Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Matthew Black, Phillip Black, Martin Bottoms, Dave Brookes, Roger Cleet, Brett Cooper, Tom Fish, Andrew Gardiner, Sue Tyldesley and Paul Tynan.

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.

Report of the LGR Working Group.

Council received the report and recommendations of the Local Government Reoganisation Working Group, which was presented by the Chair of the Working Group and Leader of the Council, Councillor Caroline Jackson.

Councillor Caroline Jackson responded to questions from Councillors regarding the Working Group’s report before proposing the recommendations set out in the report:

(1)            That Council notes:

·       There are five cases for change being put forward for Lancashire in response to the government’s invitation

·       That Council’s LGR cross party working group requested the Chief Executive to work with five other Councils on the four unitary option –

North Lancashire - Lancaster, Ribble Valley, Preston

Fylde Coast - Blackpool, Wyre, Fylde

South Lancashire - Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancs

East Lancashire - Blackburn with Darwen, Rossendale, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle

·       The four unitary option is included in full within the report (at appendix 1a, 1b).

(2)            That council considers:

·       The case for change for the four unitary option as above.

·       Cases for change for two unitaries, three unitaries, five unitaries and an alternative four unitary option have been prepared by other Council groupings. (Links were provided in the report to these where available).

·       Cabinet will make the decision on the preferred case for change proposal for Lancaster City Council, the actual decision for Lancashire will be decided by Government.

(3)       That Council recommends to Cabinet, for the reasons outlined in the report and appendices, the case for change for a 4-unitary option (Lancaster, Ribble Valley and Preston) as shown in Appendix 1a of the report.

A very lengthy debate on the proposition followed, with many Councillors giving their views.

After all those who wished to had spoken, the proposer of the motion responded to the points raised in debate. The Mayor then called for a vote and the motion was carried.

Resolved:

(1)            That Council notes:

·       There are five cases for change being put forward for Lancashire in response to the government’s invitation

·       That Council’s LGR cross party working group requested the Chief Executive to work with five other Councils on the four unitary option –

North Lancashire - Lancaster, Ribble Valley, Preston

Fylde Coast - Blackpool, Wyre, Fylde

South Lancashire - Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancs

East Lancashire - Blackburn with Darwen, Rossendale, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle

·       The four unitary option is included in full within the report (at appendix 1a, 1b) .

(2)            That council considers:

·       The case for change for the four unitary option as above.

·       Cases for change for two unitaries, three unitaries, five unitaries and an alternative four unitary option have been prepared by other Council groupings. (Links were provided in the report to these where available).

·       Cabinet will make the decision on the preferred case for change proposal for Lancaster City Council, the actual decision for Lancashire will be decided by Government.

(3)       That Council recommends to Cabinet, for the reasons outlined in the report and appendices, the case for change for a 4-unitary option (Lancaster, Ribble Valley and Preston) as shown in Appendix 1a of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.