Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Lorraine Beavers, Lizzi Collinge, Gina Dowding, Graham Gooch, Alan Hosker and Paul Rigby.

County Councillors Scott Cunliffe, Yousuf Motala and Lian Pate joined the meeting virtually.

Death

The Chairman reported the death of former County Councillor Mrs Joyce Roach MBE who sadly passed away on 6 October 2024.

The Council observed a one-minute silence.

King's Birthday Honours 2024

The Chairman congratulated Jane Phythian BEM, Education Improvement Service, for being awarded the British Empire Medal 'for Services to Schools and to Education in Lancashire' in the King's Birthday Honours 2024 and invited County Councillor Jayne Rear, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills to speak about Jane's work.

Jane Phythian joined the meeting virtually.

Recognitions

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Alan Vincent, Cabinet Member for Resources, HR and Property (Deputy Leader), drew Full Council's attention to the recent success by the county council which had been the recipient of the Best Trained Workforce Award at the 2024 Menopause Friendly Employer Awards.

Members of staff from across the council involved in the award joined the meeting virtually.

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Peter Buckley, Cabinet Member for Community and Cultural Services drew Full Council's attention to the Classic FM Visiting Music Teacher of the Year Award which had been won by Helen Minshall, Musical Director for the Lancashire Youth Brass Band.

Helen Minshall and Tim Rogers, Head of Lancashire Music Service, joined the meeting virtually.

At the invitation of the Chairman, County Councillor Shaun Turner, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, drew Full Council's attention to the recent success by the county council in being awarded the Circular Economy Achievement at the Annual Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee Awards 2024.

John Birch, Waste Management Service, joined the meeting virtually.

Full Council congratulated and thanked all those involved.

Devolution Update

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Leader of the Council updated Full Council on Devolution and the establishment of a Combined County Authority.

None declared.

The Chairman informed Full Council that, in accordance with Standing Order B21.2, Item 6 - Report of the Employment Committee, was being brought forward to this point in the meeting.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Employment Committee from its meeting held on 18 July 2024 regarding the appointment of an Interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service together with the proposed appointment of a Returning Officer for elections of councillors to the county council.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The recommendation of the Employment Committee, as set out in the report, now presented, to appoint Mark Wynn to the role of Interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service be approved.

(ii)  Subject to (i) above, Section 9.5 of the council's Constitution, which provides that the Head of Paid Service cannot be the Chief Financial Officer, be waived until a permanent appointment to the role of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service is confirmed, as set out in the report, now presented.

(iii)  Subject to (i) above, the appointment of Mark Wynn as Returning Officer for the election of councillors to the county council be approved, as set out in the report, now presented.

Public questions submitted under Standing Order B29.

No questions were submitted.

Questions submitted under Standing Order B30.

County Councillors Carole Haythornthwaite, John Shedwick, Alan Cullens, and Joan Burrows asked their questions as follows:

County Councillor Cosima Towneley, Cabinet Member for Children and Families; County Councillor Jayne Rear, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills; and County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, 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 by the relevant Cabinet Member, copied to all councillors:

Resolved: - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

County Councillor Cosima Towneley moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Cabinet from its meeting held on 3 October 2024 in respect of the Lancashire Child and Youth Justice Plan 2024-25.

Resolved: - That the Lancashire Child and Youth Justice Plan 2024-25, as set out at Annex '2' of the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Cosima Towneley moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Cabinet from its meeting held on 3 October 2024 in respect of the Lancashire Children and Young People's Plan 2024-2028.

Resolved: - That the Lancashire Children and Young People's Plan 2024-2028, as set out at Annex '1' of the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Alan Schofield moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee from its meeting held on 22 July 2024, regarding an amendment to the Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25.

Resolved: - That the amendment to the Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

County Councillor Peter Buckley moved a report setting out the recommendation of the Political Governance Working Group from its meeting held on 26 September 2024 to update the Procurement Rules and the Committee Terms of Reference, plus any consequential changes to other sections of the Constitution, particularly the Scheme of Delegation to Officers and the Full Council Terms of Reference.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The recommendation of the Political Governance Working Group at its meeting on 26 September 2024 to update the Procurement Rules and Committee Terms of Reference, as set out at Appendices 'A' - 'I' of the report, now presented, be approved.

(ii)  The Local Pensions Partnership Ltd Governance Panel Terms of Reference, as set out at Appendix 'J' of the report, now presented, be approved.

(iii)  The updated Scheme of Delegation to Officers, as set out at Appendix 'K' of the report, now presented, be approved.

(iv)  The update to the Terms of Reference for Full Council, as set out in the report, now presented, be approved.

(v)  The changes to the Constitution that have been made since the Annual Meeting on 23 May 2024, as set out at Appendix 'L' of the report, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor David Westley moved a report setting out the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2023/24.

Resolved: - That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2023/24 as set out in the report, now presented, be noted.

County Councillor Eddie Pope moved a report setting out the Lancashire County Pension Fund's annual report for the year ending 31 March 2024.

Resolved: - That the performance and state of the Lancashire County Pension Fund and investment activities for the year ending 31 March 2024 as set out in the report, now presented, be noted.

The Chairman informed Full Council that Item 13 had been withdrawn.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report setting out a draft timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026 and seeking approval to bring forward the meeting of Full Council on 29 May 2025 to 22 May 2025.

Resolved: - That:

(i)  The timetable of Full Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings for the period 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026 inclusive, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, now presented, be approved.

(ii)  The meeting of Full Council currently scheduled for 29 May 2025 be brought forward to 22 May 2025, as set out in the report, now presented.

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 June 2024, 11 July 2024, 5 September 2024 and 3 October 2024.

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 Director of Law and Governance (the Monitoring Officer) 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 22 July 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 meetings on 18 July 2024 and 10 September 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 on 14 June 2024 and 13 September 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 (23 July 2024)

-  Children, Families and Skills (15 May and 9 September 2024)

-  Community, Cultural and Corporate Services (21 May and 26 September 2024)

-  Environment, Economic Growth and Transport (12 September 2024)

-  Health and Adult Services (8 May and 18 September 2024)

Resolved: - That the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees, now presented, be noted.</AI21>

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County Councillor Michael Green moved the report of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board from its meetings on 7 May 2024, 15 July 2024 and 3 September 2024.

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

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County Councillor Nikki Hennessy moved the report of the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority from its meetings on 24 June 2024 and 16 September 2024.

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

Notice of Motion 1

In a revised Notice of Motion it was moved by County Councillor Charles Edwards and seconded by County Councillor Ged Mirfin that:

This Council understands that the removal of the charitable status of private schools and charging VAT on private school fees will be brought forward in the Labour Government’s Autumn Statement.

This Council believes this policy threatens the economic viability of Lancashire's 43 Private Schools, including Faith schools and SEND specialist units, and could lead to job losses for thousands of Lancashire residents including teachers and support workers.  

The likely impact of this policy is the displacement of hundreds of pupils back into the state sector as a direct consequence of families being unable to afford the massive hike in school fees that would inevitably result. 

This policy would not just affect private schools which of course would impact residents but also school place planning with increased pressure on Lancashire County Council, and it would also impact the Independent providers of SEND places, and the increased fees of those providers will inevitably fall on the Council to absorb.  

This Council therefore resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Education and Skills and highlight the likely consequences of such a policy in Lancashire and strongly urge that the Government does not implement this measure.

On being put to the vote the Motion was CARRIED.

It was therefore:

Resolved: - That:

This Council understands that the removal of the charitable status of private schools and charging VAT on private school fees will be brought forward in the Labour Government’s Autumn Statement.

This Council believes this policy threatens the economic viability of Lancashire's 43 Private Schools, including Faith schools and SEND specialist units, and could lead to job losses for thousands of Lancashire residents including teachers and support workers.  

The likely impact of this policy is the displacement of hundreds of pupils back into the state sector as a direct consequence of families being unable to afford the massive hike in school fees that would inevitably result. 

This policy would not just affect private schools which of course would impact residents but also school place planning with increased pressure on Lancashire County Council, and it would also impact the Independent providers of SEND places, and the increased fees of those providers will inevitably fall on the Council to absorb.  

This Council therefore resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Education and Skills and highlight the likely consequences of such a policy in Lancashire and strongly urge that the Government does not implement this measure. 

Notice of Motion 2

In a revised Notice of Motion it was moved by County Councillor Matthew Maxwell-Scott and seconded by County Councillor Ron Woollam that:

This Council recognises local bank branches provide vital services to local communities, particularly in rural areas and that the disappearance of bank branches from the high street disproportionately affects the vulnerable and older populations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

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 I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972, as indicated against the heading of each 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. The report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information).

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

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