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 confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting of Cabinet.

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record.

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

Public questions can be delivered in writing to Democratic Services or sent by email to: democratic.services@wyre.gov.uk. Public questions for this meeting must be received by noon on Thursday 22 November 2018. 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 Chairman of the Flooding task group and Service Director Performance and Innovation.

The Chairman of the Flooding task group and Service Director Performance and Innovation submitted a report detailing the work of the Flooding task group.

Decision

Cabinet thanked the chairman and members of the task group for the very useful work they had put into clarifying the role of councillors and highlighting the support and training required and agreed the following recommendations:

1.    That ward councillors actively support the excellent work already being undertaken by Flood Action Groups (FLAGs) and provide a lead in exploring options with local residents for setting up FLAGs in other parts of Wyre.

2.    That ward councillors advise, support and encourage residents to take whatever actions are necessary to make their own properties more resilient against the threat of flooding, perhaps to include the installation of flood gates/doors or the development of a Household Emergency Plan, for example. Actions should also include taking steps to improve resilience when household improvements are being made, such as new kitchens avoiding the use of chipboard or the installation of a flood-resistant front door.

3.    That a campaign is undertaken by the Communications Team to ensure that the community is fully informed about the role of councillors before during and after flooding events. This should include clarity about what is included and what is not included within elected members’ roles and responsibilities in relation to flooding.

4.    That a system be put in place to ensure that ward councillors are provided with all essential information about flooding events, in a timely fashion, including the decisions made by the Strategic Coordinating Group and the implications for local communities.

5.    That the role of the ward councillors as an ‘information hub’ for residents be reinforced at every opportunity, so that it is fully understood by councillors and members of the public.

6.    That ward councillors be facilitated to contribute to the de-briefing session following a flooding event.

7.    That the importance of ward councillors being involved in the medium and long-term support of people whose properties have been flooded be encouraged by

(i)            Advising residents that this is part of the agreed role of a ward councillor, and

(ii)          Ensuring that ward councillors have the requisite skills and knowledge to carry out such a role effectively

8.    That flooding event training be made available to councillors at least annually, perhaps by way of a presentation at a pre-Council briefing or by other agreed methods.

9.    That a list of Dos and Don’ts for councillors be adopted and distributed to all members, in line with the training to be provided as per recommendation 8 above.

Cabinet noted recommendation 3.6 of the report.

Report of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety Portfolio Holder and Service Director Health and Wellbeing.

The Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety Portfolio Holder and Service Director Health and Wellbeing submitted a report asking Cabinet to consider the recommendation from the Licensing Committee to revise the Hackney Carriage Table of Fares.

Decision

Cabinet approved the revised table of fares and agreed that the fares be implemented from 21 December 2018, subject to the proper consideration of any responses to the public notice, and agreed that the Senior Licensing Officer advertise the variation in accordance with section 65 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 1976.

Report of the Resources Portfolio Holder and Head of Finance.

The Resources Portfolio Holder and the Head of Finance submitted a report seeking approval to proceed with the procurement of the preferred External Lottery Manager (ELM) and to introduce the Wyre Community Lottery.

The Resources Portfolio Holder reported that the community lottery proposal had been very well received by the local organisations who stood to benefit from its introduction and took the opportunity to thank those that had provided the Christmas trees and lights in Fleetwood, Poulton, Cleveleys, Garstang, Preesall and Thornton.

Decision

Cabinet gave approval to:

·         procure the ELM for up to five years (subject to annual review) under the exemptions to contract procedures contained within the Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules on the grounds that exemptions are permitted to contract procedures where the “goods, works or services are of a specialised nature carried out by only one or a limited number of firms with no reasonable satisfactory alternatives available.”

·         begin the collaborative planning process, working alongside our preferred ELM, with a view to launching the Wyre Community Lottery in Summer 2019, accommodating the minimum six month lead-in from when the ELM is appointed.

·         appoint the Service Director for Health and Wellbeing (with the Service Director for Performance and Innovation acting as deputy) to hold the licence and submit the necessary application to the Gambling Commission.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and Chief Executive.

Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and Chief Executive asked Cabinet to consider the content of the Authorities Monitoring Report 2017-2018.

Decision

That subject to the inclusion of any minor editorial alterations, the Authorities Monitoring Report 2017-2018 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved and made available for public inspection.

Report of the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and Chief Executive

The Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and the Chief Executive submitted a report presenting the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone (EZ) Masterplan, Baseline Report and Public Consultation Report and asked Cabinet to formally adopt the Hillhouse Technology EZ Masterplan to guide the development of the site, facilitate delivery of the EZ and inform the preparation of the Implementation Plan.

Decision

Cabinet approved the Hillhouse Technology EZ Masterplan and delegated powers to the Head of Planning Services to prepare any necessary additional modifications to the Masterplan in consultation with the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, provided that those modifications were limited to those which improve the clarity of the document, including factual and typing corrections, and did not alter the substance of the document.