Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Andrea Kay, Matthew Maxwell-Scott and Ash Sutcliffe.

County Councillor Lian Pate joined the meeting virtually.

Announcements

Chorley Rural West By-Election – Report of the Returning Officer

The Chief Executive, as the Returning Officer for the election of County Councillors, reported that on Thursday 14 September 2023 a by-election was held for the Chorley Rural West Electoral Division following the death of former County Councillor Keith Iddon, and that County Councillor Alan Whittaker of the Labour Party was duly elected.

Deaths

The Chairman reported the recent deaths of former County Councillor Margaret Livesey, who sadly passed away on 30 September 2023 and former County Councillor Howard Eccles, who sadly passed away on 28 July 2023.

The Council observed a one-minute silence.

Devolution

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

None declared.

Questions submitted under Standing Order B28.

County Councillors Mark Clifford, Kim Snape, Loraine Cox, Scott Smith and Charles Edwards asked their questions as follows:

County Councillor Alan Vincent, Cabinet Member for Resources, HR and Property; County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, Leader of the Council, and County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport; County Councillor Shaun Turner, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change; County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth; and County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing replied.

Resolved: that the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 13 July 2023 and the minutes of the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 15 September 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report proposing the appointment of two new independent persons to fulfil the role required by the Localism Act 2011 in relation to allegations of members' misconduct.

Resolved: that the appointment of Ms J England and Ms L Keane to fulfil the role of independent person as required by the Localism Act 2011, for a two-year term with effect from 12 October 2023, is approved.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report asking Full Council to approve the timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025.

Resolved: that the timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025 inclusive, as set out at Appendix A, is approved.

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report from the Pension Fund Committee updating Full Council on performance and state of the Lancashire County Pension Fund, and investment activities during the preceding year.

Resolved: that Full Council notes the performance and state of the Lancashire County Pension Fund and investment activities for the year ended 31 March 2023 as set out in the report

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report requesting the appointment of a new employer representative on the Lancashire Local Pension Board.

Resolved: that the appointment of Mr Mark Davies as a new employer representative on the Lancashire Local Pension Board as set out in the report is agreed, and that he be bound by the county council's Code of Conduct with immediate effect

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 6 July 2023 and 7 September 2023, along with details of an urgent key decision 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

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved the report of the Urgency Committee setting our details of the decision taken by either the Director of Law and Governance (the Monitoring Officer) or 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 held on 24 July 2023.

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 11 July 2023.

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 recent meeting on 15 September 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:

-  Scrutiny Management Board (25 July 2023)

-  Children, Families and Skills (20 September 2023)

-  Environment, Economic Growth and Transport (29 June and 21 September 2023)

-  Health and Adult Services (12 July and 13 September 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 recent meetings on 18 July and 5 September 2023.

Resolved: that the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board, now presented, be noted

County Councillor David O'Toole moved the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meetings on 26 June and 18 September 2023.

Resolved: that the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority, now presented, is noted

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Jean Parr and seconded by County Councillor Samara Barnes that:

This council notes:

·  Councillors represent their community and it is important that they reflect the diversity within their communities, particularly those with protected characteristics (age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation).

·  The work of the Cooperative Party in developing a Declaration for councils aimed at increasing diversity in local government.

·  The council does not fully represent the gender balance of the county nor its ethnic diversity. There is a wide divergence of representation between the parties on the council.

·  This council already has a parental leave policy and provides access to counselling and wellbeing.

This council believes:

·  Diversity in representation makes for good decision making.

This council resolves:

·  To adopt The Co-operative Party’s Diverse Councils Declaration to increase diversity in our local government:

The Co-operative Party’s Diverse Councils Declaration

This Council commits to being a Diverse Council. We agree to:

1. Provide a clear public commitment to improving diversity in democracy.

2. Demonstrate an open and welcoming culture to all, promoting the highest standards of behaviour and conduct.

3. Set out a local Diverse Council Action Plan ahead of the next local elections. Including:

·  Appoint Diversity Ambassadors for each political group on the council to work with each other and local party associations to encourage recruitment of candidates from under-represented groups.

·  Encourage and enable people from under-represented groups to stand for office through the provision of activities such as mentoring and shadowing programmes and information and learning events for people interested in standing as official candidates.

·  Proactive engagement and involvement with local community groups and partner organisations supporting and representing under-represented groups.

·  Ensure that all members and candidates complete a candidates’ and councillors’ survey distributed at election time.

·  Set ambitious targets for candidates from under-represented groups at the next local elections.

4. Work towards the standards for member support and development as set out in the LGA Councillor Development Charter and/or Charter Plus.

5. Demonstrate a commitment to a duty of care for councillors by:

·  Continuing to provide access to counselling services for all councillors having regard for the safety and wellbeing of councillors whenever they are performing their role as councillors.

·  Taking a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and harassment of members including through social networks.

6. Provide flexibility in council business by:

·  Regularly reviewing and staggering meeting times.

·  Encouraging and supporting remote attendance at meetings wherever feasible.

·  Agreeing recess periods to support councillors with caring or work commitments.

7. Ensure that all members take up the allowances to which they are entitled, particularly any reimbursement for costs of care, so that all members receive fair remuneration for their work and that the role of member is not limited to those who can afford it.

8. Ensure that councillors from under-represented groups are represented whenever possible in high profile, high influence roles.

Following a period of debate, on being put to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.