Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Noordad Aziz, Samara Barnes and Stewart Jones.

County Councillors Munsif Dad, Lian Pate and John Potter joined the meeting virtually.

Recognitions

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, drew Full Council's attention to the recent success by the Trading Standards Service which had won the Chartered Trading Standards Institute Megan Lee Hero Award for 2024.

David Scott, Gary Singleton, Caroline Brimble and Jeanette Gurney from the Trading Standards Service, joined the meeting virtually.

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Cosima Towneley, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, drew Full Council's attention to the recent success by Alexandra House, Lancaster, which offers overnight breaks for children with severe and profound disabilities, and which had recently been awarded its 14^th consecutive 'Outstanding' grading by OFSTED.

John-Paul Adamson, Registered Manager, Alexandra House, joined the meeting virtually.

Devolution Update

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Leader of the Council updated Full Council on Devolution and the establishment of a Combined County Authority.

Cards for Kindness

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Leader of the Council drew Full Council's attention to the 'Cards for Kindness' initiative which was first established in 2018 and encouraged members of the public to write cards for residents of care homes. Cards could be dropped off at libraries or participating homes anytime between now and Christmas.

Care Leavers Exhibition

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Cosima Towneley, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, drew Full Council's attention to the Care Leavers Exhibition on display in the Platinum Jubilee Hall. The exhibition had been created by Lancashire's care experienced young people and some of the organisations that support them.

None declared.

Public questions submitted under Standing Order B29.

There were no questions submitted.

No questions were submitted.

Questions submitted under Standing Order B30.

County Councillors Peter Britcliffe, Matthew Maxwell-Scott, Sue Whittam, Scott Smith and Charlie Edwards asked their questions as follows:

County Councillor Graham Gooch, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care; County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, Leader of the Council; County Councillor Peter Buckley, Cabinet Member for Community and Cultural Services; County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, replied.

Due to a time limit of 30 minutes for Question Time, the following question was not asked and was subject to a written response by the relevant Cabinet Member, copied to all councillors.

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Cabinet from its meeting held on 5 December 2024 in respect of the Lancashire County Council Plan 2025-30: Building a Better Lancashire.

Resolved: - That the Lancashire County Council Plan 2025-30: Building a Better Lancashire, as set out at Annex 1 of the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee from its meeting held on 14 October 2024 regarding the appointment of an independent co-opted member.

Resolved: - That the appointment of Mr Stephen Dunstan to the role of independent co-opted member on the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee for an initial two-year term from 12 December 2024, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to the council's Members' Allowance Scheme for 2024/25 following the Panel's meeting on 29 November 2024.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as set out in the report, now presented, relating to the county council's Members' Allowance Scheme, be noted.

(ii)  The revised Members' Allowance Scheme for 2024/25, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report setting out proposals for the approval of formal appointments to the Lancashire Combined County Authority and its committees.

Resolved: - That, subject to approval by Parliament of the Lancashire Combined County Authority Regulations 2024:

(i)  The appointment of County Councillors Phillippa Williamson and Alan Vincent as the county council's representatives on the Lancashire Combined County Authority until the Full Council AGM in 2025, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

(ii)  The Director of Law and Governance, in consultation with the relevant political groups, be authorised to approve the county council's representatives on the Lancashire Combined County Authority Scrutiny and Audit Committees.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved the report of the Cabinet from its meeting on 14 November 2024.

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

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved the report of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee from its meeting on 14 October 2024.

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

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved the report of the Employment Committee from its meeting on 14 November 2024.

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

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

-  Scrutiny Management Board (13 November 2024)

-  Children, Families and Skills (6 November 2024)

-  Community, Cultural and Corporate Services (31 October 2024)

-  Environment, Economic Growth and Transport (24 October 2024)

-  Health and Adult Services (30 October 2024)

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

County Councillor Michael Green moved the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board from its meeting on 12 November 2024.

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

Notice of Motion 1

It was moved by County Councillor David O'Toole and seconded by County Councillor John Shedwick that:

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is rated outstanding and was awarded the Fire Service of the Year Award in 2023. They have transformed the way they fight fires using aerial intelligence by leading nationally on the use of drones, and since expanded the use of drones in underwater searches. They also lead on canine innovation with the introduction of dogs and handlers in search and rescue operations both at home and worldwide emergencies.

In May 2018 this Council supported a Notice of Motion to keep the Fire Authority separate from the control of the then Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Clive Grunshaw, and over the last three years this Council was safe in the knowledge that this was supported by the recent PCC, Andrew Snowden.

This Council resolves:

(i)  To ask the Interim Chief Executive to write to the current PCC for confirmation that he supports the continuing independence of the Fire and Rescue Authority from the Police.

(ii)  To ask the Interim Chief Executive to write to the Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire and all Lancashire MPs to seek their support for our outstanding Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, and their commitment to the service remaining independent from the Police.

The following Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Nikki Hennessy and seconded by County Councillor Sean Serridge:

To delete the following:

"In May 2018 this Council supported a Notice of Motion to keep the Fire Authority separate from the control of the then Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Clive Grunshaw, and over the last three years this Council was safe in the knowledge that this was supported by the recent PCC, Andrew Snowden".

And to amend the start of resolution (i) to read:

"To ask the Chair of the Lancashire Fire Authority and the Interim Chief Executive to write to the current PCC……"

Following a period of debate and on being put to the vote, the Amendment was LOST.

There being no further Amendments, the substantive Motion was put to the vote and in accordance with Standing Order B46(6), 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 (73)

Against (0)

Abstain (0)

The substantive Motion was CARRIED. It was therefore:

Resolved: - That:

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is rated outstanding and was awarded the Fire Service of the Year Award  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

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.

There was no urgent business to be considered.

The Chairman informed Full Council that this was the last Full Council meeting for Louise Taylor, Executive Director of Adult Services, who would be retiring at the end of the year. The Chairman, on behalf of Full Council, thanked Louise for her outstanding service to the county council and the people of Lancashire and wished her well for the future.