Venue: The Boardroom, Municipal Building
Contact: Angela Scott on 0151 511 8670 or Email: Angela.scott@halton.gov.uk
No. | Item |
---|---|
Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2018 were taken as read and signed as a correct record. |
|
Children, Education and Social Care Portfolio |
|
Care Home Provision - Belvedere Development PDF 220 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which
sought approval to develop Belvedere as a care home for older people. The current availability of care homes in Halton was limited, and the
recent closure of Cartref Care Home had placed
additional pressure on the system. It was reported that the Local Authority
were working closely with key stakeholders to secure the future sustainability
of the sector. To prevent closure, two care homes in the Borough had recently been
purchased but it was still necessary to increase available capacity within the
market. Members were advised that Belvedere, located in Runcorn and in Council
ownership, had previously been used as accommodation for homeless people and
had been empty for four years. Substantial refurbishment would be required to
adapt it for such use and work was underway to establish the full extent of the
renovation required. It was further noted that other options to increase capacity were at an
early stage and this included the former care home at Lilycross.
The work would be undertaken in collaboration with partners in the social care
and health sectors. RESOLVED: That 1) the Director
of Adult Social Services develop a costed proposal for the development of
Belvedere; and 2) a
further report be brought back to Executive Board, setting out other potential
options to increase capacity within this sector and associated partnership
agreements and models of delivery, for approval. |
|
Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) Arrangements PDF 399 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which
highlighted the key changes to Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCB). The Board was advised that legislative changes, introduced through the
Children and Social Work Act 2017, made a number of recommendations that would
enable a revised framework to be developed locally and sub-regionally. However,
it was noted that it was no longer a statutory requirement for the LSCB to
exist. The report set out a proposal for future arrangements built on existing
pan-Cheshire arrangements, which included Halton, Cheshire East and Warrington.
In addition, the report also made recommendations for the scrutiny of
safeguarding practice in Warrington to be strengthened. RESOLVED: That 1) in
principle, work continues across the four areas to develop a model which
enhances the current Pan-Cheshire approach to safeguarding children; 2) these
developments are considered within a framework of strategy, policy and
practice; 3) each
area uses these themes to ensure that robust arrangements remain in place to
quality assure and scrutinise strategy, policy and practice at local level; 4) building
on initial discussions, partners develop a clear operating model for monitoring
future safeguarding arrangements, which includes governance, financial
arrangements and sub-groups, including the Child Death Overview Panel, both
local and Pan-Cheshire level; 5) existing
funding arrangements remain in place for an agreed minimum period (2020/2021),
whilst funding is reviewed, recognising that this would require the agreement
of all existing funding partners across current LSCB arrangements; and 6) Executive Board receive an update report with firm recommendations in December 2018 following this period of consultation at local and sub-regional levels. |
|
Children, Education and Social Care Portfolio and Health and Wellbeing Portfolio |
|
Everyone Early Help Strategy 2018-2021 PDF 373 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, People, which presented the new Everyone Early Help Strategy (the Strategy) which combined services for children, adults and public health. Members were advised that this transformation in thinking was about undertaking a whole system review of the approach to Early Help and Prevention, with a focus on increasing the resilience of communities and their potential to help themselves. This would be supported by a planned prioritisation of resources, integration, collaboration and understanding the benefits that Early Help could have on a wide range of longer term outcomes for everyone involved. The report detailed Halton’s approach and long-standing commitment to Early Help and Prevention across all agencies and strategic partners. It was reported that within the Strategy were five key aims and three priorities, where all agencies would need to work towards helping embed Early Help principles. These principles were noted as being:- · The right early help in the right place, at the right time; · Ensuring a whole system approach to early help with strong partnership working; and · Empowering local people and communities to build capacity and resilience, to enable people and communities to do more for themselves. RESOLVED: That 1) the comments on the Strategy content be noted; and 2) the Board supports the implementation of the Strategy. |
|
Resources Portfolio |
|
Treasury Management Annual Report 2017/18 PDF 292 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which
presented the Treasury Management Annual Report 2017/18. The report updated the Board on activities undertaken on the money
market as required by the Treasury Management Policy. It provided supporting
information on the economic outlook, interest rate forecast, short term
borrowing rates, long term borrowing rates, borrowing and investments, budget
monitoring, new long term borrowing and treasury management indictors. It was
noted that no debt rescheduling had been undertaken during 2017/18. RESOLVED: That the report be noted. |
|
Council Tax Section 13A Discount Policy PDF 346 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise,
Community and Resources, proposing amendments to the Council Tax Section 13A
Discount Policy (the Policy). The Board was advised that, at a meeting of the Corporate Policy and Performance
Board on 5 June 2018, the Board had considered a report regarding two proposed
changes to the Policy in respect of Care Leavers. It was reported that since April 2018, Halton’s
Care Leavers received 100% council tax discount, which was introduced to
support Care Leavers with their transition into adulthood and to help them
avoid falling into financial hardship. However, following discussions with
neighbouring authorities, two potential anomalies within Halton’s
Policy had been identified, and the report sought to rectify them. The amendments to the Policy as proposed, would help to ensure that the Policy remained
equitable and provided a consistent approach to that adopted by other North
West Councils. The amended Policy was attached to the report at Appendix 1. RESOLVED: That 1)
the two
amendments to the Council Tax Section 13A Discount Policy, outlined in paragraphs 3.4 and
3.6 of the report, be approved; and 2)
the updated
Council Tax Section 13A Discount Policy presented with Appendix 1 attached to
the report, be approved. |
|
Business Rates Action Areas PDF 229 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise,
Community and Resources, on proposed Business Rates Action Areas. The report set out details of the
proposed scheme, which would apply in specific areas, and would encourage private
sector investment in high quality commercial buildings and create jobs for
local people. It was reported that the proposed geographically focused
initiative would not alter or affect the previously agreed Borough-wide
discretionary scheme, approved by Executive Board in 2015. Businesses would be considered for eligibility against a set of
criteria, as detailed in the report. A percentage of the business rates from
those businesses assisted, would be ring-fenced after three years to aid
regeneration in the Key Impact Area. An annual review of the scheme would
determine its effectiveness and impact on the sale of land, the quality of
buildings constructed and the number of jobs created. RESOLVED: That the Board 1) approve
the scheme; and 2) receives
a progress report once the scheme has been in operation for twelve months. |
|
Economic Development Portfolio |
|
External Funding Team - Cost Recovery PDF 221 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise,
Community and Resources, on a pilot charging policy for bid-writing services. The Board was advised that through the External Funding Team, the
Council offered a bid-writing and monitoring service to the private sector, the
voluntary sector and other Council departments. It was reported that the
service had helped to lever in investment into the Borough although it was a
non-statutory function. To make the service more self sufficient in
future, the team would look to recover its costs either in full or, in the case
of the voluntary sector, by applying a nominal charge. Details were set out in
the report of the relevant scale of fees that would apply. It was noted that
some neighbouring authorities already applied a charge for similar services and
it was proposed that Halton charge a fee for a twelve month pilot period so as
to determine the effectiveness and impact on the number and size of funding
applications. A report would be brought to the Board on the outcome of the
pilot. RESOLVED: That Executive Board 1) approve
the twelve month pilot; and 2) receives
a further report on the outcomes, six month’s after
the commencement of the pilot. |
|
Community Safety Portfolio |
|
Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement PDF 460 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise,
Community and Resources, which sought approval to publish the Modern Slavery
and Transparency Statement for 2017/18. The Board was advised that the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act)
consolidated all offences relating to trafficking and slavery. Section 54 of
the Act required employers of organisations with an annual turnover in excess
of £36m to produce a modern slavery statement for each financial year. This requirement
included the Borough Council. The Board noted that, at its meeting of Council on 17 October 2017, a
Motion was passed that supported the implementation of the Act and committed the
Council to publishing its own Modern Slavery Transparency Statement. This was
attached to the report at Appendix 1. It was noted that Section 54 of the Act
encouraged businesses to be more transparent and to increase their
accountability for any slavery or trafficking within their business or supply
chain(s). RESOLVED: That 1) the
Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement, attached to the report, be approved
for publication; and 2) the
oversight of the provision of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking be formally
identified within the Community Safety Portfolio. |
|
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 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 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. |
|
Resources Portfolio |
|
(N.B. Councillor Ron
Hignett declared a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business
as he was a member of the Daresbury Joint Venture Board) |
|
Sci-Tech Daresbury - Project Violet Funding - KEY DECISION Reason for taking the item in Part II:- The report will contain commercially sensitive information. Minutes: The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise,
Community and Resources, on the next phase of developments at Sci-Tech Daresbury. The report provided Members with details of the Project Violet and
Skills Capital SIF Bid; the Project Violet funding package; the Enterprise Zone
Tax Incremental Financing Mechanism; the borrowing potential and affordability;
management of the TIF Borrowing Mechanism; a summary of all borrowing; and the
procurement process. Reason(s) for
Decision The decision was
required to enable the Council to enter into the necessary legal and funding
agreements for Project Violet, which included the use of the Enterprise Zone
TIF Borrowing Mechanism. A decision was also
required to enable the procurement exercise to commence. As the value of the
proposed contract would exceed the EU threshold for services of this type,
Board approval was sought. Alternative
Options Considered and Rejected A number of
alternative funding arrangements had been explored; however, there was
currently no commercial market to fund a speculative development at Sci-Tech Daresbury at this stage. Grant funding,
including European Funding and SIF had been explored but were not appropriate
funding mechanisms at this point for a variety of reasons, including timescales
and eligibility. Reflecting its
status as a designated Enterprise Zone, it was envisaged that a TIF mechanism,
based on Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) borrowing against future business rates
growth, would play a critical role in addressing barriers to the delivery of
the masterplan. Implementation
Date Following approval,
the funding arrangements and procurement process would commence immediately.
The project was anticipated to be delivered during 2019. RESOLVED: That 1) Members
note the progress on the Skills Capital SIF bid and note that the agreed
allocation of £1.1m from the TIF mechanism for Skills Capital match funding is
targeted at both capital and revenue skills interventions at Sci-Tech Daresbury; 2) authority
be given to the Operational Director, Finance, and the Operational Director,
Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Portfolio holder for
Resources, to conclude the legal and funding arrangements to deliver Project
Violet; and 3) authority
be given to the Operational Director, Economy, Enterprise and Property, to
enter into a procurement process via The Chest, in support of the Joint
Venture’s procurement of the Project Violet contract. |
|
MINUTES ISSUED: 24
July 2018 CALL-IN: 31 July 2018 Any matter decided by
the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 31 July 2018 |