Council observed a minutes silence for Councillor Graham Walton who had recently passed away. Councillor Walton had served as a Councillor for South Ribble for 12 years and was appointed Mayor in 2014/15. Group Leaders, Councillors Margaret Smith, Paul Foster and David Howarth spoke compassionately about their friend and colleague, commenting that Councillor Walton’s passing was a great loss to his constituents, his wife Karen, and to South Ribble Council.

Apologies were received from Councillors Colin Coulton, Councillor Peter Mullineaux and David Suthers

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That subject to the following amendment to minutes no: 115

Councillor Caroline Moon gave the following response regarding the life expectancy of the bins.

While some bins have lasted up to twenty years, the warranty given by the suppliers is 11 years. In respect of the unit cost of a bin to the council, it was slightly over the £30 being charged.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 27 February 2019 be approved.

Members are requested to notify Democratic Services, by 4.00pm on the day of the meeting, of any items on the agenda in which they have an interest and the nature of the interest. They should do so by email to democraticservices@southribble.gov.uk.

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 the item.

Where 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 a Member’s judgment of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may stay in the meeting to make representations, answer questions or give evidence relating to the item but then must withdraw from the meeting for the remainder of that item. Where such an interest is in an item to be discussed in exempt session, members are reminded that they must withdraw from the meeting for the whole of that item.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive the report of the Returning Officer (tabled at the meeting).

The Mayor congratulated all those Councillors who had been elected or re-elected on 2 May 2019 and in particular welcomed the 14 new councillors.

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

The Farington West poll had been countermanded following the passing of Councillor Graham Walton, with an Election to be held on 20 June 2019. Councillor Karen Walton still continues to be a councillor for the Farington West ward of the Borough.

RESOLVED (Unanimously): That the report be noted.

To formally elect the Mayor of the Borough for 2019/20.

The motion will be proposed, seconded and voted upon.

It was moved by Councillor David Howarth, seconded by Ange Turner and

RESOLVED (Yes 25, Abstain 17):

That Councillor Harold Hancock be elected as Mayor of South Ribble for the 2019/20 municipal year. Councillor Hancock introduced his Mayoress, Mrs Marion Hancock.

To formally elect the Deputy Mayor of the Borough for 2019/20.

The motion will be proposed, seconded and voted upon.

It was moved by Councillor Paul Foster, seconded by Councillor Derek Forrest and

RESOLVED (Yes 26, Abstain 15, No 1):

That Councillor Jane Bell be elected as Deputy Mayor of South Ribble for the 2019/20 municipal year.

There was a brief adjournment to allow the Retiring Mayor and Mayoress and Retiring Deputy Mayor; the newly elected Mayor and Mayoress; and the newly elected Deputy Mayor to exchange robes and badges of office.

Councillor Harold Hancock in the Chair.

On resuming the meeting, Councillor Harold Hancock signed the declaration of acceptance of office of Mayor and thanked Councillors for his appointment.

Councillor Jane Bell signed the declaration of acceptance of office of Deputy Mayor, and thanked Councillors for her appointment.

The Retiring Mayor will receive tributes following his year in office.

The Mayor referred to the Retiring Mayor, Councillor John Rainsburys year of office, along with his Mayoress, Mrs Shirley Rainsbury, and how they had served as fist class ambassadors for South Ribble.

Political group Leaders and other councillors also paid tribute to the Retiring Mayor and Mayoress for a very successful year and the positive work undertaken in the support of his charities.

Councillor John Rainsbury responded, thanking Councillors for their kind words and support over the year. Along with his Mayoress, they had attended many historic and memorable events and had been amazed and overwhelmed by the many volunteers that give their time to various events and organisations across the borough.

He thanked his Mayoress, the Civic Attendant and the Mayor’s Secretary for all their support and assistance. Councillor Rainsbury also thanked his Deputy Mayor, Councillor Carol Chisholm who along with her son, had supported himf and the Mayoress over the year.

To appoint the Leader of the Council for a four year term until the Annual Council meeting of the Municipal Year 2023/24

It was moved by Councillor Mick Titherington, seconded by Councillor Matthew Trafford and

RESOLVED (Yes 27, Abstain 1, No 16):

That Councillor Paul Foster be appointed as Leader of the Council for a four year term until May 2023.

Councillor Paul Foster thanked the Council for appointing him as Leader of the Council, gave thanks to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor David Howarth for his group’s support and said that he was looking forward to working together over the coming years to make good on all their promises.

To note the appointment of the Deputy Leader and Members of Cabinet appointed by the Leader of the Council (tabled at the meeting).

The Council considered a report that was circulated at the meeting on behalf of the new Leader that set out the following details of the membership of the Cabinet along with their portfolio responsibilities for 2019/20.

The report also provided details of the appointment of the following Member Champions:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster thanked Councillor Alan Ogilvie for all his work as Member Champion for the Armed Forces over the past four years.

RESOLVED (Unanimously): That the report be noted.

To approve the appointment of Members of the Council to Committee’s Working Groups, etc and to note shadow appointments for 2019/20 (tabled at the meeting)

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 was proposing a reduction in the number of seats allocated to some Committees. It was his view that some of the Committees were too big in size and as a council, going forwards there is a need to support a greater quality of decision making.

It was also the Leader’s intention to review the current role of My Neighbourhoods and the reduction in committee places would afford Members more time to get involved with the new neighbourhood arrangements.

The two current Licensing Committees will also be merged into one, to be rename the Licensing and Public Safety Committee, with the memberships for all Sub-Committee Panels still continuing to be drawn from the main Committee.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Margaret Smith commented that she felt quite strongly that the numbers should not have been reduced, stating that it was important for new councillors to be given the opportunity to experience all aspects of committee decision making.

It was moved by Councillor Paul Foster, seconded by Councillor Mick Titherington and

RESOLVED (Yes 27, Abstain 1, No 17)

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 set out in the appendix to the report be appointed for the period of twelve months until the First Business Meeting of the Council in May 2020.

To approve the appointment of the My Neighbourhood Areas Chairs and Vice Chairs for 2019/20 (tabled at the meeting).

Council considered a report of the Interim Monitoring Officer that allocated the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the council’s My Neighbourhood Areas and proposed changes to the boundaries of the respective Neighbourhood areas.

The proposed new arrangements are as follows:

Western Parishes

Hoole, Longton and Hutton West and Hutton East

Penwortham

Broad Oak, Charnock, Howick and Priory and Middleforth

Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall and Walton-le-Dale

Bamber Bridge East, Bamber Bridge West, Lostock Hall, Walton-le-Dale East and Walton-le-Dale West

Leyland

Broadfield, Bucksahw and Worden, Earnshaw Bridge, Leyland Central, Moss Side, Seven Stars, St Ambrose, Farington East and Farington West

Eastern Parishes

Coupe Green and Gregson Lane, Salmesbury and Walton

As a consequence of these new arrangements, minor changes would be required to the council’s Constitution. It was also proposed that a more fundamental review of the way the My Neighbourhoods forums operate would need to be carried out and that a further detailed report would be brought back to Council for consideration.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Margaret Smith thought that any reorganisation of My Neighbourhoods should first go through the Governance Committee for consideration. She stated that this had been done in previous years for any changes to the Constitution. She also stated that the recent Peer Review of the Council had recommended this way of working as good practice.

Members commented that a review of My Neighbourhoods was welcomed as they are not working in their current format, but some Members considered that these changes were being rushed and asked if the current arrangements could stay as they were pending a more formal review.

Councillors representing the Farington East and West wards of the borough also made a plea not to be included in the Leyland area for fear of their residents not actively engaging in the future as they do not recognise themselves as being part of Leyland.

Some members also commented that they felt that the membership of the Neighbourhood Areas were now unbalanced with the lowest being only four members, as opposed to the highest having 18 members.

The Leader responded by saying that the size of the membership was representative of the areas they served and that it was always the intention to hold a wider review of the neighbourhood arrangements that will be reported to a future meeting of Council.

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

RESOLVED (Yes 27, No 18):

That

1.    The boundaries and names of the following My Neighbourhood areas:

·         Western Parishes

·         Penwortham

·         Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall and Walton-le-Dale

·         Leyland; and

·         Eastern Parishes be approved.

2.    The following appointments for the 12 month period until the First Business Meeting of the Council in May 2020 be approved:

To appoint Members of the Council to represent the Authority on outside bodies in 2019/20 (tabled at the meeting)

The Council considered a report of the Assistant Director of Scrutiny and Democratic Services relating to the appointment of representatives on Outside Bodies for the 2019/20 municipal year.

Councillor Caroline Moon requested that the representation for Balshaw’s Church of England High School Educational Foundation be allocated to the ward councillors for Buckshaw and Worden. The Leader of the Council responded to say that the Councillor that had been appointed for this year was an ex school teacher and felt that this was a more appropriate appointment.

It was moved by Councillor Paul Foster, seconded by Councillor Mick Titherington and

RESOLVED (Yes 27, Abstain 18):

That the representation on Outside Bodies as set out below be approved:

To note the programme of Council Meetings for 2019/20:

·           Wednesday 31 July 2019

·           Wednesday 25 September 2019

·           Wednesday 27 November 2019

·           Wednesday 29 January 2020

·           Wednesday 26 February 2020

·           Wednesday 15 April 2020

·           Wednesday 13 May 2020

The Leader of the Council announced that it was necessary to bring the next meeting of full Council forward by one week as there would be a decision required of Members by 24 July 2019.

In response to Member’s questions it was clarified that the Planning Committee scheduled to take place on 24 July would now take place on 17 July to necessitate this change.

It was moved by Councillor Paul Foster, seconded by Councillor Bill Evans and

RESOLVED (Yes 27, No 18)

That it be noted that the Council Meetings scheduled to be held during 2019/20 are as follows:

·         Wednesday 24 July 2019

·         Wednesday 25 September 2019

·         Wednesday 27 November 2019

·         Wednesday 29 January 2020

·         Wednesday 26 February 2020

·         Wednesday 15 April 2020

·         Wednesday 13 May 2020

The Mayor thanked everyone for their attendance and invited his guests and all Councillors to join himself and the Mayoress for a small Civic Reception in the Paddock Room.