Agenda and minutes

At the start of the meeting, several Councillors and the public speaker were experiencing technical difficulties. In view of this, Councillor Reynolds proposed an adjournment which Councillor Redfern seconded. The Mayor announced that there would be an adjournment of fifteen minutes before taking the first item.

(Council adjourned at 6.00pm. The meeting reconvened briefly at 6.15pm, however the technical difficulties remained unresolved. A further adjournment of ten minutes followed. The meeting reconvened for business at 6.25pm.)

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Richard Austen-Baker and Jake Goodwin.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the City Council held on 24 June 2020 (previously circulated). 

It was proposed by Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Guilding and agreed unanimously that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2020 be accepted as a correct record.

It was noted that the minutes would be signed by the Mayor when the minute book was available.

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 reminded Councillors of the sad death of Councillor Michael Mumford, who passed away peacefully on 28^th June after a period of illness. Michael had been elected in May 2019 to represent Kellet ward. Thoughts were with his two daughters, Ceri and Clare. 

The Mayor also paid tribute to Honorary Alderman John Holt who passed away on 16^th June 2020. John had been a member of the former Lunesdale Rural District Council, served the first term of the reorganised Lancaster City Council in 1973-76 and served as Deputy Mayor.

Members were silent for one minute, in their memory.

The Mayor informed Council that, since a public speaker was in attendance to address Council regarding Item 10, the Local Plan, he intended to re-order the agenda slightly to take the Local Plan report immediately after Item 7, Petitions and Addresses.

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.

Mr. Tom Wilkinson addressed Council via a telephone link on behalf of Citizens of Lancaster Opposed to Unnecessary Development (CLOUD), regarding Bailrigg Garden Village. The speech related to item 10, the draft Local Plan.  A copy of Mr Wilkinson’s address had been previously circulated to Councillors.

The Mayor thanked Mr Wilkinson for speaking to Council and invited Councillor Hanson, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy, to respond.

Councillor Hanson responded and thanked CLOUD, and Mr Wilkinson in particular, for delivering the speech to Councillors.

Report of the Director of Economic Growth and Regeneration.

Council considered a report of the Director of Economic Growth and Regeneration seeking a Council resolution to formally adopt the Strategic Policies & Land allocations DPD and a reviewed Development Management DPD as key components of the Local Plan for Lancaster District.

The report also presented the new Local Development Scheme (LDS) which described the future work on the Local Plan. Specifically, it set out the timescales for an immediate review of the Local Plan in the context of Climate Change and the Council’s Climate Emergency Declaration of January 2019.

Councillor Hanson, the Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy, and the Head of Planning and Place responded to a number of questions from Councillors before Councillor Hanson proposed:

“(1)    That the Council resolves to adopt both the Strategic Policies & Land Allocations DPD and the reviewed Development Management DPD as parts of the Local Plan for Lancaster District 2011–2031.

(2)     That the necessary measures are undertaken to publicise their adoption in accordance with national legislation.

(3)     That the July 2020 Local Development Scheme (LDS), attached to the report, and the approach to the publication of subsequent reviews, be approved. The LDS sets out the Council’s intention to proceed with an immediate Review of the Local Plan in the context of the Climate Emergency Declaration resolved by this Council in January 2019.

(4)     That, given the climate emergency declaration, Council will ask its officers to work with the local transport authority to ensure that car-borne traffic from a remodelled J33 is capable of being intercepted in South Lancaster as part of an integrated sustainable transport solution to managing traffic and prioritising sustainable modes of travel (above the private car) on the A6 corridor.’

Councillor Hanson also asked that her thanks and congratulations be placed on record to Planning and Housing Strategy Service Manager Maurice Brophy and his team of officers for the years of work they had put into producing a sound Local Plan.

Councillor Clifford seconded the proposition.

There was a short debate before Councillor Dowding proposed an amendment to the motion in the form of a change of words to (4) and an addendum by way of an additional proposal (5) as shown below:

(4)     Given the climate emergency declaration, Council will ask its officers to work with the transport authority to urgently explore alternatives to the M6 J33 reconfiguration, to remove the necessity for road building and deprioritise use of private cars on the A6 corridor.

(5)     Council will seek a review of housing need figures in July 2021 should there be emerging evidence of under-delivery against housing targets, or prospective failure to maintain a 5yr housing land supply, or employment data continues to show a sustained reduction.

The wordings had been circulated to all Councillors by email twenty minutes prior to the start of the meeting. In view of the short notice, the significance of the new proposal (5) and the fact that (4) and (5) were different issues, Councillor Dowding agreed to propose them as two separate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

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

Resolved:

That the report be noted. 

Report of the Standards Committee.

Council considered a report of the Standards Committee to enable Council to appoint an Independent Person in accordance with the Localism Act 2011. Councillor King, as Chair of the Committee, presented the report.

Councillor King moved, seconded by Councillor Wood:

“That Mr Barry Dearing be appointed as an Independent Person.”

There was no debate. The Mayor noted that, as set out in the report, the Localism Act required a majority of all members of the Council (not just of those present and voting) to vote in favour of the proposition for the appointment to be valid. In view of this requirement, the Mayor called for a roll call vote to be taken. 

With a unanimous vote in favour and 55 Councillors present at that point in the meeting, the Mayor declared Mr Dearing validly appointed.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)     That Mr Barry Dearing be appointed as an Independent Person.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

Council considered a report of the Democratic Services Manager to enable Council to make an appointment to the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) following a recent recruitment exercise, and to consider whether an allowance should be payable to panel members in future.

It was noted in the report that the Panel had not been quorate for some time, currently having just one Member when a minimum of three were required. Following a round of recruitment in March, Mr Ameer Hakim was recommended to Council for appointment.

Councillor Wood moved, seconded by Councillor Black:

“(1)    That Mr Ameer Hakim be appointed to the City Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel.

(2)     That £1,500 per annum be allocated for remuneration for Independent Remuneration Panellists to be divided equally between serving panellists up to a cap of £300 each per annum.”

There was no debate on the proposals. With no one indicating that they wished to speak or vote against the motion, the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)     That Mr Ameer Hakim be appointed to the City Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel.

(2)     That £1,500 per annum be allocated for remuneration for Independent Remuneration Panellists to be divided equally between serving panellists up to a cap of £300 each per annum.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

Council considered a report of the Democratic Services Manager re-calculating the political balance in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, following a change to the composition of the Council. Paragraph 5 of the report set out the adjustments which would be necessary as a result of the revised calculation. The Labour and Independent groups would each gain a committee seat and the MBI and Liberal Democrat groups would each give up a committee seat.

Councillor Guilding moved, seconded by Councillor O’Dwyer-Henry:

“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 this report, including the adjustments set out in paragraph 5 of the report.”

With no one indicating that they wished to speak or vote against the motion, the Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried. He advised Councillors that the adjustments could be dealt with in the course of the next item of business.

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.

Group Administrators to report any changes to Committee Membership.  

The Mayor noted that both the MBI and Liberal Democrat groups had given advance notice that they wished to give up a seat each on the Appeals Committee to effect the adjustment required by the revised calculation of political balance (minute 41 refers).

Councillor Pritchard confirmed that she would give up the Liberal Democrat seat. Geoff Knight confirmed that Councillor Anderton would give up his MBI seat and become a named substitute.

The Mayor asked the Labour group who they wished to appoint to the Appeals Committee. Councillor O’Dwyer-Henry proposed:

“That Councillor Penny be appointed to the Appeals Committee and that Councillor Frea also be appointed a named substitute.”

Councillor O’Dwyer-Henry also proposed “That Councillor Wood be a named substitute for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.”

For the Independent Group, Councillor Cleet proposed:

“That Councillor Anderson be appointed to the Appeals Committee and that Councillor Evans also be appointed a named substitute.”

Councillor Barber proposed:

“That Councillor Yates be appointed a named substitute for the Planning Regulatory Committee and that Councillor Guilding replace Councillor Whitworth on the Personnel Committee.”

Councillor Greenall seconded all the changes which had been put forward. No further changes were proposed. With no Councillors indicating that they wished to vote against, the Mayor declared all the proposals to be clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)            That Councillor Pritchard’s seat on the Appeals Committee be taken by Councillor Penny of the Labour Group.

(2)            That Councillor Wood be appointed a named substitute for the Labour Group on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(3)            That Councillor Anderton’s seat on the Appeals Committee be taken by Councillor Anderson of the Independent Group and that Councillors Anderton and Evans be appointed named substitutes on the Appeals Committee for the MBI and Independent Groups, respectively.

(4)            That Councillor Yates be appointed a named substitute for the Planning Regulatory Committee and that Councillor Guilding replace Councillor Whitworth on the Personnel 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 Councillors that no questions on notice had been submitted.

To receive the Minutes of Meeting of Cabinet held 9 June 2020. 

Council considered the Cabinet minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2020 without raising any questions.

Resolved:

That the minutes be noted.