Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2009 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            In August 2009 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced, £3m funding package to support town centres in the current economic downturn. Halton Borough Council was now in receipt of £52,632 from this Grant to support town centres. Guidance on how local authorities could support town centres was provided in the “Looking After Our Town Centres” document. One of the key issues addressed in this, that led to the grant was the re-use of empty units in town centres.

          There were already a number of on-going initiatives to regenerate and support the town centres in Halton. It was suggested that the CLG Grant should be used to augment, develop and compliment ongoing activities. It was also proposed that the grant be split between Runcorn and Widnes according to need. Given the commitment of Working Neighbourhood Fund spend in Widnes and the relative vacancy rates in the two town centres, it was proposed that the grant be split approximately 40% for Widnes and 60% for Runcorn, with a number of the proposed Town Centre Management Schemes covering both town centres. An element of over-programming was recommended to ensure the full spend within the financial year.

          As the CLG grant was a relatively small pot of funding, it was proposed that the following principle be adopted of no more than 10% of the grant to be spent on any single individual scheme, unless there was exceptional merit to that scheme.

          The report detailed Town Centre Management proposals for the allocation of DCLG grant for both Runcorn and Widnes Town Centres.

          RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee agrees the approach to implementing a support programme for Runcorn and Widnes Town Centres, funded by this new  DCLG grant.

          The Sub-Committee considered a report which outlined the spending profile for the current ICT infrastructure requirements for 2009/2010. The April to September 2009 spend profile required a clear focus upon the completion of the technical aspect related to the Code of Connection requirement for the Authority. The vast majority of this work had now been undertaken.

          Phase 2 of the 2009/10 ICT Infrastructure capital programme would be aimed at the removal of Citrix 3, the Authority’s aging desktop devises, and the upgrade of the new Citrix Remote Access Solution 4. Complementing this project it was proposed the Authority brought the Children and Young People’s Licensing arrangements for all Desktop Microsoft Software applications in line with the Corporate Microsoft Enterprise Agreement allowing greater flexibility during the upgrade process and  delivering further savings upon the already heavily discounted licensing within this environment.

          Additional infrastructure projects included the replacement of the back up Libraries device and replacement of the main Watch Guard Firewall.  Replacement of the air conditioning devices would also be included.

          RESOLVED: That the Sub-Committee approve the spend profile.

          The Sub-Committee received a report from the Operational Director – Financial Services on the Treasury Management 2009/10 2^nd Quarter (July to September) which updated the Sub-Committee on activities undertaken on the Money Market as required by the Treasury Management Policy (TMP).  The Operational Director reported on the current economic background based upon information supplied by the Council’s treasury management advisors, Sector.

          The report provided supporting information on the short-term rates, longer-term rates, temporary borrowing/ investments, longer-term borrowing/investments and policy guidelines. It was noted that all the policy guidelines in the TMP had been complied with.

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

                        This item was deferred until the next meeting.

MINUTES ISSUED: 11^th November 2009

CALL IN:   19^th November 2009

Any matter decided by the Executive Board Sub Committee may be called in no later than 19^th November 2009.