Agenda and minutes

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Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Preston

Contact: Dave Gorman  Tel: (01772) 534261, Email:  dave.gorman@lancashire.gov.uk

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies and Announcements

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were presented on behalf of County Councillors Terry Burns MBE, Joe Cooney, Andrew Gardiner, Erica Lewis, Tony Martin, and Jenny Molineux.

 

Announcements

 

Death

 

The Chair reported the recent sad death of former County Councillor William (Bill) Trickett, who passed away on 11 December 2017.

 

A number of Councillors paid tribute to the late former County Councillor Trickett.

 

The Council stood in silent tribute.

 

British Citizen Youth Award

 

Ben Wilson-Mayor from Clitheroe received a British Citizen Youth award in recognition of his inspirational work with young people in October this year through his voluntary work at Clitheroe Library, which he had been undertaking since the summer of 2016.

 

Ben was present at Full Council along with his father, Alex Wilson-Mayor; Julie Bell, Head of Libraries, Museums, Culture and Registrars; and Chris Jowett, Clitheroe Library Branch Manager.

 

British Youth Council Awards

 

Care leavers across Lancashire are now exempt from paying council tax, thanks to an award-winning campaign by Lancashire County Council's Children in Care Council, known as LINX.

 

The group won the Best Campaign award at the first national British Youth Council Youth Voice Star Awards held in early November in London.

 

Callum Griffin and Michelle Roberts, LINX representatives; together with Mia Leyland and Debbie Nolan-Plunkett, from Barnardos; were present at Full Council.

 

Highways Awards

 

The County Council had been successful in two categories at the 14th National Highways Awards which took place on Wednesday 18 October in London. Cameron Newsham was awarded 2017 National Apprentice of the Year whilst the Highways Service was recognised for its innovative work in relation to Tarleton Bridge on the A59 Preston - Southport/Liverpool route.

 

Unfortunately, Cameron Newsham was unable to attend. Phil Baird and Garreth Kelly, Area Highways Managers; Jamie Ritchie, Roadmarking Technical Assistant; and Mark Dixon, Operations Engineer, were present at Full Council.

 

LAPF Investments 2017 Awards

 

Lancashire County Pension Fund and London Pensions Fund Authority have won the collaboration award in the Local Authority Pension Fund Investments 2017 Awards.

 

Mukhtar Master, Governance and Risk Officer; Colin Smith, Technical Advisor, Pensions; and Helen Gallacher, Pensions Manager, were present at Full Council.

 

West Lancashire Short Breaks Service - CQC Rating

 

The West Lancashire Short Breaks Service is the most recent to receive the Care Quality Commission rating of 'Outstanding'.  Furthermore, the Registered Manager, Charles Maughan, had received a personalised letter of commendation from the Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, for the quality of the care and support it offers. 

 

Nicola Clear, Head of Service, Disability; Deborah Errington, Team Manager; and Patricia Divkar and Diane Goulding, Community Support Workers, were present at Full Council.

 

All those attending for, and involved in, the above awards were congratulated by Full Council.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

None declared.

3.

Confirmation of the Minutes from the Meetings held on 15 September 2017 and 26 October 2017 pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved: - That the minutes of the meetings of Full Council held on 15 September 2017 and 26 October 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

 

4.

Transport for the North: Establishment of Statutory Sub-national Transport Body pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport moved a report setting out proposals for the County Council to formally join Transport for the North as the North's statutory Sub-national Transport Body.

 

Resolved: - That:

 

(i)  Formal approval be given to Lancashire County Council joining Transport for the North as the North's statutory Sub-national Transport Body.

(ii)  The Leader of the County Council be nominated as Lancashire County Council's representative on Transport for the North.

(iii)  The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Environment and Planning be nominated as substitute member.

5.

Finding of the Local Government Ombudsman - 1 November 2017 pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services moved a report setting out details of actions that had already been taken in response to the Ombudsman's recommendations following an investigation into a complaint about adult social care services.

 

Resolved: - That:

 

(i)  The recommendations set out in the Local Government Ombudsman's report, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report now presented, be noted;

(ii)  The actions already taken be noted and the further steps proposed in response to the report's recommendations, as set out in the report now presented, be endorsed.

6.

Report of the Cabinet (Part B) pdf icon PDF 81 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader presented the report of the Cabinet from its meeting on 9 November 2017.

 

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

7a

The Overview and Scrutiny Committees pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor John Shedwick presented the reports of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees from their meetings as follows:

 

-  Children's Services Scrutiny Committee - 18 October 2017

-  Health Scrutiny Committee - 31 October 2017

-  Internal Scrutiny Committee - 17 November 2017

 

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

7b

The Pension Fund Committee pdf icon PDF 81 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

County Councillor Eddie Pope presented the report of the Pension Fund Committee from its meeting on 1 December 2017.

 

In presenting the report, County Councillor Pope drew Full Council's attention to an error on page 73 of the report. Under the decision taken for item 16, the extension of the contract of an independent advisor for an additional three years should have stated to 30 June 2021 and not to 30 June 2017 as set out.

 

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

8.

Notices of Motion submitted under Procedural Standing Order 14.2.1(a) (Part C)

Minutes:

1.  It was moved by County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson and seconded by County Councillor Jean Parr that:

 

This Council condemns the 12.5% price increase of vital energy supplies by British Gas being inflicted on many people in Lancashire.

 

Lancashire County Council therefore supports the switch campaign and considers developing a partnership with other authorities like Nottingham, Leeds and Liverpool in supporting the people of Lancashire's energy needs.

 

The following amendment was proposed by County Councillor Geoff Driver and seconded by County Councillor Albert Atkinson:

 

This Council is concerned about recent price increases in the energy market and the impact this has on the vulnerable residents of Lancashire.

 

Lancashire County Council supports the switch campaign and resolves to consider developing a partnership with Preston City Council to act as a supplier in supporting the people of Lancashire’s energy needs at a fair price.

 

The amendment was accepted and became the substantive motion. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

This Council is concerned about recent price increases in the energy market and the impact this has on the vulnerable residents of Lancashire.

 

Lancashire County Council supports the switch campaign and resolves to consider developing a partnership with Preston City Council to act as a supplier in supporting the people of Lancashire’s energy needs at a fair price.

 

2.  It was moved by County Councillor Geoff Driver and seconded by County Councillor Albert Atkinson that:

 

Council is concerned about the circumstances surrounding the payment of 'Neighbourhood Wellbeing Initiative' grants totalling £500,000 in February and March this year. There was no budget provision for these grants which were paid on the recommendation of individual County Councillors and authorised by County Councillor Ali, the then Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing. There was no vetting by County Council Officers of either the applicants or the proposed purpose to which the grant would be put and it is of particular concern that almost £300,000 of these grants were recommended and authorised by County Councillor Ali himself.

 

Council therefore resolves to ask the External Auditor to carry out an investigation into the manner in which these grants were recommended, approved and paid and report her findings to the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee for their consideration.

 

On being put to the vote the motion was CARRIED and it was:

 

Resolved: - That:

 

Council is concerned about the circumstances surrounding the payment of 'Neighbourhood Wellbeing Initiative' grants totalling £500,000 in February and March this year. There was no budget provision for these grants which were paid on the recommendation of individual County Councillors and authorised by County Councillor Ali, the then Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing. There was no vetting by County Council Officers of either the applicants or the proposed purpose to which the grant would be put and it is of particular concern that almost £300,000 of these grants were recommended and authorised by County Councillor Ali himself.

 

Council therefore resolves to ask  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.