Agenda item

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal and 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.         All Members present declared a pecuniary interest in item 9 ‘Members’ Allowances Scheme 2023/24 and in relation to item 12 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2023/24’ but were entitled to speak and vote by virtue of an exemption. 

2.         a)    Councillors Bailey, Mrs Blake, Blundell, Gordon, Howard, Mrs Marshall, Mee, Gaynar Owen, Patel, Pope, Sutton, Whittington and Witter declared a pecuniary interest in relation to relevant lines in the budget in respect of item 11 ‘GRA Revenue & Capital Programme Budget Setting 2023/24’ in relation to Parish Council matters 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.* 

            b)     Councillors Aldridge, Bailey, O'Toole, Pope and D Westley declared a pecuniary interest in relation to relevant lines in the budget in respect of item 11 ‘GRA Revenue & Capital Programme Budget Setting 2023/24’, as Members of Lancashire County Council (LCC) as did Councillors Coughlan, Cummins and Gagen as employees of LCC, and indicated that they would not participate in any detailed discussions which affected LCC.*

c)    Councillor Mee declared a pecuniary interest in relation to relevant lines in the budget in respect of item 11 ‘GRA Revenue & Capital Programme Budget Setting 2023/24’, as an member of the Executive Committee on Dial a Ride.

* 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.

3.         Councillors Bailey, Mrs Blake, Blundell, Gordon, Howard, Mrs Marshall, Mee, Gaynar Owen, Patel, Pope, Sutton, Whittington and Witter declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2023/24’ in view of their membership of a Parish Council. 

4.         Councillors Aldridge, Bailey, O'Toole, Pope and D Westley declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2023/24’, item 19 'Acquisition and Development of Land in Skelmersdale' and item 21b 'Motion - £2 bus fares for West Lancashire residents', as Members of Lancashire County Council, as did Councillors Coughlan, Cummins and Gagen as an employee of Lancashire County Council.

5.         Councillors Gaynar Owen, Nixon, West and J Wilkie(Tenant of a Council flat/house) Coughlan and Gregson (Tenants of a Council garage) declared disclosable pecuniary interests in relation to item 14 ‘Housing Account – Revenue and Capital Budget Setting’ 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).

6.         Councillors Aldridge, Gregson, Mee, Nixon, Rigby, Sutton and K Wilkiedeclared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 14 ‘Housing Account – Revenue and Capital Programme’ as they have 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.

7.         Councillors Pope and David Westley declared a non pecuniary interest in item 8 ‘Pay Policy Statement 2022/23’ as a member of the Lancashire County Council Pension Fund Committee.

8.         Councillor O’Toole declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2023/24’ as a Member of Lancashire Combined Fire & Rescue Authority and Councillor K Wilkie as an employee.

9.         Councillors Marshall and Rigby declared a disclosable pecuniary interests/pecuniary interests in relation to item 13 'Council Tax Reforms – Second Homes and Empty Homes), as a landlord of private rented property and left the room whilst the item was under consideration.