Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Alan Hosker and County Councillor Mark Perks.

Announcements

The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020

The Chairman reported that County Councillor Bernard Dawson and County Councillor Mohammed Iqbal had both been appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020. County Councillor Dawson for public service and County Councillor Iqbal for services to local government in East Lancashire.

Full Council congratulated County Councillors Dawson and Iqbal.

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Alf Clempson, Champion for Armed Forces and Veterans, drew Full Council's attention to the recent Gold award status achieved by the county council. County Councillor Clempson reported on the initiatives and actions that had contributed to the achievement of the Gold award status and placed on record his thanks to members and officers for their support and work.

Baby Loss Awareness Week

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Lizzi Collinge drew Full Council's attention to Baby Loss Awareness Week which was taking place and, in particular, the global 'Wave of Light' initiative which would be taking place at 7pm that evening when individuals were invited to light a candle in remembrance.

No questions have been submitted under Standing Order B28.

No questions had been submitted under Standing Order B28.

Resolved: - That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 July 2020 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

County Councillor Geoff Driver moved a report setting out a proposed timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for 2021/2022.

Resolved: - That the timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Pension Fund Committee in respect of revised Terms of Reference for the Lancashire Local Pension Board.

Resolved: - That the recommendation of the Pension Fund Committee to approve the revised Terms of Reference for the Lancashire Local Pension Board, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report setting out a proposal for the delegation of pension administration functions from Hertfordshire County Council to Lancashire County Council.

Resolved: - That agreement be given to Hertfordshire County Council delegating its pension fund administration function to Lancashire County Council pursuant to section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972, as set out in the report, now presented.

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report setting out the Lancashire County Pension Fund's Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2020.

In moving the report, County Councillor Pope placed on record his thanks to Abigail Leech, who would shortly be leaving her role as the Head of the Pension Fund, for her work.

Resolved: - That the state of the Lancashire County Pension Fund and investment activities for the year ended 31 March 2020, as set out in the report, now presented, and detailed in the Lancashire County Pension Fund Annual Report 2019/20, be noted.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

With the agreement of the Chairman, an item of urgent business was considered by Full Council.

The reason for urgency was that, in recognition of the increasing prevalence of mental health issues amongst the population, especially reflecting the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, it was important that the new champion be in post and able to make a contribution as soon as possible.

County Councillor Geoff Driver moved a report setting out constitutional amendments requiring Full Council approval following the establishment of the new role of Champion for Mental Health.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The Constitution be amended to reflect the Cabinet decision to appoint a Champion for Mental Health, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

(ii)  The Director of Corporate Services be authorised to approve the detailed consequential amendments to the Constitution.

County Councillor Geoff Driver moved the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on 9 July 2020, 6 August 2020, 3 September 2020 and 1 October 2020, together with details of urgent Key Decisions taken since the last meeting of Full Council.

Resolved: - That the report of the Cabinet, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Geoff Driver moved the report of the Urgency Committee setting out details of the decision taken by the Chief Executive and Director of Resources under the county council's urgent business procedure on behalf of the Urgency Committee.

Resolved: - That the report of the Urgency Committee, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved the report of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee from its meeting on 27 July 2020.

Resolved: - That the report of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Geoff Driver moved the report of the Employment Committee from its meetings on 6 July 2020 and 7 September 2020.

Resolved: - That the report of the Employment Committee, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved the report of the Pension Fund Committee from its meeting on 18 September 2020.

Resolved: - That the report of the Pension Fund Committee, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor David O'Toole moved the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees from their meetings as follows:

Children's Services Scrutiny and Education Scrutiny Committees - 7 July 2020

Education and Children's Services Scrutiny Committee - 2 September 2020

External Scrutiny Committee - 31 July 2020

Health Scrutiny Committee - 15 September 2020

Internal Scrutiny Committee - 10 July 2020 and 11 September 2020

Resolved: - That the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Shaun Turner moved the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board from its meetings on 3 July 2020, 21 July 2020 and 8 September 2020.

Resolved: - That the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Frank De Molfetta moved the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meeting on 14 September 2020.

Resolved: - That the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, now presented, be noted.

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Gina Dowding and seconded by County Councillor Michael Green that:

Lancashire County Council:

(i)  Acknowledges the efforts that this council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote renewable energy particularly in its economic plans for the County in partnership with the LEP and others.

(ii)  Further recognises:  

·  That very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being nearly impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so. 

·  That making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would enable and empower new local businesses in Lancashire, or councils such as the existing county council or any successors, to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local customers.

·  That revenues received by new local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.

(iii)Accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by 187 MPs which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply companies and co-operatives by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply operation.

(iv)Further resolves to: 

·  Inform the local media of this decision.

·  Write to local MPs, asking them to support the Bill, and write to the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, Power for People, (at 8 Delancey Passage, Camden, London NW1 7NN or info@powerforpeole.org.uk) expressing its support.

On being put to the vote, the motion was CARRIED.

It was therefore:

Resolved: - That:

Lancashire County Council:

(i)  Acknowledges the efforts that this council has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote renewable energy particularly in its economic plans for the County in partnership with the LEP and others.

(ii)  Further recognises:  

·  That very large financial setup and running costs involved in selling locally generated renewable electricity to local customers result in it being nearly impossible for local renewable electricity generators to do so. 

·  That making these financial costs proportionate to the scale of a renewable electricity supplier’s operation would enable and empower new local businesses in Lancashire, or councils such as the existing county council or any successors, to be providers of locally generated renewable electricity directly to local customers.

·  That revenues received by new local renewable electricity providers could be used to help improve the local economy, local services and facilities and to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.

(iii)Accordingly resolves to support the Local Electricity Bill, supported by 187 MPs which, if made law, would establish a Right to Local Supply which would promote local renewable electricity supply companies and co-operatives by making the setup and running costs of selling renewable electricity to local customers proportionate to the size of the supply operation.

(iv)Further resolves to: 

·  Inform the local media of this decision.

·  Write  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.