Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the 2012/13 municipal year.

Resolved:

That Councillor Mace be appointed Vice-Chairman of the committee for the 2012/13 municipal year.

Minutes of meeting held on 26^th April 2012 (previously circulated).

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as a correct record.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Members 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 10 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members 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, members 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.  

Councillor Hall declared an interest in item 4 on the agenda, owing to her membership of the Lune Park Advisory Board.

The Chairman authorised an item of urgent business, relating to a Children’s Centre Plus consultation, which was being held by Lancashire County Council.

It was noted that each Lancashire district would have one Children’s Centre Plus whilst, in areas of the most need, there would be two.  This was the case in the Lancaster district, where Lune Park and Heysham had been identified as suitable Children’s Centre Plus sites.

Resolved:

1)         That officers be requested to submit a response to the consultation which was supportive, in principle, of centres being developed in Heysham and Lune Park;

2)         That officers be requested to ask Lancaster Children’s Trust Board to engage in discussion with Lancashire County Council, to ensure that Children’s Centre Plus services have the best opportunity to add value to existing services in the district.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Senior Democratic Support Officer introduced a report on the Member Development Strategy, which had been updated for 2012/13.

It was noted that the revised strategy took account of recent changes to the council’s Corporate Plan, and the decision of this committee to renew the council’s Member Development Charter award, held at Level 1.

Resolved:

That the Member Development Strategy be approved and referred to Council to be endorsed.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced a report on the next stage of the electoral review of the district, and asked members to consider whether the council should make a warding pattern submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).

This was the second stage of the LGBCE’s review, having already informed the council of their intention to recommend a council size of 60 members for the district.

The second stage, expected to conclude on 15^th October 2012, was intended to review the pattern of wards to ensure that the district’s wards achieved good electoral quality, reflected community identities, and had easily identifiable boundaries.

In the course of discussion, the committee agreed that the council should limit its response to a re-iteration of concerns about electoral imbalance in the Ellel Ward, as reflected in the Council resolution of March 2011, which originally led to the review. 

Political groups and individuals would be free to make further submissions as they so wished.

Resolved:

(1)        That the Democratic Services Manager be requested to draft a submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England that reflected the views expressed at the meeting.  

(2)        That the Chairman be authorised to agree the response, prior to its submission.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced a report on public speaking at Council meetings, following a referral from a councillor.

The councillor was concerned that the current deadline and agenda publication dates precluded members of the public from registering to address Council about an item they had seen on the agenda.

The Democratic Services Manager was aware of several occasions when members of the public were dissatisfied at being unable to speak at Council, having noted an item of interest on the agenda.

Resolved:

(1)        That the deadline for submitting a request to address Council be changed to “no later than midday, three days before the day of the meeting”, to match the current deadline for questions from the public.

(2)        That the relevant parts of the Constitution and the guidance leaflet for the public be redrafted to reflect this change and brought back to the committee for approval at the next meeting.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Senior Democratic Support Officer updated members on plans for the forthcoming Special Council meeting, which would be led by staff from Community Engagement, with support from Democratic Services.

It was noted that twenty six councillors had signed up at the time of the meeting, and that a similar number of students had confirmed their attendance.  The meeting would be opened by the Mayor and it was noted that Councillor Aitchison, Young People’s Champion, had agreed to say a few words.

Political speed dating would be the first item on the agenda, followed by a game called Pupil Power, in which students work with councillors to discuss spending priorities in a hypothetical context.

Resolved:

1)         That the update be noted;

2)         That members of this committee would encourage councillors from within their own political groups to attend.

Resolved:

That Councillor Mace be appointed to the Budget and Performance Panel in place of Councillor Rollins, who would become a substitute member.