Agenda and minutes

Minutes of meeting held on Thursday 27^th June 2013 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record.

Prior to discussion, Councillor Hall declared an interest in this item, as she was a governor at the school and a councillor for Skerton East ward.

Councillor Aitchison also declared an interest, the nature of it being that he had undertaken work experience at the school.

The Chairman authorised an item of urgent business on Lancashire County Council’s consultation on the possible closure of Skerton Community High School (SCHS), Owen Road, Lancaster.  The consultation had been received after the publication of the agenda, and a response was required before the next meeting of the Committee.

In the course of discussion, members agreed that the Council should submit a response to the consultation, citing the fact that many pupils had special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), which SCHS was particularly adept at catering for.   Concern was expressed that children with SEND may struggle in other, larger, schools and that whilst SCHS proved more expensive per child than other schools in the area, the extra expense was justified by the level of pastoral care and specialist provision.

Members were also concerned about the effect on the local community of closing the school, particularly in light of Skerton Primary School’s closure in 2010.  In addition, councillors were concerned about future provision as there was a significant amount of housing development taking place in the area.  It was suggested that the number of houses being built in the area be incorporated into the Council’s response.

Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Knight, proposed that the Council use the following statement as the basis of a response to the consultation:

The Committee recommends that Lancaster City Council (LCC) submit a formal response to the consultation to include the following points:

LCC has made a considerable investment in Skerton in recent years.  Following receipt of a grant in recognition of Skerton being a deprived area, a project called Connecting Communities was launched in 2010, facilitated by LCC’s Community Engagement service.  This involve a substantial amount of officer time and amongst other outcomes resulted in the formation of The Friends of Ryelands Park.  During the same period Lancashire County Council have closed Skerton Primary School and the Luneside Resource Centre.   The closure of yet another public building in such close proximity would send out a very conflicting message about the future of Skerton as a community.

As the planning authority, LCC is very aware of the shortage of housing in the district and how many hundreds of homes could be built over the next few years.  Additional homes are currently being built on Pinfold Lane and Ashbourne Road in Skerton.,  The children who live in these houses will need schools.  When considered alongside the current shortage in primary school places, it is a concern to LCC that the decision to close Skerton High School would be a very short term one.

As the local authority, LCC assumes a responsibility for health and wellbeing in the district.  LCC expresses concern about the future education and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

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. 

There were no further declarations of interest.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced a suggested consultation response to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s Emergency Cover Review 2013.

The consultation proposed to remove one of two whole time fire engines from Lancaster fire station in 2017/18, and explore the option of replacing it with a fire engine crewed by retained duty system firefighters, dependent on the recruitment of sufficient staff.

The Council’s draft response, prepared by the Chief Officer (Environment), did not support the proposal to remove one of the two fire engines, but stated that the option of keeping a second engine with retained firefighters would seem a reasonable one.

Resolved:

That the suggested response be approved and submitted to Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

The Committee considered a request from the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to change the start time of that committee from 6pm to 7pm, and a request from other members to alternate the venue between Lancaster and Morecambe during the remainder of 2013 / 14.

During discussion, members agreed that in the interests of avoiding confusion, the venue should not alternate.  With regard to the start time, councillors were concerned that meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee were often lengthy, and did not feel that a start time of 7pm was appropriate for that reason.

Resolved:

That there be no change to the time or venue of Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced a report about a proposed conference on community leadership, to be held in June 2014.

The conference would be held to give members a chance to talk to councillors from neighbouring authorities about how they engage with their communities and interact within their wards.

In the course of discussion, some members expressed the view that the conference could be seen as patronising by long-standing councillors, and it was suggested that the conference be held after the next local elections for the benefit of new councillors.    The alternative view was that the conference could be beneficial in June 2014, for the opportunity to discuss community leadership with councillors from other local authorities.

Councillor Hall, seconded by Councillor Knight, proposed that the conference be held in June 2014.   On being put to the vote, the motion was passed with four votes in favour and two abstentions.

Resolved:

(1)        That a conference be held on community leadership in June 2014.

(2)        That a report be brought to a future meeting with detailed proposals for the conference.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced a report on amendments to the constitution which would clarify the notice periods required when presenting a petition.

Resolved:

That the amendments to clarify the notice period in the Council’s petition scheme, and the amendments to council procedure rules 14 and 15, be approved as shown in the appendix.

There were no appointments to committees or changes to membership.