Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

Council considered a report submitted by the Chief Executive. The report noted that four vacancies had arisen on the Board of the Dukes and one vacancy had arisen on the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster Charity. In addition, Growth Lancashire Limited had invited the Council to appoint a Director.

The Mayor asked that each body be considered in turn, starting with the Board of the Dukes, where all four appointed Members had recently resigned to avoid any conflict of interest when Council was required to consider Canal Corridor issues.

There were several queries from Members about conflicts of interests regarding the Dukes and the Canal Corridor development proposals, which the Monitoring Officer responded to.

Councillor Edwards asked whether the issue of the Canal Corridor had, historically, caused any conflict of interests for Members appointed to the Dukes Board. Officers present at the time could not recall this but agreed to check and respond to Councillor Edwards after the meeting.

Councillor Clifford proposed recommendation (1) as set out in the report, seconded by Councillor Blamire.

A vote was taken on the proposal, which was clearly carried.

For the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster Charity, Councillor Clifford proposed Councillor Cozler, seconded by Councillor Brown.

There were no further nominations and the Mayor declared Councillor Cozler appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster Charity.

Councillor Clifford, seconded by Councillor Brown, then proposed recommendation (3), as set out in the report. The proposition was clearly carried when put to the vote.

Resolved:

That:

(1)     Council does not fill the vacancies on the Dukes Board at the present time, as any Member taking up a place on the Board would be ineligible to take part in further discussions and voting on progress with the Canal Corridor North project, due to a conflict of interests.

(2)     Councillor Cozler be appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster Charity.

(3)     Council recommends to Cabinet that the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration be appointed to the Growth Lancashire directorship, with the Leader of the Council as alternate director.