Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 12^th January 2012 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          The Sub-Committee received a report of the Strategic Director, Corporate and Policy which sought Members consideration of an application for discretionary rate relief, under the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

          The Sub-Committee was advised that under the provisions of Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, the Authority was allowed to grant discretionary rate relief to organisations that were either a Charity or a non-profit making organisation. This relief may also be awarded to community amateur sport clubs. A summary of the applications was outlined within the report and a list of the associated figures was included.

          RESOLVED: That

          (1)      under the provisions of Section 47, Local Government Finance Act 1988, discretionary rate relief be granted to the following organisations at the percentage indicated, for the period from 1^st April 2011 or the commencement of liability, whichever was the later, to 31^st March 2013:

          Age Concern Mid Mersey                              20%

          Four Estates Limited                                     20%

          Halton Credit Union Limited                            100%

          Halton Haven Hospice                                    20%

          Halton Speak Out                                          20%

          RSPCA, Warrington, Halton

          and St. Helens Branch                                      20%

          (2)      in respect of the following organisations, it was also recommended that they should be granted discretionary rate relief for the backdated element of the charge from 1^st April 2010 of the commencement or liability, whichever is the later:

          Four Estates Limited                                        20%

          Halton Credit Union Limited                     100%

          The Sub-Committee considered a report which sought approval to award a contract for the supply, installation and commissioning of three Variable Message Signs to enhance the existing system. It was proposed to install additional signs at the following locations:

·       A561 Speke Boulevard (outside former Metal Box Factory) (Liverpool City Council have agreed to a sign at this location);

·       A5300 Knowsley Expressway (subject to identifying a suitable power supply) (Knowsley Council have agreed to a sign at this location); and

·       B5419 Kingsway, Widnes (near Simms Cross School)

          It was reported that the cost of purchasing the three signs was £47,501. Whilst the provision of electricity supplies and traffic management for the installation of the signs was in the region of £3,000.

          RESOLVED: That

(1)  Procurement Standing Orders 4.1 to 4.3 be waived to obtain equipment that uses the same communication systems as our existing signs to ensure compatibility; and

(2)  the quotation Siemens Traffic Controls for the supply, installation and commissioning of 3 Variable Message Signs for £47,501.00 be accepted.

          The Sub-Committee was advised that a previous meeting of the Environmental and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board on 15^th June 2011 considered a petition concerning heavy industrial traffic on South Parade, Weston Point, Runcorn. A number of recommendations were approved that included:

-         proposals to review existing direction signs and re-signed routes to   industrial sites;

-         to introduce a time limited restriction on South Parade and Sandy     Lane; and

-         the review of existing waiting restrictions in the area.

          Members were advised that despite revised signing in the area and the best efforts of local businesses to direct their traffic away from South Parade, complaints continued from residents relating to heavy industrial traffic using South Parade. In order to address this issue and in an attempt to respond to the concerns of residents and local Councillors, proposed Traffic Regulation Orders were advertised to: impose prescribed movements on vehicles exiting private entrances on Picow Farm Road (between the Weston Point Expressway and Sandy Lane); to impose an overnight 7.5 tonne vehicle weight restriction on the full adopted length of South Parade, parts of Sandy Lane and Lydiate Lane and other adjacent roads; and finally to amend existing waiting restrictions on various roads. The full details of these Traffic Regulation Order proposals together with the objections received from Councillor Hodgkinson, Ineos Enterprises, Ineos ChlorVinyls and a 28 name petition were set out in detail in the report.

          Following consideration of the objections/suggestions received it was proposed that the Traffic Regulation Orders should proceed, although a deferment of the Prescribed Route Order was recommended.

          RESOLVED: That

(1)  notice be given of the Council’s intention to create those vehicle weight restriction and waiting restriction Traffic Regulation Orders as  set out in the report;

(2) the prescribed Movement Order not be implemented at this stage, subject to the agreement of the adjacent properties to amend their exist to prevent HGVs from making the advertised prohibited movements; and

(3) objectors be notified accordingly.

          The Sub-Committee received a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources which provided information on proposals to enter into a Contract the value of which was likely to exceed £1,000,000. It was noted that works associated with improvement and maintenance of the highway network were currently delivered through two separate term contracts with Lambros (Paving Contractors) Limited and Amey LG Limited respectively.

          The Highway Improvement Term Contract with Lambros was due to conclude in July 2012 and the Highway Maintenance Term Contract with Amey was due to end on the 31^st March 2013. The Highway Development and the Bridge and Highway Maintenance Divisions had identified that the two existing contracts shared a number of common features and there was potential to procure a combined contract which could, through economies of scale, increase value for money in works delivery. It had also been recognised that the opportunity to engage current forms of contracts and to rationalise works ordering and payment processes would enhance efficiency and increase the ability to drive down costs.

          Based upon current capital and revenue budgets, the value of works delivered through a new combined contract would be in the order of £3.5m per year. However, it had to be recognised that future reductions in capital grant and requirements to identify savings from revenue budgets would have implications. In conjunction with the Procurement Centre of Excellence, opportunities for collaborative procurement with neighbouring authorities, either using a contract already in place or by involving partner authorities in the drafting, tender and evaluation and administration of a potential shared/cross boundary contract would continue to be investigated.

          RESOLVED: That the intention to procure a contract for delivery of works associated with improving and maintaining the highway network in Halton be noted.

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 Sub-Section 4 of Section 100A 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 outweighs the public interest 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 Sub-Section 4 of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 because it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business, exempt information will be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

          The Sub-Committee considered a report which sought approval to extend three existing Housing Support Contracts for Belvedere, Halton Goals and Orchard House Hostels. The existing contractual arrangements were due to expire at the end of March 2012. It was noted that an open tender process had been carried out and subsequently one bid was received for each of the services. For this reason it had been decided to review the best way forward to secure better prices and increase competition, which may include re-tendering and/or reconfiguring service provision. Therefore an extension of each contract on existing terms and conditions up to 31^st October 2012 was requested.

          RESOLVED: That

(1)  in the light of the circumstances set out in the report, for the purpose of Standing Order 1.8.2B, Procurement Standing Orders 2.0.1 and 2.1.-2.6 be waived, and the Operational Director, Commissioning and Complex Care be authorised to extend the contracts direct and without competition for the services provided by CIC at those premises; and

(2)  the contract extensions be for a period of 1^st April 2012 to 31^st October 2012.

MINUTES ISSUED:   27^th January 2012

CALL IN: 27^th January 2012

Any matter decided by the Executive Board Sub Committee may be called in no later than 27^th January 2012