Agenda and minutes

To appoint the Mayor for the 2021/2021 Municipal Year.

(Note:  Councillor Burdess chaired the meeting for the following item only).

It was proposed by Councillor L Williams, seconded by Councillor T Williams and

Resolved:  That in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Councillor Amy Cross be elected Mayor of the Borough of Blackpool for the municipal year 2021/2022.

Councillor Cross made a Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Mayor according to the requirements of the law and then took the Chair.

To appoint the Deputy Mayor for the 2021/2021 Municipal Year.

It was proposed by the Mayor, Councillor Cross, seconded by Councillor L Williams and

Resolved:  That in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Councillor Burdess be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough of Blackpool, for the municipal year 2021/2022.

Councillor Burdess made a Declaration of Acceptance of the Office of Deputy Mayor according to the requirements of the law.

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.

The Mayor welcomed the new Council members, Councillor B Mitchell and Councillor Sloman to the meeting.

This Council and the people of Blackpool were deeply saddened to learn since its last meeting of the sad deaths of former Councillor Barry Cresswell and the former Democratic Services Manager, Mr Richard Ainsley

The Lady Mayor will also pay tribute to Jordan Banks on behalf of the Council and the residents of Blackpool.

Group Leaders/ representatives will be asked to pay tribute.

The Lady Mayor will then move the following resolution of condolence.

“The Council sends its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of former Councillor Barry Cresswell, Mr Richard Ainsley and Jordan Banks for their loss. With regard to former Councillor Barry Cresswell and Mr Richard Ainsley the Council places on record its recognition of their dedication of service to the Borough.”

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

The Council noted the sad news of the deaths of former Councillor Barry Cresswell, former Democratic Services Manager, Mr Richard Ainsley and Jordan Banks. 

Tributes were then made on behalf of the political groups by their representatives. 

The following resolution of condolence was moved:

“The Council sends its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of former

Councillor Barry Cresswell, Mr Richard Ainsley and Jordan Banks for their loss. With

regard to former Councillor Barry Cresswell and Mr Richard Ainsley the Council places on record its recognition of their dedication of service to the Borough.”

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

Following the passing of the resolution, Council held a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 8 March 2021 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council held on 8 March 2021 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To consider the re-appointment of a Lead Member for Scrutiny.

The Council considered the report on the appointment of the Scrutiny Lead Member, noting the proposals for an extended role profile to include reference to attendance and participation at meetings of the Audit Committee. 

Motion:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylorseconded):

‘1.      To agree the updated role profile for the chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board as set out at Appendix 7(a) to the report (to include the reference to Audit Committee attendance) and to re-appoint Councillor Maxine Callow as chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board, as she is the current incumbent, has significant experience of undertaking scrutiny and has also served on the Executive.

2.       To agree to update the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules to allow the Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board to attend and speak, but not vote at any Scrutiny Committee or Panel meeting and the Audit Committee, in accordance with the role’.

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

The Council will be asked to consider the appointment of its committees, in accordance with the Council's Constitution and the Local Government Act 1972.

Members received the report on the appointment of committees for the 2021/2022 municipal year.  They considered the political membership of the Council and proposed membership of committees, which had changed as a result of the recent by elections.  Members noted that a review of the political balance calculations had been required in order to meet the requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the associated regulations.

The Council considered recommendations for the Shareholder’s Advisory Board to be disbanded and for the Executive to be requested to set up a Shareholder Committee comprising of the Deputy Leader of the Council, the Leader of the Council as substantive members and the Deputy Leader of the Principal Opposition Group as a co-opted member.

Members went on to consider the recommendations for committees to be reappointed according to their current terms of reference, with the exception of the transfer of responsibility for monitoring and commenting on the Council’s medium term financial strategy, financial outturn reports and any other overarching financial strategies from the Tourism, Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee to the Scrutiny Leadership Board.  It was also noted that the Scrutiny Leadership Board would undertake scrutiny work in relation to council companies following liaison with the proposed Shareholder Committee of the Executive.

Although not subject to political balance rules, it was recommended that appointments to the Licensing Committee would be on a politically balanced basis and that the Committee would also appoint the Public Protection Sub-Committee. 

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

‘1.     To 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 (subject to 2 below)

·     Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee

·     Audit Committee

·     Appeals Committee

·     Planning Committee

·     Standards Committee

·     Chief Officers Employment Committee.

2.      To appoint a Scrutiny Leadership Board, with the powers set out in the Council’s constitution with the addition of responsibility for:

·     scrutiny work to be undertaken in relation to council companies following liaison with the proposed Shareholder Committee of the Executive.

·     monitoring and commenting on the Council’s, medium term financial strategy, financial outturn reports and any other overarching financial strategies deemed appropriate (transfer of functions from Tourism, Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee)

         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) and also to add the non-aligned Independent Member as Chair of the Committee in line with the recommendation of agenda item 7.

3.      To agree the political balance attached at Appendix 8(a) to the report and appointments to the above committees at Appendix 8(b).

4.      To reappoint the Licensing Committee with the powers and duties as set out in the Constitution (membership of thirteen and a composition of seven Labour, five Conservative and one Blackpool Independent).

5.      To request the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Council will be asked to consider a programme of meetings for 2021/2022 and to note provisional meeting dates from May to December 2022.

The Council considered the programme of meetings for the municipal year 2021/2022 and in particular noted the exceptional arrangements proposed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

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

’1.      To approve the calendar of meetings for 2021/22 and the start times of meetings as attached at Appendix 9(a) to the Council report.

2.       To agree that meetings commence at 6pm as usual (set out at the end of the calendar of meetings at Appendix 9(a)) to the report.

3.       To agree that a Council meeting be scheduled for 14 July, but this be reviewed by the Group Leaders and be subject to the successful stage 4 release of restrictions of the Prime Minister’s Road Map proposed for 21 June 2021.

4.       To approve a dispensation in relation to any non-attendance of councillors at formal meetings up until 30 September 2021 on the basis that there will be fewer formal meetings to attend as a result of the current social distancing restrictions and subsequent measures to restrict attendance to allow ‘in person’ meetings.  Any future six month period to commence from 1 October 2021. 

5.       To agree that the meetings of the Scrutiny Leadership Board, the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee, the Tourism, Economy and Communities Scrutiny Committee and the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee being held in June and July 2021 will be informal meetings held virtually and should there be any formal decisions required these will be taken by the Chief Executive under delegated emergency powers on recommendation from the committee’.

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

The purpose of the report to agree the scheme of delegation.

The Council considered whether to make any changes to the scheme of delegation for which it had responsibility.

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

‘To agree that no changes are made to the scheme of delegation for which the Council has responsibility’.

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

The Council to consider awarding the Blackpool Medal posthumously to former Councillors Peter Callow and Lily Henderson MBE.

Members gave consideration to proposals to award the Blackpool medal posthumously to former councillors Peter Callow and Lily Henderson MBE and for revised criteria to be applied going forward, to include those who had sadly passed away but had met the threshold for the award of the medal.

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

‘1.        To agree to amend the criteria for the award of a Blackpool Medal to be as set out in paragraph 5.4 of the Council report.

2.         To agree that former Councillors Peter Callow and Lily Henderson MBE be posthumously awarded the Blackpool Medal in recognition of their eminent service to the Borough.

3.         To request the Director of Governance and Partnerships to organise a Special Meeting of Council, at some stage following the recess when hopefully the ability to have a physically present Council meeting is achievable, for the award of these medals’.

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