Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence on this occasion.

There were no reported declarations of interest or dispensations.

To approve the Minutes of the last meeting of Cabinet held on 22^nd June 2022.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 22^nd June 2022 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

In connection with Minute 28 - Leisure Estate Investment Programme, Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of the Council, commented that updates had previously been submitted to the Council.  The Leisure Trust was continuing to develop its proposals around the Borough’s leisure facilities.  Members were reminded that the Leader of the Labour Group had been a party to discussions on Leisure Transformation from 2019 onwards as a member of the Trust Board.

The Leader had recently attended an event to mark to the opening of the new community centre in the former Clayton Civic Hall.  The Leisure Transformation Programme would roll out this model across the Borough, with similar community facilities planned in West End, Oswaldtwistle and at Bank Mill House, Great Harwood.

Comments had appeared recently on social media about the future of Mercer Hall.  Members were reminded that this proposal was being led by the Leisure Trust.  The Chair of the Trust was a Great Harwood resident, former Labour councillor and former Lancashire County Councillor.  This organisation would ultimately give its views as to the Trust’s preferred option.  It was acknowledged that residents and the Conservative Group had proposed alternative options and that all options would be subject to appraisal and come before the Council for a decision.  At that time Councillor Joyce Plummer, Portfolio Holder for Resources, would take a view on the financial aspects of any proposals.  One Councillor had even proposed a new Olympic-sized swimming pool and had cited his enjoyable experiences at the, now demolished, Waves centre in Blackburn.  This served as a cautionary reminder of the need for a strong business case for any proposed swimming pool development.

Regarding Minute 30 – Draft Financial Outturn Position 2021/22, the Leader noted the anticipated underspend for the year and thanked Councillor Plummer for her excellent work.

In respect of Minute 29 – Taxi and Private Hire (Disabled Persons Act) 2022, Councillor Munsif Dad BEM JP asked if information had now been obtained in respect of the question raised about the number of designated wheelchair access vehicles licensed in the Borough.  Councillor Plummer commented that she did not have the details to hand, but would look into the matter.

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

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

The Leader reported on the following matters:

• Work was on-going on the Lancashire devolution deal.  Hyndburn did not wish to be absorbed into a unitary authority led by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, which could undermine this Council’s excellent financial position.  Potentially, residents could benefit from a 0% rise next year in the Borough’s portion of the Council Tax.  However, it was understood that some members of Hyndburn Council’s Labour Group and the Constituency Labour Party (CLP) wanted a unitary authority.
• Work was underway to consult residents and Friends of Parks groups about events in the townships, such as live music events.  The Council wanted to see a vibrant and active community.
• The controlling administration was looking at supporting the Christmas lights switch on events for 2022 in the townships.  Work was underway to reach out to community groups in staging their events and a fund would be made available to support bids.

Report attached.

Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of the Council, provided a report seeking approval to the outstanding appointments of Members to Cabinet Committees and Cabinet Groups for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

Members were reminded that, at its meeting on 22^nd June 2022, the Cabinet had approved the continuation of various Committees and standing Working Groups for the Municipal Year 2022/23, along with their terms of reference.  Cabinet had also approved the appointment of those councillors who had been nominated by the relevant political groups or proposed as Independent Members to serve on those bodies.  However, at that time there were a number of seats for which no nomination had been received.

Following further consultation with the Leader of the Council and the relevant political groups, the following additional nominations had been received, which would ensure that all of the outstanding vacancies were filled:

There were no alternative options considered

Resolved                                    -    That Cabinet agrees to the appointment of those Members to the Cabinet Committees and Cabinet Groups for the 2022/23 Municipal Year, as set out in Paragraph 3.2 of the report.

Report attached.

Members considered a report of Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of the Council, which provided an update on the Council’s Levelling Up Funding, (LUF) submission and the work on producing a preferred procurement strategy and framework.

Councillor Parkinson highlighted key elements of the report.  The Council was currently waiting for the Government portal to open to enable the submissions to be made.  The LUF was a bid for funding, whereas the UK Shared Prosperity Fund was a direct allocation.  The Council’s Town Centre Investment Plan was a 10-15 year strategy which contained 18 principal schemes.  The Levelling Up bid would focus investment on three main projects: the Market Hall, Market Chambers and Burtons Chambers.  Consultants, CBRE, had been engaged to try to purchase the various property interests by agreement in Burtons Chambers and Market Chambers.   The Council was also considering the use of a third party operator for both the Market Hall and Burtons Chambers once redeveloped.

A revised Town Centre Stakeholder Group had been established to engage with key partners and a smaller Town Centre Partnership Board, chaired by David Sanderson, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant and CEO of the Rank Foundation charitable trust had been created to lead the programme.

Councillor Munsif Dad BEM JP asked when the portal would be open and whether there were any contingencies if there was a delay.  The Leader responded that the Council would be notified when the portal was available and the bid would be submitted as soon as possible.

Councillor Britcliffe commented that the report was exciting news.  The Government had set store by Levelling Up.  The local MP had asked if there was likely to be any threat to Levelling Up due to the Conservative Party’s leadership change, and assurances had been received from those asked that the new Prime Minister would be committed to it.  The Leader indicated that a recent comment by an Opposition councillor that Accrington would receive all of the planned funding was not accurate.  Councillors Parkinson and Britcliffe confirmed that extra investment in Accrington Town Centre would enable other monies to be released to be spread across the townships in the Borough.  For example, a significant amount had already been spent on the development at Spring Street, Rishton.  The Leader also noted that some unfair criticism had been levelled in the past at a different housing developer by a senior councillor.  Councillor Plummer added that a close family member had recently purchased a home from this developer and were very happy with the standard of construction.  Councillor Dad confirmed that the same firm had listened closely to residents during a previous development in his ward.  However, he accepted that individuals might have their own personal views.

Councillor Fisher welcomed the news about investment into Burtons Chambers, which she had proposed a number of years ago.  She asked about the long term vision for this building.  The Leader responded that it was proposed to use this building as shared office work spaces.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

Report attached.

The Cabinet considered a report of Cllr Patrick McGinley, Chair of the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Cllr Loraine Cox, Chair of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and Cllr Josh Allen, Chair of the Special Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which was presented by the Leader of the Council.

Councillor Munsif Dad, BEM JP, commented that there were numerous topics which would benefit from the involvement of overview and scrutiny and that the Labour Group looked forward to participating fully in that process.  The Leader of the Council noted that the proposed work programmes were substantial.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

At the beginning of each municipal year, the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees each agreed a work programme for the year.  The process for agreeing the work programme was set out in Overview and Scrutiny procedure rule C6(a) as follows:

“The chair and vice chair of each overview and scrutiny committee will meet with the Cabinet within four weeks of each Annual Meeting to discuss the Cabinet’s policy priorities for the coming year. The chairs and vice chairs will propose a draft work programme for their committee within two weeks of that meeting. The draft work programmes will be submitted to the next following meeting of the Cabinet for comment and the draft work programme for each overview and scrutiny committee will then be submitted to the next following meeting of that committee (together with any comments or recommendations from the Cabinet) for approval.”

A draft work programme for each of the Committees had been compiled.  These were now being provided to the Cabinet for comment, then would be returned to the Scrutiny Committees along with any comments received.  The Scrutiny Committees would then approve a full programme.

The work programmes have been developed following consideration of the Council’s guide for selecting items for scrutiny and consultation including:

• Multiple emails to all Councillors;
• Suggestions sought from all service managers;
• Social media coverage for public suggestions; and
• Informal discussions with the Cabinet.

Thirty requests for items to be considered for Scrutiny had been submitted by Service Heads, Councillors (Including Cabinet Members), Co-optees and members of the public.  There had been several requests of a similar nature so in some cases, requested items had been merged.  These items had been discussed in depth between the Scrutiny Chairs and Cabinet Members before producing the work programmes.

In addition, 3 items had been included as standing or statutory items (Budget, Crime and Disorder, and Hyndburn Leisure Annual Review).

It was acknowledged that, for the Special Overview and Scrutiny Committee, with a remit to consider Levelling Up, County Deals and Accrington Town Centre, the Work Programme should take a more flexible approach allowing for items to be scrutinised at the most appropriate times.

Not all suggested items had been deemed suitable for Scrutiny, in which case these suggestions had not been included in the programme.

Members and Officers had sought to provisionally  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

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.

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

In accordance with Executive Procedure Rule B16(c), to receive a report on decisions taken under urgency procedures. The following decisions are attached:-

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

In accordance with Executive Procedure Rule B16(c), Members considered a report on the following decision taken under the urgency procedure:

Resolved                                    -    To note the report on urgent decisions taken.