Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2021 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report from the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, which presented an application for discretionary non-domestic rate relief, under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

It was reported that an application for discretionary rate relief had been received from ‘Have a Heart Foundation’, who were a registered Charity, in respect of their new premises located at 47 Runcorn Shopping Centre, Runcorn.

The report provided information on the Charity and details of the costs of granting 15% top-up discretionary rate relief to them for the 2021/22 financial year; full details were provided at Appendix one to the report.

RESOLVED:  That the Board approves a 15% top-up discretionary rate relief to the ‘Have a Heart Foundation’ in respect of 47 Runcorn Shopping City, Runcorn for the 2021/22 financial year.

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, advising of the intention to undertake a procurement exercise via a suitable framework in respect of the provision of a Waste, Water and Ancillary Services contract.

It was reported that since the deregulation of the water industry on 1 April 2017, United Utilities entered into a joint venture with Severn Trent Water to create ‘Water Plus’ which by default, had acted as the Council’s provider of waste, water and ancillary services ever since.

It was reported that the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO), the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) and Manchester Council all now had suitable frameworks in place, from which this service could be obtained.  It was noted that the only provider on each framework was ‘Wave’ who were the leading national water retailer and were formed from two established regional entities. 

Due to demonstrating excellent value in becoming the only provider on each of the above frameworks, as such it was the intention to award a contract to Wave via one of these frameworks, subject to the prices being competitive against costs over recent years, and a suitable term being available.  A minimum contract of 3 years with the option of a one-year extension was intended.  The report presented the likely costs of the contact over a 4-year period.

RESOLVED:  That Members note the intention to undertake a procurement exercise via a suitable framework in respect of the provision of a Waste, Water and Ancillary Services Contract, and subject to competitive prices and a suitable contact term being available, note intention to award a contract to ‘Wave’ as the sole provider on the various frameworks available.

The Board considered a report from the Operational Director – Finance, advising of the Council’s overall revenue and capital net spending outturn position for the year 2020/21.

It was reported that the final accounts for 2020/21 were nearing completion.  The revenue spending position for each Department was shown in Appendix one; which presented a summary of spending against the operational revenue budget; and Appendix two provided detailed figures for each individual Department.  In overall terms, the outturn position for the year showed that net spend was under the approved budget by £2.340m.   This was a significant improvement on the forecast overspend of £1.180m reported at the end of quarter 3.  The reasons for the improved financial position were presented in the report and the key budget variances for the quarter were noted in the following Departments:

·         Children and Families;

·         Adult Social Care Department;

·         Education, Inclusion and Provision;

·         Public Health and Public Protection;

·         Finance; and

·         Policy, Planning and Transportation.

Members were also advised of the financial impact of Covid-19 and a summary of the general Government funding made available to the Council to date was outlined. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – People, advising of the costs relating to full cost domiciliary care clients who receive support from two carers, with the Council covering the cost of the second carer.  Approval was sought to charge these clients for both carers with effect from 1 September 2021.

Members were aware that within Adult Social Care, a Full Cost Clients Task and Finish Group was established in 2019, to look at full cost clients in residential care and the level of support provided by the Council (which went beyond the legislative requirements) to those that were deemed able to afford the cost of their own care.

In November 2019, Executive Board agreed some changes to practice relating to this group, allowing the Council to continue supporting vulnerable people whilst also mitigating the risks to the Council.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it had been necessary to put those changes on hold.  The Task and Finish Group had now re-convened to consider when it would be appropriate to progress with the changes. 

During the course of its work in relation to the above, the group had also examined practice relating to domiciliary care clients (as well as those in residential care) and discussions took place in relation to the fact that clients with care provided by two people were only charged for one carer, with the Council paying the provider for the other.

The report outlined details relating to legislative obligations; the impact of changing practice; and the proposed course of action should the Board agree that both existing and new domiciliary care clients with two carers, who were deemed able to meet/contribute to the cost of their care, should pay for both carers.

Reason(s) for Decision

Executive Board approval is required to enable the Council to begin charging full cost domiciliary care clients with two carers for both carers (rather than one which is currently the case) in line with the Care Act.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Continuing to subsidise the cost of domiciliary care provision for those with two carers who were deemed able to afford the cost of their own care was neither fair nor cost-effective.  It was simply not equitable that full cost domiciliary care clients with two carers were only paying for one carer, which represents half the cost of the actual package of care.

Consideration was given to whether clients with two carers could move to single handed care, however, it was felt that two carers would only be put in place for those genuinely in need of assistance of two as determined through the assessment process.  As detailed at paragraph 3.12, a review of care needs revealed that in most cases two carers were required due to the equipment that was in place and in order to ensure the safety of staff.

Implementation Date

I September 2021.

            RESOLVED:  That Executive Board

1)    note the contents of the report: and

2)    approve the plans to charge  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Board considered a report from the Strategic Director – People, which presented the final draft of the Rough Sleeper Strategy for Halton and the local Bond Guarantee Scheme Policy, and requested approval for the publication of each document.

The Board noted that both documents fell under the remit of the Housing Solutions Team and had been developed in response to Government guidelines and policy, taking into account the impact of Covid-19 and duties of the local authority.  They formed part of a suite of policy and strategy in place to support the Council’s objectives in reducing homelessness and rough sleeping.

The report outlined the priority areas for each Strategy and gave some financial information for the costings for each.

RESOLVED:  That Executive Board

1)    notes the contents of the report and appendices; and

2)    approves the publication of both documents.

The Board received a report from the Director of Public Health, requesting authorisation to conduct a procurement exercise to determine the most economically advantageous and effective organisation to deliver an Integrated Specialist Adult Community Substance Misuse Service for Halton.

It was reported that supporting people living with addictions was a mandatory element of the Public Health Grant and as such, the provision of local services was a key local requirement.  The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy identified the local problems caused by the use of substances, and reducing the harm caused by alcohol in particular remained a key local, regional and national priority.  The report discussed the aims of the misuse service and provided information about substance misuse amongst the people of Halton.

Members were presented with the Business Case and the financial provision for the Service, as contained within the Public Health ring fenced grant.  It was noted that a contract commencement date would be 1 October 2021 for a period of 3 years, with the option for two one-year extensions.

Reason(s) for Decision

A decision is required to enable the procurement exercise to commence.  As the value of the proposed contract will exceed the EU threshold for services of this type, Executive Board approval was sought.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

Implementation Date

The new procurement process will commence immediately.

RESOLVED:  That the Executive Board approves the preliminary estimates report and the commencement of the procurement of a new integrated Specialist Adult Community Substance Misuse Service for Halton.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director - Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought approval to develop a transport scheme for East Runcorn Connectivity Corridor (ERRC).  

It was reported that initial pre-development funding was available from the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Combined Authority on a competitive basis to develop schemes such as the ERRC.  

The ERCC scheme was highly complex and it was estimated that delivery of all elements would be over a ten-year period.  Therefore, in advance of site works being procured, a considerable amount of planning and preparation needed to be undertaken to inform options and investigate construction details.  The purpose of this advanced pre-development work was to create a well designed, feasible, and cost effective scheme.

Members were advised that as part of the LCR's Transport Pipeline, the ERCC was an ambitions scheme that would support the delivery of new homes and employment opportunities by providing a resilient, sustainable transport corridor within East Runcorn.  The area was home to the Enterprise Zone, business parks and large housing sites and the scheme would significantly enhance the existing transport network in the Borough.  The proposed ERCC scheme consisted of four elements, these were outlined in the report, paragraph 3.2.  

RESOLVED:  That

1)    a transport scheme covering the East Runcorn connectivity Corridor be developed and added to the Council's Capital Programme (paragraphs 3.8 and 5.10);

2)    an initial programme (Year 1) covering technical investigations to inform options appraisal and scheme feasibility be approved (Appendix 1); 

3)    Mott MacDonald, an external consultant, be commissioned via Direct Award under the Warrington Consultation Framework to undertake the Year 1 programme (paragraph 3.10); and

4)    approval be delegated to the Operational Director - Policy, Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder Environment and Urban Renewal, to advance the initial programme (Year 1) for the scheme.

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, which presented a revised Highway Safety Inspection Policy and requested its adoption.

Members were advised that the revised policy was based on the Liverpool City Region Highway Safety Inspection Framework that was drafted in accordance with the recommendation set out in the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice 2016, relevant to highway safety inspections.  This introduced a move to a risk based approach with regard to safe use of the highway.

It was noted that Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, placed a statutory duty on all Highway Authorities to maintain the highway network under their control; for there to be a breach of Section 41, there must have been a failure to maintain or a failure to repair the highway.

Members were advised of a collaboration of local authorities, as listed in the report, who had contributed to this framework of principles in order to provide a regionally consistent special defence by virtue of Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980, in an action against the Council for an alleged breach of Section 41.  Appended to the report at Appendix A was the Highway Safety Inspection Policy and Guidance and B, the Inspection Areas and Frequencies.

RESOLVED:  That the Board approved the revised Highways Safety Inspection Policy (Appendix A) and the schedule of inspection areas and frequencies (Appendix B).

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on a recent bid to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund and to seek approval for additional funding from the Capital Programme to support the bid.

            The Council developed a bid focussed on the DCBL Stadium, which included replacing the current gas boilers with air source heat pumps; replacing existing lighting fittings with new energy efficient LED lighting; replacing single glazed windows; and installing additional insulation.

            The report provided Members with details of the bid process and it was reported that in February 2021, the Council was awarded £1,295,846 to deliver the improvements.  Since the award of the funding a number of cost variations had been identified, which would increase costs for the project by approximately £370,000, these were discussed in the report.

RESOLVED:  That

1)    the award of £1,295,846m from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund be noted; and

2)    Council be asked to include the Decarbonisation Scheme at a gross cost of £1,677,673 within the 2021/22 capital programme, to be funded as set out within paragraph 3.4.

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.

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 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 the public interest in disclosing the information, members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item 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, 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 received a report from the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the Runcorn Old Town Investment Plan (ROTIP) and also outlined potential future capital and revenue resource requirements, which would be needed to further develop the projects contained within the ROTIP.

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations presented in the report be approved.

MINUTES ISSUED:   22 June 2021

CALL-IN:   29 June 2021 at 5.00 pm

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 29 June 2021.