Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from County Councillors Terry Aldridge, Matthew Brown, Stewart Jones, Andrea Kay, Stuart Morris and Yousuf Motala.

County Councillor Lian Pate joined the meeting virtually.

Announcements

Deaths

The Chairman reported the recent deaths of former County Councillor John Lucas, who sadly passed away on 18 February 2024; former County Councillor Ron Shewan, who sadly passed away on 28 February 2024; and former County Councillor and Honorary Alderman Ruth Henig, Baroness Henig of Lancaster, who sadly passed away on 29 February 2024.

The Council observed a one-minute silence.

Recognitions

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Jayne Rear drew Full Council's attention to the recent following successes:

-  The People Services Apprenticeship Team was awarded the Platinum Partner Award 2024 by Blackpool and the Fylde College in recognition of the team's apprenticeship collaboration work and commitment to apprenticeship delivery and development of young people and Council employees.

-  Amanda Barbour, Head of Service for the Fostering Service, Adoption Lancashire Blackpool, and Children's Residential Services, has been awarded Degree Apprentice of the Year 2024 by Blackpool and the Fylde College for her significant commitment and achievement of the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship.

Amanda Barbour, together with Sarah Hadcroft and Louise Price from the Skills, Learning and Development Service, joined the meeting virtually.

Full Council congratulated and thanked all those involved.

County Councillor Michael Green declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 5 (Lancashire Combined County Authority and Devolution Deal) as a Member of South Ribble Borough Council.

County Councillor Alan Schofield declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 14 (Local Pensions Partnership Governance Review) as a Shareholder Director of Local Pensions Partnership Ltd.

County Councillor Charles Edwards declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 14 (Local Pensions Partnership Governance Review) as a Shareholder Director of Local Pensions Partnership Ltd.

Questions submitted under Standing Order B28.

County Councillors David O'Toole, Sue Whittam, John Fillis, and Julie Gibson asked their questions as follows:

It was noted that Question 2 (from CC Serridge to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport), had been withdrawn.

County Councillor Shaun Turner, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change; County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing; and County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, replied.

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

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the Meetings held on 14 December 2023 and 23 February 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report setting out a proposal to create the Lancashire Combined County Authority for the areas of Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, seconded by County Councillor Noordad Aziz:

That the proposal document be amended to reflect the concerns raised in the consultation about district council involvement and powers as follows:

1.  Voting rights for District Councils:

·  Page 13

o  After "…who would also have specified consenting rights in respect of the exercise of some powers by the LCCA", add "as well as two non-constituent members on the LCCA with full voting rights."

·  Page 43

o  on the diagram amend "non-voting representation from the district councils and other stakeholders" to "voting representation from the district councils and non-voting representation from other stakeholders"

·  Page 44

o  amend: "The four constituent members would have full voting rights" to "The four constituent members and two non-constituent district members would have full voting rights"

o  after "to nominate two individuals to represent their interests on the proposed LCCA as non-constituent members", add "with full voting rights."

2.  UKSPF:

·  Page 30

o  Amend "In carrying out this role, the proposed LCCA and the constituent councils will work closely with the Lancashire District Leaders Forum in an advisory capacity. Delivery of these functions will build on existing district-led delivery arrangements for UKSPF and align with the Lancashire 2050 strategy, as agreed by all Local Authorities in Lancashire to ensure that the needs of residents can be effectively addressed. Priorities for UKSPF will be evidence-based and funds will be directed towards areas of need." to "In carrying out this role, the proposed LCCA and the constituent councils will delegate funding and delivery arrangements for the UKSPF to district councils in line with current arrangements to ensure that the needs of residents can be effectively addressed. Priorities for UKSPF will be evidence-based and funds will be directed towards areas of need."

(Page references are to the Proposal document itself)

Following a period of debate the Amendment was put to the vote and in accordance with Standing Order B45(4), a recorded vote was taken. The names of the county councillors who voted for or against the Motion and those who abstained are set out below:

For (29)

Against (45)

Abstain (3)

The Amendment was therefore LOST.

The Chairman proposed the suspension of Standing Order B15 to allow county councillors to remain seated whilst speaking.

On being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report setting out, for 2024/25, the proposed financial threshold above which decisions should be treated as Key Decisions as defined in Standing Order 19 (1) (a).

Resolved: - That Full Council approves that the financial threshold for Key Decisions, for the purposes of Standing Order C19 (1) (a), be increased to £2.2m for 2024/25, as set out in the report, now presented.

County Councillor Peter Buckley moved a report setting out the outcome of the Political Governance Working Group's review of the Constitution and a revised and updated Constitution was now presented for consideration by Full Council.

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Lorraine Beavers, seconded by County Councillor Erica Lewis:

(This amendment refers to the text on pages 356-7 in the Full Council agenda pack)

That a revised Section C paragraph 34 and a new Section C paragraph 35 in the Cabinet and Cabinet Committees Procedural Standing Orders be included in the new constitution as follows:

34.  Speaking at Cabinet

34.1.  At each Cabinet meeting there shall be up to 30 minutes set aside for speaking by any members of the council who are not Cabinet members.

34.2.  A speech made by a member of the council under SO 34 (1) must:

a.  Relate to an item on the Cabinet agenda; and

b.  Relate to the County Councillor's division, or, where they are a named shadow portfolio holder, relate to an item within that portfolio.

34.3.  Each County Councillor may speak for no more than 3 minutes, but may speak on multiple issues within the agenda in line with SO 34 (2) above

34.4.  Councillors will notify the Chair of their intention to speak by raising their hand.

34.5.  Speeches will be taken in the order determined by the Chair.

34.6.  A member of the council may speak more than once, at the discretion of the Chair.

34.7.  If a member wishes to speak on a Part II item, they should indicate during the 30 minutes speaking time, but reserve their speech until the Part II section of the agenda. The Chair will invite them to speak before the item is presented by the Cabinet Member

35.  Questions in writing

35.1.  A County Councillor or any person who lives or works in the county, or is affected by the work of the County Council, may ask the Leader or a Cabinet Member a written question on any matter which relates to any item on the Cabinet agenda for that meeting.

35.2.  Each County Councillor or member of the public may only submit one question per meeting.

35.3.  A written copy of the question must have been delivered to Democratic Services by 12 noon two clear working days before the date of the meeting, specifying the full question and the agenda item to which it relates.

35.4.  Questions may be ruled out of order by the Monitoring Officer if they are considered to be:

a.  Not related to an item on the agenda;

b.  Defamatory, frivolous, vexatious or offensive;

c.  Substantially the same as a question that has been asked and answered by the Cabinet or Council in the past six months;

d.  Related to a matter due to be determined by the Development Control or Regulatory Committees

e.  Requiring the disclosure of confidential or exempt information

35.5.  Questions will receive a written reply. The question and answer will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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 held on 7 December 2023, 18 January 2024 and 8 February 2024.

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

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved the report of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee from its meeting held on 29 January 2024.

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

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved the report of the Employment Committee from its meeting held on 25 January 2024.

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

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved the report of the Pension Fund Committee from its meetings held on 1 December 2023 and 9 February 2024.

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

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

-  Scrutiny Management Board (16 January 2024)

-  Children, Families and Skills (13 December 2023 and 31 January 2024)

-  Community, Cultural and Corporate Services (12 December 2023 and 6 February 2024)

-  Environment, Economic Growth and Transport (5 December 2023 and 25 January 2024)

-  Health and Adult Services (4 December 2023 and 22 January 2024)

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

County Councillor David O'Toole moved the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meetings held on 18 December 2023 and 19 February 2024.

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

Notice of Motion 1

The Chairman informed Full Council that Notice of Motion 1, to have been moved by County Councillor Azhar Ali, had been withdrawn.

Notice of Motion 2

It was moved by County Councillor Barrie Yates and seconded by County Councillor Jeff Couperthwaite that:

Sanitary Bins for Male Toilets

This Council notes that three to six million people in the UK experience urinary incontinence.  This is often seen as a women's issue, but it is time to break the silence around male incontinence.

1 in 25 men aged over forty will experience some form of urinary leakage every year and 1 in 20 men aged sixty or over will experience bowel incontinence. As many as 69% of men may experience urinary incontinence following surgery for prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men.

Men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste often have no direct access to a sanitary bin in male toilets and are often forced to carry their own waste in a bag.

This Council believes that men should be able to dispose of incontinence products hygienically, safely, easily and with dignity wherever they go, and that men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste should have direct access to a sanitary bin in male toilets.

This Council resolves:

(i)  To support Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘Boys need Bins’ campaign and ask the Leader of the Council to write on behalf of the Council to our local MPs seeking their support for this campaign and Prostate Cancer UK's request for Government to update any necessary regulations to ensure that ‘suitable means for the disposal of sanitary dressings’ is provided in all toilets.

(ii)  That Lancashire County Council should introduce the provision of sanitary bins in all county council male toilets in both public and in council buildings.

(iii)  To encourage other providers of public and workplace toilets in our area to make male sanitary bins available in their facilities.

On being put to the vote the Motion was Carried.

It was therefore:

Resolved: - That:

Sanitary Bins for Male Toilets

This Council notes that three to six million people in the UK experience urinary incontinence.  This is often seen as a women's issue, but it is time to break the silence around male incontinence.

1 in 25 men aged over forty will experience some form of urinary leakage every year and 1 in 20 men aged sixty or over will experience bowel incontinence. As many as 69% of men may experience urinary incontinence following surgery for prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men.

Men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste often have no direct access to a sanitary bin in male toilets and are often forced to carry their own waste in a bag.

This Council believes that men should be able to dispose of incontinence products hygienically, safely, easily and with dignity wherever they go, and that men who need to dispose of their sanitary waste should have direct  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Full Council 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 item 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 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.

(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 interests in disclosing the information).

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report setting out details of a review of the governance of Local Pensions Partnership Limited.

Resolved: - That the recommendations as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.