Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2, Members noted the termination of membership of the Committee of Councillor Mills and the appointment of Councillor D Evans, for this meeting only, thereby giving effect the wishes of the Political Groups.

Note:  No other business is permitted unless, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.  (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet.)

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rule 16, Members must declare the existence of any Party Whip, and the nature of it, when considering any matter in the following categories:

-       The review of any decision of the Cabinet or

-       The performance of any Member of the Cabinet

N.B. The Secretary of State believes whipping is incompatible with Overview and Scrutiny.

There were no declarations of a Party Whip.

Residents of West Lancashire on giving notice, may address the meeting to make representations on any item on the agenda except where the public and press are to be excluded during consideration of the item.  The deadline for submissions is 10.00am on Friday 16^th March 2018.  A copy of the public speaking protocol and form to be completed is attached.

There were no items under this heading.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Solicitor which advised that a decision of Cabinet in relation to the above item (Minute 76 refers) had received a call in requisition signed by five members of the Committee.  The report set out the reason for the call in, together with a different decision put forward by the five Members concerned on the requisition note.

The Director of Housing and Inclusion attended the meeting and provided further clarification on points raised, referring to details as set down in the report of the Borough Solicitor.

In discussion Members made reference to;

·         If the decision should have been taken at Full Council,

·         Potential costs to the Council before a final decision at Full Council,

·         Use of Grant money to set up the shadow board,

·         Discussion around the governance arrangements for the shadow board.

It was moved by Councillor Westley and seconded by Councillor Whittington;

”That the report of the Director of Housing and Inclusion be considered at Council on 25 April 2018, to include the establishment of the Shadow Board, associated staffing costs and the proposed governance arrangements.”

Upon being up to a recorded vote, 4 Members voted for the motion:

Councillors: Ashcroft, Moon, Westley and Whittington.

 9 Members voted against the Motion:

Councillors: Bullock, Davis, Delaney, Hudson, McKenna, Evans, Pendleton, Savage and Wynn.

Whereupon the Chairman declared the motion lost.

RESOLVED:   

That, as a consequence of the discussion on this item and the undertakings made it was determined that the Committee does not wish to ask for a different decision to the one agreed by the Extraordinary Cabinet Meeting on 28 February 2018.