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.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 20 January 2016 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 25 February 2016 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

The Mayor welcomed Councillor Jim Hobson to his first meeting of the Council, following his recent election at the Bloomfield by-election.

The Mayor also announced that the Mayor Elect, Councillor Kath Rowson, had chosen Councillor Gary Coleman as the Deputy Mayor Elect for the forthcoming civic year.

To receive a representation from Ms Gillespie, a spokesperson for the South Beach Beacons, in accordance with Procedure Rule 9 and a response from Councillor Blackburn, Leader of the Council.

Ms Julie Gillespie, spokesperson for the South Beach Beacons, addressed the Council on the projects being undertaken to improve the South Beach area of Waterloo Road, Bond Street and the surrounding areas and support that could be offered by the Council.  The Leader of the Council, Councillor Blackburn, responded on behalf of the Council.

This Council will be the last meeting prior to the departure of the Council’s Deputy Chief Executive, Mrs Carmel McKeogh.

Councillors will have the opportunity to show their appreciation to Mrs McKeogh for her service to the Authority.

The Council expressed its appreciation to the Deputy Chief Executive, Mrs Carmel McKeogh, for her dedicated service to the authority as she was due to leave the authority at the end of the month.  Councillors Blackburn, T Williams and the Mayor paid tribute to Mrs McKeogh’s service and the Council wished her well for the future.

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), the Combined Fire Authority report and the Chairman of the Audit Committee 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 or Chairman of the Audit Committee.

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. 

Councillor T Williams presented a report on behalf of the representatives of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, detailing the work of the authority from the meetings held in September and December 2015 and February 2016.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee also presented his report to the Council which detailed work of the committee during the last municipal year and future work programme.

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

Notes:

(1)          Councillor Blackburn agreed to provide Councillor Mrs Callow with a copy of the job description for the Political Assistant role.

To consider the recommendation of the Executive from its meeting on 7 March 2016 relating to the approval of the Community Safety Plan 2016/ 2019.

The Council considered the recommendation of the Executive from its meeting on 7 March 2016 relating to the approval of the Community Safety Plan 2016/2019.  The document outlined how the Blackpool Community Safety Partnership would address the key priorities identified in the 2015 Strategic Assessment namely anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, violence against the person, sexual offences and rape and child sexual exploitation.

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

‘To approve the Community Safety Plan 2016/ 2019, as submitted.’

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

To consider the recommendation of the Executive from its meeting on 7 March 2016 relating to the approval of the Policy Framework Review.

Members considered the report on the proposed review of the policy framework that aimed to ensure that the plans and strategies that formed part of the Council Policy Framework and the Executive Policy Framework, were reflective of the Council’s new priorities and were reviewed at the appropriate time including any changes initiated through legislation or at an organisational level.

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

‘1.      To approve the Council and Executive Policy Framework in light of the new Council Plan priorities.

2.       To agree that future iterations of the strategies set out at Appendix 4(c) of the report to the Executive meeting on 7 March 2016, are approved by the Executive.’

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

The Council is asked to consider the appointment of three statutory Independent Persons pursuant to Section 28 (7) of the Localism Act 2011.

Members were aware that under the Localism Act 2011, all local authorities were required to appoint at least one Independent Person as part of the process for dealing with complaints of member misconduct.  The Council noted that three persons had originally been appointed for a three year term on a shared basis with Fylde Borough Council and whose term of office was coming to an end.  The report outlined that Mr R A Ellwood who had served as an Independent Person had indicated that he did not wish to seek re-appointment as part of the process. 

Members were informed that a recruitment exercise had recently been undertaken and a number of people had been interviewed by a Panel involving the Monitoring Officers of both Councils along with the Chairman of Blackpool’s Standards Committee and Chairman of the Audit and Standards Committee at Fylde Borough Council. 

The Panel had recommended three persons to be appointed for the three year period, namely Mr A Mozley and Mr B Horrocks (both of whom had served previously as Independent Persons) and Mrs H Broughton, a local business partner. 

The report also contained a proposal for the term of office to end on 30 September 2019, as that was an election year and to allow advertising of the positions during the summer months.

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

‘1.      To agree to appoint Mr A Mozley, Mr B Horrocks and Mrs H Broughton as statutory Independent Persons pursuant to Section 28 (7) of the Localism Act 2011, for a three year period starting from 1 May 2016 until 30 September 2019.

2.             To confirm the continuation of the sharing arrangement with Fylde Borough Council, for the use of the Independent Persons.

3.             To request the Chairman of the Standards Committee and the Monitoring Officer to write a joint letter on behalf of the Council to Mr Ellwood, to thank him for his service as an Independent Person over the previous three years and to wish him well for the future.’

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

The purpose of this report is to update members on the progress on the Lancashire Combined Authority proposals, outline the response to the public consultation exercise and seek agreement for the Council to become a constituent member of a Combined Authority for Lancashire. 

Members were aware, from consideration of the item at the Council meeting on 25 November 2015, that a combined authority had been proposed as the preferred vehicle for closer collaborative working across Lancashire on economic related matters.  The report from the Chief Executive outlined how a combined authority would operate in that it would provide a legally constituted body to take strategic decisions on transport, economic development and regeneration, strengthen the relationship with the Local Enterprise Partnership and between local authorities in the county, as well as providing a voice for Lancashire to shape the ‘Northern Powerhouse’. 

The Council noted that a consultation exercise had been held from 11 January to 19 February 2016 and that of the 2,000 responses received, 70% agreed with the proposal to establish a combined authority for Lancashire.  Members also noted that the consultation had shown that the main concern of those who had disagreed, was in relation to the focus of resources and any adverse impact upon local services.

Members went on to consider the initial governance arrangements in relation to membership, decision making, scrutiny and finance.  Members also noted that while there was a close link between combined authorities and devolution deals with the Government, both were separate issues and therefore subject to negotiation.

The Council noted that other councils in Lancashire in March and April would be considering similar reports proposing that authorities become constituent members of a combined authority.  It was reported that subject to those Council decisions, a proposal to form a Lancashire Combined Authority would then be submitted to Government for consideration and negotiation.   The report also recommended for a shadow combined authority to operate from July 2016, using the guiding principles set out in the Scheme of Governance.

Members discussed the principles of a combined authority and a range of views were expressed.

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

‘1.      To note the contents of the report.

2.       To note the appended response to the public consultation on the Combined Authority proposals.

3.       To agree to become a constituent member of a Lancashire Combined Authority and submit proposals to do so to the Secretary of State.

4.       That in the interim period, the Council agrees to form a shadow Lancashire Combined Authority.

5.             That any future proposals for a devolution deal with the Government be brought back to Council for agreement.’

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

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

Against the original motion:  Councillors Brown, Mrs Callow, Clapham, Galley, Roberts, Robertson, Stansfield, T Williams - total 8.

Abstentions:  Councillors Callow, Scott - total 2.

Motion carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

To consider the Council’s Proposed Pay Policy Statement.

The Council considered the recommendation from the Chief Officers Employment Committee on the proposed Pay Policy Statement which was required to be approved for the 2016/17 financial year.  The Statement set out policy on Chief Officer Remuneration, remuneration of its lowest paid employees including the definition used for this group as well as the relationship between the chief officer remuneration and that of other staff.

Members noted that the policy was likely to be reviewed during the 2016/17 year as a result of a number of changes proposed by the Government to the terms and conditions of public sector workers and that appropriate changes would be made and resubmitted to Council, when further guidance was issued.

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

‘To approve the Pay Policy Statement, as recommended by the Chief Officers Employment Committee.’

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

To consider amendments to the Street Collection Regulations for Blackpool.

Members were reminded that under legislation, an authority was permitted to make regulations for places where and conditions under which persons could be permitted to collect money for charitable or other purposes.  It was reported that the Council’s current street regulations had been approved in 1996 and therefore they required review to ensure that they were fit for purpose.

The main changes being proposed related to collections only taking place on footpaths, ensuring that collectors did not approach people to request donations and enabling the authority to publish details of the amounts collected online.

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

1.             To agree to the amended regulations as submitted and to authorise the Chief Executive to forward these draft regulations to the Secretary of State for formal approval, as recommended by the Licensing Committee.

2.             Subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, to undertake the necessary advertising as required under Police, Factories, etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916, as recommended by the Licensing Committee.

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