Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence or substitutions.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations submitted.

To submit the Minutes of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3^rd February 2017 and the Extra-Ordinary Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7^th February 2017 for approval as correct records.

The Minutes of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3^rd February 2017 and the Extra-Ordinary meeting held on 7^th February 2017 were submitted for approval as correct records.

Resolved                               -   That the Minutes be received and approved as correct records.

To provide the Committee with an update on the Parliamentary Boundary Review and to notify members of the representations received during the 2016 Boundary Commission for England.

The Corporate Policy and Research Officer submitted a report providing the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an update on the Parliamentary Boundary Review and notifying Members of the representations received during the 2016 Boundary Commission for England (the Commission) initial consultation concerning the Hyndburn Constituency.  It was noted that Full Council would also be provided with an update from this meeting. 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Miles Parkinson, reported on the Boundary Commission proposal to reduce the number of Parliamentary seats in Lancashire from 16 to 14, a boundary change to the Parliamentary areas and a name change for the Hyndburn constituency to Accrington County Constituency.  He reported that Hyndburn Borough Council had been happy to accept the boundary change to the Parliamentary area which would mean that Padiham would be included in the Hyndburn Constituency but that Haslingden would be lost to the Rossendale and Darwen Constituency.  He reported on the alternative proposal submitted by Ribble Valley Borough Council which sought to include the whole of the Ribble Valley with parts of West Hyndburn to be known as Ribble Valley and Hyndburn West.

The Committee discussed the proposals of both the Boundary Commission and Ribble Valley Borough Council and having considered factors such as consultation responses, income, health, deprivation, housing and the history and geography of the area it was considered that Hyndburn had a greater natural link with the Padiham area than it had with Ribble Valley. 

In respect of the proposal to change the name of the Constituency from Hyndburn to Accrington County, the Committee was generally against the name change as it was considered that Hyndburn townships would lose some of their identity within the Constituency. 

Policy Officer, Stuart Sambrook, advised that people had until the 27^th March 2017 to submit written comments to the Boundary Commission on those representations it had received during the initial consultation period.  He reported that the Commission would then consider the written representations and submit a report with revisions to the proposals, if necessary.  He pointed out that the recommendations from the Committee would be reported to Full Council after which a formal response would be submitted to the Commission from the Council.  A final proposal on changes to the parliamentary boundary would be issued in September 2017 before being confirmed by Parliament. 

Resolved                           (1)   That the original proposal submitted by the Boundary Commission be supported;

                                (2)   That the changes to the Boundary Commission proposal submitted by the Ribble Valley Borough Council be rejected;  and,

                                (3)   That the proposed name change of Hyndburn to Accrington County be rejected.

To provide Members with the responses from Cabinet to recommendations made by the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee relating to Infant Mortality Prevention.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer submitted a report providing responses from Cabinet to recommendations made by the Committee in regard to infant mortality prevention.  He reported that Cabinet had accepted and noted the recommendations.

Resolved                               -   That the report be noted.