Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meetings held on 10^th January and 7^th February, 2018 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the Meetings held on 10^th January and 7^th February, 2018 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The meeting was adjourned at 6.03pm to allow informal discussions to take place with Cabinet and Budget and Performance Panel Members on the Council’s Draft Council Plan.

The meeting was reconvened at 7.10pm

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

The Chairman, Councillors Whitaker and Biddulph declared personal interests in respect of Minute 48 being members of the board of Citizen’s Advice North Lancashire.

Members considered a report which updated the Committee on the joint working between the City and County Councils to implement aspects of the Lancaster and District Highways and Transport Masterplan 2016 in particular the approaches to Lancaster and the City Centre itself.

It was noted that the Masterplan set out a vision for 2031:

“Lancaster city centre is vibrant and successful, with no air quality issues, no gyratory congestion and so no barriers to sustainable travel. Pedestrians and cyclists can move around easily and freely through safe and attractive public spaces. The centre is largely free of traffic and most of the vehicles that do need to be there are ultra – low emission.

Without the gyratory to contend with, public transport is also more reliable and new links to South Lancaster mean that the University has been able to expand and maintain its prestigious reputation. Those who work in the area almost all commute by sustainable modes; on foot, by cycle, or using the ‘Lancaster Reach’ bus rapid transport services operated by ultra-low emission vehicles.”

It was reported that the Garden Village project would only happen if the traffic infrastructure was in place such as rapid bus transit, restraints on traffic and cycling way improvements.

Members discussed the Masterplan and asked a number of questions relating to rat running, car parking, the designation of the A6, Park and Ride, Junction 33 of the M6  and Lune Industrial Estate.

Resolved :-

That the Committee :

(1)        In the context of the Highways and Transport Masterplan proposing significant change to travel and transport in the city note: (i) that work is underway by city and County Council officers to plan implementation, (ii) the role of the proposed Movement Strategy for the city centre and, (iii) how planning for growth within the city centre and at Lancaster South relates closely in transport terms.

(2)        Include in its Work Programme regular joint City County updates on Masterplan implementation and advise Cabinet and the Portfolio Holder as appropriate on implementation decisions required.

The Committee was requested to consider a referral from Cabinet on the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector Informal Task Group. Members were reminded that this Task Group report had been considered by the Committee at its December 2017  meeting and the Committee’s recommendations had been referred to Cabinet.

Cabinet had made a number of comments for the Committee to consider in progressing this piece of work. Members considered the comments made by Cabinet which were noted with the exception of the first comment.

With regard to Cabinet’s first comment relating to the Committee considering conflicts of interests when appointing Task Group Members and the Chairman, Members agreed, based on the comments of the Monitoring Officer, that this was not an issue for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, it was up to the political groups and individual Councillors to determine the suitability of potential Task Group Members. It was agreed that this recommendation, referred from Cabinet would be disregarded.

The Chief Officer (Health and Housing) advised the Committee that a report had been considered by Cabinet in 2012 on ‘Commissioning Arrangements for the Voluntary Sector’. This piece of work had not been considered when the Task Group had been established.

It was agreed that this report be circulated to the Committee and that interested Members of the Committee would meet informally to consider the report and report back to the Committee at a future meeting. It was further agreed that the Economic Development Manager, who had been involved with this piece of work, be invited to this meeting to discuss its content.

It was further agreed that the Budget and Performance Panel be requested to include in its Work Programme, the regular monitoring of the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector grants.

Resolved :-

(1)  That Cabinet’s comments be noted with the exception of the first comment relating to the comment relating to the Committee considering conflicts of interests when appointing Task Group Members and the Chairman.

(2)  That the Cabinet report ‘Commissioning Arrangements for the Voluntary Sector’ be circulated to the Committee and that interested Members of the Committee meet informally to consider the report and report back to the Committee as early as possible at a future meeting.

(3)  That the Economic Development Manager, who had been involved with this piece of work, be invited to this meeting to discuss its content.

(4)  That the Budget and Performance Panel be requested to include in its Work Programme, the regular monitoring of the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector grants.

The Scoping Document will be circulated separately.

Members considered the scoping document that had been prepared for a Digital Lancaster Task Group.

Resolved:-

(1)  That the scoping document be agreed and that an informal Task Group be established to consider Digital Lancaster on an informal basis to allow Members with an interest to take part in the piece of work. 

(2)  That the Task Group be requested to consider the Scoping document at its first meeting and produce a work programme on how it proposes to undertake this piece of work, with the Task Group’s work programme reported back to this Committee as early as possible. 

It was noted that there had not been any requests for items to be considered in accordance with the Councillor Call for Action process.

It was noted that there had not been any requests for items to be considered in accordance with the Petition process.

No update had been received.

Report of the Chief Executive. 

Members considered the Committee’s updated Work Programme. It was noted that the postponed site visit to the Caton Road sub-station to see the improvements that had been made by Electricity North West since storm Desmond, would take place on 15^th March.

It was reported that the Committee’s Annual Report was currently being produced to be considered at the April 2018 meeting of Council. It was agreed that the Annual Report would be circulated before the Council Agenda was published to allow Members to provide any comment.

Resolved :-

That the Annual Report would be circulated before the Council Agenda is published to allow Members to provide any comment.