Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2018 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on the application process for a special free school for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH).

It was reported that in July 2018, the Department for Education invited local authorities to make application to establish special or alternative provision for free schools in their borough. To give a regional footprint to specialist provision, guidance encouraged authorities to seek partners in neighbouring authorities as part of the bid.

The Board was advised that local authorities were responsible for securing provision for children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHC), funded from their high needs budget. Halton and St Helens Councils had identified insufficient provision for pupils with SEMH issues and as a result, had placed pupils in expensive independent provision. This meant that many pupils were educated away from their local community, travelling long distances to school, which in turn impacted on their ability to develop friendships; it also reduced the opportunity for transition back into mainstream education.

It was therefore proposed that Halton and St Helens Councils submit a bid to open a co-educational, special free school which would offer a quality educational experience for fifty pupils with SEMH, as well as catering for a range of other issues including Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Reason(s) for Decision

To provide a more inclusive offer for pupils with SEMH, giving them the opportunity to be educated with support alongside their peers.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not submitting an application for a joint free school. However, lack of provision had an impact on the educational outcomes of pupils that need the support.

Implementation Date

Notification as to whether the bid had been successful would be announced by the DfE in Spring 2019.

RESOLVED: That the Board

1)    approve an application to establish a new joint special free school in Halton shared with St Helens Borough Council; and

2)    agree the location of the school within Halton.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on an application for discretionary non-domestic rate relief.

The Board was advised that, under the amended provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, the Council was able to grant discretionary rate relief to any business rate payer. Since 1 April 2017, the Council had been responsible for meeting the full cost of all mandatory and discretionary rate relief granted, as part of the Liverpool City Region 100% Business Rates Retention Pilot Scheme.

The report set out details of an application from a registered charity for rate relief on premises used for storage facilities in Runcorn. The goods were then distributed to the Charity’s shops and sold to raise funds for the work carried out by the Charity. The report set out details of the request for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED: That the request for discretionary rate relief of 15% from 1 July 2018, for Halton Haven Hospice be approved, for their premises at Canal Walk, Halton Road, Runcorn.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought approval to commence a procurement process to re-tender various insurance services.

The Board was advised that in April 2014, the Council entered into five year contracts for a range of insurance services. It was reported that these contracts were due to end on 31 March 2019 and that it was necessary to commence a procurement process to renew the policies.

It was noted that, as the public sector insurance market was a specialised area, the Council’s insurance broker would manage the tender process with support from the Procurement Team

RESOLVED: That approval be given to undertake an open procurement process via the Council’s electronic procurement system (The Chest), with the purpose of securing the following insurance services:-

·       Public and Employers’ Liability cover;

·       Officials’ Indemnity cover;

·       Professional Indemnity cover;

·       Engineering Inspection cover; and

·       Engineering Insurance cover.

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the adoption of policy changes to both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire conditions.

          The Regulatory Committee considered a report on miscellaneous policy changes at its meeting on 4 July 2018. These changes had gone through a consultation process via the Taxi Consultative Group. 

It was noted that the recommendations from the Regulatory Committee related to a number of changes in existing and additional policy elements of the Taxi Licensing Policy, Single Status Driver’s, Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle and Private Hire Operator’s conditions. The policy changes approved by the Regulatory Committee, as set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report, were required to be adopted by the Executive Board.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the Policy changes, as recommended by the Regulatory Committee. Minute Number REG4, detailed in the Regulatory Committee Agenda of 4 July 2018, be adopted as Council Policy; and

2)    the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services, be authorised to make all appropriate changes to the existing relevant policies and guidance to ensure that they are updated accordingly.

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on the adoption of policy changes which related to the review of Hackney Carriage Stands in Halton.

The Regulatory Committee had considered the outcomes of the Hackney Carriage Stands review at its meeting on 4 July 2018. These changes had gone through a consultation process via the Taxi Consultative Group and the Council’s Highways section had been involved in various discussions associated with the consultation process.

The differences between the new Taxi Rank Order and the existing Order were summarised in Appendix B and C, attached to the report.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    a Taxi Rank Order entitled “The Halton Borough Council (Various Hackney Carriage Stands, Widnes and Runcorn) Order 2018” (“the 2018 Order”) be made; and

2)    the wording of the Schedule to the 2018 Order as  set out in Appendix B of the Regulatory Committee report dated 4 July 2018, be approved except that in respect of stand number 8 (Appleton Village) in column 5 delete “any” and substitute “The permitted times of use of the rank –

00.00 to 08.00

09.30to 14.30

16.30 to 00.00”

3)    the existing Taxi Rank Order be revoked;

4)    the 2018 Order shall come into effect on 1 November 2018; and

5)    the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services, be authorised to complete the drafting of the 2018 Order and to fulfil all procedural requirements in accordance with Section 63 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

MINUTES ISSUED: 23 October 2018

CALL-IN: 30 October 2018

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 30 October 2018