Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 June 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest in respect of matters contained in the agenda.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests.

There was no public participation.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted an information report to provide an update on Ribble Valley Taste Fest and Clitheroe Food Festival.

The Ribble Valley Taste Fest had taken place between 5 and 9 August with Clitheroe Food Festival taking place on 10 August. Over 107 businesses and organisations had attended the Festival which was attended by approximately 25,000 visitors, up from the previous record of 20,000 visitors for 2023. A high number of stall holders had sold out due to demand.

Members expressed their gratitude to everyone involved in making the Food Festival a success.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report for information on the outturn for the financial year 2023/24 on the revenue budget for this committee.

Following a number of variations in both income and expenditure during the year, there was an overall underspend of -£23,837 on the net cost of services, including after transfers to and from earmarked reserves.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report for information on the position of the 2024/25 revenue budget for this Committee for the period April to July 2024.

The comparison between actual and budgeted expenditure showed an overall overspend of £52,293 for the first four months of the financial year 2024/25.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report for information on the progress on this Committee’s 2024/25 capital programme for the period to the end of July 2024.

There had been no spend or commitments made against the capital programme budget. The position of the one capital scheme budget was that it was unlikely to be spent by financial year-end.

Minutes of the Climate Change Working Group meeting 11 April 2024 enclosed.

The minutes of the Climate Change Working Group meeting held on 11 April 2024 were submitted for Committee’s information.

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

RESOLVED: That by virtue of the next item of business being exempt information under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be now excluded from the meeting.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report for information providing Committee with the full applications into the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grant scheme.

A total of £413,093 of grant funding had been allocated from the REPF budget to date which left an unallocated amount of £20,587 to be allocated and defrayed by 31 March 2025. The UKSPF working group had met on 11 July 2024 to discuss using unallocated UKSPF funds to support REPF projects as the demand had exceeded the amount of funding available. The report provided Committee with the amended and additional applications which would be considered by Policy and Finance Committee on 10 September 2024.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report updating Committee on the Business Support for Net Zero Transition and Decarbonisation Project, which was being funded from the Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The report provided updates on the project actions and events covering quarters one and two of 2024. Planned actions for quarter three were as follows:

·         A walkaround of business parks and industrial estates to engage businesses and raise awareness of the support available to them.

·         Destination Net Zero events within Lancashire

·         Attendance at appropriate events to raise awareness and increase engagement