Agenda and minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain for the evening, Reverend Phil Jump, led Members and officers in prayer.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Bailey, Ingman, Jukes, Lloyd and Molloy.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Chief Legal and Democratic Services Officer (Monitoring 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 Blundell, de Freitas, Eccles, Gordon, Howard, Mrs Marshall, Mee, Gaynar Owen, Patel, Webster, Whittington and Witter declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 11 '2023-24 GRA Capital Outturn' in view of their membership of a Parish Council.

2.         Councillors Aldridge, Fillis, N Hennessy and D Westley declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 11 '2023-24 GRA Capital Outturn' and item 12 'Housing Account – Revenue & Capital Outturn', as Members of Lancashire County Council, as did Councillors Coughlan and Gagen as an employee of Lancashire County Council.

3.         Councillors Gaynar Owen, Nixon and West (Tenant of a Council flat/house) Coughlan (Tenants of a Council garage) declared disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to item 12 ‘Housing Account – Revenue & Capital Outturn’ for the reasons indicated but were entitled to speak and vote by virtue of an exemption (nothing in these reports relates particularly to their respective interests arising from the tenancy or lease).

4.         Councillor Aldridge, de Freitas, Nixon and Rigby declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 'Housing Account – 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 previous meeting held on Wednesday, 15 May 2024.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday, 15 May 2024 be received as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor announced that Civic Sunday would be held on 22 September 2024 at 2pm, St Teresa's Church, Up Holland.

There were no items under this heading.

To receive the minutes of the following meetings, to confirm, if appropriate, such of the minutes as require confirmation and to pass such resolutions as the Council may deem necessary:

Consideration was given to the minutes of the undermentioned meetings of the Committees shown.

RESOLVED    That the minutes of the undermentioned meetings and any recommendations contained in them, be approved:

A.     Licensing & Appeals Committee – Tuesday 2 April and 4 June 2024

B.     Standards Committee – Wednesday 17 April 2024

C.    Planning Committee – Thursday 25 April, 23 May and 20 June  2024

D.    Audit & Governance Committee – Wednesday 29 May 2024

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

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor M Anderson)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources, as contained on pages 41 to 84 of the Book of Reports, which detailed the Procurement Strategy 2024- 2029.

The Minute of the Audit & Governance Committee was attached to the report.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the Procurement Strategy is noted.

B.     That future reporting of the Procurement Strategy should be to Audit and Governance Committee.

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

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor N Pryce-Roberts)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing & Environment, as contained on pages 85 to 92 of the Book of Reports, which sought approval to commence phase 1 of a new housing scheme at Blythewood and Banksbarn.

RESOLVED: That the proposed new Blythewood & Banksbarn phase 1 housing scheme as set out in the report be given approval to be delivered.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources
(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor Anderson)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources, as contained on pages 93 to 98 of the Book of Reports, which provided a summary of the outturn position on the General Revenue Account (GRA) for the 2023/24 financial year, noting the Councils use of GRA reserves and balances.

The Minute of the Policy & Resources Committee had been circulated.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the revenue outturn position of the 2023/24 GRA be noted.

B.     To note that the use of reserves required was £182k more than was budgeted.

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

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor Anderson)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources, as contained on pages 99 to 116 of the Book of Reports, which  provided a summary of the capital outturn position on the General Revenue Account (GRA) for the 2023/2024 financial year.

The Minute of the Policy & Resources Committee had been circulated.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the Capital outturn position be and the proposed Capital allocation set out in Appendix 1 be noted.

B.     That the Capital programme and Re-profiling in Appendix 1 be approved.

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

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor N Pryce-Roberts)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources, as contained on pages 117 to 128 of the Book of Reports, which provided a summary of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue and capital outturn positions for the 2023/24 financial year.

The Minute of the Policy & Resources Committee had been circulated.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the financial outturn position of the 2023/24 HRA and Capital Investment Programme be noted.

B.     That the allocation of revenue funds in paragraphs 4.4 and 4.5 of the report, be approved.

C.     That capital reprofiling and the release of capital budget identified in table 5.1 and paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the report, be approved.

D.     That the switching of funding from HRA borrowing to HRA revenue contributions and capital receipts in paragraph 5.5 of the report, be approved.

E.     That the 2024/25 budget virements in paragraphs 5.6 and 5.7 of the report, be approved.

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

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor M Anderson)

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance & Corporate Resources, as contained on pages 129 to 140 of the Book of Reports, which detailed the Treasury Management performance and Prudential Indicators for the year ended 31 March 2024.

The Minute of the Policy & Resources Committee had been circulated.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the investment performance detailed in paragraph 5.3 of the report, be noted.

B.     That the prudential indicators set out in paragraph 8.1 of the report, be agreed.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

(Relevant Lead Member: Councillor Y Gagen)

Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Executive, as contained on pages 141 to 148 of the Book of reports, which set out the Council's proposed response to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to its letter to all Council Chief Executives in England on 16th April 2024 requesting the submission of Productivity Plans by 19th July 2024.

It was noted that DLUHC was now known as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

RESOLVED: That the Council's response to DLUHC (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) on Productivity Plans be  approved.

There are no items under this heading.

There were no items under this heading.