Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2015 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and the Economy, which provided an update on the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Programme to 2020 for Halton and related Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) developments.

Progress on the ESIF Programme was last reported to Executive Board on 12 December 2013. This report provided an update on the structure and the management of the ESIF Programme to date and the process for dealing with the open commissioning for both the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund funding.

The Board noted Halton’s involvement in a number of areas across the Liverpool City Region:-

·       Low Carbon – to develop a City –wide Retrofit project, bringing together a multi-agency approach to increase the efficiency of homes, business premises and public infrastructure;

·       Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME)/Competitiveness – to develop a potential European project to provide eligible SME’s with the capacity and support needed to grow and prosper;

·       Access to Employment – production of a joint bid for the ‘Ways to Work’ Programme for young people and adults to improve personal resilience and progress to sustainable employment;

·       Technical Assistance – a proposal for funding under two ESIF Pipeline development activities.

The report also provided information on the next steps that Halton Borough Council colleagues and partner agencies would be involved with to develop Stage 2 Full Applications.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the contents of the report be noted; and

2)    Executive Board agree the next steps, as outlined in the report.

                          The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health, which sought approval to commence a tender exercise to procure a Specialist Substance Misuse Service for Halton (Adults).

          The Board was advised that Halton Borough Council was responsible for commissioning services to support local people with substance (drugs and alcohol) misuse problems. The service contributed to the aim of promoting the health and wellbeing of all service users and their families and the reduction of alcohol-related harm in the Borough.

          It was reported that the current contract was due to end on 31 March 2016, with no option to extend. Over the past two years, commissioners had worked with the existing provider to identify efficiencies in operational delivery costs. The tender exercise would enable further efficiencies to be realised.

Reason(s) for Decision

To ensure business continuity and maintain support and care for service users accessing community based misuse services.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

To issue a Direct Award for a limited period to the current provider. This did not provide a stable environment for the service area, impacting on performance and service delivery to service users.

Implementation Date

The procurement process would commence from September 2015 with a contract commencement date of 1 April 2016.

          RESOLVED: That the proposal to tender for a Specialist Community Substance Misuse Service for Halton be approved.

          The Board considered a report of the Director of Public Health, which presented a summary of national and local air quality monitoring and progress against National and European Air Quality legislation. It also provided a response to a petition for Air Monitors received by the Council in March 2015.

          The report identified the facts around air quality and air quality monitoring in Halton within the national and international frameworks. It identified a number of recommendations to address the issues raised in the report to ensure that air quality in Halton remained good and ultimately  improve health and wellbeing in Halton.

          Councillor Bill Woolfall attended the meeting to present the report and recommendations to Executive Board. At its meeting on 24 June 2015, the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board had considered the petition, the recommendations in response to it, and had recommended the matter be referred to the Executive Board for agreement.

Reason(s) for Decision

The decision was required to facilitate any further potential improvements in air quality within the Borough and foster more open relationships and discussions with the public and all agencies involved in the air quality agenda.       

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None.

Implementation Date

The recommendations would be implemented immediately.

          RESOLVED: That

1)      the report be noted;

2)      the recommendations contained within the report be agreed; and

3)      the Strategic Director, Communities and Resources, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, be authorised to put in place the detailed arrangements for the establishment of the Air Quality Forum referred to in the Air Quality report recommendations.

The Board considered a report of the Director, Policy and Resources, which sought approval of the Street Lighting Strategy and Policy.

The Executive Board, at its meeting on 26 March 2015, approved an Invest to Save bid of £4.7m for a programme of work to replace the current conventional street lighting with energy saving light emitting diode (LED) lighting units. The Board also considered potential measures to achieve street lighting savings. It was noted that the cost of street lighting maintenance was constantly rising, mainly as a result of energy costs which were increasing well above inflation.

The cost of energy for all the Council’s highway electrical assets (including street lighting, traffic signals, illuminated signs, etc.) was approximately £1,216,000 per annum. It was noted that there was no statutory duty to provide street lighting, however, it was recognised that street lighting had a vital role to play in reducing fear of crime and improving community safety after dark. Due to increased energy costs for street lighting, it was recognised that action must be taken to minimise future growth in energy consumption.

The Street Lighting Strategy and Policy had been considered and recommended for approval by the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board at its meeting on 24 June 2015.

Reason(s) for Decision

These proposals all affected residents of the Borough and could result in less areas being lit in the future.

The Policy would also require developers to pay towards the future maintenance costs for non-standard street lighting and intelligent transport systems (traffic signals, controlled pedestrian crossings, etc).

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

During the preparation of this Strategy and Policy, the provision of street lighting was reviewed throughout the Borough. Options to maintain previous levels of street lighting provision were considered, but due to increasing energy costs, this was not possible. Therefore, the Policy had been developed to minimise the impact whilst maintaining street lighting at critical locations.

Implementation Date

1 October 2015.

RESOLVED: That

1)  the Street Lighting Strategy and Policy document attached at Appendix 1 be approved;

2)      the removal of street lighting from rear passageways and independent footpaths where these routes are not the primary access to properties and when existing equipment is no longer serviceable be agreed; and

3)      a commuted sum be required to be paid where non-standard equipment is installed as part of a development be agreed.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which advised on objections that had been received following public consultation on a proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to introduce 20 mph speed limits on a number of roads in Halton.

The Board was advised that proposals to implement a 20mph speed limit over a series of residential areas in Halton had been advertised in February 2015. Overall, 17 letters/e-mails were received, 16 of which were objections to aspects of the proposals. It was reported that eleven objections which related to Beechwood Avenue, covering a range of issues, had also been received. It was therefore proposed to exclude Beechwood Avenue from the original TRO proposal. A summary of the objections were set out in Appendix A.

          It was noted that the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board had considered the proposals at its meeting on 24 June 2015 and had recommended they be approved by Executive Board.

          RESOLVED: That

1)      the proposal to make a Traffic Regulation Order to implement a 20mph speed limit on those roads defined in Appendix B, with the sole exception of Beechwood Avenue, be approved; and

2)     the objectors be informed of the decision.

(N.B. Councillor Nelson made a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business as he was a Member of the Regulatory Committee which had considered the matter, and therefore took no part in the discussion or decision at Executive Board)

          The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive, on proposed additions/amendments to the Single Status Drivers Conditions and the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Conditions (the Conditions) as recommended by the Regulatory Committee on 17 June 2015.

          The Board was advised that the Regulatory Committee had considered various changes and additions to the Conditions following consultation with the trade by the Taxi Consultative Group.  It was noted that a number of potential changes were set out in the report to the Regulatory Committee (attached at Appendix 1.)  Minute REG 21 of the Regulatory Committee recommended the adoption of those changes as Council policy (Minute REG 21 was set out in Appendix 1 for Members’ reference.)

          RESOLVED: That

1)    The recommendations of the Regulatory Committee set out in Minute REG 21 and in the report to Regulatory Committee on 17 June 2015, be adopted as Council policy; and

2)    the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services, be authorised to determine the detailed wording of any outstanding matters and all other consequential matters to ensure implementation of this resolution.

The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which summarised the overall revenue and capital spending position as at 30 June 2015.

          In overall terms, revenue expenditure was £0.131m below the budget profile, however, this was only a guide to eventual spending. It was noted that spending on employees was £0.4m below the budget profile at the end of the quarter with the existence of a number of vacant posts and savings in staff turnover.

Members were advised that the Children and Families Department had experienced severe cost pressures in 2014/15 which resulted in a budget overspend for the year. In addition, the Department continued to deal with pressures in other areas such as Special Guardianship, Out of Borough Fostering, Direct Payments and Individual Budgets.

The Capital Programme had been revised to reflect a number of changes in spending profiles as schemes had developed; a list of those schemes that had been revised were set out in the report. With regard to capital spending, it was reported that spending to the 30 June 2015 totalled £4.575m, which was 96% of the planned spending of £4.780m at this stage. However, this represented 9% of the total Capital Programme of £49.234m.

The Council’s Balance Sheet was monitored regularly in accordance with the Reserves and Balances Strategy which formed part of the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The key reserves and balances had been reviewed and were considered prudent and appropriate at this stage in the financial year and within the current financial climate.

RESOLVED: That

1)    all spending continues to be limited to the absolutely essential;

2)    Strategic Directors ensure overall spending at year-end is within their total operational budget; and

3)    Council approve the revised Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix 3 attached to the report.

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which sought endorsement for the Social Value Charter for Halton.

The Social Value Policy Statement and Procurement Framework were approved by the Board in September 2014. They were developed both in response to the requirements of the Public Services (Social Value Act) 2012 (the Act) and as part of a national Delivering Social Value in Health Programme, of which Halton was one of  four pilot areas.

The Act required the Council to consider how what it procured might improve the well-being of the relevant area, and how the procurement process might act in achieving that improvement.

The definition of social value contained within the Act, made it possible to weigh social benefit against the cost of investment, with benefits in local employment, apprenticeship and training programmes, volunteer programmes and the use of sustainable products, as detailed in the report.

It was reported that, as part of the Council’s continuing work of the Delivering Social Value in Health Programme, there had been an aspiration to pull together an overarching Social Value Charter, to provide the umbrella under which each organisations’ social value work would take place, with a shared set of values and principles to work towards. The Charter was attached at Appendix 1, and it was proposed that this would be launched in September 2015, alongside the roll out of a number of other activities including training across organisations and an annual report on social value successes in Halton.

  RESOLVED: That

1)    the report be noted; and

2)    the Social Value Charter for Halton be endorsed.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which sought approval to constitute a Management Board for the Runcorn Energy from Waste Plant.

 The Board was advised that the Runcorn Energy from Waste Plant was approved in September 2008 and was subject to a legal agreement for the payment of an annual lump sum to the Council for every tonne of fuel received and processed.

The constitution of a Management Board, consisting of three Elected Members, would be responsible for identifying environmental matters within the Borough and for the consideration and approval of funding requests. Details of the legal agreement were set out in the report for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED: That

1)      the creation of a Management Board be agreed;

2)      the Management Board be constituted as follows:-

·    Executive Board Member, Physical Environment;

·    Executive Board Member , Resources; and

·    Chairman, Environment and Urban Renewal PPB (or nominated substitute from the PPB); and

3)      the Management Board determine how the lump sum payments shall be used by the Council, having due regard to the following:-

“to fund environmental matters as, may be specified from time to time by the Council within the Borough of Halton for the benefits of its residents generally and which may include measures to improve public transport, highway network improvements, travel plan monitoring, waste recycling and wider community improvements such as landscaping and nature conservation measures”.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities, which sought approval for the invitation to tender for the provision of a housing support service at Halton Lodge YMCA.

The Board was advised that Halton Lodge YMCA provided 66 units of accommodation for the single homeless. The service was reconfigured in 2014, with the building divided into two halves. One half provided intensive support to those in crisis with significant support needs and the other half catered for those with lesser support needs.

At its meeting on 12 March 2015, Executive Board had been advised of a developing relationship between Halton YMCA and Fylde YMCA which had now progressed. At the same meeting, the Board had approved a one year extension to the contract to allow time for service changes to be implemented. It was reported that this contract would expire on 31 March 2016, and it was therefore necessary to commence a procurement exercise to establish a new service contract.

          RESOLVED: That

1)      the commencement of a procurement exercise for housing support services at Halton Lodge YMCA, as described in the report, be approved; and

2)      Executive Board receives a further report on the outcome of the tenders.

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 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, Communities, which presented options for the future management arrangements for the Council’s Leisure Centres.

The Board was advised that the current leisure management contract was due to expire in March 2016. It was reported that this was an appropriate opportunity to review the Leisure Centre Management options which were available to the Council. A detailed appraisal of the options for the delivery of future services had been undertaken, with the focus on sustainability, the Council’s budgetary position and the provision of quality services to the community.

Reason(s) for Decision

By bringing the management of the leisure centres back within Council control there was clear evidence that further efficiency savings beyond those offered by the current provider could be generated without any loss of service provision or reduction in quality.

Due to the present lack of senior management’s detailed knowledge of operating leisure centres, particularly within the areas around pool management, support would be needed, at least initially, to ensure a safe transition took place.

The preferred provider had a track record of operating modern leisure facilities with low subsidies and experience in negotiating efficiency savings with commercial leisure contractors and the management of leisure centre redevelopments. They had clearly identified in detail how they would work with the Council and it was clear that their staff were extremely experienced in this field. In addition, they could draw on additional expertise to support the Council in achieving its key requirements.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

During this detailed analysis of all the options outlined in the report, it became apparent that both providers had made significant reductions in the leisure management costs over the past ten years in providing their respective leisure facilities.

Although the offers made by the current provider would result in a reduction in the management fee the evidence presented by the other parties clearly demonstrated that significant larger savings could be realised by bringing the service back into the Council’s control.

Implementation Date

1 April 2016.

RESOLVED: That

1)    notice be served to terminate the current contractual arrangements; and

2)    the offer referred to in the report, to form collaborative arrangements for the management of the Council’s Leisure Centres, be accepted.

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and the Economy, which sought approval to amend the Capital Programme to provide an allocation of funding to introduce Totem style signage at The Hive, Widnes Waterfront.

          It was reported that businesses at the site had requested the erection of a Totem style promotional sign at the junction of Earle Road and Ashley Way. The Board was advised that whilst existing businesses had indicated their willingness to contribute financially in principle, the provision of such a sign, and the Council’s support for it, would further attract potential developers to the Borough, as detailed in the report.

RESOLVED: That Council be recommended to approve a revision to the Capital Programme of an additional £100,000, maximum, for the construction and erection of a Totem style sign at The Hive, Widnes Waterfront.

MINUTES ISSUED: 4 September 2015

CALL-IN: 11 September 2015

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called-in no later than 5.00pm on 11 September 2015