Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Keith Budden, Ruth Colbridge, Paul Gardner, Sally Maddocks, Sophie Maddocks, Sarah McGowan, Abi Mills, Hamish Mills, Susan Penney, Grace Russell, Paul Tynan and John Wild.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Ordinary Meetings of the City Council held on 19 May and 22 May 2023, the Extraordinary Meeting held on 26 April 2023 and the Special meeting held on 19 May 2023 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meetings held on 19 and 22  May 2023, the Extraordinary meeting held on 26 April 2023 and the Special meeting held on 19 May 2023 were signed by the Mayor as correct records.

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.

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 three questions had been received from members of the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.  All the questions related to climate change and plant-based food. The text of each question had been circulated via email to all Councillors prior to the meeting.

The first questioner was unable to attend and had given apologies for the meeting. The Mayor asked the other questioners, Doctor Charlotte Houltram and Mr Pete Bailey to put their questions to the Leader of the Council. The Leader then made his response to the issues raised in the questions and responded to supplementary questions.

Details of the questions and the responses from the Leader are appended to these minutes.

The Mayor informed Members that no petitions or requests to address Council had been received from members of the public.

The Leader presented his report updating Members on various issues. He then responded to questions from Councillors.

Resolved:

That the report be noted

Report of the Senior Manager – Democratic Support and Elections

The names of Cabinet Members appointed by the Leader, and their portfolio areas, were presented in a report submitted by the Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Monitoring Officer

Councillor Wood presented a report of the Monitoring Officer regarding electronic voting at Council meetings.

The report explained that the new livestreaming equipment which had been installed in the Council Chamber at Morecambe Town Hall had the capacity to count and record votes electronically. However, the Constitution would need some amending should Council be minded to take up the electronic voting option. In addition, the report set out a protocol for e-voting for Council to consider for approval.

Councillor Wood responded to questions from Councillors before proposing that the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved. Councillor Brookes seconded the proposition.

After a short debate, the Mayor called for a vote and the proposition was clearly carried when put to the vote.

Resolved:

(1)            That Council approves the use of electronic voting for public meetings held in the Council Chamber at Morecambe Town Hall and agrees the draft protocol for the use of e-voting (appended to these minutes).

(2)            That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend the Constitution as set out in paragraph 2.4 of the report.

Report of the Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections.

The Senior Manager, Democratic Support and Elections submitted a report to allow Council to consider its appointments to outside bodies, partnerships and boards.

Councillor Wood proposed, seconded by Councillor Gardiner:

“(1)    That the basis of all appointments remains the same as set out in the appendices to the report.

(2)     That Council makes appointments at this meeting to the outside bodies where the basis of appointment is determined to be by nomination and voting by Council

(3)     That Council notes the bodies in paragraph 4.0 of the report, which have either ceased to exist or have informed the Council that a representative is no longer required.”

The Mayor asked for clarification regarding the basis of appointment to the Lancashire Police and Crime Panel and The Dukes, which had not been determined. Councillor Wood and his seconder agreed that the proposition intended to include both those bodies as appointments to be determined by nomination and voting by Council.

Councillor Brookes then proposed the following amendment, which was accepted by Councillor Wood and Councillor Gardiner as a friendly amendment:

“That the six places on the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster Charities be appointed to in approximate proportionality of two Labour, two Green, one Liberal Democrat and one Conservative. If one of the seats is not filled it is to go to a vote at Council.”

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

The Mayor then went through the list of appointments, seeking nominations for the Arnside and Silverdale AONB first.

Councillor Greenwell was nominated by Councillor Pritchard, seconded by Councillor Peter Jackson. Councillor Brookes then nominated Councillor Tyldesley, seconded by Councillor Riches. With 14 votes for Councillor Greenwell and 15 votes for Councillor Tyldesley, the Mayor declared Councillor Tyldesley appointed.

For the Board of Lancaster District Chamber of Commerce, Councillor Wood nominated Councillor Potter, seconded by Councillor Hartley. There being no further nominations, Councillor Potter was appointed. 

The following members were appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Lancaster Charity, all nominated by Councillor Wood and seconded by Councillor Brookes. Councillors Brookes, Budden, Cozler, McGregor, Pritchard and Redfern.

For the Forest of Bowland AONB Advisory Committee, Councillor Tynan was nominated by Councillor Brookes, seconded by Councillor Dowding. Councillor Pritchard was nominated by Councillor Peter Jackson, seconded by Councillor Blaikie. Councillor Colbridge was nominated by Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Hall. With 14 votes for Councillor Tynan, 7 votes for Councillor Pritchard and 22 votes for Councillor Colbridge, Councillor Pritchard dropped out and a second vote was taken. With 14 votes for Councillor Tynan and 24 votes for Councillor Colbridge, the Mayor declared Councillor Colbridge appointed to the Forest of Bowland AONB Advisory Committee.

For the Furness Line Community Railway Partnership, Councillor Greenwell was nominated by Councillor Pritchard, seconded by Councillor Blaikie. Councillor Paul Gardner was nominated by Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Belcher. Councillor Greenwell received 22 votes, Councillor Paul Gardner received 21 votes. Councillor Greenwell was appointed to the Furness Line Community Railway Partnership.

Nominations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Group Administrators to report any changes to Committee Membership.  

The following changes, made since the last Council meeting, were noted:

The Labour Group had added Councillors Harris and Wood as substitute members of Council Business Committee.

The Green Group had replaced Councillor Russell with Councillor McGregor on the Licensing Committee.

The Liberal Democrat Group had replaced Councillor Peter Jackson with Councillor Hart on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Green Group reported that Councillor Lenox and Councillor Russell would swop places on the Planning Committee. Councillor Lenox would become a member and Councillor Russell would be a substitute member.

To receive the Minutes of Meeting of Cabinet held 11 April, 2023.

Council considered the Cabinet minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 2023.

Resolved:

That the minutes be noted.

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. Two questions were from Councillor Cooper to Councillor Caroline Jackson about the powers of the Council to address anti-social behaviour. One question was from Councillor Fish to Councillor Parr regarding a review of the Local Plan.

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