Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.

In accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 4, the Committee noted the termination of Councillor T de Freitas and the appointment of Councillor J Mee for this meeting only, thereby giving effect to the wishes of the Political Groups.

Note:  No other business is permitted unless by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairperson is of the opinion that the item(s) shuld be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Chief Legal and Democratic Services Officer, 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 Mee and Whittington declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 11 'Capital Programme Out-Turn' in view of their membership of a Parish Council.

2.        Councillors Bailey and D Westley declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 8 'Council Performance Delivery – Q4 2023/24, Item 11 'Capital Programme Outturn' and item 12 'Housing Account – Draft Revenue & Capital Outturn', as Members of Lancashire County Council, as did Councillors Coughlan and Gagen as an employee of Lancashire County Council.

3.        Councillor Rigbydeclared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 'HRA – Revenue & Capital Outturn' as he has a connected person who is a tenant of rented Council accommodation. Insofar as that interest becomes a pecuniary interest (as it would affect the financial position of their relative and a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard this as so significant that it is likely to prejudice their judgement of the public interest) they declared that interest but considered that they were entitled to speak and vote by virtue of an exemption as nothing in these reports relates particularly to the relevant tenancy or lease.

There are no minutes to receive as this is the first meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee.

There were no minutes to receive.

To note the appointment of Working Groups for 2024/25 as circulated at the Annual Meeting on 15 May 2024, with the terms of reference now included in the Constitution:

1.     Landlord Services Committee (Working Group)

2.     Member Development Commission

3.     Tawd Valley Developments & Estates Regeneration Working Group

AGREED:    That the appointments of Working Groups for 2024/25 as circulated at the Annual Meeting on 15 May 2024, with the terms of reference now included in the Constitution.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Planning & Regulatory Services

(Relevant Lead Mermber: Councillor G Dowling)

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director of Planning and Regulatory Services as contained on pages 9 to 14 of the Book of Reports which sought authorisation to allocate Section 106 (S106) commuted sums received from planning permission 2013/0030/OUT, for the provision of children's play space, outdoor green gym and associated environmental improvements at North Meols Leisure Centre.

AGREED:    That the Policy and Resources Committee approves the allocation and spending of £120,000 of the S106 off-site open space commuted sum received in relation to planning permission 2013/0030/OUT for the provision of children's play space, outdoor green gym and associated environmental improvements at North Meols Leisure Centre.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director of Corporate & Customer Services

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor Anderson)

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director of Corporate and Customer Services as contained on pages 15 to 29 of the Book of Reports the purpose of which was to present the performance monitoring data for the quarter ended 31 March 2024.

AGREED:      That the Council's performance for its key performance indicators for the quarter ended 31 March 2024 be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Resources

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor Anderson)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance and Resources as contained on pages 31 to 39 of the Book of Reports the purpose of which was to inform Members of the Treasury Management performance and Prudential Indicators for the year ended 31 March 2024..

AGREED:      (A)    That the investment performance in paragraph 5.3 of the report be noted.

                      (B)    That the prudential indicators as set out in paragraph 8.1 of the report be noted.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance and Resources as contained on pages 41 to 44 of the Book of Reports the report provided a summary of the outturn position on the General Revenue Account (GRA) for the 2023/24 financial year, noting the Council's use of GRA reserves and balances.

It was also noted that the report was no longer a draft as indicated in the report.

AGREED:        That the revenue outturn position of the 2023/24 GRA be noted and any comments forwarded to the Finance Lead Member in advance of Council on the 17 July 2024.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance & Resources.

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor Anderson)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance and Resources as contained on pages 45 to  60 of the Book of Reports which provided a summary of the Capital Outturn position on the General Revenue Account (GRA) for the 2023/24 finance year.

AGREED:  (A)   That the Capital Outturn position and the proposed Capital allocation set out in Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

                  (B)    That the Capital Programme and re-profiling in Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Resources

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor Anderson)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance and Resources as contained on pages 61 to 70 of the Book of Reports and the minute from Landlord Services Committee (Working Group) held on the 19 June 2024 as circulated in the Late Information report.

AGREED:        That the draft financial outturn position of the 2023/24 and Capital Investment Programme be noted and any comments forwarded to the Housing Lead Member in advance of Council on 17 July 2024.