Issue - meetings

In accordance with Regulation 5(6)(a) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, approval is being sought from Councillor Noordad Aziz, Chair of the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to the following decision being made by Cabinet on 22^nd April 2026, in private, on the grounds that the decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred.

Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

In accordance with Regulation 10(1)(a) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the proper officer has informed Councillor Noordad Aziz, Chair of the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, that it is intended that the following key decision will be made by Cabinet on 22^nd April 2026, under the General Exception provisions, on the grounds that the decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred.

The approval of the Mayor is being sought to the following decision being exempted from the Council’s Call-In procedure in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule C14, on the grounds that the decision is reasonable in all the circumstances and is an urgent decision not subject to Call-In, for the reasons to be identified in the Mayor’s written consent.

Report attached.

In accordance with Regulation 5(6)(a) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, approval had been received from Councillor Noordad Aziz, Chair of the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to the following decision being made by Cabinet on 22^nd April 2026, in private, on the grounds that the decision was urgent and could not reasonably be deferred.

Exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

In accordance with Regulation 10(1)(a) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the proper officer had notified Councillor Noordad Aziz, Chair of the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, that it was intended that the following key decision would be made by Cabinet on 22^nd April 2026, under the General Exception provisions, on the grounds that the decision was urgent and could not reasonably be deferred.

The approval of the Mayor had also been obtained to the following decision being exempted from the Council’s Call-In procedure in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule C14, on the grounds that the decision was reasonable in all the circumstances and was an urgent decision not subject to Call-In, for the reasons identified in the Mayor’s written consent.

Members considered a report of Councillor Munsif Dad BEM JP, Leader of the Council, seeking approval for proposals relating to Accrington Stanley Community Trust (ASCT) on the matter of a grant as match funding towards the construction of two new padel courts at the Community Hub on Higham Playing Fields at Thorneyholme Road, Accrington, and the grant of a lease for land off Livingstone Road to further its chartable aims and to develop a new 3G pitch, car parking, a toilet unit and snack hut.

Councillor Dad provided a brief introduction to the report.  Councillors Whithead and Khan spoke in support of the proposals, with the latter enquiring about how progress had been made regarding the position of the existing leaseholders of the Livingstone Road stie and whether the interests of the existing sports club users of that site had been taken into consideration during the negotiations.  Councillor Whitehead provided an explanation as to the course of the negotiations and the involvement of all interested parties.  David Welsby, Chief Executive clarified the Council’s role in transferring the lease between the relevant parties and the separate issue of agreement between the current and new leaseholders about user rights.

Approval of the report was deemed to be a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

The reasons for the decision were set out in the exempt report.

Alternative Options Considered and Reasons for Rejection

The alternative options considered and reasons for rejection were set out in the exempt report.

Resolved                                    -    That the recommendations as set out in the exempt report be approved.