Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2016 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which provided an update on the progress of Halton Housing Trust (HHT) for the past twelve months.

The Board received a verbal update from Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of HHT, and Ingrid Fife, Chair of the HHT Board. They reported on progress to date in delivering some key achievements, partnerships and strategic priorities.

          The Board noted some of the key organisational achievements which included the construction of 146 new homes; continued investment in homes and neighbourhoods; the purchase of land and sites for future development; continuation with the implementation of the Digital First Programme to change the way customers accessed services, which provided more intensive support to those customers who really needed it; and secured value for money savings totalling £1.3 million.

Members had the opportunity to ask questions and clarify information contained in the presentation before Mr Atkin and Ms Fife were thanked for attending.

RESOLVED: That the progress report be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on the current position for older people’s housing support services in the Borough.

The Board was advised that housing support services were funded through the ring fenced Supporting People budget, created in 2003. However, since the removal of ring fenced and grant conditions, all services had become subject to the Council’s Procurement Standing Orders.

It was noted that there were ten current providers delivering 19 housing support services to older people. In addition, Halton Housing Trust (HHT) provided the Amethyst Living Service, which was a cluster model based around HHT’s three sheltered schemes. The current contracts had been in place since April 2008, with the use of waivers to extend service provision until March 2017. It was reported that, for these contracts to continue, procurement advice was that the Council would need to go out to tender to ensure a transparent procurement process.

Reason(s) for Decision

The change supported  Halton Borough Council to deliver a balanced budget in 2017/18, whilst maintaining support for the local community.

Alternative Option Considered and Rejected

Alternative options considered were contained in the report.

Implementation Date

1 April 2017.

RESOLVED: That the options outlined in paragraph 4.0 be noted and the options in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of the report be agreed.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the introduction of waiting restrictions to prevent parking adjacent to Moore Primary School.

The Board was advised that In March 2014, a resident had raised the issue of car parking congestion in the area of Moore Primary School, associated with parents’ and carers’ vehicles parked on nearby junctions. Subsequently, Cheshire Police requested the introduction of waiting restrictions in the same area to help resolve these problems.

In November 2015, proposed waiting restrictions were the subject of public advertising and consultation, and the process was extended to Ward Councillors, Moore Parish Council and frontage properties. This was detailed in Appendix A, attached to the report.

It was noted that the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board (PPB) had considered the objections raised to the proposal and the representations made by the Parish Council, Cheshire Police and the Ward Councillors, at its meeting on 16 November 2016. The PPB recommended the proposal be supported and referred to Executive Board for determination.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the proposal to make a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce “At Any Time” waiting restrictions on parts of Lindfield Close, Runcorn Road and Beechmore in Moore, as shown in Appendix A and defined in Appendix C attached to the report, be approved; and

2)    the objectors be informed of the decision.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on progress against key objectives/milestones and performance targets for the second quarter to 30 September 2016.

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. The Board noted that such information was key to the Council’s performance management arrangements and the 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 and progress and performance information be noted.

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 items 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 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 considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought approval for the proposed disposal of the Council’s freehold interest of the site of the former Croft Public House, Runcorn.

The Board was advised that the former Croft Public House had been closed for around two years and that the site had been the subject of anti-social behaviour and was visually unattractive. It was reported that the agents had submitted a proposal to develop the site for residential use as assisted living units of accommodation.

The report set out details of the proposed transaction for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the disposal of the site to The Croft Halton Limited be approved, for the sum set out in the report, net, subject to contract and subject to planning permission in accordance with the Heads of Terms, attached to the report at Appendix 1; and

2)    the Operational Director, Economy, Enterprise and Property, be authorised to arrange for all required documentation to be completed to the satisfaction of the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services.

MINUTES ISSUED: 19 December 2016

CALL-IN: 4 January 2017

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 4 January 2017