Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain for the evening, Father Michael, led Members and officers in prayer.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Curry, Savage and Yates.

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.)

The following declarations were received:

1.       Councillors Ashcroft, Mrs Blake, Blane, Dereli, Gordon, Lockie, Mrs Marshall, Mee, Moran, Owen, Pope and Whittington declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 8 ‘Council Plan 2019/20 – 2020/21’ in view of their membership of a Parish Council. 

2.       Councillors Aldridge, Hennessy, O’Toole and Pope declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 8 ‘Council Plan 2019/20 – 2020/21’, as Members of Lancashire County Council, as did Councillors Cummins and Gagen as an employee of Lancashire County Council (but does not affect their employment).

3.       Councillor Hennessy declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 ‘Proposed Strategy for the Community Asset Transfer of Banks Leisure Centre’ in view of her appointment to West Lancashire Community Leisure, as did Councillor Blane as a Member of North Meols Parish Council and they both indicated that they would leave the room whilst this item was being considered.

To receive as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday, 27 February 2019.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 27 February 2019, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor announced that it was the last meeting for some members of the Council as they would not be standing in the forthcoming local elections in May and thanked Councillors Bullock, Cotterill, J Hodson, Hudson, McKenna, C Marshall, Savage and Wynn for their service to the Council, including former Councillor Kay.

The Mayor also thanked everyone for making the charity ball a huge success, raising £2,300 for the Mayor's Charities.

The following question was received:

"Flooding & Drainage Cabinet Working Group – Question from Councillor Charles Marshall

Will the Leader of the Council commit to forming a Flooding and Drainage Cabinet Working Group to be composed of three members of the administration and two members of the opposition with the following terms of reference:

(a)      To consider how a wider, more co-ordinated approach to managing flooding and drainage across the whole Borough could be achieved.

(b)      To liaise with the Environment Agency, Lancashire County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority, United Utilities, neighbouring Local Authorities, and any other relevant bodies on the issue of flooding and drainage.

(c)      To investigate any opportunities for relevant funding from appropriate bodies.

(d)      To report back to the relevant Portfolio Holder and Cabinet and, where appropriate, future meetings of Full Council with its findings and recommendations."

The Leader advised that although the matter was primarily the responsibility of Lancashire County Council, he would commit to forming a Flooding and Drainage Cabinet Working Group.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings, to confirm, if appropriate, such of the minutes as require confirmation and to pass such resolutions as the Council may deem necessary:

Consideration was given to the minutes of the undermentioned meetings of the Committees shown.

RESOLVED  That the minutes of the undermentioned meetings and any recommendations contained therein, be approved:

A.    Planning Committee held on Thursday 21 February and 21  March 2019.

B.    Standards Committee held on Tuesday 19 March 2019.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Executive, as contained on pages 1017 to 1048 of the Book of Reports, which sought approval for the Council Plan 2019-2020/21.

Members were advised that a revised Appendix A had been circulated separately prior to the meeting, together with a Motion.

The Motion was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken, the Motion was CARRIED.  

RESOLVED:   That the “Council Plan 2019/20 – 2020/21” set out in the revised Appendix A, be adopted, subject to the revision of the wording in the last paragraph on page 1 as follows:

"This will mean replacing Nye Bevan and Park Pool in Skelmersdale and Ormskirk, and improvements to Burscough Sports and Racquet Club".

To consider the report of the Borough Treasurer.

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Treasurer, as contained on pages 1049 to 1054 of the Book of Reports, which outlined investment alternatives for cash holdings and detailed the associated risks.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted and that potential options for cash investments be included in the Sustainable Organisation Review that will be reported to the Council meeting in July 2019.

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Solicitor, as contained on pages 1055 to 1056 of the Book of Reports, to appoint the Chairman of Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the Chairman of Planning Committee.

Members were advised that a Motion had been circulated prior to the meeting.

The Motion was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken, the Motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:     A.   That Councillor Susan Evans be appointed Chairman of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

                        B.   That Councillor David Evans be appointed Chairman of the Planning Committee and Councillor Gaynar Owen be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee for the remainder of the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

It is recommended that members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item(s) of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 & 3 (Individual & Financial/Business Affairs) 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 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the 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 paragraphs 1 & 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of that 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.

To consider the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment, as contained on pages 1057 to 1076 of the Book of Reports, which sought authority to implement the proposed strategy for the Community Asset Transfer of Banks Leisure Centre.

RESOLVED:   That the Director of Leisure and Environment, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Human Resources, be authorised to utilise existing budgets as set out in section 9.1 of the report, in order to facilitate the transfer of the facility and that the resources identified as being required in section 9.2 of the report, be allocated. 

(Note:Councillors Blane and Hennessy declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and left the room whilst this item was under consideration.)

To consider the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration, as contained on pages 1077 to 1084 of the Book of Reports, which sought authority to purchase a site on New Court Way, Ormskirk, from Lancashire County Council.

RESOLVED:   That authority be granted to the Director of Development and Regeneration to take all necessary steps to purchase the land hatched on the plan attached at Appendix A to the report, with the cost funded through internal borrowing.