Agenda and 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 10 January 2024.

The minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 10 January 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.

None.

Report of the Planning Policy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Communities.

The Planning Policy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Communities submitted a report seeking the commencement of work on developing a shared building control service between Wyre Borough Council and Fylde Borough Council.

Councillor Le Marinel, Planning Policy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder introduced his report.

Decision

Cabinet agreed to commence work on developing the shared service proposals as outlined in this report and delegate the Corporate Director Communities to undertake the work with Fylde Borough Council to achieve this.

Report of the Leader of the Council, the Resources Portfolio Holder and the Leisure, Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Communities.

The Leisure, Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder, Resources Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Communities submitted a report to provide Cabinet with an update on the progress that has been made to secure a brighter, sustainable future for the council’s theatres, namely Marine Hall and Thornton Little Theatre (TLT). The report also provided an update on the outcome of the Fleetwood seafront public consultation that was undertaken in late 2023.

The Leisure, Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder introduced the report and discussed its key points. Councillor McKay expressed her support for the recommendations.

Councillor Vincent responded to questions from Councillor Duffy. These covered the following issues:

·         The call-in process for future decisions following the formal tender process.

·         The responsibility for the maintenance of the Marine Hall following a building survey report.

·         The next steps if the council was unable to secure a suitable commercial operator for the Marine Hall.

In response to the last question, Councillor Vincent expressed that there were no plans for the council to close the facility if the tender process was unable to find a bidder.

Councillor Vincent welcomed the progress made towards ensuring a better service in the future. He supported the recommendations outlined in the report.

Decisions

The Cabinet agreed:

·         To note the outcome of the public consultation.

·         To appoint a theatres consultant to support the Corporate Director Communities to implement the short-term recommendations as set out at 5.5, at a cost of £30,000 to be funded from the Value for Money Reserve.

·         To support the preferred option as set out at 5.8 and that approval is given to proceed with a tender process to secure a commercial operator for the management of the Marine Hall for a minimum of five years. The outcome of the tender process to be the subject of a further report.

·         That, in consultation with the Leisure, Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder and the Resources Portfolio Holder, to authorise the Corporate Director Communities to enter into a lease for Thornton Little Theatre.

Report of the Resources Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Resources.

The Resources Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Resources submitted a report to set out the policies and objectives of the council in respect of Treasury Management activities, to explain how the council seeks to achieve the objectives and manage and control the activities for 2024/25 which includes the Capital Strategy.

Councillor McKay, the Resources Portfolio Holder, introduced her report.

Decisions

The Cabinet agreed:

·       To recommend to Council that the Treasury Management Policy Statement 2024/25 be approved and formally adopted. (Appendix 1).

·       To approve the revised Treasury Management Practices 2024/25 (Appendix 2).

·       To recommend to Council that the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy 2024/25 (Appendix 3) be approved.

·       To recommend to Council that the MRP Policy Statement 2024/25

·       (Appendix 4) be approved and formally adopted.

·       To recommend to Council that the Capital Strategy 2024/25 (Appendix 5) be approved.

Report of the Resources Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Resources.

The Resources Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Resources submitted a report seeking confirmation of the Revenue Budget, Council Tax, Revised Capital Budget 2023/24 and Capital Programme 2024/25 onwards.

Councillor McKay, the Resources Portfolio Holder, introduced the report.

Decisions

Cabinet agreed: