Agenda and minutes

The Leader thanked Wes Rouke for all his work during his tenure working for the Council and wished him well in his retirement.

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2026, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board received a report from the Interim Chief Executive, which provided information on an urgent decision taken since the last meeting of the Board. 

It was noted that the Council’s Constitution gave authority to the Chief Executive to take urgent decisions, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Director Finance and/or the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, where necessary. 

One urgent decision had been made since the last meeting of the Board and full details were published on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED:  That the urgent decision taken since the last meeting of the Executive Board be noted.

The Board received a report of the Director Legal and Democratic Services, which sought the approval of Council to a number of changes to the Constitution.

The revised version of the Constitution picked up the changes to the Council’s working arrangements that had taken place during the year, as well as other changes which were intended to assist the Council to operate more effectively.

Members were referred to the Appendix where the proposed amendments were listed; these had been considered by the Chief Executive and the Corporate Services Portfolio Holder, in accordance with Article 16.02.

The changes proposed on Page 32 of the Agenda regarding Call-Ins would not be included in the changes to the Constitution.

RESOLVED:  That Executive Board recommends Council to approve the changes to the Constitution, excluding the changes regarding Call-Ins, as set out in the Appendix.

The Board received the annual Pensions Discretions Statement for 2026/27 for Halton Borough Council.

The Council was required to publish a Pension Discretion Statement annually, to advise the discretions it intended to exercise under the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – this was appended to the report. 

It was reported that the Pensions Discretion Statement for 2025-26 was based upon the statement for 2025/26, which was approved by Executive Board in October 2025.  It was noted that one additional new discretion had been added to incorporate the implementation of the Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme as required.

RESOLVED:  That the Board approve the Pensions Discretions Statement for 2026/27.

          The Board considered a report that presented the Children’s Services Asset Management Masterplan (CSAM) and sought approval to progress the capital investment required to align Children’s Services assets with service redesign, statutory improvement requirements, and the needs of children and families in Halton.

          In October 2025, ICENI Projects were commissioned to undertake a strategic review of Halton Children’s Services Assets with 3 key objectives:

·       sufficiency space;

·       office space; and

·       service delivery space.

          The review as now complete and all the options for Children’s Services Assets were outlined in the attached CSAM.

          It was noted that the sufficiency element of the CSAM proposed a phased Capital Programme – Invest to Save (2026 -2028) that comprised:

·       Four children’s homes (12 beds) delivered through a partnership with We Are Juno CIC;

·       Replacement and expansion of care leaver provision (Park House/Appleton Village);

·       New 16+ supported accommodation; and

·       18+ supported independent living provision.

          Members were advised that following the Inspecting Local Authority Children’s Services that took place in May 2024, a programme around the stabilisation and redesign of Children's Social Care to become a proactive early intervention and prevention system across Halton had been developed. The purpose of the funding being required was to ensure that young people were accommodated. The report provided an update on workstreams that had were underway.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the Children’s Services Asset Masterplan be noted;

2)    Council include the capital funding required to meet the objectives of the Children’s Social Care Placement and Sufficiency Invest to Save Project within the Capital Programme at an estimated cost of up to £2,156,250 as outlined in paragraph 5.1;

3)    the Executive Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People and the Section 151 Officer, is given delegated authority to present a full business case to Management Team for approval to draw down capital funding for each element of the sufficiency strategy as outlined in paragraph 5.1; and

Council include requirements for the Children’s Services Asset Masterplan relating to ‘Office Space and Service Provision’ within the overall Corporate Strategy for Halton’s Accommodation and Assets review.

          The Board considered a report which outlined the outcome of the Health and Social Care Policy and Performance Board (PPB) scrutiny topic review of Mental Health Services in the Borough. A key focus of the review was to examine the services delivered by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. The Topic Group had met on several occasions, and the final report was attached as Appendix One.

          It was noted that at its meeting in November, the Health and Social Care PPB had approved 14 recommendations, and these had been included in an action plan, for which a small task and finish group would be formed with representation from the Council, the Integrated Care Board and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. The Board was requested to approve the report and to give support for the implementation of the action plan.

          RESOLVED: That the Board ratify the action plan for implementation.

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director Environment and Regeneration, that provided an update on details of the proposed investments in Halton’s transport network and requested approval for the transport pipeline of future schemes set out in Appendix 2 and 3. In addition the report outlined recent transport schemes that had taken place in the Borough. It was noted that funding for the schemes was primarily capital grant and was provided from central government or by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The combined investment for Halton to 2031 would be c£130m, if all funding bids were successful.

• £130 million of capital investment being delivered
• 2 out of 6 engineers available and have recruitment issue
• Saved £2 million because of vacancies which has held up delivery
• All delivered and planned schemes were highlighted in appendix

          RESOLVED: That the Board

1)    note Appendix 1, summarising completed scheme since the 2023 update;

2)    note Appendix 2 listing the schemes in delivery;

3)    approve Appendix 3, the ‘transport pipeline of future schemes. (Approval includes design and feasibility, business case preparation, funding bids and when appropriate, grant acceptance and entry into the Council’s Capital Programme;

4)    in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Urban Renewal, the Director Planning and Transport will be authorised to take the necessary actions to ensure value for money through the appropriate procurement processes relating to the list of schemes (Appendix 2 and 3); and

in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Urban Renewal, the Director – Planning and Transport be authorised to take any other actions necessary to accept grant funding and enable delivery of the list of schemes (Appendix 2 and 3).

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director Environment and Regeneration, that sought approval for the adoption of the Social Value in Planning Supplementary Planning Document. A copy of the document was attached to the report.

• Reprot provides opportunities for wider wellbeing
• Asking applicants what they will do for borough
• How to highlight in media campaign? Will do this in the future

          RESOLVED: That the Board

1)    approve the strategy; and

supports that editorial rights be retained to the Planning Policy team to remain aligned with changing national policy, and to align with changes in delivery models.

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 on the Council’s Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme. It was noted that the scheme was fully voluntary and work had been done with the Unions and Corporate & Inclusion PPB. The scheme will launch later in 2026.

          RESOLVED: That the proposal for the introduction of a Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme in the 2026/27 financial year, and in any future years be approved.

          The Board considered on the Highways Improvement Contract Award. Interviews were carried out to determine the most appropriate contractor.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the Highway Improvement Works Contract is awarded to the preferred bidder, as set out in paragraph3.6; and

the award for a three-year term commencing on 6 August 2026 with an optional one-year extension (to extend to a 4^th year).

          The Board considered on the Contract for Advocacy Service.

          RESOLVED: The Board approve that the contract with 7 Harrington Street Chambers be renewed for twelve months, with an option to extend for a further 2 years, in pursuance of Procurement Standing Order 1.14.4 (non-emergency procedures – exceeding a value threshold of £100,000) to waive part 3.1 and 3.2 of Procurement Standing Orders.

MINUTES ISSUED: 21 April 2026.

CALL-IN: 28 April 2026 at 5.00 pm.

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 5.00pm on 28 April 2026.