Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Catherine Armistead, Phil Bradley, Ruth Colbridge, Brett Cooper, Andrew Gardiner, Ross Hunter, Sally Maddocks, Jean Parr, Catherine Potter, Sam Riches, Paul Stubbins and Nick Wilkinson.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the City Council held on 18 June 2025 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2025 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 reported the sad passing of Honorary Alderman June Ashworth earlier in July.

June was first elected in 1991 and served on many Committees and Cabinet and became Mayor of the City in 2013. She stepped down from the Council in 2019 after serving 24 years.  

June’s funeral took place on 21 July 2025.

Members stood in a minute’s silence in her memory.

At his request, the Mayor then invited Councillor Dennison to say a few words about his longtime colleague and personal friend of many years, Honorary Alderman June Ashworth.

The Mayor informed Councillors that in June, the City Council has won the Municipal Journal award and trophy for Leadership in Responding to the Climate Emergency. The award showed how the Council was leading the way on climate action and recognised the pioneering work behind its Climate Emergency Local Plan Review.

The Council was also shortlisted as finalists for Local Authority of the Year and also Digital Transformation. City Council officer Susanna Dart was also shortlisted as a Rising Star.

The Mayor offered her thanks and congratulations to everyone involved.

The Mayor reported what a pleasure it had been to welcome 26 new Freemen and Freewomen at the recent Freeman’s Court on 12^th July. The popularity of the ancient tradition continued to grow each year with two courts having to be held due to the high numbers. She encouraged all Councillors to attend the annual Court to see for process for themselves and perhaps become a Freeman or Freewoman themselves if they met the criteria.

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.

To receive any petitions and/or addresses from members of the public which have been notified to the Chief Executive in accordance with the Council's Constitution. 

Councillors were informed that three speakers had registered to speak at the meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, and that two of the speakers would deliver one speech jointly.

A petition had also been received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 27, which would be considered at agenda item 8, following the public speakers.

The first speakers were Dr Sunil Banga and Dr Shakthi Nataraj who jointly addressed the Council on the financial position and proposed job cuts at Lancaster University.

Next, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) for Lancaster University, Professor Sarah Kemp, gave a speech regarding the financial position, student numbers and reduction in workforce at Lancaster University.

Copies of both speeches had been circulated to Councillors.

The Leader responded to Doctors Banga and Nataraj and Professor Kemp and thanked them all for attending the meeting to speak.

To receive a Petition, notification of which has been received by the Chief Executive in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

In accordance with the Council’s petition scheme, as the petition has over 500 signatures, it will be presented to full Council for debate.

A petition had been submitted which was part online and part on paper.  The online petition alone contained more than the 500 signatures required to trigger an officer report for the petition to be considered at a Council meeting.  

The full wording of the online petition had been circulated to Councillors in advance and read:

“We the undersigned support the campaign both to preserve the green belt status of land (land between Manor Lane, Slyne-with-Hest and Greenwood Drive/Avenue and Pinewood Avenue/Crescent ,Bolton-le-Sands), and to object to its use for development.

We the undersigned petition the council to retain the green belt status of the land between Slyne-with-Hest and Bolton-le-Sands and to reject proposals to build there. We ask that District housing targets are met by using more appropriate and sustainable locations. We would like our petition presented and debated by full council and to be offered an opportunity to present our issue to full council.

The residents of Slyne with Hest and Bolton-le-Sands are passionate and proud of their villages. Each village has a distinct community and gives its residents a strong sense of place.

The retention of the green belt that has so effectively prevented the villages from merging and forming what would be essentially a town larger in population than Carnforth, is absolutely essential.

Both communities strongly opposed development of their green belt in the creation of the last Local Plan and opinions remain just as strong today.

We wish to retain our local green belt to ensure that the historic villages of Slyne-with- Hest and Bolton-le-Sands can continue to exist independently. We wish to safeguard the land for its wildlife, its beautiful views, its capacity to mitigate flooding and to retain our District’s history.

To release this land for development would result in the urban sprawl of Lancaster marching forward virtually unchecked to Carnforth swallowing villages that the north Lancaster green belt was created to preserve. Only 3% of our District is designated as green belt. We do not need to sacrifice this small percentage for development. Developing our stunning piece of local green belt will not produce the truly affordable homes the District needs.

We should be true to our District’s slogan ‘Promoting City, Coast and Countryside.’ Development of our green belt would be in stark contradiction to this.

Councillor Tyldesley, Cabinet Member with special responsibility for Planning, introduced the report and responded to questions from Councillors. She then proposed the recommendations in the report, seconded by Councillor Brookes:

“(1)    That Council receives and notes the petition.

(2)     That planning matters, including any future proposals for the development of this site, would be appropriately considered by the local planning authority, (including by the Planning Regulatory Committee). It would be inappropriate for Council to articulate a view outside of this regulatory process.”

In response to queries from Councillors about the petition should simply be noted, the Mayor clarified that the proposition which had been made formed the response to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

The Leader presented her report updating Members on various issues since her last report to Council. She then responded to numerous questions from Councillors.

Resolved:

That the report be noted. 

Report of People and Organisational Development Committee.

(The Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer, Chief Finance Officer and Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections all left the Chamber for the following item, each having an interest in the pay policy as Council employees.)

Councillor Wood presented a report of the People and Organisational Development  (P&OD) Committee recommending amendments to the Pay Policy 2025/26 which was agreed by Council in March 2025. The amendments included information about pay ratios requested by Council as well as other amendments requested by the P&OD Committee.

Councillor Punshon asked whether, in 14.5 of the document at the 1^st and 2^nd bullet points, the words  “Put simpler” could be changed to “Put simply” to make for easier reading.

In response to Cllr Punshon’s question, Cllr Wood indicated that he would be happy to make that change as a typographical/grammatical correction providing that the Monitoring Officer was willing to accept that minor change in the Pay Policy Statement.

Councillor Wood then proposed:

“That Council approves the minor amendments to the Pay Policy Statement 2025-2026 as set out in the report.”

Councillor Harris seconded the proposition which was carried unanimously when put to the vote.

Resolved unanimously:

That Council approves the minor amendments to the Pay Policy Statement 2025-2026 as set out in the report.

(The Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer, Chief Finance Officer and Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections returned to the Chamber at this point.)

To consider a motion on notice submitted by Councillors Ainscough, Cozler and Whitaker.

Briefing Note published 18 July 2025

Councillor Ainscough proposed the following motion having given the required notice to the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15:-

“The Council seeks to acknowledge the vital role Morecambe’s Festival Market plays in the community, the opportunity it provides for small local businesses and sole traders, and in delivering the council’s mission for sustainable growth. However, the seasonal nature of the market’s business requires that the council, which owns and maintains the market itself, to show flexibility and consideration to those who operate out of it so it can serve Morecambe and the visitor economy all year round. 

The Council notes:

• The vitality of the market to Morecambe and its visitors as an accessible and affordable place to shop and do business.
• The importance of traders at the market who make its operation possible, and as such the necessity to attract and maintain Morecambe’s fantastic small businesses and sole traders. 
• Concerns raised by market traders about the inflexibility of the Council’s management of the market, and concerns raised by residents about the vitality of the market as a result.

The Council commends:

• The Festival Market traders for their continued work despite the difficulties posed by the seasonal nature of their hard work and lack of attention paid to that work by the current council administration.
• The work of Madame Mayor, Councillor Pattison in promoting the success of the market in her business as a councillor and advocate for Morecambe. 

The Council regrets:

• The difficulties faced by market traders in light of the Council’s current approach to rent and debt collection, which lacks an awareness of the ebbs and flows to Morecambe’s seasonal economy.
• The lack of investment in the Festival Market, which has worsened the impact of seasonality on its ability to trade, such as in the absence of effective heating. 
• That it has been unable to support market traders who have left the Festival Market, by choice or financial pressure, in keeping their business within its walls.

The Council resolves:

(1)        To task the Leader of the Council to clarify which Cabinet Member is responsible for the Morecambe Festival Market, the Cabinet Member for Morecambe Regeneration and Local Economy or the Cabinet Member for Lancaster Regeneration and Local Economy.

(2)        To task that Cabinet Member to contact current market traders with an opportunity to hear their thoughts and to consider them in light of the pressures they are under and the ability of the Council to relieve that.”

Councillor Whitaker seconded the motion.

A briefing note had been submitted by officers to accompany the motion.

Councillor Ainscough responded to a number of questions from Councillors prior to the debate. During debate, an amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Bottoms, removing text and changing one word ‘contact’ to ‘revisit’, as follows:

“The Council seeks to acknowledge the vital role Morecambe’s Festival Market plays in the community, the opportunity it provides for small local businesses and sole traders, and in delivering the council’s mission for sustainable growth.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Report of the Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections.

Council considered a report of the Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections reporting changes to the membership of Cabinet and portfolio areas made by the Leader since the last Council meeting. The revised list is appended to these minutes.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections.

The Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections had 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. This was following Councillor Harris’s resignation from the Labour Group and his decision to become a non-aligned independent Councillor.

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

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

Resolved unanimously:

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.

Group Administrators to report any changes to Committee Membership.  

It was noted that Labour Group changes made since the last meeting were:

·       Passing Councillor Ainscough’s seat on the Appeals Committee to the Green Group to effect the adjustment required due to the revised calculation of political balance (minute 40 refers)

·       Appointing Councillor Phil Black to the vacant seat left by Councillor Harris on the People and Organisational Development Committee

·       Appointing Councillor Wood as a substitute for Council Business Committee and Standards Committee in place of Councillor Harris

The Green Group informed Council of the following changes:

·       Appointing Councillor Stubbins and Councillor Tyldesley as substitute members of the Local Government Reorganisation Working Group

• Cllr Andrew Otway replacing Cllr Sally Maddocks on the Local Plan Review Group
• Appointing Cllr Gina Dowding to the Appeals Committee
• Cllr Sally Maddocks to become a substitute member of Council Business Committee 
• Cllr Wilson Colley to replace Cllr Mandy Bannon as a substitute member of the Planning Regulatory Committee 

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 four questions had been received by the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rules. The first three questions were from Councillor Whitaker to Councillor Bottoms regarding boarded up shops in the West End of Morecambe. Question four was from Councillor Cleet to the Leader of the Council regarding Memoranda of Understanding with the two Town Councils.

Details of the questions and answers together with any supplementary questions and responses are appended to the minutes.

To receive the Minutes of Meeting of Cabinet held 8 July 2025. 

Council considered the Cabinet minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2025. The Leader responded to Members’ questions. She indicated that Councillor Riches, the relevant Cabinet Member who was not present at the meeting,  would provide a written answer to Councillor Belcher in response to her questions about establishing habitat banks in Lancaster district.

Resolved:

That the minutes be noted.