Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Kevin Wilkie.

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 Chief Operating Officer, 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 Chief Operating Officer, 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.

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 Friday 4 March 2022.

There were no items under this heading.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal & 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 Vicki Cummins and Yvonne Gagen declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda items relating to Lancashire County Council (LCC) as employees of Lancashire County Council and did not enter into detailed discussions, which affected LCC.

2.     Councillor Gaynar Owen (tenant of Council accommodation) declared a disclosable pecuniary interests in agenda items 6j 'HRA Revenue and Capital Monitoring' but considered that she was entitled to speak and vote by virtue of an exemption as nothing in the report relates particularly to the relevant tenancy or lease.

3.     Councillors Ian Moran and Gaynar Owen declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 6f 'Use Of Section 106 Funds In Up Holland' as members of the Up Holland Parish Council'.

To receive as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 25 January 2022.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 25 January 2022 be received as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

Consideration was given to reports relating to the following matters requiring decisions and contained on pages 1673 to 1945 of the Book of Reports:

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor I Moran)

Councillor Ian Moran introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation & Resources, which sought approval for the Corporate Performance Reporting for 2022/23.

A copy of the minute of Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 24 February 2022 had been circulated prior to the meeting.

A Motion had been circulated, which was moved and seconded.

A vote was taken, the Motion was CARRIED.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details set out in the report before it, the reasons contained therein and the agreed comments of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the suite of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and targets in Appendix A are approved and adopted for reporting as part of a Council Plan Corporate Delivery Plan to evidence progress with the Council Plan.

B.     That in respect of PI WL108 'Average answered waiting time for callers to the Contact Centre (seconds)' and the request from Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee to change the proposed target for 2022/23 from 145 seconds to 60 seconds, that officers undertake an evidence-based evaluation to model this, and the additional resources required and bring back a report to Cabinet for consideration.

C.     That in respect of PI WL157a 'No. visits to Leisure Facilities' and PI WL159 'No. attending Parks and Countryside events' the figures for 2022/23 be revised in accordance with the changing legislation.

D.     That a proposed new PI be formulated to reflect staff turnover/vacancy levels.

E.     That the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources, in consultation with the Leader of the Council as Portfolio Holder, be authorised to finalise and amend the suite (Appendix A) and to make necessary amendments to the suite in year in response to any issues that may arise, for example government policy or collection mechanisms.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Ian Moran)

Councillor Ian Moran introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation & Resources, which presented the performance monitoring data for the quarter ended 31 December 2021.

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

RESOLVED:    A.      That the Council’s performance against the Council Plan for the quarter ended 31 December 2021 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 & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 10 March 2022.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

Councillor Adam Yates introduced the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services, which detailed the operation of the Risk Management Framework over the last twelve months and the key risks facing the Council and how they are being managed and sought approval of recommended changes to the current Risk Management Policy & Toolkit.

A copy of the minute of Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee had been circulated prior to the meeting.

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

A vote was taken the Motion was CARRIED.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details set out in the report before it, the reasons contained therein and the agreed comments of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:   A.   That the continuing effective operation of the Risk Management Framework as detailed in the Annual Report 2021 (Appendix A) be noted.

B.   That the proposed amendments to the Risk Management Policy & Strategy (Appendix B) and Toolkit (Appendix C) be approved.

C.   That in respect of the agreed comments of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 24 February 2022, as detailed in the minute circulated, it be noted that risk ratings are constantly reviewed and are looked at as a minimum on a quarterly basis by the risk owner and are measured against the risk impact descriptor tables. 

D.   That the progress made in relation to the management of the risks shown in the Key Risk Register (Appendix D) be endorsed.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor I Moran)

Councillor Ian Moran introduced the report of the Legal and Democratic Services Manager, which advised on the Council's use of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Power's Act (RIPA) and presented the RIPA Policy document for approval.

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

RESOLVED:   That the Council's RIPA activity and the RIPA Policy at Appendix 1, be noted. 

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor G Owen)

Councillor Gaynar Owen considered the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community, which presented an updated Local Development Scheme for West Lancashire, reflecting changes in the timetable for preparing the Local Plan, and the inclusion of two additional planning policy documents in the Local Development Scheme.

The Minute of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24 February 2022 had been circulated prior to the meeting.

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

A vote was taken, the Motion was CARRIED.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details set out in the report before it, the reasons contained therein and the agreed comments of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:   A.   That the updated March 2022 Local Development Scheme within Appendix A to the report be approved.

B.   That the agreed comments of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 24 February 2022, in respect of the resources levels of the Planning Policy Team and the proposed new Local Plan timescale be noted.

C.   That the agreed comments of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, in respect of the work programme and frequency of meetings of the Local Plan Cabinet Working Group, be endorsed.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Gaynar Owen)

Councillor Gaynar Owen introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community, which sought approval to the use of Section 106 (S106) monies to deliver improvements to cycle infrastructure in Up Holland.

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

RESOLVED:   A.   That the use of £72,000 of S106 monies be approved to enable improvements to be made to cycle infrastructure in Up Holland.

B.   That delegated authority is granted to the Director of Place and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, to consider and authorise any reasonable changes to the details of this project that may be necessary to facilitate its subsequent delivery.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor G Owen)

Councillor Gaynar Owen introduced the report of the Corporate Director Place & Community, which sought approval for officers to commence work on a review of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule.

The minute of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 24 February 2022 had been circulated prior to the meeting.

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

RESOLVED:   That approval be given for officers to commence work on a review of the West Lancashire Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Gaynar Owen)

Councillor Gaynar Owen introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community, which outlined the proposed actions and detailed progress with implementing the recommendations of the planning services review.

The minutes of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 13 January and Planning Committee on 9 February 2022 had been circulated with the agenda.

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

RESOLVED:     That the Summary Level Project Plan, attached at appendix 1 to the report, be noted and endorsed.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Y Gagen)

Councillor Yvonne Gagen introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation & Resources, which presented the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy and the Equality Objectives for the period 2022 to 2026.

The minute of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 24 February 2022 had been circulated prior to the meeting.

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

RESOLVED:   A.   That the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy for the Council and the Equality Objectives 2022-2026, be approved.

B.   That the Equality Objectives form part of the relevant Head of Service, Service Action Plan targets.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Jenny Wilkie)

Councillor Jenny Wilkie introduced the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services, which provided a summary of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Housing capital programme positions for the 2021/22 financial year.

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

RESOLVED:   That the 2021/22 HRA and Housing capital programme positions be noted.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Yvonne Gagen)

To consider proposals for an event in Coronation Park Ormskirk and Beacon on 2nd June to celebrate Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee with additional related activities Borough wide.

The Minute of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 24 February 2022 had been circulated prior to the meeting.

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

RESOLVED:   That in order to make all necessary arrangements for the event being held on 2nd June 2022, the sum of up to £15,000 be identified from Reserves and balances to meet the associated costs.