Agenda and minutes

Resolved:

That Councillor Mace be appointed vice-chairman for the 2014/15 municipal year.

Minutes of meeting held on 1^st May 2014 (previously circulated).

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

There were no items of urgent business.

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 declarations of interest at this stage of the meeting.

Consultation document attached.    Report to follow.

Councillor Forrest declared a personal interest in this item, the nature of her interest being that she was the manager of a community mental health team.

The Housing Strategy Officer introduced a report and suggested response to a consultation from Lancashire County Council on an Extra Care and Specialist Housing Strategy for Lancashire.

It was noted that Extra Care referred to a form of supported housing for a prescribed group, such as older people or those with disabilities, and was distinguished by self-contained accommodation, communal facilities, and on-site care provision.  Lancashire County Council had identified a need to increase and improve the provision of Extra Care schemes across the county, due to an over-provision of placements into residential care.

In the course of discussion, members were supportive of the proposed strategy, and it was agreed that a sentence should be added to the opening paragraph of the suggested response to that effect.    Furthermore, members agreed to add a suggestion to paragraph six of the response that Lancashire County Council should consider a model of unified ownership and management for the Extra Care system, and to include elsewhere in the response the view that lease agreements of 35-40 years would be too long, should the income strip financial model be adopted.

Resolved:

That the suggested consultation response be approved for submission, subject to the following amendments:

i.                           That a sentence be added to the opening paragraph, outlining the council’s support for the proposed strategy;

ii.                          That a sentence be added to paragraph six, suggesting that Lancashire County Council consider a model of unified ownership and management for the Extra Care system; and

iii.                         That a sentence be incorporated to set out the council’s view that lease agreements of 35-40 years would be too long, should the income strip financial model be adopted.

The Senior Democratic Support Officer introduced the Member Development Strategy, and sought the views of the committee on member development priorities for the year.

In the course of discussion, members supported the five main priorities in the draft strategy of:

i.              supporting the council’s corporate priorities;

ii.             maintaining level one of the Member Development Charter;

iii.            providing non-technical IT support for councillors;

iv.           delivering high-quality training opportunities; and

v.            preparing an induction programme for new and returning councillors in 2015.

In particular, members agreed on the importance of providing good IT support as the transition to a different operating system continued, and it was noted that officers in Democratic Support would hold drop-in sessions to assist councillors when the new system was installed.

With regard to the induction programme in 2015, there was support for the idea of providing a broad overview of the area, for both new and returning councillors, which would highlight the district’s cultural assets, heritage, and sports facilities.    This could, it was suggested, take the form of a coach tour.

There was further support for the idea of maintaining regular planning training courses, and officers were requested to consider the feasibility of inviting parish councillors to attend training on the Planning Framework.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Member Development Strategy 2014/15 be approved;

(2)  That officers be requested to investigate the feasibility of organising a coach tour of the district as part of the 2015 induction programme, and of inviting parish councillors to a future planning training session.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced a report on the format and arrangements for the forthcoming Special Council meeting, taking place on Wednesday 24^th September 2014.

The committee had previously resolved that this year’s Special Council meeting would be for the benefit of prospective councillors at the 2015 local elections to the city council, and as such would provide information on the role of the councillor and structure of the council.

In discussion, members agreed that the meeting should start at 6:30 for the benefit of people travelling to Morecambe in rush hour traffic, and that it should be held in Committee Rooms 1 and 2 combined owing to the flexibility which the room layout provided.

Members of the committee also discussed the importance of advertising widely to potential new councillors, and it was suggested that parish council newsletters be targeted.  The Democratic Services Manager discussed the possibility of advertising the event alongside planning promotions of Individual Electoral Registration, which would be taking place in late summer.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Special Council meeting be held at 6:30pm in the combined committee rooms of Morecambe Town Hall;

(2)  That the programme from the equivalent event in 2010 be used as the template for the meeting’s structure;

(3)  That parish councils be contacted with a view to advertising the meeting in parish council newsletters.

The Democratic Services Manager introduced a report and informed the meeting that the council had been asked to appoint one Labour member to the Lancashire Police and Crime Panel.  

The Labour group had informed the Democratic Services Manager before the meeting that their preferred nominee was Councillor David Smith.

In the course of discussion, members considered whether a feedback mechanism for the PCP representative might be put in place and whether regular feedback would also be beneficial from members who have been appointed to outside bodies by council. The committee agreed to consider outside bodies at the next meeting, with a report on member attendance, frequency of meetings, and feedback mechanisms.

Resolved:

(1)          That Councillor David Smith be appointed to the Lancashire Police and Crime Panel for 2014/15;

(2)          That a report be brought to the next meeting on member appointments to outside bodies, with details of how frequently outside bodies met, member attendance, and member feedback.   

Resolved:

(1)          That the appointment of the following substitute committee members, submitted by the Labour group, be approved:

Appeals Committee

Councillor Eileen Blamire

Councillor Vikki Price

Appraisal Panel

Councillor Roger Sherlock

Audit Committee

Councillor Roger Sherlock

Budget and Performance Panel

Councillor Roger Sherlock

Council Business Committee

Councillor Ian Pattison

Licensing Regulatory Committee

Councillor Terrie Metcalfe

Councillor Robert Redfern

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Janet Hall

Councillor Margaret Pattison

Personnel Committee

Councillor Janet Hall

Councillor Ian Pattison

Planning and Highways Regulatory Committee

Councillor Richard Newman-Thompson

Councillor David Smith

Standards Committee

Councillor Margaret Pattison

(2)          That the replacement of Councillor Billy Hill with Councillor Roger Mace on the Licensing Regulatory Committee be approved;

(3)          That the replacement of Councillor Billy Hill with Councillor Jane Parkinson on the Standards Committee be approved.