South Ribble Borough Council

The committee approved option two for a hackney carriage tariff increase. This changes the table of fares for licensed taxis, with officers saying the rise remains below the national average and will now proceed to consultation before coming into force if unopposed.

Council approved an Article 4 direction covering the entire borough to require planning permission for smaller HMOs, and it also includes measures for inspecting unlicensed HMOs and children's homes. This changes the planning control environment for property conversions and may affect developers and care providers.

The committee approved a part-retrospective change of use from a 14-bedroom HMO to six supported living accommodation suites, with associated communal areas, a rear extension, access ramp and landscaping. Officers considered the scheme acceptable in principle under local plan policy for special needs housing and built-up area development, subject to conditions.

Treasury outturn shows the council remained underborrowed and financed capital spend from cash balances rather than external borrowing. This reduced interest payable and the council stayed within its borrowing limits.

The council unanimously resolved to confer the Freedom of the Borough of South Ribble on the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, recognising its service to the borough, the nation, and the Crown. The decision also grants the regiment the right to parade through the borough with ceremonial privileges. This is a civic honour rather than a procurement decision, but it is a formal council policy action with symbolic and reputational implications.

Cabinet approved a capital budget of £140,000 to convert two tennis courts at South Ribble Tennis Centre into three paddle courts, with the contract to be awarded after a suitable procurement process. The report presented a revenue case based on increased use and potential income from the new indoor sport.

The committee considered several planning applications with direct procurement implications, including a large residential scheme at Walton Gardens with major Section 106 obligations, a 66-bed care home at Saxon Place with supporting transport and environmental measures, and town centre public realm works near Balfour Court funded through the town deal. Members repeatedly focused on infrastructure mitigation, drainage, highways, biodiversity net gain, affordable housing delivery, and whether schemes should be deferred or approved despite policy tensions. Two smaller council-led town centre items also progressed: offsite tree planting to offset BNG impacts and an advertisement consent for leisure centre signage.

The committee covered audit progress, internal audit findings for South Ribble Leisure, health and safety assurance, treasury management outturn, and a substantive constitution review affecting procurement waivers. The clearest procurement-related change was a proposal to remove cabinet member approval from waiver approvals while retaining officer and committee oversight. Members also discussed the impact of local government reorganisation on governance, internal audit, and future constitution updates, alongside routine assurance on audit fees, procurement routes, and supplier access to the Chest e-procurement system.