Minutes:
The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Stewart Fletcher outlined that the continuing cost of living crisis would inevitably lead to difficult decisions for struggling Ribble Valley families over Christmas. Agencies such as Citizen’s Advice can give helpful guidance and fortunately, as was revealed at a recent PCL meeting, there were ways that we might assist them other than simply financial. He understood that providing a postal address in the Ribble Valley might be helpful and asked whether the Leader had considered approaching Citizen’s Advice to explore this possibility.
The Leader thanked Councillor Fletcher for his question and advised that a postal address at St Mary’s Centre was now being utilised so this issue had now been resolved.
Next Councillor Fletcher noted that as preparations are made to celebrate Christmas and we are particularly thinking about family and our youngsters, he would like to ask the Leader about how best this Council could ensure that the decisions made always consider the well-being of future generations, so that by meeting today’s needs we do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own. He noted that his was particularly relevant as COP 28 works on vitally important agreements to keep to a maximum of 1.5C degrees of warming, and there are major concerns in the UK about homelessness and poverty.
Councillor Fletcher stated that in 2015, the Welsh Government passed the Well Being of Future Generations Act, which highlighted the importance of placing future generations at the centre of decisions and ensured they have a voice at policy level. He asked the Leader whether he thought that this Council should consider a similar inspirational approach?
He confirmed that Council’s Corporate Plan was being reviewed and he was sure that the long-term preservation of the Ribble Valley and how we contribute to that would be an important part of the deliberations when Policy & Finance Committee considers that plan.
He also believed and hoped the Council would agree that it was important that all political parties, even those that are newly formed, should be encouraging young people to become involved in local politics to help shape the future of the Ribble Valley.
Councillor Fletcher followed with a supplementary question, asking whether an agenda item would be included at the next Economic Development Committee reflecting this and as to a change of name to Climate Change.
The Leader felt that this matter should be considered at a Working Group initially, to which Councillor Fletcher advised that it had already been raised in this forum.
Councillor Fletcher noted the financial assistance received from the Borough towards Christmas lighting represented only a tiny fraction of the expense incurred by the major service centres. In the case of Clitheroe only approximately 4%. He understood that even these payments have been delayed this year and asked the Leader to explain this decision.
The Leader advised that the Council has a very small Christmas Lights budget for grants to Parish and Town Councils to help contribute to the purchase of new lights. This year there were very few applications initially, so the Council extended the grant application deadline by a further 4 weeks, which did result in a delay in decisions being taken.
Councillor Fletcher noted that the had been two Christmas light switch ons in Clitheroe this year, but none in other areas of the Ribble Valley. His supplementary question was to ask whether consideration could be given to a Christmas light switch on in Longridge next year.
The Leader advised that this could be considered.