Agenda and minutes

Announcements

The Chairman reported the following deaths:

County Councillor Michael Devaney who passed away on 19 May 2016.  Councillor Devaney was elected as a Conservative member to the County Council in 2009 and represented the electoral division of Chorley Rural North.  During this time he held the positions of Chairman of the County Council in 2013/2014 and was Chair of Development Control in 2012/13.  He served on a number of Council Committees including Children's Services Scrutiny, Pension Fund, Urgency, Regulatory and Scrutiny Committee. 

Former County Councillor Mrs Dorothy Ramsden died on 19 May 2016.  Mrs Ramsden was elected as a Conservative member to the County Council from 1985 to 1993 and represented the Rossendale Haslingden electoral division.  During this time she served on the Education, Police, Policy and Resources and Social Services Committees.

A number of members spoke in memory of the deceased and offered condolences to their family and friends.  The Full Council stood in silent tribute and memory of the two former members.

Report of the Returning Officer on the Election of a County Councillor for the Lancaster East Electoral Division

The Chief Executive, as Returning Officer reported that Lizzi Collinge of the Labour Party was elected as County Councillor representing the Lancaster East Electoral Division on 5 May 2016.

Association of Public Sector Excellence (APSE) - Local Authority Apprentice and Training Awards

The Chairman was pleased to announce that one of the County Council's Apprentices, Cameron Newsham made it to the final in the recent APSE local authority apprentice and training awards which were held in Newcastle in March 2016. 

Unfortunately Cameron did not win but the panel commented on the extremely high calibre of candidates and Cameron received well deserved praise for reaching the final and was congratulated on his achievement.

The Full Council was informed that the County Council had been formally recognised for its commitment and involvement in supporting and developing its future tradespeople.

Cameron attended Full Council with his manager, Ridwan Musa, Highways Manager South, Community Services and was congratulated by members.

Reflections Restaurant

The Chairman informed Full Council that Reflections Restaurant had recently been awarded a 5 star Hygiene Award following an unannounced inspection by Preston City Council Environmental Health Services.

The Chairman was pleased to report that the inspection had resulted in the following:-

·  Compliance with food hygiene and safety procedures – Score A.

·  Compliance with structural requirements – Score A.

·  Confidence in management/control procedures – Score A.

·  Food Hygiene Rating - Score 5.

In order to get the top rating of 5 it was necessary to do well in all of the three elements.  Reflections and in particular the staff were congratulated on achieving the 5 star rating.

The Full Council was notified that Members had been invited to make declarations of Pecuniary and Non-pecuniary interests in matters on the agenda in accordance with the County Council's Code of Conduct for Members.

No declarations were made.

County Councillor Margaret Brindle, the retiring Chair of the County Council presided for this item.

It was moved by County Councillor Clifford and seconded by County Councillor Ali that County Councillor Janice Hanson be elected Chairman of the County Council.

There being no other nominations, it was:

Resolved:  That County Councillor Janice Hanson be elected Chairman of the County Council until the Annual General Meeting of the Full Council in 2017.

County Councillor Hanson then took the Chair and made her Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

It was moved by County Councillor Fillis and seconded by County Councillor De Molfetta that County Councillor Terry Aldridge be appointed Vice-Chairman of the County Council.

There being no other nominations, it was:

Resolved:  That County Councillor Terry Aldridge be appointed Vice-Chairman of the County Council until the Annual General meeting of the Full Council in 2016.

County Councillor Terry Aldridge then took his place and made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Resolved:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 24 March 2016 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Full Council was asked to:

i.  Determine the constitution and membership of Committees for 2016/17, as set out at a) in the report now presented; and

ii.  Consider the appointment of the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Committees for 2016/17 as set out a b) in the report now presented.

The Leader moved the report and proposed the names of Chairs and Deputies to be appointed, as set out below, which were seconded by County Councillor Borrow. 

Resolved:  That

i.  The appointment of Members to Committees for 2016/17 in the proportional balances set out in the report now presented be approved, on the basis of nominations being made by the respective Political groups in writing to the Director of Governance, Finance and Public Services.

ii.  The appointments of Chairs and Deputy Chairs of Committees for 2016/17, as now reported and set out below, be approved.

The Full Council was asked to approve the appointment of representatives to serve on the Local Government Association (LGA) General Assembly for 2016/17 and to attend the Annual General meeting of the General Assembly on 5 July 2016.  The Full Council was also asked to appoint a representative to serve on the LGA Special Interest Group on Coastal Issues for 2016/17 and up to four representatives to serve on the County Council's Network in 2016/17.

Resolved:  That,

i.  County Councillors Jennifer Mein, David Borrow, Marcus Johnstone and Geoff Driver, CBE be appointed to serve as the County Council's representatives on the Local Government Association (LGA) General Assembly for 2016/17.

ii.  The representatives approved at (i) above (or nominated substitutes) together with County Councillor Bill Winlow from the Liberal Democrat group, acting in an observer capacity, be authorised to attend the 2016 Annual Meeting of the LGA General assembly to be held in Bournemouth on 5 July 2016, and that County Councillor Mein carry the County Council's 12 corporate votes;

iii.  The appointment of a County Councillor to serve on the Special Interest Group on Coastal Issues for 2016/17 to be confirmed by the Leader of the Council

iv.  The appointment of County Councillors to the County Council's Network was to be confirmed by the Leader of the Council.

The Full Council was asked to approve the appointment of 19 Members to serve on the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority until the Annual Meeting of the Full Council in 2017 on the basis of 9 Labour Members; 8 Conservative Members; 1 Liberal Democrat Members and 1 Independent Member.

Resolved:  That the following Members be appointed to serve on the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (CFA) until the Annual General meeting of the Full Council in 2017.

The Full Council was asked to approve the appointment of one Member to serve on the Police and Crime Panel for Lancashire until the Annual Meeting of the Full Council in 2017.

Resolved:  That County Councillor Julie Gibson be appointed as the County Council's representative on the Police and Crime Panel until the Annual Meeting of the County Council in 2017.

The Leader of the Council moved Part B of the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on 14 April and 12 May 2016.

Resolved:  That Part B of the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on 14 April and 12 May be noted.

Resolved:  That the report of Urgent Key Decisions taken by the Leader of the County Council, Deputy Leader of the County Council, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport and the Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning and Cultural Services during the preceding three months, as now presented be noted.

Resolved:  That the report of urgent determinations outside of the Budget framework, as now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Bill Winlow presented the reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees as follows:-

·  Children's Services Scrutiny Committee – 9 March, 20 April

·  Education Scrutiny – 5 April

·  Health Scrutiny – 15 march and 26 April

·  Scrutiny – 26 February and 8 April

Resolved:  That the reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees as now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Terry Brown presented the report of the Audit and Governance Committee on 9 May 2016.

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

County Councillor Frank De Molfetta presented the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meeting on 25 April 2016.

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

1.   It was moved by County Councillor Hennessy and seconded by County Councillor Driver that:

This Council recognises, and supports, the strong historic relationship between the County Council and our schools.

Council extends its thanks and congratulations to all, including Parent Governors, who work in education across our County in providing the best of opportunities for our young people to grow and thrive.

Whilst welcoming the changes to the proposed policy of compelling schools to become Academies, Council is concerned that the Secretary of State still intends to introduce measures to enable her to insist that schools become Academies if they are graded below ‘Good’ by OFSTED or if significant numbers of schools in a local authority area become Academies.

Council believes that the obsession with school structures, rather than focussing on outcomes for children, has caused unease and uncertainly across the sector, deflecting the attention of Head Teachers and Governors from their focus of providing the best education that they can.

Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education and all Lancashire MP's welcoming the change of policy and committing the Council to continue working with all involved in Lancashire children's education to ensure the very best outcomes in the future stating that:

(i)  Over 90% of Lancashire’s schools are rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED

(ii)  There is no evidence to support the view that Academies produce better results than local authority schools.

(iii)  Currently, where a local authority school requires improvement, the Council provides help and advice from its highly skilled and professional team of officers. This is not necessarily so with Academies and the Government’s proposals are not clear as to how failing Academies will be helped to improve.

(iv)  Council is concerned that there are no proposals in the White Paper to reimburse local authorities for the significant costs that would be incurred in the process of converting to Academies and objects to the proposal to transfer council owned land on which schools are built to the Secretary of State.

(v)  Council is also concerned that local authorities will be left with insufficient authority to carry out the proposed residual duties recommended in the White Paper, particularly those relating to:

(a)  ensuring that every child has a school place;

(b)  ensuring the needs of vulnerable children, particularly SEND pupils, are met;

(c)  acting as champion for all parents and families;

(vi)  Council considers that the proposed Regional School Commissioners, to whom Academies will be responsible and to whom parents can raise their concerns, are both unelected and remote.  They are a very poor substitute for the current system where parents can raise their concerns with their local Council and Councillors who are known and accountable to them and who know the local schools and the communities they serve.

On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED and it was:

Resolved: That,

This Council recognises, and supports, the strong historic relationship between the County Council and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.