Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2015 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities, which presented the recommendations of the Care at Home Scrutiny Review 2014/15.

The Board was advised that the Health Policy and Performance Board had considered and supported the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Group at its meeting in March 2015. The six recommendations were set out in the report for Members’ information.

Councillor Joan Lowe, Chair of the Health Policy and Performance Board, attended the meeting to present the report and answer Members’ questions. She highlighted the work that had been undertaken by the Working Group and Officers who provided support.

Councillor Lowe was then thanked for attending the Board to present the report.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the contents of the report be noted; and

2)    the recommendations, attached at Appendix 1, be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities, which presented the Service Closure Policy within the adult social care market.

Members were advised that from April 2015, the Care Act (the Act) required local authorities to help develop a social care market that delivered a wide range of sustainable high-quality care and support services. The Act also placed responsibility on local authorities to deliver a duty to ensure that needs were met including when there was a planned or emergency disruption to services.

In line with these new requirements, three policy and procedure documents had been developed. These made up the Service Closure Policy, attached as appendices, and were:-

·       An overarching policy in relation to market oversight;

·       A policy and procedure for responding to a planned service closure; and

·       A policy and procedure for responding to an unplanned service closure.

It was reported that these documents provided the protocol to follow in the event of a planned or unplanned service closure.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the policies and procedures, attached at Appendices 1,2 and 3 to the report, be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, on progress against key objectives/milestones and performance targets for the fourth quarter year-end to 31 March 2015.

          The Board was advised that the Directorate Performance Overview Report provided a strategic summary of key issues arising from performance in the relevant quarter for each Directorate, being aligned to Council priorities or functional areas. The Board noted that such information was key to the Council’s performance management arrangements, with the Board having a key role in monitoring performance and strengthening accountability.

It was reported that each report contained an update concerning the implementation of mitigation measures for all high risks contained within each of the Directorate Risk Registers.

RESOLVED: That the report and progress and performance information be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, on a proposed tendering exercise for the supply of Liquid Fuel Contracts.

The Board was advised that currently, there were two liquid fuel contracts in place, which covered the supply of diesel kerosene and gas oil to Council sites having such requirements. These contracts were due to expire on 30 September 2015.

It was reported that Crown Commercial Services (CCS) was an executive agency sponsored by the Cabinet Office, providing commercial services to the public sector. It was proposed that Halton Borough Council join a procurement exercise undertaken by CCS for the provision of liquid fuels. It was noted that the value of these contracts was estimated to be £1.4m for a two year period commencing 1 October 2015, and that the new contracts would be procured in line with the Council’s Procurement Standing Orders.

RESOLVED: That, in line with Procurement Standing Order 1.3.1, the inclusion of the Council in a new Crown Commercial Services procurement exercise for the supply of liquid fuels, be supported.

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.

        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 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, 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, Children and the Economy, which provided an update on phase one of developments and investment at Sci-Tech, Daresbury.

The report provided an update for Members on the Sci-Tech Enterprise Zone, Daresbury, the Phase One Developments and Investments and Future Ambitions for Sci-Tech, Daresbury. It also provided details on the new management organisation.

Reason(s) for Decision

The Council, as a partner in the Sci-Tech Joint Venture (JV), agreed to amend the JV partnership to include Langtree Land and Property Ltd. The Council entered into a loan agreement with Langtree.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

The Council had no direct influence over the changes to the Langtree companies. Therefore, on balance it accepted that this was the most appropriate mechanism to ensure that Sci-Tech was delivered.

Implementation Date

Both agreements were implemented in May using the delegated powers conferred to the Chief Executive.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the work of the JV to date, be recognised;

2)    the future ambitions of Sci-Tech be recognised; and

3)    the action taken by the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and appropriate Portfolio holders under delegated powers, be noted.

MINUTES ISSUED: 9 June 2015

CALL-IN: 16 June 2015

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 16 June 2015