Agenda and minutes

Minutes of meeting held on 5 November 2015 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting of 5 November 2015 (previously circulated) were approved by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Chairman had accepted one item of urgent business to be taken at the meeting, a Defra Consultation on the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Members noted that the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park had been extended to include part of Lancaster District (Leck fells) and also part of Eden District Council and Lancashire County Council. Defra’s consultation asked for views on whether the National Park Authority should increase in size to accommodate one new member from each of the newly constituent local authorities, including Lancaster City Council.

The Committee considered the consultation and felt it would be appropriate to respond to say that Council agreed with the proposal to increase the size of the authority and would wish to have a representative appointed to the Authority.

Resolved:

That, in response to the consultation, officers inform Defra that Lancaster City Council agrees with the proposals to increase the size of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to accommodate one new member from each of the newly constituent local authorities, and the Council would wish to appoint a representative appointed to the Authority.

There were no declarations of interest made at this point.

(Cllr Brown declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to the following item, being an employee of Lancashire County Council working with children and young people, and left the meeting room at this point.)

The Committee considered responding to a stakeholder consultation by Lancashire County Council with regard to its Wellbeing, Prevention and Early Help Service.

Officers had prepared a suggested response to the ‘question and answer’ style consultation which Members went through question by question.

The Committee agreed the tick boxes as suggested, however they made the following changes to the responses in some of the ‘free text’ boxes:-

To add to the text box (on Page 46 of the agenda):

“The most emphasis should be on providing family support.”

To amend the last sentence in the first text box (on Page 49 of the agenda) to say:

“Further analysis needs to be undertaken to ensure provision is accessible to those most in need, in consultation with local councillors. We would stress the importance of preventative work.”

To change the text box regarding engaging local communities from ‘no specific comments’ to:

“Please consult with District and Parish Councillors.”

To amend the final text box regarding any other issues to read:

“Lancaster City Council understands the positive impact early help and wellbeing can have on children and young peoples’ lives. We also know that families receiving inadequate help and support can lead to a worsening quality of life for those families and very quickly spiral into unhealthy or chaotic lifestyles, ultimately requiring acute social care, health services, housing support and probation services.

We would request that the wellbeing services engage with City Council staff and Councillors. We would also point out that there are plans for more housing in the district and are not clear whether this has been factored in to the proposals.”

Resolved:

That the changes, detailed above, be made to the consultation response and that the response be submitted to the County Council.

(Councillor Brown returned to the meeting room at this point.)

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Democratic Services Manager presented a report to enable Members to consider the process and presentation of reports ‘for noting’ at Council meetings. Supplementary information was circulated at the meeting regarding the number of reports ‘for noting’ which had been considered by various member bodies over the last 12 months.

After consideration of various options set out in the report, Councillor Hall suggested that amending the Mayor’s script for items ‘for noting’ might be a suitable way forward. This would allow Members to continue to ask questions on items of general interest such as the Leader’s report and Cabinet Minutes, but would speed up dealing with items such as reporting in of routine amendments to the Constitution or executive functions.

The Committee were in agreement that this would be a satisfactory solution.

Resolved:

That, for items ‘for noting’ other than the Leader’s report and minutes of Cabinet, the Mayors script be drafted to make it clear that the report is purely for noting and questions will not be taken unless a Councillor feels it is essential.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

A report on addresses to Council from the public was presented by the Democratic Services Manager to enable the Committee to consider how the wording of addresses from the public were presented to Council.

Details of addressers and their addresses had always been included on Council agendas, until September 2012 when a change in the deadline to register to speak meant that the public could register to speak, and supply a copy of their speech, some days after the agenda had been published.

The report outlined three options, and the Committee agreed upon option 2, whereby no details of addresser or their addresses would be included on the published agenda. However, Democratic Services would provide names of addressers and copies of their addresses by email to all Councillors on the Monday before the Wednesday meeting to allow them time to read and prepare.

The Committee agreed that paper copies should still be available at the meeting, as currently, and that a copy of each address should be appended to the minutes in future.

Resolved:

That:

(1)          The published Council agenda should not include details of addressers or their addresses; instead

(2)          The names of addressers and copies of their addresses be provided by email to all Councillors, on the Monday before the Wednesday Council meeting, by Democratic Services.

(3)          Paper copies of the speeches to Council be made available on desks at the meeting, as they are currently.

(4)          Copies of addresses be appended to the minutes of Council for future meetings.

The Labour group put forward Councillor Warriner as a substitute on the Standards Committee.

Resolved:

That Councillor Warriner be appointed as a substitute member for the Labour group on the Standards Committee.