Agenda and minutes

To receive as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 13 April 2021 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 13 April 2021 were approved as a correct record.

In accordance with Rule 14 of Cabinet Procedure Rules the Leader had agreed to an item of urgent business with regard to South Lancaster Growth Catalyst - Housing Infrastructure Fund - Principles Agreement with Lancashire County Council –Delivering Bailrigg Garden Village.  The reason for the urgency being that any further delay in approving the decision to enter into the Principles Agreement with Lancashire County Council, would imperil the £140M Housing Infrastructure Funding for South Lancaster Growth Corridor; and also the wider Grant Determination Agreement between Lancashire County Council and Homes England.

Whilst the report was public it contained an exempt appendix and the Leader advised that the item would be considered as the final item on the agenda (Minute 11 refers).

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. 

Cllr Heath declared an interest in the Referral from Overview & Scrutiny (Minute 8) having been on the task group.  She advised the meeting that she would be presenting the report but would not be participating in the debate or vote.

Councillor Lewis declared an interest in the Palatine Recreation Ground item (Minute 11) in view of her being a volunteer there.

Councillor Whitehead declared an interest in the Palatine Recreation Ground item (Minute 11) in view of her being a Member of the Palatine Projects Group.

Members were advised that there had been no requests to speak at the meeting in accordance with Cabinet’s agreed procedure.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Jackson)

Report of Chief Executive

Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Jackson)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive to make appointments to a  number of Outside Bodies on which there were now vacancies following changes to Cabinet membership.

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

Cabinet were reminded that Members nominated to outside bodies, partnerships and boards by Cabinet were representing the views of Cabinet in such positions, rather than any views they might hold as individuals. It was recommended that appointments be aligned as closely as possible to individual Cabinet Members’ portfolios.

Councillor Brookes proposed, seconded by Councillor Dowding:-

“That Councillor Lewis be appointed to the Lancaster Community Fund Grants Panel,

Councillor Thornberry be appointed to both the Community Safety Partnership and the Health and Wellbeing Partnership with Councillor Matthews appointed as the Reserve on both of those outside bodies and that Councillor Heath be appointed to the BID Company Ltd and appointed as the Reserve on Growth Lancashire and that the Outside Bodies be notified of the revisions.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)             That Councillor Lewis be appointed to the Lancaster Community Fund Grants Panel, Councillor Thornberry be appointed to both the Community Safety Partnership and the Health and Wellbeing Partnership with Councillor Matthews appointed as the Reserve on both of those outside bodies and that Councillor Heath be appointed to the BID Company Ltd and appointed as the Reserve on Growth Lancashire.

(2)             That the Outside Bodies be notified of the revisions.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive

Reasons for making the decision:

Representation on Outside Bodies is part of the City Council’s community leadership role and is consistent with the Council’s Plan and Priorities.

Director of Corporate Services

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Jackson)

Cabinet received a report from the Director of Corporate Services which provided an update on the progress of key corporate projects and performance measures for the period January-March 2021 (Q4 2020- 21), and for some annual indicators, the full year April 2020-March 2021.  During this time, much of the council’s activity had been re-focused to support residents and communities during the Covid-19 pandemic; the report provided some information on the impact of this re-alignment on projects and services.

No options were provided as the report was for consideration and noting.

Cabinet noted the report.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director of Corporate Services

Reasons for making the decision:

Robust, meaningful, and timely information on the council’s key projects and success measures provides an important perspective on the direction of the organisation in delivering its strategic priorities under its Policy Framework.  The future development of project and performance reporting will be more closely aligned with the council’s overall strategy, in accordance with the report to Cabinet in March 2021.

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 items in private. 

Cabinet is recommended to pass the following recommendation in relation to the following items:- 

“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 items 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 moved by Councillor Dowding and seconded by Councillor Brookes:-

“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. 

Report of Overview & Scrutiny Committee  (This report was marked to follow, and was published on Friday 4 June 2021)

Cabinet received a report from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee which requested Cabinet to consider the recommendations of the Committee with regard to the Morecambe Future High Street Bid.  The report was public with an exempt appendix.

The report set out a number of recommendations that were agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its last meeting on 28^th April 2021 after an Informal Task Group was set up to consider the Morecambe Future High Street bid which was not successful.  The Informal Task Group reported back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which agreed the recommendations which were referred to Cabinet for consideration.  Councillor Heath who had chaired the informal task group presented the report.

After some discussion Cabinet agreed to defer consideration of the item to the next Cabinet meeting in order that enquiries could be made with Democratic Services as to whether there was a report from the task group that could be presented to Cabinet along with the recommendations.

Report of Director for Economic Growth & Regeneration (report marked ‘to follow’ published on 7.6.21)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Economic Growth & Regeneration with regard building improvements at Palatine Recreation Ground.  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.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)   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.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Economic Growth & Regeneration

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 Jackson)

Cabinet considered an urgent business report from the Director for Economic Growth & Regeneration with regard to South Lancaster Growth Catalyst - Housing Infrastructure Fund - Principles Agreement with Lancashire County Council –Delivering Bailrigg Garden Village.  The report set out the background and context to the successful Lancashire County Council Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) application and sought authority to enter into a Principles Agreement with Lancashire County Council. This was a non-legally binding agreement setting out the broad principles of how the unfunded elements of wider South Lancaster Growth Catalyst costs (£98M) would be recovered by Lancaster City Council.  The report was public with an appendix exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

At the discretion of the Chair non-Cabinet members in attendance were invited to address the meeting during consideration of this item.

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

The officer preferred option was to recommend entering into a Principles Agreement with Lancashire County Council by the latest 30 June 2021, following approval by Cabinet.

Councillor Jackson proposed, seconded by Councillor Lewis:

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved and that it be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to agree to any minor amendments to the Principles Agreement .”

Resolved unanimously:

(1)        That the key tenets of the Principles Agreement be agreed in advance, working towards the completion of a Partnership Agreement programmed to be signed by 30th August 2021.

(2)        That it be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to agree to any minor amendments to the Principles Agreement .

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive

Director for Economic Growth & Regeneration

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision enables Lancaster City Council to work with Lancashire County Council, to formulate the detailed terms of the main Partnership Agreement between the two councils. This Includes the detailed processes relating to the delivery of the Catalyst Programme and the management and recovery of the funding contributions and related risks.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Heath)

Report of Director for Economic Growth & Regeneration  (This report was marked to follow and was published on Friday 4 June 2021)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Heath)

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Economic Growth & Regeneration that 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 minute.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)             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:

Director for Economic Growth & Regeneration

Reasons for making the decision:

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