating system, rather than actually replacing a fossil fuel heating system.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member (Health and Wellbeing) presented a report of the Director of Communities providing an update on the actions and progress that has been around the Climate Emergency and Air Quality work streams.

A query was raised with regard to paragraph 44 of the report which made reference to contributions towards replacing a new heating system. It was requested that officers be requested to provide clarification that the Council is expected to contribute an amount equivalent to the cost of replacing a like for like fossil fuel heating system, rather than actually replacing a fossil fuel heating system.

A query was raised in relation to progress on the actions in the Air Quality Action Plan.

There were some minor errors in the text identified on the Decarbonisation Plans document. It was agreed these would be corrected for the public document on the website.

The Deputy Leader also announced that the Council will be applying to join the UK:100 which is a network for UK local leaders to focus on climate, clean energy and clean air policy.

Decision made

1.     To note the progress that has been achieved towards the Council’s net-zero goal and completion of the air quality and Climate Emergency Action Plans;

2.     That officers be requested to provide detail on which of the actions in the Air Quality Action Plan have been completed and which are outstanding;

3.     That with regard to paragraph 44 of the report, officers be requested to provide clarification that the Council is expected to contribute an amount equivalent to the cost of replacing a like for like fossil fuel heating system, rather than actually replacing a fossil fuel heating system.

Reasons for decision

The report is for information only and provides members with an understanding of the work that has been achieved to date.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Not applicable.