Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Mayor advised that following the Council decision at the last meeting, the special meeting to award the Duke of Lancaster Regiment Freedom of Entry status, would be held in the lead up to Armed Forces week in June 2017, in order to allow the 4^th Battalion to attend.

On permission of the Mayor, Councillor Owen thanked the Council for its tribute to his late wife at the last meeting as well as support and attendance at her funeral.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 29 June 2016 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 29 June 2016, be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Councillors will be asked to observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to Councillor Eddie Collett who sadly died on 25 July 2016.

Group Leaders and/ or representatives will be invited to pay tribute to Councillor Collett and to pass a resolution of condolence.

Members observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect, following the sad loss of Councillor Eddie Collett on 25 July 2016.  The Council was invited to pay tribute to his life and work and consider a resolution of condolence.  

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Claphamseconded):

‘This Council and the Townspeople of Blackpool were deeply saddened to learn of the death on 25 July 2016 of Councillor Eddie Collett, former Mayor of the Borough in 2013/2014 and member for Tyldesley Ward.

Eddie was first elected to Blackpool Borough Council in 1991, after a career in maintenance management and was a tutor at Blackpool and the Fylde College.  During his time at the Council Eddie had held the positons of Deputy Leader of the Council and his other Portfolios included Education, Tourism, Economic Regeneration and Crime and Community Safety.  He most recently served as the Cabinet Member for School Improvement and Children’s Safeguarding and was also Chairman of the Governing Body of Waterloo Primary Academy, as well as a past Chairman of “Marketing Blackpool”.

As Mayor and Mayoress of Blackpool, Eddie and Heather attended many events throughout a busy mayoral year.  Our deepest sympathy goes out to Heather, David and Sian in their great loss.’

The Mayor and Councillor I Taylor also paid tribute to Councillor Collett. 

Motion carried: The motion on being submitted to the Council was carried unanimously.

To receive representations from members of the public in accordance with Procedure Rule 9.

Mr Pauline Duncan, spokesperson for Women Against State Pension Inequality(WASPI) addressed the Council in relation to the State Pension Age (SPA) for women born on or after 6th April 1951.  The Leader of the Council, Councillor Blackburn, responded on behalf of the Council.

To consider the attached reports to Council from the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader of the Council (Tourism, Economic Growth and Jobs) and the Cabinet Secretary (Resilient Communities) and the Combined Fire Authority report.

Members are reminded that:

·         Each Senior Executive Member * has up to three minutes to present their report, after which there will be a period of no longer than 15 minutes per report for questions/comments (a green card will give a one minute warning, red for the end of the debate).

·         There will be three minutes per question/ comment from any Councillor on anything within the portfolio and no limit to the number of times a Councillor can ask a question.

·         There will be a period of up to ten minutes for a response from the Senior Executive Member * (or relevant Cabinet Member) at the end of the questions/ comments for each report.

* or Combined Fire Authority representative.

The Leader of the Council and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Secretary presented reports to the Council on work undertaken in their own portfolio area and those portfolios under their responsibility.  The reports covered corporate, strategic and policy issues, together with work being undertaken in transforming services and with partners.  Council representatives of the Fire Authority also presented a report on the work of the authority from the meetings held in April and June 2016. Questions, comments and debate were invited from all councillors on each of the report areas.

To consider the final draft of the Healthwatch and Wellbeing Strategy, as recommended by the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Executive.

The Council received the report from the Executive in relation to the draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy that had been recommended for approval.  Members noted that Strategy had been produced based on the vision and the four main priorities that had been agreed by the Board and reaffirmed in December 2015 which were:  housing; tackling substance misuse; building community resilience and reducing social isolation; and early intervention.

Motion:  Councillor Cain proposed (and Councillor Cross seconded):

‘To approve the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

To consider the request from the City of Sanya in China to enter into a ‘sister city’ agreement and in doing so seek to formalise and strengthen the current arrangements. Sister City (twinning arrangements as usually referred to in the UK) can include both formal and informal agreements between cities/ towns to work more closely in cultural, educational and economic areas.

The Council was informed of the request from the City of Sanya, in the south of Hainan in China, to enter into a ‘sister city’ agreement over a five year period in order to formalise and strengthen the current cultural, educational and economic areas between the city and Blackpool. 

Members noted that discussions had already taken place with government officials in Sanya, regarding developing tertiary education in the catering and hospitality field, as well as investment discussions and sharing of learning and opportunities.

The Council was also aware of Blackpool’s existing business links with a Chinese company in relation to the investment in the Illuminasia attraction in the Winter Gardens and noted that the Blackpool Dance Festival in Shanghai would also bring in significant income over the next five years.  

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘1.      To agree that the proposed arrangement with the Chinese City of Sanya is likely to promote or improve the economic well-being of Blackpool and itsinhabitants.

2.       To confirm the arrangement to enter into the proposed ‘sister city’ agreement and twinning arrangement with Sanya.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

In November 2015, Council appointed two additional members of the Independent Remuneration Panel to fill vacancies.  This was following a recruitment process and after consultation with the two Group Leaders.  One of those appointed has now stood down due to work related relocation.  Council is asked to consider appointing a replacement member.

Members were reminded that in November 2015, the Council had appointed two additional members of the Independent Remuneration Panel following a recruitment process and after consultation with the two Group Leaders.  The Director of Governance and Partnerships reported that one of the newly appointed members had stood down due to work related relocation and therefore requested that Council considered the appointment of the third interviewee, Mr G Molyneux, who had met all the criteria to be appointed.

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor T Williams seconded):

‘To agree to appoint Mr G Molyneux as an Independent Remuneration Panel member.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

To consider the motions which have been submitted as set out at Item 9 in

accordance with Procedure Rule 12.1.

Motion:   Having submitted notice, Councillor T Williams proposed (and Councillor Clapham seconded):

‘Blackpool Council recognises the important contribution that Mr Brian London has made in regard to the sport of boxing in the UK and by association representing his long term adopted home town of Blackpool.

Brian was British and Commonwealth champion, fought Muhammad Ali for the world championship and fought many great fighters all over the world including at large venues in the USA.

When he retired he became a successful businessman employing hundreds of local residents in his world famous night club the 007. Many celebrities were regular faces at the club and it attracted visitors from across the UK.

As well as being a sporting celebrity and successful businessman Brian has been a very active supporter of local charities including the Variety Club and many local sport related associations.

He has lived close to Stanley Park for more than 40 years and used the perimeter of the park every day up until recently to train and keep fit.

The Council is therefore requested to rename Stanley Park Sports Centre to become The Brian London Stanley Park Sports Centre in recognition of Brian's successful historic contribution to the sport of boxing and as a positive ambassador for Blackpool.’

Members then went on to debate the motion.

Motion lost:  The motion was submitted to the Council and lost.

Motion:   Having submitted notice, Councillor O’Hara proposed (and Councillor Mitchell seconded):

‘The people of Blackpool are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant society. Hate crimes are utterly abhorrent regardless of whether they target a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person’s:

·         disability

·         race or ethnicity

·         religion or belief

·         sexual orientation

·         transgender identity.

Blackpool Council condemns this unequivocally and will not allow hate to become acceptable and will work with other organisations, as appropriate, to ensure local bodies and programmes have resources needed to fight hate crime.  It seeks to reassure all people living in Blackpool that they are valued members of the community.

As a further commitment to this stance, the Council hereby resolves to support the  #saynotohate campaign that the Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner's office is coordinating  during hate crime awareness week 8 to 15 October.’

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

Motion:   Having submitted notice, Councillor Mrs Wright proposed (and Councillor L Williams seconded):

‘The Council calls upon the Government to make fair transitional state pension arrangements for all women born on or after 6th April 1951 who have unfairly borne the burden of the increase to the State Pension Age (SPA) with lack of appropriate notification.  This affects many women in Blackpool and the Chief Executive is asked to write to the Secretary of State to outline the Council's position.’

Amendment:  Councillor T Williams then proposed (and Councillor Galley seconded) the following amendment:

‘This Council recognises that both women and men are living longer than the ages at which the State Pension was introduced in 1940. At that time pension age for women was paid to those reaching 60 years of age.

Under this arrangement women were spending 40% of their adult lives in receipt of SP as opposed to 31% for men.

This imbalance was also recognised by the Labour Government in 2007 when they announced that both men and women would see their retirement age go up to 66 between 2004 and 2006.

To ensure the sustainability of the UK pension scheme it is recognised by all parties that equalisation is essential to ensure a fair and generous provision.

This Council calls upon the Government to consider their current equalisation scheme against all other alternative proposals and suggestions that have been submitted when making their final arrangements.  This will ensure that the very best possible sustainable pension scheme is delivered.  The Chief Executive is asked to write to Secretary of State to outline the Council’s position.’

Debate then took place on the amendment.

Amendment lost:  The amendment was submitted to the Council and lost.

Debate then took place on the original motion and prior to voting, five members of the Council requested that the vote on the original motion be recorded.  The voting was as follows:

Recorded vote on the original motion:

For the original motion:  Councillors Benson, Blackburn,  Cain, Campbell, D Coleman, G Coleman, I Coleman, Critchley, Cross, Elmes, Hobson, Humphreys, Hunter, Hutton, Jackson, Kirkland, Matthews, Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Mrs Rowson, Ryan, Singleton, Smith, I Taylor, L Taylor, L Williams, Mrs Wright - total 28.

Against the original motion:  None - total 0.

Abstentions:  Councillors Brown, Mrs Callow, Callow, Clapham, Cox, Galley, Mrs Henderson, Maycock, Roberts, Robertson, T Williams - total 11.

Motion carried:  The original motion was therefore carried.