Agenda and minutes

Council Business Committee - Thursday, 25th June 2015 6.00 p.m.

Venue: Morecambe Town Hall

Contact: Peter Baines, Democratic Services - 01524 582074 or email pbaines@lancaster.gov.uk

Items
No.	Item
1.	Appointment of Vice-Chairman To appoint a Vice-Chairman for the duration of the 2015/16 municipal year. Minutes: The Chairman requested nominations for the position of Vice-Chairman of Council Business Committee for the 2015/16 municipal year. It was proposed by Councillor Jackson and seconded by Councillor Millls that Councillor Mace be appointed to the position. Subsequently, it was proposed by Councillor Blamire and seconded by Councillor Brown that Councillor Warriner be appointed to the position. Upon being put to the vote, three members voted in favour of Councillor Mace and four in favour of Councillor Warriner, whereupon the Chairman declared that Councillor Warriner be appointed to the position. Resolved: That Councillor Warriner be appointed Vice-Chairman of Council Business Committee for the 2015/16 municipal year.
2.	Minutes Minutes of meeting held on 25 March 2015 (previously circulated). Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record.
3.	Items of Urgent Business Authorised by the Chairman Minutes: There were no items of urgent business.
4.	Declarations of Interest 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. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
5.	Consultation on the Draft Highways and Transport Masterplan for Lancaster District PDF 168 KB Report of the Chief Officer (Regeneration and Planning) to follow. Additional documents: Bullet Points , item 5. PDF 50 KB Appendix , item 5. PDF 2 MB Minutes: The Committee considered a consultation on the Lancaster District Draft Transport Masterplan, issued by Lancashire County Council, with a view to informing the city council’s formal response. The Planning and Housing Policy Manager gave a presentation which outlined the proposed improvements set out in the consultation. Members were encouraged to give their feedback on the consultation, and establish a preference for one of three main options set out by Lancashire County Council to deliver the transport vision for Lancaster: i. Business as usual; ii. Improve what we have; or iii. Improve and extend. In the course of discussion, members agreed on the need to encourage a modal shift away from private motorised transport in favour of increased use of public transport, walking and cycling. Option three, to improve and extend transport infrastructure in the district, was discussed as the only feasible option to bring about that modal shift, although members were concerned that the short term implications could worsen existing problems on the local road network. Resolved: (1) That the preparation of a Highways and Transport Masterplan by Lancashire County Council be acknowledged as an important and necessary step in understanding the transport issues in Lancaster District, and the interventions which could be delivered to address these issues; (2) That the council’s draft response should support Option 3: to improve and extend transport infrastructure in the district; (3) That a draft consultation response be prepared on the basis of members’ comments and the issues set out in Section 4 of the officer’s report, and circulated to all members of the Committee for comment and agreement via email.
6.	Request For Change of Cabinet Meeting Date PDF 46 KB Report of the Chief Officer (Governance). Minutes: The Committee considered a request from the Leader of the Council to reschedule a Cabinet meeting from 28^th July 2015 to the 4^th August, as she was not available to attend on the current date. Having established that Cabinet members were content to move the meeting, it was proposed by Councillor Mace and seconded by Councillor Jackson that: “the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 28^th July 2015 be re-arranged for 4^th August 2015”. Upon being put to the vote, members voted unanimously in favour and the motion was carried. Resolved: That the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 28^th July 2015 be moved to 4^th August 2015.
7.	Appointments to Committees and Changes to Membership Minutes: Resolved: That the following appointments to committees from the Green group be approved: (1) That Councillors Armstrong and Wilkinson be appointed as substitute members of Budget and Performance Panel; (2) That Councillors Hamilton-Cox and Mills be appointed as a substitute members of Personnel Committee; (3) That Councillor Novell be replaced on Licensing Act Committee by Councillor Wilkinson.