Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from County Councillor Andrea Kay.

County Councillors Mohammed Iqbal, Jackie Oakes, Lian Pate and Sobia Malik joined the meeting virtually.

Announcements

Burnley Central 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 26 October 2023 a by-election was held for the Burnley Central West Electoral Division following the resignation of the former County Councillor Andy Fewings, and that County Councillor Scott Cunliffe of the Green Party was duly elected.

Deaths

The Chairman reported the recent death of former County Councillor Len Proos, who sadly passed away on 3 November 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.

Artist of the Year Calendars

The Chairman reminder councillors that the Artist of the Year Calendars, that were on sale prior to the meeting, would be continued to be sold by the Library and Archive service, in the run up to Christmas. All the proceeds from the sale of the calendars will go towards activities to support Lancashire care leavers.

None declared.

Questions submitted under Standing Order B28.

County Councillors Julie Gibson, John Fillis, Noordad Aziz and Sue Hind asked their questions as follows:

County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport; County Councillor Graham Gooch, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care; and County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing replied.

It was noted that questions 5 and 6 had been withdrawn.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 12 October 2023 and the minutes of the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 27 November 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report on the non-attendance of County Councillor Andrea Kay at meetings of the council and committees.

Resolved: That the non-attendance of County Councillor Andrea Kay at meetings of the council and committees for reasons of illness, for the purposes of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, until 31 May 2024, be approved.

County Councillor David Westley moved a report setting out the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2022/23.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the report, the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2022/23 be noted.

County Councillor Alan Vincent moved a report that set out the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to the council's Members' Allowance Scheme for 2023/24 following the Panel's meeting on 24 November 2023.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as set out in the report and at Appendix 'A' of the report, the revised Members' Allowance Scheme for 2023/24 be approved, and the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to make any consequential changes to the Constitution.

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 5 October 2023 and 2 November 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 Alan Schofield moved the report of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee from its meeting held on 16 October 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 30 November 2023.

Resolved: That the report of the Employment 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 (31 October 2023)

-  Children, Families and Skills (1 November 2023)

-  Environment, Economic Growth and Transport (28 September 2023 and 9 November 2023)

-  Health and Adult Services (25 October 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 14 November 2023.

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

Notice of Motion 1

It was moved by County Councillor Mark Clifford and seconded by County Councillor Nikki Hennessy that:

"County Councillors have received evidence of children missing education across Lancashire due to bullying and intimidation and a recent study has found a third of respondents are unhappy with their school's response.

Therefore, this Council resolves to:

1. Record the number of bullying complaints made to Ofsted and the county council to build a Lancashire-wide picture;

2. Confirm this Council has a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and request the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills ensures bullying has more of a focus in the annual safeguarding training for all school staff, delivered by the county council; and

3. Put bullying on the agenda for the next Lancashire Headteachers' briefing to discuss best practice and how families can be supported by Children's Champions, Children and Family Wellbeing support workers, and attendance workers in these situations."

The following friendly Amendment was proposed by County Councillor Jayne Rear in accordance with Standing Order B42:

"Lancashire County Council maintains a zero tolerance of bullying in all its forms.

County Councillors receiving evidence of children missing education across Lancashire due to bullying and or intimidation should refer the complaints immediately to the school's complaints policy in the first instance and then to our Education Support Team if not satisfactorily resolved. 

This Council resolves to:

1. Continue to record bullying complaints made to Ofsted, ensuring that they are fully investigated and lessons learned shared with our schools;

2. Maintain its zero tolerance of bullying and asks the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills to ensure that the topic of bullying remains a key focus of the annually updated safeguarding training for all school staff and governors; and

3. Ask the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills to ensure Lancashire Headteachers' briefings continue to discuss best practice on how families affected by bullying can be supported by Children's Champions, Children and Family Wellbeing support workers, and attendance workers in these situations."

The friendly Amendment was accepted by County Councillor Clifford and became the substantive Motion. Following a debate, the substantive Motion, as amended by County Councillor Rear's friendly Amendment, was then put to the vote and was CARRIED and it was therefore:

Resolved: That

Lancashire County Council maintains a zero tolerance of bullying in all its forms.

County Councillors receiving evidence of children missing education across Lancashire due to bullying and or intimidation should refer the complaints immediately to the school's complaints policy in the first instance and then to our Education Support Team if not satisfactorily resolved. 

This Council resolves to:

1. Continue to record bullying complaints made to Ofsted, ensuring that they are fully investigated and lessons learned shared with our schools;

2. Maintain its zero tolerance of bullying and asks the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills to ensure that the topic of bullying remains a key focus of the annually updated safeguarding training for all school staff and governors; and

3. Ask the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.