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 30 September 2020 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 30 September 2020 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record, subject to the insertion of the word ‘Deputy’ in minute number 3 prior to the word ‘Mayor’.

This Council and the people of Blackpool were deeply saddened to learn since its last meeting of the sad deaths of the following:

·         former Councillor Philip Dunne, former Mayor of the Borough in 2005/2006 and ward councillor for Talbot,

·         former Councillor Craig Matthews, Executive Member for Community Services and ward councillor for Highfield ward 1995/2003; and

·         former Mayoress Mrs June Preston who was Mayoress to her husband, the then Councillor John Preston in 1993/1994.

Group Leaders/ representatives will be asked to pay tribute to the work and dedication of these former civic office holders.

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 Philip Dunne, former Councillor Craig Matthews and former Mayoress June Preston for their loss and places on record its recognition of the dedication to office of these former civic office holders.”

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 and Mayor Philip Dunne, former Councillor Craig Matthews and former Mayoress Mrs June Preston

The following resolution of condolence was then moved:

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

Councillor Philip Dunne, former Councillor Craig Matthews and former Mayoress June Preston for their loss and places on record its recognition of the dedication to office of these former civic office holders.”

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.

There were no announcements from the Mayor.

Dr Arif Rajpura, Director of Public Health to provide a verbal update regarding the pandemic.

Dr Arif Rajpura, Director of Public Health was invited to address members of the Council in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

He outlined the prevalence of cases in Blackpool compared to county and national levels as well as the measures that had been put in place to protect vulnerable citizens and to support schools and businesses.  Members also noted the developments in relation to the production of a vaccine and ongoing testing.

To consider the attached reports to Council from the Corporate, People and Place

Portfolios, the Combined Fire Authority report and the Chairman of the Scrutiny Leadership Board 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 or Chairman of the Scrutiny Leadership Board.

The Executive Lead Members for the meeting presented reports to the Council 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.  Councillor Galley, on behalf of the Chair of the Scrutiny Leadership Board, also presented a report on scrutiny activities in recent months.

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

Notes:

1.           In response to Councillor Galley regarding Fibre Blackpool, Councillor L Williams offered to provide an update on the work of the Digital Working Group.

2.           Councillor L Williams also agreed to provide details for Councillor Burdess on whether any service had been disproportionately affected by employees who had been required to register for settled status due to the exit from the European Union and if so, the measures needed to address the potential impact.

3.           Councillor Benson agreed to provide a written response to Councillor Burdess on the anticipated date when the Lotus Free School would be operating at full capacity and details of alternative provision. 

4.           Following a question from Councillor R Scott on whether a joint survey with Wyre Borough Council and Fylde Borough Council could be arranged to establish the feasibility of installing CCTV in the Arboretum following recent acts of vandalism, Councillor Hobson agreed to provide a written response.

5.           Councillor T Williams offered to circulate an incident report from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service relating to Bonfire Night, in response to the query from Councillor R Scott as to whether there had been an increase or decrease in the number of incidents of arson due to the pandemic.

6.           Councillor Cain left the meeting following the Executive report on the Place portfolio.

7.           Councillor Cox joined the meeting during the consideration of the report from the Council-appointed Combined Fire Authority representatives.

8.           The Mayor agreed to write a letter of congratulations to Jane Cole, Managing Director of Blackpool Transport on her forthcoming appointment as the first female President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the national body for bus and coach operators across the UK for 2021.

To consider the appointment of an Independent Member/s to the Audit Committee. 

Following on from the previous meeting of the Council where Members had agreed the recruitment process for an independent member of the Audit Committee, the Council considered the recommendation from the interview panel on the appointment to the current vacancy, as well as proposals to appoint a second independent member of the Committee.

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

‘To appoint Stuart Green and Gill Brown as independent co-opted members on the Audit Committee for a three year term of office, starting from 1 December 2020’.

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

To consider the following motions which have been submitted in accordance with Procedure Rule 12.1.

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

‘Fireworks are used by people throughout the year to mark different events. While they can bring much enjoyment to some people, they can cause significant problems and fear for other people and animals. They can be a source of fear and distress for many animals (including pet animals, farm livestock and wildlife). Animals affected not only suffer psychological distress but can also cause themselves injuries – sometimes very serious ones – as they attempt to run away or hide from the noise.

The unpredictable, loud and high intensity noises that many fireworks make can cause fear. For example, studies have found fireworks to be the most common cause for fear responses in dogs, and it is estimated that 45 percent of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. A New Zealand survey recorded 79 percent of horses as either anxious or very anxious around fireworks or over the Guy Fawkes Day period.

Although there is limited direct evidence, it is also likely that fireworks and their debris will cause disturbance to wildlife and are likely to cause suffering or distress, depending on the distance from the explosive and the noise level.

The RSPCA believes that a licensing system would help with better enforcement of the law by allowing enforcement bodies to know where licensed events are being held so they can focus on locations and incidents elsewhere.

The RSPCA also believes that there is a real need to raise awareness amongst owners of animals about fireworks phobia. This phobia can be treated (in dogs at least) in the long term but owners need to prepare themselves and their pets sooner, rather than just before the fireworks are let off. There is a need to raise awareness about the impact of fireworks on animals to the wider public to encourage them to be more considerate of those with pets, horses and livestock as well as local wildlife.

The RSPCA believes the law is failing as it does not prevent or sufficiently reduce the risk of fireworks causing distress, injury or anxiety to people, as well as death, injury or distress to animals.

The RSPCA also believe that further research is needed to properly understand the impact of noise on animals and a number of things can be done to improve the situation for animals and people by:

·       introducing a limit on the public use of fireworks on or close to specific dates and times

·       tightening restrictions on the sale of fireworks in the run up to Bonfire night

·       reducing the maximum noise level of fireworks sold to the public, ensuring they are labelled accurately

·       licensing all public firework displays – and ensuring displays are better advertised to the public

Therefore, this Council resolves:

1.     That the Chief Executive be requested to write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy urging him to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Motion: Having submitted notice and following the Council’s agreement to the alteration of the motion, Councillor T Williams proposed (and Councillor Clapham seconded):

‘Even before the pandemic, more than an estimated 1.3 million people over the age of 65 were thought to be malnourished. Malnutrition makes people more susceptible to physical and mental ill-health, extends hospital stays and makes re-admission more likely – malnutrition accounts for nearly £20bn of health and social care spending in England.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for many people to access good food daily, not least, older people and disabled people, who were already at high risk of malnutrition. During the crisis, many older people and disabled people struggled to access good food every day and indeed this issue predated the crisis.

Whilst there are a number of ways to support people – like investing in lunch clubs or good care-home and hospital food – having a robust Meals on Wheels service locally is a cornerstone to tackling the issue. Meals on Wheels services provide a lifeline to people struggling to feed themselves in their own homes, ensure that older and disabled people at risk of malnutrition or social isolation can access regular social contact every day and at least one nutritious meal every day, and are cost-saving in the long-term to local authorities and NHS trusts.

Now more than ever the Council must support older and disabled people to be able to stay healthy, safe and nourished in their own homes.

This Council resolves:

To request the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee to review the accredited Meals on Wheels local supplier scheme in Chorley and explore the benefits and challenges of adopting the same approach in Blackpool and recommend the Executive accordingly’.

Members then went on to debate the motion.

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