Agenda and minutes

Minutes of meeting held on 19 July, 2018 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting of 19 July 2018 (previously circulated) were signed by the Chairman 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 9 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 Jean Parr declared a non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 5 ‘Council Response to the Lancashire County Council consultation on the Review of the Joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan’. The reason being that she was currently a Lancashire County Councillor.

Report of the Planning Manager.

The Committee considered a report of the Planning Manager to inform Members of a current consultation regarding a review of the joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

The Planning Policy Officer presented the report and explained that the consultation had been prepared jointly by Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Blackpool Borough Council. If the plan was adopted, the Minerals and Waste Local Plan would set the planning policy framework for waste and mineral planning across the County for the years 2021-2034 and would have an impact on decisions made by the City Council in relation to the determination of planning applications and future allocations of land.

The Planning Policy Officer further outlined that the Planning Inspector had raised concerns about the existing policy (which expires in 2021) as normally policies last 15 years. The Planning Inspector was subsequently supportive of the new plan which would be extended till 2034. The consultation was explained in detail and it was concluded that Officers were supportive of the consultation but had a few concerns which were set out in the consultation response included in Appendix 1.

Members asked various questions of the Planning Policy Officer present which included topics such as: disadvantages of not responding to the consultation; safeguarding of mineral zones with a buffer zone for fracking and finally, noise from activities for residents near the quarry. Members felt it important that the latter two points be taken into consideration in the consultation response before it was submitted.

It was moved by Councillor Joan Jackson and seconded by Councillor Janet Hall:

“That the comments raised in appendix 1 of the report be submitted to Lancashire County Council as a formal response from the City Council, subject to, the inclusion of there being reference to the safeguarding of mineral zones with a buffer zone for fracking as well as the issue of noise from activities for residents near the quarry, within the consultation response.”

It was agreed that the Planning Policy Officer, via Democratic Services, would circulate a further draft of the Consultation response to Committee Members via email before submission.

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposition, whereupon the Chairman declared the proposal to be carried.

Resolved:

(1)          That the comments raised in appendix 1 of the report be submitted to Lancashire County Council as a formal response from the City Council, subject to, the inclusion of reference to the safeguarding of mineral zones with a buffer zone for fracking, as well as the issue of noise from activities for residents near the quarry, within the consultation response.

(2)          That a further draft of the Consultation response be circulated to Committee Members via email before submission.

(3)          That Officers keep Members informed of the progress of the review of the joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan and report back on the next stage of its preparation.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

The Committee considered a report of the Democratic Services Manager to consider the timetable of Committee meetings for the 2019/20 municipal year and also whether to include a meeting of Council on 13 March 2019 within the 2018/19 Committee timetable for consideration of the revised draft Constitution.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the report and explained the reasons for the proposed changes to both the 2018/19 and 2019/2020 Committee timetables.

Firstly, the additional Council meeting on 13 March 2019 would be for consideration of the final version of the new draft Constitution.

With regard to the 2019/20 timetable, it was explained that whilst the number of Council meetings had been reduced in previous years, the Constitutional Working Group had acknowledged a need to add two additional meetings of Council to future Committee Calendars, specifically towards the end of March and during June. It was highlighted that Council meetings can always be cancelled due to lack of business if required.

It was further explained that the Constitutional Working Group had suggested that future agendas for full Council budget meetings in February should be limited to the consideration of the Budget and Policy Framework proposals only. Subsequently, it was suggested that in future a separate full Council meeting should always be arranged for any substantial agenda items.

Council Business Committee Members were supportive of the recommendations from the Constitutional Working Group. Members highlighted that the need for full Council budget meetings in February to be limited to the consideration of the Budget and Policy Framework proposals only, was a view previously shared by this Committee, minute 41 (2017/18) refers. It was also emphasised that whilst the practice of arranging separate full Council meeting for any substantial agenda items was already in place, it was felt important that it be reiterated.

It was proposed by Councillor Janet Hall and seconded by Councillor Abi Mills:

‘That the recommendations as set out in the report be approved.”

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted unanimously in favour of the proposition, whereupon the Chairman declared the proposal to be carried.

Resolved:

(1)          That an additional meeting of full Council be scheduled in March 2019 for consideration of the final version of the new draft Constitution.

(2)          That the Committee recommend to full Council draft 2019/20 timetable with the following suggested revisions:

      i.        That the agenda for the full Council budget meeting in February be limited to consideration of the Budget and Policy Framework proposals only.

     ii.        That two additional meetings of full Council be scheduled in future Council calendars towards the end of March and during June.

    iii.        That a separate full Council meeting be arranged for any substantial agenda items.

Resolved:

That the following appointments to Committees be approved:

(1)          Councillor Charlie Edwards to step down from Licensing Act Committee (as per PR Calculation Report to Council on 14/11/18).

(2)          Councillor Stuart Bateson to step down from Audit Committee (as per PR Calculation Report to Council on 14/11/18).

(3)          Councillor John Reynolds to fill the Labour vacant seat on Overview and Scrutiny Committee.