Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Jeff Scales.

Councillors Judith Addison, Stephen Button, Stewart Eaves and Chris Knight each declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8 (Minutes of Cabinet) in respect of Minute 99 (Lease of Mercer House) of the meeting held on 13 January 2021, on the basis of their roles as members of the Board of Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Council for Voluntary Service.

Councillor Judith Addison declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motions submitted on Notice) in respect of Motion 6 (NJC Pay Claim), on the basis of her status as a retired member of UNISON.

Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motions submitted on Notice) in respect of Motion 6 (NJC Pay Claim), on the basis of his status as an out-of-trade member of the Fire Brigades Union.

Councillor Michael Miller declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 10 (Motions submitted on Notice) in respect of Motion 6 (NJC Pay Claim), on the basis of his status as an employee of Lancashire County Council.

The Mayor reminded all councillors that they had already been granted a general dispensation to speak and vote in respect of an allowance given to Members, which would be required in respect of Agenda Item 7 (IRP Report).

There were no other dispensations notified.

a)     Mayor

b)     Leader of the Council

c)      Chief Executive

The Mayor made the following announcements:

1)      National Day of Reflection

Earlier this week the nation had reached the sobering milestone of one year since the first lockdown.  The anniversary had been noted by a National Day of Reflection led by charity Marie Curie, which had allowed the country to reflect on its collective loss.  The Mayor expressed her hope that individuals too had been able to mark the event in their own personal way.

2)      Hyndburn Hub

For those people who continued to struggle with the impact of the pandemic there was still support available through the Hyndburn Hub.  The Mayor encouraged anyone to reach out to the Hub if they needed support with essential supplies, advice or simply someone to talk to.  She commented that the Hub’s staff and volunteers were doing a great job and were always available to help.

3)      Thanks to Key Workers

The Mayor concluded with a final thanks to NHS, social care, education and other key workers, Council staff and volunteers, who were working hard during these difficult times.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE made the following announcement:

4)      Serving and Retiring Councillors

As this was the last Council meeting before the Borough Elections 2021, the Leader thanked all councillors whose term of office was due to expire, for their valued service.  In particular, he thanked those councillors who were known not to be standing again - Councillor Jeff Scales who had been instrumental in the project at ‘Piggy Park’, Rishton and Councillor Jean Battle MBE, who was one of the Borough’s longest serving Members, and who had served both as Mayor and Labour Group Leader and who had provided dedicated service to Church and the wider community.  Councillors Loraine Cox, Kate Walsh, Michael Miller and Dave Parkins added their own personal tributes to the retiring councillors highlighting some of their achievements.

Councillor Battle MBE recalled her first Council meeting in 1990 which had been notable due to the presence of lively Community Charge (Poll Tax) protesters.  Councillor Battle commented on how much she had enjoyed her time and pledged to continue to remain active in the community.  She expressed a slight disappointment that, despite her best efforts, she had been unable to see a conclusion to the issues around Hargreaves Mill, Church, during her time in public office.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 25^th February 2021 (attached).

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 25^th February 2020 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Councillor Tim O’Kane commented that at p14 of the Agenda document pack, the Chair of the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee had confirmed that no alternative budget had been proposed during the development of the Council Budget.  However, the Opposition party had introduced amendments to the proposed Budget, such as the £1m to be invested in Mercer Hall Baths.  When questioned, Opposition Members had indicated that their amendment had been fully costed.  Councillor O’Kane stated that he had seen the figures only in a 2020 report to the Audit Committee and that when asked at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, the Chief Executive of the Leisure Trust had confirmed that she had not been approached about up to date figures.  Councillor O’Kane challenged what the source of the Opposition’s figures had been for the figure in their amendment.

Councillor Noordad Aziz expressed disappointment that the amendments put at the Budget meeting appeared to be un-costed and that the issue had been promoted on social media for consumption by the public.  He also raised a concern that he had been misquoted on the Opposition’s website.  Councillor Aziz maintained that the only viable option for Mercer Hall was that proposed by the Controlling Group to transform it.

Resolved                                    -    That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 25^th February 2020 be approved as a correct record.

To deal with* any questions submitted under Council Procedure Rule A2.2(vi), as substituted by Paragraph 11 of the Remote Meetings Procedure Rules.

* In accordance with Section 11 of the Remote Meetings Procedure Rules, this Item will last up to 10 minutes

The Mayor reported that two questions had initially been submitted under this Agenda Item to be put to the Leader of the Council.  However, Question 2, submitted by Councillor Terry Hurn, had been withdrawn in the light of further information he had received.

The remaining question from Cllr Josh Allen was as follows:

“Hyndburn Business Pack

Please can the Leader of the Council provide me with an update on the ‘Hyndburn Business Pack’ motion which was proposed by the Conservatives some months ago.”

Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE thanked Councillor Allen for his question.  The Leader reminded members that, at that Council meeting, he had announced the setting aside of a £150k Economic Development Fund to help kick-start recovery from COVID.  Over the last two weeks, the authority had been working hard to pull together a wide range of stakeholders to form a steering group, which was working with experts from the High Street Taskforce to consider how best to use the fund.  As a number of stakeholders were local business leaders, it made sense to ask a small number of them to form a task and finish group to work with officers to outline the look, feel and, especially, the content of a Business Welcome Pack.

The Leader was confident that an electronic Business Welcome Pack would be available by the end of the summer.

Councillor Marlene Haworth and Josh Allen would be welcome to be involved in the sub-group if they so wished.

Councillor Allen thanked the Leader for his response.

Report attached.

Members considered a report of Councillor Joyce Plummer on a draft Pay Policy for 2021/22

Councillor Plummer outlined the main elements of the report as follows:-

The Localism Act 2011 (Chapter 8 - Pay Accountability) required all local authorities to set out their position on a range of issues relating to the remuneration of its employees.  The Pay Policy had to be approved by the Council in open forum, by the end of March each year and then be published on its website.

The Pay Policy set out the existing approach to the remuneration of all posts within the Council.  In particular, it specified certain mandatory requirements that had to be detailed within the Policy, as follows:-

·           The pay structure of the Council and how it was set.

·           Senior Management Remuneration, providing details of the pay grade for posts defined as Chief Officer and the accompanying allowances.

·           The recruitment arrangements for a Chief Officer.

·           The relationship between the salaries of Chief Officers and other employees.

·           Details of the lowest paid posts within the Council.

·           Employer’s Pension Contribution details.

·           Termination of employment payments.

The Council already published pay and remuneration details of its senior managers on its website, within the annual Statement of Accounts.

The purpose of the Pay Policy was to ensure there was transparency as to how pay and remuneration was set by the Council, for all of its employees and particularly for its most senior level posts.

There had not yet been any agreement on the national pay award for April 2021, so the policy contained the 2020 pay rates.

The Government had extended the time limit for employers to report the gender pay gap for the year 2019/20 because of COVID-19.  It was the authority’s intention to publish this information as soon as it had been calculated.

Resolved                                    -    That the Council approves the proposed Pay Policy 2021/22.

Report attached.

Members considered a report of the Leader of the Council inviting them to consider the payment of special responsibility allowances in respect of minority opposition parties.

Councillor Parkinson indicated that a request had been received from Councillor Patrick McGinley which had prompted a review of the current arrangements.

The report set out that the Council was required to have a members’ allowances scheme.  This had to provide for a basic allowance to be paid to all councillors, whilst the payment of special responsibility allowances (“SRA’s”) was discretionary.

The Council currently comprised only two political groups and the Council’s current members’ allowances scheme provided for SRAs to be paid to the Leader and Deputy Leader of those two groups.  Cllr McGinley had asked that the Council consider whether SRAs should be paid in respect of possible future “minority” opposition groups on the Council.

The Council was required by law to consult its Independent Remuneration Panel before making changes to its members’ allowances scheme.  Consultation had taken place following Cllr McGinley’s request and a copy of the Panel’s report and recommendations was provided.  Members were informed that the Panel had recommended that the Council amend its members’ allowances scheme to permit the payment of a special responsibility allowance of £765.00 (a multiplier of 0.165 of the basic allowance) to the leader of minority opposition groups with a membership of 5 or more.

The Council had to have regard to the Panel’s recommendations when making a decision, but was not bound by them.  The Panel’s recommendations could therefore be:

·           accepted in full; or

·           rejected; or

·           accepted with modification.

The report included details of comparative allowances across other Lancashire authorities.

Resolved                                 (1)   That Council notes the report from its Independent Remuneration Panel.

(2)   That Council approves an amendment to its members’ allowances scheme in accordance with the recommendations of the Panel, to permit the payment of a special responsibility allowance of £765.00 (a multiplier of 0.165 of the basic allowance) to the leader of minority opposition groups with a membership of 5 or more.

(3)   That Council agrees that the cost of the additional special responsibility allowance at (2) above, if ever such becomes payable, should be met by a pro rata reduction in the other special responsibility allowances paid by the Council.

To receive the Minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 13^th January and 10^th February 2021 (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 comments 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 10 Minutes* to respond and to answer any questions raised.

* In accordance with Section 11 of the Remote Meetings Procedure Rules, discussion on the minutes will last for up to 10 minutes and any questions that cannot be answered within that time will receive a written response.

The minutes of the meetings of Cabinet held on 13^th January and 10^th February 2021 were submitted.

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*).

* In accordance with Section 11 of the Remote Meetings Procedure Rules, discussion on the minutes will last for up to 10 minutes and any questions that cannot be answered within that time will receive a written response.

The Minutes of the following meetings were submitted:

Resolved                                    -    That the Minutes be received and noted.

To consider any Motions for debate in accordance with Council Procedure Rule A9, as amended by Section 10 of the Remote Meetings Procedure Rules.

1)         Motion Submitted on Notice – Drive Through Bins

A motion on drive through bins had been circulated prior to the meeting under Council Procedure Rule A9, to which alterations were proposed by the Mover, Councillor Josh Allen.  With the consent of the meeting the alterations were accepted and the altered motion was then seconded by Councillor Marlene Haworth, as follows:-

“As we are all aware, fly tipping is a constant battle for the all councils across the county.

Unfortunately it lies with government and local authorities to find new and innovative ways of stopping/preventing fly tipping and littering.

One such method which has been trialled to varying degrees across the world is “Drive Through Bins”.  These bins are strategically placed large, bins close to pavement edges which allows the driver or passenger to throw their rubbish out the window into a bin.  This removes the need for the driver to leave their cars.  These bins are usually placed near exit ramps of motorways, car parks and country roads.

I ask that this Council explores the feasibility and cost of the proposal and invites both Lancashire County Council and Highways England to be part of this process, with a view to implementing any successful findings across the borough where possible.”

Councillor Allen provided a brief introduction to the motion and thanked Councillor Paul Cox, as relevant Portfolio Holder, for his advice on this matter.

Councillors Glen Harrison, Paul Cox, Marlene Haworth and Tim O’Kane spoke in favour of the motion, although a number of Members mentioned their reservations about how effective such a scheme might be in reality.

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

Resolved                                 -      That this Council explores the feasibility and cost of the proposal to provide drive through bins and invites both Lancashire County Council and Highways England to be part of this process, with a view to implementing any successful findings across the Borough where possible.

2)         Motion Submitted on Notice – Rishton to Manchester Train Link

A motion on a possible Rishton to Manchester train link, circulated prior to the meeting under Council Procedure Rule A9, proposed by Councillor Kate Walsh, was withdrawn.  Councillor Walsh advised that the intention was to develop the concept further by listening to feedback from residents, before resubmitting a suitable proposal at a later date.

3)         Motion Submitted on Notice – Hyndburn Train Routes – Potential Restriction due to Castlefield Corridor Congestion

A motion on Hyndburn train routes, circulated prior to the meeting under Council Procedure Rule A9, was moved by Councillor Noordad Aziz, but a technical issue caused an delay to the motion being seconded.  Accordingly, the matter was deferred to later in the meeting.

4)         Motion Submitted on Notice – NHS Funding

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Glen Harrison and seconded by Councillor Stewart Eaves under Council Procedure Rule A9:-

“Over the last twelve months, this Council’s Members have shown how working together cross party has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 199.