Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 20 April 2023 and 18 May 2023 respectively.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 20 April 2023 were approved, unanimously, by those who were in attendance.

The minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on 18 May 2023 were approved, unanimously, by those who were in attendance.

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 Mayor announced that her Mayor’s Charities for the year 2023/24 were:

·         Headway Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde

·         Sam’s Place

·         Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public under Procedure Rule 9.1.

None received.

To receive any questions from Members of the Council to the Mayor, a member of the Cabinet or the Chairman of a Committee under Council Procedure Rule 12.1.

None received.

To receive reports from Cabinet Members. (In accordance with Procedure Rule 11.3 Councillors will be able to ask questions or make comments).

The Leader, Councillor Vincent, submitted a report.

Councillor Vincent introduced his report. He clarified the work of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce as referenced in his report. He also discussed the various efforts the council was taking to decrease carbon emissions in Wyre, highlighting the work underway to reduce carbon emissions from the council's fleet of vehicles.

Councillor Vincent responded to a question from Councillor Fail regarding the Lancashire Devolution Deal and the impact on the proposed Poulton to Fleetwood railway line.

Councillor Higginson addressed concerns voiced by residents about on-street parking on Brown Street in Bourne Ward. Councillor Vincent stated that he would be pleased to meet with the ward councillor to discuss the issue, but that the best method to fix it would be through Lancashire County Council as the appropriate authority.

Councillor Stirzaker questioned if she would be able to view the progress report on the Hillhouse Enterprise Zone as referred to at 3.3 of the Leader’s report. Councillor Vincent agreed to send this report to Councillor Stirzaker following the meeting.

Councillor Vincent responded to a question from Councillor Baxter regarding the Lancashire Devolution Deal and asked about the possibility of the move back to an earlier devolution model of three ‘super’ unitaries across Lancashire. Councillor Vincent expressed his opposition to a unitary authority for Wyre.

The report was noted.

The Resources Portfolio Holder, Councillor McKay, submitted a report.

Councillor McKay introduced her report.

Councillor Higginson asked a question regarding the Household Support Fund (HSF4). He also questioned the timescales for the payment of the Localised Council Tax Support (LCTS) to claimants. Councillor McKay welcomed and supported both schemes, but she would raise the proposed timescales of these payments with the relevant officers.

Councillor Fielding questioned the procurement of the insurance needs of the council, as referenced in the report, and whether the insurer was able to increase the premium in years two and three and if so, was there a calculation for the increased premium. Councillor McKay agreed to provide Councillor Fielding with a written response to his question.

Councillor Brian Stephenson made comments about the use of food banks in Wyre.

Councillor Wells enquired whether HSF payments were available to members of the voluntary, community and faith sector in addition to the four food banks and the Fylde Coast Women’s Aid. Councillor McKay agreed to provide Councillor Wells with a written response to her question.

The report was noted.

The Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder, Councillor Bridge, submitted a report.

Councillor Bridge introduced his report.

Councillor Duffy thanked Councillor Bridge and Wyre officers for their participation in a recent ward walk in Pharos ward. Councillor Duffy made a comment regarding the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices, specifically for dog fouling incidents. She questioned if the Waste Investigations Support & Enforcement Ltd (WISE) team could patrol the beach and prom areas in Fleetwood from 7am as this was a busy period. Councillor Bridge responded to Councillor Duffy’s comments and assured her that he would speak to the WISE team regarding opportunities for further patrols.

Councillor Collinson thanked John Bettle, Lead Environmental Enforcement Officer, and his team for the work they had undertaken to reduce dog fouling in Winmarleigh. These compliments were echoed by Councillor Bridge.

Councillor Bridge responded to comments and questions made by Councillor Brian Stephenson regarding bulky waste collection.

Councillor Bridge responded to a question from Councillor Stirzaker regarding the conduct of the WISE enforcement officers.

The report was noted.

The Planning Policy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Councillor Le Marinel, submitted a report.

Councillor Le Marinel introduced his report. He responded to a question from Councillor Cartridge regarding the introduction of the Wyre Local Validation Checklist and the benefits for officers.

Councillor Rimmer raised a question regarding hydrogen development on the Hillhouse Enterprise Zone site. With permission from the Mayor, Councillor Vincent clarified that the hydrogen mentioned in Leader’s executive report did not relate to hydrogen storage but instead the replacement of gas with hydrogen energy within the Hillhouse site.

Councillor Le Marinel announced that there had been an agreement regarding the construction of a bridge over the proposed Poulton to Fleetwood railway line within the Hillhouse site.

The report was noted.

The Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety Portfolio Holder, Councillor Berry, submitted a report.

Councillor Berry introduced his report and thanked all the officers involved in responding to the United Utilities pollution incident. He updated members that Alcohol Awareness week was held on the week commencing 3 July 2023 and explained that community safety officers had provided presentations on alcohol-related issues to students and parents at high schools in Fleetwood. He also updated members that the Police and Crime Commissioner had funded a new team of three PCs and a PCSO to form a high visibility foot patrol in anti-social behaviour hot spots in Fleetwood. There would be an additional team formed to tackle specific anti-social behaviour activities in Fleetwood.

Councillor Martin commented on the United Utilities pollution incident, emphasising the impact on Cleveleys Beach. Councillor Berry stated that officers had reassured him that the waters at Cleveleys Beach were safe, but he would share Councillor Martin's comments with officers.

Councillor Berry responded to comments from Councillor Fail regarding the water quality of the River Wyre.

Councillor Cartridge thanked the Housing team for their help finding accommodation for the people whose homes were impacted by the recent fire at The Mount Hotel in Fleetwood.

The report was noted.

The Leisure, Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder, Councillor Bowen, submitted a report.

Councillor Bowen introduced her report.

Councillor Higginson raised his concerns regarding unpleasant smells at Hawley Gardens in Thornton. Councillor Bowen agreed to ask officers to investigate this matter.

Councillor Bowen responded to a question from Councillor Duffy regarding the recent destruction and current lease agreements of three beach huts in Fleetwood.

Councillor Lady D Atkins updated members that the digital screen in the Garstang Information Point was operational. She also thanked officers for their ongoing support and promotion of events in Garstang.

The report was noted.

Councillor Vincent made a comment regarding the recent destruction of three beach huts in Fleetwood.

Report of Councillor McKay, Resources Portfolio Holder and Clare James, Corporate Director Resources and Section 151 Officer.

The Resources Portfolio Holder, Councillor McKay, and the Corporate Director Resources and Section 151 Officer, Clare James submitted a report for the approval the annual report on Treasury Management Activity for the 2022/23 financial year.

In response to a question from Councillor Rimmer, Councillor McKay clarified that the council was now debt free.

Councillor Martin made a comment on the use of the wording “fiscal experiment” at point 5.5.5 of the report. He suggested that this should be replaced with “fiscal catastrophe”.

Following discussions, the following recommendation was approved unanimously:

·         That the Annual report on Treasury Management Activity for the 2022/23 financial year be approved.

Report of Councillor Michael Vincent, Leader of the Council and Rebecca Huddleston, Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Vincent, and the Chief Executive, Rebecca Huddleston, submitted a report for the approval of changes to the membership of committees for the remainder of the 2023/24 municipal year.

Councillor Vincent responded to a comment from Councillor Fail regarding the election of an opposition Chair or Vice Chair on committees.

Following discussions, the following recommendations were approved unanimously:

·         That the revised political balance calculations following the Warren Ward election held on Thursday 22 June 2023 as set out in Appendix 1, be noted.

·         That a Wyre Independent Group member, Councillor Sorensen, be removed from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·         That a Labour Group member, Councillor Blair, be appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·         That Councillor Brian Stephenson of the Labour Group be appointed to the Licensing Committee in place of Councillor Beavers of the Labour Group.

Report of Councillor Michael Vincent, Leader of the Council and Rebecca Huddleston, Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Vincent, and the Chief Executive, Rebecca Huddleston submitted a report for the approval of an updated programme of meetings for 2023/24 and a programme of the meetings for 2024/25.

Councillor Vincent responded to a comment from Councillor Fail regarding committee dates and potential clashes with Parish/Town Council meetings.

Following discussions, the following recommendations were approved unanimously:

·         That the updated Calendar of Meetings for 2023/24, attached as Appendix 1, be approved.

·         That the Calendar of Meetings for 2024/25 be approved.

The following Notice of Motion has been submitted under Procedure Rule 15 by Councillors Rendell, Lady D Atkins, Sir R Atkins and Le Marinel:

“This council is against any change to the national planning policy that would make it easier to build on Green Belt”.

The following Notice of Motion was submitted under Procedure Rule 15 by Councillors Rendell, Lady D Atkins, Sir R Atkins and Le Marinel:

“This council is against any change to the national planning policy that would make it easier to build on Green Belt”.

Councillor Rendell proposed the Notice of Motion, Councillor Lady Atkins seconded.

Following debate, a recorded vote was requested by Councillor Vincent and confirmed by Councillors McKay, Berry, Bridge, Bowen and Le Marinel.

A recorded vote was taken.

The following members voted in support of the motion: Councillors Amos, Lady D Atkins, Sir R Atkins, Baxter, Beavers, Berry, Birch, Blair, Bolton, Bowen, Bridge, Cartridge, Catterall, Collinson, Duffy, Ellison, Fail, Fielding, Higginson, Higgs, Ibison, Jackson, Kay, Le Marinel, Leigh, Livesey, Martin, McKay, Meekins, Minto, Moliner, Nicholls, Preston, Raynor, Rendell, Rimmer, Robinson, Rushforth, Smith, B Stephenson, C Stephenson, Stirzaker, Swatton, Swift, Thewlis, Vincent, A Walker, C Walker and Wells.

The Notice of Motion was approved unanimously.