Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence submitted on this occasion.

There were no reported declarations of interest or dispensations.

To approve the Minutes of the last meeting of Cabinet held on 15^th September 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15^th September 2021 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

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

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the following bodies:-

The minutes of the following meeting were submitted:

• Cabinet Committee (Street Naming) – 15^th September 2021

Resolved                                    -    That the Minutes be received and noted.

To receive verbal reports from each of the Portfolio Holders, as appropriate.

There were no verbal reports provided on this occasion.

Report attached.

Councillor Loraine Cox, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Wellbeing, provided a report inviting the Cabinet to consider for approval the Huncoat Garden Village Masterplan Framework and Infrastructure Delivery Strategy.

Councillor L Cox provided a brief introduction to the report.  The Framework and Strategy formed part of the Council’s growth plans and its Corporate Strategy and was a major piece of work.  The project would deliver a new garden community of around 1,500 high quality sustainable homes, largely on brownfield sites.  Consultation had been undertaken with residents, land owners and developers at each stage of the planning process.

Key features included:

• Use of the former Huncoat Power Station site for housing;
• A reduction in the size of the individual development parcels of land, particularly in connection with the former colliery, in order to protect natural habitat;
• The creation of a new relief road to ease congestion;
• Proposed expansion of Huncoat Junior School.

This represented a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide a fabulous landscaped setting.  The project was a game-changing development and would hopefully enable existing residents to acquire improved accommodation and attract new, economically active households into the Borough.  The project would protect the environment through the application of rigorous housing standards.  It would also protect, conserve and enhance local habitats around the existing woodlands and watercourses.  The homes themselves would be of sustainable design and construction and would meet current decarbonisation priorities.

Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of the Council, noted that it was only a few days away from the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, which would highlight the importance of the environment and natural habitats.  The current Masterplan had evolved over many years with appropriate consultation at each stage.  It represented a statement of intent to deliver cutting-edge housing and improve living standards locally.  Members were proud of the work carried out by officers, landowners and the community to reach this stage.  The Masterplan gave out a strong message and was a plan for beyond 2036.

Councillor Parkins indicated that Huncoat Junior School had recently indicated that they might wish to seek academy status next year, which could affect discussions around the school’s potential expansion.

Councillor Marlene Haworth, Leader of the Opposition, spoke highly of the plan and thanked the officers for their work.  She reiterated one concern expressed previously about the relief road, which relied on a grant being obtained from Homes England.  Without that road, the development could be limited to only around 300-400 homes.  Although some assurances had been received about the likelihood of receiving a grant, she enquired if there was a ‘Plan B’ in case the funding was not made available.  The Leader responded that Homes England would provide some money to develop the bid for an additional £20-£25M of Government funding.  The support of the MP would be useful in this regard.  However, local politicians were already working cross-party to secure this and on other matters such as the Levelling Up Fund bid.

Councillor Britcliffe  ...  view the full minutes text for item 158.

Report attached.

Councillor Bernadette Parkinson introduced a report of Councillor Jenny Molineux, Chair of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which included recommendations which fell within the remit of the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Wellbeing.  The report provided information on the Council’s current actions which supported obesity prevention and the Healthy Weight Declaration and a recommend a course of action.

Councillor B Parkinson highlighted the recommendations of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 8^th September 2021 regarding childhood obesity and the Healthy Weight Declaration.  Obesity was a growing concern.  Hyndburn was above the national average with some 22.8% of 10-11 year olds obese.  This was the highest rate in Pennine Lancashire.  Work was ongoing under the Healthier Place Heathier Future Programme to improve the situation across East Lancashire authorities.  Although Hyndburn Borough Council was not the lead authority for health in the locality it did have a role to play in its policies which affected the wider determinants of health.

Covid-19 had brought some additional pressure on local authorities and it would be difficult at this time to meet all of the core commitments of the Healthy Weight Declaration within existing resources.  Accordingly, a more realistic set of actions had been proposed.

Councillors Britcliffe and Dad both spoke in favour of the proposals and respectively highlighted the importance of education and warned of the negative effects of overreliance on takeaways.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

Obesity was increasing, with a rise in obesity prevalence in the UK from 15% in 1993 to 29% in 2017).  Nearly two thirds of adults in England were overweight or obese (64%), (Public Health England, 2017)

There was no single cause of being overweight and obesity, it was down to a multitude of factors, including (but not limited to) access to healthy food; proximity to fast food outlets; advertising and marketing of unhealthy, calorie dense food and drink; and opportunities for physical activity.  Therefore, healthy weight needed to be ‘everybody’s business,’ and all local government departments had a role to play.  Having strong support across portfolios and wards could help to drive change, ensuring that healthy weight was considered in all policies and practice.

Locally, healthy weight was a growing concern in Hyndburn:

• The prevalence of childhood obesity in Hyndburn was greater than the national average, with 22.8% of children aged 10-11 in the district classified as obese.  This was the highest prevalence across Pennine Lancashire.

• Hyndburn was one of the 10% most deprived districts/unitary authorities in England, which was significantly associated with being overweight and obesity.  Furthermore, about 19% (3,300) of children lived in low income families, which was also a risk factor for poor health outcomes.

• Physical inactivity directly contributed to 1 in 6 deaths, and around a quarter of the population was inactive and 45% of women and 33% of men were not active enough to benefit their health.

• Diet-related ill health in the UK was estimated to lead  ...  view the full minutes text for item 159.

Recommended                               That, in accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following items, when it is likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there will otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 specified at the items.

Details of any representations received by the Executive about why the following report should be considered in public – none received.

Statement in response to any representations – not required

Resolved                                    -    That, in accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item, when it was likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraph at Schedule 12A of the Act specified at the item.

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 Jenny Molineux, Chair of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to the following decision being made by Cabinet on 20^th October 2021, in private, on the grounds that the decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred.

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

Report attached.

In accordance with Regulation 5(6)(a) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, approval was given by Councillor Jenny Molineux, Chair of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to the following decision being made by Cabinet on 20^th  October 2021, in private, on the grounds that the decision was urgent and could not reasonably be deferred.  The relevant notice had been published on 20^th October 2021.

Exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Councillor Loraine Cox, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regeneration, provided a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval to the disposal of two additional small parcels of land following the Council’s approval in March 2021 to sell the four larger land plots known as Clayton Triangle for residential development.  The proposed additional disposal provided the Council with an opportunity to sell all of its land holdings in this location without leaving small irregular plots that had no value to the Council.  The land was not suitable for building on so would remain public open space and provide some biodiversity.

Approval of the report was not 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.