Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of County Councillors T Burns, D Howarth, A James, D Lord, D O'Toole, C Wakeford and D Watts.

Deaths

The Chairman reported the following sad deaths:

Former County Councillor Fred Heyworth died on 27 February 2016 following a short illness.

Mr Heyworth was elected as a Labour county councillor in 2005 and represented the division of Farington until 2009.  During this time he held the positions of Chairman of the Council's Complaints Committee, Chairman of Lancashire Local (South Ribble) and Deputy Chairman of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Mr Heyworth also served on the County Council's Pensions Fund Committee, the Regulatory Committee and various other Scrutiny Committees and was also a South Ribble Borough Councillor, representing the Seven Stars ward

Former County Councillor and Honorary Alderman Mrs Joyce Stuart died on 21 March 2016 following a long illness.

Mrs Stuart was elected as a Conservative member to the County Council in 1989 and represented the electoral division of Fylde West until 2009.  During this time she held the position of Deputy Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Panel and served on a varied number of committees including Highways and Transportation, Regulatory, Education and Cultural Services, Social Services and SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education).  Mrs Stuart also served on a number of outside bodies.

In July 2011 Mrs Stuart was appointed an honorary alderman in recognition of her eminent service rendered to Lancashire County Council over a long period of time.

A number of members spoke in memory of the deceased and offered condolences to their family and friends.

Members also acknowledged the terrible terrorist attack in Brussels on Tuesday 22 March in which at least 31 people died and over 300 were wounded.  The thoughts and prayers of the Council went to all those caught up in the tragedy.

The Full Council stood in silent tribute.

The following members declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 4, Lancashire Combined Authority, on the grounds that they were members of district councils who had or would be deciding whether to be part of the Combined Authority:

County Councillors D Whipp, J Sumner and M Brindle.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meetings of the County Council held on 11 and 25 February 2016 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Full Council received a report updating members on the progress of the Lancashire Combined Authority proposal and the response to the public consultation exercise. 

The Motion was put to the vote and 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 motion and those who abstained are set out below:

For (41)

Against (1)

G Dowding

Abstain (30)

Resolved: That

i)  The contents of the report be noted.

ii)  The response to the public consultation on the Combined Authority proposals be noted.

iii)  The proposal for the Council to become a constituent member of a Lancashire Combined Authority be agreed and that the proposal to do so be submitted to the Secretary of State.

iv)  In the interim period the formation of a shadow Lancashire Combined Authority be agreed.

v)  Any future proposals for a devolution deal with the Government be brought back to Council for agreement.

The Leader reported that the Employment Committee, at its meeting on 15 March 2016, had agreed that the 2016/17 Pay Policy Statement, as set out in the report now presented, be submitted to Full Council for approval.

The Employment Committee had also agreed that Full Council be recommended to approve the annual adjustment to the Living Wage for centrally employed staff for 2016/17, as set out in the report and to agree to recommend school governing bodies adopt the same adjustment. 

Resolved: That

i)  The 2016/17 Pay Policy Statement, as set out at Appendix A to the report now presented, be approved.

ii)  The adjustment to the Living Wage for centrally employed staff for 2016 be approved and that school governing bodies be recommended to adopt the same adjustment.

It was reported that following the sad death of County Councillor Richard Newman-Thompson it was necessary to appoint a member of the Labour Group to serve on the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority.  Full Council was asked to approve the appointment of County Councillor Niki Penney as a member the Combined Fire Authority with immediate effect, until the Annual Meeting of the Full Council in May 2016. 

Resolved: That County Councillor Penney be appointed as a member of the Combined Fire Authority with immediate effect, until the Annual Meeting of the Full Council in May 2016.

The Full Council is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, it considers that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972, as indicated against the heading to the item.

It was moved and seconded that:

The press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972, indicated against the heading to the item. It was considered that in all the circumstances the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

On being put to the vote the motion was carried and it was

Resolved:  That the press and public be excluded from the meeting on the grounds outlined above.

(Not for Publication – Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.  It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interests in disclosing the information).

(Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972. It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information).

The Full Council considered a report on the proposed creation of a partnership between the Lancashire County Pension Fund and the London Pension Fund Authority.  The Deputy Leader reported that the Pension Fund Committee at its meeting on 22 March had agreed to support the proposal and the Committee's recommendations including the conditions precedent which must be in place prior to the commencement of the joint venture were presented. 

Resolved:  That the recommendations of the Pension Fund Committee in relation to the creation of a partnership between the Lancashire County Pension Fund and the London Pension Fund Authority, as presented, be approved.