Decision details

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Roger Mace)

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that advised of the recommended reallocation of Cabinet responsibility for AONB issues and of a recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding a Champion for mental health matters. 

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

With regard to the appointment of Cabinet Members as Council representatives it is for Cabinet to approve the replacement of Councillor Eileen Blamire by Councillor Tony Johnson. 

It was for Cabinet to consider appointing, or not appointing, a Cabinet Member as champion for mental health matters, in accordance with the referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

There are no officer preferred options.  However, in relation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendation regarding the appointment of a Champion for mental health matters, Cabinet should be aware that the Council did not focus its services around people’s special needs and there would be no identifiable benefit in selecting one particular client group in this way. 

It was moved by Councillor Roger Mace and seconded by Councillor Abbott Bryning:-

“That recommendation (1), as set out in the report, be approved and that Cabinet does not appoint a Champion for mental health matters.” 

Members then voted as follows.

Resolved Unanimously:

(1)         That Councillor Tony Johnson replaces Councillor Eileen Blamire as the Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility for AONB issues and be appointed as the Council’s Representative on the Arnside and Silverdale AONB Unit, and Arnside and Silverdale AONB (Forum, Countryside Management Service and Limestone Heritage Project) and the Forest of Bowland AONB Advisory Committee. 

(2)     That Cabinet does not appoint a Champion for mental health matters. 

Note:  Councillor David Kerr was not present when the vote was taken. 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive. 

Head of Democratic Services. 

Head of Planning Service. 

Reason for making the decision:

The appointment of a Member with special responsibility for AONB issues is in accordance with the previous request from Council and it is for Cabinet to appoint a Councillor to the position.  In relation to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendation regarding the appointment of a Champion for mental health matters, Cabinet notes that the Councillors who represent the Council on the LSP Executive have a role in mental health matters.