Agenda and draft minutes

Members will disclose any pecuniary and any other significant interests they may have in relation to the matters to be considered at this meeting.

None.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Wednesday 17 July 2024.

Councillor Fail questioned minute CAB.4, in particular the comments made by Councillor Vincent at the previous meeting regarding the main opposition group not attending the meeting and the importance to discuss and debate planning policies. He stated that he wanted this removed from the minutes. Councillor Vincent responded confirming that the minutes were factually accurate.

The minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 17 July 2024 were confirmed as a correct record by those who were in attendance.

To receive and respond to any questions from members of the public.

Public questions for Cabinet may be submitted at any time by writing to Democratic Services or via email democratic.services@wyre.gov.uk. Public questions for this meeting must be received by noon on the Thursday before the meeting is held and do not need to specifically relate to items on this agenda. Questioners should provide their name and address and indicate to which Cabinet member the question is to be directed.

The total period of time allocated for public questions will not normally exceed 30 minutes.

The following public question was received from Joe Walsh:

I am seeking clarification on the infrastructure commitments outlined in the new local plan and to understand whether these commitments will be fully guaranteed by both Wyre Borough Council (WBC) and Lancashire County Council (LCC).

Given the issues experienced with the 2021 South of Blackpool Road Master Plan, I am increasingly concerned that new developments are being presented to residents with promises of infrastructure that has minimal likelihood of being realised. My question is straightforward: Can the infrastructure commitments in the new local plan be guaranteed by WBC and LCC? If they cannot be guaranteed, should this not be explicitly stated throughout the plan?

The Planning Policy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Councillor Le Marinel, provided a response to the public question which can be found attached to the minutes.

Report of Councillor Michael Vincent, Leader of the Council and Joanne Billington, the Assistant Director of Governance and Legal (Monitoring Officer).

The Leader of the Council and the Assistant Director of Governance and Legal (Monitoring Officer) submitted a report to consider the Annual Review Letter from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) for 2023/24.

Councillor Vincent introduced the report. He highlighted that the letter was fair and the council was doing well.

Decisions

Cabinet agreed:

• That Cabinet notes the comments made by the LGO in the Annual Review Letter.

Report of Councillor Michael Vincent, Leader of the Council and Sarah Palmer, Director of Transformation and Change.

The Leader of the Council and the Director of Transformation and Change submitted a report to provide an overview of quarterly performance against the Council’s key projects and measures. This covers the period 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2024.

Councillor Vincent introduced the report. He responded to a question from Councillor Fail regarding why data was not yet available for reduction in the council’s carbon emissions from 2018/19 baseline. It was agreed that the Director of Environment would provide Councillor Fail with a detailed response following the meeting.

Councillor Vincent and the Director of Transformation and Change responded to a question from Councillor Fail regarding the number of projected jobs created through Wyre Council support or intervention and the connection with Hillhouse Enterprise Zone.

Decisions

Cabinet agreed:

• That the report is noted and the remedial actions to get projects and measures back on course are supported.

Report of Councillor Peter Le Marinel, Planning Policy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and Steve Smith, Assistant Director of Planning and Building Control.

The Planning Policy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and the Assistant Director of Planning and Building Control submitted a report to agree a process for the formal consideration of the Lancashire Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) (consultation draft and final document).

Councillor Le Marinel introduced the report.

Decisions

Cabinet agreed:

• That delegated authority be given to the Director of Communities and the Director of Environment in consultation with all relevant Portfolio Holders (i.e. the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Leisure, Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder and Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder) to jointly agree the draft Lancashire Local Nature Recovery Strategy for public consultation.

• That delegated authority be given to the Director of Communities and the Director of Environment in consultation with all relevant Portfolio Holders (i.e. the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Leisure, Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder and Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder) to jointly agree the submission Lancashire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.