Agenda and minutes

Members of the public are welcome to attend our meetings to watch them in person at any of the venues across the County. Publicly accessible meetings held in County Hall will be webcast, which means they are available to be watched live or recorded on our website. Please see our webcasting notice here. The Committee may, in certain circumstances, resolve to hold part of the meeting in private. If this is the case, you will be required to leave the meeting.

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Preston

Contact: Dave Gorman 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies and Announcements

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Tim Ashton, Noordad Aziz, Rob Bailey, Anne Cheetham and Munsif Dad.

 

County Councillors Frank De Molfetta, Sobia Malik, Yousuf Motala and Lian Pate joined the meeting virtually.

 

Announcements

 

The Lee Family

 

The Chairman welcomed Mr Adam and Mrs Gemma Lee, the parents of the late Megan Lee, to the meeting, together with representatives from the Trading Standards Service, Lancashire Constabulary, Hyndburn Borough Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Michael Green referred to the work which Mr and Mrs Lee had undertaken with the Trading Standards Service and other partners to highlight the danger of food allergies and the importance of correctly labelling food which included, for example, nuts.

 

Full Council subsequently watched a brief video which had been made by Mr and Mrs Lee, the Trading Standards Service and partners.

 

Full Council thanked Mr and Mrs Lee and all the services involved for their dedication and work in promoting this important issue.

 

Deaths

 

The Chairman referred to the recent death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and that Full Council would have the opportunity later in the meeting to pay tribute to Her late Majesty.

 

The Chairman reported the recent death of former County Councillor Norman Abram, who sadly passed away on Saturday 10 September 2022.

 

The Council observed a one-minute silence.

 

New Executive Directors

 

The Chairman welcomed Lesley Ottery, recently appointed Interim Executive Director of Resources, and Jacqui Old, recently appointed Executive Director of Education and Children's Services, to their first Full Council meeting.

 

Recognitions

 

-  Asset Management Service

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Charles Edwards drew Full Council's attention to the recent success by the Asset Management Service which had won a Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation Climate Action Award.

 

-  Julie Bell and Holly Emmett

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Peter Buckley drew Full Council's attention to the recent success by Holly Emmett and Julie Bell in the National Apprenticeship Awards 2022. Holly Emmett was the regional winner of the North West Rising Star award whilst Julie Bell was highly commended in the North West regional Apprentice Champion Award category.

 

Full Council congratulated and thanked all those involved in the achievement of these awards.

 

 

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

Name of Councillor

Agenda Item Number

Nature of Interest (non-pecuniary unless stated)

John Singleton

Notice of Motion 4

As a member of Weeton Village Hall and Staining in Bloom accepted a donation from Cuadrilla in 2011

Paul Rigby

 

 

 

Notice of Motion 4

Pecuniary

 

15.

Queen Elizabeth II

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Full Council to agree to the suspension of Standing Order B36(7) to allow, in the exceptional circumstances, an additional, fifth, Notice of Motion regarding Queen Elizabeth II and for it to be debated at this point in the meeting.

 

Resolved: - That Standing Order B36(7) be suspended and the Notice of Motion regarding Queen Elizabeth II be debated at this point in the meeting.

 

It was moved by County Councillor Phillippa Williamson and seconded by County Councillor Azhar Ali that:

 

Lancashire County Council is deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and extend our deepest sympathy to His Majesty King Charles III and the royal family for their loss.

 

Lancashire County Councillors express their gratitude to HM Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, for her long service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Her reign was the longest in British history and her duty and dedication has been an inspiration, bringing constancy through 70 years of change.

 

The Council commends the reforms to the monarchy during the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, including abolishing the Civil List and giving equal inheritance rights to women to the crown and fully supports the continuation of the ancient institution of the monarchy.

 

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to pass on the thanks of councillors to officers of the council across Lancashire for their work during the mourning period to support the proper protocols and enable councillors, staff and residents to pay their respects to HM Queen Elizabeth II.

 

County Councillors paid tribute to Her late Majesty after which the motion was put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Lancashire County Council is deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and extend our deepest sympathy to His Majesty King Charles III and the royal family for their loss.

 

Lancashire County Councillors express their gratitude to HM Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, for her long service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Her reign was the longest in British history and her duty and dedication has been an inspiration, bringing constancy through 70 years of change.

 

The Council commends the reforms to the monarchy during the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, including abolishing the Civil List and giving equal inheritance rights to women to the crown and fully supports the continuation of the ancient institution of the monarchy.

 

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to pass on the thanks of councillors to officers of the council across Lancashire for their work during the mourning period to support the proper protocols and enable councillors, staff and residents to pay their respects to HM Queen Elizabeth II.

 

 

 

3.

Question Time pdf icon PDF 347 KB

Questions submitted under Standing Order B28.

Minutes:

County Councillors Lorraine Beavers, Scott Smith, Azhar Ali and Jackie Oakes, asked their questions as follows:

 

No.

Question From

Subject

For Answer By

1.

County Councillor Lorraine Beavers

School Meals

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

2.

County Councillor Scott Smith

Levelling Up East Lancashire

Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth

3.

County Councillor Azhar Ali

Mini-Budget

Leader of the County Council

4.

County Councillor Jackie Oakes

Fracking

Leader of the County Council

 

At the invitation of the Chairman, and prior to County Councillor Oakes asking Question 4, the Monitoring Officer provided Full Council with legal advice in relation to the subject matter.

 

County Councillor Jayne Rear, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills; County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth; and County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, Leader of the County Council, replied.

 

Due to a limit of 30 minutes for Question Time, the following questions were not asked and were subject to a written response copied to all councillors:

 

5.

County Councillor Mohammed Iqbal

School Places in Burnley and Pendle

Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

6.

County Councillor

Lizzi Collinge

Baby Loss Awareness Week

Cabinet Member for Children and Families

 

4.

Confirmation of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 July 2022 pdf icon PDF 216 KB

Minutes:

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 July 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

5.

Report of the Cabinet (Part A) - Lancashire Community Safety Agreement 2022 - 2025 pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Peter Buckley moved a report setting out the recommendations of the Cabinet from its meeting on 8 September 2022 in respect of the Lancashire Community Safety Agreement 2022 - 2025.

 

Resolved: - That the Lancashire Community Safety Agreement 2022 - 2025, as determined by the Council's Policy Framework, be approved.

6.

Report of the Employment Committee - Appointment of Executive Director of Resources pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Minutes:

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Employment Committee from its meeting on 30 September 2022 in respect of the appointment to the post of Executive Director of Resources (s. 151 officer). In moving the report, County Councillor Williamson reported that Mr Mark Wynne was being recommended for appointment.

 

Resolved: - That the appointment of Mr Mark Wynne as Executive Director of Resources (s. 151 officer), as set out in the report, now presented, and as reported at the meeting, be approved.

7.

Report of the Political Governance Working Group pdf icon PDF 167 KB

Minutes:

County Councillor Alan Cullens moved a report setting out the recommendations of the Political Governance Working Group from its meeting on 29 September 2022.

 

Resolved: - That:

 

(i)  The constitution be amended to reflect the changes proposed to the approval of seating arrangements at Full Council, as set out in the report, now presented.

(ii)  The principle that councillor attendance statistics be published online be approved, and that the Political Governance Working Group be asked to agree the detail of the proposal for formal approval by the Monitoring Officer.

8.

Lancashire County Pension Fund Annual Report Year Ending 31 March 2022 pdf icon PDF 275 KB

Minutes:

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report setting out details of the performance and state of the Lancashire County Pension Fund for the year ending 31 March 2022.

 

Resolved: - That the performance and state of the Lancashire County Pension Fund and investment activities for the year ended 31 March 2022, as set out in the report, now presented, and detailed in the Lancashire County Pension Fund Annual Report 2021/22, be noted.

 

 

9.

Lancashire County Council Timetable of Meetings 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report setting out details of a draft timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2024.

 

Resolved: - That the timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2024 inclusive, as set out at Appendix 'A' to the report, now presented, be approved.

10.

Urgent Business

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.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business to be considered.

11.

Report of the Cabinet (Part B) pdf icon PDF 400 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on 7 July 2022 and 8 September 2022, together with the annual reports of the Council Champions considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 8 September 2022 and details of urgent key decisions taken since the last meeting of Full Council, in accordance with Standing Order C22.

 

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

12a

The Audit, Risk and Governance Committee pdf icon PDF 20 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved the report of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee from its meeting on 25 July 2022.

 

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

12b

The Employment Committee pdf icon PDF 145 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved the report of the Employment Committee from its meetings on 23 June 2022, 5 July 2022, 7 September 2022 and 20 September 2022.

 

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

 

12c

The Pension Fund Committee pdf icon PDF 145 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved the report of the Pension Fund Committee from its meeting on 16 September 2022.

 

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

 

12d

The Overview and Scrutiny Committees pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

Scrutiny Management Board - 26 July 2022

Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee - 21 September 2022

Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee - 13 September 2022

Environment, Economic Growth and Transport Scrutiny Committee - 15 September 2022

 

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

 

12e

The Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board pdf icon PDF 146 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Michael Green moved the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board from its meeting on 19 July 2022.

 

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

 

13.

Report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority pdf icon PDF 144 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor David O'Toole moved the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meeting on 27 June 2022.

 

Resolved: - That the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, now presented, be noted.

 

14.

To consider Notices of Motion Submitted under Standing Order B36 pdf icon PDF 199 KB

Minutes:

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Samara Barnes and seconded by County Councillor Anna Hindle that:

 

This council notes:

 

That we are seeing a crisis of food poverty born out of the political choices and systemic failings created over the past four decades, which have now reached a tipping point for so many in our communities. The figures are devastating for one of the richest nations in the world and highlight the inequality of the UK in 2022.

 

Need for food banks is already at a record high. Food banks in the Trussell Trust network gave out 2.1 million emergency food parcels between April 2021 and March 2022, a 14% rise on the year 2019/20. This comes on top of year-on-year increases in need. With inflation at a record high and the worst cost of living crisis in living memory the pressures on many families will be unbearable across Lancashire. The cost of living crisis will lead to a massive increase in child poverty across Lancashire.

 

Recycling Lives, a charity that works across Lancashire and Cumbria, has gone from delivering 4,000 trays of food per week during lockdown to 6,500 now. In West Lancashire alone, 4,580 households experience food insecurity, with over 2,000 children under 16 living in food insecure households. Food banks in Chorley and East Lancashire are reporting increases in demand from 30% to 50%, whilst donations are down by as much as 80%, and it's the same picture across the whole County.

 

We also note the Government’s National Food Strategy which reported in July 2021 and was the first independent review of England’s entire food system for 75 years, and its subsequent response. The ‘Right to Food’ campaign believes that the 11 million people currently living in food poverty must be central to the response from Government.

 

This council further believes:

 

Enshrining the ‘Right to Food’ into law would clarify Government obligations on food poverty and would introduce legal avenues to hold Government bodies accountable for violations.

 

This council resolves:

 

(i)  To call for the Right to Food to be incorporated in the Government’s White Paper in response to the National Food Strategy. We ask the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister to further this request.

(ii)  To formally declare as a Right to Food Council and join with other councils across the country to continue to push for a Right to Food enshrined in law.

(iii)  To appoint a food security champion for Lancashire County Council.

 

The following Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Michael Green and seconded by County Councillor Sue Whittam:

 

This council notes:

 

That the cost of food has real consequences for people across Lancashire and that the broader affordability of food, and individuals’ access to food, is an important key element of the government’s approach to tackling poverty, as we learn to live with recent events and manage the impact of cost-of-living pressures. 

 

Food banks in the Trussell Trust network gave out 2.1 million emergency food parcels between April  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.