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Apologies and Announcements Minutes: Apologies
Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of County Councillors A Clempson, M Hassan, D O'Toole, M Parkinson, and S Perkins.
Deaths
The Chairman reported the following sad deaths:
County Councillor Richard Newman-Thompson died on 22 February 2016 at the age of only 53.
County Councillor Newman-Thompson was elected as a Labour county councillor to the Lancaster East electoral division in May 2013. During his time as a county councillor he served as Lead Member for Health and as Deputy Chair of the Development Control Committee, as well as holding a number of other special responsibilities. He was an active member of the Combined Fire Authority and he was also a councillor on Lancaster City Council, where he was Cabinet Member for Finance.
Former County Councillor George Askew died on 13 February 2016 at the age of only 32.
Mr Askew was elected as a Conservative county councillor to the Pendle Central electoral division in 2009 until 2013 and served on the Council's Health Scrutiny Committee. He was elected in November last year as a Lancaster City Councillor to serve the Carnforth and Millhead Ward.
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.
New Year Honours
The Chairman was proud to announce that Ken Spencer, a dedicated and long-serving volunteer at Burnley library, had been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List for his services to the community.
Former County Councillor Jean Yates had also been awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year Honours List for political service and service to the community in Lancashire. Ms Yates had had a long career in politics, during which she served as a Lancashire county councillor for twelve years, and had campaigned and worked tirelessly in her community.
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Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests Minutes: None disclosed. |
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Confirmation of the minutes from the meeting held 17 December 2015 Minutes: Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of the County Council held on 17 December 2015 be confirmed and signed by the Chair. |
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Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel Additional documents:
Minutes: The report set out the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) in relation to the Council's Members' Allowance Scheme for 2016/17.
In moving the recommendations of the IRP the Leader proposed that, for consistency with other important scrutiny committees, a special responsibility allowance (SRA) also be paid to the Deputy Chair of the new Children's Services Scrutiny Committee.
County Councillor Gina Dowding moved the following Amendment which was seconded by County Councillor Liz Oades:
"This Council agrees to stop paying the Special Responsibility Allowance to group Whips; and increase the budget for the Local Initiative Fund by the amount saved starting in April 2016."
On being put to the vote the Amendment was lost and the original Motion was then put to the vote and was carried and it was,
Resolved: That the Members’ Allowance Scheme for 2016/17, as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel and set out in the report now presented, with the addition of an SRA for the position of Deputy Chair to the Children's Services Scrutiny Committee, be approved.
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Financial Threshold for Key Decisions 2016/17 Minutes: The report explained that the Council was required, each year, to specify the financial threshold for an executive decision incurring expenditure or savings which are significant and which should be treated as Key Decisions as defined in Standing Order 25(1).
It was recommended that the financial threshold for Key Decisions should remain unchanged at £1.4m for 2016/17.
Resolved: That the financial threshold for Key Decisions, for the purposes of Standing Order 25(1)(a), remain at £1.4m for 2016/17. |
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Appointment of S.151 Officer Minutes: The Leader reported that following interviews on 22 February 2016 the Employment Committee had appointed Neil Kissock as Director for Financial Resources. The Full Council was now asked to approve the appointment of Mr Kissock as the Council's Section151 officer with immediate effect.
Resolved: That the appointment of Neil Kissock as the County Council's Section151 officer, with immediate effect, be approved. |
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Minutes: The Deputy Leader reported that Newham London Borough Council had agreed to enter into an arrangement under the Local Government Act 1972 for the discharge by Lancashire County Council of its functions in respect of pension administration from 1 April 2016.
The Full Council was now asked to also approve this arrangement.
Resolved: That the County Council enter into an arrangement under the Local Government Act 1972 for the discharge by the County Council of the functions of Newham London Borough Council in respect of pension administration from 1 April 2016. |
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Report of the Cabinet (Part B) Additional documents: Minutes: The Leader of the Council moved Part B of the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on the on 21 January and 4 February 2016.
Resolved: That the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on 21 January and 4 February 2016, as now presented, be noted. |
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Report of Urgent Key Decisions Minutes: Resolved: That the report of urgent key decisions taken by the Deputy Leader of the County Council and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport during the preceding three months, as now presented, be noted. |
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Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees Additional documents:
Minutes: 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 noted. |
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Report of the Audit and Governance Committee Additional documents: Minutes: County Councillor Terry Brown presented the report of the Audit and Governance Committee from its meeting on 25 January 2016.
Resolved: That the report of the Audit and Governance Committee, as now presented, be noted. |
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Report of the Pension Fund Committee Additional documents: Minutes: County Councillor Kevin Ellard presented the report of the Pension Fund Committee from its meeting on 29 January 2016.
Resolved: That the report of the Pension Fund Committee, as now presented, be noted. |
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Report of the Urgency Committee Minutes: The Leader presented the report of the Urgency Committee, which set out decisions of the Chief Executive under the Council's Urgent Business Procedure on behalf of the Urgency Committee.
Resolved: That the report of the Urgency Committee, as now presented, be noted. |
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Report of The Combined Fire Authority Additional documents: Minutes: County Councillor Frank De Molfetta presented the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meeting on 15 February 2015.
Resolved: That the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, as now presented, be noted. |
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Notices of Motion submitted under Procedural Standing Order 14.2.1(a) and 14.2.1(b).
1. It was moved by County Councillor Sue Prynn and seconded by County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson that:
This Council calls on the Government to amend the Children and Families Act 2014 to enable all children in care to stay under the care of the local authority until 21 years of age.
Currently cared-for children who are with foster carers can "stay put" until the age of 21 but children in residential care must leave by the age of 18 and sometimes leave at 16 or 17. These vulnerable children and young people in our residential care homes can have differing complex needs, and compared to those placed in foster care, are being discriminated against by Government. As Corporate parents we have a moral obligation to ensure that all children have the best services and support that we, as a local authority, can give.
This Council believes the decision by Government to only regulate to support young people leaving foster care is discriminatory and residential care leavers should be afforded the same opportunities to remain in their homes.
This Council requests that the Secretary of State:
• Looks towards amending the Care Leavers Regulations 2010 to include the option of young people to remain in residential homes up to 21 years, if they so wish. • Sets aside specific funding for local authorities for young people in residential care in order for them to be further supported up to the age of 21 years. This should include funding for their accommodation needs, amongst others, gained from the recuperation by the DWP of child benefit (formerly paid to the biological parents) once their child has gone into care, for this purpose. • Extends regulations for ‘transition into adulthood for care leavers’ to include housing providers, outlining how organisations such as Housing Associations and Borough Councils can support the housing needs of this specific group of vulnerable young people (including those renting in the private sector) in their policies and practices. • Supports the recommendations outlined in the ‘Staying Put’ for young people in Residential Care; A scoping exercise’ Dec 2014, namely to offer young people leaving residential care consistent support towards independence, in a setting that best meets their needs and preferences based on meaningful consultation with the young person. Furthermore, to take on board other recommendations concerning inspection, safeguarding and funding arrangements.
On being put to the vote the Motion was carried and it was,
Resolved: That,
This Council calls on the Government to amend the Children and Families Act 2014 to enable all children in care to stay under the care of the local authority until 21 years of age.
Currently cared-for children who are with foster carers can "stay put" until the age of 21 but children in residential care must leave by the age of 18 and sometimes leave at 16 or 17. These vulnerable children and young people in our residential care homes can have differing complex needs, and compared to those placed in foster care, are being discriminated against by Government. As Corporate parents we have a moral obligation to ensure that all children have the best services and support that we, as a local authority, can give.
This Council believes the decision by Government to only regulate to support young people leaving foster care is discriminatory and residential care leavers should be afforded the same opportunities to remain in their homes.
This Council requests that the Secretary of State:
• Looks towards amending the Care Leavers Regulations 2010 to include the option of young people to remain in residential homes up to 21 years, if they so wish. • Sets aside specific funding for local authorities for young people in residential care in order for them to be further supported up to the age of 21 years. This should include funding for their accommodation needs, amongst others, gained from the recuperation by the DWP of child benefit (formerly paid to the biological parents) once their child has gone into care, for this purpose. • Extends regulations for ‘transition into adulthood for care leavers’ to include housing providers, outlining how organisations such as Housing Associations and Borough Councils can support the housing needs of this specific group of vulnerable young people (including those renting in the private sector) in their policies and practices. • Supports the recommendations outlined in the ‘Staying Put’ for young people in Residential Care; A scoping exercise’ Dec 2014, namely to offer young people leaving residential care consistent support towards independence, in a setting that best meets their needs and preferences based on meaningful consultation with the young person. Furthermore, to take on board other recommendations concerning inspection, safeguarding and funding arrangements.
It was agreed that, as this Motion had received unanimous, cross-party support, the letter to be sent by the Chief Executive to the Secretary of State would be signed by each of the political group leaders.
2. County Councillor Gina Dowding withdrew her Notice of Motion about Pensions Fund investments. |