Agenda and draft minutes

County Councillor Janice Hanson was appointed as Chair of the Forum  for the following 12 months.

Councillor Paul Gardner was appointed as Deputy Chair of the Forum for the following 12 months.

The membership and Terms of Reference of the Forum were noted.

The Forum heard submissions from two members of the public representing parish councils in support of the extension of the Lune Track, highlighting the advantages it would bring and the reduction in the danger to cyclists currently experienced at some points on the road.

County Councillor David Borrow, Deputy Leader of Lancashire County Council, Dave Ainscough, Head of Finance (Environment), and Steve Freeman, Head of Financial Planning and Research, Lancashire County Council, attended to present to the Forum the County Council's financial strategy 2014/15- 2017/18, including the challenge facing the council and the initial proposals made by the Cabinet for consultation.

The Forum noted the presentation, and made the following comments:

·  Support was given for the review of grants, particularly Local member Grants, noting that some aspects of monitoring and administration could be reduced, particularly for grants of small amounts. It was suggested that opportunities for joint administration of grants with the district council should be considered.

·  It was noted that, whilst other authorities had implemented schemes to make pay savings such as all staff taking unpaid leave for a number of days, this was not currently a suggestion being pursued by the County Council

·  The proposals connected with fostering, the Recommissioning of Mental Health Services and Learning Disability Remodelling Supported Living were highlighted as areas where great care would need to be taken to ensure that there was no detrimental impact on vulnerable service users.

Resolved: That the comments of the Forum be fed back to the County Council's Cabinet as part of the budget development process.

County Councillor Richard Newman-Thompson, County Councillor Alycia James, Councillor Vicky Price, Councillor Ian Pattison.

It was noted that the attendance list as presented on the minutes was incorrect, and did not include County Councillors Charles, Dowding, Henig and Penney or Parish Councillor Helm, who were all present at the meeting.

It was agreed that, with the above amendments to the attendance list, the notes of the meeting on 25 September 2013 were a correct record.

The Forum noted the Action sheet from the last meeting. It was reported that a positive meeting had taken place between Ellel Parish council and County Council representatives on Ellel footpath No.1.

Members also suggested that the resurfacing work on Westbourne Road would be better targeted at the other end, between Cannon Hill and Willow Lane.

The attached dashboard details the performance of the Directorate between July and September 2013 in relation to the approved Lancaster District Commissioning Plan.

The Forum considered the Quarter 2 Performance Dashboard. It was reported that all works to canal bridges were currently on hold due to issues with British Waterways. Work on Owen Road was delayed whilst the agreement of English Heritage was secured to the materials to be used.

It was reported that information on pot hole repairs would be reported differently in future, using data on potholes reported by the public, rather than those identified through Highways safety Inspections.

The attached table sets out the list of priorities identified by members since the last meeting, which could be funded from the Local Priorities Response Fund.  In order to support the development of the 2014/15 Commissioning Plan, the Forum is asked to consider the schemes using the allocations and information contained within the table.

The Forum noted the position with the development of the Environment Directorate Commissioning Plan for 2014/15. The "Local Priorities response Fund" list of member identified priorities was also considered. The Forum supported the priorities set out in the report.

Resolved: That the Forum recommended the following suggestions be the priorities for the Lancaster Local Priorities Response Fund:

1.  Meeting House Lane, Lancaster: Upgrade crossing to Pelican and footway improvements

2.  Brunswick Road, Heysham: footway improvements

3.  Norton Road, Heysham: Carriageway and footway improvements

4.  Bellamy Avenue, Morecambe: footway improvements

5.  Westbourne Road, Lancaster: Resurfacing

The following items were considered by the Forum.

The forum noted the briefing note presented on enforcement measures available in relation to furniture on footways outside shops. A number of local areas where this was considered to be a problem were highlighted, and it was noted that this was a complex issue to enforce.

The forum noted the briefing note on the provision for travellers in the Lancaster district.

Any suggestions for themes to be discussed at future meetings should be forwarded to the Chair and Jane Johnson, Localities Officer, Environment Directorate, Strategy and Policy, Lancashire County Council on 01772 534374 or by email to jane.johnson@lancashire.gov.uk

Forum members were invited to suggest items for future meetings.

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 Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  

There was no urgent business.

The next scheduled meeting will be held on10 April 2014 at the Town Hall, Morecambe

It was noted that the next meeting of the Forum would be at 6.15 on 10 April 2014 at the Town Hall, Morecambe.