Venue: The Boardroom, Municipal Building
Contact: Angela Scott on 0151 511 8670 or Email: Angela.scott@halton.gov.uk
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Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2020 were taken as read and signed as a correct record. |
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Children, Education and Social Care Portfolio |
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Home Based Respite Care Service in Halton PDF 87 KB Minutes: The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which sought a waiver of
Procurement Standing Orders for the continued provision of the Home Based
Respite Care Service in Halton. The Board was advised that home based
respite care provided practical help, personal care and emotional support to
people in their own homes. The service supported carers and the cared for to
help them to remain independent for as long as possible. It was reported that the contract
with the current provider, Crossroads Care North West, was due to end on 31
March 2020. A continuation of the service with this provider would support the
Council in its development of out of hospital services with NHS Halton Clinical
Commissioning Group, the One Halton place based approach and support the
Council’s commitment to providing breaks for carers in line with local and
national targets for independent living. Therefore, a waiver of the relevant
Procurement Standing Orders was sought to extend the contract for the period 1
April 2020 to 31 March 2022, with an option to extend for a further one year. RESOLVED: That 1) the
contents of the report be noted; and 2) a
waiver in compliance with Procurement Standing Order 1.14.4 iv of Part 3 of
Procurement Standing Orders is approved. |
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Refurbishment of Millbrow Care Home PDF 93 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, which provided details of the proposed refurbishment of Millbrow Care Home. The Board was advised that at the time of purchase by Halton Borough Council in 2017, Millbrow Care Home building was in disrepair. During the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in February 2019, they recognised the improvements that had been made in all areas, with particular focus on care, which had been rated as ‘Good’. It was reported that some initial building work had taken place to ensure the establishment was habitable and fit for purpose. However, as the building was in need of major refurbishment, the work would be divided into three phases. The first phase, subject of this report, focused on the needs of the residents to ensure the environment was suitable for good quality care provision. RESOLVED: That 1) the report be noted; 2) the Board agree the refurbishment plans; and 3) the Board agree funding for the project. |
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Resources Portfolio |
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Budget 2020/21 - KEY DECISION PDF 193 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance,
which outlined a recommendation to Council in respect of the Budget, Capital
Programme and Council Tax for 2020/21. It was noted that at the time of
writing, the Cheshire Fire Authority and the Cheshire Police and Crime
Commissioner had not set their budget and Council Tax precept. However, final
figures would be reported to Council when the information was available. The Board was advised that the
Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), approved at its meeting on 14 November
2019, had identified funding gaps of around £7.9m in 2020/21, £15.1m in 2021/22
and £4.4m in 2022/23. The Strategy had the following objectives: ·
Deliver a balanced and sustainable budget; ·
Prioritise spending towards the Council’s
priority areas; ·
Avoid excessive Council Tax rises; ·
Achieve significant cashable efficiency gains; ·
Protect essential front line services and
vulnerable members of the community; and ·
Deliver improved procurement. In terms of consultation, it was noted that the Council used various
methods to listen to the views of the public, and Members’ own experiences
through their Ward work was an important part of that process. Individual
consultations had taken place in respect of specific budget proposals and
equality impact assessments would be completed where necessary. Appendix B outlined proposed budget savings for 2020/21, totalling
£4.230m. The departmental analysis was shown in Appendix C and the major reasons for change from the
current budget were shown in Appendix D. The Board was advised the final Local Government Finance Settlement
figures were awaited, along with confirmation on some 2020/21 grant allocations
including the Public Health grant. It was confirmed that the Council would
continue to participate in the pilot of the 100% Business Rates Retention
Scheme, as part of the Liverpool City Region (LCR). Further information was provided on the budget outlook, Halton’s Council Tax, Precepts for Parishes, Police, Fire
and Liverpool City Region Mayor, the Capital Programme, Prudential Code and
School Budgets. Reason(s) for
Decision To seek approval
for the Council’s Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Council Tax for
2020/21. Alternative
Options Considered and Rejected In arriving at the
budget saving proposals set out in Appendix B, numerous proposals had been
considered, some of which had been deferred pending further information, or
rejected. Implementation
Date 4 March 2020. RESOLVED: That 1) Council
be recommended to adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A attached to the
report, which includes setting the budget at £115,770m, the Council Tax
requirement of £52.179m (before Parish, Police, Fire and LCR Combined Authority
precepts) and the Band D Council Tax for Halton of
£1,475.70; 2) Council
be recommended to approve the revenue budget proposals for 2020/21 set out in
Appendix B and Capital Programme set out in Appendix F, both attached to the
report; and 3) from 1 April 2020 the level of Empty Homes Premium on dwellings that have been unoccupied for between 2 and 5 years remain at 100%. The level of Premium on dwellings unoccupied for more than 5 years be increased ... view the full minutes text for item 81. |
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2019/20 Quarter 3 Spending PDF 177 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance,
which reported on the 2019/20 Quarter 3 spending as at 31 December 2019. A summary of spending against
revenue budget up to 31 December 2019 was attached to the report at Appendix 1.
This provided individual statements for each department. The Board was advised
that, in overall terms, revenue expenditure was £3.790m above the budget
profile. Whilst the overspend position had increased since Quarter 2, the trend
had slowed over the previous 3 months as action taken by all departments
continued to restrict spending. The Board was advised that a number
of budget savings proposals approved by Council in March 2019 were yet to be
implemented. These were detailed in Table 1. The main budget pressures
continued to be within the Children and Families Department. In addition,
service demand for Adult Social Care had increased over the year. The report also provided details of other
services which had experienced budget variances including the Children and
Families Department; Community and Environment Department; the Education,
Inclusion and Provision Department; ICT and Support Services; Adult Social Care
including the Complex Care Pool. An underspend in Corporate and Democracy was
noted. The Capital Programme had been revised to reflect a number of changes in
spending profiles as schemes had developed, and these were detailed in the
report. RESOLVED: That 1) all
spending continues to be limited to only absolutely essential items; 2) Departments
continue to seek to implement the 2019/20 budget savings proposals listed in Table A, which were approved by
Council in March 2019; 3) Strategic
Directors take appropriate action to ensure that overall spending was contained
as far as possible within their total operational budget by year-end; and 4) Council
be recommended to approve the revised Capital Programme as set out in Appendix
2 attached to the report. |
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Capital Strategy 2020/21 PDF 155 KB Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, on
the Council’s Capital Strategy for 2020/21. It was reported that all councils
were required to produce a Capital Strategy annually, the aim of which was to
ensure that the Council understood the overall long-term policy objectives and
resulting capital strategy requirements, governance procedures and risk
appetite. Members were advised that the
Capital Strategy should be read in conjunction with the Treasury Management
Statement, included on the same agenda. It was noted that the successful
delivery of the Capital Strategy would assist the Council in planning and
funding its capital expenditure over the next three years. RESOLVED:
That Council be recommended to approve the 2020/21 Capital Strategy, as
presented in the Appendix attached to the report. |
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Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2020/21 PDF 224 KB Minutes: The Board considered a
report of the Operational Director, Finance, proposing the Treasury Management
Strategy Statement (TMSS) which incorporated the Annual Investment Strategy and
the Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy for 2020/21. The
TMSS was attached to the report and detailed the expected activities of the
treasury function in the forthcoming financial year (2020/21). The
Local Government Act 2003 required the Council to “have regard to” the
Prudential Code and to set Prudential Indicators for the next three years, to
ensure that the Council’s capital investment plans were affordable, prudent and
sustainable. The Act therefore required the Council to set out its treasury
strategy for borrowing as well as an Annual Investment Strategy, which set out
the Council’s policies for managing its investments and for giving priority to
the security and liquidity of those investments. However, Government guidance
stated that authorities could combine the statement and the strategy into one
report, and the Council had adopted this approach. Members
noted that the provision of a Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement was
required and a formal statement for approval was contained within the report at
paragraph 2.3, with Appendix A detailing the full policy. RESOLVED:
That Council be recommended to adopt the policies, strategies, statements,
prudential and treasury indicators outlined in the report. |
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Directorate Performance Overview Reports for Quarter 2 2019 - 20 PDF 58 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: 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 2019. The Board was advised that the Directorate Performance Overview Report provided a strategic summary of key issues arising from the relevant quarter for each Directorate. The Board noted that such information was key to the Council’s performance management arrangements and 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, progress and performance information be noted.
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Calendar of Meetings 2020/21 PDF 54 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which set out the proposed Calendar of Meetings for the 2020/21 Municipal Year, which was appended to the report for information. RESOLVED: That Council be recommended to approve the Calendar of meetings for the 2020/21 Municipal Year, as appended to the report. |
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Physical Environment Portfolio |
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Local Development Scheme PDF 87 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise,
Community and Resources, which sought approval for the update to Halton’s Local
Development Scheme (LDS). The Board was advised that the LDS was
a public statement of the Council’s three year work programme for the
production of the Local Plan. Councils were required to prepare and keep up to
date an LDS and to set out the timetable for the production of their Local
Plan. It was noted that this update would cover the remaining stages in the
preparation of the Delivery and Allocations Local Plan. RESOLVED: That 1)
the
Halton Borough Council Local Development Scheme 2020
Revision (Appendix 1) be formally adopted and shall have effect from 28 February
2020; and 2) authority
be delegated to the Operational Director: Policy, Planning and Transportation
in consultation with the Executive Board Member, Physical Environment, to
approve any minor changes to the wording and/or timelines of the production of
documents in the Local Development Scheme as required prior to publication. |
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SCHEDULE 12A OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT 1985 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(s) 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. Minutes: 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 items 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. |
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Resources Portfolio |
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Disposal Programme - KEY DECISION Minutes: The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which sought approval to the Council’s Disposal Programme. The Board was reminded that in September 2019, it had approved an asset, acquisition and retention strategy, which formed the rationale for the proposals outlined in Appendices A and B, attached to the report. Reason(s) For Decision The approval to the schedule would form the Council’s disposal programme for assets, surplus to the requirements of the Council. To allow development of the sites for alternative uses. Alternative Options Considered and Rejected The approval to declare sites surplus to requirements was necessary under the Council’s Constitution. Implementation Date Once approved, recommendations would be immediately acted upon. RESOLVED: That Executive Board 1) approves the Disposal Programme and sites identified in Appendix A attached to the report, as surplus to requirements and to be sold; 2) approves the sites to be retained in Council ownership identified in Appendix B attached to the report; and 3) authorises the Operational Director, Economy, Enterprise and Property and the Operational Director, Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Resources Portfolio holder, to progress the implementation of the Disposal Programme. |
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MINUTES ISSUED: 3 March 2020 CALL-IN: 10 March
2020 at 5.00 pm. Any matter decided by
the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 10 March 2020. |