Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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 Nicola Pryce-Roberts and the appointment of Councillor Andrew Fowler 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) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items of 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 de Freitas, Eccles, Whittington and Witter declared a pecuniary interest in relation to item 7 ' GRA Revenue Budget Report and MTFS Update 25-28', item 9 'Capital Strategy and Programme 2025/26 to 2027/28' and item 10 Capital Finance and Treasury Management Strategy and a non-pecuniary interest in item 11 'Hate Crime Policy and Neighbourhood Management Policy' and item 12 'Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Funding Programme 2024' in view of their membership of a Parish Council and indicated they would not participate in any detailed discussions which affected the finances of those bodies specifically.*

2. Councillors Bailey and D Westley declared a pecuniary interest in relation to item7 ' GRA Revenue Budget Report and MTFS Update 25-28', item 8 'HRA Budget Setting Report 2025-26' item 12 'Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Funding Programme 2024' and a non-pecuniary interest in item 11 'Hate Crime Policy and Neighbourhood Management Policy' and item 15 'Commercial/Trade Food Waste Collections' as Members of Lancashire County Council, as did Councillors Coughlan and Gagen as an employee of Lancashire County Council and indicated that they would not participate in any detailed discussions which affected LCC.*.

3. Councillor de Freitas declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 8 'HRA Budget Setting Report 2025-26' 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

* By virtue of a dispensation granted by the Standards Committee all Councillors who have disclosable pecuniary or pecuniary interests in relation to relevant lines in the budget may participate and vote in the budget debates but not engage in detailed discussions about matters which affect those interests.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on the Tuesday, 19 November 2024.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 19 November 2024 be received as a correct record and signed by the Chairperson.

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 submission is 10.00am on Friday 31 January 2025.

Two requests to speak in relation to the report 'GRA Revenue Budget Report and MTFS Update 25-28' had been received.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources.

(Relevant Lead Member – Cllr Anderson)

Councillor Anderson introduced the report of the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, as contained on pages 19 to 42 of the Book of Reports, which provided an update on the position of the General Revenue Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

RESOLVED:

A.   That the General Revenue Account (GRA) budget for 2025/26 be noted.

B.   That the latest GRA Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) budget gap for 2026/27 to 2027/28 be noted.

C.   That the latest GRA reserves position as at 31 March 2024 and forecast to 2027/28 be noted and the GRA reserves policy be recommended to Council for approval.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Resources

(Lead Member: Councillor Pryce-Roberts).

Councillor Anderson introduced the report of the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, as contained on pages 43-62 of the Book of Reports, which provided information to enable the Council to set its Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget and capital investment programme for the next financial year 2025/26.

The minute of Landlord Services Working Group was circulated prior to the meeting.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources.

(Relevant Lead Member – Cllr Anderson)

Councillor Anderson introduced the report of the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, as contained on pages 63-72 of the Book of Reports, which sets the framework for capital financing and treasury management operations for the next financial year.

RESOLVED: That the Capital Strategy and Programme for 2025/26 is agreed.

To consider the report of the Director Finance and Resources

(Lead Member: Councillor M Anderson).

Councillor Anderson introduced the report of the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, as contained on pages 73-102 of the Book of Reports, which sets the framework for capital financing and treasury management operations for the next financial year.

RESOLVED:

A.   That the projected position in respect of the Prudential Indicators, set out in Appendix 1, be noted.

B.   That the Treasury and Prudential Indicators for the next three years, set out in Appendix 1, be noted.

C.   That the capital expenditure projections, in Appendix 1, be noted.

D.   That the Capital Financing Requirement (CFR) projections, in Appendix 1, be noted.

E.   That the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy be noted.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director of Housing.

(Relevant Lead Member – Cllr Pryce-Roberts)

Councillor Gagen introduced the report of the Assistant Director of Housing, as contained on pages 103-130 of the Book of Reports, which sought approval of the new Hate Crime Policy and updated Neighbourhood Management Policy.

The minute of the Landlord Services Working Group was circulated prior to the meeting.

RESOLVED:

A.   The Hate Crime Policy and Neighbourhood Management Policy be approved and effective from 3 March 2025.

B.   That the updated Neighbourhood Management Policy be approved.

C.   That the Director of Housing and Environment be given delegated authority to implement future revisions of these policies following discussion with the Lead Member for Housing.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director of Planning and Regulatory Services.

(Relevant Lead Member – Cllr Dowling)

Councillor Dowling introduced the report of the Assistant Director of Planning and Regulatory Services, as contained on pages 131-236 of the Book of Reports, which presented bids received and consulted upon through the CIL Funding Programme for 2024 and proposed final recommendations for the allocation and expenditure of the CIL Funding Programme in 2024.

RESOLVED:

A.   That the public consultation feedback report, in Appendix 3, be noted.

B.   That Strategic CIL monies be allocated to the following 5 projects, to be delivered in 2025 - 2027:

                     I.        £11,610 - New Multi-Play Unit Equipment at Rufford Play Area. Rufford and Holmeswood Parish Council

                    II.        £79,868 - Firswood Road Bridge Safety Scheme, Lathom South. Lathom South Parish Council

                  III.        £78,100 - Helmsdale Play Area equipment replacement and improvements, Skelmersdale. WLBC

                  IV.        £95,000 - Fairy Glen Environmental Improvements Phase 2, Appley Bridge. WLBC

                   V.        £96,320 - Skelmersdale Heritage Trail and Pond Link Path at Tawd Valley Park. WLBC

To consider the report of the Assistant Director of Corporate and Customer Services.

(Relevant Lead Member – Cllr Anderson)

Councillor Anderson introduced the report of the Assistant Director of Corporate and Customer Services, as contained on pages 237-258 of the Book of Reports, which presented performance monitoring data for the quarter ended 30 September 2024.

RESOLVED:

A.   That the Council’s corporate performance for the quarter ending 30 September 2024 be noted.

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

To consider the report of the Assistant Director of Environmental Services

(Lead Member: Councillor S Lawton).

Councillor Lawton introduced the report of the Assistant Director of Environmental Services, as contained on pages 259-266 of the Book of Reports, seeking authority to introduce fees and charges to non-household municipal premises such as businesses, schools, and hospitals which will allow the implementation of commercial/trade food waste collections in West Lancashire by 31st March 2025.

RESOLVED:

A.   That the Director of Finance and Resources (Section 151 Officer) be given delegated authority to set and review fees and charges to enable delivery of a financially viable commercial/trade food waste collection.

B.   That delegated authority be given to the Director of Finance and Resources to apply an annual inflationary increase to fees and charges.