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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the minutes of the last meetings held on 22 June 2022 and 8 September 2022 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council meetings held on 22 June 2022 and 8 September 2022 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Council will be asked to consider a resolution of condolence for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Details of the proposed resolution and the proposer and seconder will be circulated in due course.

Following the passing of this resolution, Council will then hold a minute’s silence, as a mark of respect.

The Council paid tribute to her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II who had sadly passed away on 8 September 2022. 

The following resolution of condolence was then moved:

‘The Council, on behalf of the people of Blackpool, expresses its profound sorrow on the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and extends its deepest sympathy to His Majesty King Charles III and to the members of the Royal family in their loss’.

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

Council then held a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

This Council and the people of Blackpool were deeply saddened to learn since its last ordinary meeting of the sad death of Councillor John Wing, ward Councillor for Greenlands ward.

Group Leaders / representatives will be asked to pay tribute to the work and dedication of Councillor Wing.

Details of the proposed resolution and the proposer and seconder will be circulated in due course.

Following the passing of this resolution, Council will then hold a minute’s silence, as a mark of respect.

The Council also noted the sad news of the death of Councillor John Wing. 

Councillors R Scott, Taylor and G Coleman paid tribute to Councillor Wing and the following resolution of condolence was then moved:

‘The Council sends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Councillor John Wing for their loss and places on record its recognition of his dedication to office’.

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

Council then held a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

The Mayor on behalf of the Council expressed her thanks to Council officers for their work in relation to arrangements following the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and proclamation of His Majesty King Charles III.  Condolences with respect to Her Late Majesty’s death were also submitted on behalf of Blackpool Veterans from Councillor Derek Robertson, the Armed Forces Champion.

The Mayor also informed members that Mrs Elaine Smith MBE had contacted her to pass on her thanks to the Council for the Blackpool Medal award and kind words expressed at the special meeting held on 8 September 2022.

To consider the attached reports to Council from the Corporate, People and Place portfolios and the Combined Fire Authority report.

Members are reminded that:

·         The Lead Executive Member* has up to three minutes to present the 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 responses from any Cabinet Member* on their area of responsibility at the end of the questions/ comments for each report.

*or Combined Fire Authority representative.

 The Council received reports from the Executive Lead Members on work undertaken in the Corporate, Place and People portfolio areas. 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.

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

Notes:

1.             Councillor Cain joined the meeting during the presentation of agenda item 6a, Executive Member Report – Corporate Portfolio.

2.             Councillor L Williams, Leader of the Council advised that she would provide a written response to:

·     Councillor T Williams with details of costs of the work in relation to Abingdon Street market redevelopment and synopsis of the project and schedule

·     Councillor R Scott on progress in relation to the site formerly occupied by Brannigans.

3.             In response to comments from Councillor Sloman on the number of private residential spaces for children in care in Blackpool, Councillor Hobson agreed to provide a written response regarding strategies to discourage other local authorities from importing children with complex care needs into the Blackpool area.

4.             Councillor Farrell agreed to:

·     Clarify information in relation to the availability of Covid vaccinations including those in the South Shore area and to address difficulties experienced by elderly and vulnerable residents in accessing information

·     Provide a written response to Councillor D Coleman on accessibility to the Vitaline service in view of British Telecom’s digitalisation of the  telephone service.

5.             In response to a request from Councillor R Scott, Councillor Campbell agreed to provide details of any Covid funding received by schools and how the funding had been spent.

6.             Councillor Hugo agreed to provide a written response to:

·     Councillor T Williams on the use of any honey produced by the bee hives installed in Revoe Community Gardens.

7.             Members of the Council agreed a short adjournment for five minutes following the presentation of the Executive Member Report – Place Portfolios.

8.             Councillor Roberts left the meeting during the adjournment.

The Council will be asked to consider the re-appointment of its committees, in accordance with the Council's Constitution and the Local Government Act 1972, due to changes in the political make-up of two of the political groups.

Members considered proposals in relation to the re-appointment of its committees, as a result of changes in the political make-up of two of the political groups.  Debate took place on the report and a number of views were expressed.

Motion:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘1.       To re-appoint the following Council committees, with powers and duties as set out in the Council’s Constitution:

·            Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee

·            Tourism, Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee

·            Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee

·            Audit Committee

·            Appeals Committee

·            Planning Committee

·            Standards Committee

·            Chief Officers Employment Committee

2.        To re-appoint a Scrutiny Leadership Board, with the powers set out in the Council’s constitution and for the Board to continue to have an adjusted political balance membership of three Labour, four Conservative (to be made up of the Chairs, Vice Chairs of the three Scrutiny Committees and the Chair of the Audit Committee).

3.        To continue the inclusion of the non-aligned member Councillor Mrs Callow to the Board and to also appoint her as Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board.

4.        To agree the political balance attached at Appendix 7(a) to the Council report and appointments to the above committees at Appendix 7(b).

5.        To re-appoint the Licensing Committee with the powers and duties as set out in the Constitution (equating to a revised membership figure of 12 and a composition of six Labour, five Conservative and one Blackpool Independent).

6.        To request the Licensing Committee to re-appoint the Public Protection Sub-Committee, with the powers and duties, as set out in the Constitution including the appointment of the Chair and Vice-Chair.

7.        To agree that any membership changes to committees or sub-committees during the remainder of the Municipal Year be reported to the Director of Governance and Partnerships by the relevant Group Leader for implementation. 

8.        To agree to the memberships of the committees of the Council and their Chairs and Vice Chairs as set out in Appendix 7(b) (to be circulated separately).

9.        To note the membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board, as this is unaffected by political balance arrangements.

10.     To agree 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 motion which has been submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 12.1.

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

‘The taxi companies have recently been presented with further cost challenges caused by rising fuel costs and road closures around the resort.

The Council currently has a mixture of Private Hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles all with different liveries.

To increase their revenue streams and promote local and regional business the council should permit advertising on both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles with an agreed type of content. It is noted that advertising approved by the licensing service is already permitted on Hackney Carriage vehicles.

The Council requests the Chief Executive to arrange a meeting with a nominated officer and the directors/owners of taxi companies to discuss the viability of a more enhanced combined advertising programme utilising the services of a preferred advertising agency and the council tourism office.

Any recommendations from this meeting to be subject of a report to the relevant Committee/s to allow any change of policy needed.

The intent would be collective campaigns where advertising revenue is shared on an equal basis between vehicles and the companies to formulate a payment procedure for their drivers’.

Members then went on to debate the motion.

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