Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

(Note: Councillor Fowler left the meeting following Agenda Item 7)

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 urgent items of business.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal and Democratic Services Manager 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.)

1.     Councillor Rigby declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Item 17 'Draft Housing Allocations Policy' having a close relative that is currently active on 'Homefinder'.

2.     Councillor Finch informed that in relation to Agenda Item 14 'Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2030' that he is a Member of 'The Friends of Tawd Valley' and would not participate in any discussions relating to this if they should arise.

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 Party Whip.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2022.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2022 be                     as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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 6 January 2023 .  A copy of the public speaking protocol and form to be completed is attached.

There were no items under this heading.

To scrutinise the Minutes of Cabinet held on 15 November 2022.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of Cabinet held on 15 November 2022 as contained on pages 531 to 536 of the Book of Reports.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of Cabinet held 15 November 2022 be noted.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

(To follow)

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services as contained on pages 663 to 678 of the Book of Reports, which was to obtain feedback from the Committee to enable the Council to set its Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget and Capital Investment Programme for the next financial year 2023/24.

The Principal Finance Business Partner outlined the report and responded to comments and questions raised by Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED: That the budget position be considered and noted.

(Note:  This item was heard in Part 2 - Financial / Business Affairs – Paragraph 3, following Agenda Item 18 – exclusion of press and public)

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

(To follow)

This item was withdrawn from the Agenda.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

(To follow)

This item was withdrawn from the Agenda.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

(To follow)

This item was withdrawn from the Agenda.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services.

(To follow)

This item was withdrawn from the Agenda.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community as contained on pages 537 to 548 and 679 to 680 of the Book of Reports, which provided an update on the Council's progress towards delivering the actions set out in the Climate Change Strategy (Strategy) and Action Plan 2030, and to approve the Council's Priorities for 2023/24.

The Environmental Sustainability Manager outlined the report and responded to questions and comments raised by Members.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

·       Why use a consultant in respect of calculating carbon pathways for the Council's carbon footprint to 2030, and borough carbon footprint to National targets? -  Due to the complexity of this work, the Environmental Sustainability Team are unable to complete it.

·       Geothermal energy/disused mines– Skelmersdale Energy Group have investigated this and was found not favourable

·       Helpful to receive more Information in respect of what risks are identified – Risk Workshop/Service Areas/Teams

·       Seven Priorities/targets and progress

·       EV Charging Infrastructure – Importance of being in place in advance

·       The carbon footprint will be calculated to identify the Council's biggest emissions

The Vice-Chair asked for it to be noted that in respect of paragraph 5.3.2 point 3 of the report that "the Friends of Tawd Valley created community food growing areas in the community orchard section of the park, funds were contributed by Asda and Postcode Lottery" and not Tesco as stated.

RESOLVED: That the content of the report be noted, and that the Committee endorse the recommendation to Cabinet as detailed at paragraph 3.2 of the report.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources as contained on pages 549 to 564 of the Book of Reports, which was to consider and agree the decant Policy.

The Tenancy Services Manager outlined the report and responded to comments and questions raised by Members.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and supported for consideration by Cabinet.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources as contained on pages 564 to 580 of the Book of Reports, which was to consider and agree the Garage Allocations and Management Policy.

The Tenancy Services Manager outlined the report, she informed that a consultation had taken place with existing garage tenancies and applicants currently on the garage waiting list.  It was noted that the most important factor to customers was the proximity of the garage to the applicants' home. 

The following comments and questions were raised by Members.

·       Is 2 days sufficient to receive and make a written decision? - The 2 day timescale has been used for some years and mirrors that used in property lettings. Offers are usually made by telephone or email, in situations where post is used, the 2 days would be calculated from the expected delivery date

·       Apprentice to undertake project to review waiting list and  reduce vacant garages

RESOLVED: That the content of the Policy and report be noted and passed to Cabinet for their consideration.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources as contained on pages 581 to 636 of the Book of Reports, which was to consider and agree the Housing Allocations Policy subject to statutory consultation.

The Tenancy Services Manager outlined details of the report, including a summary of the main changes.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

·       Lathom South Parish Council – not a local connection area – would like rural local connection area added to the Allocations Policy

RESOLVED:

A.             That the content of the Policy and Report be supported and noted.

B.             That the Committee agreed comment to request that a rural local connection area be added to the Allocations Policy for all rural villages not already listed in the policy.

It is recommended that members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and as, in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption under Schedule 12A outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 part 1 of Schedule 12A outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director Transformation, Housing and Resources.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources as contained on pages 637 to 662 of the Book of Reports, which set out an approach for the Council to improve the corporate management of its property assets. The report presents the need to procure assistance from an external provider to collect and present data and to advise on the Council's non-housing property portfolio, and seeks approval, subject to funding to advertise the project to suppliers.

The Interim Estates and Valuations Officer outlined the report and responded to comments and questions raised by Members.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

• Whether the use of a fixed term post would be more effective than using an external provider
• The need for further work to refine and focus the project requirements and scope
• That elements of the work could be dealt with internally e.g. GIS
• That some data for premises in relation to CAD plans and asbestos management reports should be available already

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and passed to Cabinet for their consideration.

(Note: Councillor Pope left the meeting during consideration of this item).

To consider the report of the Corporate Director Transformation, Housing and Resources.

(to follow)

This item was withdrawn from the Agenda.