Issue - meetings

To consider the content of the Council’s Forward Plan, January 2020 – April 2020, within the remit of the Committee.

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

The Committee considered the contents of the Council’s Forward Plan January 2020 to April 2020, relating to the portfolios of Cabinet Members whose responsibilities fell within its remit.

To consider the content of the Council’s Forward Plan, October 2019 – February 2020, within the remit of the Committee.

The Committee considered the contents of the Council’s Forward Plan October 2019 to February 2020, relating to the portfolios of Cabinet Members whose responsibilities fell within its remit.

Members discussed the Lancashire and Blackpool Flood Risk Management Strategy in relation to the heavy rainfall that had occurred in September 2019. It was reported that there had been instance of surface water flooding on highways and some residents’ gardens in the north of Blackpool. While thanking the Council and its officers for the work undertaken during this period to clear obstacles to drainage, Members asked if more could have been done by United Utilities to ensure it could not happen again. Councillor Fred Jackson, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Climate Change, responded that the Council had secured £110,000 in funding to investigate flood risks in the north of Blackpool and the neighbouring areas of Fylde and Wyre.

The Committee was also informed that the Section 19 Flood Report into the November 2017 flooding at Anchorholme had recently been published, which had identified the unexpected nature of the heavy rainfall as the cause of the flooding. Councillor Jackson added that the Council had to be aware that the effects of climate change made unexpected weather events more likely and that work was being undertaken build resilience for the future.

The Sale of Land in North Blackpool was also discussed. Although the details of the sale could not be disclosed at the meeting due to commercial sensitivity, Councillor Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Job Creation, informed Members that once the sale had been completed further detail could be provided to the Committee.

To consider the content of the Council’s Forward Plan, June 2019 – September 2019, within the remit of the Committee.

The Committee considered the contents of the Council’s Forward Plan June 2019 to September 2019, relating to the portfolios of Cabinet Members whose responsibilities fell within its remit.

Member discussed the Business Loans Fund and asked if applications continued to be received for funding from it. Mr Thompson, Director of Resources, replied that applications continued to be received but that approval was a lengthy process as each had to be thoroughly assessed. The Committee also asked when information on the loans over £500,000 would be made available. Mr Cavill, Director of Communication and Regeneration, responded that discussions had taken place over what information could be released and that it had been published previously as part of updated decision notices on the Council website. Members expressed the view that this method of releasing the information was sometimes unclear and asked that the setting up of a dedicated page on the Council’s website be considered for releasing the information in future.

The Committee also noted the importance of the Lancashire and Blackpool Flood Risk Management Strategy in light of a number of new housing developments in the town.