Agenda, decisions and minutes

Decision: That the minutes of the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 25 February 2021 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Executive Leader.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) on the agenda will have three minutes to put their question(s) to the respective Executive Member(s).  Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one short supplementary question. 

There were no public questions.

To receive the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group and accept it for consideration, with a view to the Executive Cabinet’s recommended response to the recommendations being reported to a future meeting.

The report of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group be received and accepted for consideration, with a view to the Executive Cabinet’s recommended response to the recommendations being reported to a future meeting.

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor John Walker, presented the report which had identified 22 recommendations. Councillor Kim Snape, Chair of the Task Group, thanked members and officers involved with the inquiry, which had engaged with numerous stakeholder groups to increase the scope of the review. The task group were keen to see the continuation of the council’s development of the green agenda in line with the recommendations.

Decision: That the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group be noted and accepted for consideration, with the Executive Cabinet’s recommended response to the recommendations being reported to a future meeting.

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

To approve the refreshed Transformation Strategy 2021 – 2024.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the report of the Deputy Chief Executive which outlined the Transformation Strategy 2021 – 2024.

The refresh of the 2016 Transformation Strategy realigns the strategy and programme with the current context and future priorities. The purpose of the Transformation Strategy is to be the framework through which overarching change programmes for the Council will be effectively co-ordinated and managed.

The key themes of this strategy are around how the Council is reshaping the workforce, workplace and ways of working to achieve sustainability, making the best use of technology to deliver efficiency and inform service delivery with the aim of being in the best position to take advantage of commercial investments and income generation opportunities to support the financial base.

Decision:

To approve the refreshed Transformation Strategy 2021 – 2024.

Reasons for recommendation(s):

To approve the refreshed Transformation Strategy 2021 – 2024.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

To continue using the Transformation Strategy 2016. While many of the themes of the 2016 strategy remain, the context around these themes has changed, and without this refresh the strategy would fail to realign the priorities and programme of work with the current context.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

By Virtue of Paragraph 1: Information relating to any individual.

Condition:

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

By Virtue of Paragraph 4: Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under the authority.

Condition:

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

To exclude the public and press.

Decision: To exclude the press and public for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive and consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive.

1.    To approve the proposed structure for the events team outlined in the report.

2.    To approve the action plan included in Appendix 1.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the confidential report of the Deputy Chief Executive which outlines the proposals to create a shared events team from 1 April 2021.

Members supported the proposed in the report.

Decision:

1.    To approve the proposed structure for the events team outlined in the report.

2.    To approve the action plan included in Appendix 1.

Reasons for recommendation(s):

The principle of creating a shared events team has already been agreed and this is bringing forward a proposal to complete that action as part of the shared service phase one service reviews.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

It has been considered to not share the events team but this was rejected due to the desire to establish an events team at South Ribble and the benefits the extra resilience would bring to the already established team at Chorley.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Communities.

1.    To agree the scope and value of the awards for 2021-2023 and the monitoring arrangements.

2.    To agree to award the grants via executive member decision following the procurement process.

3.    To agree the procurement process as outlined within the individual tender documents.

Councillor Bev Murray, Executive Member (Early Intervention), presented the confidential report of the Director of Communities which seeks agreement on the approach and procurement process for the 2021 – 2023 Commissioning.

Members recognised how the commissioning work had continued well during Covid-19 and supported the proposals in the report.

Decision:

1.    To agree the scope and value of the awards for 2021-2023 and the monitoring arrangements.

2.    To agree to award the grants via executive member decision following the procurement process.

3.    To agree the procurement process as outlined within the individual tender documents.

Reasons for recommendation(s):

To ensure services within the VCFS sector receive funding to deliver services that meet the needs of the community.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

To not award any funding would have a negative impact on those within communities who need support.