Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Borough Councillors M Robinson, C McFall and R Walsh.

Apologies for absence were also received from S Rostron of Paythorne & Newsholme PC, K Shutes of Newton-in-Bowland PC and Mellor PC.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 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.

Presentation by Allison McGruer

The presentation was postponed to a future Committee.

Verbal report from the Partnership Officer

The Council’s Partnership Officer promoted the Lunch Clubs that take place across Ribble Valley and advised of the grants that are available to support them.

The aims are to provide services to support older and more vulnerable people in the community, to give them a safe space and to provide a point of contact for those residents with other partner agencies e.g. NHS Steady On service, Hyndburn & Ribble Valley Community Voluntary Support, the Police, Fire & Safety services etc.

RVBC’s Lunch Club grant can provide up to £800 per year and applications can be made via RVBC’s website Funding for Lunch Clubs – Ribble Valley Borough Council 

RVBC are also offering funding of up to £250 to existing lunch clubs for the provision of a Christmas celebration for local residents.

Committee were also advised of the LCC’s network of warm spacesand the potential to apply for the Lancashire warm spaces grant scheme.

Parish Councils were urged to promote lunch clubs within their parishes and were advised that grant monies are still available to utilise.

Verbal report from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Committee was advised of the Government consultation which is seeking views on the detail and practical implications of potentially allowing remote and hybrid attendance at Local Authority meetings.  It also tests views on the possible introduction of proxy voting for those occasions when an elected member, due to personal circumstances, may be unable to attend even remotely. 

A report will be submitted to the next Policy & Finance Committee with a recommendation for RVBC to submit a response to the consultation which would:

-        Agree with the broad principle of granting Local Authorities powers to allow remote attendance.

-        Confirm that proxy voting would not be considered appropriate.

The Head of Legal & Democratic Services will also email Parish Councils with the consultation details, and they will have until 19 December 2024 to respond to the Government.

Item raised by Simonstone Parish Council

The Chief Executive provided an update with regards to the potential creation of a Lancashire Combined County Authority and the possible implications.  It is thought that Lancashire would be given further powers, for example relating to:

• economic development and regeneration functions
• adult education and skills functions
• transport functions

Whilst the Chief Executive touched on some of the other potential changes, Committee was advised that it is speculation at the moment.

The upcoming English Devolution White Paper will set out more detail on the government’s devolution plans, and further information will then be shared with Committee.

The Chairman informed the Committee that the next meeting would be on 30 January 2025 at 6.30pm.