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.

Councillor Mrs Henderson declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 6 ‘Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2016/17’.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 25 November 2015 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 25 November 2015 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

The Mayor advised the Council that he had agreed for the March Council meeting to take place on 30 March 2016 in order to allow for briefings to be held on the Combined Authority proposals.

To receive a representation from Mr Higgins, a spokesperson for the Blackpool Supporters Trust, in accordance with Procedure Rule 9 and a response from Councillor Blackburn, Leader of the Council.

Mr Andy Higgins, spokesperson for the Blackpool Supporters Trust, addressed the Council on the concerns regarding the relationship between Blackpool Football Club’s owners and the local community.  The Leader of the Council, Councillor Blackburn, responded on behalf of the Council.

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).

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.

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. 

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

Notes:

(1)          Councillor Campbell agreed to provide details to Councillor T Williams on staffing costs in relation to Selective Licensing, including the numbers of staff and working hours and to confirm whether those costs related solely to Selective Licensing duties.

To consider the recommendation of the Executive from its meeting on 7 December 2015 relating to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Members considered the recommendation from the Executive at its meeting on 7 December 2015 in relation to the approval of a Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme and noted that the proposals were for the Scheme to be of the same design as currently in place but with the removal of the family premium from housing benefit for children born after April 2016 or for new claims made after that date. 

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

‘1.      To agree that the Council continues to operate a Discretionary Discount Policy to be awarded in cases of exceptional hardship.

2.       To agree that the reduction applied to Working Age claimants remains at 27.11% for the 2016/2017 Scheme and that the main elements and method of calculating awards previously agreed by Council on 22 January 2015 will remain the same.‘

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

(Note:  Councillor Mrs Henderson having previously declared a prejudicial interest, left the room while the item was under consideration).

To consider the recommendation of the Executive from its meeting on 18 January 2016 relating to the adoption of the Core Strategy.

The Council considered the recommendation from the Executive in relation to the adoption of the Core Strategy which formed part of the statutory planning framework for Blackpool and set out where new development should be located to meet the town’s needs to 2027.  The Strategy would also be used to determine planning applications and priorities in Blackpool over the next 12 years.

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

‘1.      To accept the Inspector’s findings and his recommendations and adopt the Blackpool Local Plan Part 1: Core Strategy with the Main Modifications recommended by the Inspector as set out in Appendix 2(a) (ii) to the Executive report and with the additional (minor) modifications to the Core Strategy set out in Appendix 2(b) to the Executive report and the amended Policies Maps at Appendix 2(c) (ii) to the Executive report.

2.       To authorise the Chief Executive to undertake the necessary steps for the adoption process to be completed.

3.       To authorise the Director of Place to make any final modifications to improve readability and the final presentation of the document, and to correct any factual matters or typographical errors.‘

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

To consider the recommendation of the Executive from its meeting on 18 January 2016 relating to the Workforce Strategy 2016/ 2020.

Members considered the recommendations from the Executive meeting on 18 January in relation to the draft Workforce Strategy.  It was noted that the document replaced the People Strategy and was designed to provide direction for the current and future management and development of people across the Council and informed business planning, workforce planning, employment policy development, procedures and practice.

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

‘To approve the Workforce Strategy 2016-2020.‘

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

To consider the recommendation of the Executive from its meeting on 18 January 2016 relating to the Local Authority’s Declaration on Healthy Weight.

The Council received the recommendations from the Executive meeting on 18 January regarding proposals for a Healthy Weight Declaration that had been developed as a vision and commitment to improve the health and wellbeing of Blackpool.  Members noted that the Declaration followed a collaborative programme launched by Directors of Public Health in the North West to tackle increasing obesity.

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

‘To sign up to the Local Authority Declaration on Healthy Weight including both the national themes outlined in paragraph 5.2 and the local priorities outlined at paragraph 5.3 of the Executive agenda.‘

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

To determine who should be invited to offer themselves for election as Mayor at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 16 May 2016 and agree that the meeting commence at 2.00pm, as it has in previous years.

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

’That Councillor Kath Rowson be invited to offer herself for the election of Mayor at the Annual Meeting of the Council on 16 May 2016 and agree that the meeting commences at 2.00pm, as it has in previous years.’

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