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 15 May 2017 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 15 May 2017, be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

The Mayor read the letters from the Mayor of Bottrop, Bernd Tischler, who had contacted him to express his shock and condolences with regard to the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London.  The Mayor also read the letter from BürgermeisterinMonike Budke thanking the Council for its hospitality at the recent town twinning visit.

To consider proposed changes in relation to time limits on speeches relating to Executive, Audit Committee and Combined Fire Authority reports to Council.

NOTE:  The Council’s Constitution sets out an order for item to be considered on a Council agenda.  This item would therefore normally be scheduled later in the agenda.  However, due to the recommendations potentially affecting the next agenda item, Council is asked to consider this report first.

Members considered proposed changes in relation to time limits on speeches for Executive, Audit Committee and Combined Fire Authority reports to Council.  In doing so they noted that there had been a number of occasions at recent Council meetings, where additional time had been agreed for questions and comments from members as well as time for respondents. 

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

‘1.      To agree that Procedural Standing Order 10.3 for Council meetings is amended to allow for a period of not more than 25 minutes for questions and comments on the report of each Senior Executive Member, a nominated Fire Authority representative and the Chairman of Audit Committee and that respondents are given a period of not more than 25 minutes to answer.

2.       That the Director of Governance and Partnerships be authorised to amend the Constitution accordingly.’

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

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 Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader 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)          In response to an issue raised by Councillor Collett regarding the recent report of 700,000 medical documents that had been undelivered between GPs and hospitals in 2016, the Leader agreed to write to the Chief Executives of the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Commissioning Group to ascertain if there were any human and financial costs to Blackpool residents. 

(2)          The Deputy Leader agreed to look into the issue and then respond to the concerns expressed by Councillor D Scott that the promenade in North Shore had been neglected with weeds covering some of the pedestrianised area and that patches of grassed areas had been killed during weed treatment.

(3)          Councillor Campbell also agreed to provide a written update to:

·         Councillor Galley on the progress of the Public Space Protection Order for parks

·         Councillor T Williams on the progress of the programme of works for the Arts Hotel at the rear of the Metropole.

(4)          Following presentation of her Cabinet Member report, Councillor Campbell left the meeting.

(5)          In response to a request from Councillor T Williams, the Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide a written answer on the Council which had been rated as having the lowest proportion of poor homes in the North West.

(6)          Councillor Cain also agreed to provide a written answer to Councillors T Williams and Humphreys, on the breakdown of the suicide rates in Blackpool, based on the location of residency.

(7)          Councillor Cain also agreed to provide Councillor T Williams with clarification on the outcome of the analysis and the report that had been undertaken in relation to the underlying issues in the number of Looked After Children in Blackpool. 

To consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to an allowance for an independent member of the Audit Committee.

The Council considered a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to a proposed Special Responsibility Allowance for the independent member of the Audit Committee.

Members were aware that the appointment of an appropriately qualified independent co-opted member of the Audit Committee had been agreed at Annual Council on 15 May 2017 and would serve on the committee with non-voting rights. 

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

‘1.      That the remuneration for the co-opted independent member of Audit Committee be set at £700 per annum and the term of office be for a three year period, in line with the Standards Committee’s Independent Person.

2.       That the allowance be reviewed in the full review of the Members’ Allowance Scheme in late 2018/ early 2019.

3.       That the Director of Governance and Partnerships be authorised to update the Members’ Allowances Scheme accordingly.

4.       That a recruitment process be initiated, with an interview panel consisting of the Chairman of the Audit Committee (to be Chairman of the Panel), an Executive member, the Chief Internal Auditor and the Monitoring Officer and a report be brought back to September’s Council meeting with a recommendation for a preferred appointment.’

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