Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2014 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which gave Members an update on the progress made to date on the Efficiency Programme set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Board noted the progress in relation to the review of:-

·             Adult Social Care (Intermediate Care) (Wave 4);

·             Library Services (Wave 5);

·             Learning and Achievement (Wave 5);

·             Halton’s Supported Housing Network (Wave 5;

·             The Supplier Relationship Review (Wave 5);

·             Highways Services (Wave 5); and

·             Premium Pay, use of Agency Workers and use of Casual Staff (Wave 6).

The Board noted the challenges in respect of pursuing outstanding library fines and that the new service arrangement would help to address this matter.  It was reported that a Working Group had been established to consider the Corporate Policy for setting fees and charges across the Borough and this was one of the issues that they were considering.

The Board noted that the review of the library services would affect staff  and was currently under negotiation.  It was requested that further information be provided to Members on the number of staff affected.

It was noted that it was anticipated that the Library Review would achieve savings in the region of £450,000. 

Clarity was sought on the number of support and casual workers employed by the Council in each department.  It was suggested that they proved to be costly and in some instances it could be cheaper to hire a permanent member of staff.  It was agreed that a summary of the cost would be circulated to Members of the Board.

The Chairman reported that it was important for Members to attend training on the efficiency programme in order to fully understand the process.  He reported that training would be arranged for January 2015 and he encouraged all Members to attend.

RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which provided an update regarding the progress with the Council’s Procurement Strategy 2013-16 targets and performance measures.

The Board was advised that evidence on the Council’s achievements in the procurement arena in 2013 had been presented to the House of Commons Select Committee in October 2013 to inform the inquiry into Local Government procurement.

The Board was further advised that the key areas identified by the Select Committee Inquiry confirmed that the Council’s approach had been and remained appropriate, and was delivering savings as well as wider social value gains. 

The Procurement Division, it was reported, remained engaged with the Cabinet Office and was in a strong position to adopt Lord Young’s Procurement Reforms in early 2015.  In addition, it was reported that the Procurement Division had developed a Social Value Procurement Framework, which had been aligned to the Council’s Social Value Strategy.  The Division would also remain engaged with the Cabinet Office, effectively adopting the upcoming procurement reforms, and revised Public Contract Regulations 2015, into the prevailing business model. 

Furthermore, it was reported that the Procurement Division had continued to deliver three support service commissions, delivering consultancy support in two other Councils, as well as delivering a procurement support service to Halton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

          It was reported that an event would take place at The Heath next week to raise awareness on the procurement rules. Several Halton businesses had been invited.  The event had been arranged in order to build up the supplier base and to target local businesses.  It was also reported that further events and activities would be arranged.

          The Board took the opportunity to place on record their congratulations to the team for the excellent work that had been undertaken on the procurement service.

          It was noted that Halton was further ahead than other authorities in respect of procurement as the process had commenced in 2008.  It was suggested that Halton could look for opportunities to disseminate best practice for a financial reward.

RESOLVED: That the position statement and comments raised be noted.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which provided progress on the actions in the Corporate Risk Register for 2014/15.

The Board was advised that the Risk Management Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report had been reviewed and updated in line with the revised arrangements for Directorate Business Plans requiring annual reviews of the plans at Directorate level to take place in conjunction with Directorate Risk Registers.

The Board was further advised that the implementation of high-risk mitigation measures on the Directorate Risk Registers were reviewed at mid-year and progress on these would be reported to Management Team and Policy and Performance Boards.  This, it was reported served to inform the Corporate Risk Register that ensured that the Council maximised its opportunities whilst minimising and controlling the associated risks in delivering the council’s vision and services for Halton

        It was reported that the Corporate Register had been reviewed and updated in consultation with internal stakeholders. The risks had been grouped in order of priority; in the first instance pertaining to ‘Unmitigated Risk Scores’ and then ‘Mitigated Risk Scores’. The headings in order of priority are as follows:-

·             Budget Reductions;

·             Capacity and Resilience;

·             Safeguarding Children and Adults;

·             Mersey Gateway;

·             Community Expectations;

·             Architectural Landscapes;

·             Partnerships;

·             Funding and Income Generation; and

·             Fraud.    

Members were advised that the Board, could undertaker further in depth work in the New Year on the Corporate Risk Register.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the progress of action be noted;

(2)        the robustness of the Corporate Risk Register and the adequacy of the associated risk management arrangements be reviewed;

(3)        recommendations be presented to the Executive Board as is necessary and appropriate.

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources, which gave Members an update on the developments in regard to the Council’s anti-fraud and corruption arrangements

The Board was advised that each year the Council submitted a return to the Audit Commission providing details of fraud and corruption identified against the Authority.  A summary of the 2013/14 return was provided in the report.

          It was reported that two of the bids had been successful and further information would be presented to the Board in due course.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the report be noted; and

(2)        the actions being taken to counter fraud and corruption be endorsed.

The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which provided an update from Grant Thornton (External Auditors) regarding the following:-

·             the progress made in delivering their responsibilities as the Council’s external auditors; and

·             a summary of emerging national issues and developments that may be relevant to the work of the Board.

The 2020 Vision booklet was circulated at the meeting and it was reported that it was available on the website

The Board noted the update in respect of the following:-

·             2014-14 Accounts Audit Plan;

·             the interim accounts audit;

·             the 2014-15 final accounts audit;

·             the value for money conclusion;

·             other areas of work – certification work under the Audit Commission Regime;  and

·             other activity undertaken in respect of claims and returns and tax.

The Board discussed and noted the level of reserves held by the Council  in comparison with other Authorities and the factors that could affect the reserves.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

PART II

In this case the Board has a discretion to exclude the press and public and, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, it is RECOMMENDED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, having been satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

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 Section 100A (4) 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 outweighed that in disclosing the information, members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 because it was likely that, in view of the nature of the business, exempt information would be disclosed, being information defined in Section 100 (1) and paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Note: The following Councillors declared a Discolsable Other Interest in the following item of business:-

Councillor M Lloyd Jones, as a governor of St Edwards Catholic Primary School;

Councillors: McDermott and Joe Roberts as a governor of St Michael’s Catholic Primary School; and

Councillor J. Stockton as a governor of St Martins Catholic Primary School.

The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance which provided Members with a summary of internal audit work which had been completed since the last progress report to the Board on 6 June 2014.

RESOLVED; That the internal audit work that had been completed since the last report to the Board on 6 June 2014 be noted.