Agenda and minutes

Apologies

Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of County Councillors J Lawrenson and D O'Toole

Pension Funds Service Awards

The Chairman announced that The Pension Funds Service had recently gained external recognition on two fronts:

i)The Investment Team had been highly commended by the 'Funds Europe' magazine in the 'Institutional Investor of the Year' category. They had been awarded this because of an innovative investment strategy which had achieved improved performance.

They had also been short listed for,

·  'UK Large Public Sector Scheme of the Year' by the Local Government Chronicle , and

·  'European Public Sector Scheme of the Year' by the 'Chief Investment Officers' magazine

Andrew Fox, Head of Investment Compliance,attended full council to represent the team.

ii)Your Pension Service had won the 2013 Local Government Chronicle 'Investment Award for Quality of Service'. They won this by demonstrating improvements in quality, performance, communication, customer service and partnership working.

Diane Lister, Head of Your Pension Service, attended full council to represent the team.

HR Distinction Award

The Chairman also announced that the county council had recently won a prestigious 'employee engagement' award at the 'HR Distinction Awards' in Birmingham. This was for its work on 'The Lancashire Way'.

The awarding body had said that "This award recognises an organisation which has demonstrated a fresh take on employee engagement that has delivered real organisational benefits."

Ben Kinley, Head of Business Improvement, Suzanne Ward, Human Resources Manager, and Louise Wood, Assistant Head of Communications attended full council to represent the relevant teams.

The full council congratulated officers and their teams on their achievements.

None disclosed

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on the 12 December 2013 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Proposed Voluntary Redundancy Terms

The Cabinet had considered at its meeting on 24 January 2014 a report setting out a proposed voluntary severance package. It had recommended that Full Council be asked to approve the package, as set out in the report now presented.

County Councillor Geoff Driver moved the following Amendment which was seconded by County Councillor Albert Atkinson:

"This matter be deferred to allow further consideration of the effect on services to the people of Lancashire and on job losses within the council"

Following a period of debate the Amendment was put to the vote. Six County Councillors requested a recorded vote in accordance with procedural Standing Order 15.2 (9.4). The names of county councillors who voted for or against the Amendment and those who abstained are set out below:

For (33)

Against (49)

Abstain (0)

The Amendment was therefore lost and the original Motion was then put to the vote by a show of hands, and was carried, and it was,

Resolved: That the voluntary severance package, as set out in the report now presented, be approved.

The report explained that the Council was required, each year, to specify the financial threshold above which “domestic” decisions (affecting the internal workings of the Authority) should be treated as Key Decisions as defined in Standing Order 25(1)(b).

It was recommended that the financial threshold for Key Decisions should remain unchanged at £1.4m for 2014/15.

Resolved: That the financial threshold for Key Decisions, for the purposes of Standing Order 25(1)(b), remain at £1.4m for 2014/15.

The report set out at Appendix A the proposed 2014/15 Pay Policy statement as required by the Localism Act 2011.

Resolved: That the 2014/15 Pay Policy Statement, as set out at Appendix A to the report now presented, be approved.

The report set out the proposed Members' Allowance Scheme for 2014/15.

Resolved: That the 2014/15 Members’ Allowance Scheme as set out in the report now presented be approved.

(Subsequently it was necessary to correct an administrative error in the Scheme relating to Overnight Accommodation, Day Subsistence and Travel Abroad allowances.  The correction was approved by the Chief Executive under the Urgent Business Procedure on 7 March 2014.  Details of the revised 2014/15 Members' Allowance Scheme can be viewed at Appendix I to the Constitution from 1 April 2014 until 31 March 2015 when the Scheme will be updated in respect of 2015/16)

The Full Council, at its meeting on the 12 December 2013, had agreed that a report be brought to this meeting setting out the options and necessary actions that would need to be taken to discontinue the existing Leader and Cabinet system of decision making and revert back to a Committee system.

The report now moved by the Leader set out the statutory framework; possible options for political governance structures for local authorities including a Committee system; timescales; and initial indications of the implications of implementation of any change.

County Councillor David Westley suggested that the recommended cross party member officer working group be constituted on the basis of 3 Labour, 2 Conservative, 1 Liberal Democrat and 1 Independent member and also that regular updates from the working group be reported to the Full Council.

County Councillor Bill Winlow suggested that the working group be requested to report back on its 'proposals' to Full Council in December 2014, not its 'initial findings' as was recommended in the report now presented.

The Leader accepted these suggestions and it was,

Resolved: That

  i.  A cross party member officer working group be established, on the basis of the basis of 3 Labour, 2 Conservative, 1 Liberal Democrat and 1 Independent member, to thoroughly investigate options for any change in political management structure and make recommendations to the Council on a future governance structure;

  ii.  Regular progress reports be provided by the working group to the Full Council

  iii.  The working group be requested to report back on its proposals to the Full Council in December 2014.

The Leader of the Council moved Part B of the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on the on the 5 & 11 December 2013, 9 & 24 January 2014 and 6 February 2014.

Resolved: That the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on the 5 & 11 December 2013, 9 & 24 January 2014 and 6 February 2014

Resolved:  That the report of urgent key decisions taken by the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services, and the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing during the preceding three months, as now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Bill Winlow presented the reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees from their meetings as follows:

Resolved: That the reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees,

as now presented, be received.

County Councillor Clare Pritchard presented the report of the Audit and Governance Committee from its meeting on the 27 January 2014.

Resolved: That the report of the Audit Committee, as now presented,

be received.

County Councillor Frank De Molfetta presented the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meetings on the 9 December 2013 and 10 February 2014.

Resolved: That the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, as now presented, be received.

The following Notices of Motion had been submitted under Procedural Standing Order 14.2.1(a).

1. It was moved by County Councillor Malcolm Barron and seconded by County Councillor Graham Gooch that:

"Lancashire County Council regrets reports that the Lancashire Constabulary will no longer marshal traditional Parades and walking days which contribute so much to the traditions and life of the County and asks the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner to reconsider this action and requests  that in future they will continue to marshal these parades."

County Councillor David Borrow Moved the following Amendment which was seconded by County Councillor Darren Clifford:

"Lancashire County Council regrets reports that the Lancashire Constabulary will no longer marshal traditional Parades and walking days which contribute so much to the traditions and life of the County and asks the Chief Executive of Lancashire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner to examine all possible ways to assist with the marshalling of these parades."

County Councillor Barron accepted the Amendment which then became the substantive Motion.

County Councillor David Whipp then moved the following further Amendment which was seconded by County Councillor Mohammed Iqbal:

To add the words:

"That the Council reviews its own requirements and guidance, as highway authority, for traffic management and trained marshals for parades, with a report on these issues being presented to the Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet."

County Councillor Borrow accepted this further Amendment, which then became the substantive Motion.

On being put to the vote it was:

Resolved: That,

Lancashire County Council regrets reports that the Lancashire Constabulary will no longer marshal traditional Parades and walking days which contribute so much to the traditions and life of the County and asks the Chief Executive of Lancashire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner to examine all possible ways to assist with the marshalling of these parades.

The Council reviews its own requirements and guidance, as highway authority, for traffic management and trained marshals for parades, witha report on these issues being presented to the Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet

2. It was moved by County Councillor David Westley and seconded by County Councillor Bill Winlow that:

"In view of recent events regarding the distribution of Part II papers to Members, the Interim Chief Executive is asked to review the principles of the release of Part II papers to ensure that all those members who are considering a relevant report for action or decision receive the report at the same time."

On being put to the vote the Motion was carried and it was:

Resolved: That,

In view of recent events regarding the distribution of Part II papers to Members, the Interim Chief Executive is asked to review the principles of the release of Part II papers to ensure that all those members who are considering a relevant report for action or decision receive the report at the same time.

3. It was moved by County Councillor Dorothy Lord and seconded by County Councillor Azhar Ali that:

"This Council recognises the concerns of the families and friends of those who are currently residing at Stanley Grange, Samlesbury. Therefore this Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Trustees and Chief Executive of HFT seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the future of Stanley Grange and to establish if there are any alternatives to closure."

On being put to the vote the Motion was carried and it was:

Resolved: That,

This Council recognises the concerns of the families and friends of those who are currently residing at Stanley Grange, Samlesbury. Therefore this Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Trustees and Chief Executive of HFT seeking an urgent meeting to discuss the future of Stanley Grange and to establish if there are any alternatives to closure.

4. It was moved by County Councillor Julie Gibson and seconded by County Councillor Marcus Johnstone that:

"That Council notes that National Libraries Day held on 8 February 2014 was one of the most vibrant and inspiring community events across the County.  That Council would like to place on record congratulations and thanks to all staff in the Library and Cultural Services Division for the planning, organisation and delivery that made the day such a success."

On being put to the vote the Motion was carried and it was:

Resolved: That,

Council notes that National Libraries Day held on 8 February 2014 was one of the most vibrant and inspiring community events across the County.  That Council would like to place on record congratulations and thanks to all staff in the Library and Cultural Services Division for the planning, organisation and delivery that made the day such a success.