Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2019 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which sought a waiver of Procurement Standing Orders for the continued provision of the Halton Support at Home Service.

The Board was advised that the British Red Cross (BRC), had been commissioned to provide a Support at Home Service until 31 March 2020. The service provided short term support to people in the transition from hospital to home and was seen as an important part of the discharge management process. It was noted that the Service was also available to people in the community to help avoid hospital admission.

It was reported that the BRC was a specialist provider in delivery of this type of service. In order to support the Council in its development of out of hospital services with NHS Halton CCG, support the One Halton place based approach and provide continuity of service, a waiver of Procurement Standing Orders was sought to extend the existing contract to 31 March 2022.

            RESOLVED: That

1)    the contents of the report be noted; and

2)    a waiver in compliance with Procurement Standing Order 1.14.4 (iv) of Part 2 or Part 3 as appropriate, be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on School Admission Arrangements for 2021.

The Board was advised that in October 2019, Halton Local Authority issued a statutorily required consultation on the proposed admission arrangements and co-ordinated admission schemes for the September 2021 intake. It was noted that the consultation ran until 8 November 2019, with no changes proposed to the current oversubscription criteria for admission to Local Authority maintained community and voluntary controlled primary schools. No responses to the consultation were received.

It was further noted that all Halton secondary schools were either academies, free schools or voluntary aided and were therefore their own admission authorities, with responsibility for consulting and determining their own admissions criteria and their own Published Admission Number (PAN).

The Board expressed its concerns that Government Policy in relation to school admission arrangements and Academy Schools, seriously limited the ability of the Council to respond to concerns expressed by parents about where their children went to school.

Reason(s) for Decision

The decision was statutorily required.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Other options considered and rejected included the allocation of places to community and voluntary controlled schools through random allocation (lottery), as this method could be seen as arbitrary and random.

Implementation Date

The Policy and co-ordinated schemes would apply for the September 2021 academic intake.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the Board approves the School Admissions Policy, Admission Arrangements and Co-ordinated Schemes for admission to primary and secondary schools for the 2021/22 academic year;

2)    where appropriate, schools be invited to increase their numbers to help support the Council to help meet the preference of parents about where their children attend school;

3)    schools be invited to take advantage of funding available to them from Government to increase their buildings to accommodate increased pupil numbers where necessary; and

4)    the Leader, on behalf of the Executive Board, write to Mr Twigg M.P. and Mr Amesbury M.P. to seek their support in respect of school admissions arrangements in Halton.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which provided a summary of the Schools Capital Programmes for 2020/21.

The Board was advised that the Department for Education (DfE) had not yet announced the Capital Grant Allocation for 2020/21 at the time of writing the report. However, given the timescales for some of the capital projects, the report used the 2019/20 allocation as the basis for presenting the report to the Board.

            The report set out details of the indicative funding available to support capital projects across the school estate as well as how the School Condition Allocation would be utilised.

Reason(s) for Decision

To deliver and implement the Capital Programmes.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Implementation Date

Capital Programmes for 2020/21 would be implemented with effect from 1 April 2020.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the position regarding capital funding from the Department for Education for 2020/21, be noted;

2)    the proposals to be funded from the School Condition Capital Allocation, be approved; and

3)    Council be recommended to approve the Capital Allocations for inclusion in the Budget report.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on a proposed integrated universal and targeted youth provision contract.

The Board was advised that the Education Act 1986 (updated in 2008), set out the statutory requirements for local authorities to provide youth work in three areas – positive activities; decision making by young people; and 14-19 learning.

It was reported that the continued reduction in youth services had come at a time when those services were most needed, with the risk of child poverty and material deprivation in the UK on the rise in recent years. Members were advised that Halton had a long history of providing young people with opportunities to develop their own unique talents and to access early help.

It was noted that Halton Youth Provision worked together with a range of agencies to help young people through early intervention and offering a range of support to prevent problems from getting worse. It was proposed that the Integrated Youth Service would have an indicative budget of £633,527 per annum, split across  three core functions as detailed in the report.

            RESOLVED: That the Board

1)    note the report; and

2)    approve the procurement of the new integrated, universal, targeted specialist youth provision for a three year contract with the option to extend for a further 1 plus 1 year.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which outlined the proposal for the Dedicated Schools Grant Schools Block Funding Formula for Halton, for mainstream schools and academies for 2020/21.

The Board was advised that the Dedicated Schools Grant was split into four blocks. In July 2017, the Secretary of State  confirmed the introduction of the National Funding Formula from April 2018, which calculated the Schools Block element for Halton.

It was reported that after consultation with schools and the Schools Forum, it was decided that Halton mainstream schools and academies would move to the National Funding Formula with transitional protection for 2018/19, as detailed in the report.

On 11 December 2019, a report which highlighted the key changes to the funding of mainstream schools and academies was presented to the meeting of the Schools Forum. Following consultation in November 2019, it was reported that the majority of schools supported the proposal that Schools Forum make a decision on the appropriate level for the Minimum Funding Guarantee at their meeting in January 2020.

Members noted that the grant allocations announced on 19 December 2019, showed an increase of £2.29m to the High Needs Block for 2020/21 compared to the 2019/20 allocation.

RESOLVED: That the Board approves the continuation of the National Funding Formula for 2020/21.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the major projects underway in the Borough and new relevant funding opportunities.

The report set out details of the major maintenance programme on the Grade II Listed Silver Jubilee Bridge (SJB); the enhanced access into Runcorn’s west coast mainline station; and a permanent junction into West Bank and Widnes from the Mersey Gateway Bridge under formation. Members noted that the significant investment described in the report, flowed from the Council’s strategic policies contained in the Local Plan, the Mersey Gateway Plus Regeneration Strategy and the Local Transport Plan.

It was reported that newly announced funds could provide Runcorn with access to up to £71m; those funds which could bring significant additional investment were detailed in the report and noted as being:-

·         Town Deals;

·         Future High Street Funds;

·         Liverpool City Region (LCR) Combined Authority Mayoral Fund; and

·         LCR Town Centre Commission Fund.

RESOLVED: That

1)    project progress is noted;

2)    funding bids are submitted with a view to securing funding for the full programme of works, enhancements and additional phases of the Runcorn Station Quarter Masterplan and wider Runcorn Vision; and

3)    in association with resolution 2), the Council be recommended to approve the amendment of the Capital Programme to £50m in respect of the SJB Delinking and Runcorn Station Quarter, to reflect the updated position with respect to opportunities for grant funding.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, relating to policy changes to the current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle policy. This was in respect of rear loading fully accessible vehicles, where the wheelchair user was fully secured in a forward facing position.

The Board was advised that the Regulatory Committee at its meeting on 27 November 2019, had considered the proposals and recommended adoption. It was noted that the policy changes were the culmination of a consultation exercise via the Taxi Consultative Group.

Appendix 1, attached to the report, contained a copy of the Regulatory Committee Resolution (Minute REG 6 referred); Appendices 2 and 3 contained the report considered by the Committee and responses to the proposals from the UNITE Union, respectively.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the policy changes as recommended by Regulatory Committee at item 1 of Minute Number REG 6 and as detailed in the Regulatory Committee Agenda dated 27 November 2019, be adopted as Council Policy; and

2)    the consequential matters set out in items 2, 3 and 4 of Minute Number REG 6 and as detailed in the Regulatory Committee Agenda dated 27 November 2019, be endorsed.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, relating to the adoption of policy changes to taxi licensing.

The Board was advised that the Regulatory Committee at its meeting on 27 November 2019, had considered six changes to the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy. Appendix 1, attached to the report, contained a copy of the Regulatory Committee Resolution (Minute REG 7 referred); Appendix 2 and 3 contained the report considered by the Committee and responses to the proposals from the UNITE Union, respectively.

The Board noted that the only completely new proposal was the introduction of a ten year maximum age for tyres which was part of an initiative being promoted by the licensing authorities throughout the Liverpool City Region area.

RESOLVED: That the Policy changes, as recommended by Regulatory Committee Minute Number REG 7 and as detailed in the Regulatory Committee Agenda dated 27 November 2019, be adopted as Council Policy.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which sought approval for the continuation of a contract with Halton Housing Trust. This referred to the management of the housing register and the housing allocations process, on behalf of Halton Borough Council.

            Members were advised that, as part of the voluntary stock transfer process in 2007, Halton Borough Council opted to transfer its entire housing stock to Halton Housing Trust (HHT). In 2012, a new Choice Based Lettings Scheme – Property Pool Plus (PPP) - went live in Halton which was a sub-regional IT management scheme, operating across the other five local authorities in the Liverpool City Region (LCR) area.

            It was reported that since then, the LCR had commissioned an independent review of the way in which the PPP process operated. Members noted that the aim of the review was to consider whether there was a more cost - effective approach which could deliver the same or improved outcomes for those using the service. A report on the outcome of the review was due in Spring 2020.

            In requesting an extension to the current contract with HHT under Procurement Standing Orders, it was reported that as the contract with HHT would have expired before the Board meeting, the Chief Executive had used his emergency powers to authorise an extension to the existing contract for seventeen days from 31 December 2019 to 16 January 2020.

            RESOLVED: That

1)    the contents of the report be noted; and

2)    a waiver by virtue of Procurement Standing Order 1.14.4 of Part 2 or Part 3 as appropriate, be approved for the extension of the contract with Halton Housing Trust for a further twelve months.

(N.B. Councillor Wright declared a Disclosable Other Interest  in the following item of business as she was a Trustee of Nightstop Communities Northwest)

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the work of the External Funding Team.

            The Board was advised that the role of the External Funding Team was to help maximise external funding into the Borough. The Team was responsible for preparing medium to large-scale funding bids on behalf of Council colleagues, public sector partners, the voluntary sector and the private sector.

            The report set out details of the structure of the Team, its key functions, and the common values and motivations that underpinned the work of the Team. It was noted that in the year to date, specific support had been given to four large-scale Liverpool City Region ESF bids; and continued to support colleagues in bidding to the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF), the Town Centre Commission Fund and the Future High Street Fund, amongst others. In addition, each member of the Team was assigned to support one or more of the Mersey Gateway Regeneration Plan Plus Impact Areas and the Team was supporting the Borough of Culture Programme for Halton in 2021.

            RESOLVED: That the Board

1)    note the contents of the report; and

2)    approves the current pipeline project list at Appendix 2, attached to the report.

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 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.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which updated Members on the proposals for residential development at Foundry Lane, Widnes.

The report provided Members with details of the proposals, policy and financial implications for their consideration.

            RESOLVED: That Executive Board

1)        supports the principle, subject to planning and other statutory approvals, of bringing forward residential development in the Foundry Lane area, bringing back into use under-utilised brownfield sites and making better use of poor quality industrial sites;

2)     endorses the decision taken by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and the Portfolio Holders for Physical Environment and Resources to acquire the Stobart Foundry Lane site;

3)     authorises the Operational Director for Economy, Enterprise and Property to arrange all required documentation to be completed to the satisfaction of the Operational Director, Legal  and Democratic Services;

4)     agrees to accept the offer of grant from Homes England for the purpose of preparing the sites known as Tarmac and Stobart for residential development; and

5)     agrees to fund any shortfall in the preparatory works for the above two sites, if this exceeds the Homes England grant.

MINUTES ISSUED:  21 January 2020

CALL-IN: 28 January 2020 at 5.00 pm.

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 28 January 2020.