Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Hogan and Pope. 

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.)

The following declarations were received:

1.         Councillors Blundell, de Freitas, Gordon, Howard, Mrs Marshall, Gaynar Owen, Patel, Webster, Whittington and Witter declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 9 ' Council Vision and Priorities 2023-2028' in view of their membership of a Parish Council.

2.         Councillors Aldridge, Bailey, Fillis, N Hennessy, Rear and D Westley declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 9 ' Council Vision and Priorities 2023-2028'' and item 13 'West Lancashire Youth Mayor/Ambassador', as Members of Lancashire County Council, as did Councillors Coughlan, Cummins and Gagen as an employee of Lancashire County Council.

To receive as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 July 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2023 were received as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor announced the following fund raising events:

1.     Friday Oct 27^th Halloween Party at E Rooms from 7pm tickets are £10 from Councillor Carl Coughlan  

2.     Sunday 3^rd December - "The Mayors Christmas Spectacular" - is a massive Christmas Fair at the Buffs Club, Quarry Bank, Skelmersdale. This is a children and families event with lots of children's activities. Come to see Santa's arrival on his magic Sleigh and visit him in his Grotto.

3.     Friday and Saturday 15 and 16 December – there will be a present wrapping service provided by Upholland Rotary at the Concourse, Skelmersdale.  All proceeds to go to raise money for my charities.

:

There were no items under this heading.

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 in them, be approved:

A.     Audit & Governance Committee - Wednesday, 26 July 2023  

B.     Planning Committee - Thursday, 27 July and 7 September 2023

C.    Standards Committee - Tuesday, 19 September 2023

D.    Licensing & Gambling Committee – Tuesday, 3 October 2023

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

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor R Molloy)

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, as contained on pages 33 to 46 of the Book of Reports, which set out details of the proposed Social Value Policy.

The minutes of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet had been circulated prior to the meeting.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the Social Value Policy is noted and approved.

B.     That authority be given to Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services to make and approve changes to the Social Value Policy to reflect any changes to Law or Regulatory Guidance with no further reference to Council.

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

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, as contained on pages 47 to 72 of the Book of Reports, which presented the Council Annual Review 2022/23.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the Council Annual Review 2022/23 (Appendix 1) be noted.

B.     That authority be given to the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to make any minor final amendments to the document prior to publication.

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

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor R Molloy)

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, as contained on pages 73 to 102 of the Book of Reports, which sought approval of the Council Vision and Priorities 2023-2028.

The minutes of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet, including a revised Appendix A, were circulated prior to the meeting.

A Motion, circulated prior to the meeting, was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken, the Motion was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:   A.     That having regard to the comments from Executive Overview & Scrutiny and Cabinet along with the results from the public consultation contained in the report, the “Council Vision and Priorities 2023-2028" attached in the revised Appendix A, circulated prior to the meeting, be approved and adopted.

B.     That the proposed process for adopting a monitoring framework for the new Priorities, be taken through Executive Scrutiny and Cabinet in February/March 2024.

C.     That the proposed interim reporting arrangements for the remaining quarter performance reporting for 2023/24 be approved.

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

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, as contained on pages 103 to 136 of the Book of Reports, which presented the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2022/23 and considered how Overview and Scrutiny is working at West Lancashire.

RESOLVED:   That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2022/23, appended to the report, be noted and the Overview and Scrutiny Committees be commended on their work.

To consider the report of Simon Goacher, Independent Legal Advisor, on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer.

Consideration was given to the report of Simon Goacher, Independent Legal Adviser, on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer, as contained on pages 137 to 144 of the Book of Reports, which presented the draft terms of reference of the Policy and Resources Committee for approval.

Appendix 2, containing the draft Committee Structure, had been circulated prior to the meeting.

A Motion to approve the recommendations at paragraph 2 of the report, were moved and seconded.

An Amendment to the Motion to defer consideration of the report until an all Member Briefing is held, was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken on the Amendment, which was LOST.

A Further Amendment to the Motion, to include that a full Member Briefing be arranged as soon as possible, was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken on the Further Amendment, which was LOST

A vote was taken on the Motion, which as CARRIED.

RESOLVED:   A.     That a single Policy and Resources Committee be approved, when the Council moves to a committee system of governance from May 2024.

B.     That the Terms of Reference of the Policy and Resources Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

To consider the report of Mr Simon Goacher, Independent Legal Advisor, on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer.

Consideration was given to the report of Simon Goacher, Independent Legal Adviser, on behalf of the Chief Operating Officer, the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, as contained on pages 145 to 150 of the Book of Reports, which presented information about virement levels adopted by other authorities and recommended approval of the revised virements levels as set out in the report.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the amendment of the virement approval levels in the Budget and Policy Framework be approved as follows:

Service Head                                                   £25,000

Chief Officers and Section 151 Officer              £50,000

Cabinet                                                           £100,000

(Policy & Resources Committee from May 2024)        

Full Council                                              over £100,000

B.     That the Proper Officer Provisions and Scheme of Delegation to Chief Officers etc (Constitution 4.2 to 4.2C), C. To the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services (as section 151 officer) to increase write off levels to £25,000, be amended as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

C.     That the Head of Legal & Democratic Services update the Constitution accordingly.

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

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, as contained on pages 151 to 154 of the Book of Reports, which provided an update position on the future of a Youth Mayor/Ambassador.

A Motion to approve the recommendation at paragraph 2 of the report, was moved and seconded.

An Amendment, that the Report with the information agreed by Full Council on the 12 October 2022 be brought to the February 2024 Meeting of the Full Council, was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken on the Amendment, which at the request of a Member, was recorded as follows:

FOR:                Councillors Bailey, Blundell, Daniels, Eccles, de Freitas, Gordon, Howard, Juckes, Mrs Marshall, Rear, Rigby, Webster, D Westley, Mrs Westley, Whittington and Witter (SIXTEEN)

AGAINST:        Councillors Aldridge, Anderson, Burnside, Coughlan, Cummins, Devine, Dowling, Fennell, Fillis, Finch, Fowler, Furey, Gagen, N Hennessy, P Hennessy, Lawson, Lloyd, Marsh-Pritchard, Molloy, Nixon, Owen, Parlour, Patel, Pryce-Roberts, West and Yates (TWENTY SIX)

ABSTENSION: Councillor Hesketh (ONE)

The Amendment was LOST.

A vote was taken on the Motion, which was CARRIED.

RESOLVED:   That further work be undertaken to explore best value options to promote youth involvement in decision making and youth related activities within the borough whether that be via a Youth Mayor/Ambassador or other role/mechanism.