Minutes:
1. It was moved by County Councillor Hennessy and seconded by County Councillor Driver that:
This Council recognises, and supports, the strong historic relationship between the County Council and our schools.
Council extends its thanks and congratulations to all, including Parent Governors, who work in education across our County in providing the best of opportunities for our young people to grow and thrive.
Whilst welcoming the changes to the proposed policy of compelling schools to become Academies, Council is concerned that the Secretary of State still intends to introduce measures to enable her to insist that schools become Academies if they are graded below ‘Good’ by OFSTED or if significant numbers of schools in a local authority area become Academies.
Council believes that the obsession with school structures, rather than focussing on outcomes for children, has caused unease and uncertainly across the sector, deflecting the attention of Head Teachers and Governors from their focus of providing the best education that they can.
Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education and all Lancashire MP's welcoming the change of policy and committing the Council to continue working with all involved in Lancashire children's education to ensure the very best outcomes in the future stating that:
(i) Over 90% of Lancashire’s schools are rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED
(ii) There is no evidence to support the view that Academies produce better results than local authority schools.
(iii) Currently, where a local authority school requires improvement, the Council provides help and advice from its highly skilled and professional team of officers. This is not necessarily so with Academies and the Government’s proposals are not clear as to how failing Academies will be helped to improve.
(iv) Council is concerned that there are no proposals in the White Paper to reimburse local authorities for the significant costs that would be incurred in the process of converting to Academies and objects to the proposal to transfer council owned land on which schools are built to the Secretary of State.
(v) Council is also concerned that local authorities will be left with insufficient authority to carry out the proposed residual duties recommended in the White Paper, particularly those relating to:
(a) ensuring that every child has a school place;
(b) ensuring the needs of vulnerable children, particularly SEND pupils, are met;
(c) acting as champion for all parents and families;
(vi) Council considers that the proposed Regional School Commissioners, to whom Academies will be responsible and to whom parents can raise their concerns, are both unelected and remote. They are a very poor substitute for the current system where parents can raise their concerns with their local Council and Councillors who are known and accountable to them and who know the local schools and the communities they serve.
On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED and it was:
Resolved: That,
This Council recognises, and supports, the strong historic relationship between the County Council and our schools.
Council extends its thanks and congratulations to all, including Parent Governors, who work in education across our County in providing the best of opportunities for our young people to grow and thrive.
Whilst welcoming the changes to the proposed policy of compelling schools to become Academies, Council is concerned that the Secretary of State still intends to introduce measures to enable her to insist that schools become Academies if they are graded below ‘Good’ by OFSTED or if significant numbers of schools in a local authority area become Academies.
Council believes that the obsession with school structures, rather than focussing on outcomes for children, has caused unease and uncertainly across the sector, deflecting the attention of Head Teachers and Governors from their focus of providing the best education that they can.
Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Education and all Lancashire MP's welcoming the change of policy and committing the Council to continue working with all involved in Lancashire children's education to ensure the very best outcomes in the future stating that:
(i) Over 90% of Lancashire’s schools are rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED
(ii) There is no evidence to support the view that Academies produce better results than local authority schools.
(iii) Currently, where a local authority school requires improvement, the Council provides help and advice from its highly skilled and professional team of officers. This is not necessarily so with Academies and the Government’s proposals are not clear as to how failing Academies will be helped to improve.
(iv) Council is concerned that there are no proposals in the White Paper to reimburse local authorities for the significant costs that would be incurred in the process of converting to Academies and objects to the proposal to transfer council owned land on which schools are built to the Secretary of State.
(v) Council is also concerned that local authorities will be left with insufficient authority to carry out the proposed residual duties recommended in the White Paper, particularly those relating to:
(d) ensuring that every child has a school place;
(e) ensuring the needs of vulnerable children, particularly SEND pupils, are met;
(f) acting as champion for all parents and families;
(vi) Council considers that the proposed Regional School Commissioners, to whom Academies will be responsible and to whom parents can raise their concerns, are both unelected and remote. They are a very poor substitute for the current system where parents can raise their concerns with their local Council and Councillors who are known and accountable to them and who know the local schools and the communities they serve.
2. It was moved by County Councillor Holgate and seconded by County Councillor Brown that:
Chorley A&E
Council is concerned that the closure of the A&E service in Chorley Hospital is an early symptom of an emerging national problem in the NHS.
The Council recognises the financial pressures faced by the NHS and the national shortage of doctors, nurses and other clinical staff which has led to the closure of the A&E in Chorley and is very concerned about the impact on other local NHS services, particularly nearby A&Es across Lancashire.
The County Council is concerned that not only is there a shortage of A&E doctors but also an acute and growing problem with a lack of GPs across the County, coupled with other cuts across the public sector. This problem is also becoming increasingly serious as the age profiles of GPs in Lancashire suggests many more GPs will retire in the next few years than are currently entering into the service.
The County Council's Scrutiny Committee have met with the officials running Chorley Hospital and appreciate the situation they find themselves in. However, the County Council believes their situation is a forerunner of many of the problems of the NHS in England and require a national rather than simply a local solution for the future. Put simply, we need more nurses, junior doctors and GPs.
The Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary for Health and to the Prime Minister to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss the crisis in the NHS in Chorley and its impact on the people of Lancashire and what steps it intends to take to deal with these issues in the immediate future and in the longer term.
On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED and it was:
Resolved: That,
Council is concerned that the closure of the A&E service in Chorley Hospital is an early symptom of an emerging national problem in the NHS.
The Council recognises the financial pressures faced by the NHS and the national shortage of doctors, nurses and other clinical staff which has led to the closure of the A&E in Chorley and is very concerned about the impact on other local NHS services, particularly nearby A&Es across Lancashire.
The County Council is concerned that not only is there a shortage of A&E doctors but also an acute and growing problem with a lack of GPs across the County, coupled with other cuts across the public sector. This problem is also becoming increasingly serious as the age profiles of GPs in Lancashire suggests many more GPs will retire in the next few years than are currently entering into the service.
The County Council's Scrutiny Committee have met with the officials running Chorley Hospital and appreciate the situation they find themselves in. However, the County Council believes their situation is a forerunner of many of the problems of the NHS in England and require a national rather than simply a local solution for the future. Put simply, we need more nurses, junior doctors and GPs.
The Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary for Health and to the Prime Minister to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss the crisis in the NHS in Chorley and its impact on the people of Lancashire and what steps it intends to take to deal with these issues in the immediate future and in the longer term.
3. It was moved by County Councillor Atkinson and seconded by County Councillor Driver that:
Subsidised bus service through Sabden
Council notes that CC Fillis did not accept the recommendation of the Working Group to introduce a subsidised bus service through Sabden.
Council therefore resolves to instruct the Officers to negotiate with local Bus Companies to introduce a modified service to the one agreed by the Working Group which would provide a service through the village at 7am, 8am, noon, 5pm and 6pm. The cost of this service can be funded from the unspent balance of the £2m allocated to the Working Group.
The following amendment was proposed but ruled out of order as the amendment related to a function of the Executive and not the Council:
Council notes that CC Fillis did not accept the recommendation of the Working Group to introduce a subsidised bus service through Sabden.
Council agrees in principle to provide socially necessary bus services for residents in Sabden and resolves to implement the officer recommendations to the bus services working group.
The following amendment was moved by County Councillor Hayhurst and seconded by County Councillor Winlow:
Council notes that CC Fillis did not accept the recommendation of the Working Group to introduce a subsidised bus service through Sabden.
Council therefore resolves to instruct the Officers to negotiate with local Bus Companies and that the decision as to whether to subsidise a bus service to serve Sabden should be reconsidered in six month's time.
A recorded vote on the amendment was then taken. The names of county councillors who voted for or against the amendment and those who abstained were as follows:
For (40)
|
T Aldridge |
M Dad |
C Henig |
M Parkinson |
|
A Ali |
B Dawson |
N Hennessy |
N Penney |
|
A Barnes |
F De Molfetta |
S Holgate |
C Pritchard |
|
L Beavers |
C Dereli |
D Howarth |
S Prynn |
|
D Borrow |
K Ellard |
M Iqbal |
S Serridge |
|
M Brindle |
J Fillis |
M Johnstone |
R Shewan |
|
T Brown |
J Gibson |
T Martin |
K Snape |
|
D Clifford |
J Hanson |
J Mein |
M Tomlinson |
|
L Collinge |
M Hassan |
Y Motala |
D Watts |
|
C Crompton |
P Hayhurst |
B Murray |
B Winlow |
Against (32)
|
A Atkinson |
A Cheetham |
K Iddon |
M Perks |
|
M Barron |
A Clempson |
A James |
P Rigby |
|
P Britcliffe |
F Craig-Wilson |
T Jones |
A Schofield |
|
K Brown |
C Dowding |
A Kay |
K Sedgewick |
|
I Brown |
G Driver |
D Lord |
J Shedwick |
|
P Buckley |
G Gooch |
D O'Toole |
D Smith |
|
T Burns |
M Green |
M Otter |
D Stansfield |
|
J Sumner |
V Taylor |
D Whipp |
G Wilkins |
Abstentions (0)
The Amendment was therefore CARRIED and became the Substantive Motion.
On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED and it was:
Resolved: That,
Council notes that CC Fillis did not accept the recommendation of the Working Group to introduce a subsidised bus service through Sabden.
Council therefore resolves to instruct the Officers to negotiate with local Bus Companies and that the decision as to whether to subsidise a bus service to serve Sabden should be reconsidered in six month's time.
4. It was moved by County Councillor Dowding and seconded by County Councillor Driver that:
Guild Wheel
Lancashire County Council is committed to creating, wherever possible, safe, scenic, accessible cycle and foot -paths and is proud of the two leading popular and award-winning examples in the County: the 21 mile Guild Wheel around the Preston, and the Millennium Cycle Way through Lancaster.
These accessible quality cycle ways contribute to safety, health improvement, and safe exercise opportunities while reducing pollution and congestion resulting from commuter travel, as well as providing an attractive space in our cities.
This council notes:
- the widespread concerns expressed by local residents from across the County in the Save Our Guild Wheel Petition and in the many letters from organisations, local community groups and many individuals sent to councillors and the local media in relation to the large number of current and planned new junctions and the associated dangers to the favourable character of the Guild Wheel.
- the current City Deal and other infrastructure plans accord huge amounts of public money to a large number of highway developments; but also proposes a number of important cycle and pedestrian developments. Gains from the City Deal programme should benefit all users of the highway and cycleway network.
Council agrees to instruct officers:
- to ensure that cycling provision and new highway crossings and junctions are in line with best practice for cyclists and pedestrians, especially along the 21 mile route of the Guild Wheel.
- to undertake a consultation process with established cycling groups on design input into the significant number of new highway schemes being proposed, especially those on the Guild Wheel, including the Preston Cycle Liaison Group in a timely manner.
- as the lead highway and planning authority, to endeavour to positively respond to the plans of the Preston Cycle Liaison Group which follow from discussions with officers of this council and Preston City Council to create cost effective plans for the benefit of all road users in the current and planned junctions which propose to introduce motor vehicles onto, or across, the Guild Wheel.
- to organise a meeting of all three major Guild Wheel organisations (Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and Preston Cycle Liaison Group Users Group) to consider options for costings and related benefits.
- to keep all parties informed of progress and the outcomes.
On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED and it was:
Resolved: That,
Lancashire County Council is committed to creating, wherever possible, safe, scenic, accessible cycle and foot -paths and is proud of the two leading popular and award-winning examples in the County: the 21 mile Guild Wheel around the Preston, and the Millennium Cycle Way through Lancaster.
These accessible quality cycle ways contribute to safety, health improvement, and safe exercise opportunities while reducing pollution and congestion resulting from commuter travel, as well as providing an attractive space in our cities.
This council notes:
- the widespread concerns expressed by local residents from across the County in the Save Our Guild Wheel Petition and in the many letters from organisations, local community groups and many individuals sent to councillors and the local media in relation to the large number of current and planned new junctions and the associated dangers to the favourable character of the Guild Wheel.
- the current City Deal and other infrastructure plans accord huge amounts of public money to a large number of highway developments; but also proposes a number of important cycle and pedestrian developments. Gains from the City Deal programme should benefit all users of the highway and cycleway network.
Council agrees to instruct officers:
- to ensure that cycling provision and new highway crossings and junctions are in line with best practice for cyclists and pedestrians, especially along the 21 mile route of the Guild Wheel.
- to undertake a consultation process with established cycling groups on design input into the significant number of new highway schemes being proposed, especially those on the Guild Wheel, including the Preston Cycle Liaison Group in a timely manner.
- as the lead highway and planning authority, to endeavour to positively respond to the plans of the Preston Cycle Liaison Group which follow from discussions with officers of this council and Preston City Council to create cost effective plans for the benefit of all road users in the current and planned junctions which propose to introduce motor vehicles onto, or across, the Guild Wheel.
- to organise a meeting of all three major Guild Wheel organisations (Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and Preston Cycle Liaison Group Users Group) to consider options for costings and related benefits.
- to keep all parties informed of progress and the outcomes.
5. It was moved by County Councillor Ali and seconded by County Councillor Driver that:
Burnley Football Club
Lancashire County Council congratulates Burnley Football Club on another super season culminating in not only winning promotion to the Premier League but winning the title with a record number of points.
This Council ask the Chief Executive to the write to the Board of Burnley FC on behalf of this Council congratulating the Club.
On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED and it was:
Resolved: That,
Lancashire County Council congratulates Burnley Football Club on another super season culminating in not only winning promotion to the Premier League but winning the title with a record number of points.
This Council ask the Chief Executive to the write to the Board of Burnley FC on behalf of this Council congratulating the Club.