Request support for West Lancashire

We're not currently able to provide detailed weekly summaries for West Lancashire Council. We need support from the council to:

  • Ensure we can reliably access and process council meeting information
  • Cover the costs of processing and summarizing council data
  • Maintain and improve the service for residents

You can help make this happen!

Contact your councillors to let them know you want West Lancashire Council to support Open Council Network. This will help ensure residents can stay informed about council decisions and activities.

If you represent a council or business, or would be willing to donate to support this service, please contact us at community@opencouncil.network.

Council - Wednesday, 11th December, 2024 7.30 pm

December 11, 2024 View on council website
AI Generated

Summary

West Lancashire Borough Council approved the revised Statement of Licensing Policy required by the Licensing Act 2003. The Council also approved the revised Statement of Licensing Policy required by the Gambling Act 2005. Two motions on bus fares and inheritance tax rules for farms were defeated. A motion of no confidence in the Council leader and the lead member for leisure was also defeated.

Leisure Update

The Council discussed a report providing an update on a range of leisure matters. The Council voted to approve the recommendations in the report. A motion to amend the recommendations in the report, that would have seen a Leisure Review Sub-Committee created to consider the future of Nye Bevan Pool in Skelmersdale and Park Pool in Ormskirk, was defeated.

That recommendations 2.1 and 2.2 of the report be replaced by a new 2.1 authorising the setting up of a Sub Committee of Full Council: Leisure Review Sub Committee Membership – 7 members – 4 Labour, 2 Conservative and 1 Owl Functions: (1) To consider the future of the two existing leisure facilities at Nye Bevan Pool, Skelmersdale and Park Pool, Ormskirk and the possible options for replacing these facilities by taking into account the current operating costs, the Council's current and projected financial position together with the information and options detailed in the report of FMG Consulting. (2) To report recommendations to the December meeting of the Full Council.

The approved recommendations mean that the Acting Chief Executive will explore the potential for delivering two new wellbeing and leisure facilities, and will take the steps necessary to consult on the future of Nye Bevan Pool and Park Pool leisure centres.

Savings Options and MTFS Update

The Council discussed a report proposing savings in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2025/26. The report detailed savings that could be made by reducing agency staff usage, reviewing the Skelmersdale Town Centre Management Cost Budgets, and amending the HROD salary budget. The Council voted to approve all of the savings proposals in the report. A motion to amend the report, the text of which is not available, was defeated.

Financial Savings/Efficiencies - Review of Mayoral Service and Legal & Democratic Services

The Council discussed a report that sought approval for a new Mayoral Function and proposed cost savings for the Mayoral service and Legal & Democratic Services. The report proposed to remove the Mayoral car and chauffeur, make the Mayor responsible for their own travel to events, make the Mayor's Fund Raising Committee responsible for all aspects of fund raising, including the licensing of events, and limit secretarial support to the production of Christmas cards. The report also sought approval to disestablish two vacant posts and make three compulsory redundancies in the Legal & Democratic Services team. The report noted that one of the roles subject to compulsory redundancy is part time and therefore the payback period for the role would be 4.5 years, above the normal 3 year payback period.

In view of the scale of the efficiency requirements, this payback period, given that it relates to a part time role, is deemed to be acceptable and in line with the proposed savings proposals on a pro rata basis.

The Council voted to approve the recommendations in the report.

Consultation Response: Enabling Remote Attendance and Proxy Voting at Local Authority Meetings

The Council considered a report that proposed a response to the Government's consultation 'Enabling Remote Attendance and Proxy Voting at Local Authority Meetings'. The consultation sought views on introducing powers for local authority members to apply for dispensations to attend meetings remotely and vote by proxy in certain circumstances. The Council agreed to respond to the consultation saying that they agree with the principle of granting powers to allow remote attendance at meetings, that they believe that councils should be able to allow full remote attendance when it is appropriate, and that they think it would be helpful to introduce proxy voting in certain circumstances, such as for members with caring responsibilities. The full response to the consultation is available on the Council's website.

Increase to the bus fare cap

Councillor de Freitas1, on behalf of the Conservative Group, proposed a motion that noted the Government's decision to increase the bus fare cap from £2 to £3. The motion stated that this will punish some of the most vulnerable in our community, will discourage sustainable travel and increase the number of cars on the road. The motion proposed that the Council write to the Transport Secretary to ask the Government to reconsider the decision. Councillor Gagen2 proposed an amendment to the motion, that removed all criticism of the Government and instead requested clarity on the Household Support Fund[^4]. The amendment was approved and the substantive motion was defeated.

Family Farm Tax

Councillor de Freitas, on behalf of the Conservative Group, proposed a motion that noted the recent change to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief. The motion stated that this may result in family farms being sold to pay inheritance tax, will threaten food security and make British food production harder. The motion proposed that the Council write to the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ask the Government to reconsider the plans. Councillor Gagen proposed an amendment that removed all criticism of the Government and simply noted the motion. The amendment was approved and the substantive motion was defeated.

No Confidence in the Council Leader and Lead Member for Leisure

Councillor Adrian Owens3, on behalf of the Our West Lancashire Group, proposed a motion of no confidence in Councillor Yvonne Gagen and Councillor Carl Coughlan4. The motion stated that under their leadership the Council's priorities to foster inclusive and healthy communities and reduce health and wellbeing inequalities were not being effectively advanced. The motion listed concerns about plans to close two swimming pools, the condition of football pitches, and the lack of progress on a new linear park. The motion called on both Councillors to resign with immediate effect. Councillor Gagen proposed an amendment that removed the call for resignation and instead noted the motion. The amendment was approved and the substantive motion was defeated.


  1. Councillor Ted de Freitas is the Conservative member for North Meols and Hesketh Bank ward. 

  2. Councillor Yvonne Gagen is the Labour Leader of West Lancashire Council and the member for the Ashurst ward. 

  3. Councillor Adrian Owens is the Leader of the Our West Lancashire opposition group and the member for Derby ward. 

  4. Councillor Carl Coughlan is the Labour member for the Knowsley ward and the lead member for leisure. 

Attendees

Jessica Hollingworth
Martyn Cousins
Profile image for CouncillorJulian Antoni Finch
CouncillorJulian Antoni Finch  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Skelmersdale South
Profile image for CouncillorAnne Mary Fennell
CouncillorAnne Mary Fennell  The Mayor of West Lancashire; and Dementia Champion •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Ormskirk West
Profile image for CouncillorJudy Abbott
CouncillorJudy Abbott  Labour Party •  Burscough Town
Profile image for CouncillorTerry Aldridge
CouncillorTerry Aldridge  Older People's Champion •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Skelmersdale South
Profile image for CouncillorMark Anderson
CouncillorMark Anderson  Lead Member: Finance •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Ormskirk West
Profile image for CouncillorRobert Bailey
CouncillorRobert Bailey  The Conservative Party •  Rural North East
Profile image for CouncillorAlexander Blundell
CouncillorAlexander Blundell  The Conservative Party •  Rural West
Profile image for CouncillorPatricia Burnside
CouncillorPatricia Burnside  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Burscough Town
Profile image for CouncillorCarl Coughlan
CouncillorCarl Coughlan  Lead Member: Leisure; and Youth Champion •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Tanhouse & Skelmersdale Town Centre
Profile image for CouncillorVickie Cummins
CouncillorVickie Cummins  Lead Member for Health & Wellbeing; and Food Security Champion •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Skelmersdale South
Profile image for CouncillorTerence Devine
CouncillorTerence Devine  Deputy Armed Forces Champion •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Skelmersdale North
Profile image for CouncillorGareth Dowling
CouncillorGareth Dowling  Deputy Leader of the Council; and Lead Member: Planning & Community Safety •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Ormskirk West
Profile image for CouncillorIan Eccles
CouncillorIan Eccles  The Conservative Party •  North Meols & Hesketh Bank
Profile image for CouncillorJohn Fillis
CouncillorJohn Fillis  Labour Party •  Up Holland
Profile image for CouncillorAndy Fowler
CouncillorAndy Fowler  Chairperson of Audit & Governance •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Burscough Town
Profile image for CouncillorThomas de Freitas
CouncillorThomas de Freitas  Lead Member: Rural Affairs •  The Conservative Party •  North Meols & Hesketh Bank
Profile image for CouncillorNeil Furey
CouncillorNeil Furey  Our West Lancashire •  Old Skelmersdale
Profile image for CouncillorYvonne Gagen
CouncillorYvonne Gagen  Leader of the Council & Lead Member: Legal & Democratic and Human Resources •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Skelmersdale North
Profile image for CouncillorJohn Gordon
CouncillorJohn Gordon  The Conservative Party •  Burscough Bridge & Rufford
Profile image for CouncillorNikki Hennessy
CouncillorNikki Hennessy  Independent •  Ormskirk East
Profile image for CouncillorPaul Hennessy
CouncillorPaul Hennessy  Armed Forces Champion •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Aughton & Holborn
Profile image for CouncillorPaul David Hesketh
CouncillorPaul David Hesketh  Deputy Leader: Our West Lancashire (OWL) •  Our West Lancashire •  Burscough Bridge & Rufford
Profile image for CouncillorPaul Hogan
CouncillorPaul Hogan  Food Security Champion •  Independent •  Tanhouse & Skelmersdale Town Centre
Profile image for CouncillorJohn Howard
CouncillorJohn Howard  The Conservative Party •  North Meols & Hesketh Bank
Profile image for CouncillorJanet Ingman
CouncillorJanet Ingman  Our West Lancashire •  Ormskirk East
Profile image for CouncillorKatie Juckes
CouncillorKatie Juckes  The Conservative Party •  Rural North East
Profile image for CouncillorSarah E Lawton
CouncillorSarah E Lawton  Lead Member for Clean & Green and Mayoress •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Aughton & Holborn
Profile image for CouncillorKerry A Lloyd
CouncillorKerry A Lloyd  Independent •  Aughton & Holborn
Profile image for CouncillorMrs Jane Marshall
CouncillorMrs Jane Marshall  The Conservative Party •  Rural West
Profile image for CouncillorJohn Mee
CouncillorJohn Mee  The Conservative Party •  Tarleton Village
Profile image for CouncillorRob Molloy
CouncillorRob Molloy  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Ormskirk East
Profile image for CouncillorMaureen Nixon
CouncillorMaureen Nixon  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Tanhouse & Skelmersdale Town Centre
Profile image for CouncillorGaynar Owen
CouncillorGaynar Owen  Labour Party •  Up Holland
Profile image for CouncillorAdrian Owens
CouncillorAdrian Owens  Leader of Our West Lancashire (OWL) •  Our West Lancashire •  Rural South
Profile image for CouncillorMelissa S Parlour
CouncillorMelissa S Parlour  Lead Member: Economic Regeneration & Green Growth •  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Skelmersdale North
Profile image for CouncillorSuresh Patel
CouncillorSuresh Patel  Deputy Mayor; Small Businesses Champion •  Labour Party •  Up Holland
Profile image for CouncillorEdward Pope
CouncillorEdward Pope  Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group •  The Conservative Party •  Burscough Bridge & Rufford
Profile image for CouncillorIan Rigby
CouncillorIan Rigby  Our West Lancashire •  Rural South
Profile image for CouncillorNicola Pryce-Roberts
CouncillorNicola Pryce-Roberts  Lead Member: Housing •  Labour Party •  Old Skelmersdale
Profile image for CouncillorLinda Marjorie Webster
CouncillorLinda Marjorie Webster  Our West Lancashire •  Rural South
Profile image for CouncillorDonna West
CouncillorDonna West  Labour and Co-operative Party •  Old Skelmersdale
Profile image for CouncillorDavid Westley
CouncillorDavid Westley  The Conservative Party •  Tarleton Village
Profile image for CouncillorMrs Marilyn Westley
CouncillorMrs Marilyn Westley  The Conservative Party •  Rural West
Profile image for CouncillorDavid Whittington
CouncillorDavid Whittington  Leader of the Conservative Group •  The Conservative Party •  Rural North East
Profile image for CouncillorMrs Joan Witter
CouncillorMrs Joan Witter  The Conservative Party •  Tarleton Village
Jacqui Sinnott-Lacey
Chris Twomey
James Pierce
Lisa Windle
Kathryn Sephton
Paul Charlson
Alan Leicester
Kay Lovelady
Jacky Denning
Julie Stamper
Jacqui Pendleton
Adam Spicer
Alison Wood
Jennifer Lunn
Helen Peek
Paul Loveday
Tom Dickinson
Terry Bonner
Jemma Hunstone
Dave Cove
Stephen Stephen
Melanie Moorey
Jill Ryan
Claire Kelly
Stephen Benge
Andrew Smith
Lauren Stewart
Chantal Barton
Thomas Lynan
Peter Quick
Jonas Smith
Samantha McHugh

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

Meeting Documents

Additional Documents

× Meeting image