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 Howard 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 spexified at the meeting, the Chairperson is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no item of urgent business.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interestm 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 of interest were received:-

1.       Councillors Bailey and D Westley declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 7 'Council Priorities Delivery Plan – Q4 2023/24, item 11 'HRA 2024/25 Monitoring – Revenue & Capital Outturn', Item 12 '2024/25 Q1 GRA Capital Report' and Item 16, 'Skelmersdale Town Centre Draft Masterplan'  as Members of Lancashire County Council, as did Councillors Coughlan and Gagen as an employee of Lancashire County Council.

2.        Councillor Rigby declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 11 'HRA 2024/25 Q1 Monitoring– 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

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee held 25 June 2024.

 AGREED   :      That the minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee held on the 25 June 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Director of Housing and Environment.                      (Lead Member: Councillor Pryce-Roberts).

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing and Environment as contained on pages 13 to 26 of the Book of Reports the report provided an update on the Quarter 3 and 4 Customer Feedback data received in relation to the Council's responsive repairs and kitchen replacement contractor Wates, and the actions being taken as a result of the data to improve the service provided.

AGREED:  (A)     That the update provided in the report be noted.

                   (B)     That a further update be brought back to a future Landlord Services Working Group and also a future Policy and Resources Committee on the complaints handling process.  

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

(Lead Member:  Councillor Pryce-Roberts).

 Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director of Corporate and Customer Services as contained on pages 27 to 46 of the Book of Reports the purpose of which was to present performance monitoring data to the quarter ended 30 June 2024.

AGREED:     That the Council's corporate performance for the quarter ended 30 June 2024 be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Housing and Environment.

(Lead Member: Councillor Pryce-Roberts)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing and Environment as contained on pages 47 to 66 of the Book of Reports the report provided an update on the refreshed Tenant Involvement Framework (Appendix A)and the revised terms of reference and protocol for tenant members of the Landlord Services Working Group (Appendix B and C).

AGREED:       That the Tenant Involvement Framework, attached at Appendix A to the report and the Landlord Services Working Group's revised terms of reference attached as Appendix B to the report and the protocol for tenants, leaseholders and independent members of the Landlord Services Working Group at Appendix C to the report be approved.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director of Corporate and Customer Services. (Lead Member: Councillor Gagen).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director of Corporate and Customer Services as contained on pages 67 to 98 of the Book of Reports the report contained the refreshed and updated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-26 and amended Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Objectives for the Council.

AGREED:   That the refreshed and updated strategy document and the revised and updated details at Appendix 3, be approved. 

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Resources

(Lead Member: Councillor Anderson).

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance and Resources as contained on pages 99 to 104 of the Book of Reports the report provided a summary of the General Revenue Account (GRA) position for the 2024/25 financial year based upon Quarter 1 monitoring (Q1).

AGREED:   That the GRA Revenue position be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Resources

(Lead Member: Councillor Pryce-Roberts).

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance and Resources as contained on pages 105 to 110 of the Book of Reports the report provided a summary of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Housing Capital Programme positions for the 2024/25 financial year based upon Quarter 1 monitoring (Q1).

AGREED:   That the HRA Q1 position for Revenue and Capital be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Resources

Lead Member: Councillor Anderson

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance and Resources as contained on pages 111 to 116 of the Book of Reports the purpose of which was to note the Revised Revenue Account (GRA) Capital Programme for 2024/25 and provide an update on progress on Capital Schemes.

AGREED:      (A)   That the revised Capital Programme, including the budget adjustments contained within Appendix A of the report be noted.

  (B)   That the progress against the Revised Capital Programme at Quarter 1 be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Resources

(Lead Member: Councillor Anderson).

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance and Resources as contained on pages 117 to of the Book of Reports the report set out details of the Treasury Management Operations for the first quarter of 2024/25 and to report on the Prudential Indicators where available.

AGREED:      That the Treasury Management activity and Prudential Indicator performance for the first quarter of 2024/25 be noted.

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

(Lead Member: Councillor Dowling).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director of Planning & Regulatory Services as contained on pages 125 to 226 of the Book of Reports the report advised Members on the preparation of a revised Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 Governance and Expenditure Framework (the framework).  It was noted that the new framework was to supersede that previously adopted and last revised in 2020.   The revision had been necessary to ensure that the framework remains the most appropriate and effective approach for CIL and S106 expenditure.

AGREED:      (A)  That the revisions to the Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106 Governance and Expenditure Framework, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

                        (B)   That the 2024 CIL Funding Programme shall commence immediately with funding made available to successful applications in April 2025.

                       (C)   That consideration be given to the proposed changes to the Constitution as outlined in Appendix 3 of the report.

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

(Lead Member: Councillor Dowling).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director of Planning and Regulatory Services as contained on pages 227 to 260 of the Book of Reports the report sought authorisation to allocate strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding of £238,623.68 to the Canal and River Trust (CRT) to spend on the delivery of Improvements to a section of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal Towpath between Halsall and Scarisbrick Marina.

AGREED:         (A)   That the allocation of £238,623.68 of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy funding for the Canal and River Trust bid for Halsall-Scarisbrick Canal Towpath Improvements Project be approved.

   (B)  That, subject to the approval of this funding bid, the previous authorisation of 21 November 2023 for the allocation of £175,095.14 of CIL funding allocated towards this project be disregarded.

   (C)  That the Assistant Director of Planning and Regulatory Services be given delegated authority to enter into a Legal Grant Agreement with the Canal and River Trust and take all other associated steps to deliver the project using the CIL and S106 funding.

There are no items under this heading.

There were no items under this heading.

There are no items under this heading.

There were no items under this heading.

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 paragraph 3 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.

AGREED:       That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph  3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of that 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 Parlour)

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director of Environmental Services as contained on pages 261 to 268 of the Book of Reports the purpose of which was to seek authority to change the general and financial management of West Lancashire Borough Council's Electric Vehicle (EV) charge points.

AGREED:      (A)  That the Assistant Director of Environmental Services be given delegated authority to procure an external company to provide for the delivery and ongoing maintenance of  Electric Vehicle Charge Points in the borough of West Lancashire.

                       (B)  That the Assistant Director of Environmental Services be given delegated authority to change electric vehicle charge point tariffs where appropriate.

                       (C) That any income received from the electric vehicle charge points be initially allocated to fund/offset any expenditure relating to electric vehicle charging points with any surplus being absorbed into general council funds.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director of Planning and Regulatory.  (Lead Member: Councillor Dowling).

Consideration was given to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive as contained on pages 269 to 458 of the Book of Reports the purpose of which was to provide information about the draft Skelmersdale Town Centre Masterplan, including the approach to regeneration and renewal of the Town Centre and the proposed key projects and to seek approval to public consultation of the draft Masterplan at the end of October and November 2024.

The report also stated that subject to the outcome of a public consultation process the draft Masterplan would be finalised and recommended to Council for approval in February 2025.

AGREED:       That Council be recommended to:-

  (A)     That the proposed draft Masterplan for Skelmersdale Town Centre as set out in the report be approved for consultation purposes.

                         (B)    That the Deputy Chief Executive be given delegated authority to take all necessary steps and actions to arrange for public consultation of the draft Masterplan and to report back to Council in February 2025.