Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Abbott Bryning, Jake Goodwin, June Greenwell, Joan Jackson, Debbie Jenkins, Sarah Knight, Faye Penny, Oliver Robinson, Luke Taylor, Malcolm Thomas and Sue Tyldesley.

The Mayor informed Councillors that a get well card was circulating for Councillor Bryning if they wished to sign and send their best wishes.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the City Council held on 14 December 2022 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2022 were signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Councillor Guilding asked that it be recorded that she had not voted to agree the minutes, since she was absent from the December meeting.

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 death of former Councillor Evelyn Ashworth on 13 January 2023.

Mrs Ashworth was elected as a Councillor for the Torrisholme Ward of the City Council in 1999 and stood down in 2007.

Mrs Ashworth’s funeral was held on Monday 23 January 2022.

Members stood in a minute’s silence in her memory

The Mayor acknowledged the excellent news received in the past week about funding secured for the Eden Project Morecambe. Councillors joined her in looking forward to this exciting development coming to fruition.

The Mayor then explained that she would be re-ordering the agenda to take Item 9, the Budget and Policy Framework update item, at the end of the meeting, since there was an exempt appendix to the report which might have resulted in press and public being excluded for part of that item. Also, she reminded members that the setting of Council Tax was a “budget decision” as defined in legislation. It would require a recorded vote to be taken in line with the Council’s Constitution.

Finally, following complaint about Members talking when others were speaking, the Mayor asked Councillors to be respectful to those who were speaking by remaining quiet until invited to speak themselves.  

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 the public in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 11.

The Mayor welcomed Mrs Mary Breakall who had registered to speak to Council about the South Lancaster Growth Catalyst, in accordance with the Council’s public participation scheme.

Mrs Breakall’s speech had been circulated to Councillors in advance.

After Mrs Breakall had delivered her address, Councillor Dowding, the Cabinet Member for Planning and Place Making, thanked her. She then responded in detail to each of the points in Mrs Breakall’s address. 

The Mayor thanked Mrs Breakall for taking the time to come and speak at the Council meeting.

The Leader presented her report updating Members on various issues since her last report to Council.

Councillor Gardiner moved that Council Procedure Rule 12 be suspended for this item of business. The proposition was seconded by Councillor Budden and was carried when put to the vote.

The Leader then responded to a number of questions from Councillors. During these questions, members of the public seated in the public gallery became disruptive. The Mayor warned them that, should they continue to shout out and loudly disrupt the meeting, they would be asked to leave. The shouting continued and the Mayor adjourned the meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 6.30pm and re-convened at 6.45pm when order had been restored.

Resolved:

That Council Procedure Rule 12 be suspended for the duration of the Leader’s report item of business (Item 7).

That the Leader’s report be noted. 

To consider a motion on notice submitted by Councillors Austen-Baker, Joan Jackson and Malcolm Thomas

The Mayor noted that there was a motion on notice on the agenda, which had been submitted by Councillor Austen-Baker. However neither of the seconders named on the notice were present at the meeting, therefore it would be carried over for debate at the next appropriate Council meeting.

Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Published 20 January 2023.

The Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) submitted a report of their review of the Councillors’ Allowances Scheme for Council’s consideration. The report was presented by the Chair of the Panel, Mr Ameer Hakim.

Mr Hakim responded to questions from Councillors, who thanked him and the other IRP members for the time and effort they had spent on the review.

Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Lewis, proposed:

“That Council sets a Councillors’ Allowances Scheme according to the attached report; and accepts the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) in full; with an amendment to recommendation 7 to replace ‘National Living Wage’ with "Foundation Living Wage (currently £9.90 per hour, due to rise to £10.90 per hour in April 2023)”

There was a short debate and the proposition was clearly carried when put to the vote.

Resolved:

That Council sets a Councillors’ Allowances Scheme according to the attached report; and accepts the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) in full; with an amendment to recommendation 7 to replace ‘National Living Wage’ with "Foundation Living Wage (currently £9.90 per hour, due to rise to £10.90 per hour in April 2023).

The revised Councillors’ Allowances Scheme is attached to these minutes. The figures that have changed are highlighted.

To appoint a Mayor Elect to be put forward for election by the City Council in May 2023, for the municipal year 2023/24

The Chief Executive advised that he had contacted Councillor Heath, being the most senior Member of the City Council, who had indicated that she would be happy to accept the office of Mayor if offered by the Council, subject to her re-election in May 2023.

It was then moved by Councillor Geoff Knight and seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:

“That, subject to her re-election in May 2023, Councillor Tricia Heath be invited to hold the office of Mayor of the City of Lancaster for the Municipal Year 2023/24.”

A vote was taken on the motion which was clearly carried.

Resolved:

That, subject to her re-election in May 2023, Councillor Tricia Heath be invited to hold the office of Mayor of the City of Lancaster for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

Group Administrators to report any changes to Committee Membership.  

The Mayor reported the following changes to committee memberships which had been made since the last Council meeting on 14 December 2022.

Councillor Bryning to be replaced on the Planning Regulatory Committee by Councillor Hartley and Councillor Askari to take Councillor Hartley’s place as a substitute member of that Committee.

Councillor Whitaker to replace Councillor Bryning on the Audit Committee.

Councillor Budden to be a substitute member of the Budget and Performance Panel.

No further changes were reported.

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 no questions had been received by the Chief Executive.

To receive the Minutes of Meeting of Cabinet held 25 October 2022. 

Council considered the Cabinet minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2022.

Resolved:

That the minutes be noted.

Report of Cabinet.

Published 20 January 2023

Councillor Whitehead, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, presented a report updating Council on the Budget and Policy Framework 2023/24 – 2027/28. The report set out Cabinet’s recommendations for a level of Council Tax for 2023/24.

She responded to questions from Councillors before proposing:

“That Council approves a City Council Tax increase of 2.99% to the Band D Council Tax (from £241.95 to £249.18), together with a year on year target of the maximum allowable under the Government’s local referendum thresholds for future years.”

Councillor Hamilton-Cox seconded the proposition and there was a lengthy debate before the Mayor called for a recorded vote to be taken.

The votes were recorded as follows:

For the proposition: Councillors Anderton, Askari, Austen-Baker, Bannon, Biddulph, Black, Blaikie, Boyd-Power, Brookes, Budden, Dant, Dennison, Dowding, Frea, Gardiner, Greenall, Guilding, Hamilton-Cox, Hartley, Heath, Hunter, Jackson (Caroline) King, Knight (Geoff), Lenox, Lewis, Maddocks, Matthews, Mills, Parr, Pattison, Pritchard, Redfern, Sinclair, Stubbins, Thornberry, Whitaker, Whitehead, Wild, Wood, Yates and Young. (42)

Against the proposition: None.

Abstentions: Councillors Anderson and Cleet (2)

Resolved:

That Council approves a City Council Tax increase of 2.99% to the Band D Council Tax (from £241.95 to £249.18), together with a year on year target of the maximum allowable under the Government’s local referendum thresholds for future years.