Venue: The Boardroom, Municipal Building
Contact: Angela Scott on 0151 511 8670 or Email: Angela.scott@halton.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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Additional documents: Minutes: The Minutes of the meetings held on 14 March 2019 and 22 March 2019, were taken as read and signed as a correct record. |
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Children, Education and Social Care Portfolio |
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Care Provider Contract Uplift 2019/20 - KEY DECISION PDF 102 KB Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on the proposed annual
uplift for domiciliary and care home providers within Halton for 2019/20. It was reported
that the Care Act 2014 required local authorities to ensure that the care
provider market remained viable and sustainable and that when commissioning
services, local authorities must have regard for the cost effectiveness and
value for money that the services offered for public funds. The Board was
advised that one of the main challenges for the care sector was the
introduction of the mandatory National Living Wage for workers aged 25 and
above, effective from 1 April 2016, with an increase year on year, as detailed
in the report. All care home, supported housing and domiciliary care providers
that worked with the Council, had been consulted in respect of inflationary
increases. It was noted that, based on the feedback from the care providers in
the Borough, the average inflationary uplift required would be in excess of
3.2%. The increase in fee rates, as set out in the report, had been calculated
based on the key risk areas, rather than an overall set increase. Reason(s) for Decision The recommendation to uplift the fees for our
care providers above inflation was referenced throughout the report and was
based on the identified risks to provision of care to vulnerable adults in the
Borough. Alternative Options Considered and Rejected The social care market had been recognised
nationally as being extremely fragile and the Council had a statutory duty to
maintain market stability and sufficiency under the Care Act 2014. Not
providing an inflationary uplift at a time when providers must pay the National
Living Wage would destabilise the market. In addition, people were living
longer with very complex health care needs and Halton needed a robust and
skilled workforce to continue to provide high quality care for some of the most
vulnerable people in our community. The recommended increase was based on an
analysis of the cost pressures on providers and included an element of
flexibility to ensure that market sustainability and quality was maintained
whilst being affordable to Halton. An increase less than the recommendations could
undermine market stability as providers would not be able to meet their
mandatory responsibility to pay staff the National Living Wage, resulting in
services becoming financially unviable. This would impact negatively on the
local health and social care system, with a potential knock on effect for
supporting timely discharge from hospital. An increase of more than the recommendations
would impact negatively on the Council’s finances and would be unaffordable.
The Council would have less money available to meet its statutory duties to
continue to support vulnerable adults. Implementation Date 1 April 2019. RESOLVED: That the Board 1)
notes the contents of
the report; 2)
notes the options and
the risks; and 3)
gives approval to
actively enter into discussions with Care Providers, with a view to offer the
recommended uplift for 2019/20. |
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(N.B. Councillors
Polhill and Wharton declared a Disclosable Other interest in the following item
of business as they both Non-Executive Directors of the Mersey Gateway
Crossings Board) |
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Transportation Portfolio |
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Mersey Gateway Project Update PDF 150 KB Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and
Resources, which provided an update on the Mersey Gateway Project. The Mersey
Gateway Bridge opened on 14 October 2017, with the day to day operation managed
on behalf of the Council by the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board (the Crossings
Board). As well as receiving regular progress reports, the Crossings Board
monitored the Operator’s (Merseylink) performance
against the contract and the activities of the toll operator, Emovis. The report
provided Members with the up to date position in respect of the Operation and
Maintenance; Economic Impact and Handback Land; Finances including Project
Funding, Financial Performance, the Local User Discount Scheme and the Extended
Discount Scheme; and Tolls, Charges and Enforcement. It was reported
that the first fifteen months of operation of the Mersey Gateway had been very
positive in operational and financial terms. The remaining elements of the
construction phase were anticipated to be complete by June 2019, when the
Project would then be solely in the operation and maintenance phase. RESOLVED:
That the report be noted. |
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Economic Development Portfolio |
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External Funding Update PDF 211 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and
Resources, which provided an update on external funding secured by Halton
during the past year, and an update on the Charging Policy Pilot. The Board was
advised that the primary role of the External Funding Team was to maximise
external funding into the Borough. The Team focused on Government, European,
National Lottery, Landfill Funding, Trusts and Foundations, as sources for
external funding opportunities for Halton. Details of the type of support
offered by the Team over the previous financial year were set out in the
report. At its meeting
on 19 July 2018, the Board had agreed to the implementation of a pilot Charging
Policy for bid-writing support for external sectors. The pilot commenced in
September 2018 and charging was operated on a sliding scale but did not apply
to organisations with less than £10,000 in unrestricted funding. It was
reported that to date, two contracts were in place with two further contracts
in the pipeline. Experience through the pilot had identified the need for a
lower fee scale for smaller bids, and a suggested revised fee scale was set out
in the report for Members’ consideration. RESOLVED:
That the Board 1)
note the level of
funding secured to date; and 2)
agree the revised fee
charges for bid services up to £50,000 as set out in section 5 of the report. |
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Resources Portfolio |
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Discretionary Non Domestic Rate Relief PDF 84 KB Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and
Resources, on two applications for discretionary non-domestic rate relief. The Board was
advised that under the amended provisions of the Local Government Finance Act
1988, the Council was able to grant discretionary rate relief to any business
rate payer. Since 1 April 2017, the Council had been responsible for meeting
the full cost of all mandatory and discretionary rate relief granted, as part
of the Liverpool City Region 100% Business Rates Retention Pilot Scheme. The report set
out details of two applications from two registered charities, for Members’
consideration. RESOLVED:
That 1)
the application for
discretionary rate relief from Vision Enhancement Services/Deafness Support
Centre in respect of 126 Widnes Road, Widnes, be refused on the grounds that
the organisation also operates in Cheshire West and Chester, Flintshire,
Denbighshire, Cheshire East, Wrexham and Conwy, and the Deafness Support Centre
operates nationally; and 2)
the application for
discretionary rate relief from the Cathie Stankevitch
Foundation in respect of Unit 20, Albert Square, Widnes, be approved. |
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Pensions Discretions Statement PDF 56 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise,
Community and Resources, on the annual publication of the Pensions Discretion
Statement (the Statement). The Board was advised that the 2019/20 Statement was based on the
previous Statement (2018/19) and it was reported that no new discretions had
been either added or removed. In addition, there had been no material changes
to the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013, that would result in a
change in the Statement. RESOLVED: That the Pensions Discretion Statement for 2019/20 be
approved. |
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Directorate Performance Overview Reports for Quarter 3 2018 - 19 PDF 58 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and
Resources, on progress against key objectives/milestones and performance
targets for the third quarter to 31 December 2018. The Board was
advised that the Directorate Performance Overview Report provided a strategic
summary of key issues arising from the relevant quarter for each Directorate.
The Board noted that such information was key to the Council’s performance
management arrangements and Executive Board had 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, progress and performance information be noted. |
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Business Plan 2019 - 2020 PDF 63 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and
Resources, on the adoption of the Council Business Plan (the Plan) 2019/20, as
a basis for action and performance monitoring. The Board was
advised that the Council developed its business plan in parallel with the
determination of its annual budget and the review and refresh of Corporate and
Directorate Risk Registers. The Plan was formulated as a series of extracts
representing each of the Council’s six strategic priority areas. Each of the
Business Plan extracts provided details of the specific objectives and
performance measures which would provide a focus for the ongoing monitoring of
progress throughout the coming financial year. It was noted
that Elected Members were engaged in the development of Directorate Plans,
primarily through the autumn cycle of individual Policy and Performance Board
meetings. This allowed Members to consider key themes for each strategic
priority area and develop specific improvement activities and targets for the
coming year. RESOLVED:
That 1)
the draft Business Plans
extracts be received; and 2) the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, be authorised to make any final amendments and adjustments that may be required. |
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Physical Environment Portfolio |
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Widnes Market - Protocol and charging Policy Update Report PDF 85 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and
Resources, which sought approval of an amended Market Charging Policy and
Protocol documents. The Board was
advised that a revised management structure was adopted for the markets in
October 2018. An initial task of the new management regime was to review the
charging policy and protocols to ensure they remained fit for purpose and in
line with any legislative changes. It was reported
that a recent Internal Audit report on control measures in place had made a
number of recommendations to help strengthen existing arrangements. These
recommendations had been included in the revised documents and were detailed in
the report. The report also
provided details on the proposed main changes to the charging policy document
for Members’ consideration. RESOLVED: That the proposed amendments to the Market Charging Policy and Protocols be approved with immediate effect. |
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Adoption of Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) PDF 59 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise,
Community and Resources, which sought approval of an updated Statement of
Community Involvement (SCI), as part of Halton’s
Local Plan. The SCI document set out how councils engaged
with local communities and other interested parties in the production of their
Local Plan and determination of planning applications. The Board had considered
and approved the draft SCI document for a period of public consultation at its
meeting on 13 December 2018. It was noted that the results of the
public consultation were set out in Appendix A, attached to the report. Once
adopted, the procedures contained in an adopted SCI must be followed for
consultation on all Local Plan documents and planning applications within
Halton. RESOLVED: That 1)
the
Statement of Community Involvement (attached to the report at Appendix A), be
adopted as a Local Plan Document as required by the Town and Country Planning
(Local Development) 2004 Regulations; 2)
the
results of the public consultation, as set out in the Statement of Consultation
(attached to the report at Appendix B) are noted; and 3)
further
editorial and technical changes that do not materially affect the content or
intended purpose of the SCI be agreed by the Operational Director, Policy,
Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Portfolio holder for the
Physical Environment before the document is published. |
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Halton Homelessness Strategy 2019-2024 - KEY DECISION PDF 122 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on a
revised draft Homelessness Strategy and action plan. The Board was advised that under the
Homelessness Act 2002, it was a statutory requirement for each local authority area
to produce a five year strategy and to review it annually. The draft
Homelessness Strategy highlighted developments in the legislative and policy
framework since the previous strategy was implemented. It was reported that the draft local strategy followed the national
approach of ‘protect, prevent, resolve and avoid’ repeat homelessness, as
detailed in the report. Reason(s) for
Decision It was a statutory
requirement that all areas should develop and publish a Homelessness Strategy
to cover five year period. This draft Strategy met that requirement. Alternative
Options Considered and Rejected There were no
alternative options considered. The draft Strategy had been developed following
consultation with key stakeholders and people who used the services, and met
the requirements of national and local strategic priorities. Implementation
Date The draft Strategy
would be implemented as from the date of final approval by Executive Board. RESOLVED: That Executive
Board 1)
notes the
contents of the report; and 2)
approves the
Strategy Review and action plan in accordance with statutory requirement. |
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SCHEDULE 12A OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT 1985 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(s) 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. 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 item 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 paragraph
3 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. |
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Children, Education and Social Care Portfolio |
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Halton Care Homes - To consider options to maintain service delivery for older people in Halton - KEY DECISION Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on
options to maintain service delivery at two care homes for older people in
Halton. Reason(s) for
Decision To ensure the sustainability
of the care home sector in Halton at its current level of provision, ensuring
there was minimal impact on the care home residents. Alternative
Options Considered and Rejected These were set out
in Appendix 1 attached to the report and in section 6.2 of the report on
financial summary. The preferred option was Option 3, for the reasons stated in
the report. Implementation
Date The proposal will occur if the market conditions determine
the relevant action. RESOLVED: That the Board agreed the
recommendations in the report. |
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MINUTES ISSUED: 16 April 2019 CALL-IN: 25 April
2019 Any matter decided by
the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 25 April 2019. |