Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies presented.

Announcements

Deaths

The Chair reported the following sad deaths:

-  Former County Councillor William Challis who passed away on 24 July

  2017;

-  Former County Councillor Gordon Payne who passed away on 6 August 2017;

-  County Councillor Viv Taylor who passed away on 27 September 2017.

A number of Councillors paid tribute to the late former County Councillors and County Councillor Taylor.

The Council stood in silent tribute.

Former County Councillor Tony Jones

The Chair conveyed the best wishes of the Council to former County Councillor Tony Jones and wished him a full and speedy recovery. The Chair thanked all those who had come to the assistance of former County Councillor Tony Jones during the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Full Council on 15 September 2017 and, in particular, County Councillor John Fillis.

Retirement of the Vicar of Preston

Full Council was notified of the forthcoming retirement of Fr Timothy Lipscomb as Vicar of Preston on 31 October 2017. The Chair invited the Deputy Chair to pay tribute to Fr Timothy, who was present in the Chamber, and to convey the thanks and appreciation of the Council to Fr Timothy for all he had done, and the best wishes of the Council for the future. A number of Councillors also paid tribute to Fr Timothy.

British Construction Industry (BCI) Awards 2017

The Chair reported that the County Council had won a BCI national award for the recently opened Heysham/M6 Link Road. The award was for the industry's national Economic Infrastructure project of the year. The Chairman invited County Councillor Keith Iddon, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to present the award to Phil Whalley, NEC Project Supervisor, and Steven Halsall, Senior Engineer, who were present in the Chamber, and who were congratulated by the Full Council.

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. The following interests were declared:

Resolved: - That the minutes of the meeting of Full Council held on 20 July 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Leader presented the report of the Cabinet from its meeting on 14 September 2017.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The revised Library Strategy, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved;

(ii)  The submission of the revised Library byelaws to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for confirmation by the Secretary of State be approved, and agreement be given that, subject to the confirmation being received, the byelaws be formally adopted and sealed by the County Council in accordance with the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

The Chair indicated that Item 5 (Report of the Employment Committee - Senior Management Restructure) would be considered after the Notices of Motion at the end of the agenda.

The Leader moved a report, seconded by the Deputy Leader, setting out details of a review of the County Council's policy relating to the supply of halal meat.

In moving the report, the Leader presented the following draft resolution for Full Council's consideration:

Council recognises and respects the Muslim community's requirements for their food to comply with their religious beliefs.

However, Council is concerned that slaughtering animals without stunning them beforehand causes them unnecessary stress and suffering.

  Council therefore resolves:

(i)  Not to provide meat (other than poultry) to LCC establishments unless the animals were stunned before they were slaughtered.

(ii)  To consult with the Lancashire Council of Mosques and others on how the County Council can implement this whilst continuing to provide meals which comply with the Muslim community’s religious beliefs.

(iii) To undertake further investigations with the Lancashire Council of Mosques into the stunning of poultry before slaughter.

County Councillor Azhar Ali proposed the following amendment which was seconded by County Councillor John Fillis.

(i)  To consult with the Lancashire Council of Mosques, the Jewish Board of Deputies and others on how the County Council can implement this whilst continuing to provide meals which comply with the Muslim community’s religious beliefs.

(ii)  To undertake further investigations with the Lancashire Council of Mosques and the Jewish Board of Deputies into the stunning of poultry before slaughter.

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order 15.9.7, a recorded vote was taken. The names of the County Councillors who voted for or against the Amendment and those who abstained are set out below:

For (36)

Against (42)

Abstain (4)

The amendment was therefore LOST.

Following an adjournment, the Vice Chairman assumed the Chair.

County Councillor Mohammed Iqbal proposed the following amendment which was seconded by County Councillor John Fillis:

(i)  Not to provide meat (other than poultry) to LCC establishments unless the animals were stunned before they were slaughtered.

(ii)  To consult with the Lancashire Council of Mosques and others on how the County Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved a report, seconded by County Councillor Edward Nash, setting out details of a proposal to revise the name and Terms of Reference of the Audit and Governance Committee.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The name of the Audit and Governance Committee be revised to that of Audit, Risk and Governance Committee.

(ii)  The Committee's revised Terms of Reference, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, now presented be approved.

The Leader moved a report, seconded by County Councillor Azhar Ali, setting out a draft timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2018 - 31 May 2019.

County Councillor Paul Greenall proposed the following amendment which was seconded by County Councillor Erica Lewis:

The Full Council is recommended to defer the timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2019 inclusive as set out at Annex 1, and ask the Chief Executive to consider whether the holding of all Council meetings during daytime hours accords with the current Equality, Cohesion and Integration strategy and our obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and to report her findings back to the next Full Council meeting in December 2017.

The amendment was put to the vote and was LOST. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

Resolved: - That the timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2018 to 31 May 2019 inclusive, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, now presented, be approved.

The Leader presented the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on 13 July, 10 August, 21 August, 14 September, and 12 October 2017.

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

The Leader presented the report of the Urgency Committee from its meeting on 14 September 2017. The report also set out details of a decision taken by the Chief Executive under the 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 John Shedwick presented the reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees from their meetings as follows:

-  Children's Services Scrutiny Committee - 26 July and 6 September 2017

-  Education Scrutiny Committee - 26 September 2017

-  External Scrutiny Committee - 25 July and 10 October 2017

-  Health Scrutiny Committee - 24 July and 19 September 2017

-  Internal Scrutiny Committee - 21 July and 22 September 2017

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

County Councillor Alan Schofield presented the report of the Audit and Governance Committee from its meetings on 31 July 2017 and 25 September 2017.

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

County Councillor Eddie Pope presented the report of the Pension Fund Committee from its meeting on 15 September 2017.

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

County Councillor Frank De Molfetta presented the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meeting held on 18 September 2017.

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

1.  British Gas Energy Price Increase

With the consent of the Full Council, this Notice of Motion, to have been proposed by County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson and seconded by County Councillor Jean Parr, was deferred to the next meeting of Full Council on 14 December 2017.

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Lizzi Collinge and seconded by County Councillor Margaret Pattison that:

Baby Loss Awareness Week is held annually from 9 to 15 October and is a special opportunity to mark the loss of pregnancies and the brief lives of babies lost at or soon after birth. This year, Baby Loss Awareness Week called for improved bereavement support for families affected by baby and pregnancy loss.

Miscarriage is a common experience - it is estimated that one in six confirmed pregnancies ends in miscarriage - yet can be devastating for the people affected.

As a large employer, Lancashire County Council is in a position to help employees affected by pregnancy loss. As an organisation that exists to serve the people of Lancashire, it is also in a position to deal supportively with residents who have experienced miscarriage and baby loss.

This council therefore instructs the Chief Executive, as Head of the Paid Service, to ensure that:

•  Managers have the correct training to help employees who miscarry at work or who have suffered a loss.

•  Managers have good quality resources on miscarriage and baby loss in the workplace, such as the Miscarriage Association's 'Miscarriage and the Workplace' leaflet.

•  Frontline staff have training and resources to help Lancashire residents affected by miscarriage and baby loss.

•  All employees have access to good quality information about miscarriage and baby loss.

•  Miscarriage and baby loss is dealt with sensitively and supportively at all times.

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

Resolved: - That:

Baby Loss Awareness Week is held annually from 9 to 15 October and is a special opportunity to mark the loss of pregnancies and the brief lives of babies lost at or soon after birth. This year, Baby Loss Awareness Week called for improved bereavement support for families affected by baby and pregnancy loss.

Miscarriage is a common experience - it is estimated that one in six confirmed pregnancies ends in miscarriage - yet can be devastating for the people affected.

As a large employer, Lancashire County Council is in a position to help employees affected by pregnancy loss. As an organisation that exists to serve the people of Lancashire, it is also in a position to deal supportively with residents who have experienced miscarriage and baby loss.

This council therefore instructs the Chief Executive, as Head of the Paid Service, to ensure that:

•  Managers have the correct training to help employees who miscarry at work or who have suffered a loss.

•  Managers have good quality resources on miscarriage and baby loss in the workplace, such as the Miscarriage Association's 'Miscarriage and the Workplace' leaflet.

•  Frontline  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Leader moved a report, seconded by the Deputy Leader, setting out the recommendations of the Employment Committee from its meetings held on 29 September, 9, 19, 20 and 23 October 2017 in respect of the senior management restructure.

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order 15.9.7, a recorded vote was taken. The names of the County Councillors who voted for or against the Motion and those who abstained are set out below:

For (43)

Against (30)

Abstain (0)

It was therefore:

Resolved: - That:

1.  The dismissal of the Chief Executive, Jo Turton, on the basis of compulsory redundancy with three months' notice be agreed.

2.  The dismissal of the Director of Governance, Finance and Public Services, Ian Young, on the basis of voluntary redundancy with three months' notice, as set out in the report, now presented, be agreed.

3.  The appointment of Angie Ridgwell as the Council's interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources (Head of the Paid Service and s151 officer) with effect from 3 January 2018 be confirmed.

4.  The appointment of the interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources as the Council's Returning Officer with effect from 3 January 2018 be confirmed. 

5.  The appointment of the Director of Corporate Services, Laura Sales, as the Council's Monitoring Officer and Senior Information Risk Officer, as set out in the report, now presented, be confirmed.

6.  The re-designation of all other responsibilities held by the Director of Governance, Finance and Public Services to the new Director of Corporate Services, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

7.  That the Council's new senior management structure will be effective as from 3 January 2018 be noted.

8.  The Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make all necessary amendments to the Council's Constitution arising from the implementation of the new senior management structure.

9.  The establishment of an Employment Appeals Committee to determine appeals against dismissal which may be submitted by senior officers following the recruitment to the Council's new senior management structure be approved.

10.  The establishment of the Committee on the basis of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.