Decisions

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Earlier - Later

Decisions published

29/11/2022 - 2023 Parliamentary Boundary Review - Final Consultation ref: 610    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Policy and Finance

Made at meeting: 29/11/2022 - Policy and Finance

Decision published: 01/12/2022

Effective from: 29/11/2022

Decision:

The Chief Executive submitted a report outlining the recommendations of the Boundary Review working group for response to the final consultation on the Boundary Commission’s 2023 Review of Parliamentary constituencies within England.

 

As part of the review, the number of constituencies would increase from 533 to 543. Each constituency must also contain a number of electors no smaller than 69,724 and no larger than 77,062. A final consultation period of four weeks started on 8 November 2022 until 5 December 2022 on the latest recommendations.

 

Committee were reminded of the initial proposals made in June 2021 which kept the Ribble Valley constituency mainly intact, with the three wards of Billington & Langho, East Whalley, Read & Simonstone and Whalley & Painter Wood moved from Ribble Valley to the new Hyndburn constituency. This affected 7,339 electors.

 

The latest proposals effectively split the Ribble Valley area into two Parliamentary constituencies with Clitheroe and wards in the east of Ribble Valley moved into the new Pendle and Clitheroe constituency. This would affect 21,611 electors and would leave the new Ribble Valley constituency without an obvious administration/service centre.

 

The Chief Executive informed the committee that the working group felt the initial proposals, although disappointing, would better preserve the community and geographical links with most Ribble Valley residents and their MP.

 

However, they also felt that if the latest proposal was to go ahead that it could be improved with minor changes to a few wards.

 

Committee discussed various scenarios and Councillors Austin, Buller, Mirfin, Robinson and Scott were given permission to speak on the item.

 

The overall view of committee was that the Ribble Valley constituency should remain in its present form, however should changes have to be made, the lesser upheaval would be that of the initial proposals made in June 2021. Should this option not be available either then minor changes to the latest proposals were suggested which included moving a few wards around.

 

Committee were also conscious that electors did not fully understand exactly what was being consulted upon and believed the proposed changes to be affecting the Borough boundaries not just the parliamentary constituencies. Once the outcome of the consultation was known the Chief Executive agreed that electors would be informed.

 

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE

 

1.    Agree to reject the latest proposals from the Boundary Commission for the reasons outlined,

 

2.    Reluctantly request the Boundary Commission go back to the initial proposals made in June 2021 when the wards of Billington and Langho, East Whalley, Read & Simonstone and Whalley & Painterwood were moved into the new Hyndburn constituency, and

 

3.    Request that if the latest proposals must be accepted, the wards of Whalley & Painter Wood and Chatburn be moved back into the Ribble Valley. constituency and Bamber Bridge East be moved into the South Ribble constituency.

 

4.    The draft response to the Boundary Commission be shared with the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition before being sent.

 


23/11/2022 - Approval of Audited Statement of Accounts 2021/22 ref: 608    For Determination

Decision Maker: Accounts and Audit

Made at meeting: 23/11/2022 - Accounts and Audit

Decision published: 29/11/2022

Effective from: 23/11/2022

Decision:

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking Committee to formally approve the Statement of Accounts for 2021/22 following completion of the audit.

 

The Head of Financial Services reminded Members that their role in approving the Statement of Accounts, following the conclusion of the audit, was to demonstrate their ownership of the statements, their confidence in the Director of Resources and the process by which accounting records are maintained and the statements prepared.

 

He reported that:

·         The deadline for the publication of the draft accounts had been met and the Statement of Accounts (subject to Audit) had been made available on the Council’s website from 29 July 2022.

·         There had been a final outturn surplus of £427,000 during the year compared with the Revised Estimate which showed a surplus of £198,000 and the Original Estimate which showed a deficit of £400,000

·         The Council had added £617,956 to earmarked reserves for revenue purposes and taken £456,429 from earmarked reserves to fund the capital programme.  The overall net movement was £161,527 added to earmarked reserves.

The Chairman thanked the Head of Financial Services and his staff for all their hard work in achieving the closedown of the accounts.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the audited Statement of Accounts for 2021/22.

 

 

Lead officer: Averil Crowther


23/11/2022 - Letter of Representation ref: 607    For Determination

Decision Maker: Accounts and Audit

Made at meeting: 23/11/2022 - Accounts and Audit

Decision published: 29/11/2022

Effective from: 23/11/2022

Decision:

The Director of Resources submitted a report which included a Letter of Representation that Grant Thornton had required to be signed before they could sign off the accounts.

 

The letter set out assurances from the Council to Grant Thornton that relevant accounting standards had been complied with and gave further assurances that the Council had disclosed information, which if it was withheld, would undermine the accuracy and reliability of the Statement of Accounts.

 

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE

Approve the letter of representation to Grant Thornton for 2021/22.

 

Lead officer: Averil Crowther


23/11/2022 - Audit Findings Report - Grant Thornton ref: 606    For Determination

Decision Maker: Accounts and Audit

Made at meeting: 23/11/2022 - Accounts and Audit

Decision published: 29/11/2022

Effective from: 23/11/2022

Decision:

Georgia Jones, Key Audit Partner submitted a report on behalf of Grant Thornton which outlined their audit findings and key matters arising from the audit of the Council’s financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2022.

 

She reminded members that:

Under International Standards of Audit and the National Audit Office, Grant Thornton are required to report on whether the Council’s financial statements give a true and fair view of the Council’s financial position and its income and expenditure for the year.

She informed Committee that:

·         The audit had been prepared in line with the appropriate codes of practice.

·         Their work is substantially complete, and subject to the outstanding matters set out in the report, including receipt of the management representation letter and review of the final set of financial statements, currently there were no matters that would require modification of their audit opinion.

·         Grant Thornton anticipated providing an unqualified opinion on the financial statements subject to the outstanding matters being resolved and that there were no significant issues to be brought to Committee’s attention.

·         Georgia asked to put on record her thanks to the Head of Financial Services and his team for their work.

The Chairman thanked Grant Thornton for their work.

 

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE

Accepted the external auditors audit findings report.

 

 

Lead officer: Averil Crowther


23/11/2022 - Annual Governance Statement ref: 605    For Determination

Decision Maker: Accounts and Audit

Made at meeting: 23/11/2022 - Accounts and Audit

Decision published: 29/11/2022

Effective from: 23/11/2022

Decision:

The Director of Resources sought Committee’s approval of the Annual Governance Statement for 2021/22.

 

Members were reminded that all councils are required to prepare an Annual Governance Statement each year in accordance with the “Delivering Good Governance in Local Government Framework” and to publish the extent to which they comply with their own Local Code of Corporate Governance. This code includes how the Council has monitored the effectiveness of its governance arrangements in the previous financial year and details any planned changes in the coming period.

 

The report noted that:

·         The Annual Governance Statement is a backward-looking review of how the Council had performed in relation to the principles set out at the beginning of each year in its own Local Code of Corporate Governance.

·         In reviewing how the Council and its staff and members had acted over the period of the review, evidence had also been gathered to support the Report’s conclusions.

·         There had been one issue raised in the review and details of this had been given in the report.

·         The Annual Governance Statement had to be published alongside the Council’s Statement of Accounts and that this is currently on the Council’s website together with a draft (subject to audit) copy of the Statement of Accounts.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE

Approve the Annual Governance Statement 2021/22 as attached to the report.

 

Lead officer: Averil Crowther