Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 March 2021.

Comment was made that Minute 34 (Members’ Allowances Scheme) recorded that the recommendations had been agreed by 35 votes to 9.  It was accepted that it was a proposal by Councillor Sir R Atkins that had been supported by 35 votes to 9.  The reference to the recommendations being accepted by 35 votes to 9 was incorrect, and the decision for Minute 34 should more accurately read:

“It was agreed by a majority

(i)            That, in line with the formula applied since 2012 and endorsed last year, the Basic Allowance paid to each Councillor be increased by 2.75%, from £4,347 per annum, to £4,467 with effect from 2 May 2021, and

(ii)          That no other changes be made to the Scheme for 2021/22.”

It was proposed by Councillor Henderson and seconded by Councillor Alan Vincent that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 March 2021 be approved as an accurate record, subject to the above and another amendment to minute 34, Councillor Fairbanks having seconded a further amendment, which had been proposed by Councillor O’Neill, and not Councillor George as originally recorded (by 39 votes to 8, with 1 abstention).

To receive any declarations of interest from any Member on any item on this agenda.

None.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor, Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader of the Council, Members of the Cabinet, a Chairman of a Committee or the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive, Garry Payne, informed councillors that both the Conservative and Labour Associations in Wyre had agreed that they would not use tellers at the forthcoming elections in order to reduce the risk of transmitting the COVID-19 virus.

No questions or statements have been received for this meeting from members of the public under Council Procedure Rule Paragraph 9.1.

None received.

No questions “on notice” have been received from any Member of the Council to a member of the Cabinet or the Chairman of a Committee for this meeting under Council Procedure Rule 12.1.

None received.

Report of Councillor Alan Vincent, Resources Portfolio Holder and Clare James, Corporate Director Resources and S151 Officer.

Councillor Alan Vincent, Resources Portfolio Holder and Clare James, Corporate Director Resources and S151 Officer submitted a report.

It was proposed by Councillor Alan Vincent, seconded by Councillor Henderson and agreed, unanimously, that the Treasury Management Policy and Annual Investment Strategy, MRP Policy Statement and Capital Strategy for 2021/22 be approved.

Report of Councillor David Henderson, Leader of the Council and Garry Payne, Chief Executive.

Councillor David Henderson, Leader of the Council and Garry Payne, Chief Executive, submitted a report.

Councillor Henderson paid tribute to Liesl Hadgraft, Head of Business Support, who was retiring after 34 years’ service to Wyre, having also been the Monitoring Officer since 1 April 2016.

It was proposed by Councillor Henderson, seconded by Councillor Alan Vincent and agreed, unanimously, that the Legal Services Manager, Mary Grimshaw, be appointed to role of Monitoring Officer from 1 June 2021.

Report of Councillor David Henderson, Leader of the Council and Garry Payne, Chief Executive.

Councillor David Henderson, Leader of the Council and Garry Payne, Chief Executive submitted a report.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Fail and seconded by Councillor Beavers, in two parts:

(i)            that paragraph 9.3 of the Local Code of Good Practice for Councillors and Officers involved in the Planning Process be amended to refer to “a Ward councillor” rather than “the Ward councillor”, and

(ii)          that the following sentence in paragraph 9.5 be deleted: “Only one Parish or Town Councillor, one adjoining Ward Councillor (if they called in the application) and the County Councillor, may speak”.

Following a debate the proposed amendment was lost by 11 votes to 34.

During the debate the meeting was suspended for four minutes while a disturbance outside the Civic Centre was dealt with.

It was proposed by Councillor Henderson, seconded by Councillor Alan Vincent and agreed, by 37 votes to 9, that the recommendations in the report be accepted.

Report of Councillor John Ibison, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor John Ibison, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, submitted a report. 

The report was noted.

None.

None.