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 stated that, in relation to agenda item 5 - Public Representation Stanley Park Golf course, she had declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest at the Executive meeting on 15 July 2019, had taken no part in the decision and had left the room when the matter had been discussed.  The reason was that her employer, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, had been one of the bidders considered for the concession on Stanley Park Golf Course.  She stated that if the debate with regard to the petition or the Executive Member reports turned to issues relating to Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the bid, then she would declare a similar interest and leave the meeting. 

Councillor Benson went to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in agenda item 6(c), Executive Member Report from the Deputy Leader (Children), as she had direct involvement through her employment with service users who would be housed at the new Argosy Avenue development. She added that, in line with the Procedural Standing Order 10, she would leave the meeting if there was a comment or question raised on the matter.

Councillor Clapham declared a personal interest in agenda item 6(c), Executive Member Report from the Deputy Leader (Children) in relation to the section on summer results for primary, secondary and A Level, as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Blackpool Sixth Form College. 

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 26 June 2019 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 26 June 2019, be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

There were no announcements on this occasion.

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

Ms Caroline Wolf, representing Unison Members, addressed the Council on the effects of changes to Children's Centre provision within Blackpool, following a recent decision of the Executive.

Councillor Benson, Cabinet Member for Schools, Education and Aspiration responded to Ms Wolf.

To consider a petition submitted as part of the Council’s Petition Scheme.

It was reported that, in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, the Petitions Officer had received a petition relating to Stanley Park Golf Course that qualified for report to and debate at Council. 

The petition organiser, Mrs Christine Parker, addressed Council members with regards to the petition statement and representations from residents.

Following the address by Mrs Parker, Council considered the petition statement.

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

‘That the Council takes no action with regard to the petition statement and endorses the decision of the Executive made in relation to Stanley Park Golf Course on 15 July 2019’.

Members went on to debate the motion and a range of views were expressed.

Prior to voting, five members of the Council requested that the vote on the motion should be recorded.  The voting was as follows:

For the motion:  Councillors Benson, Blackburn, Brookes, Burdess, Cain, Campbell, Collett, Critchley, Farrell, Hobson, Hugo, Hunter, Hutton, Jackson, Kirkland, Matthews, Mitchell, O’Hara, Smith, Taylor, L Williams – total 21.

Against the motion:  Councillors Baker, Mrs Callow, Callow, Clapham, D Coleman, G Coleman, Cox, Galley, Roberts, D Scott, Mrs Scott, R Scott, Stansfield, Walsh, T Williams, Wilshaw, Wing - total 17.

Abstentions:  Councillors Cross, Owen – total 2.

Motion carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Notes

1:  Prior to the vote being taken, the Council agreed an extension to the time limit of up to three minutes for the right of reply.

2:  The Mayor adjourned the meeting for a short period to allow members of the public to leave the room.

To consider the attached reports to Council from the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader of the Council (Place and Tourism, Economic Growth and Jobs) and the Deputy Leader of the Council (Children) and Statutory Lead Member for Children’s Service, the Combined Fire Authority report and the Chairman of the Scrutiny Leadershp Board.

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.

* or Combined Fire Authority representative or Chairman of the Audit Committee and Scrutiny Leadership Board.

The Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader of the Council (Tourism and Place) and the Deputy Leader (Children’s) 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.

Members also received a report from representatives of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority in relation to the work being undertaken by the authority and the Chairman of the Scrutiny Leadership Board also presented her report.

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

Notes:

(1)         Councillor Cox left the meeting following questions raised on the report of the Deputy Leader of the Council (Place and Tourism).  Councillor Stansfield left the meeting following the responses given on the report.

(2)        In response to a question from Councillor Mrs Callow as to whether the Council provided childcare facilities to Council employees, Councillor Cain, Deputy Leader (Children) explained that a number of care packages were available for employees and offered to provide further details.

To consider an extension to the period of six consecutive months as the period of non-attendance at Council related meetings for Councillor Mrs Henderson MBE.

Members considered the recommendations to extend the period of six consecutive months as the period of non-attendance at Council related meetings for Councillor Mrs Henderson MBE.

The report highlighted that due to her current illness, Councillor Mrs Henderson MBE had been unable to attend any meeting since the Annual Council meeting held on 22 May 2019.

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

‘To approve the extension of the six-month consecutive period for Councillor Mrs Henderson MBE with regard to her non-attendance at Council related meetings, to run up to and including the Annual Council meeting on 11 May 2020’.

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

To consider proposals to extend the responsibilities of the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee.

Members considered the proposal to extend the responsibilities of the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee to include the appointment of joint health scrutiny committees.

Members noted that discussions were currently taking place on an informal basis with the four upper tier local authorities (Blackpool Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council, Lancashire County Council, and Cumbria County Council) to establish a joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee across the South Cumbria and Lancashire Integrated Care System (ICS) region. 

The arrangements would allow scrutiny to take place of services provided and commissioned at an ICS level that affect the whole of the Lancashire area, more effectively and without duplication across the individual authorities.

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

‘To approve that the functions of the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee are extended to include the appointment of joint health scrutiny committees’.

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

To consider the following motion which has been submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 12.1.

Illuminations Switch On

Councillor T Williams advised the Chamber that he wished to propose an alteration to his motion that had been submitted and published on the agenda.  Council agreed to the alteration.

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

‘For the last few years there have been issues regarding the free VIP tickets to the Illuminations Switch On and subsequent party in relation to allocation and guest tickets etc.  Providing free VIP tickets to this event and other similar occasions to serving councillors is considered totally unnecessary.  Elected members are no different from the general public and they are paid an allowance for the duties they perform, so it is questionable as to why they are provided with free tickets for themselves and a partner guest.

The face value of illuminations VIP tickets is £69.50 for an adult and £35 for under 14s, therefore if every councillor accepted one of these tickets for themselves and a guest, the cost would be circa £5,800.

The Council is therefore asked to request the Deputy Leader (Place and Tourism) and the Director of Communication and Regeneration when compiling the guest list, to no longer offer free tickets to serving councillors for the Illuminations Switch On, but that as a recognition of their service, tickets should be allocated to councillors who make an appropriate donation, to be decided by the Deputy Leader (Place and Tourism) to the Mayor’s charity or the Illuminations Fund.  The Mayor and a guest in a civic role capacity to be the only consideration for complimentary tickets’.

Members went on to debate the motion.

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