Agenda and minutes

The Board was advised that a matter had arisen which required immediate attention by the Board (Minute EXB 108 refers). Therefore, pursuant to Section 100 B (4) and 100 E, and in view of the need to ensure continuity of service to vulnerable adults in receipt of domiciliary care and effective implementation of new contracts, the Board ruled that this item would be considered at this meeting.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2017 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which sought approval to develop a shared fostering service.

It was reported that there had been an unprecedented national rise in the number of children coming into care, which had resulted in local authority fostering services unable to meet demand. In Halton, the capacity of the in-house fostering service was severely stretched with a reduction in the number of fostering households.

The Board was advised that, operating as a single entity, each of the four Cheshire local authorities, were competing with their neighbours as well as with a strong independent fostering agency (IFA) market. The report set out details of the key aims, objectives and benefits of a proposed shared fostering service across Cheshire.

Reason(s) for Decision

In order for Halton Borough Council to meet its statutory duty to provide sufficient foster placements for children coming into care or those already in care, it was necessary for a new model/approach to be delivered. Current demand outstripped provision and there was a heavy reliance on costly IFA placements which placed a financial pressure on the Council.

A shared fostering service was a model that offered economies of scale that should lead to a more operationally efficient and cost effective service.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Halton could continue as it was but there was not the capacity to undertake the level of marketing, recruitment and assessment required to meet the demand for foster carers. Over the short term, additional resource would be required to bolster our local recruitment but at the moment the lack of capacity of staff and poor market supply was having an impact on the services’ ability to match children appropriately for the far fewer number of foster carers and providing the right level of support to our current foster carers; this was increasing the risk of placement breakdown and the consequent higher costs with increased use of IFAs and residential provision. The matching of children with foster carers was an area to improve, highlighted by the Ofsted Inspection in 2014.

Implementation Date

October 2017.

          RESOLVED: That Executive Board approves

1)    the proposal for a shared fostering service should be developed between Warrington, Halton, Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East;

2)    that one of the partner authorities will be the single local authority acting as the provider of the shared service;

3)    that further decisions regarding the development and establishment of the shared fostering services are delegated to the Strategic Director, People, in consultation with the Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families; and

4)    authority to sign off an inter-authority agreement is delegated to the Strategic Director, People.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health, on the procurement of a new 0-19 Healthy Child Service for Halton.

Halton Borough Council was responsible for commissioning services to promote the health and wellbeing of children and young people resident in Halton, with the aim of improving public health outcomes and reducing health inequalities across the life course.

The report set out the proposal to secure a provider to deliver the integrated 0-19 Public Health Service to deliver the Healthy Child Programme, providing both universal and targeted support services to help improve the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families in the Borough.

Reason(s) for Decision

A decision was 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, Executive Board approval was sought.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Implementation Date

The new procurement process would commence immediately, with the new service in place by September 2017.

          RESOLVED: That the proposal to tender for the 0-19 Healthy Child Service for children, young people and families in Halton, be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on the recommendations of the Health Policy and Performance Board (PPB) Scrutiny Review of Carer Services 2016/17.

Members were advised that the Health PPB decided to focus their review on the responsibilities of the Council to carers under the Care Act, the role of Halton Carers Centre and the role of NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Appendix 1 outlined the evidence gathered by the Topic Group from a range of partners in relation to services provided to carers in Halton.

The following recommendations were made following the review:

·       There should be a continued focus on provision of information and support at the right time for the carer, to avoid carer breakdown and use of high cost services;

·       Continued efforts to engage with people currently hidden from carer services;

·       A renewed focus on relationships with health, in particular the hospitals, to encourage identification and support of carers;

·       Assessment of long term carers’ needs at regular intervals;

·       Involving carers in co-produced service development;

·       Ensure that within carer provision there were a range of different interventions to meet diverse and changing needs of carers; and

·       Consider how access to carer’s services could be improved.

Further commentary on each recommendation was provided in the report. It was noted that the Health PPB had considered and endorsed the recommendations at its meeting on 7 February 2017.

          Councillor Joan Lowe, Chair of the Health PPB, dealt with Members’ questions and was then thanked for her attendance at the meeting.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the contents of the report and appendices be noted; and

2)    the recommendations of the Health Policy and Performance Board be approved.

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which reported on the outcome of the re-procurement of the Domiciliary Care Contracts.

          The Board was reminded that approval was granted in November 2016 to invite Domiciliary Care providers to tender for the contracts for Widnes and Runcorn. The report set out details of the outcome of the evaluation process.

          RESOLVED: That the Board

1)    approve the award of a five year plus one, plus one (up to seven years in total) to provider A for the Widnes Domiciliary Care Contract; and

2)    approve the award of a five year plus one, plus one (up to seven years in total) to provider A for the Runcorn Domiciliary Care Contract.

(N.B. Councillors Polhill and Wharton made a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business as they were Non-Executive Directors of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board)

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on progress with the Mersey Gateway Bridge Project (the Project) and the performance of the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Limited (the MGCB) for the period July to December 2016.

The Board was advised that the MGCB was a special purpose vehicle, established by Halton Borough Council, with delegated authority to deliver the Mersey Gateway Bridge project, and to administer and oversee the construction, maintenance and tolling of the new tolled crossings, which included the tolling of the Silver Jubilee Bridge.

The MGCB were commissioned to deliver the Project on behalf of the Council and operate as a commercial, not for profit organisation, on an arm’s length basis.

It was reported that the MGCB worked closely with Merseylink (MER) on a day to day basis to ensure all aspects of their policies were adhered to, which ranged from PR and Communications, Environment, Traffic Management and Local Employment and Skills.

RESOLVED: That

1)    progress with the Project, as set out in the report, be noted; and

2)    performance of the MGCB Ltd in monitoring the Project Company’s (MER) performance, as set out in the report, be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the proposed introduction of waiting restrictions around Runcorn Hill.

It was noted that the report had been considered by the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board (PPB) at its meeting on 8 February 2017. The PPB supported the recommendation to make the Order in order to address parking congestion in the Runcorn Hill area. It also agreed that options be explored to assist the Runcorn and District Scale Model Boats Group with their parking concerns.

The Board was advised that, following recent improvements to Runcorn Hill Park, several complaints had been received regarding problems caused by parked vehicles from residents living in adjacent roads. These were detailed in Appendix A. The proposed waiting restrictions were the subject of formal public consultation in September 2016 and a summary of the fifteen objections received as a result were detailed in Appendix D. The report contained a summary of the Officer responses to the objections raised.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the proposal to make a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce “At Any Time” waiting restrictions on parts of Park Road, Highlands Road, Campbell Avenue and Heath Park Grove in Runcorn, as shown in Appendix B and defined in Appendix C be approved; and

2)    the objectors be informed of the decision.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought approval of Part 2 of the Highways Asset Management Plan (HAMP).

The Board had previously approved Part 1 Chapters 1-4 of the HAMP at its meeting on 7 April 2016. Part 2 had been considered and endorsed by the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board at its meeting on 8 February 2017. It was noted that approval of the HAMP would serve as the foundation for other detailed plans and strategies based on the principles and objectives of the HAMP.

RESOLVED: That the Highways Asset Management Plan be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought approval for maintenance works on the Silver Jubilee Bridge (SJB) in 2017/18.

The Board was advised that the Council had an Access Agreement to the SCAPE Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework, for the procurement of the Liverpool City Region SJB Complex and Major Maintenance Programme. It was noted that the SJB required a continual programme of works to maintain it in a steady state condition and fully operational. Details of the planned works were set out in the report for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the issue of an Order under the SCAPE framework for Balvac to undertake the steel arch superstructure painting scheme for the Silver Jubilee Bridge, be approved; and

2)    the issue of an Order under the SCAPE framework for Balvac to undertake a painting scheme for the steelwork between the Runcorn Trestle and “node Y5”, be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on new powers to enable the Council to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for fly tipping offences.

The Board was advised that amendments to the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, have given local authorities additional powers to tackle environmental crime by using Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for fly tipping.

It was reported that currently, fly tipping offences were dealt with by prosecution only, which involved the production of detailed investigative reporting and attendance at court to give evidence. Securing a prosecution therefore, was a relatively costly and resource-intensive process. The ability to use FPNs provided the opportunity to deal with incidents in a more efficient, cost-effective and proportionate manner. Members were advised that setting a high penalty amount would also ensure that FPNs could act as a deterrent to offenders, with an expected decrease in the number of fly tipping incidents as a result. 

It was noted that the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board Waste Working Party had scrutinised the matter of set fly-tipping FPN levels. Examples of the amounts set by neighbouring local authorities for FPNs and any discounts applied for early payment were set out in the report. It was recommended that Halton set its FPN at the maximum amount of £400, with a discounted amount offered if paid within ten days.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the Council’s approach to dealing with fly-tipping, as set out in the report, be endorsed; and

2)    the Council’s Fixed Penalty Notice level for fly-tipping offences be set at £400 and reduced to £300 if paid within ten days.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the delivery of Apprenticeship Services in the Liverpool City Region (LCR).

The Board was advised that the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) had offered Halton the contract to deliver Apprenticeship Services for the LCR. It was reported that funding would be used to deliver a series of Apprenticeship Hub-related activities across the LCR, as detailed in the report, with the value of the contract set at approximately £875k. Halton would have overall financial management of the contract, with elements of activity commissioned out to partner organisations.

It was reported that, in line with the introduction of Universal Credit, the LCR recognised the importance of working with, and having a better understanding of, household poverty and unemployment. There was a need to work with whole households to improve the retention and progression of residents into work. This approach would have four key principles:

·       Household focus;

·       Holistic focus;

·       Employer focus; and

·       Partnership focus.

Local arrangements within each of the six constituent Council areas, would ensure that provision was locally situated and integrated. However, it was noted that the number of Halton families that would be offered assistance had not been finalised.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    progress on both projects be noted; and

2)      Halton Borough Council accept the Skills Funding Agency contract on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to deliver Apprenticeship Services.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought the approval of the Council to a number of changes to the Constitution.

          Members were advised that the revised version picked up the changes to the Council’s working arrangements that had taken place during the year, as well as other changes which were intended to assist the Council to operate more effectively.

          The proposals for change had been considered by the Chief Executive and the Executive Board Member for Resources in accordance with Article 16.02. It was reported that, apart from the purely technical changes, the proposed amendments that were considered to be of particular significance were listed as an appendix to the report.

          RESOLVED: That Council be recommended to approve the revised Constitution, including the matters set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the annual publication of the Pensions Discretion Statement.

The Board was advised that the 2016/17 Pensions Discretion Statement (the Statement) had been approved at its meeting in March 2016. The Statement for 2017/18 was based upon the previous Statement, and it was reported that no new discretions had been added or removed. In addition, there had been no material changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013, that would result in a change in the Statement. It was noted that minor drafting changes had been made to incorporate revised amounts for Shared Cost Additional Pension Contributions, which was increased annually in line with the cost of living.

RESOLVED: That the Pensions Discretion Statement for 2017/18 be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the proposed fees and charges for Council services for 2017/18.

The Board was advised that as part of the budget preparations for 2017/18, a review of fees and charges had been carried out. It was proposed that generally fees and charges be increased in line with inflation, although some had been reviewed with consideration given to the impact of the price change.

Attached at Appendix A was a schedule of statutory fees which may increase during the coming financial year. Chargeable rates for The Brindley and the Registrar’s Service were attached at Appendix B.

RESOLVED: That the proposed fees and charges for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix A and for 2018/19 as set out in Appendices B and C, attached to the report, be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on progress against key objectives/milestones and performance targets for the third quarter to 31 December 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.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which presented the draft Mersey Gateway Plus Regeneration Plan 2017-2027 (the Plan).

The Board was advised that the Plan sought to maximise the economic benefits of the Mersey Gateway Project beyond its construction period. It was reported that the Plan would facilitate the development of a steady pipeline of regeneration and development opportunities over a 10-15 year period, and that it would be the first in a suite of documents that would form Halton’s Economic Growth Strategy, as detailed in the report.

Reason(s) for Decision

Adoption of the Plan had the potential to drive continuing regeneration of the Borough for the next ten years and was likely to have a positive impact on the economic well-being of residents in Halton Borough.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

To adopt a project by project approach to maximising the regeneration benefits of the Mersey Gateway. However, this approach would result in a short-term piece-meal approach which would make it difficult to use the Mersey Gateway “brand” in a productive way.

Implementation Date

1 April 2017.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the draft Mersey Gateway Plus Regeneration Plan be approved;

2)    the priorities and proposed actions outlined in the report and accompanying documentation be agreed;

3)    the Plan be used as a vehicle for prioritising resources in respect of Economic Regeneration opportunities; and

4)    the Plan is formally launched in May 2017.

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.

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 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, exempt information would be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Reason for taking the item in Part II:-

The report will contain commercially sensitive information.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the disposal of the former caretaker’s house at Simms Cross School, Widnes.

The report set out details of the current condition of the property, which was surplus to requirements, since being vacated in 2016.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the proposal to bring the former caretaker’s house to the market as soon as possible by auction, placing a reserve price as stated in the recommendation, be approved; and

2)    the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services and the Operational Director, Economy, Enterprise and Property,  be authorised to send their nominees to attend auction to commit the Council to a sale in excess of the reserve price.

MINUTES ISSUED: Monday 20 March 2017

CALL-IN: 27 March 2017

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on Monday 27 March 2017