Agenda and minutes

Venue: Mechanics Theatre

Contact: Democracy Office 

Items
No. Item

23.

Minutes of the Last Meeting pdf icon PDF 242 KB

To receive, as read, the Minutes of the proceedings of the previous Council meeting, and to confirm them or otherwise.

Minutes:

RESOLVED         The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on the 22nd July 2021 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

24.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest.

Minutes:

Cllr Andy Fewings declared an other prejudicial interest in Item 6d Capital Budget Monitoring Q1.  He left the room and took no part in the debate or decision.

25.

Mayor's Communications

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

Minutes:

The Chief Executive announced an extraordinary council meeting would take place on 20th October 2021.  Further details would be provided in due course.

26.

Public Question Time

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

Minutes:

Mr John Rowe addressed the meeting on the subject of governance arrangements.  The Leader of the Council responded setting out the work that had previously taken place as part of a governance review.

27.

Opposition to the Local Plan Motion pdf icon PDF 140 KB

Minutes:

It was moved by Cllr Don Whitaker and seconded by Cllr Alan Hosker that:

 

`The Burnley Local Plan, brought in by the Labour administration in 2018, has seen significant amounts of our green spaces allocated to housing developments in spite of the strong objections of local residents and the significant number of vacant houses in the Borough.

 

This has included land off Red Lees Road where 125 homes are now being built, fields behind Smithyfield Avenue and Rossendale Road allocated to housing, and several new industrial units proposed for our green spaces rather than on brownfield land.

 

This Council therefore resolves that the Burnley local Plan as it is currently constituted does not command the support of residents within the borough. This Council should work with the Government in their proposed Planning reforms to ensure that any new developments prioritises disused and/ or empty properties within the Borough, and utilises brownfield land wherever possible.`

 

Cllr Andy Fewings moved an amendment to the motion which was seconded by Cllr Martyn Hurt that:

 

`The Burnley Local Plan, brought in by the Labour administration in 2018, has seen significant amounts of our green spaces allocated for development in spite of the strong objections of local residents and the significant number of vacant houses in the Borough.

 

This has included land off Red Lees Road where 125 homes are now being built, fields behind Smithyfield Avenue and Rossendale Road allocated to housing, Stoneyholme and Clifton Street Recreation ground which is a large ecological diverse and cherished green space owned by this Council and earmarked for development and several new industrial units proposed for our green spaces rather than on derelict sites in need of regeneration.

 

This Council notes that the Burnley local Plan as it is currently constituted does not command the support of residents within the borough nor the majority of this council chamber. This Council resolves to instruct the CEO to write to the local MP to call on his Government to i) bring forward Planning reforms to ensure that any new developments prioritises tackling the climate emergency by ensuring it is a material planning requirement that all new builds are net zero and of the highest ecological standard and ii) urgently provide full funding to this Council so that it can revise the local plan to take account of the Climate and Ecological Emergency.`

 

It was resolved to adjourn the meeting for 10 minutes.

 

The meeting resumed at 6.57pm

 

On being put to the vote the amendment fell.

 

Cllr Gordon Birtwistle moved a further amendment to the motion and Cllr Sue Graham seconded the amendment, that: 

 

`The Burnley Local Plan brought in by the Labour administration in 2018, has seen significant amounts of our green spaces allocated to housing developments in spite of the strong objections of some local residents and the significant number of vacant houses in the Borough. 

 

This Council notes that the Plan was produced over the preceding 8 years in line with statutory guidance; and asserts that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Anti-Racism Motion pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Minutes:

It was moved by Cllr Scott Cunliffe and seconded by Cllr Bea Foster that:

 

This Council notes:

• the recent success of the England squad for UEFA Euros 2020, which if it was not for injury would have included Burnley FC Goalkeeper Nick Pope.

• that thousands of racist comments aimed at England players (notably Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka) were posted online after England's defeat by penalties in the UEFA Euros 2020 Final. The number of social media accounts permanently suspended amid a blaze of racial and hateful messages is unclear, arguably it is currently too easy to respawn accounts with nothing more than a new email address or sim card.

• that an online petition launched by Huda Jawad, Shaista Aziz and Amna Abdul calling for the Football Association (FA) and the government to work together to reinforce stricter sanctions for those responsible for online and offline racial abuse; the petition received over one million signatures from concerned citizens around the country since it was launched after the UEFA Euros 2020 Final on Sunday 11th July 2021.

Burnley Football Club has an anonymous text to report ‘CLARETS RESPECT’ text line should anyone witness or experience any of any form of discrimination at any place in or around Turf Moor. On matchdays the text line is monitored in real time and includes proactive actions such as covert and overt monitoring in the designated area. The Club works closely with its Dedicated Football Officer (DFO) and Lancashire Police, including following guidance from the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), the FA, Kick it Out and the Premier Leagues ‘No Room for Racism’ throughout the year too.

Burnley FC in the Community (BFCitC), the official charity of Burnley FC, has a positive track record of delivering various inclusion projects and targeted intervention in East Lancashire for all ages and demographics.

• the upcoming Online Safety Bill and the propose setting up of independent regulatory bodies for online platforms.

 

This Council believes:

• that all forms of discrimination are unacceptable and that any individual found guilty of online or offline hate crime and racism should receive a ban for life from all football games in England with an emphasis on stringent identification processes and sanctions for those online.

• places with Premier League Clubs, like Burnley, need to continue to lead from the front in combating racist abuse and hate crimes both online and offline.

• Football’s governing bodies including the FA and the Premier League, the Government and Social Media corporations should work effectively together to tackle online abuse and prevent hate crimes from appearing and remaining on their platforms.

 

This Council resolves:

• to work closely with Burnley Football Club and Burnley Football Club in the Community to schedule anti-racism messages across Council social platforms on match days.

• to work closely with Building Bridges Burnley to promote community cohesion and dialogue around issues of diversity and racism.

• that the Chief Executive will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

Constitutional Updates Report pdf icon PDF 130 KB

To inform members of minor changes to the Constitution made under delegated powers, and to advise of a call-in waiver.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that Council note:

 

1.    The waiver of call in relating to an urgent decision taken by the Executive on 14th July 2021 (Minute 28 as amended) relating to Charter Walk

 

2.    The minor changes made by the COO under delegated powers to Part 4.7 Standing Orders for Contracts regarding the Council’s  Common Seal (to align with Part 2 Article 14.05), tender thresholds, and any other minor matters.

 

 

30.

Appointments to Committees, Working Groups and Outside Bodies pdf icon PDF 130 KB

To update the membership of Committees, Working Groups and Outside Bodies.

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that:

 

1.     Burnley Leisure Trust – Cllr Frank Cant be appointed to replace Cllr Mohammed Ishtiaq.

2.     LCC Health Scrutiny Committee(Lead) - Cllr Saeed Chaudhary be appointed to replace Cllr Frank Cant.

3.     The appointment of Mr David Swift as Independent Member of the Audit & Standards Committee be approved.

 

 

 

 

31.

Revenue Budget Monitoring Q1 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 634 KB

To approve a revised budget and transfers from earmarked reserves.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that Council approve:

 

1.    The latest revised net budget of £15.419m and

2.    Net transfers from earmarked reserves of £1.816m

32.

Capital Budget Monitoring Q1 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 238 KB

To consider a revised capital budget, and the financing of the budget.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Fewings left the meeting and took no part in the debate or decision making.

 

It was RESOLVED that Council approve:

 

1.    Net budget changes totalling a decrease of £4,284,007 giving a revised capital budget for 2021/22 totalling £16,243,296

2.    The proposed financing of the revised capital budget totalling £16,243,296.

 

 

Cllr Fewings returned to the meeting.

33.

Revenue Budget 2022-25 Latest Position and Savings Proposals pdf icon PDF 412 KB

To consider the savings as set out in the report to help balance the budget for 2022/23.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that Council approve the proposed savings totalling £139k to assist in balancing the 2022/23 revenue budget.

34.

Reports from Committee Chairs

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that the reports of Committee Chairs be noted.

35.

Strategic Plan Progress Reports pdf icon PDF 687 KB

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that the Strategic Plan Progress Reports of the Leader, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Resources & Performance, Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing and Executive Member for Housing and Development Control be noted.

 

Duration of meeting

 

In accordance with CPR 13(L) members considered a motion without notice that the meeting continue beyond 3 hours duration until the end of the meetings business and it was RESOLVED accordingly.

 

It was RESOLVED that the Strategic Plan Progress Reports of the Executive Member for Community and Environmental Services and the Executive Member for Economy & Growth be noted.