Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Kevin Joyce (Executive Member Resources), Stella Walsh (Lead Member Licensing), Henry Caunce and Mick Muncaster.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 15 December 2011 (enclosed). 

RESOLVED - The minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 15 December 2011 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Executive Leader.

No Members declared an interest in respect of items on the agenda.

The Executive Leader reported that there had been no requests from members of the public to speak on any of the meeting’s agenda items.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy (enclosed).

1.         Recommendation approved.

2.         Recommendation approved.

The Executive Member for Partnerships and Planning presented a report informing Members of the progress in preparing several Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD’s) for public consultation.

The SPD’s related to four key topic areas: Affordable Housing, Design, the Re-use of Employment Premises, Rural Development and Access to Healthy Food.  Work was well advanced on two additional SPD’s covering Design and Open Space and which would be reported to Cabinet shortly.

Decision made

1.         Endorsement of the four draft Supplementary Planning Documents for public consultation as detailed in Appendices 1-4, after which they will be reviewed and reported back to Cabinet in order to be approved and adopted for use, subject to the insertion of the word ‘main’ prior to ‘highway’ on agenda page 40 Appendix 1 – Requirements of a Marketing Strategy, point e.

2.         Approval to the grant of delegated authority to the Executive Member in liaison with the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy to make minor amendments to the documents, if needed, prior to formal consultation.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To approve the draft documents for statutory public consultation.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy (enclosed). 

1.         Recommendation approved. 

2.         Recommendation approved. 

3.         Recommendation approved. 

The Executive Member for Partnerships and Planning presented a report in relation to the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy. 

The report sought approval to the proposed changes to the policy which reflected new schemes that had been set up since the policy was last approved, for example, the Handy Person service and changes in relation to Energy Efficiency measures. 

A report would be presented to a future Executive Cabinet in relation to Disabled Facilities Grants (which formed part of the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy).

Decision made

1.         Approval to the proposed changes to the policy detailed in section 11 of the report and noted that the section on Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) was still to be completed.

2.         Approval to the start of negotiations with Registered Providers (RPs) to develop a ‘local agreement’ whereby the Council and RPs share the cost of major adaptations (those costing over £1000) on a 50/50 basis funded from the DFG budget.

3.         Noted that a further report on DFGs and the associated policy will be presented to the Cabinet meeting in March outlining progress on the local agreement and options in relation to the prioritisation of DFG cases and funding options.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

1.         To update the policy to reflect the changes and improvements made in relation to Energy Efficiency grants and the new Handy Person Scheme.

2.         To enable the Council to develop an effective policy regarding the provision of DFG’s in the light of unexpected increase in demand.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of People and Places (enclosed).

Recommendation approved.

The Executive Member for People explained that the enclosed multi agency Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Strategy had been presented to enable the Council to sign up to its objectives and actions. 

The aim of the strategy was to tackle the incidence of child sex exploitation (CSE).  Lancashire was in a strong position to tackle CSE particularly through the coordinated approach taken by community safety partnerships and Children’s Trusts.  The Strategy had been developed and drafted through Lancashire’s Children’s Safeguarding Board’s.

The Chorley Children Trust and the Chorley and South Ribble Community Safety Partnership had agreed to the principles of the strategy and to contribute to the actions within it.

Decision made

Agreement to sign up to the aims of the strategy and commit to delivering those elements of the action plan that were appropriate to the Council.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To demonstrate that the Council is fully engaged in tackling child sex exploitation and to ensure that actions that can be undertaken within the Council to support and work with other agencies are carried out.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None. 

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

Report noted.

The Executive Member for Policy and Performance advised that the report set out the performance against the delivery of the Corporate Strategy and key performance indicators during the third quarter of 2011/12.

Overall performance of key projects remained good, with most projects completed, or on track.  The website refresh project had been rated amber due to on-going delays, however actions were in place and was scheduled to go live in April 2012.

Performance on the key measures in the Corporate Strategy and key performance indicators was strong, with 92% of the Corporate Strategy measures performing above target or within the 5% tolerance.  Although, the indicator in relation to the % of 16-18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) was 6.4% (the target was 5.1%).  An action plan had been developed and there were plans within the budget proposals to tackle this.

Several indicators were performing better than target, including the level of avoidable contact, new businesses established and sustained for 12 months and % of customers satisfied with the way they were treated by the Council. 

One key service delivery measure was performing worse than target, which was the number of families in temporary accommodation.  The reasons for this and the steps being taken to improve performance were discussed. 

A query was raised in relation to the Youth Intervention (reduce risk taking behaviour Project) and potential for the inclusion of Astley Park School and Mayfield School.  This would be looked into. 

Decision made

The report be noted.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To facilitate the ongoing analysis and management of the Council’s performance in delivering the Corporate Strategy.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None

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

Report noted.

The Executive Member for Policy and Performance presented a report which set out the performance of the Chorley Partnership during the third quarter of 2011/2012.

The performance of the Chorley Partnership in achieving the key performance targets was positive.  Latest figures for alcohol related hospital admissions showed a reduction of 8%, Accidental Dwelling Fires were lower than anticipated and although crime overall had increased by 5.9% in quarter three compared to the same period of last year, the year to date figure showed a reduction of 1.8%.

Chorley Partnership had 47 key projects/priorities in the delivery plan for 2011/2012.  The projects/priorities were being delivered by six of the key partners of the Partnership; Chorley Council, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Fire and Rescue, NHS Central Lancashire, the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS), as well as partnership projects.  Overall performance on the key projects and priorities in the delivery plan was excellent, with 94% rated green. 

Performance of the key projects remained excellent, with all five of the projects currently rated ‘green’ or completed.

Decision made

The report be noted.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To facilitate the ongoing analysis and management of the Chorley Partnership’s performance and delivery of funded projects.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None.

To receive, for information only, the signed Executive Member Decision in respect of the Lancastrian Scrutiny Task Group (enclosed). 

Report noted. 

The Executive Cabinet received, for information, the report of the Chief Executive in relation to the recommendations made by the Lancastrian Overview and Scrutiny Task Group. 

The report was signed off by the Executive Member (Resources) at the beginning of January to enable the recommendations to be implemented as soon as practicable.  The recommendations aimed to increase the use of the facility for all sections of the community and in doing so, increasing income.

The recommendations included a new pricing structure for the hire of the Lancastrian and the reintroduction of private parties on a trial basis, with appropriate levels of supervision for these events.  The arrangements would be reviewed after a period of 12 months.

Members noted that there were no cooking facilities on site, but work was currently being undertaken on a list of approved caterers for use by hirers.  

Decision made

The report be noted.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To increase the use of the Lancastrian Suite within the Town Hall.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

The Lancastrian Scrutiny Task Group examined other options including the external management of the facility. The attached final report provides a rationale for maintaining internal management of the facility, recommends a more flexible pricing structure and the reintroduction of private parties plus minor investment in improvements.

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

1.         Recommendation approved.

2.         Recommendation approved.

The Executive Cabinet received a report updating the Capital Programmes for financial years 2011/12 to 2013/14.

It was proposed that the three-year Capital Programme be increased by a net total of £530 to £10,310,120.  Of the increase, £103,350 was to be financed with additional external grants and contributions; £7,460 was to be transferred to the revenue budget to finance minor costs relating to capital schemes; £13,000 was to be deleted from the programme until the relevant S106 contribution was received; and £82,360 was to be rephased to the 2014/15 capital programme. 

Capital resources totalling £150,000, in capital receipts and VAT Shelter Income, would be set aside to reduce debt, in accordance with the Council’s debt reduction strategy.  This would achieve part of the revenue budget savings required in 2012/13. 

Decision made

1.         Council be recommended to approve the changes to the Capital Programme for 2011/12 to 2013/14 as presented in Appendix 1 of the report.

2.         Council be recommended to approve the set aside of £150,000 capital resources in order to reduce debt and to achieve revenue budget savings.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

1.         It is necessary to update the capital programme figures for 2011/12 to 2013/14 to take account of the rephasing of budgets between years; to vire unallocated budgets and savings to specific budgets; to transfer minor budgets to the revenue account and to reflect changes to the resources estimated to be available to finance the programme.

2.         Reduction of debt incurred for financing of capital expenditure is necessary to achieve revenue budget savings from 2012/13 onwards.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None.

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

1.         Report noted.

2.         Recommendation approved.

The Executive Cabinet received a report which set out the current financial position of the Council as compared against the budgets and efficiency savings targets it set itself for the financial year 2011/12.

The Council expected to make overall target savings of £358,000 in 2011/12 from management of the establishment, a reduced pension rate from the draft budget, and review of the Car Leasing scheme. Excellent progress had been made in this area and all the savings targets for 2011/12 had now been achieved.

Members noted that provision had been made for preparations and events in relation to the Olympics and mitigate against potential costs arising from planning appeals. 

As set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy the General Fund Balance was forecast to be above £2,000,000 at £2,261,419. 

Decision made

1.         The report be noted.

2.         Council be recommended to set aside a sum of £250,000 from current year general revenue fund savings to repay debt in line with the Council’s debt reduction strategy and 2012/13 budget proposals.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To ensure the Council’s budgetary targets are achieved.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None.

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 Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Recommendation approved.

RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items 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 Director of People and Places (enclosed). 

Recommendation approved.

The Executive Member (People) presented a confidential report outlining Glendale Golf’s proposed course improvement works to Duxbury Golf Course.

Decision made

Support, in principle, be given to the course improvement works, subject to the granting of planning permission, agreement of the full scope of the works and a review of the detailed costings.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To enhance the course at Duxbury Park and ensure it continued to be a challenging course to golfers.  The proposed improvements were of nil cost to the Council and provided they were carried out in a professional way would offer a course that would continue to attract club members as well as those who pay and play.  These improvements would address existing drainage and health and safety issues.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

To reject Glendale Golfs proposed course improvements could see a detrition in the popularity of the course as it would not longer be as challenging as neighbouring venues.  The existing drainage and health and safety issues would remain.

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

Report noted.

The Executive Cabinet considered a confidential report which updated the progress on the performance of the Council’s key partnership arrangements.

Decision made

The report be noted.

Reason(s) for decision

To keep members updated on the performance of key partnership and to ensure effective management of the Council’s partnership arrangements.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None.