Agenda item

Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Archer

Report of the Head of Democratic Services

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Archer)

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report, prepared at the request of the Cabinet Member for The Economy, setting out options for Cabinet to consider for liaison arrangements between two Cabinet Liaison Groups, the Lancaster and District Chamber Liaison Group and the Morecambe Retail, Commercial and Tourism Liaison Group. 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

Option 1: Do nothing to change the present arrangements.

Option 2: To place the minutes of the last meeting of each group as a standing item on the agenda of the other group, to allow any issues to be raised and the Cabinet Member to feed back from one group to another.

            This option would not encourage any direct dialogue between the two groups but would allow the members to keep up to date with the discussions at each group, with the Cabinet Member acting as a ‘link’ between the two.

Option 3: To merge the two groups to create one Cabinet Liaison Group with a larger membership, with representation from the Lancaster District Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry, the Morecambe Chamber of Trade and Commerce and the Morecambe Hotel and Tourism Association.

            This option is likely to result in fewer meetings overall although each meeting is likely to last longer, as there could potentially be agenda items from several parties. It must also be recognised that the Lancaster and District Chamber considers that they already cover Morecambe issues.

Option 4: That the Morecambe Liaison Group is amended so that it becomes an officer group dealing with operational issues. 

            This option would mirror the current arrangements in Lancaster and Cabinet Members would still meet with the Lancaster and District Liaison Group on strategic matters.

It was moved by Councillor Archer and seconded by Councillor Kerr:-

“(1)      That Cabinet supports the option to merge the Lancaster and District Chamber Liaison Group and the Morecambe Retail, Commercial and Tourism Liaison Group to create one Cabinet Liaison Group with a larger membership, with representation from the Lancaster District Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry, the Morecambe Chamber of Trade and Commerce and the Morecambe Hotel and Tourism Association.

(2)        That the Head of Democratic Services be asked to carry out consultation with external members of the Groups and report the findings back to Cabinet at a future meeting.”

Members then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)        That Cabinet supports the option to merge the Lancaster and District Chamber Liaison Group and the Morecambe Retail, Commercial and Tourism Liaison Group to create one Cabinet Liaison Group with a larger membership, with representation from the Lancaster District Chamber of Commerce, Trade and Industry, the Morecambe Chamber of Trade and Commerce and the Morecambe Hotel and Tourism Association.

(2)        That the Head of Democratic Services be asked to carry out consultation with external members of the Groups and report the findings back to Cabinet at a future meeting.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Head of Democratic Services

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision to support the option to merge the two Cabinet Liaison Groups is likely to result in fewer meetings overall and will bring the two groups together to share information and consult with the Cabinet Member for the Economy.