Agenda and draft minutes

To receive as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 4 June 2024 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 4 June 2024 were approved as a correct record.

The Chair advised that there were no items of urgent business.

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

Councillors 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, Councillors 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, Councillors 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. 

No declarations were made at this point.

Members were advised that no members of the public had registered to speak in accordance with Cabinet’s agreed procedure.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Peter Jackson)

Report of the Chief Executive

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Peter Jackson)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive to request that Cabinet adopt the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Lancaster District Strategic Partnership.

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

The recommended option is to proceed with adopting the MOU so that the Chief Executive can sign the MOU with all other partners and move towards the delivery of outcomes (Option 1).  The report provides details of the objectives of the Lancaster District Strategic Partnership and outlines the content and importance of the MOU.

Councillor Peter Jackson proposed, seconded by Councillor Wood:-

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1) That Cabinet agrees to the principles of the partnership as detailed in the Memorandum of Understanding and authorises the Chief Executive to sign on the Council’s behalf.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive

Reasons for making the decision:

Cabinet adoption of the MOU will enable officers and strategic partners to deliver on the stated objectives outcomes.

The strategic priorities for the Lancaster District Strategic Partnership correlate with the strategic principles of the Council Plan 2024-2027. The partnership may evolve so that there is added resource and capacity, between partners, to deliver projects and services aligned to the strategic and financial decision-making already set out in the Council Plan 2024-2027.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Phillip Black)

Report of Chief Executive

Whilst the report is public the appendix is exempt and notice is hereby given that the press and public will need to be excluded from the meeting if Cabinet wish to discuss the information within the exempt appendix.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Phillip Black)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive to request that Cabinet formally accepts the feedback in the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge report for the final report to be published by the deadline of 18th July 2024.

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

The recommended option is to accept the report findings and recommendations, so that the report can be published and for the Chief Executive to develop an action plan to act on the recommendations (Option 1). The report must be published by 18th July 2024, and the action plan by 4th September 2024.

The meeting adjourned at 6.22pm whilst a disturbance in the public gallery was resolved.  The meeting reconvened at 6.26pm.

During the debate it was noted that the LGA Executive Summary referred to ‘the former seaside resort of Morecambe’ and it was agreed to formally minute that Cabinet would like to see the word ‘former’ removed before the report was made publicly available.

Councillor Phillip Black proposed, seconded by Councillor Dowding:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1) That Cabinet formally acknowledges the work undertaken by the peer team and accepts the feedback in the Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) report.

(2) That responsibility for the development of an action plan to meet the CPC recommendations be delegated to the Chief Executive.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive

Reasons for making the decision:

The CPC feedback report provides a number of recommendations that align with the strategic principles of the Council Plan 2024-2027. The development of an action plan for the recommendations will consider the scope of actions in consideration of the strategic and financial decision-making already set out in the Council Plan 2024-2027.

Cabinet acceptance of the findings and recommendations in the CPC report will result in the report being published and a new action plan to be developed to act on the recommendations for organisational developments. Alongside this a comms and engagement plan will ensure that staff, members and partners are briefed on the excellent findings of this review.

This is to give further notice in accordance with Part 2, paragraph 5 (4) and 5 (5) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 of the intention to take the following item(s) in private. 

Cabinet is recommended to pass the following recommendation in relation to the following item(s):- 

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business, on the grounds that they could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.” 

Members are reminded that, whilst the following item(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for Cabinet itself to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public.  In making the decision, Members should consider the relevant paragraph of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and also whether the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  In considering their discretion Members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers. 

It was proposed by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

Members then voted as follows:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)        That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it could involve the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act. 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Dowding)

Report of Chief Officer - Planning and Climate Change

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Dowding)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer – Planning & Climate Change to seek approval to deliver a 4MW ground-mounted solar project on land known as ‘Burrow Beck.’  The report was exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3, of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the exempt report.

It was proposed by Councillor Dowding seconded by Councillor Wood and resolved unanimously when put to the vote:-

Resolved unanimously:

The resolution is set out in a minute exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3, of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer - Planning and Climate Change

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision is consistent with the Council’s priorities. Exactly how the decision fits with Council priorities is set out in the exempt minute.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Report of Chief Officer Housing and Property

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer Housing and Property.  The report was exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3, of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the exempt report.

It was proposed by Councillor Hamilton-Cox, seconded by Councillor Wood and resolved unanimously when put to the vote:-

Resolved unanimously:

The resolution is set out in a minute exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3, of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer Housing and Property

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision is consistent with the Council’s priorities. Exactly how the decision fits with Council priorities is set out in the exempt minute.