Agenda and minutes

To receive, as read, the Minutes of the proceedings of the last Full Council meeting, held on 19^th July 2023, and to confirm them or otherwise.

RESOLVED, THAT: The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 19^th July 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive any declarations of interest.

As Board Members of Burnley Leisure and Culture, Councillors Cunliffe and Lewis declared a ‘other interest – non prejudicial’ in minute no. 39 Climate Action Fund [agenda item 6e] and a prejudicial interest in minute no. 48 Replacement of Fitness Equipment [agenda item 11a].

To receive communications (if any) from His Worshipful the Mayor.

The Mayor informed members about a forthcoming Charity Civic Ball.

To receive questions, statements or petitions (if any) from members of the public.

Mrs J Braddock addressed the Council under the Right To Speak policy regarding selective licensing, anti-social behaviour, lack of investment in Queensgate ward, properties having problems and youth nuisance.

Mr J R Pilling addressed the Council under the Right To Speak policy regarding rat infestations, people leaving bins open, various bags of waste in streets, rats in property and health department response.

It was moved by Councillor Cunliffe and seconded by Councillor Launer that:

This Council notes that:

In 2017, families were stopped from claiming Child Tax Credits or Universal Credit for more than two children.

It is estimated that this policy now affects over 1.5 million children.

Studies have shown that families in the poorest areas are worse off by over £3000 per year.

Ethnic communities are disproportionately affected by the benefit cap.

The estimated cost of removing the cap would be £1.5 billion per year.

Removing the cap could lift a quarter of a million children out of poverty and over three quarters of a million children could see their poverty levels decrease.

The estimated cost of Child Poverty, taking into account costs such as health issues, risk of unemployment later in life, risk of lower income levels, social costs and public services costs is £35 billion per year.

6,520 children in the Burnley Constituency are living in relative poverty according to figures from the DWP, with thousands of families relying on Food Banks or the Community Grocery.

This Council resolves to:

Ask the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council to write to the town’s MP Antony Higginbotham, asking him to support the removal of the cap and to raise awareness in the House of Commons of the poverty that it is causing.

Ask the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, asking them to consider removing the benefit cap in order to lift thousands of Burnley families out of poverty.

On being put to the vote the motion was declared to be carried and it was RESOLVED accordingly.

To consider for approval the latest revised net budget and the net transfers from earmarked reserves.

Consideration was given to a report outlining the forecast outturn position for the year ending 31 March 2024 based upon actual spending and income to 30 June 2023 and the financial impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The latest revised net budget of £16.267m as shown in Table 1 in the report be approved, and

2.    The net transfers from earmarked reserves of £4.972m as shown in Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

To consider for approval net capital budget changes and the proposed financing of the revised capital budget.

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on capital expenditure and the resources position, along with any variances.

RESOLVED, THAT:

1.    Net budget changes totalling a reduction of (£1,235,466) giving a revised capital budget for 2023/24 totalling £39,190,265 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be approved, and

2.    The proposed financing of the revised capital budget totalling £39,190,265 as shown in Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

To endorse the quarterly update on the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24.

Consideration was given to a report on treasury management activity for the first quarter of 2023/24 covering the period 1 April to 30 June 2023.

RESOLVED, THAT: the quarterly update on the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 in compliance with the requirements of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management be endorsed.

To consider for approval further proposed savings to assist in balancing the 2024/27 revenue budgets.

Consideration was given to a report on the latest position regarding balancing the Council’s 2024/27 revenue budgets and proposed savings.

RESOLVED, THAT: Proposed savings totalling £255k to assist in balancing the 2024/27 revenue budgets be approved.

To consider for approval the establishment of budgets.

Councillors Cunliffe and Lewis declared a ‘other interest - non-prejudicial‘ in this item as Board Members of Burnley Leisure and Culture. In accordance with the Code of Conduct for Members they were permitted to remain in the meeting and to participate fully in the debate and vote on the item.

Consideration was given to a report relating to the acceptance of grant funding from Burnley Leisure and Culture for the Green Activities Project.

RESOLVED, THAT: The establishment of the budgets outlined in the report be approved.

To note recent waivers of call-in, note changes to the political balance of the Council and approve consequential changes to membership of committees, and approve changes to the Scheme of Delegation.

Members considered a report setting out information that was required to be reported to Full Council, nominations to committee seats and changes to the Scheme of Delegation in the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED, THAT:

1.    The call-in waivers relating to an urgent Executive decision taken by the Chief Executive and urgent Executive decisions be noted.

2.    The change in the political balance of the Council following the disbanding of the Burnley and Padiham Independents Group, the resignation of Councillor Fewings and the decision by Councillor Briggs to join the Labour Group be noted, and the following consequential changes to committees be approved:

3.    The following amendments to the Constitution Part 3, the Scheme of Delegation be approved:

i)               1. Council Functions – b) Licensing Committee

          Add Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, Environmental Permitting (E&W) Regulations 2016 to the list of delegations to the Head of Street Scene at paragraph 1.

ii)              2. Executive Functions

Remove Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 from the list of delegations to the Head of Street Scene relating to Environmental Protection at paragraph 30.

To consider a scheme to allow the use of substitute members to Committees by disabled members.

Consideration was given to a report detailing a limited scheme to allow the appointment of substitute members to committees by disabled members.

RESOLVED, THAT:

1.    A limited substitute scheme as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved, and

2.    The additions to the Constitution required to give effect to the decision at 1. above as set out in Appendix 2 be approved.

To consider the adoption of a parental leave policy for elected members.

Consideration was given to a report outlining a parental leave policy for elected members.

RESOLVED, THAT: The Parental Leave Policy for Elected Members be adopted and included as part of the Members’ Allowance Scheme at Part 6 of the Constitution.

To consider raising the financial threshold for Key Decisions in line with the Standing Orders for Contracts.

Consideration was given to a report setting out a review of the financial threshold for Key Decisions.

RESOLVED, THAT:

1.    The financial threshold for Key Decisions be raised to £125,000 in line with the Standing Orders for Contracts, and

2.    The corresponding changes to the relevant parts of the Constitution outlined in Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

The reports from Committee Chairs were noted without further debate.

To consider progress against the Council’s Strategic Commitments.

At 21:19 Councillor Anwar moved a motion under Council Procedure Rule 13 Motions without Notice (l) that the meeting continue beyond three hours in duration. The motion was seconded by Councillor Townsend. On being put to the vote it was duly RESOLVED that the meeting continue beyond three hours in duration to enable the business remaining on the agenda to be completed.

RESOLVED, THAT: the Strategic Plan Progress Reports of Executive Members be noted.

To deal with questions (if any) relating to matters not contained in the Minutes before the Council and of which notice in writing has been received in accordance with Standing Order No. 10(2).

No questions had been received in writing in accordance with Standing Order No 10(2).

To consider the exclusion of the public from the meeting before discussion takes place on the following items of business on the grounds that in view of the nature of the business to be transacted if the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Members determined to exclude the public from the meeting before discussion took place on Minute 48 [Agenda item 11] and Minute 49 [Agenda item 12] on the grounds that in view of the nature of the business to be transacted if the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider for approval the establishment of a new budget in the 2023/24 Capital programme.

Councillors Cunliffe and Lewis declared a prejudicial interest in this item as Board members of Burnley Leisure and Culture. They left the meeting at this point and took no part in the discussion or vote.

Consideration was given to a report relating to the replacement of fitness equipment at St Peter’s and Padiham Leisure Centres.

RESOLVED, THAT: The establishment of a new budget of £563,000 in the 2023/24 Capital Programme be approved.

To seek approval to procure a new IT system for the building control service.

Consideration was given to a report relating to Building Control IT procurement.

RESOLVED, THAT: the budget be approved.