Agenda and minutes

The Cabinet paid tribute to Randip Bhogal, Safeguarding Service County Operational Manager  who had worked for the county council for a number of years and who had sadly lost his life to COVID-19. The Cabinet also paid tribute to all those who have sadly lost their lives to COVID-19 in Lancashire, as well as their loved ones, and a minute silence was held.

Apologies were received from County Councillor Graham Gooch.

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

None declared.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the commencement of a procurement exercise in accordance with the county council's procurement rules for the provision of Lancashire Enterprise Zone Commercial Agency Services.

Resolved: That, the commencement of a procurement exercise for the provision of Lancashire Enterprise Zone Commercial Agency Services be approved.

Cabinet received a report seeking approval for the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order along Liverpool Road, Penwortham to provide marked Bus Stop Clearways at four existing bus stop locations as shown in Appendix 'A' of the report.

Resolved: That, the proposals for Bus Clearways along Liverpool Road, Penwortham as shown in Appendix 'A' of the report and for the reasons outlined in the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report for a new permanent bus stop and bus stop clearway on Stanhill Lane, Oswaldtwistle following requests from local bus users. The report summarised the results of the formal advertising of the proposed bus stop clearways to which objections had been received.

Resolved: That, the construction of the permanent bus stop and clearway on Stanhill Lane, Oswaldtwistle be approved.

Cabinet received a report outlining the design work and progression of the planning application for the Cottam Parkway railway station and new access road. It was noted that in order to maintain the programme milestones and to ensure the scheme could be delivered, it was essential that the county council had possession of all the necessary land. Negotiations had already commenced with landowners however, agreement may not be achievable in time or at all.

As a result, it was further noted that it may be necessary to use Compulsory Purchase powers available to the county council, in particular under the Highways Act 1980 and Town and Country Planning Act 1990, to acquire the land.

Resolved: That;

  i.  The use of the county council's powers of Compulsory Purchase contained in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Highways Act 1980, and all and any other enabling legislation, to acquire all the necessary land and rights for the construction/improvement and future maintenance of a new station and associated highway and access infrastructure at Cottam, referred to as Cottam Parkway, be approved;

  ii.  Both the preparation of Compulsory Purchase and Side Road Orders for the scheme and other appropriate  Notices, Orders and Schemes under the relevant statutes and the taking of all other procedural steps in connection with the making of the Orders and Schemes, prior to approval and sealing and making of the formal Orders and Schemes be authorised; and the acquisition by agreement in advance of Compulsory Purchase powers of all rights, interests, enabling arrangements to facilitate the scheme be approved;

  iii.  The acquisition by agreement in advance of Compulsory Purchase powers of all rights, interests, enabling arrangements to facilitate the scheme be approved; and

  iv.  The taking of procedural steps to facilitate the delivery of the scheme utilising Network Rail land and property be authorised.

Cabinet considered a report detailing proposals that had been developed to improve journeys for non-motorised road users between Ormskirk town centre and the nearby Edge Hill University. This included an improved signal controlled junction of St Helens Road with Ruff Lane that was designed to provide a safer and more convenient junction for cyclists and pedestrians.

The report summarised the results of the public consultation and formal advertising of the junction improvement proposals.

Resolved: That, the proposals to improve the traffic signal controlled junction of St Helens Road with Ruff Lane, Ormskirk, as detailed in Appendices 'A' and 'B' of the report and to make the Traffic Regulations Orders set out at Appendices 'C' and 'D' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report detailing Phase 2 of the Transport Asset Management Plan which started in April 2020 and will run until March 2025. Using the condition of the assets at the end of Phase 1, along with the results of Lifecycle Modelling, the original Transport Asset Management Plan assumptions had been reviewed and had been used to produce revised standards and funding proposals for the period 2020/21 to 2024/25. The report also set out the revised standards and recommended approach for the apportionment of future highway funding. 

Resolved: That;

  i.  The approach to funding of Phase 2 of the Transport Asset Management Plan, as laid out in this report and in Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved;

  ii.  The revised standards for Phase 2 of the Transport Asset Management Plan, as laid out in this report and in Appendix 'B' of the report be approved; and

  iii.  The Director of Strategy & Performance be authorised to approve and publish the Transport Asset Management Plan -  Phase 2 2020/21 - 2024/25 in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport.

Cabinet received a report on the appointment of an Agreed Syllabus Conference to commence on the 16 December 2020 for the purpose of reviewing the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

Resolved: That, an Agreed Syllabus Conference be convened and that any person who sits on the representative groups on the Lancashire Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education, excluding the Co-opted Members, can be appointed as members of the Agreed Syllabus Conference, be approved.

Cabinet received a report setting out a strategy to support the recruitment and retention of foster carers in Lancashire County Council including:

  i.  Support to Lancashire foster carers who are also employees of Lancashire;

  ii.  County Council Fostering Wellbeing Activity Programme;

  iii.  Retainer fees;

  iv.  Word of mouth referrals; and

  v.  Welcome recommendation for new applicants.

Resolved: That, the recommendations set out in the report for a strategy to support the recruitment and retention of foster carers in Lancashire be approved.

Cabinet received a report detailing complaints and customer feedback as part of the annual social care statutory complaints for both adult and children and young people's services.

Resolved: that, the statutory social care complaints and customer feedback annual report for children and young people and adults be accepted, acknowledging the associated learning in 2019-2020, and the publication of the report be approved.

The following urgent decision had been taken by the Leader of the County Council and the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport in accordance with Standing Order C16(1) since the last meeting of Cabinet, and can be viewed by clicking on the relevant link:

Public Realm Improvement Grant

Resolved: That the urgent decision taken by the Leader of the County Council and the Deputy Leader of the County Council and Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, since the last meeting of Cabinet, be noted.

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.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

The next meeting of Cabinet will be held on Thursday 14 January 2020 at 2.00pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday 14 January 2020 as a virtual meeting.

No representations have been received.

Click here to see the published Notice of Intention to Conduct Business in Private.

Cabinet noted the Notice of Intention to Conduct Business in Private and that no representations had been received.

The Cabinet 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 I 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 public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as indicated against the heading to the item.

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). 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.

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). 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.

Cabinet received a report providing an update on the School Basic Need Programme.

Resolved: That the recommendations as set out in the report be approved.