Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Keith Iddon and Rosie Russell.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 13 August 2009 (enclosed). 

RESOLVED – The minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 13 August 2009 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Executive Leader.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial 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 by any of the Executive Members in any of the meetings’ agenda items.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the respective Executive Member(s).  Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes. 

The Executive Leader reported that there had been no requests for any member of the public to speak at the meeting.

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy and Performance).

The impact of the recent refurbishments will be illustrated at the meeting.

To note the report.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Policy and Performance) presented a report informing members of the progress made following the transfer back of Cotswold Supported Housing, a hostel owned and managed by the Council for the purpose of accommodating homeless people.

In October 2008 Executive Cabinet took the decision to transfer the hostel back to the Council in order to make the necessary service and accommodation improvements.  The transfer took place in June 2009 and since then significant improvements have been made creating a positive and safer environment for both residents and staff.

Several Members had visited Cotswold House as part of a Member Learning Session and before and after photographs were shown by the Head of Housing.  Further refurbishment work would commence shortly.

Members raised several queries relating to the future plans for play space, the introduction of a family and single persons zone, the benefits of the concierge service and joined up approach with the homeless service.

Members thanked the staff involved for their hard work and enthusiasm.

Decision Made:

That the report be noted.

Reason for decision:

To advise the Executive Cabinet of the improvements that have been made to the provision of the service since the transfer back to the Council of responsibility for the service.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

None. 

Recommendation agreed.

The Executive Cabinet received a report of the Corporate Director (Business) updating Members on the Growth Point and seeking Member’s endorsement of the procedural arrangements. 

Members noted that the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF2) was only accessible to Growth Point partnerships.  From this £3.3 million funding had been received for Buckshaw Village railway station.  The development of the LDF Core Strategy would be accelerated through Growth Point. 

In addition to this Government Office for the North West had stated that the Council were not committed to “a level of housing growth other than that which it has signed up to deliver...no greater than that envisaged in RSS”. 

Members noted there would be regular updates on the Growth Point, that there were no conditions in place for funding to be returned to GONW and the Council had the will and desire to achieve the affordable housing target in place.

Decision Made:

1.             The report be noted. 

2.             The Council enter into a Collaboration Agreement with details to be agreed by the Corporate Director (Business) in conjunction with the Executive Member (Business).

Reason for decision:

To enable the Growth Point partnership to be formally created and the benefits to the Borough secured.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

None. 

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Corporate Director (Neighbourhoods), with attached revised Strategy.

Recommendation agreed.

The Executive Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director (Neighbourhoods) informing members of the recent revision of the Lancashire Waste Management Strategy and the subsequent implications for Chorley Council.

The Lancashire Waste Partnership comprises the County Council, the two unitary Authorities and the twelve District Councils which developed and adopted the Lancashire Municipal Waste Strategy.  The Strategy contained challenging targets including reducing waste growth by 0.5% per annum, recycling and composting 40% of all waste by 2005 and 56% by 2015 and reducing the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill to 10% by 2010.

Chorley had performed well against these targets as over 47% of waste was recycled and total waste arising going to landfill had reduced from 24,826 tonnes to 21,256 tonnes per year over the past four years.

In response to Members’ questions, the Chair confirmed that the Strategy contained a requirement to collect food waste for composting.  The frequency of collection and container type would be determined by each Authority and information collected from the current food waste trial to 5,000 households in parts of Chorley, Astley Village, Eccleston and Mawdesley would be used to design the best scheme for Chorley.  There were different methods of collection and residents in Chorley were putting their food waste in their brown bin with garden waste.  Information from a trial using caddys had not revealed any issues with vandalism.  Provision for a food waste collection service to all properties in Chorley had been included within the new waste management contract, but not the receptacles.

In response to a query officers advised that a waste audit was currently being undertaken and those areas involved had received information explaining the process prior to the scheme commencing. 

Decision Made:

1.            The report be noted. 

2.            To approve the adoption of the Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Lancashire 2008-2020, ‘Rubbish to Resources’.

Reason for decision:

To ensure Chorley continues to achieve high recycling rates and continues to be an active member of the successful Lancashire Waste Partnership.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

If the Council does not adopt the Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Lancashire, the Council risks falling outside the existing arrangements of the Lancashire Waste Partnership with the subsequent termination of our Cost Share Agreement with Lancashire County Council.

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation).

Recommendation agreed.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) presented a report advising Members of performance achieved against the current Procurement Strategy and seeking the Executive Cabinet’s approval for a new Joint Procurement Strategy with South Ribble Borough Council.

The Council adopted the current 5 year Procurement Strategy in July 2004.  The 2004-2009 Strategy contained a Savings Target of £500,000 which was exceeded in the first 18 months of the strategy life and total Procurement related savings over the 5 year period were in excess of £1.7 million.

Decision Made:

1.            The report be noted. 

2.            The draft strategy attached at Appendix 1 be approved for implementation.

Reason for decision:

To replace the existing Procurement Strategy which was due to expire imminently with an up to date and more relevant Strategy, which takes account of the new Shared Services arrangement and the efficiencies of joint working.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

A separate Chorley Council strategy was considered and rejected as this would not embrace the spirit of the partnership or take advantage of the efficiencies of joint working.

To receive and consider the enclosed report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation).

Recommendations agreed.

The Executive Cabinet considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) providing Members with a corporate update on the performance of the Council’s key partnership arrangements during 2008/09.

The report outlined information required by the Council’s framework for partnership working, including the performance of the Council’s key partnerships against targets set for the current year; an assessment of key partners financial strength and stability; the outcome of the first round of equality monitoring as part of the key partnerships contract management process and an update to the framework to more clearly capture the requirement regarding partner’s business continuity arrangements. 

In response to queries from Members it was noted that the construction of the beginners golf course at Duxbury would be funded by Glendale. 

Decision Made:

1.            The report be noted.

2.            The Corporate Director (People) in conjunction with Financial Services continue to closely monitor and manage the risks arising from the trading position of CLS.

3.            Financial Services identify and evaluate alternative solutions to monitor and reassess financial strength of key partners using recent, relevant information as opposed to last published financial accounts.

Reason for decision:

To keep Members informed of the performance of Key Partnerships and to ensure effective management of the Council’s partnership arrangements.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

None.

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

Recommendation agreed.

RESOLVED - To exclude the press and public for the following item of business on the ground that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of part 1 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive and consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) (to be tabled at the meeting).

To note the report.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Business Transformation) circulated at the meeting a confidential report updating Members on update regarding the current position in relation to the Property Services contract.

Decision Made:

The report be noted. 

Reason for decision:

To keep Members informed of the performance of Key Partnerships and to ensure effective management of the Council’s partnership arrangements.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

None