Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Gagen.

If, by virtue of the date by which a decision must be taken, it has not been possible to follow Rule 15 (i.e. a matter which is likely to be the subject of a key decision has not been included on the Forward Plan) then the decision may still be taken if:

a)    The Borough Solicitor, on behalf of the Leader, obtains the agreement of the Chairman of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the making of the decision cannot be reasonably deferred,

b)    The Borough Solicitor, on behalf of the Leader, makes available on the Council’s website and at the offices of the Council, a notice setting out the reasons that the decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred.

There were no items of special urgency.

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.)

Councillor J Hodson declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6(e) (West Lancashire Green Infrastructure and Cycling Strategy) in relation to references to future linear parks planned at Banks and Tarleton, as a landowner and indicated that he would not participate in any detailed discussion which affected that interest.

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 5.00pm on Thursday 7 September 2017.  A copy of the public speaking protocol and form to be completed is attached.

There were no items under this heading.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting of Cabinet held on 13 June 2017

RESOLVED             That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 13 June 2017 be received as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

Consideration was given to the report relating to the following matters requiring decisions as circulated on pages 223 – 618 of the Book of Reports.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Y Gagen)

The Leader introduced the report of the Director of Leisure and Wellbeing which considered a proposal for Section 106 monies received by the Council from housing developers to be used for the enhancement of public open space provision in Banks.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED              That the use of £36,736 of S106 monies to help fund the proposed project to improve the public open space at Hesketh Avenue Playing Fields, Banks be approved.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor I Moran)

The Leader introduced the report of the Borough Solicitor which reported upon the Council’s use of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and presented an updated RIPA policy document.

Minute no. 22 of the Audit and Governance Committee meeting held on 5 September 2017 was circulated at the meeting.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the minute of the Audit & Governance Committee and the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED              That the updated RIPA Policy at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor I Moran)

The Leader introduced the report of the Borough Transformation Manager and Deputy Director of Housing & Inclusion which presented performance monitoring data for the quarter ended 30 June 2017.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  (A)       That the Council’s performance against the indicator set for the quarter ended 30 June 2017 be noted.

(B)       That the call-in procedure is not appropriate for this item as the report will be submitted to the meeting of the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 October 2017.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor C Wynn)

Councillor Wynn introduced the report of the Borough Treasurer which set out details on the key risks facing the Council and how they are being managed.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED              That the progress made in relation to the management of the risks shown in the Key Risks Register at Appendix A to the report be noted and endorsed.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Hodson)

Councillor J Hodson introduced the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration which advised of the feedback from the public consultation on the draft West Lancashire Green Infrastructure and Cycling Strategy.   He sought endorsement of the responses to the feedback outlined within the Consultation Summary Report and the adoption of the amended Green Infrastructure and Cycling Strategy.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  (A)    That the proposed responses to the feedback received through public consultation upon the draft West Lancashire Green Infrastructure and Cycling Strategy, as contained in the Consultation Summary Report at Appendix A to the report, be endorsed. 

                        (B)    That the amended West Lancashire Green Infrastructure and Cycling Strategy attached at Appendix B to the report be adopted.

                      (C)    That the Director of Development and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments to the West Lancashire Green Infrastructure and Cycling Strategy.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Hodson)

Councillor J Hodson introduced the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration which sought authority to publicly consult on the draft CIL Funding Programme for 2018/19, which included options for prioritising potential infrastructure projects for receipt of CIL Funding in this year.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED              That the public consultation on the options identified at paragraph 4.2 of the report and the shortlist of infrastructure projects identified at paragraph 4.1 of the report be approved.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Hodson)

Councillor J Hodson introduced the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration which advised on the introduction of new regulations requiring the Council to prepare and maintain a Brownfield Land Register.  He referred to the implications in relation to the placing of land on part 2 of the Register and to the need for provision to be made within the Council’s Constitution in order to effect decision making in this regard.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  (A)    That authority be delegated to the Director of Development and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, to publish, review and maintain Part 1 of the Brownfield Land Register and to propose land for inclusion in Part 2 of the Register.

                        (B)    That authority be delegated to the Director of Development and Regeneration to carry out all necessary publication, notification and consultation procedures pursuant to resolution (A) above.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Hodson)

Councillor J Hodson introduced the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration which sought approval for a change in the management of the Self Build and Custom Build Register, including the vetting of the financial ability of an applicant to undertake self build together with an appropriate protocol and the setting of an application fee.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  (A)    That the new Self Build and Custom Build Register Application Form provided at Appendix B to the report be approved.

                        (B)    That the proposal to set a fee of £120 per application to the Self Build and Custom Build Register be approved and that authority be delegated to the Director of Development and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, to review and amend the application fee to reflect costs associated with the application process as necessary each year.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Hodson)

Councillor J Hodson introduced the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration which sought approval for an updated Local Development Scheme in order to reflect a minor amendment to the Local Plan Review timetable and for additional funding in order to undertake evidence base studies necessary to inform the Local Plan Review.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  (A)    That the Local Development Scheme attached at Appendix A to the report be approved for publication.

                        (B)    That funding of £50,000 be approved from the Major Projects Reserve to fund additional evidence base studies required to inform the Local Plan Review.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor C Wynn)

Councillor Wynn introduced the report of the Borough Treasurer which provided a summary of the capital outturn position for the 2016/17 financial year.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  (A)    That the final positon, including slippage, on the Capital Programme for the 2016/2017 financial year be noted and endorsed.

                        (B)    That call-in is not appropriate for this item as the report is being submitted to the next meeting of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 September 2017.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor C Wynn)

Councillor Wynn introduced the report of the Borough Treasurer which provided an overview of the current progress on the Capital Programme.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  (A)    That the progress on the Capital Programme as at the end of July 2017 be noted.

                        (B)    That call-in is not appropriate for this item as the report is being submitted to the next meeting of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 September 2017.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor I Moran)

The Leader introduced the report of the Director of Leisure and Wellbeing which presented the final report and recommendations of the review conducted by the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee entitled “West Lancashire Tourism – The Visitor Economy”.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  (A)    That the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee be complimented on their work.

(B)    That the following recommendations contained in the final report of the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee on West Lancashire Tourism – The Visitor Economy be approved:

(1)     That the Council (subject to resource availability) work with our partners to:

(i)     continue to support West Lancashire as a visitor destination.

(ii)    continue to work with Marketing Lancashire for the benefit of promoting West Lancashire.

(iii)  continue to develop and build on relationships established with the Head of Visitor Economy for the Liverpool City Region (Liverpool Local Enterprise Partnership) in the promotion of West Lancashire.

(iv)  draw on the experiences of Visit Southport and Visit Liverpool to provide something similar for West Lancashire to include joining Visit Liverpool to provide something similar for West Lancashire.

(v)    continue to work with businesses and organisations within West Lancashire to promote projects and initiatives that benefit the local economy, including bringing forward accommodation projects and increasing advertisement of accommodation.  

(vi)  seek to further improve the promotion of West Lancashire and the importance of

(a)       gaining customer insight to respond to visitor expectations;

(b)       first impressions for visitors coming into West Lancashire;

(c)       a collaborative approach to promote West Lancashire as a visitor destination;

(d)       the Borough’s key specialist heritage sites (including Ormskirk Parish Church, National Trust Rufford Old Hall and Moor Hall);

(e)       enhancing the visitor experience (coach trips; specialist canal boat trips);

(f)        changing and developing the public’s perception of West Lancashire as a “gateway” rather than a “drive-through” or “one stop” destination.

(g)       continuance of the research being undertaken, as part of the Ormskirk Town Centre Strategy, into coach travel to increase knowledge and better target visitor groups.

(h)      WWT Martin Mere, Burscough and its links with the community, local schools and Parish Council through initiatives, projects and future development of the visitor attraction.

(2)     That the final report of the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committees review  to  be circulated to Marketing Lancashire, Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership, Liverpool Enterprise Partnership,  WWT Martin Mere Wetlands Centre, Edge Hill University, scrutiny at Lancashire County Council and published on the Council and Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) web-sites.

(3)     That the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee review its recommendations in March 2018.

(C)    That the final report of the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee on West Lancashire Tourism – The Visitor Economy, attached at Appendix A, be approved.

(D)    That the final report and recommendations at (B) above (approved, subject to resources) be submitted to Council for approval on 18 October 2017.

(E)    That call-in is not appropriate for this item as it has previously been considered by the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Hodson)

Report to follow

Councillor J Hodson introduced the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration which considered the Council’s proposed response to a consultation by Burscough Parish Council on its draft Burscough Parish Neighbourhood Plan.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  (A)    That, subject to (B) below, the proposed Council comments on the draft Neighbourhood Plan (provided at Appendix B) be approved as the Council's formal response to the Regulation 14 public consultation.

                        (B)    That authority is delegated to the Director of Development and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, to make any necessary amendments to the Council's formal response following consideration of any agreed comments provided by the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 28 September 2017.

                        (C)    That call-In is not appropriate for this item as a report is being submitted to the next meeting of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 September 2017.