Agenda and minutes

The Committee was advised that a matter had arisen which required immediate attention by the Committee because in this case a decision was required before the date of the next meeting due to the need to maximise spend within a restricted time frame and the urgency to spend time-limited funding on vulnerable members of our community (Minute ES118 refers), therefore pursuant to Section 100B (4) and 100E Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman ruled that the item be considered as a matter of urgency.

            The Sub-Committee was advised that six new Health and Community Transport Contracts were recently offered by tender.

 

            The Contracts had been awarded by the Operational Director – Highways and Transportation but in a number of cases, the circumstances needed to be reported for information.

 

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

The Committee considered:

 

(1)            whether Members of the press and public should be excluded from the meeting of the Committee 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 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 paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

            The Sub-Committee considered a report which sought approval to carry out an exchange of land with a private developer to bring land required for part of the proposed new Mersey Gateway into Council ownership in exchange for land which was currently part of the St. Michael’s Golf Course. This would allow the developer to secure a development on this site.

 

            RESOLVED: That

 

(1)            approval be given to exchange the land as identified in the report; and

 

(2)            authority be given to the Operational Director – Property Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services to conclude the deal.

            The Sub-Committee were advised on the potential impact on Halton’s future Supporting People Grant as set out in the Government Strategy “Creating Sustainable Communities: Supporting Independence” and the draft distribution formula.

 

            In light of the potential impact on Halton’s future Supporting People Grant, the Sub-Committee was requested to suspend the relevant Procurement Standing Orders 3.1 – 3.7, for the duration of the financial year 2007/08, to allow the Strategic Director, Health and Community in conjunction with the portfolio holder for Community, to consider and approve short term proposals for additional or expanded Supporting People and Welfare Services.

 

            RESOLVED: That for the purpose of Standing Order 1.6b and 1.6d, that Procurement Standing Orders 3.1 – 3.7 be waived for the period up to 1^st April 2008, with authority delegated to the Strategic Director Health and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Community, to award new or extend existing Supporting People Contracts without competitive tendering, with the proviso that the cost of each single contract or contract amendment being awarded or extended not exceeding £100,000 and the resulting total expenditure on all contracts awarded or extended be met from within the existing Supporting People budget.

MINUTES ISSUED: 24^th April 2007

CALL IN: 30^th April 2007

Any matter decided by the Executive Board Sub Committee may be called in no later than 30^th April 2007