Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6 February 2020.

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on Thursday 6 February 2020 be confirmed as a correct record (by 38 votes to 6).

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:

1 That, with the Mayoress, Councillor Andrea Kay, she would be hosting a Spring Concert by the Blackpool Male Voice Choir and the Charles Saer Primary School Boys’ Choir at St Nicholas Church, Fleetwood on Saturday 21 March 2020 at 7.30 pm. Tickets were still available.

2 That there would be a charity golf day in aid of the mayoral charities held at Knott End Golf Club on Monday 6 April 2020.

3 That there would be a charity clay pigeon shoot held on 28 March 2020.

The Mayor also read out a message from Mrs Yvonne McCann expressing her sincere thanks to the Council for the park bench that was placed in Jubilee Park, Knott End, in remembrance of her husband, Gordon.

No questions or statements have been received for this meeting from members of the public under Paragraph 9 of the Council Procedure Rules.

None received.

No questions “on-notice” from councillors have been received for this meeting under Paragraph 12 of the Council Procedure Rules.

None received.

Report of the Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Corporate Director Resources.

The Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Corporate Director Resources (Clare James) submitted a report on the Council’s Pay Policy Statement for the 2020/21 financial year.

In response to a question from Councillor Longton, requesting clarification about the interpretation of Paragraph 5.5 of the Pay Policy Statement, Councillor Henderson agreed to provide a written response.

Agreed (unanimously) that the Pay Policy Statement for 2020/21 be approved.

Report of the Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Chief Executive (Garry Payne) submitted a report on the Council’s Business Plan for 2019-2023 (updated for 2020) and the refreshed Strategic Narrative.

Cllr Fail proposed and Cllr Beavers seconded an amendment that, in Appendix 2, under the heading ‘Work Smart - Commercial and environmental awareness is embedded in everything we do’, the sentence,

“We will be mindful of our climate change commitment in everything we do and ensure that the council’s activities are net-zero carbon by 2050.”

be replaced with,

“We will take a highly pro-active stance, putting our Climate Change commitment at the forefront of all our strategies and decision making, ensuring that the Council and the Borough works towards a target of a net-zero carbon status by 2030”.

The following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Beavers, Fail, Longton, Smith, Stirzaker and Swales.

The following members voted against the amendment: Councillors I Amos, R Amos, Lady D Atkins, Sir R Atkins, Ballard, Baxter, Berry, B Birch, C Birch, Bowen, Bridge, Cartridge, Catterall, Collinson, Cropper, E Ellison, P Ellison, Fairbanks, George, Gerrard, Henderson, Holden, Ibison, Ingham, Kay, Le Marinel, Leech, Minto, Moon, O’Neill, Orme, Robinson, A Turner, S Turner, A Vincent, Matthew Vincent, Michael Vincent, D Walmsley, L Walmsley, Webster and Williams.

The amendment was therefore lost (by 6 votes to 41).

A vote was then taken on the recommendations set out in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 of the Leader’s report. The recommendations were approved (by 40 votes to 6).

Report of the Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson).

Please note: The report of the Corporate Director Resources (Section 151 Officer) on the Council’s Revenue Budget, Council Tax and Capital Programme, which was considered by the Cabinet on 12 February 2020, forms part of the background to the attached report of the Leader of the Council, with paragraph 3.1 seeking Council agreement to the recommendations of the Cabinet. An extract from the minutes of that meeting, setting out the Cabinet’s recommendations, is attached as Appendix 1 of the Leader of the Council’s report to this meeting. However, the detailed information from the report ofthe Corporate Director Resources to the Cabinet is not reproducedin this agenda. That report can be viewed via the Cabinetagenda on the Council’s website at:

https://wyre.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s8423/20200121%20Cabinet-120220%20new%20template.pdf

The Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) submitted a report on the determination of the Council Tax for the Borough for the 2020/21 financial year. His report included reference to the report of the Resources Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director Resources and Section 151 Officer, which had been considered by the Cabinet at its meeting on 12 February 2020.  The minute detailing the Cabinet’s recommendations was set out in Appendix 1 of his report to this Council meeting.

The Resources Portfolio Holder (Cllr A Vincent) seconded Cllr Henderson’s proposal that the recommendations made by the Cabinet be approved.

Cllr Fail proposed and Cllr Beavers seconded the following amendment, that the formal Council Tax resolution as agreed by Cabinet on 12 February 2020, as set out in Appendix 1, be agreed with 3 additional changes:

1       Fees & Charges: Hire Of Sports Pitches

The previously approved rise in the cost of hire (ranging from 3% to 6%) is revised down to 2% (rounded to the nearest pound).

The reduction in revenue is predicted to be £335 in 2020/21.

2       Fees & Charges: Green Waste Subscription

That the decision for the green waste subscription to be increased to £35 per bin per annum for single year subscriptions made online, by post, cheque, or in person be reversed, with subscriptions remaining at £30 as for those paying by Direct Debit.

The reduction in revenue is predicted to be £11,010 in 2020/21.

3       Climate Change Fund

£500,000 is allocated from general balances to create a Climate Change Reserve to fund a tree planting and land management programme.

£300,000 would be guaranteed to fund tree planting and the creation and preservation of natural wetland areas, and it is proposed that up to £200,000 would be made available to match donations from Wyre residents and businesses who can afford and wish to tackle the threats faced. This match funding would be ring-fenced for tree planting.

If this is approved, and as a gesture to get this fund up and running, the Labour Group will donate £50 for each Councillor. Other Groups are asked to do likewise.

Initially General Balances would reduce by £500,000 and Earmarked Reserves would increase by £500,000. Of the £500,000 transfer, £200,000 would only be released on the achievement of equivalent match funding.

The following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Beavers, B Birch, Fail, Longton, Smith, Stirzaker and Swales.

The following members voted against the amendment: Councillors I Amos, R Amos, Lady D Atkins, Sir R Atkins, Ballard, Baxter, Berry, C Birch, Bowen, Bridge, Cartridge, Catterall, Collinson, Cropper, E Ellison, P Ellison, Fairbanks, George, Gerrard, Henderson, Holden, Ibison, Ingham, Kay, Le Marinel, Leech, Minto, Moon, O’Neill, Orme, Robinson, A Turner, S Turner, A Vincent, Matthew Vincent, Michael Vincent, D Walmsley, L Walmsley, Webster and Williams.

The amendment was therefore lost (by 7 votes to 40).

A vote was then taken on the Cabinet’s recommendations on the budget for 2020/21 and on the level of Council Tax as set out in paragraphs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

Report of the Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Chief Executive.

The Leader of the Council (Cllr Henderson) and the Chief Executive (Garry Payne) submitted a report on the Returning Officer’s proposals arising from the review of polling districts and polling places within the Borough of Wyre.

Agreed (by 45 votes to 1) that the recommendations in the report be approved.

No Notices of Motion have been submitted for this meeting under Paragraph 16 of the Council Procedure Rules.

None.