Agenda and minutes

Minutes of meeting held on 18^th September 2008 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 18^th September 2008 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Report of the Principal Housing Manager

Members considered a report of the Principal Housing Manager which advised of a consultation on the implications of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 for the Council and how the Mobile Homes Act 1983 will be applied to local authority traveller sites.

A number of questions were raised on the consultation.

It was unanimously agreed that the responses that had been prepared on the consultation should be submitted as the Council’s response.

Resolved:

That the responses contained within the report be submitted to the Government on behalf of the Council.

Joint report of Corporate Director (Regeneration) and Corporate Director (Finance and Performance)

Members considered a joint report of the Corporate Director (Regeneration) and Corporate Director (Finance and Performance) which requested Members to consider the draft response to the consultation on changes to the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme.

It was reported that Lancaster had been successful to date in receiving over £1.5 million over the past 3 years from the scheme that rewarded local authorities for encouraging economic and business growth by way of grants.

Members considered the draft response to the consultation and raised a number of questions relating to the proposed split of funding between the District and County Council and agreed that this should be opposed.

Resolved:

That the Committee approves the draft response to the consultation.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report which requested Members to consider options for using existing charity and trust funds for which the Council is responsible which were currently lying dormant.

Members were reminded that the Civic Task Group had become aware of a number of charities and trusts for which the Council was responsible whilst undertaking their review of the Council’s civic functions in 2006.  At the time it had been recommended that in order to bring this money back in to public use a number of the charities should be consolidated and managed by the Lancaster City Council through Democratic Services in the same way as the existing James Bond Charity, with other charities and charitable funds being transferred to relevant organisations for their future use.

It was noted at the time that in order to make these changes there needed to be extensive discussions with various parties including joint trustees and boards of governors and all changes would require agreement and approval by the Charity Commission. 

It was reported that whilst this substantial piece of work has been continuing, there have been discussions in the County regarding the setting up of a Community Foundation for Lancashire (CFL).  It was explained that this would be one of a network of community foundations across the UK which use endowment funds to generate income to enable the making of grants for the benefit of local communities, the broad purpose being to help donors collaborate in generating funds that promote and support local voluntary activity through a programme of grant making.

The Committee was requested therefore to consider the options set out in the report which included contributing to the Community Foundation for Lancashire and responding to the recent request from the Foundation for a contribution of £6,000 over the next 3 years from each of the District Councils in Lancashire.

Members were also advised that although this matter had arisen as part of the Civic Review and was therefore being reported to this Committee as the body responsible for the implementation of those decisions, responsibility for Charity Funds was an executive function and the final decision would therefore rest with the Cabinet.

Members considered the recommendation and options set out in the report and agreed to recommend that option one should be taken forward.

Resolved:

(1)        That the continued use of following funds for their original purpose be noted ;

·               Williamson Park

·               William Smith Festival

·               War Memorial Fund

(2)        That Cabinet be advised that the Council Business Committee’s preferred approach is option 1, to proceed with the proposed amalgamations of Charity Trust Funds and the transfer of funds as set out in as set out in paragraphs 1.4 and 1.5 of the report.

The Committee will consider any appointments to committees and changes to membership.

Group Administrators were invited to put forward nominations for any changes to membership of Committees.  The changes submitted by the Green and Labour Groups were accepted.

Resolved:

That the following nominations and changes to Committee membership be accepted:

Licensing Act Committee

Delete Maia Whitelegg and add Anne Chapman

Licensing Regulatory

Delete Catriona Stamp and add Chris Coates

Add Emily Heath as Substitute

Personnel

Delete Maia Whitelegg and add with Jon Barry

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Delete Rebekah Gerrard and add Roger Sherlock