Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2018 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on the proposed development of Belvedere as a care home for older people.

At its meeting on 19 July 2018, the Board had approved the development of a costed proposal for care home provision at Belvedere. Details were set out in the report, although further work would be required to fully understand the full financial implications.

Reason(s) for Decision

To instigate the development of Belvedere as a care home.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Implementation Date

It was anticipated that the works would be completed within 12 months, potentially opening in October 2019.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the contents of the report be noted; and

2)    the Board agree in principle to further work to finalise the overall capital and revenue costs.

he Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on the proposed development of Belvedere as a care home for older people.

At its meeting on 19 July 2018, the Board had approved the development of a costed proposal for care home provision at Belvedere. Details were set out in the report, although further work would be required to fully understand the full financial implications.

Reason(s) for Decision

To instigate the development of Belvedere as a care home.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Implementation Date

It was anticipated that the works would be completed within 12 months, potentially opening in October 2019.

RESOLVED: That

3)    the contents of the report be noted; and

4)    the Board agree in principle to further work to finalise the overall capital and revenue costs.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which provided a summary of the responses received during the statutory consultation on the creation of a Resource Base at Beechwood Primary School and Halton Lodge Primary School.

Executive Board had previously agreed that a statutory consultation be undertaken on the proposal to create a Resource Base for Foundation/ Key Stage 1 Pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH). The report set out a summary of the consultation results for each of the schools proposed, as well as the options open to the Board as the decision maker.

Reason(s) for Decision

To provide a more inclusive offer for pupils with SEMH giving them the opportunity to be educated with support alongside their peers.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Developing only one Foundation/Key Stage 1 SEMH Base and one Secondary Base was considered. No secondary schools expressed an interest in providing an SEMH base.

Implementation Date

September 2018.

RESOLVED: That

1)    Foundation/Key Stage 1 Social, Emotional and Mental Health Resource Provision Base is developed at Beechwood Primary School;

2)    Foundation Key Stage 1 Social, Emotional and Mental Health Resource Base is developed at Halton Lodge Primary School;

3)    Specialist Provision Capital funding is used to provide the facilities required for the two bases; and

4)    the revenue costs of the new provision will be met from the High Needs budget.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which outlined the potential delivery model for Early Help Services.

The Board was advised that Halton had experienced an increase in demand within Children’s Services across both Early Help and Social Care. Halton had revised its Early Help Strategy with some common principles to address how the authority worked across all ages.

It was reported that the ongoing financial pressures required a re-think on the design of Early Help Services and how the Council could improve joint working across internal services and with partners. Members were advised that a new model of provision which had been developed in other areas of the UK was that of Children’s Communities. The report set out details of the three characteristics that defined the thinking and approach behind Children’s Communities.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the potential approach be agreed; and

2)    the Board agree that a project team be established to further develop the model and options.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought approval to vary the non-statutory fees offered by Halton Registration Service for 2020/2021.

The Marriage Act 1995 and the Civil Partnership Act 2005 allowed local authorities to set fees for ceremonies in approved premises. In January 2011, the Executive Board Sub-Committee agreed to set the non-statutory fees outside of the usual timeframe for setting fees, due to ceremonies being planned up to two years in advance.

The proposed fee structure was set out in Appendix 1 for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED: That the variations to the non-statutory fees of Halton Registration Service, as set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report, be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive, which sought authority to invite tenders for the development of a Solar Farm on the former St Michael’s Golf Course.

In October 2017, the Board approved proposals to develop a Solar Farm on part of the former St Michael’s Golf Course. The initial proposal was to connect the Solar Farm by private wire to Halton Stadium, thereby making use of a brownfield site and a Council asset.

The report set out two options for the use of the electricity generated from the Solar Farm, and these were noted as being either a Private Wire Arrangement whereby the Stadium would use 45% of the energy generated; or a Power Purchase Arrangement where the Council would be able to use all of the electricity generated.

RESOLVED: That

1)    approval be granted to invite tenders for the Design, Build, Operation and Maintenance contract for the development of a Solar Farm on the former St Michael’s Golf Course; and

2)    the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, in consultation with the Environment Portfolio holder, be authorised to determine the most appropriate use for the electricity when the financial merits of the options highlighted in the report have been assessed and determine which is the most advantageous to the Council.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on progress against key milestones/objectives and performance targets for the first quarter of 2018/19.

The Board was advised that the Directorate Performance Overview Report provided a strategic summary of key issues arising from performance in the relevant quarter for each Directorate, being aligned to Council priorities or functional areas. The Board noted that such information was key to the Council’s management arrangements, with the Board having a key role in monitoring performance and strengthening accountability. Performance management would continue to be important in the demonstration of value for money and outward accountability.

RESOLVED: That the report and progress and performance information be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which summarised the overall revenue and capital spending position as at 30 June 2018.

In overall terms revenue expenditure was £1.109m above the budget profile. It was reported that based on current spend patterns, projections showed that Council would have a year-end outturn overspend position of approximately £5.140m, if no corrective action were taken. There were a number departments where net spend for the quarter exceeded the budget profile. The main budget pressure continued to be within the Children and Families Department, despite an additional budget growth of £3m being allocated to the department at the start of the current financial year.

The Capital Programme had been revised to reflect a number of changes in spending profiles and funding, as  schemes had developed; a list of those schemes that had been revised were set out in the report. Capital spending at 30 June 2018 totalled £3.8m which was 98% of the planned spending at this stage. It was noted that this represented 9.9% of the total Capital Programme of £38.2m.

The Council’s balance sheet was monitored regularly in accordance with the Reserves and Balances Strategy, which formed part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The key reserves and balances had been reviewed and were considered prudent and appropriate at this stage in the financial year and within the current financial climate.

RESOLVED: That

1)    all spending continues to be limited to the absolutely essential;

2)    Strategic Directors take appropriate action to contain overall spending within their total operational budget by year-end; and

3)    Council be recommended to approve the revised Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix 2.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which proposed the prohibition of the sale of fur at Halton Markets.

Members were advised that a proposed ban on the importation and sale of fur in the UK was debated in Parliament on 4 June 2018. It was noted that the motion received strong cross party support and that the probable next stage would be for Members of Parliament to encourage the relevant Secretary of State to bring forward a Bill for consideration.

It was reported that the National Association of British Markets Authorities (NABMA) had not yet confirmed its position on the matter, and so the decision whether to ban or prohibit the sale of fur would be left to individual local authorities. Members were asked to consider the introduction of such a ban and details of the possible impact on Halton’s markets were set out in the report for consideration.

RESOLVED: That Members agree to prohibit the sale of fur at Halton’s Markets.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which sought approval for the invitation of tenders to provide a floating support service to deliver housing related support to people in their own homes.

In 2014, a procurement exercise was undertaken for floating support services to deliver housing related support to people in their own homes across all tenure, to maintain their accommodation and prevent homelessness. Two floating support services were procured at that time; one was for a generic housing support service and the other was for a service working with people with mental health problems. It was reported that the initial contracts were awarded for three years; an option to extend for a further year, which was taken up, will expire on 31 March 2019.

It was noted that both services were co-located within the Plus Dane Runcorn office. The report provided details of the numbers of people that had been helped through both services.

The Board was advised that in line with Procurement Standing Orders, approval was sought to commence a tender exercise for an integrated floating support service, which would offer a generic service across all client groups.

RESOLVED: That the Board approves the commencement of a procurement exercise for floating support services.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the Community Shop initiative.

Members had considered the development of a Community Shop at the Board meeting on 15 March 2018. Since then, Members had visited a Community Shop premises in Barnsley in order to gain an insight into the operation of such a facility. It was noted that, with the opening of a Community Shop store in St Helens, the infrastructure was now in place to support similar facilities in the Liverpool City Region.

It was reported that Officers had progressed the identification of potential premises for a Community Shop in Halton. Appendix 1 attached to the report provided details of the options identified for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the options set out in the report be noted; and

2)    a further report be presented to the Board in October to consider how best to proceed to deliver Community Shop in Halton, following the outcome of the options appraisal.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on progress on the Widnes Loops Link Road and junction works.

The Board was reminded that, at its meeting on 22 February 2018, it had approved the outline development of a permanent road link between the Mersey Gateway Widnes Loops Roundabout and Victoria Road/ Waterloo Road/ Hutchinson Street junction. It was reported that during the summer, the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio holders used his emergency powers to agree the land transfer to the Council.

The report advised that the SCAPE Framework contract would be utilised to procure construction works and with Board approval, also used to deliver the project. An amendment to the Capital Programme had been approved subject to further reporting at detailed design stage.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the report be noted;

2)    the Board notes the Chief Executive’s use of his delegated powers, as outlined in paragraph 3 of the report;

3)    Council be recommended to approve the increase of Capital Funding allocation to ensure the scheme progresses; and

4)    the Board approves the use of the SCAPE contract to enable continued progress of the scheme.

PART II

In this case the Board has a discretion to exclude the press and public and, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, it is RECOMMENDED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, having been satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Board considered:

1)    Whether Members of the press and public should be excluded from the meeting of the Board during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 because it was likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be considered, exempt information would be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraphs 3 and 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972; and

2)    Whether the disclosure of information was in the public interest, whether any relevant exemptions were applicable and whether, when applying the public interest test and exemptions, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed that in disclosing the information.

RESOLVED: That as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed that in disclosing the information, members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 because it was likely that, in view of the nature of the business, exempt information would be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on proposals for the development of the Southern Widnes Key Impact Area.

The Board was reminded that in March 2017, it had approved the Mersey Gateway Regeneration Plan Plus, which focused on a cohesive package of development opportunities in eight Regeneration Impact Areas. It was reported that the Southern Widnes area had become a significant ‘gateway’ to Widnes and the wider Borough, with increased connectivity to and from the area following the opening of the Mersey Gateway.

The report set out details of proposals to provide an attractive, high quality and sustainable mixed use gateway providing an environment that supported business growth, promoted an improved health and wellbeing offer for local residents and encouraged visitors to the Borough.

RESOLVED: That the Board approve the recommendations as tabled at the meeting.

MINUTES ISSUED: 25 September 2018

CALL-IN: 2 October 2018

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 2 October 2018