Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Stewart Jones.

County Councillor Loraine Cox joined the meeting virtually.

Coronation of HM King Charles III and HM Queen Camilla

The Chairman expressed Full Council's congratulations and best wishes to Their Majesties, The King and Queen, on their recent Coronation and reported that he had written to Their Majesties to that effect, looking forward to welcoming them to Lancashire in due course.

Recognition

-  Cultural Services (Lancashire Libraries Service)

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Peter Buckley drew Full Council's attention to the recent success by the Lancashire Libraries Service which had received an award for community engagement sponsored by the online tutorial platform Niche Academy. Representatives of the service attended the meeting virtually for the recognition.

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

Devolution

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, Leader of the Council, updated Full Council on recent developments to secure a devolution deal for Lancashire.

Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Guide

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Alf Clempson, Champion for Armed Forces and Veterans, drew Full Council's attention to the newly published Lancashire Armed Forces Covenant Guide, copies of which were available at the meeting. In doing so, County Councillor Clempson thanked all those who had been instrumental in producing the guide and who worked in support of this important aspect of the county council's work.

None declared.

Questions submitted under Standing Order B28.

County Councillors Julie Gibson, Ash Sutcliffe and Lorraine Beavers asked their questions as follows:

County Councillor Jayne Rear, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills and County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, replied.

County Councillor Peter Britcliffe, the retiring Chairman of the County Council, presided for this item.

It was moved by County Councillor David O'Toole, and seconded by County Councillor John Shedwick, that County Councillor Keith Iddon be elected Chairman of the County Council.

There being no other nominations, it was:

Resolved: - That County Councillor Keith Iddon be elected Chairman of the County Council until the Annual General Meeting of the Full Council in 2024.

County Councillor Iddon then took the Chair and made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

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It was moved by County Councillor Charles Edwards, and seconded by County Councillor Matthew Maxwell-Scott, that County Councillor Tim Ashton be appointed Vice-Chairman of the County Council.

It was subsequently moved by County Councillor Azhar Ali, and seconded by County Councillor Lorraine Beavers, that County Councillor Hasina Khan be appointed Vice-Chairman of the County Council.

On being put to the vote, the nomination for County Councillor Tim Ashton was CARRIED.

Resolved: - That County Councillor Tim Ashton be appointed Vice-Chairman of the County Council until the Annual General Meeting of the Full Council in 2024.

County Councillor Ashton then made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the meetings held on 22 February 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee in respect of the updated Code of Corporate Governance for 2023/24.

Resolved: - That the recommendation of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee to approve the updated Code of Corporate Governance for 2023/24, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report setting out proposed changes to Special Responsibility Allowances and therefore an updated Members' Allowance Scheme for 2023/24.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The Special Responsibility Allowance payable to the Chair of Lancashire County Developments Limited, as set out in the report, now presented, be amended to £4,355.

(ii)  The creation of a Special Responsibility Allowance of £4,355 for the Deputy Chair of the Development Control Committee, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

(iii)  Subject to (i) and (ii) above, that the Members' Allowance Scheme for 2023/24 be updated to include the new Special Responsibility Allowances as presented at Appendix 'A' to the report, now presented.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report setting out the proposed appointment of a new member of the Independent Remuneration Panel, together with the proposed re-appointment of three independent persons, to fulfil the role required by the Localism Act 2011 in relation to allegations of members' misconduct.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The appointment of Ms J England to serve on the Independent Remuneration Panel for a four-year term with effect from 25 May 2023, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

(ii)  The reappointment of Ms I Divine, Mr K Leaver, and Mr T Whitehead to fulfil the role of independent person, as required by the Localism Act 2011 and as set out in the report, now presented, with effect from 25 May 2023, be approved.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report asking Full Council to approve the council's Constitution for the year ahead, including changes resulting from the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday 4 May and noting other changes made since the Annual General Meeting in 2023.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The changes to the Constitution arising from the Cabinet decision to update the Cabinet Member portfolios as set out at Appendix 'B', to the report, now presented, be approved.

(ii)  The Director of Law and Governance be authorised to make any consequential changes to other parts of the Constitution arising from these changes.

(iii)  The Constitution of the county council for the year 2023/24, as set out in the report, now presented, noting the changes, set out at Appendix 'A', that have been made to the Constitution since the Annual General Meeting in 2022, be approved.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report setting out details of the membership of committees and related appointments for 2023/24.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The Constitution and membership of the committees of the county council for 2023/24, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

(ii)  The appointment of Chairs and Deputy Chairs of those committees for 2023/24, as set out in the report, now presented, and as set out below, be approved.

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report setting out the proposed appointment of a new employer representative for the county council and the extension of a scheme member representative appointment on the Lancashire Local Pension Board.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  Simon Lawrence, Director of Growth and Regeneration, be appointed as the new Lancashire County Council employer representative, as set out in the report, now presented, with effect from 25 May 2023.

(ii)  The term of appointment for Deborah Parker, an existing scheme member representative on the Lancashire Local Pension Board, be extended for a further four years, as set out in the report, now presented, to 2 July 2027.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report asking Full Council to approve the appointment of 19 members to serve on the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority for 2023/24 on the basis of 11 Conservative members, 7 Labour members, and 1 member from either the Liberal Democrats or Greens.

Resolved: - That the following county councillors be appointed to serve on the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority for 2023/24:

Conservative (11)  Labour (7)  Liberal Democrat (1)

S Clarke  L Beavers  D Howarth

L Cox  M Dad 

T Hurn  N Hennessy 

A Kay  H Khan 

S Morris  J Mein 

D O'Toole  M Pattison 

P Rigby  S Serridge 

J Shedwick

J Singleton

R Woollam

B Yates

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report asking Full Council to approve the appointment of the county council's representative, and a substitute representative, to serve on the Police and Crime Panel for Lancashire for 2023/24.

County Councillor Vincent proposed that County Councillor Michael Green be appointed as the county council's representative, and that County Councillor Alan Cullens be appointed as the county council's substitute representative.

Resolved: - That County Councillor Michael Green be appointed to serve on the Police and Crime Panel for Lancashire and that County Councillor Alan Cullens be appointed to serve as the substitute representative for 2023/24.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report asking Full Council to approve the appointment of the county council's representatives, and substitute representatives, to serve on Transport for the North's Board and Partnership Board and Transport for the North Scrutiny Committee for 2023/24.

County Councillor Vincent proposed that County Councillors Rupert Swarbrick and Matthew Salter be appointed as the county council's representatives, and that County Councillors Scott Smith and Rob Bailey be appointed as the county council's substitute representatives.

Resolved: - That:

The following Members be appointed to serve on Transport for the North and Transport for the North Scrutiny Committee for 2023/24:

Transport for the North Board and Partnership Board

County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick

County Councillor Scott Smith (Substitute)

Transport for the North Scrutiny Committee

County Councillor Matthew Salter

County Councillor Rob Bailey (Substitute)

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report asking Full Council to approve the appointment of representatives to serve on the Local Government Association General Assembly for 2023/24; the appointment of representatives to serve on a number of the Local Government Association's Special Interest Groups for 2023/24, and to note the arrangements for appointments to the Local Government Association's Boards.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The representation and appointments to serve on the Local Government Association's General Assembly and Special Interest Groups, as set out in the report now presented, for 2023/24 be approved as follows:

LGA General Assembly (4)

Conservative (3)  Labour (1)

G Gooch  A Ali

M Green

J Rear

LGA Special Interest Group - Coastal Issues (1)

S Clarke

LGA Special Interest Group - Rural Services Network (1)

S Turner

LGA Special Interest Group - Nuclear Legacy Advisory Forum (1)

A Riggott

(ii)  That the County Council's 12 votes be carried by County Councillor Graham Gooch.

(iii)  That the arrangements for appointments to the Local Government Association's Boards as set out in the report, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report asking Full Council to approve the appointment of representatives to serve on the County Councils Network for 2023/24.

Resolved: - That the representation and appointments to serve on the County Councils Network for 2023/24 be approved as follows:

Conservative (3)  Labour (1)

G Gooch  A Ali

A Vincent

P Williamson

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report setting out details of all the companies that the county council either owned or had an interest in reviewing performance for during 2022/23 and set out priorities for 2023/24.

Resolved: - That the report, now presented, be noted and that it be further noted that the newly established Company Member Cabinet Committee, as set out in the report, now presented, shall monitor and review the performance of each county council owned company on a regular basis receiving reports as necessary.

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.

There was no urgent business to be considered.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved the report of the Cabinet from its meetings on 2 March 2023, 6 April 2023 and 4 May 2023 together with details of an urgent key decision taken since the last meeting of Full Council, in accordance with Standing Order C23.

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

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved the report of the Urgency Committee setting out details of the decisions taken by the then Director of Corporate Services (Monitoring Officer) and the Executive Director of Resources under the county council's urgent business procedure on behalf of the Urgency Committee.

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

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved the report of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee from its meeting on 24 April 2023.

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

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County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved the report of the Employment Committee from its meeting on 9 March 2023.

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

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County Councillor Alan Vincent moved the report of the Conduct Committee from its meeting on 16 March 2023.

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

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County Councillor Eddie Pope moved the report of the Pension Fund Committee from its meeting on 10 March 2023.

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

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

-  Scrutiny Management Board (18 April 2023)

-  Children, Families and Skills (5 April 2023)

-  Community, Cultural and Corporate Services (9 March and 13 April 2023)

-  Environment, Economic Growth and Transport (16 March and 27 April 2023)

-  Health and Adult Services (22 March 2023)

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

County Councillor Michael Green moved the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board from its meeting on 7 March 2023.

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

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County Councillor David O'Toole moved the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meetings on 20 February 2023 and 24 April 2023.

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

1.  The Chairman notified Full Council that Notice of Motion 1 had been withdrawn.

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Jennifer Mein and seconded by County Councillor Lorraine Beavers that:

This council notes:

Local government has endured central government funding cuts of more than 50% since 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, councils lost 60p out of every £1 they have received from central government. Councils across England are now facing a collective funding gap of £2.4bn for the financial year 2023/24 and a cumulative funding gap of £4.08bn for 2024/25 according to UNISON research.

Lancashire County Council led the way in efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a huge range of services and support for our communities. Local government in Lancashire has shown more than ever how indispensable it is. But Covid has led to a massive increase in expenditure and loss of income, and as we emerge from the pandemic, local authorities and schools need far more support from Westminster. Recent funding announcements from the Government relating to schools did nothing to help.

Council and school workers kept our communities safe through the pandemic, often putting themselves at considerable risk as they work to protect public health, ensure our children continue to be educated, and look after older and vulnerable people. 

Since 2010, the local Lancashire government workforce has endured years of pay restraint with the majority of pay points losing at least 25 per cent of their value since 2009/10. Staff are now facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, with inflation hitting 10% and many having to make impossible choices between food, heating and other essentials. This is a terrible situation for anyone to find themselves in.

At the same time, workers have experienced ever-increasing workloads and persistent job insecurity. Across the UK, 900,000 jobs have been lost in local government since June 2010 – a reduction of more than 30 per cent. Local government has arguably been hit by more severe job losses than any other part of the public sector.

There has been a disproportionate impact on women, with women making up more than three-quarters of the local government workforce.

Recent research shows that if the Government were to fully fund the unions' 2023 pay claim, around half of the money would be recouped thanks to increased tax revenue, reduced expenditure on benefits and tax credits, and increased consumer spending in the local economy.

This council believes:

Our Lancashire workers are public service super-heroes. They keep our communities clean and safe, look after those in need and keep our towns, cities and villages running.

Without the professionalism and dedication of our staff, the council services our residents rely on would not be deliverable.

Lancashire County Council workers deserve a proper real-terms pay increase. The Government needs to take responsibility and fully fund this increase; it should not put the burden on local authorities whose funding has been cut to the bone and who were not offered adequate support through the Covid-19  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.