Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Judith Addison, Jean Battle, Diane Fielding, Eamonn Higgins, Jenny Molineux, Tim O’Kane and Kath Pratt.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations.

1)         Lindsay Birbeck & Honorary Alderman Brian Roberts

The Mayor paid tribute to Lindsay Birbeck whose tragic circumstances had brought large numbers of the community together in the days following her disappearance. Heartfelt condolences went out to her family and friends.

Former Conservative Councillor and Honorary Alderman Brian Roberts had passed away suddenly on Saturday 3^rd August 2019, aged 69 years. 

Alderman Roberts served as a St Oswalds ward Councillor between 2000-2015 and became Deputy Leader of the Council in 2004.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, Councillor Tony Dobson and Councillor Marlene Haworth also added their tributes.

A minute’s silence was held as a mark of respect.

2)         Presentations to Voluntary Groups

The Mayor announced that three local community groups had been successful in achieving the Queens Award for Voluntary Service earlier this year. This was the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the country to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.

Representatives of the following groups were in attendance at the meeting:-

·         Dance Syndrome

·         Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum

·         1^st Oswaldtwistle (St Pauls) Scout Group

Hyndburn Borough Council wished to acknowledge their achievements by presenting each group with a certificate of recognition in appreciation of their efforts.

Dawn Vickers, Cath Holmes and Stephen Lowe accepted a framed certificate from the Mayor and addressed the Chamber with a short acceptance speech of thanks.

Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum also presented the Mayor and an Officer from the Parks Department with a framed copy of the award from the Queen for display at both Scaitcliffe House and Willows Lane.

3)         Recent Events

The Mayor reported on an event she had attended earlier in the day at the Uclan campus in Burnley and the recent Cub Scout family fun day held at Oswaldtwistle Mills. She was looking forward to attending a number of events over the Autumn period.

4)         Abbeyfield UK

The Chief Executive of Hyndburn Borough Council, Mr David Welsby announced to Members present at the meeting that a round of consultations was taking place in relation to Abbeyfield UK and the closure of care facilities.

Oak Hill Mansion in Accrington was operated by Abbeyfield UK and is a supported living home providing accommodation for older people with 13 en-suite rooms for residents.

He had written to management at Abbeyfield UK to ask how residents would be affected and what their intentions would be for the listed building in Oak Hill Park. Once a reply was received it would be circulated to Members to keep them updated on the situation.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 4^th July 2019 (attached).

The minutes of the Council meeting held on the 4^th July 2019 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Resolved                                    -    That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on the 4^th July 2019 be approved as a correct record.

To deal with any questions submitted under Council Procedure Rule 2.2(vi).

The Mayor reported that no questions had been submitted under this agenda item.

To receive the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 17^th July 2019 (attached).

Rules of Debate

·         The Leader of the Council will move the Minutes, the Deputy Leader of the Council will second the Minutes.

·         Non-executive Members will be invited to make comment or ask questions on the Minutes (5 Minutes).

·         Cabinet Members will be invited to make comments and respond to any points raised (5 Minutes).

·         The Leader of the Council will be given up to 15 Minutes to respond and to answer any questions raised.

The minutes of the meetings of Cabinet held on the 17^th July 2019 were submitted.

No issues were raised from the minutes:

Resolved                                    -    That the Minutes be received and noted.

To receive the Minutes of committees, as set out below:

Rules of Debate

·         The Leader of the Council will introduce the Minutes as a whole.

·         Any Member may raise any issue from the Minutes; the Chair of the relevant Committee may respond (5 Minutes).

·         The Leader of the Council will close the debate (5 Minutes).

The Minutes of the following meetings were submitted:

COMMITTEE                                                                                     DATE

Planning Committee                                                                           12^th June 2019

Licensing Sub Committee                                                                  3^rd July 2019

Planning (Trees) Sub Committee                                                       10^th July 2019

Planning Committee                                                                           10^th July 2019

Communities and Wellbeing Overview & Scrutiny Committee          11^th July 2019

Audit Committee                                                                                 29^th July 2019

Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee                                      29^th July 2019

Judicial Committee (Private hire & Hackney Carriage Licensing)     31^st July 2019

Resolved                                    -    That the Minutes be received and noted.

To consider any Motions for debate in accordance with Council Procedure Rule A9.

1)         Notice Submitted on Motion – Sky Lanterns

The following motion was submitted and moved by Councillor Jeff Scales and seconded by Councillor Kate Walsh under Council Procedure Rule A9:-

“That following correspondence sent to the Council Leader from the "End Sky Litter Campaign" this Council requests that the Cabinet considers a report on the issue of sky lanterns and balloons with a view to the possibility of a ban within the borough of Hyndburn on the release of both sky lanterns and balloons on all Council owned land and property as well as the general discouragement of this practice through any measures that the Council are able to employ.  

At present, only 64 (of 354) councils within England have put a ban in place. A ban would help prevent the individual and mass release of sky lanterns and balloons on council land to prevent the unnecessary suffering to animals and the devastating impact they can have on the environment. It's estimated that 200,000 sky lanterns are sold in the UK each year, along with many thousands of balloons also being sold with a number of them intended for release. While these releases can look mesmerising, many people are unaware of the deadly consequences fallen lanterns and deflated balloons can have for animals and the environment. 

Wildlife can easily become entangled in lantern frames and balloon strings- not to mention the fatal effect these parts can have on an animal if they ingest any component of these items. Deflated and fragments of balloons are commonly mistaken for food by marine life, and the strings used to tether balloons have been known to cause animals to become entangled or choke and suffer from internal blockages which ultimately leads to their death. 

In March, a report was released stating that balloons are the highest-risk debris item to seabirds, they're 32 times more likely to result in death than ingesting hard plastic.

Both balloons and sky lanterns have the potential to travel miles from their original release site before returning back to land. 

The RSPCA and many other organisations including the Marine Conservation Society, the British Veterinary Association and the National Farmers Union all support the ban of balloon and sky lantern releases.”

After a debate, the motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

Resolved                                         That this Council requested that the Cabinet consider a report on the issue of sky lanterns and balloons with a view to the possibility of a ban within the Borough of Hyndburn on the release of both sky lanterns and balloons on all Council owned land and property as well as the general discouragement of this practice through any measures that the Council are able to employ.  

2)         Notice Submitted on Motion – Climate Emergency

The following motion was submitted and moved by Councillor Glen Harrison and seconded by Councillor Dave Parkins under Council Procedure Rule A9:-

“This Council notes that the impacts of climate breakdown are already causing serious damage around the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 131.