Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Tony Anderson, Richard Austen-Baker, Abi Mills, John Wild, David Whitworth and Peter Yates.

(It was noted that Councillor Carrington was on parental leave.)

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. 

The Mayor reminded Councillors that the Monitoring Officer had granted a dispensation to all Members with regard to allowances in respect of matters relating to Local Government Reform and Devolution for a period of four years.

Councillors Lewis, Gardiner and Parr each declared an interest in Local Government Reform Developments, as Members of Lancashire County Council.

To receive any requests from the public to speak in relation to agenda item 4 in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rules 11.1, 11.3 and 13 which require members of the public to give at least 3 days’ notice in writing.

The Mayor advised that no requests to speak had been received from the public.

Report of the Chief Executive.

(Appendices 1 and 2 of the Cabinet report were published on 4 December 2020)

Councillor Lewis introduced the report of the Chief Executive. It was noted that an updated proposal document had been published and circulated to Members shortly before the meeting. This document was not substantially different to the one published with the agenda on Friday. Typographical errors had been corrected, minor amendments made and recently received stakeholder letters had been added.

Councillor Lewis responded to numerous questions from Councillors before proposing:-

(1)           That the full proposal for a unitary council for the Bay area (attached at Appendix 1 of the report) be approved and recommended for submission by the Leader and Chief Executive to the government by 9 December 2020; and

(2)           That the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Leader, to approve any minor amendments that may arise following consideration of the proposal by Barrow Borough and South Lakeland District Councils, prior to submission the recommendations as set out in the report, seconded by Councillor Parr.

There was a lengthy debate, before the Mayor called for a vote. With 42 Members voting for the proposals, 5 against and 4 abstentions, the proposal was clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)           That the full proposal for a unitary council for the Bay area (attached at Appendix 1 of the report) be approved and recommended for submission by the Leader and Chief Executive to the government by 9 December 2020; and

(2)           That the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Leader, to approve any minor amendments that may arise following consideration of the proposal by Barrow Borough and South Lakeland District Councils, prior to submission.