Decisions

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Whitehead)

Cabinet received a report from the Director of Corporate Services to provide an update on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy forecasts for 2020/21 to 2023/24 and outline the approach and timetable for considering the budget framework.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

Regarding the budget strategy, Cabinet may approve the proposals as set out, or require changes to be made to the suggested approach.  The overriding aim of any budget setting process is to approve a balanced budget by statutory deadlines, allocating resources to help ensure delivery of the Council’s corporate priorities.  The proposed approach is in line with that broad aim, drawing on various strategic matters.  Any changes that Cabinet puts forward should also be framed in that context.

Councillor Whitehead proposed, seconded by Councillor Reynolds:-

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

By way of an amendment, which was not accepted as a friendly amendment by Councillor Whitehead, Councillor Hamilton-Cox proposed, seconded by Councillor Brookes:

“That recommendation (2) the 6^th bullet point on Section 3.1 be revised to ‘recognise an opportunity to focus on prosperity and manage the Council’s tax and business rates base in order to recognise the benefits of projects which focus on sustainable economic growth and meet the climate emergency.”

Councillors then voted on the amendment as follows:

(7 Members (Councillors Brookes, Frea, Hamilton-Cox, Jackson, Lewis, Parr and Sinclair) voted in favour, and 3 Members (Councillors Hanson, Reynolds and Whitehead) voted against.)

The Chair declared the amendment to be carried and Members then voted on the substantive motion, which when put to the vote, was agreed unanimously.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)       That the draft budgetary position, set out in section 2 (and appendix 1) to the report for current and future years be approved, accepting that this is an interim update.

(2)       That Cabinet agree the approach to the budget framework as set out in Section 3 of the report with bullet point 6 revised to read: ‘recognise an opportunity to focus on prosperity and manage the Council’s tax and business rates base in order to recognise the benefits of projects which focus on sustainable economic growth and meet the climate emergency.

(3)     That Cabinet agree the timetable as set out in Section 4 of the report.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director of Corporate Services

Reasons for making the decision:

Draft budget proposals will be considered by Cabinet on 14 January 2020 and the Budget and Performance Panel on 21 January 2020.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Caroline Jackson)

Cabinet received a report from the Director of Communities and the Environment to consider whether to support in principle the transfer of ownership of Mellishaw Traveller Site from Lancashire County Council and refer to full Council for a decision.

It was noted that the original report had failed to use capital letters when referring to Travellers and Gypsies and this was deeply regrettable and would be addressed in the subsequent report to Council.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

As there is no statutory duty to provide Traveller sites, there is no officer preferred option.

Following Lancashire County Council’s decision to declare Mellishaw Traveller site surplus to their requirements, the report provided information and the potential financial implications to the City Council if Cabinet was minded to support the council taking ownership of this site.

Councillor Jackson proposed, seconded by Councillor Hanson:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved and referred to full Council when greater detail regarding costings was forthcoming.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)        That Cabinet supports in principle the transfer of Mellishaw Traveller site from Lancashire County Council to Lancaster City Council for a nominal fee.

(2)        That the decision be referred to Full Council when greater detail regarding costings was forthcoming, in accordance with financial regulations, as the funding requirement is currently not budgeted for and is outside the budget and policy framework.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Communities and the Environment

Reasons for making the decision:

The decision is consistent with Healthy and Happy Communities within the Council Plan; reducing health inequalities, preventing homelessness and providing access to quality housing.  It is also consistent with the Housing Strategy and Local Plan in relation to the provision of pitches for Travellers.

To update Cabinet on progress made following the declaration of a climate emergency and seek endorsement of an action plan to outline how the Council could reduce it’s direct carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Frea)

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Communities and the Environment, which outlined progress following the climate change emergency, declared by the Council in January 2019 and sought endorsement of the approach set out in Appendix 2 to the report, to reduce the Council’s direct CO2 emissions to net zero by 2030.

The options were outlined in the report.  The scale of the challenge was huge and required immediate action by all governments, organisations, communities and individuals.  Lancaster City Council was planning activities in three key areas-

·                The Council’s direct carbon emissions of 3018 tonnes. An outline plan as to how the Council could become net zero carbon by 2030 was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

·                The Council’s direct areas of wider influence. These were areas where the Council could have a significant impact on reducing wider carbon emissions and mitigating climate in the District- e.g. Council Housing, planning / building control, tree planting.

·                The Council’s leadership role. The Council did not have any direct control over significant causes of emissions e.g. transport, agriculture, industry and housing. However, the motion made it clear it would adopt a leadership role and engage with, influence and support mitigation of climate change across the whole District.

The outline action plan gave an indication of how the Council’s direct operations could become net zero carbon by 2030. Where possible estimates of the costs of the actions had been included to provide a guide for budgetary forecasting purposes.  Before actions were implemented detailed costings and business cases would be brought forward or detailed consideration given through the appropriate governance and financial processes.  There were potential external sources of funding available for projects that contributed to the climate change agenda.  Having an agreed action plan would help in bidding for these as opportunities arose.

Cabinet were asked to approve, in principle, the outline action plan (Appendix 2) to the report. This would allow Officers to develop detailed plans for those actions which would then be referred through the appropriate governance and financial processes.

Included in the financial summary were a number of projects for which pre-approval was sought in order that business cases could be commenced ahead of the annual budget process.  At a later date Cabinet would receive further update and action plans for–

·         The Council’s direct areas of wider influence.

·         The Council’s leadership role

During the course of the debate it was proposed by Councillor Lewis, seconded by Councillor Reynolds and agreed unanimously that standing order 17 (Cabinet Procedure Rule 17) be suspended to allow for questions to be taken from all members.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)           That standing order 17 (Cabinet Procedure Rule 17) be suspended.

Councillor Frea proposed, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-

“That recommendation (1) as set out in the report be approved with recommendation (2) revised as follows: ‘to approve funding for the Citizens’ Assembly.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)       That Cabinet endorses the plan outlined in Appendix 2 to the report, to reduce the Council’s direct CO2 emissions to net zero by 2030. The estimated costs will be used to inform future budget projections. Before actions are implemented detailed business cases will be brought forward through the appropriate governance and financial processes.

(2)       That Cabinet approves funding for the Citizens’ Assembly.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Communities and the Environment

Reasons for making the decision:

The development of the Action Plan has involved extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders and the output of the Citizens’ Assembly will be used to inform the Council’s approach to delivering the requirements of the Climate Change Emergency motion declared by Council on 20 January 2019.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Parr)

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration, which sought approval for the Cultural Investment Framework following consultation.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

Continuing without a framework in place offers no identified benefits and risks public funds being used to promote activities that either do not provide value for money or offer no material benefit. Introducing the framework ensures fairness, consistency and transparency in terms of allocation of funds, resources and the Council’s expectations, aligning the delivery of outcomes with the Council’s priorities. The officer preferred option is to agree the draft Cultural Investment Framework.

Councillor Parr proposed, seconded by Councillor Dave Brookes:-

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved with a revision to the sustainable and deliverable business model/plan section to include ‘consider the carbon footprint of both our activities and that of the supply chain involved in their delivery.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)          That the draft Cultural Investment Framework as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved with a revision to the sustainable and deliverable business model/plan section to include ‘consider the carbon footprint of both our activities and that of the supply chain involved in their delivery.’

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration

Reasons for making the decision:

The proposed Cultural Investment Framework is consistent with the Council Plan.  The City Council invests and uses its resources to support arts and culture in the district. It is important that the Council establishes the arrangements necessary to ensure the best possible results from its contribution in a way that is fair, consistent and transparent.