Agenda item

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Head of Legal and Democratic Services 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 2024/25 and in relation to item 12 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2024/25’, but were entitled to speak and vote by virtue of an exemption. 

2.         a)    Councillors Blundell, de Freitas, Gordon, Howard, Mrs Marshall, Gaynar Owen, Patel, Webster, Whittington and Witter declared a pecuniary interest in relation to relevant lines in the budget in respect of item 11 'GRA Revenue Report and MTFS Update 2024/25 to 2026/27' and item 12 'Capital Strategy And Programme 2024/25 to 2026/27', 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, Fillis, N Hennessy 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’ and item 12 'Capital Strategy And Programme 2024/25 to 2026/27' 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.*

* 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 Blundell, de Freitas, Gordon, Howard, Mrs Marshall, Gaynar Owen, Patel, Webster, Whittington and Witter declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2024/25’, item 15 ‘Capital Finance and Treasury Management Strategy’, item 18 'Statutory Polling Review 2024' and item 19 'NNDR Discretionary Scheme' in view of their membership of a Parish Council. 

4.         Councillors Aldridge, Bailey, Fillis, N Hennessy and D Westley declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2024/25’, item 21 ' Public Health, Healthy Weight Collaboration Agreement', item 25 'Tawd Valley Developments Limited – Business Plan Update',  item 26a 'Devolution Deal - Lancashire - Motion', and item 26b 'Highways – Motion', 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 and West (Tenant of a Council flat/house) Coughlan (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, de Freitas, Nixon and Rigbydeclared 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 Fillis declared a non pecuniary interest in item 8 ‘Pay Policy Statement 2024/25’ as a member of the Lancashire County Council Pension Fund Committee.

8.         Councillor Nikki Hennessy declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2024/25’ as a Member of Lancashire Combined Fire & Rescue Authority.

9.         Councillor Dowling declared a non pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item                                      12 ‘Determination of Council Tax 2024/25' as a member appointed to the Police and Crime Panel.