Agenda and minutes

County Councillor L Oades replaced County Councillor G Dowding at this meeting.

None.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary or Non-pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

County Councillor A Barnes declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 4b (Property Strategy (Neighbourhood Centres) Consultation) as she was Chair of the Crawshawbooth Community Association and also Leader of Rossendale Borough Council.

County Councillor J Oakes also declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 4b as she was the chair of the Whitewell Bottom Community Association.

Resolved:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 April 2016 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Committee considered the following decisions due to be taken by the Cabinet:

The Committee considered a report on proposed appointments to Outside Bodies in 2016/17, as set out at Appendix 'A'. 

The report also proposed that the County Council should no longer make appointments to a number of Outside Bodies, as set out at Appendix 'B'.  It was suggested that the Cabinet should be asked to continue to make appointments to the following outside bodies listed on Appendix 'B':

• Crook O'Lune Advisory Committee
• East Lancashire railway Trust
• Horse and Bamboo Theatre
• Local Liaison Committee back lane Quarry
• Local Liaison Committee Leapers Wood and Dunald Mill
• Rawtenstall Neighbourhood Forum

It was also suggested that the Cabinet should not reduce the number of members appointed to serve on local community safety partnerships.  Details of the criteria used to review the appointments to the partnerships were requested.  Officers agreed to provide this information.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet be noted and that apart from the above, no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report on a proposed reconfiguration of the Council's property portfolio to ensure that all Lancashire's residents would continue to receive high quality services from a reduced number of properties.

The report also proposed revised service delivery models in relation to the Library Service and Wellbeing, Prevention and Early Help Services.

A 12 week comprehensive consultation on the proposals would be undertaken with service users and the wider community.  It was noted that during the consultation period county councillors would be invited to discuss the proposals on a district by district basis.  This would provide additional important input to the proposals affecting their areas.  District Councils were also encouraged to make their views known.  A final set of proposals based on the results of the consultation would be presented to Cabinet in September 2016.

Members stressed that the consultation exercise needed to be meaningful and that any suggestions on the proposed reconfiguration of the property portfolio and revised service models also needed to be given full and proper consideration.

Members were informed that the County Council would work with any organisation wishing to take over the running of a council building but no financial resources would be provided by the Council following the sale or asset transfer of the building.

It was MOVED and SECONDED "That the Cabinet be asked to not close any libraries and use some of the £15m identified by the Conservative Group at the Full Council budget meeting in February 2016 to keep the libraries open." 

Upon being put to the vote this was LOST.

It was then MOVED AND SECONDED "That the Cabinet be asked to defer consideration of the report until its next meeting to enable the Executive Scrutiny Committee to give further consideration to the proposals."  Upon being put to the vote this was also LOST and it was:

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet be noted and that apart from the above, no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report on a proposal for Nelson and Colne College to assume responsibility for Lancashire Adult Learning College in place of the County Council.

The report also confirmed that Ofsted's re-inspection of Lancashire Adult Learning had judged the County Council to have improved to Good.  This was welcomed by members who thanked council officers and in particular staff at Nelson and Colne College for their hard work over the past 12 months.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet be noted and that apart from the above, no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing statutory annual report on the state of health and wellbeing, the inequalities and its determinants within Lancashire.

The Committee welcomed the report and members agreed that it was important for all stakeholders to work together to deliver on the key actions as set out in the report to promote wellbeing, prevent ill health and prolong quality of life.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet be noted and that apart from the above, no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The meeting was then adjourned for a short break and members returned to consider the remaining agenda items as set out below.

The Committee considered the following reports on Key Decisions due to be taken by individual Cabinet Members.

The Committee considered a report on the supported living and domiciliary care fees for 2016/17 and in particular proposals relating to sleep in payments and the waking hourly rate.

It was MOVED AND SECONDED "That the Cabinet be asked to find an alternative means of financing the proposals rather than using transitional reserves."  Upon being put to the vote this was LOST and it was:

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report on the proposed fees for residential and nursing homes for older people in 2016/17.

It was MOVED AND SECONDED "That the Cabinet be asked to find an alternative means of financing the proposals rather than using transitional reserves."  Upon being put to the vote this was LOST and it was:

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report on the proposed use of powers and the preparation of various orders and schemes including compulsory purchase in relation to the Preston Western Distributor and East West Link Road, Cottam Link Road and the realigned footpath network.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

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. Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member's intention to raise a matter under this heading.

It was reported that the Chair had agreed to a report in relation to the sale of Alston Hall, Longridge being dealt with at the meeting as an item of urgent business. The reason for this was that any delay could result in the Council losing the highest bidder and an extension of the period during which holding costs would be incurred.

It was noted that the report would be taken as the first item under Part II of the agenda. 

The next meeting of the Executive Scrutiny Committee will be held on Tuesday, 7 June 2016 at 2pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Tuesday 7 June 2016 at 2.00 p.m. at County Hall, Preston.

The Committee 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 items 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.

Resolved: - That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 and that in all circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee considered the following reports on Key Decisions due to be taken by individual Cabinet Members.

Sale of Alston Hall, Longridge

(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 interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed sale of Alston Hall, Longridge.

As mentioned earlier in the meeting (see 'Urgent Business' above), the Chair had agreed to this report being dealt with at the meeting as an item of urgent business, as any delay could result in the Council losing the highest bidder and an extension of the period during which holding costs would be incurred. 

Resolved:  That the recommendation set out in the report to the Deputy Leader be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

(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 interest in disclosing the information.)

(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 interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed write off of debts which had been assessed by the County Council as irrecoverable.

It was agreed that a meeting would be held between the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Conservative Group to discuss the proposals and in particular recommendations (iii) and (iv) as set out in the report.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Deputy Leader be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

(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 interest in disclosing the information.)

(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 interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on a proposed funding contribution by the County Council towards the redevelopment of Brierfield Mill.  The contribution would help to transform the redundant factory complex into a leisure, residential and education destination that would be known as 'Northlight'.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Leader be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

(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 interest in disclosing the information.)

(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 interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed expansion of St George's CE Primary School, Chorley. 

It was noted that the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools would take a final decision on the proposal based on the information provided in the report and at Appendices 'A' and 'B'.  This included the responses received during the statutory notice period.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

(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 interest in disclosing the information.)

(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 interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed award of contracts for the provision of agency residential services to Lancashire's children looked after.  

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

(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 interest in disclosing the information.)

(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 interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed award of framework contracts for the provision of a Red Textureflex/Anti-Skid/Super-Imposed Roadmarkings and Roadstuds Service.

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

(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 interest in disclosing the information.)

(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 interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed conclusion of a framework agreement for the provision of vehicle body building services.

Resolved:  That the recommendation set out in the report to the Leader of the County Council be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

(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 interest in disclosing the information.)

(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 interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed conclusion of a framework agreement for the supply of vehicles to the County Council.

Resolved:  That the recommendation set out in the report to the Leader of the County Council be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made. 

(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 interest in disclosing the information.)

(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 interest in disclosing the information)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed award of a framework agreement to provide project management services for kitchen and dining room refurbishments in educational establishments within the Lancashire area.

Resolved:  That the recommendation set out in the report to the Leader of the County Council be noted and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.