Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2010 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Adult and Community which gave details of proposals to establish a framework contract for the provision of personal care and housing related support for adults with a learning disability or mental health needs. 

The Board was advised that the Framework would enable a greater dialogue between commissioners and providers about how best to develop the right services for individuals, prior to purchasing social care and support for individuals or groups of individuals.

RESOLVED: That

(1)                     the report be approved and the Strategic Director of Adult and Community undertake a tender exercise inviting providers of housing and personal care services for adults with learning disabilities or mental health needs to apply for inclusion on a framework agreement; and

(2)          following completion of the Framework tender a further report be presented to the Board to give an update on the outcome of the tender and outline the programme for re-tendering current services,

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which outlined the revised Fairer Charging for Non-Residential Services Policy for 2010-11.

The Board was advised that there were two major amendments to the policy.  The first was the weekly disregard figure,  currently set at Income Support plus Severe Disability Premium (SDP) for all service users, irrespective of whether they received SDP or not.  The Council were proposing to change the weekly disregard figure to Income Support plus 25%, in line with Department of Health Guidance.

The Board was further advised that the second amendment was to the percentage charge applied to the service user’s disposable income.  The term disposable income was the service user’s total income less all applicable disregarded amounts.  It was what the service user was deemed to have available for charges to be set against.  Currently, Halton Borough Council’s charge was set at 34% of this disposable income.  From 26^th April 2010 an increase to 50% and for further increases to 60% and 70% in April 2011 and April 2012 had been proposed.

RESOLVED: That

(1)                     the contents of the report be noted;

(2)                     the charges set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report be approved; and

(3)                     the Fairer Charging for Non-Residential Services Policy 2010-11 be approved.

(NB: Councillors Harris and Nelson declared a Personal Interest in the following item of business as Council Representative’s on the Mersey Forest Steering Committee).

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy which advised Members that the original agreement with Mersey Forest had expired and sought support for a further agreement.

The Board was advised that Mersey Forest was the biggest of the UK's 12 Community Forests. It covered 420 square miles (1,082 km²) and was part of a 30-year plan to transform the landscape across Merseyside and North Cheshire. The regeneration of The Mersey Forest was being achieved by a partnership comprising of the Forestry Commission, Natural England, nine local authorities, the Mersey Forest Team and various other organisations and individuals who shared the vision for creating The Forest.

The Board was further advised that in the 19 years since it had been established, over 3,750 hectares of new habitat had been created in the Mersey Forest, and around 10 million new trees planted. In Halton itself during this period, there had been 110 hectares of new woodland planted, 45 hectares of non-woodland habitat created, £2.9 million additional funding brought in, and over two thousand community events organised.

It was reported that Halton Borough Council had been a partner in the Mersey Forest since its inception, and the current Agreement was now due for renewal. The new Agreement would run from the 1^st April 2010 until the 31^st March 2015.

In addition, the Agreement empowered the nine local authorities to work together to support the work of the Mersey Forest. The new Agreement was very similar to the previous one, with changes being made to reflect the local government re-organisation that took place in Cheshire in April 2009.

            RESOLVED: That the existing Mersey Forest Agreement be renewed and the Strategic Director – Environment and Economy in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Environment, Leisure & Sport, be authorised to determine the terms of the new Agreement following the principles outlined in the report.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy which sought approval to enter into a three year Service Level Agreement with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, which would enable the Council to deliver its biodiversity commitments.

The Board was advised that the Council currently had a very basic Service Level Agreement with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust through which they gave advice on nature reserve management. Prior to December 2008 they had provided assistance to the Nature Conservation Officer. The current agreement would cost £2,400 per year.

The Board was further advised that the Council currently had a Service Level Agreement with ‘Record’ for the provision of biological recording and GIS analysis. The current agreement cost £2,170 per year.

In addition, the Council’s Open Space Services had responsibility for nature conservation and biodiversity. The Division did not have a designated Nature Conservation Officer and therefore needed to deliver this element of its responsibility through partnership working.

RESOLVED: That, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Environment, Leisure & Sport, the Council enter into a Service Level Agreement with the Cheshire Wildlife Trust for the provision of Ecological Advice, Biological Recording and advice on Planning matters.

MINUTES ISSUED: 7 April

CALL IN:   15 April 2010

Any matter decided by the Executive Board Sub Committee may be called in no later than 15 April 2010