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No. | Item |
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MINUTES Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 6th March 2008 were taken as read and signed as a correct record. |
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CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE PORTFOLIO |
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(NB: Councillor Gerrard declared a personal interest in
the following item of business due to being a Governor of Simms Cross Primary
School and Ditton Nursery.) |
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Primary Capital Programme PDF 32 KB Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People
providing an overview of the Primary Capital Programme and an outline of the
Government’s submission requirements for a Strategy for Change to secure
Primary Capital Funding. It was
advised that all authorities were required by Government to develop a Primary
Capital Programme aiming to ensure primary schools played a lead role in the
heart of their communities by offering local services; providing a 21st
learning environment, particularly in ICT; developing world class standards;
and promoting personalisation, flexibility, diversity and choice. As part of
the programme, consideration needed to be given to local demography, pupil
numbers and school standards. In addition, local authorities were required to
produce a Strategy for Change (Primary), which had to be formally endorsed by
the Council, the diocesan authorities and a majority of primary schools. This
document had to be with the Department for Children, Schools, and Families by
16th June 2008. Consultation requirements were outlined for the
Board’s consideration. It was
advised that Halton's Strategy for Change covered five main elements: · the local perspective; · baseline analysis; · long terms aims; · approach to change; and · initial investment priorities. Further
information was provided on each of these elements together with funding
implications. It was expected that the Authority would develop a strategic
approach to capital investment for primary schools over fourteen years and
indicative figures were provided. RESOLVED:
That (1) the
requirements of the Strategy for Change be noted; (2) approval be given to
developing the draft Strategy for Change in partnership with schools, the
dioceses and other key stakeholders; and (3) a further report be provided to the Executive Board in June 2008 detailing the draft Primary Capital Strategy. |
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COMMUNITY PORTFOLIO |
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Capital of Culture - Youth Cultural Festival PDF 56 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director – Health and Community providing
an update on the development of the programme for the Youth Cultural Festival
and requesting approval for the release of further monies to underwrite the proposed
programme. Following
the Board’s previous approval of an approach to Halton’s involvement in
Liverpool’s Capital of Culture Celebrations, a major showcase event for Halton,
the Youth Cultural Festival, was to be held on 12th and 13th
July 2008 at the Stobart Stadium, Halton, with associated activity at The
Brindley. A revised
outline programme was tabled for the Board’s consideration showing committed
expenditure (£73,300) and other budget requirements (£60,900) to deliver the
programme. These figures included a contingency of 15%. In September
2007, the Board had given agreement in principle to a further £60,000 of
funding, subject to further detail and it being considered as part of the
overall budgetary process. The £60,000 had been identified within 2007/08
budgets and no new monies were therefore required. Current sponsorship
agreements were outlined for information. In addition, officers were continuing
to attempt to attract sponsorship in order to reduce the overall budget
required even further. RESOLVED:
That (1) the revised outline
programme for the Youth Cultural Festival, tabled at the meeting, be endorsed;
and (2) approval be given for orders to be placed to a maximum value of £60,000. |
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ENVIRONMENT, LEISURE AND SPORT PORTFOLIO |
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Municipal Waste Management Strategy - KEY DECISION PDF 42 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director – Environment seeking adoption of
an updated Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Halton following a recent
public consultation exercise. It was noted
that this exercise had taken place between 17th December 2000 and 27th
January 2008. During this period the draft strategy was made available on the
Council’s website, at prominent Council buildings, and circulated to all
elected Members. Responses were received from both members of the public and
elected Members and were generally supportive of the updated Strategy. The main
comments received were summarised within the report. Individuals
who had provided comments had been responded to and these responses were again
outlined within the report. It was
advised that, following the consultation, no significant changes had been made
and it was now proposed that Members approve the updated Municipal Waste Management
Strategy for Halton. This would be a headline document that would continue to
guide the Council’s actions and inform the future decision-making process. The
aims, objectives and targets contained within the Strategy would be achieved
through the delivery of services and initiatives contained within a number of
supporting documents including a Waste Action Plan and Waste Prevention
Strategy. It was
advised that Waste Prevention was a vital element of the Council’s Waste
Strategy and, while successful initiatives had already been introduced, more
needed to be done to reduce the levels of waste produced in Halton.
Accordingly, it was proposed that additional resources be provided to support
the existing efforts and further promote waste reduction, and that a Waste
Prevention Strategy for Halton be presented to Members for consideration in
April 2008. Reason for
Decision In order to
work in partnership with the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA), there
was a need for Halton to update its current Waste Management Strategy.
Notwithstanding this requirement, there
was also a need to ensure that the Council’s Strategy Document remained
fit for purpose. Alternative
Options considered and rejected The options
that had been considered, and led to a decision to update the Council’s current
strategy, were detailed in previous reports presented to the Executive Board. Implementation
Date Implementation
was expected by May 2008. RESOLVED: That the Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Halton be adopted. |
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Local Authority Carbon Management Programme (LACMP) PDF 23 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director – Environment presenting a Carbon
Management Strategy and Implementation Plan for approval. It was noted
that, in May 2007, the Council had applied, and was accepted onto, the Carbon
Trust Local Authority Carbon Management Programme (LACMP). This had helped the
Council to: · undertake a systematic analysis of its
carbon footprint; · identify the likely increase in CO2
emissions and increasing costs from Council activities if business continued as
normal; and · identify opportunities to help manage and
reduce carbon emissions and costs over the next five years. The baseline
year for the programme was 2006/07 and emissions from Council buildings
(including schools), street lighting, fleet transport, business travel and
waste were included, to calculate current and future costs should the Council
take no action to reduce existing trends. The Action
Plan set out measures to reduce the Council’s emissions by 20% over the next
five years. If achieved, this would deliver anticipated cost savings of
£480,000 per annum once all measures were implemented. The Plan also
established an aspirational 33% reduction by 2013/14. Cost savings in the
region of £1.6m may be achieved if these targets were met. RESOLVED: That the Carbon Management Strategy and Implementation Plans be approved subject to any minor amendments to be made in consultation with the Strategic Director – Environment and the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Leisure and Sport. |
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NEIGHBOURHOOD MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT |
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Voluntary Sector Funding - Grant Allocation 2008-09 PDF 33 KB Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director – Health and Community
recommending Voluntary Sector Grant Awards for 2008/09. It was noted that, in
accordance with a previous agreement, applications had been assessed and
recommendations agreed by a Member Panel consisting of the Executive Board
Member with Portfolio responsibility for the Voluntary Sector, and the Chair
and Vice-Chair of the Employment, Learning and Skills Policy and Performance
Board. The
recommended grants were listed within the report for the Board’s consideration
in the context of the Budget allocation and the Panel’s assessment. It was
advised that Halton Voluntary Action and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau were to
receive the largest reductions, which equated to approximately 10% on the
2007/08 allocation. As these were the two largest grants given the Panel felt
that this was the fairest way to deal with the budget reduction. In addition,
it was noted that a significant reduction
was recommended in respect of Halton Talking Newspapers as, after inspection of
the previous year's accounts, it had been noted that the organisation only
required £600 from the voluntary sector core funding to meet the required
expenditure due to its reserves. There was
also a further recommendation that Warrington Law Centre receive no funding as
much of the activity currently funded by this organisation could be undertaken
by other advice giving departments and/or agencies. The Law Centre would still
be providing independent housing information as part of the Legal Service
Contract funded by the Legal Services Commission at Runcorn Court. Similarly,
Shelter still received referrals for Halton clients for specialist housing
advice through a Legal Services Contract and so there would be no gap in
provision. RESOLVED:
That (1) the recommended grant
allocations be approved for the period 1st April 2008 to 31st
March 2009; and (2) further applications be approved by the Strategic Director – Health and Community in consultation with the Neighbourhood Management Development Portfolio Holder. |
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QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE PORTFOLIO |
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Corporate Data Quality Strategy PDF 52 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy regarding
the development of a draft Corporate Data Quality Strategy that had been
produced in response to recommendations made by the Audit Commission following
its most recent review of the Authority’s Data Quality Management Arrangements. It was
advised that the Audit Commission’s Review had used a three staged approach
with the first stage concentrating upon the Authority’s management for securing
data quality from the following perspectives: · governance and leadership; · policies and procedures; · systems and processes; · people and skills; and · data use and reporting. The results
of the Commission’s most recent review in 2007 were outlined. It was noted that
the review recognised that there were a number of demonstrable strengths within
the present arrangements, although opportunities existed for further developing
and strengthening of some aspects of the Council’s approach. Therefore, an action
plan had been developed and endorsed by Management Team on 4th
December 2007. From 2008,
arrangements to secure data quality were explicitly referenced within the value
for money Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOE’s) that were used by the Commission to form
a judgement concerning the Authority’s use of resources. This development was
reflective of the Government’s view that the quality of data being used by
authorities was fundamental to its success in managing claims on competing
resources to provide and plan the delivery of services and its ability the
properly account for its activities to service users, partners and central
government departments and regulators. In addition,
the implementation of the new comprehensive area assessment framework, and the
further development of local area agreements, would also bring greater
responsibilities to, and expectations of, local agencies and partnerships to
ensure that good quality data was acquired, used and shared in a timely and
effective manner. Therefore, officer and member leads had been identified to
take the data quality agenda forward, being the Strategic Director – Corporate
and Policy and the Quality and Performance Portfolio Holder respectively. RESOLVED: That the Data Quality Strategy be adopted. |
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT 1985 - URGENT BUSINESS Minutes: The Board was advised that a matter had arisen which
required immediate attention (Minute Number EXB114 refers). Therefore, pursuant
to Section 100 B(4) and 100 E, the Chairman ruled that the item be considered
as a matter of urgency. |
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Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 Minutes: 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 Sub-Section 4 of Section 100A
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, and
paragraph 3 respectively 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 outweighs the public interest 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 Sub-Section 4 of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 because it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business, exempt information will be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraphs 3 and 5, and paragraph 3 respectively of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. |
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COMMUNITY PORTFOLIO |
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Youth Matters/Connexions Transition Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People,
providing an update on an in principle agreement made by the Board on 29th
November 2007 to commission the Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership
Limited to provide Connexions Services once the funding was transferred to the
Council in April 2008. In addition, the report sought approval of a number of
recommendations for future service provision. RESOLVED:
That (1) the contents of the report
be noted and approval be given to the entering into by Wirral MBC (as Lead
Commissioner) of a one-year contract with Greater Merseyside Connexions
Partnership Limited (GMCP) for the delivery in Halton of “Connexions Services”
for Young People (this would be seen as
the “Transitional Year” during which the Merseyside Local Authorities would put
together a procurement package to allow a formal contract to be tendered); (2) delegated
authority be granted to the Strategic Director – Children and Young People to
negotiate any remaining issues and finalise the form of contract with GMCP and
the form of indemnity to Wirral MBC as set out within the report; and (3) authority be granted to the Council Solicitor to execute the form of indemnity referred to in resolution (2) above, and any associated legal documentation required to progress the matter on behalf of the Council. |
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PLANNING, TRANSPORTATION, REGENERATION AND RENEWAL PORTFOLIO |
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(NB: Councillor Polhill declared a personal and
prejudicial interest in the following item of business due to being a Member of
the Widnes Regeneration Ltd Board and left the room during the consideration of
this item.) COUNCILLOR WHARTON IN THE CHAIR |
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Widnes Regeneration Ltd and the Venture Fields Commercial Leisure Development - "The Hive" Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Chief Executive providing an update on progress made
on the Venture Fields Leisure Development (“The Hive”). RESOLVED:
That (1) the utilisation of £550,000
of Halton Borough Council retained dividend in the Widnes Regeneration Limited
Company to support the costs of developing The Hive at Venture Fields be
endorsed; and (2) the other elements of the funding package for The Hive Venture Fields Development as described in the report be noted and endorsed. |
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MINUTES ISSUED: 3rd April 2008 CALL IN: 10th April 2008 Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 10th April 2008 |