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 meeting held on 28 June 2023 as a true and correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 28 June 2023 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

There were no announcements made by the Mayor.

To consider the following portfolio reports to Council from each Cabinet Member and the Combined Fire Authority report:

a)     Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Tourism, Arts and Culture

b)     Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Partnerships and Performance

c)     Cabinet Member for Young People and Aspiration

d)     Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

e)     Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Street Scene and Neighbourhoods

f)      Cabinet Member for Levelling Up – People

g)     Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

h)     Cabinet Member for Climate Change

i)       Cabinet Member for Levelling Up – Place

j)       Combined Fire Authority report

Members are reminded that:

·       Each Executive Member* has up to three minutes to present their portfolio report (a green light will indicate there is one minute remaining, red for when the time is up). There will then be an opportunity for questions/comments.

·       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 no set overall maximum time for each report to be debated although the Mayor will decide when a suitable time has elapsed and move to the next report.

* or Combined Fire Authority representative

The Council received reports from the Executive Members on areas within their portfolio.

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 Benson, Cabinet Member for Young People and Aspiration agreed to confirm for Councillor M Scott if RAAC (concrete) was present in any Council buildings, Council-owned buildings or assets.

2.        In response to a question from Councillor Walsh regarding the additional CCTV cameras in the town, Councillor Burdess, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Street Scene and Neighbourhoods agreed to provide written confirmation of the planned consultation and proposed locations.

3.        Councillor Farrell, Cabinet Member for Levelling Up: People, agreed to provide a written response to:

·         Councillor Warne on the number of people supported by projects helping with food, cost of energy and wider essentials

·         Councillor Galley on the financial consequences and risks associated with Catering Services contracts with academies.

4.        Councillor Hobson, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services agreed to provide Councillor Sloman with details of the mechanism in place to ensure that practical burdens were borne by authorities that placed looked after children within the borough.

·           Following a question from Councillor Cooper, Councillor Hugo, Cabinet Member for Climate Change agreed to provide details of the recycling facilities available for larger Council owned buildings.

To consider, under section 249(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, whether to make arrangements for a Special meeting of Council to confer upon recently retired councillors, who, in line with the criteria agreed by Council and wish to be put forward, to receive the title of ‘Honorary Alderman’.

Following a deferral from the last meeting, members considered proposals for a special meeting to be held to confer the title of Honorary Alderman for recently retired councillors that wished to be considered for the award in line with agreed criteria. 

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

‘1.      To agree to hold a special meeting of Council to confer the title of ‘Honorary Alderman’ of the Borough of Blackpool under section 249(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to three former councillors:

·      Don Clapham

·      Gary Coleman

·      Allan Matthews

          the time and date of this to be agreed by the Mayor.

2.       That the Group Leaders continue to meet to review the Civic Honours available in Blackpool and report back to a future meeting on any recommended changes’.

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