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 either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

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.

Councillor Benson declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in agenda item 5c, ‘Executive Member Report from the Cabinet Secretary’ as her employment was related to the paragraph regarding the Phoenix Centre and service users with a disability.  She indicated that if there was a question or discussion on the issue, then she would leave the room in accordance with the Procedure Rules.

Councillor Hobson declared a personal interest in agenda item 5, ‘Executive Member Report from the Leader of the Council’ as the Chairman of Blackpool Housing Company Ltd.  Councillors Hunter, Robertson and Singleton also declared personal interests in the item as non-executive directors of Blackpool Housing Company Ltd.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 22 November 2017 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 22 November 2017, be signed by the Mayor as a correct record, subject to Note 1 of Minute 4 being amended to reflect that the response to Councillor Mrs Scott should refer to the number of complaints that had been received from private homes that had had grants.

There were no announcements on this occasion.

Councillors will be asked to observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to Freeman of the Borough, Mr Jimmy Armfield CBE who sadly died on 22 January 2018.

Group Leaders and/ or representatives will be invited to pay tribute to Mr Armfield CBE and to pass a resolution of condolence.

A formal resolution of condolence will be forwarded under separate cover, prior to the meeting.

Members observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect, following the sad loss of Freeman of the Borough Mr Jimmy Armfield CBE on 22 January 2018.  The Council was invited to pay tribute to his life and work and consider a resolution of condolence.  

Motion:  Councillor Jackson proposed (and Councillor Owen seconded):

‘This Council and the Townspeople of Blackpool were deeply saddened to learn of the death on 22 January 2018 of Freeman of the Borough Mr Jimmy Armfield CBE.

Jimmy was born in Denton, Manchester on 21 September 1935 and was educated at Revoe Primary School and the former Arnold School in Blackpool.

He became a professional footballer in 1954 for Blackpool Football Club, whilst also

undertaking his National Service duties with the Kings Own Royal Regiment. During his 17-year career with Blackpool, he was captain for 13 of those years and made a total of 629 appearances for the club.  He also represented his country on 43 occasions between 1959 and 1966 and was a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, but did not play in the final.

After hanging up his football boots in 1971, he turned his talents to football management, gaining promotion to the old Second Division with Bolton Wanderers in 1973 and two years later, he succeeded Brian Clough at Leeds and guided them to a European Cup final, where they were beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich.

He then became a journalist, taking the necessary qualifications and took up sports commentary providing the BBC with expert analysis and insight for more than 30 years.  He also worked for the Football Association and advised on the appointment of future England managers.  In 2008 was awarded the Outstanding Contribution honour at the Football League Awards ceremony in London, the PFA Merit award and he was also admitted to the Football Hall of Fame at the National Football Museum in Preston.

Throughout his life Jimmy was honoured for services to the community firstly receiving an OBE in 2000, he was then granted the highest honour the Council can bestow in granting him the Freedom of the Borough of Blackpool on 9 April 2003.

In 2004, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire and in 2005/ 2006 he served as High Sheriff of Lancashire.  In the New Year’s Honours List 2009, he was awarded the CBE for his services to the Lancashire Community.  A nine foot statue was also unveiled in 2009 and sits proudly on the way into Blackpool, facing Seasiders Way, outside the Bloomfield Road stadium.

Jimmy had many other interests including being the organist/ choirmaster at St Peter’s Church, Blackpool, Vice-President of the Lancashire Outward Bound Trust and served as a Non-Executive Director with the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services Trust and a Non-Executive Director with the Blackpool Hospitals Trust.  The Armfield Academy will open in September on the former Arnold School site, where Jimmy was a pupil and in later years a Governor.

Our deepest sympathy goes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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.

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 25 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 25 Minutes for a response from the Senior Executive Member (or relevant Cabinet Member) at the end of the questions/ comments for each report.

The Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader of the Council and the 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. 

Questions, comments and debate were invited from all councillors on each of the report areas.

Notes:

(1)          Councillor Campbell agreed to provide a written response to:

·           Councillor Mrs Callow on whether the car parks at West Street, Talbot Road and Blackpool Victoria Hospital were fitted with sprinkler systems and if not, whether there were plans to fit them retrospectively

·           Councillor Galley on any work the Council was undertaking with the owners of the derelict Ambassador Hotel, Promenade to make the building safe following the recent fire and whether the building would be renovated or sold to another operator

·           Councillor Mrs Scott who clarified that her question raised at the last meeting was for details of the number of complaints received from any resident with regard to failed cavity wall insulation or an inadequate installation, as a number of people had had cavity wall insulation installed following receipt of a leaflet bearing the Council’s logo and sponsorship.

To consider the recommendation of the Executive from its meeting on 11 December 2017 relating to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Members considered the recommendations from the Executive meeting on 11 December 2017 in relation to the approval of a local Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

The Leader of the Council explained that the proposals were to continue with the current Scheme but with minor amendments that would align the scheme with Housing Benefit amendments, by disregarding Bereavement Support payments and certain Charitable Fund payments and with a reduction from 27.11% to 13.56% applied for low income households.

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

‘1.      To agree that the Council continues to operate a Discretionary Discount Policy to be awarded in cases of exceptional hardship.

2.             To agree that the reduction applied to working age claimants remains the same as the 2017/ 2018 Scheme agreed by Council on 25  January 2017 (27.11%) and that the main elements and method of calculating awards will be the same with the exception of:

·           Minor amendments to continue to align the Scheme to Housing Benefit.

·           The provision of additional support for low income groups of claimants (in receipt of Income Support, or Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance, or Income-Related Employment Support Allowance) by amending the percentage reduction applied to their award from 27.11% to 13.56%. 

3.             To agree the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2018/2019 as submitted.’

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

To determine who should be invited to offer themselves for election as Mayor at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 14 May 2018 and agree that the meeting commence at 2.00pm, as it has in previous years.

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

’That Councillor Gary Coleman be invited to offer himself for the election of Mayor at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 14 May 2018 and agree that the meeting commences at 2.00pm, as it has in previous years.’

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