Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes from the meeting held on 6 June 2023 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          The Board was advised that no public questions had been received. 

          The Board was presented with the minutes relating to the Corporate Services Portfolio which had been considered by the Executive Board since the last meeting of the Board.

          Members discussed the minutes and the following comments were noted:

·       The Board expressed an interest on the developments of the  Transformation Programme;

·       Observations were made about environmental  issues in the Borough;

·       Onward Housing had confirmed that some of their contracted services were to be brought back in-house in January 2024 and would work more closely with the Council to address some issues.  

          RESOLVED:  That the minutes be noted.

          Councillors Wainwright and Hutchinson declared an other registratable interest for the following item as they are both trustees of the Catalyst Museum.

          The Board received a report on the work of the Programmes Office in securing external funding resources into Halton.  The report provided an update on the Programmes Office key activities and priorities as well as emerging issues in external funding and funding statistics for 2022-23.

          The key priorities for 2022-23 had been:

·     Embedding the new Programmes Office function, including recruitment to new posts;

·     Supporting the delivery of the Government’s levelling up agenda, including Towns Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF);

·     Disseminating details of funding that will support the Cost of Living crisis;

·     Disseminating details of funding that will help mitigate climate change and help deliver HBC’s Climate Change Action Plan;

·     Ensuring the remaining ESIF (European Strategic Investment Fund) is secured, spent and monitored; and

·     Supporting the development of the HBC Cultural Strategy and Heritage Open Days programme.

The report also described some of the key schemes currently supported by the team which included:

·       The £23.6 million Town Deal Programme for Runcorn;

·       Halton’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund;

·       Halton’s allocation of an LCR Destination Marketing programme;

·       The Community and Voluntary Sector; and

·       Liverpool City Region and Cultural/Visitor Economy work.

It was noted that the Programmes Office would work more with the new Environment and Regeneration Directorate on some smaller projects to try and develop them. 

Members of the Board discussed the report and raised the issue regarding climate change and electric vehicles.  They queried if the Council was involved in the Infrastructure Fund and Infrastructure Grant for the two periods 2023-24 and 2024-25.  Officers agreed to provide a response for Members. 

Monthly funding bulletins were produced and circulated and Members were invited to join the distribution list if they did not already receive it.  It was suggested that the bulletins were also sent to local housing providers and Four Estates who did a lot of community work in Halton.

It was confirmed that external funding training would be promoted in the Autumn and offered to the Member Development Group. 

          RESOLVED:  That the Board note the report.

          The Board considered the minutes of the Member Development Group meeting held on 14 March 2023.

          RESOLVED:  That the minutes be noted.

The Board received the Performance Management Report for Quarter 4 of 2022/23.  The reports related to the following functional areas which reported to the  Board and detailed progress against service objectives and milestones and performance targets, and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen during the period:

·       Finance;

·       Human Resources and Organisational Development;

·       ICT and Administrative Support;

·       Legal and Democracy;

·       Catering, Stadium and Registration Services; and

·       Property Services. 

It was noted that Members had previously received a copy of this report via email in July 2023, when the report had been finalised. 

Members of the Board discussed the report and referenced Local Indicator 12 - average time to recruit and subsequently requested a further update on the Council’s recruitment processes following the report they had received last year.  

          RESOLVED: That the Quarter 4 Performance Management report be noted.

The Board received the Performance Management Report for Quarter 1 of 2023/24.  The reports related to the following functional areas which reported to the  Board and detailed progress against service objectives and milestones and performance targets, and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen during the period:

·       Finance;

·       Human Resources and Organisational Development;

·       ICT and Administrative Support;

·       Legal and Democracy;

·       Catering, Stadium and Registration Services; and

·       Property Services. 

Members of the Board discussed the report and asked if there was a reason for the reduction of take up of free school meals – performance indicator CE LI 01.  Officers agreed to confirm this query in due course. 

The Chair suggested that for future performance monitoring reports, Board Members should submit any questions in advance of the meeting to ensure that answers can be provided at the meeting.

          RESOLVED: That the Quarter 1 Performance Management report be noted.