Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2024, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive, which highlighted that in 2022, there were 507 cases of construction workers who had committed suicide. It was proposed that one of the ways in which to address the high number of suicides in the construction industry could be for the Council to introduce a requirement that all future construction project tenders should include a scored statement around mental health and how this would be dealt with amongst both directly employed staff and sub-contractors.

          RESOLVED: That the Board agree that all future construction tender processes undertaken by the Council include a requirement for the main contractor to include a scored statement around mental health wellbeing amongst all staff and sub-contractors as part of the process.

The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive, on the review of the Council wide fees and charges for 2024/25 for services provided by the Council’s Directorates.

The Board was advised that, as part of the budget preparations for 2024/25, a review of fees and charges had been carried out.  The aim in setting fees and charges was to ensure that the Council fully recovered the cost incurred in providing the service, although this was dependent on a number of factors outside of the agreed charge.  These were detailed in the report and noted as including demand, which could change year on year and be affected by weather, economy, regional and national events and demographics; competition, where there may be a strong competitive market; and a statutory element, where some charges were outside the control of the Council and there was no discretion to what could be charged.

 Attached at Appendix A was the proposed schedule of statutory fees for 2024/25 and the chargeable rates for The Brindley Theatre and the Registrar’s Service were attached at Appendix B and C respectively, for 2024/25 and 2025/26.

RESOLVED: That

1)    the proposed fees and charges for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A and for 2024/25 as set out in Appendices B and C, be approved; and

2)     the working group set up by the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board, who were currently looking at options for further controls on Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO), be requested to consider the issues of HMO licenses, fees, and other controls.

          The Board considered a report of the Operational Director ICT and Support Services, which sought approval for an ICT Rolling Capital Programme increase from £0.5m to £1.2m and the development of the Council’s digital strategy.

          As the Authority progressed towards a significant programmed service transformation, it was essential that the underpinning technology supported the delivery of the Re-Imagine Halton Transformation Programme and the ‘Customer Journey’ transformation project. The new proposed systems would benefit the authority as a whole by providing an automation platform that any service could access, allowing managers the opportunity to redesign their service delivery mechanisms and free up service capacity.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the development of the Council’s digital strategy as set out in the report be noted;

2)    the proposal to fund this development by increasing the annual ICT rolling capital programme by £0.5m as outlined in paragraph 5.7, be agreed; and

3)    Council be recommended to increase the annual ICT rolling capital programme from £0.7m to £1.2m within the 2024/25 capital programme.

          The Board received a report of the Executive Director, Adults, which provided information on the performance of the Integration Sensory Support Service, currently provided by Vision Support, including performance figures for 2023/24 set out in Appendix One and case studies for the same period detailed in Appendix Two.

          The report also considered the future delivery of the service, and it was noted that the service was operating well and provided a valuable support mechanism to users. The service had developed good relationships across the Borough, made appropriate and timely referrals and it was believed that there was currently little or no other market options in the Borough.

          In view of the details, it was recommended that a direct award, for a further five-year contract, should be granted to Vision Support. This would offer the service the financial stability to sustain and develop the service.

Reason(s) for Decision

This is an existing service which is operating well. It is believed that no other market competition exists within the Borough.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

The service could go out for full tender. However, when the service was last tendered it was as an Integrated Sensory Service. The organisations which already delivered the elements of the service, for sight and hearing impairment needs, came together to submit a bid. No other submissions were made.

Also ceasing delivery of the service would impact negatively on a vulnerable cohort of the Borough’s population and likely result in more costly, crisis intervention being made.

Implementation Date

To assure continuity of service a further contract needs to be in place by 1 July 2024, as the current contract expires on 30 June 2024

          RESOLVED: The Board approve a Waiver in compliance with Procurement Standing Order 1.14.4 iv of Part 3 of Procurement Standing Orders, for a direct award to support the continuation of the provision of Integrated Sensory Support Service in Halton delivered through contract with Vision Support for the period from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2029.

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director, Adults, which sought approval for a Waiver in compliance with Procurement Standing Order 1.14.4 iv of Part 3 of Procurement Standing Orders, for a direct award to support the continuation of the provision of the Home-Based Respite Care Service in Halton, delivered by Care at Home Group Limited (CAHG), for the period from 19 April to 18 October 2025. The waiver would enable a new procurement process for the supply of Home Based Respite Care Service in Halton to commence and it was anticipated that this would be a 3-year contract.

Reason(s) for Decision

Approval of the Direct Award to Care at Home Group Limited for an 18 month period would support continuity of care for a vulnerable client cohort and allow for sufficient time to undertake a new procurement process for the service.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Allow the Home Based Respite Service to cease.

Implementation Date

The 18-month contract would take effect from 19 April 2024.

          RESOLVED: That the Board approve a Waiver in compliance with Procurement Standing Order 1.14.4 iv of Part 3 of Procurement Standing Orders, for a direct award to support the continuation of the provision of the Home-Based Respite Care Service in Halton delivered by Care at Home Group Limited for the period from 19 April to 18 October 2025.

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director Environment and Regeneration, which sought approval for the Council to utilise Dukefield Energy (formerly Utilities Procurement Group UPG), as specialist Energy advisory for the Council’s un-metered electricity supply contract for street lighting. The current un-metered electricity supply contract for street lighting with SSE Energy would expire on 31 March 2024, and it was proposed that Dukefield Energy would invite tenders for a period of 12 and 36 months as recommended.

          The Board was advised that a preliminary recent market enquiry with the current supplier had suggested the new rates would represent an annual decrease of up to 18%/300k depending on the length of contract term chosen.

          RESOLVED: That the Board endorse

1)    the use of the National Public Sector Energy Framework for the purchase of un-metered energy in compliance with Procurement Standing Order 1.4.1;

2)    that expenditure is anticipated to be in excess of £1.0m per annum; and

3)    that Dukefield Energy continue to be used to manage the Council’s street lighting energy provision.

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.

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.

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director, Environment and Regeneration, that provided an update on the procurement of a Concession Contract for an Operator at Elite House for the Town Deal Enterprise Hub Project. The report also sought Board approval to award a Concession Contract to the successful tenderer and for the disposal of land.

             RESOLVED:  That

1)    the report be noted;

2)    authority be given to the Executive Director, Environment & Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Resources and Major Projects to award the contract following the evaluation of the tenders;

3)    approve the disposal of Elite House through a long term Lease, Agreement for Lease and Asset Management Agreement; and

4)    authority be given to the Operational Director for Economy, Enterprise and Property to arrange for all required documentation for the redevelopment works and land transaction to be completed to the satisfaction of the Executive Director, Environment & Regeneration and Operational Director Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Corporate Services and Major Projects.

N.B. Councillor J. Lowe declared a Disclosable Other Interest in the following item of business as she has a family member employed at St Lukes Care Home.

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director – Adult Services, which advised on the outcome of the consultation with domiciliary care, direct payments, supported living and care home providers within Halton, in respect of the Care Provider Contract Uplift for 2024/25.

          RESOLVED: That the Board:

1)    note the contents of the report;

2)    approval to be given to offer the recommended uplift to care providers for 2024/25

          The Board considered a report which provided an update on the tender returns for the Brindley Theatre Extension. The report also sought Board approval for further funding and the award of the contract.

          RESOLVED: That the recommendations set out in the report be approved.

MINUTES ISSUED: 19 March 2024

CALL-IN:  26 March 2024 at 5.00 pm.

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 26 March 2024.