Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes from the meeting held on 4 January 2011 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

It was reported that there had been no public questions received.

The minutes of the Executive Board and the Executive Board Sub-Committee relating to the work of the Corporate Policy and Performance Board since its last meeting, were submitted for information.

            RESOLVED:  That the minutes be noted.

The draft minutes from the Halton Strategic Partnership Board’s (HSPB) last meeting on 1 December 2010 were submitted for information.  It was noted that the minutes would be considered and approved at the next meeting of the HSPB on 2 March 2011.

RESOLVED:  That the draft minutes be noted.

Members were presented with a report which provided information on the Council’s land and property portfolio.  Further it advised Members of the procedures and protocols the Council had developed to manage its land and property assets.

The report stated that the Council was required to ensure that its assets were efficiently managed and that the size and condition of the Council’s land and property portfolio reflected present service delivery requirements, as well as planned future developments.  The report discussed the Council’s Asset Management Plan (AMP), which provided a strategic overview of the Council’s property and land assets, and also set out the systems, processes and policies in place to manage and maintain them.

It was noted that the Council’s Land and Property Portfolio was significant and that assets fell within a number of categories: office accommodation; industrial properties; schools; community facilities (libraries, community centres, direct links, residential homes).  Attached to the report was a list of these property sites and information was provided on premises either owned or leased by the Council to third sector partners.

In response to Members queries, the following was confirmed:

• All schools were Council owned apart from the faith schools which were owned by the relevant Dioceses;
• Any property sales or surplus assets would be referred to the Asset Management Working Party (AMWP) which had protocols in place for this;
• In the case of schools that had converted or were converting to academies, the Council retained ownership of the land which was then leased to the school; and
• Properties that were leased to the third sector, market rent was sought, however on occasions the Council had agreed to support the organisation, as such some were let at a peppercorn rent.

Members presented some queries that required further feedback:

1)     Further information was requested that included all leased properties as well as those owned, eg, Kingsway House and Grosvenor House;

2)     Did the Council receive any money from schools that were handed over to academy status;

3)     Officers were asked to ensure that the former Runcorn Hill depot was included in the list of vacant land and property;

4)     Information was requested on the storage facilities provided for the Cycle Museum at Halton Village Hall;

5)     Information on vacant land was requested;

6)     It was commented that maintenance problems existed with vacant pieces of land on Halton Housing Trust estates and Members asked whether the Council had any influence over such land; and

7)     Could an academy status school revert to being Council owned?

It was noted that further feedback would be provided to Members in due course with regards to the queries raised.

RESOLVED:  That the information provided regarding the Council’s Land and Property portfolio be noted.

Members to discuss Topic Group Selections

Members were requested to discuss Topic Group selections for 2011/12.  The following topics were confirmed:

Markets                                              Lead – Cllr Wainwright

Carbon Reduction                             Lead – Cllr A Lowe

Halton Strategic Partnership           Lead – Cllr Loftus

Area Forum Locality Working          Lead – Cllr A Lowe

It was noted that these groups would be set up and Members were requested to contact Mark Reaney, Operation Director Legal and Democratic Services, if they were interested in participating in one.

RESOLVED:  That

1)     The information be noted; and

2)     Members contact Mark Reaney if they wished to join one of the Topic Groups for 2011/12.

The Board received the Performance Management Reports for quarter 3 of 2010/11 (September to December).

Members were requested to consider and raise any questions or points of clarification in respect of the 3^rd quarter performance management reports on progress against service plan objectives and performance targets, performance trends/comparisons, factors affecting the services for:

·              Policy and Performance;

·              Legal and Democratic Services;

·              Financial Services;

·              ICT and Support Services;

·              Human Resources;

·              Property Services;

·              Catering and Stadium; and

·              Halton Direct Links.

The following comments arose from the discussions:

Financial Services: Insurance – The insurance contracts were currently out to tender and opportunities to make savings would be looked at and information would be provided to Members in due course.

Policy and Performance: National Indicator Set – Since this was being abolished it would be difficult for Members to make decisions without knowing targets etc.  It was confirmed that new information had been received on future Government data requirements which was presently being analysed. 

Human Resources: ILM Accreditation – This was retained following a recent inspection by the ILM External Verifier which produced very favourable feedback.  This was noted by Members.

Human Resources: Academies – It was noted that a number of Halton schools had expressed interest in becoming academies.  Further information was requested on the amount of officer time involved in preparation for the HR consequences of any transfers.

Property Services: PYSLI5 Market Occupancy – Occupancy of Widnes Market may drop in the future as some traders were reducing the size of their stalls to a more affordable one.

Property Services: NI 185 Local Authority Carbon Emissions – It was noted that the Government had announced that carbon credit payments would not be recycled to local authorities as originally planned.  Further information was requested on the likely costs to the Council of carbon credit payments.

Property Services PYSLI4: rent collected as a proportion of rent due – it was requested that information on the rent collection rate for Widnes Market be reported to the Market Topic Group.

Halton Direct Link (HDL): Information about the handling of taxi licensing applications was provided.

RESOLVED:  That

1)     The third quarter performance Management report be noted; and

2)     The further information requested be circulated to Members of the Board.

The Chairman, on behalf of all Board Members, thanked Rob MacKenzie - Operational Director, Policy and Performance and Alex Villiers – Divisional Manager Scrutiny, for their valuable contributions in the Authority over the years and for their involvement with the work of the Corporate PPB, and wished them well in their upcoming retirement.