Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 June 2023 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 14^th June 2023 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

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. 

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To consider the Work Programme for the municipal year. 

The Committee considered the list of suggestions that had been received from Councillors and members of the public.  Comments from the Council’s Senior Leadership Team had been obtained prior to the meeting of the Committee for consideration.  The Committee was advised of the need to prioritise the issues it wished to take forward in agreeing its Work Programme in view of resource issues.  Members felt that in order to take forward some items a further discussion between the Chair of the Committee along with the Chair of the Budget and Performance Panel, Pre-Scrutiny Champion and representatives of Senior Leadership Team. was required.  

The following were agreed :

Resolved :-

Report of Chief Officer - Planning and Climate Change. 

The Committee was advised that last year the City Council requested a Peer Challenge from the Local Government Association (LGA), working with the national Planning Advisory Service (PAS). The aim of the Peer Challenge was to independently review the local planning authority’s operations and performance and consider how it can respond to the present and future challenges. As a result of this Peer Challenge the Council had produced an Implementation Plan 2023/24 to address the issues raised.

Members considered the progress to date on the Implementation Plan. As the Chief Officer – Planning and Climate Change was unable to attend the meeting, it was agreed that queries and questions raised at the meeting would be forwarded by Democratic Support to the Chief Officer – Planning and Climate Change for response at the October meeting. 

Resolved :-

That the update be noted and that the queries and questions raised at the meeting be forwarded to the Chief Officer – Planning and Climate Change by Democratic Support for response at the October 2023 meeting. 

Report of Chief Officer – Governance. 

Nominations were requested for appointments to the Homelessness Forum and the Lancaster, Morecambe and District Fairtrade Group.

It was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed :-

“That Councillor Chris Hanna be appointed to the Homelessness Forum.”

It was then proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed :-

“That Councillor Abi Mills be appointed to the Lancaster, Morecambe and District Fairtrade Group.”

Resolved :-

(1)   That Councillor Chris Hanna be appointed to the Homelessness Forum.

(2)   That Councillor Abi Mills be appointed to the Lancaster, Morecambe and District Fairtrade Group.

The List of Forthcoming Key Decisions can be viewed here

It was noted that there were no Forthcoming Key Decisions published as Cabinet was not due to meet in August 2023.