Minutes:
The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Lee Jamson stated that democracy and governance was at its best when a wide range of views were expressed and represented from a diverse cohort of the public. He noted that working groups played a key role in the sharing of ideas to make Ribble Valley a better place, in what was hopefully an apolitical forum. He asked that, given that the majority of working groups were during the day when a large amount of members on the Council were working, and that according to the LGA over 48% of Councillors nationally were in work or full-time education, if the leader could advise if any steps would be taken to move working group meetings from daytimes to evenings to ensure that members were not taking too much time off work and the role of a Councillor remained accessible to the majority of people? (Source - Councillors' Census 2022 (local.gov.uk))
The Leader thanked Councillor Jameson for his question noting that he understood the difficulty in arranging working groups especially for Councillors that were working, but that it was a matter of striking the right balance between the needs of Councillors and staff. He added that service Committees and Council met in the evening and often staff attending those meetings were working at least a 12-hour day, and that each cycle there were 9 Committee meetings and Council, with the same Officers at many of those Committees. He added that currently there were 11 Working Groups established by Committees, which tended to meet more often than Committees, and again, many of the Working Groups were attended by the same Officers that attended Committee meetings. He felt that having working groups meet in the evening would place an intolerable burden on staff and not one that they could support.
In a supplementary question, Councillor Jameson noted that he fully appreciated Officers worked long hours but that as Councillors ran the Council, could the Council look into a more practical flexible working scheme for Officers.
The Leader responded that this could be explored, however, that efforts were made to hold working groups at the start and end of the day to cater for everyone, and he was concerned about staff working conditions, particularly for senior members of staff who could not recover the hours.
Next, Councillor Jameson asked if the Leader could confirm, and guarantee, the dates that the remedial works on the Castle keep and proposed improvements to Castle Street (which had already been paid for) would be completed?
The Leader responded that Lancashire County Council had recently undertaken the necessary surveys on Castle Street to inform the designs. LCC had confirmed that they were now in a position to progress the scheme layout. This would be shared with RVBC Officers shortly. Whilst works were due to start in Spring, LCC had been made aware of the date of the food festival and had confirmed that no works would take place over that period. They had not yet guaranteed a timeline for the works. This was because matters currently unknown may arise during the works and there may be objections to the Traffic Regulation Orders. The intention was, however, to engage with key stakeholders and the public when the final design had been agreed and a proposed timeframe could be shared. RVBC Officers would be meeting with LCC later that month.
The Leader continued advising that the Castle Keep would be re-opened to the public within the next two weeks, including both the ramparts and the inside of the Keep. To re-open the Keep, it had been necessary to undertake a full photogrammetry survey and carry out some work to prop areas of the Keep that were thought to have a very small chance of coming loose. Further heritage design work was required to establish the longer-term work on the Keep. This would include pointing work but may also require some structural work. Work could not commence until the warmer months due to the mortar that needed to be used. It was predicted the final design solutions would be available within the next two months, allowing mobilisation in early summer. The Leader noted that there was a possibility that the current funding may be insufficient and that a bid to Heritage Lottery would be needed to fund the works, resulting in longer timescales, adding that Members would be updated as soon the final design work came back.
In a supplementary question, Councillor Jameson asked the Leader if he had a plan to address the decline in the high street and assign vacant high street occupancy?
The Leader responded that it had become evident, through assessment of Business Rate payers, that the same business owners retained many of the high street premises, noting that the Council did it’s best, however those properties were not owned by the Council.
Finally, Councillor Jameson noted that we were facing a period of financial uncertainty with growing demand for services and only short-term funding settlements. He asked if the Leader had considered the option, granted to us in the Levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023, of implementing a council tax premium of up to 100% on “Dwellings occupied periodically”/Second homes, especially due to the high percentage of 2nd homes in the Ribble Valley? He added, should those in the extremely fortunate position to be able to choose to own a second home in the middle of a housing crisis not pay a fairer share?
The Leader thanked Councillor Jameson for his question, and wished to make 3 very important points on the issue:
1. Not all furnished properties periodically unoccupied were second homes –
· They could be properties where a resident had died
· Where an empty but furnished property was on the market
· Where furnished rental properties were between tenants, e.g. the Council’s own Joiners Arms
2. It would be difficult to determine if the property was unoccupied periodically if residents opted to pay the full Council Tax
3. The Council met the full cost of collection but only retained 8% of the income.
The Leader would ask Officers to prepare a full report on the issue for the Budget Working Group to consider.
Councillor Jameson had no further comments.