Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence from the meeting were received from Councillors M Robinson and N Stubbs.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8^th June 2023 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.

Presentation by Jackie Moran

Jackie Moran, the Integrated Place Leader for East Lancashire gave a presentation on the introduction to the new Places in Lancashire and South Cumbria and the Lancashire Place journey to date.

The presentation covered the following:

1. Providing an update on the new system arrangements, and specifically, the development of the new Lancashire Place
2. Providing an update on the emerging arrangements for the East Lancashire locality.
3. Consideration of some of the big questions / areas for development and a timeframe for next steps.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report asking Committee to consider the proposed extension of the Dog Control and Dog Fouling Public Spaces Protection Order 2020 (PSPO) for a further period of 3 years.

The Council considered an extension of the PSPO to be necessary to prevent the occurrence or reoccurrence of the issues identified when the order was originally made, namely the problem of dog fouling and problematic dog behaviour across the borough. 

It was noted that public consultation had taken place and the report detailed the outcome of this, which showed overwhelming support for extending the PSPO.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1. Having had regardto theprovisions of Section 60of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2017,approved the extension of the 2020 PSPO for another three years as set out in the report.

2. Authorised the Chief Executive to make the Order.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Committee approval for the 2023 Market Regulations further to review.

Members were advised that the conditions within the market regulations had never been formally agreed by Committee and there had been numerous amendments made to them over the years.  It was proposed that there should be a standard set of clear conditions to avoid any confusion going forward.  These conditions were set out in the report.

Current market traders were consulted and although the feedback was limited, it was supportive of the proposals.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approved the 2023 Market Regulations that would become operational forthwith.

Report of the Director of Economic Planning and Development enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report requesting Committee’s agreement to purchase two temporary accommodation units within the borough to add to the Council’s stock of temporary accommodation.

It was noted that there is an increased demand for temporary accommodation for those who present as homeless.  £304,580 had been secured within the capital programme for the purchase of a unit in Clitheroe and one in Longridge.  Preferably the units would consist of ground floor accommodation with one or two bedrooms.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Granted delegated authority to the Director of Economic Development and Planning in consultation with Chair of Health and Housing, to negotiate and purchase two temporary accommodation units in line with the 2023/24 capital programme.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report to provide Committee with suggested priority areas for the work of the Health and Wellbeing Working Group following the first meeting of the group on 24^th July 2023.

The report detailed the discussions that took place at the first meeting of the working group, their key concerns and their recommendations going forward.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1. Approve the Director of Economic Development and the Head of Strategic Planning and Housing along with Councillor Stuart Hirst, Councillor Rachel Ray and Councillor Ian Brown as Members of the local Health and Wellbeing Partnership following its constitution.

2. Approve the priorities of the Working Group as being:

• To examine access to health and wellbeing services and to consider ways in which access to those services could be improved. Such suggestions would be first agreed by this Committee and then fed into the Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

• To map council, partner and community health and wellbeing activities which contribute to better health and wellbeing so that better linkages and promotion can take place.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report outlining the progress on this Committee’s 2023/24 capital programme for the period to the end of June 2023.

At the end of June 2023, £588,042 had been spent or committed. This was 15.2% of the full year approved capital programme budget for this Committee of £3,866,630.  Of the ten schemes in the capital programme, one scheme had already been completed, four schemes were expected to be completed in-year, and five schemes were unlikely to be completed in-year.  Details by cost centre were outlined in the report for information.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report to report on the progress of the 2023/24 revenue budget as at the end of June 2023.

The comparison between actual expenditure and the original estimate budget for this Committee for the period to the end of June 2023 showed an underspend of £63,414, or an underspend of £79,958 after allowing for transfers to and from earmarked reserves.  Details of the variances by cost centre were included in the report for information.  It was noted that whilst there was a sizeable variance, much of this is in respect of funding for Local Council Tax Support. The impact of this would be through the Collection Fund rather than on this Committee, and due to the mechanics of the Collection Fund, this would not be felt until 2024/25.

Report of the Director of Resources enclosed

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report outlining the outturn for the financial year 2022/23 in respect of the Revenue Budget for this Committee.

There had been a number of variations in both income and expenditure during the year, and this had given rise to an overall underspend of £343,943 on the net cost of services. After transfers to and from earmarked reserves there was an overall underspend of £69,825.  Details by cost centre were outlined in the report for information.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Head of Strategic Planning and Housing submitted a report informing Committee of a Lancashire County Council (LCC) grant award that would provide additional housing support for households with drug and alcohol addiction/in recovery.

The report informed Members of the plans that LCC had formulated and how they were relevant to the Ribble Valley.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report providing Committee with information about the level of homelessness and refugees in the borough.

The report provided details such as the number of homeless applications in the first quarter, a snapshot of the number of households in temporary accommodation, details of the home for Ukraine scheme and the Afghan resettlement scheme.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted an information report providing Committee with a summary of all the different grant types that are administered by the Housing Team.  The report detailed for each type of grant, the maximum value that could be awarded, the eligibility criteria, the conditions of the grant, their strategic aims and whether they are mandatory/discretionary.

Minutes of the Strategic Housing Working Group meeting of 12^th July 2023 and the Health & Wellbeing Partnership Working Group meeting of 24 July 2023 enclosed.

The minutes from the Strategic Housing Working Group on 12^th July 2023 and the Health and Wellbeing Partnership Working Group on 24^th July 2023 were noted.

Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee – Report of Councillor Tony Austin enclosed

Councillor T Austin submitted a report relating to the Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee that met on 12^th July 2023. Of particular note was the update on the new hospitals programme.

RESOLVED: That by virtue of the next items of business being exempt information under Paragraphs 1, 2 and 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 Head of Strategic Planning and Housing submitted a report seeking Committee’s approval for the use of the new Homeless Prevention top-up grant for Homes for Ukraine guests.

It was noted that a significant barrier faced by Ukrainian residents in the Ribble Valley who are seeking to move from sponsored accommodation is the lack of furniture/white goods and the ability to furnish their homes.  It was proposed that part of the additional funding should be used to make available essential household items to enable Ukraine households to move into independent settled accommodation.

Discussions took place surrounding the grant conditions and as to who would take ownership of the household items that would be provided.  Whilst it was agreed that ownership would pass to the Ukrainian households, it was felt that they should be encouraged to recycle/pass the items on to others if they no longer have need for them in the future.  This would be incorporated into the grant application form.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.            Approved the use of part of the Homeless Prevention Grant for the purchase of essential household items in accordance with paragraphs 1.10 and 1.11.

2.            Approved the purchased items becoming the property of the Ukrainian resident/family who receive the items.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report updating Committee on the affordable housing commuted sum monies received from the land north of Dilworth Lane, Longridge, and to request authority be delegated to the Director of Economic Development and Planning to finalise the details of utilising the commuted sums.

It was noted that the Strategic Housing Working Group had met on 12^th July 2023 to discuss this.  The report outlined the options that the working group had considered for spending the Longridge commuted sum contributions, along with their preferred option going forward.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1. Confirmed that Option 1 is taken forward and granted delegated authority to the Director of Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Chair of Health and Housing Committee, to select a Registered Provider for the delivery of additional affordable housing within Longridge on any of the three sites currently/ imminently due to start construction, in accordance with the requirements of the Section 106 Agreement.

2. Agreed that the £1.6m commuted sum be given as a grant to the identified Registered Provider to provide additional affordable housing in Longridge.

3. Delegated authority to the Director of Economic Development and Planning, in consultation with the Chair of Health and Housing Committee, to agree a suitable mechanism to passport the S106 contributions to the selected Registered Provider to secure the delivery of additional affordable housing in Longridge.

Report of the Director of Economic Development and Planning enclosed

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report informing Committee of recent approvals for various Disabled Facilities Grants and Landlord Tenant Grants.