Agenda item

Cabinet Members and Combined Fire Authority representatives presented reports to the Council on work undertaken within their portfolio areas.   Councillor Jackson presented the report on behalf of the Leader of the Council.  All the reports covered decisions taken, work in progress and work to be undertaken in the near future.  Questions, comments and debate were invited from all councillors on each of the report areas.

Notes:

(1)  On behalf of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jackson agreed to provide Councillor Mrs Callow with a written response as to how the remaining loss from the 2013 Switch On event would be recovered and whether there would be any staff redundancies as a consequence.  In reference to a recent Cabinet Member decision to write off debt in excess of £12,000, he also agreed to provide clarification for Councillor Mrs Callow as to the reason why the debt was not pursued and prosecutions made.

Councillor Jackson also agreed on behalf of the Leader for a response to be provided to Councillor Galley, with details of the amount that had been borrowed from the Public Works Loans Board and whether the amount had increased during the year.

(2)  In relation to Councillor Green’s reference to the Flood and Waste Management Act 2010, Councillor Jackson agreed to provide a written answer as to whether applications had been made to the Planning Division from residents wishing to pave over grassed garden areas.  He also agreed to clarify the proportion of the £575,000 of unsecured loans obtained through the Government Start Up scheme, that had been lost to bad debt when businesses failed.

Councillor Jackson agreed to clarify for Councillor Williams the application and decision making process regarding the capital grant to the Tangerine Confectionary company.  He also agreed to provide a response as to the reason for the occupancy numbers of the Enterprise Centre, Lytham Road, and plans to fully utilise the space were being progressed.

(3)  Councillor Jones agreed to provide a written response to Councillor Williams on the occupancy rates for all of the Council owned car parks.  He also agreed to confirm the number of cycles from the Cycle Blackpool scheme that had been stolen, repaired or sold and for details of the plans to replace cycles.

(4)  Councillor Cox left the meeting during consideration of the above item.

(5)  Councillor Jackson declared a personal interest in agenda item 6a, Executive Report from the Leader of the Council as a member of Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Credit Union.