Agenda item
Question Time
To deal with any questions submitted under Council Procedure Rule A2.2(vi).
· Five questions have been received (report attached).
Minutes:
Five questions had been received. The Mayor read aloud the questions as shown below.
1) Payment to Hyndburn Leisure
To the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Resources (Councillor Peter Britcliffe)
Submitted byMr Peter Shaw
“The Council are giving £490K to Hyndburn Leisure from underspent revenue of almost £1M, and they are proposing to borrow £5M to help fund the new Wilson’s swimming pool. It is evident that money is being accrued by the Council and then given to Hyndburn Leisure, who have lost money every year since they were formed. Where is the £5M coming from and at what interest rate and what are the Council’s plans to ensure they do not need to give any more money to Hyndburn Leisure but are more able to share any future underspends equally with all council departments?”
Response:
Councillor Peter Britcliffe, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources, indicated that the Council was in a fortunate position regarding its Revenue Budget, due to high interest rates, the cash balances held due grant monies received in advance of spend and slippage on the capital programme. Investment of these balances had provided a higher return than originally forecast. This should provide a significant underspend at year end.
The report to Cabinet on 6th December 2023 explained the rationale for the assistance being provided to Hyndburn Leisure and the operation of the subsidy control rules. Nationally, all leisure providers were facing similar financial issues, due to inflation, pay and energy costs caused by the war in Ukraine.
The facilities at Wilson’s would be more than just a swimming pool. The site would include:
- 25 metre, 4 lane pool;
- sauna and steam room;
- state of the art 60 station gym;
- functional training area;
- changing village for the pool;
- dry member change;
- changing places provision;
- accessible dry change;
- exercise studio/community room;
- outdoor change and referee change;
- community club room;
- wellbeing room and café; and
- outdoor seating area.
Councillors and the public were encouraged to support the project.
Note: A comprehensive written reply was provided directly to Mr Shaw, which dealt with the financial matters raised in the question.
2) Lockside Walk (Clayton Triangle)
To the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regeneration (Councillor Kath Pratt)
Submitted by Mr Miles Parkinson OBE
“With the National debate by all parties agreed for the provision of more affordable and social housing, Onward Housing Association is developing 127 such properties with shared ownership, affordable rent and provision for over 55’s at Lockside Walk (Clayton Triangle) which are much needed. [I am] being asked by Clayton-le-Moors residents when they will be available. Could you provide details to me and for residents requiring a home?”
Response:
Councillor Kath Pratt, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regeneration, thanked Mr Parkinson for his question, which had provided her with an opportunity to clarify the application process for what would be much sought after, new, high quality affordable homes to rent and buy in Clayton-le-Moors.
Thanks to Watson Homes and the Onward Partnership, a former brownfield site had been redeveloped for much needed housing. She was delighted that the Council had been able to contribute by selling some of its own land to make up part of the overall site. Councillor Pratt had visited the site and had been pleased with the quality of the properties under construction.
The homes would be available on a phased basis with the initial tranche of six homes being available from 1st or 2nd week in February 2024 and the final properties being available from September 2025. Those households interested in the affordable rented homes would need to have applied and be registered on the ‘B With Us’ housing register. For those interested in purchasing one of the affordable for sale homes, they could register their interest now on the Onward Living website under the link to Lockside Walk. Further details could be obtained by speaking to the Council’s Housing Advice Team or Onward Living.
A show home was due to open in April 2024.
3) Israel – Hamas Conflict
To the Leader of the Council (Councillor Marlene Haworth)
Submitted by Councillor Abdul Khan
“I note that the Labour Group collectively, and an individual councillor from the Conservative group have openly supported for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Palestine at the last Full Council meeting while I was away on holiday.
Undoubtedly, we are horrified by the images of innocent civilians, especially of women and children dying under relentless bombing with no protection.
On behalf of the residents I ask that: What is the position of the Council’s controlling group as a collective on this issue?
Finally, how can we collaboratively advocate for a ceasefire in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, prioritising the protection of innocent civilian lives? What specific actions can Hyndburn Borough Council take to amplify the voices of our residents in support of this cause?”
Response:
In the absence of the Leader of the Council, a response was provided by Councillor Peter Britcliffe, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources. He referred Councillor A Khan to the announcement made by Councillor Haworth the meeting on 2nd November 2023 set out at Minute191(4). At that time, Councillor Haworth had given an assurance that she and her colleagues would do all that they could to work towards a negotiated solution and peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Councillor Abdul Khan asked a supplementary question as follows:
Councillor A Khan thanked Councillor Britcliffe for his reply and added that, although he was not present at that meeting, he had noted the reply given by the Leader of the Council. He commented that what had a happened in Israel on the 7th October 2023 was not acceptable and could never be condoned. However, Israel’s actions since that date had been disproportionate, with some 22,700 people killed and over 60 thousand injured. The Government must call for a ceasefire.
He then asked the following:
“Will our MP, Sara Britcliffe, join us as councillors to stand with us and send a unified message to Israel that we cannot let the blockade continue and that diplomacy is the way forward.”
Councillor Britcliffe indicated that he had recently spoken to the MP and that she had called for a ceasefire and written to the Minister calling for an end to the conflict.
4) Council Reserves
To the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Resources (Councillor Peter Britcliffe)
Submitted by Mr Ian Wilkinson
“Two Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) reports dated February 2022 and February 2023 have identical paragraphs and state that Council reserves were documented at just over £2.3m. I am a little confused so can you please explain which accounts make up the reserve funds and what will be the total value of any reserves remaining after the £5.114m allocation to the Wilson’s swimming pool has been made?”
Response:
Councillor Britcliffe indicated that reserves were split into usable reserves and unusable reserves in the balance sheet.
Usable reserves included general and earmarked reserves, ie. those that could be spent on future services. As at 31st March 2023 the Council held £23.379m, made up as follows:
- General Fund Balance Reserve – This reserve was unallocated and was a working balance to help cushion the impact of uneven cash flows and avoid unnecessary temporary borrowing. It also acted as a contingency to cushion the impact of unexpected events or emergencies. This reserve held the balance of £2.35 referred to in the MTFS.
- Other Usable Reserves – The remaining balance of £21.028m, comprising earmarked reserves (£14.799m), usable capital receipts (£4.870m) and capital grants unapplied (£1.359m), would be used to fund the £5.114m for the new leisure facility at Wilson’s Playing Field.
Councillor Britcliffe reported that he felt a sense of pride that the Council was in such a strong financial position and was, therefore, able to continue to invest in improving local facilities.
5) Hyndburn Leisure Transformational Agenda
To the Portfolio Holder for Leisure Transformation and Leisure Trust (Councillor Loraine Cox)
Submitted by Mrs Bernadette Parkinson
“Can I congratulate all involved especially Cllr Loraine Cox regarding Hyndburn Leisure Transformational agenda relating to Wilson’s Sports Village development which received planning permission and was not called in by the Secretary of State. This is an investment of £12 million pounds by the Council in the outer Towns showing a commitment to invest across the Borough in Leisure Activity for the benefit of public health for Hyndburn Residents. Can you inform me when building work will start and be completed? I know residents are looking forward to using it in Clayton-le-Moors from across Hyndburn.”
Response:
Councillor L Cox, Portfolio Holder for Leisure Transformation and Leisure Trust, indicated that work on the site would commence later this month, with perimeter hoardings erected, the site compound set up and drainage works commencing. The project plan envisaged a 62 calendar week construction period, with the facility opening in spring 2025.
With the consent of the meeting, the Mayor dealt next with Motion 1 at Agenda Item 10 – Motions Submitted on Notice
Supporting documents:
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