Agenda and minutes

Before starting the meeting, the Mayor welcomed Councillor Sally Maddocks to her first Council meeting. Councillor Maddocks had been elected to represent Ellel Ward at a by-election held on 19^th May 2022.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Darren Clifford, Tim Dant, Merv Evans, Ross Hunter, Mandy King, Sarah Knight, Erica Lewis, Luke Taylor and Joanna Young.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Meetings of the City Council held on 13^th and 16^th May 2022 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meetings held on 13 and 16 May 2022 were signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

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 of interest were made.

The Mayor read out a note of thanks from the John and Alex Hanson, the late Councillor Janice Hanson’s husband and son, to everyone who attended Janice’s funeral and for the lovely cards, messages and kind words the family had received from City Councillors.

To receive questions in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rules 11.1 and 11.3 which require members of the public to give at least 3 days’ notice in writing of questions to a Member of Cabinet or Committee Chairman. 

The Mayor advised that no questions had been received from members of the public in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 11.

County Councillor Margaret Pattison addressed Council on Item 10, which was a motion on notice regarding Action on Fly-Tipping. A copy of her address had been previously circulated.

The Mayor thanked County Councillor Pattison and invited the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Councillor Brookes, to respond. 

Councillor Brookes responded to the particular points raised by County Councillor Pattison in her speech. He advised that the motion on fly-tipping would be debated later in the meeting and he would have more to say at that point, too. Minute 26 refers.

The Leader presented her report updating Members on various issues since her last report to Council. The report informed Councillors of a change to executive arrangements;  Councillor Lewis had stepped down from her portfolio for a six month period, replaced by Councillor Wood.

The Leader responded to a number of questions from Councillors.

Resolved:

That the report, including the change to executive arrangements, be noted. 

Report of Cabinet.

Cabinet had submitted a report seeking £300k capital growth in the 2022/23-2025/26 capital programme for sites where gas boilers were reaching end of life. Sites included Palatine Hall, The Storey and Williamson Park. Decarbonised heating solutions had been identified. Capital funding would be required to support future Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) funding opportunities, should applications be successful.

Councillor Frea presented the report and responded to Councillors’ questions.

Councillor Frea, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox, proposed:

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

There was a very lengthy debate.

A vote was then taken on the proposition, which was carried with 37 Councillors voting ‘for’, 7 ‘against’ and two abstentions.

Resolved:

(1)        That Council approves £300,000 capital growth and makes the necessary adjustments to the Capital Programme to ensure the buildings remain fit for purpose and support the Council’s decarbonisation pathway.

(2)        That Council’s Capital Funding Requirement (CFR), Authorised Limit and operational boundary for external debt be increased by £300,000.

To consider a motion submitted by Councillors Whitaker, Wood, Hartley and Redfern.

The motion is set out in the agenda papers. Officer’s briefing published 17^th June 2022.

Notice of the following motion had been given to the Chief Executive, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15, by Councillors Whitaker, Hartley, Redfern and Wood.  

“Lancaster City Council notes:

a)    Fly tipping instances are a growing concern of residents across the District.

b)    In response to a question from Cllr Whitaker in December 2021, the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Cllr Brookes, stated “We also attended a Keep Britain Tidy webinar on fly-tipping, highlighting a programme of evidence-based interventions KBT developed and tested in the London Borough of Newham. KBT is offering to deliver this programme with a limited number of other councils around the country, and we are pursuing bringing this to Lancaster district, with a focus on hotspots in Morecambe. In the meantime we have joined the Keep Britain Tidy Network which gives us access to resources, learning events, best practice guidance etc.”

c)     This Council meeting marks the week in which the six-week trial (from 16^th May 2022) ends, where different measures to combat fly tipping were tested in Poulton, Harbour, Overton, Skerton East and Skerton West Wards.

d)    The trial interventions in the selected Wards were promised to be “… robustly monitored and evaluated with a view to understanding how effective they are in reducing illegal dumping, both in the short term and over a longer period.”

e)    The recent success reported by Newham LBC working collaboratively with Keep Britain Tidy on initiatives to address Fly Tipping.

f)      Newham LBC’s five fly tipping interventions piloted since 2018, namely:

Crime scene tape – placement of high-visibility tape and stickers on fly tips and leaving these for three days before removal, plus local communications about responsible ways to deal with waste. – Reducing fly tipping by an average of 67%

Social impact stencils – stencilling the spots where fly tipping had been cleared, with messages about the fact resources are drawn away from the community when spent on clearing fly tipping, and to show that fly tips haven’t just ‘disappeared’. – Reducing fly tipping by an average of 64%

No waste on streets – installation of specially designed units to ‘containerise’ and remove from view waste that is put out for collection at a specified time on a busy high street where it tended to attract fly tipping and litter. – Reducing fly tipping by an average of 24%

Empowering schools – educating young people in four schools about fly tipping and its impacts. – Resulting in a 79% increase in students reporting that they know a lot about fly tipping after the project

Love your ward weekends – pop-up community events including an on-the day collection of bulky waste, as well as educational activities and beautification of the area through resident created murals and planters. – Resulting in four events attended by 430 residents. 70% of attendees surveyed agreed the events made them think twice about fly tipping in future. 68% of attendees agreed the events made them realise the lasting effect fly tipping can  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Report of the Head of Democratic Services

Council considered a report of the Head of Democratic Services, updating Members on the current position regarding a Community Governance Review (CGR) of the district.

Ward Councillors and Parish Councils had been consulted following the April meeting of Council and a number of issues had been raised which would be kept on file until such time as a full CGR could be held.

The Head of Democratic Services agreed to supply a written answer to a question from Councillor Joan Jackson about the boundaries of Quernmore and Wennington parish councils.

 The report was for noting.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Democratic Services

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report to advise Council of the calculations relating to the allocation of seats in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. She explained that the rounding up and down of figures on the Licensing Committee had been corrected and a replacement agenda page had been published and circulated. The replacement page highlighted the changes.

Councillor Knight proposed “That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.” The proposition was seconded by Councillor Gardiner.

There was no debate and the proposition was clearly carried when put to the vote.

Resolved:

That in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989 and Part 4 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations, 1990, the City Council approves the calculations and allocation of seats set out in the report, including the adjustments set out in paragraph 5 of the report.

Report of the Head of Democratic Services

The Head of Democratic Services had submitted a report asking Council to consider nominating a Councillor for appointment as a Trustee of Morecambe Football Club Community Sports (MFCCS). It was noted that the vacancy had occurred due to the sad passing of Councillor Janice Hanson.

Councillor Geoff Knight proposed recommendations (2) and (3) as set out in the report and:

“That Councillor Greenall be nominated to the MFCCS.”

Councillor Dennison seconded the proposition.

A point of order was raised by Councillor Wood regarding the procedure at this point, believing that a nomination could not be made until the recommendations in the report had been voted upon. The Monitoring Officer replied that a valid proposition had been made.

Councillor Wood then proposed an amendment to the proposition, to replace the name  “Greenall” with “Thornberry”.

Councillor Hartley seconded the amendment.

Before business moved any further, Councillor Robinson interjected regarding the procedure.

Again, the Monitoring Officer informed Councillors that a valid amendment had been made and that it should go forward unless the mover of the original motion wished to withdraw his motion.

At this point Councillor Geoff Knight did withdraw his motion, with the agreement of his seconder.

Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Robinson, proposed:

“That recommendations (2) and (3), as set out in the report, be approved.”

There was no debate and this proposal was clearly carried when put to the vote.

Councillor Geoff Knight proposed Councillor Greenall be nominated to the MFCCS, seconded by Councillor Dennison.

Councillor Wood proposed Councillor Thornberry be nominated to the MFCCS, seconded by Councillor Dennison.

A vote was then taken and, with 17 votes for Councillor Greenall and 26 votes for Councillor Thornberry, the Mayor declared Councillor Thornberry to be the Councillor nominated to the MFCCS for appointment as a Trustee.

Resolved:

(1)            That Council notes a vacancy which has arisen on for a Trustee of Morecambe FC Community Sports.

(2)            That Council re-confirms that the basis of appointment should be by nomination and voting at Council.

(3)            That Councillor Thornberry be nominated to the MRCCS for appointment as a Trustee.

Group Administrators to report any changes to Committee Membership.  

A number of changes to committee memberships were reported and are set out below:

Councillor Geoff Knight (MBI) had agreed to give his seat on Planning Committee to the Conservative Group, who had appointed Councillor Guilding.

The Green Group had appointed Councillor Maddocks to the Budget and Performance Panel. Councillor Bannon had been appointed a substitute member to the Planning Committee by the Green Group, who had also appointed Councillor Brookes as a substitute member to the Committee System Working Group.

The Labour Group had given up Councillor Wood’s seat on the Licensing Committee to Councillor Blaikie of the Liberal Democrat Group. 

Councillor Blaikie had given up his seat on Audit to the Green Group. The Green Group would notify their appointment to the Head of Democratic Services in due course.

The Labour Group administrator reported that Councillor Lewis had been appointed as a substitute member of the Budget and Performance Panel.

To receive questions in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rules 12.2 and 12.4 which require a Member to give at least 3 working days’ notice, in writing, of the question to the Chief Executive. 

The Mayor advised that three questions had been received by the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rules. The questions were all from Councillor Hartley to Councillor Dowding regarding parking fees. The questions and answers are set out below.

Councillor Hartley asked:

Motorists will be pleased that the £4 charge for parking from 6pm to 8am in most council car parks is being reduced to £2. My question is because I wonder how effective having a 6pm to 8am tariff is. Can we be sure that the overnight tariff being paid by all car park users?

Please could the Cabinet member say what car park enforcement activity has taken place between 6pm and 8am since the original £4 charge was introduced on 6th May and if any Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) have been issued?

Councillor Dowding replied:

Evening tariffs have been in place at all City Council car parks since 2005. There is no suggestion that users of our car parks are doing so without paying for the overnight tariff. Transactions overnight equate to approximately 4% of all transactions since 6th May 2022 and income levels are in line with this. It is almost impossible to be sure that 100% of all users pay for a tariff, but this is also the case in the daytime hours. Some will always take a risk, but this number is small. Obviously we don’t announce when we’re doing enforcement.

The City Council pays for 4800 hours of enforcement time per annum. The hours of this enforcement vary to fall in line with busy periods, events and seasonal trends. Since the 6th there has been focussed, limited hours of enforcement after 6pm. This has partly been impacted by County Council reorganisation of the enforcement system and impact on staffing/shift patterns. It is envisaged that this will expand, at various times, throughout the summer months.

The enforcement provider has confirmed there have been 20 PCN’s issues after 6pm since the 6th May 2022.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held 12^th April 2022. 

Council considered the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 12 April 2022.

Resolved:

That the minutes be noted.