Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Samara Barnes, Howard Hartley, Alan Schofield and Barrie Yates.

County Councillors Joan Burrows, Lizzi Collinge, Munsif Dad BEM and Frank De Molfetta joined the meeting virtually.

Announcements

Deaths

The Vice-Chairman reported the recent deaths of County Councillor Keith Iddon, Chairman of the County Council, who sadly passed away on Thursday 29 June 2023; former County Councillor Sue Prynn, who sadly passed away on Wednesday 31 May 2023; former County Councillor Harold Ellotson, who sadly passed away on Friday 23 June 2023; and Father Timothy Lipscomb, former Vicar of Preston, who sadly passed away on Tuesday 11 July 2023.

The Council observed a one-minute silence.

Retirement of Lord Shuttleworth as HM Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire

The Vice-Chairman paid tribute to the retiring Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, the Lord Shuttleworth, who had served in the position for over 26 year and, supported by Lady Shuttleworth, had been an outstanding ambassador for Lancashire and had welcomed many Royal visitors and other dignitaries to the county. On behalf of the county council, the Vice-Chairman wished Lord Shuttleworth a long and happy retirement.

Recognitions

The Vice-Chairman welcomed representatives of several county council services who were joining the meeting virtually.

-  Apprenticeships

At the invitation of the Vice-Chairman, County Councillor Jayne Rear drew Full Council's attention to the recent success at Nelson and Colne College Group's prestigious awards ceremony on 14 June 2023 at Accrington Stanley Football Club, celebrating the outstanding achievements of a number of Apprentices and their employers.

Lancashire County Council was successful with nine nominated finalists and winning in five categories. 

-  Lancashire Adult Learning

At the invitation of the Vice-Chairman, County Councillor Jayne Rear drew Full Council's attention to the recent success at Lancashire Adult Learning's awards event at Accrington and Rossendale College to celebrate partnership working with employers.

Lancashire County Council was awarded Community Partner of the Year and Employer Partner of the Year.

-  Lancashire Business Environment Awards

At the invitation of the Vice-Chairman, County Councillor Shaun Turner drew Full Council's attention to the recent success of the Forest of Bowland AONB Partnership which won the Public Sector Award for its ground-breaking Eco Escapes sustainable tourism initiative, recognising its contribution to reducing carbon emissions from the county’s tourism and hospitality sectors.

Full Council congratulated and thanked all those involved.

Devolution

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

Refugee Week

At the invitation of the Vice-Chairman, County Councillor Peter Buckley introduced a short video which was produced to mark the recent Refugee Week which took place between 19 and 25 June 2023.

None declared.

Questions submitted under Standing Order B28.

County Councillor Lizzi Collinge was not present in the chamber to ask Question 1, in relation to EV Chargers and Disabled Residents, therefore a written reply would be provided.

The Vice-Chairman notified Full Council that Question 3 had been withdrawn.

County Councillors Julie Gibson, Jean Parr, Sean Serridge and Alan Cullens asked their questions as follows:

County Councillor Shaun Turner, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change; County Councillor Graham Gooch, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care; County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport; and County Councillor Jayne Rear, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, replied.

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Vice-Chairman.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report asking Full Council to approve, following a review of the budget process, a proposed number of changes to the county council's published Calendar of Meetings for 2023/24.

Resolved: - That the amendments to the county council's Calendar of Meetings for 2023/24, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report asking Full Council to approve revised Terms of Reference for the Investment Panel.

Resolved: - That the revised Terms of Reference as agreed by the Investment Panel on 15 June 2023 and set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, now presented, be approved.

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 meeting on 8 June 2023, together with the annual reports of the county council's Champions and Lead Members considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 6 July 2023.

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 decision taken by 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 Eddie Pope moved the report of the Pension Fund Committee from its meeting on 16 June 2023.

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:

-  Children, Families and Skills (10 May 2023)

-  Health and Adult Services (11 May 2023)

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

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County Councillor Michael Green moved the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board from its meeting on 9 May 2023.

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

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Matthew Maxwell-Scott and seconded by County Councillor Ash Sutcliffe that:

Lancashire County Council notes and is supportive of the UK Government’s ambition to make our country a clean energy superpower, is proud of the UK’s record on cutting greenhouse emissions and welcomes the global leadership we are demonstrating on these vital issues.

However, Lancashire County Council is concerned by the impact of widely reported and often illegal protests on its residents, threatening our essential infrastructure, public services and amenities, such as occurred when a recent slow march in Lancaster brought the city to a standstill.

Lancashire County Council understands the urgent need to act on the environment but believes the most desirable way to do so is by working in cooperation with our residents as well as the Government to pursue our shared objectives rather than by causing disruption to our community's lives, livelihoods and wellbeing.

Lancashire County Council therefore:

Condemns utterly all illegal protests by organisations such as Just Stop Oil, and urges them to cease all such activities.

Recommends instead that our collective energies be harnessed by working together constructively to achieve our net-zero targets.

And resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner to ask him to ensure that the rights and safety of our residents are the top priorities for policing in Lancashire. 

An Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Andy Fewings. The Vice-Chairman ruled the Amendment out of order in accordance with Standing Orders B39(4)(a) and (d)

The following Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Gina Dowding and seconded by County Councillor Andy Fewings:

Lancashire County Council notes and is supportive of the UK Government’s ambition to make our country a clean energy superpower, is proud of the UK’s record on cutting greenhouse emissions and welcomes the global leadership that has been demonstrated on these vital issues, but is concerned that the latest Climate Change Committee report (June 2023) shows that the government is failing to achieve 41 of 50 key indicators of progress.

However, Lancashire County Council is concerned by the impact of widely reported extreme weather and environmental events caused by human-made climate change, which have caused protests, on its residents, threatening our essential infrastructure, public services and amenities.

Lancashire County Council therefore:

Notes the recent protests by organisations such as Just Stop Oil, and understand the reasons behind all such activities.

Recommends that our collective energies be harnessed by working together constructively to achieve our net-zero targets.

Resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner to ask him to ensure that the rights and safety of our residents are the top priorities for policing in Lancashire. 

And writes to the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Rishi Sunak MP, to express our concerns that inaction on the climate and biodiversity crisis is putting Lancashire residents at risk of significant long-term harm.

On being put to the vote, the Amendment was LOST.

There being no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.