Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes from the meeting held on 20 October 2015 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            The Board was advised that no public questions had been received.

            The Board was presented with the Minutes relating to the Corporate Services Portfolio which had been considered by the Executive Board since the last meeting of the Board.

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be noted.

            The Board considered the minutes of the Halton Strategic Partnership Board meeting held on 9 September 2015.

            RESOLVED: That the Board note the minutes.

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, People and Economy, which provided an update on related activities aimed at reducing CO2 emissions within the Council and related external activities.

            It was reported that since the Council’s participation in the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme the Council had implemented a number of short to medium/long term actions to ensure that carbon emissions and costs were reduced.  Overall the Council’s CO2 emissions had significantly reduced from a baseline in 2006/7 of 26,338 tonnes of CO2 to 21,124 tonnes of CO2 in 2014/15.  This represented a reduction of 5214 tonnes of CO2 over the period, approximately 20%.

            The report outlined the activities completed and ongoing in the past 12 months which had contributed to the reduction.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board was provided with a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which presented the work of the Fees and Charges Topic Group and made recommendations to Executive Board.

            The Board was advised that analysis was undertaken of all fees and charges income generated during 2014/15 by each Department.  Those areas generating income above the threshold of £100,000 were identified which provided a focus for the Topic Group’s work.

            A number of proposed changes to fees and charges were considered by the Group for implementation from 1 April 2016 in order to support development of the Council’s 2016/17 budget.  These included both increasing existing charges and implementing new charges, which it was agreed should be incorporated within the fees and charges to be recommended to Executive Board for 2016/17.

            In addition, the Topic Group highlighted a number of areas of fees and charges to be explored further by officers.

            RESOLVED:  That

1)    The work of the Fees and Charges Topic Group as set out in the report and appendices, be noted;

2)    The Executive Board be asked consider the work of the Fees and Charges Topic Group as set out in the report and appendices; and

3)    The Executive Board be asked to note the outcomes of the review as set out in Appendix 2, which will, where appropriate, be incorporated within the Council’s proposed fees and charges for 2016/17, to be considered by Executive Board in March 2016, to support delivery of the Council’s 2016/17 budget.

The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which presented the Performance Monitoring Reports for Quarter 2 2015/16.

            The reports related to the following functional areas which reported to the Board and detailed progress against service objectives and milestones, and performance targets and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen during the period:

·         Finance;

·         Human Resources and Organisational Development;

·         ICT and Administrative Support;

·         Legal and Democracy;

·         Policy and Performance;

·         Property Services; and

·         Catering, Stadium and Registration Services.

RESOLVED: That the second quarter performance monitoring reports be received and noted.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which provided information on the number of working days lost in the first half of 2015/16.  The report presented comparative data from 2013/14 and 2014/15.  At the end of quarter 2, 2015/16, the average number of days per employee lost to sickness absence stood at 4.23 days which represented a 22% reduction on the same period in 2014/15, which was a positive trend.

The report highlighted the various reasons for sickness absence.

RESOLVED: That

1)    The content of the report be noted; and

2)    Managers be reminded of the need to proactively apply the Council’s sickness policies and seek the support and guidance of the HR Service where necessary.