Agenda and minutes

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Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Preston

Contact: Dave Gorman  Tel: (01772) 534261, Email:  dave.gorman@lancashire.gov.uk

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies and Announcements

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of County Councillors Munsif Dad, Paul Greenall, Andrea Kay, Sobia Malik, Jean Parr, and Jenny Purcell.

 

Announcements

 

Deaths

 

The Chairman reported the recent sad death of former County Councillor David Watts, who passed away on 17 November 2018.

 

The Council stood in silent tribute.

 

Recognitions

 

-  Services for Adults with Disabilities

 

The County Council is now in a position where its full range of registered care services run for adults with disabilities are all now rated either 'Good' or 'Outstanding', well above the national England average of around 80% in these categories and nearer to 75% in the North West and in Lancashire.

 

Nicola Clear, Head of Disability Services; Julia Allen, County Manager, Disability Service; Julie Ray, Disability Officer; and Kellie Anne Buczynski, Disability Officer were present at Full Council and were congratulated on this achievement.

 

-  Lancashire Archives Volunteering

 

Ancestors at Sea - the Lancashire Archives Crew List Project was the winner of the National Archive Volunteering Award for 2018.

 

Jacquie Crosby, Archives Service Manager; Alison Ferguson, Archive Assistant; Nigel Barker, Volunteer; Sue Bromley, Volunteer and Stephen Benson, Volunteer (and President of the National Federation of Family History Societies) were present at Full Council and were congratulated on this achievement.

 

-  Coroner's Support Service

 

Janet Mather, Coroner's Service Support Manager, was a finalist in the leadership excellence category of the Guardian Public Service Awards 2018.

 

Janet Mather, Coroner's Service Support Manager; and Dr James Adeley, HM Senior Coroner, Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen,were present at Full Council and Janet Mather was congratulated on this achievement.

 

-  Rossendale Youth Council

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, Lead Member for Young People, informed Full Council of the recent 'Diana Award', in memory of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, presented to Rossendale Youth Council. Members of the Youth Council were unable to be present but had been presented with medals by the Leader of the County Council at a recent meeting of the Cabinet/Youth Council. Full Council congratulated the Youth Council on this achievement.

 

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

Name of Councillor

Agenda Item Number

Nature of Interest (non-pecuniary unless stated)

Margaret Pattison

 

NoM 1

Member of Development Control Committee

Kevin Ellard

 

NoM 1

Member of Development Control Committee

Carl Crompton

 

NoM 1

Member of Development Control Committee

Bernard Dawson

 

NoM 1

Member of Development Control Committee

Lorraine Beavers

 

5

Named in report

Nikki Hennessy

 

5

Named in report

Jenny Mein

 

NoM 1

Member of Development Control Committee

Azhar Ali

 

5

Named in report

 

3.

Question Time pdf icon PDF 45 KB

Questions submitted under Standing Order B28.

Minutes:

County Councillor Barrie Yates asked his question regarding the re-opening of libraries and the Cabinet Member for Community and Cultural Services replied.

 

In respect of Question 2, the Chairman advised Full Council that the question had been withdrawn.

4.

Confirmation of the Minutes from the Meeting held on 18 October 2018 pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Minutes:

Resolved: - That the minutes of the meeting of Full Council held on 18 October 2018 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

5.

Report of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee (Part A) pdf icon PDF 99 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Alan Schofield presented a report setting out the conclusions of the independent auditor on the Neighbourhood Wellbeing Initiative Grants and in doing so moved that Full Council:

 

"Recognises that there was an alarming breakdown in the proper mechanisms for controlling the county council's expenditure and that the report by the independent auditors demonstrates what can happen if a county councillor adopts the roles of officers and those officers charged with the responsibility of ensuring financial probity at all time are then then unable to carry out their responsibilities effectively".

 

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order B45(4), 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 (41)

 

A Atkinson

J Cooney

J Marsh

M Salter

A Vincent

P Britcliffe

G Driver

S Morris

A Schofield

C Wakeford

I Brown

J Eaton

E Nash

J Shedwick

G Wilkins

P Buckley

C Edwards

D O'Toole

D Smith

P Williamson

J Burrows

D Foxcroft

M Perks

A Snowden

B Yates

S Charles

A Gardiner

E Pope

D Stansfield

 

A Cheetham

G Gooch

J Rear

P Steen

 

S Clarke

M Green

P Rigby

C Towneley

 

A Clempson

K Iddon

A Riggott

S Turner

 

 

Against (26)

 

T Aldridge

C Crompton

N Hennessy

J Mein

K Snape

A Ali

B Dawson

S Holgate

J Molineux

M Tomlinson

L Beavers

F De Molfetta

M Iqbal

Y Motala

 

J Berry

K Ellard

H Khan

G Oliver

 

L Collinge

J Fillis

E Lewis

M Parkinson

 

L Cox

J Gibson

T Martin

M Pattison

 

 

Abstain (8)

 

G Dowding

A Hosker

L Oades

J Sumner

P Hayhurst

D Howarth

J Potter

D Whipp

 

The motion was therefore CARRIED, and it was:

 

Resolved: - to recognise that there was an alarming breakdown in the proper mechanisms for controlling the county council’s expenditure and that the report by the independent auditors demonstrates what can happen if a county councillor adopts the roles of officers and those officers charged with the responsibility of ensuring financial probity at all time are then unable to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

6.

Report of the Political Governance Working Group pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor David O'Toole moved a report setting out the recommendations of the Political Governance Working Group.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Azhar Ali, seconded by County Councillor Lizzi Collinge:

 

(i)  Approve the following changes proposed by the Political Governance Working Group to the Constitution:

 

  (a) Full Council to start at 1pm

  (b) A new standing order B36(6) to limit an individual County Councillor    to submitting one notice of motion per meeting.

 

(ii)   Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Local Government Association   inviting them to undertake a peer review of the Council’s political   governance.

(iii)   Authorise the Director of Corporate Service to make any consequential   changes to other parts of the constitution arising from these changes.

 

 

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order B45(4), 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 (35)

 

T Aldridge

B Dawson

N Hennessy

T Martin

M Pattison

A Ali

F De Molfetta

S Holgate

J Mein

J Potter

L Beavers

G Dowding

A Hosker

J Molineux

P Rigby

J Berry

K Ellard

D Howarth

Y Motala

K Snape

L Collinge

J Fillis

M Iqbal

L Oades

J Sumner

L Cox

J Gibson

H Khan

G Oliver

M Tomlinson

C Crompton

P Hayhurst

E Lewis

M Parkinson

D Whipp

 

Against (41)

 

T Ashton

A Clempson

K Iddon

M Salter

A Vincent

A Atkinson

J Cooney

J Marsh

A Schofield

C Wakeford

P Britcliffe

G Driver

S Morris

J Shedwick

G Wilkins

I Brown

J Eaton

E Nash

D Smith

P Williamson

P Buckley

C Edwards

D O'Toole

A Snowden

B Yates

J Burrows

D Foxcroft

M Perks

D Stansfield

 

S Charles

A Gardiner

E Pope

P Steen

 

A Cheetham

G Gooch

J Rear

C Towneley

 

S Clarke

M Green

A Riggott

S Turner

 

 

The amendment was therefore LOST.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor David Howarth, seconded by County Councillor John Potter:

 

Delete Standing Order B38(3) and remove the time limits on debating resolutions.

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor David Whipp, seconded by County Councillor David Howarth:

 

Add a new clause within the constitution to create the right for members of the public and county councillors to present petitions at County Council Committee and Cabinet meetings.

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor John Potter, seconded by County Councillor Gina Dowding:

 

Include a clause within the constitution enshrining the right of all county councillors to speak to agenda items at meetings of the Cabinet.

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST.

 

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

 

Resolved: - To:

 

(i)  Approve the changes proposed by the Political Governance Working Group to the Constitution, as set out in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Urgent Business

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business to be considered.

8.

Report of the Cabinet (Part B) pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Minutes:

County Councillor Geoff Driver moved the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on 11 October 2018 and 8 November 2018.

 

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

9a

The Audit, Risk and Governance Committee pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved the report of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee from its meeting held on 29 October 2018.

 

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

9b

The Employment Committee pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Geoff Driver moved the report of the Employment Committee from its meetings on 23 October 2018 and 12 November 2018.

 

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

9c

The Overview and Scrutiny Committees pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor David O'Toole moved the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees from their meetings as follows:

 

Children's Services Scrutiny Committee - 10 October 2018

External Scrutiny Committee - 16 October 2018

Health Scrutiny Committee - 6 November 2018

Internal Scrutiny Committee - 16 November 2018

 

Resolved: - That the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, now presented, be noted.

9d

The Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board pdf icon PDF 81 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Shaun Turner moved the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board from its meeting on 20 November 2018.

 

Resolved: - That the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board, now presented, be noted.

10.

Notices of Motion

Minutes:

1.  It was moved by County Councillor John Fillis and seconded by County Councillor Julie Gibson that:

 

Suspend Fracking in Lancashire

 

Following the earthquakes being identified around the Fracking site on Preston New Road, we call upon the Chief Executive and Director of Resources to write to the Prime Minister on behalf of Lancashire County Council requesting that:

 

(i)  Fracking on the Preston New Road site is suspended by order of the government.

(ii)  An independent inquiry investigates the earthquakes being recorded within the local area.

(iii)  Fracking is suspended in Lancashire until the independent inquiry publishes its findings.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Michael Green and seconded by County Councillor Aidy Riggott:

 

Following the micro seismic events that have been detected around the Fracking site on Preston New Road, council expresses its appreciation for the highly detailed and professional monitoring of the exploration at Preston New Road by our officers and a number of specialist bodies that have made it the most closely supervised in Europe.

 

Council therefore requests the Chief Executive and  Director of Resources to write to the Secretary of State requesting that the drilling company and the monitoring agencies continue all efforts to ensure the safety of everyone and to close down operations immediately should any part of the operation become unsafe.

 

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order B45(4), 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 (40)

 

T Ashton

A Clempson

M Green

J Rear

P Steen

A Atkinson

J Cooney

K Iddon

P Rigby

C Towneley

I Brown

G Driver

J Marsh

A Riggott

S Turner

P Buckley

J Eaton

S Morris

M Salter

A Vincent

J Burrows

C Edwards

E Nash

J Shedwick

C Wakeford

S Charles

D Foxcroft

D O'Toole

D Smith

G Wilkins

A Cheetham

A Gardiner

M Perks

A Snowden

P Williamson

S Clarke

G Gooch

E Pope

D Stansfield

B Yates

 

Against (34)

 

T Aldridge

B Dawson

N Hennessy

T Martin

M Pattison

A Ali

F De Molfetta

S Holgate

J Mein

J Potter

L Beavers

G Dowding

A Hosker

J Molineux

K Snape

J Berry

K Ellard

D Howarth

Y Motala

J Sumner

L Collinge

J Fillis

M Iqbal

L Oades

M Tomlinson

L Cox

J Gibson

H Khan

G Oliver

D Whipp

C Crompton

P Hayhurst

E Lewis

M Parkinson

 

 

The amendment was therefore CARRIED and became the substantive motion.

 

In accordance with the requirements of procedural Standing Order B45(4), 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 (38)

 

T Ashton

S Clarke

K Iddon

P Rigby

C Towneley

A Atkinson

A Clempson

J Marsh

A Riggott

S Turner

P Britcliffe

J Cooney

S Morris

M Salter

A Vincent

I Brown

G Driver

E Nash

J Shedwick

C Wakeford

P Buckley  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.