Key decisions and updates from the meeting of the Full Council, Wednesday 22 January

Key decisions and updates from the meeting of the Full Council, Wednesday 22 January

Welcome to our round-up from the latest meeting of the Full Council.

View the agenda for the proceedings, including a link to video footage.

Sports Personality of the Year

On behalf of the council, the Mayor of Wigan Borough, Councillor Debbie Parkinson, congratulated the local heroes who were recognised at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

• Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, who won the main title
• Wigan Warriors, who were awarded team of the year
• Jenny Meadows and Trevor Painter, who were named as coaches of the year.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Molyneux MBE, invited the BBC to host the SPOTY ceremony in Wigan Borough for 2026.

He said: “This is very special; when you think of us as a place, as our borough, to have such success in a national competition and win all the trophies that we have won.

“In 2013, in my then role as deputy leader, I did write then to BBC Sport, suggesting that in the future Sports Personality of the Year perhaps should be in Wigan. Well, I’m going to emphasise that again.

“I will write again, and suggest next year’s is held in the borough and the people that are winning these trophies won’t have as far to travel because it’ll be right on their doorstep.

“The success is there for everyone to see and it’s something that we’re certainly proud of. I would to thank everybody for voting for Keely on the night.”

Continued support for the WASPI campaign

The Leader outlined the council’s ongoing support for the WASPI campaigners given recent national announcements.

He said: “This is something that I reiterated back in April last year, in terms of our continued support for WASPI and I know there is a question tabled tonight on this subject.

“Can I just assure everybody in this council chamber that this council will continue its support for the WASPI women in this borough to continue that fight for the justice they deserve.

“I’m not backing away from that and neither should we as a council.”

Update about the recent flooding outbreaks

Councillor Paul Prescott, cabinet portfolio holder for planning, environmental services and transport, used his update to highlight some of the recent support for those affected by the flooding incidents at the turn of the year.

In addition to the support from the community and partnership agencies, the council has provided 200 skips to help affected households dispose of spoiled waste and furniture. Meanwhile, business rates have been suspended for affected firms and council tax will be waived for households.

He said: “I offer my personal thanks and gratitude to everyone who's been involved in this magnificent effort.

“All staff, elected members, and our partners. It goes without saying that Team Wigan has yet again been absolutely brilliant in its response to this emergency.”

Housing and tenant reports

Reports on the following items were all accepted in what was a busy agenda. For full details, view the agenda pack.

• First Homes Policy - proposals for a local approach to delivering new houses and making them more accessible for first time buyers
• Anti-social behaviour - absolute ground for possession, guidance and procedure; proposals that outlined the council’s powers in relation to seeking possession of property through evictions due to anti-social housing tenants
• Housing tenant engagement strategy - a report detailing the council’s commitment to new engagement work with its social housing tenants.

Motions over-run leading into reconvened meeting

Five motions were on the agenda for this meeting, with the three-hour cut-off reached during the third motion. This meant the third motion went straight to a vote without further discussion, and the remaining two items were also voted on, without discussion, when the meeting reconvened on Friday morning.

For a standard meeting, a three-hour time limit is imposed to ensure that proceedings do not over-run and that the business of each meeting is conducted in a fair manner.

Here’s a quick explainer about ‘motions’ at full council:

Motions are proposed by one member and seconded by a colleague. This means they present the motion to the chamber. It is opened up for debate, meaning all members can speak on that subject should they choose to. The proposer and seconder are then asked to ‘sum up’ before it goes to the vote.

Motions regarding the following topics were all approved (meaning members voted by a majority in favour of the motion’s action).

• The council will write to Ofcom, government and BBC to support Dame Floella Benjamin’s call to improve investment into the content of children’s programmes on TV
• The council will write to the secretary of state welcoming the announcement for an independent commission on adult social care reform but calling for interim measures and support in the meantime
• The council recognises the widespread response to the recent outbreaks of flooding across the borough and urges the government to ensure that necessary funding is provided to affected residents and businesses
• In support of Oldham Council, the council will write to government requesting a national enquiry is undertaken into grooming gangs
• The council supports the recent announcement that drink spiking will become a specific criminal offence.