Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were submitted.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 16 August 2012 (enclosed). 

RESOLVED - The minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 16 August be confirmed as a correct record and signed 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.

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 Chief Executive (enclosed).

1.         Recommendation to Council supported.

2.         Recommendation to Council supported.

The Executive Member (Resources, Policy and Performance) presented a report outlining the options for the development of a draft council tax support scheme to be put in place from April 2013.  The report sought approval for a proposed scheme to be presented to Council on 25 September and sought approval for the approach to consultation to be undertaken.

The Government had determined that Council Tax benefit would be abolished from April 2013 and the Council, as the billing authority, must design a new localised scheme of support for Council Tax.  In addition, the grant currently received to fund council tax benefit would be reduced. 

The proposed approach was to amend the current council tax support scheme to introduce a graduated reduction in support for claimant groups not statutorily protected.  In 2013/14, the reduction proposed was 7.5% because the timescales involved in changing the scheme for 2013/14 did not allow for a response to be developed and implemented that incentivises work and would be properly targeted at the relevant claimant groups. 

Implementing larger reductions for claimants who were not protected statutorily but were on a low income might have unforeseen and adverse consequences which could not be properly understood in the time available.  The aim of the scheme was to encourage people to pay and Members noted that collection rates in Chorley were traditionally good. 

In response to a query the Executive Leader advised that the approach favoured by the County Council and the majority of the other Lancashire district and unitary councils was to apply a percentage reduction to current support.  This would result in a basic amendment to the current scheme so benefit was calculated in accordance with current rules but with a percentage reduction in benefit applied at the end of the calculation.  This meant that a 30% reduction would need to be applied universally as an ‘equal pain’ approach to all claimants, other than those protected by legislation (such as pensioners), to deliver the required saving, assuming a collection rate of 83% collection rate could be achieved. 

Members noted the table on agenda page 10 which set out the Average Weekly reduction in support for residents based on those assumptions and it was felt that this was not a fair approach and that one approach did not fit all Districts.  Members noted that parents of children under 5 were impacted heavily by these proposals. 

It was clarified that new powers provided in the Local Government Finance Bill from April 2013 would give the Council the ability to reduce some of the council tax exemptions currently available, which included unoccupied dwellings and second homes.  It was noted that 254 properties had been empty for the two years and were claiming the Class C - vacant dwelling exemption.  Members commented that there were occasions where empty properties that weren’t maintained had a negative impact on the wider area and it was felt that there ought to be less empty properties.  The proposed changes would apply to Registered Social  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.EC.140

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

Recommendation approved.

The Executive Member (People) presented a report which sought approval for the adoption of a policy and procedure relating to dealing with adult safeguarding issues that representatives of Chorley Council might encounter. 

The Council’s current adult safeguarding arrangements and documentation was limited to activities and services provided at Cotswold House.  A recent external audit of the Council’s provisions had identified a gap in policy and procedures across the rest of the Council where officers and Members might come across adult safeguarding issues or receive disclosures of abuse from adult victims.

The purpose of the document was to safeguard vulnerable adults who were defined as “a person who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness: and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation”.

Members supported briefings for officers and Councillors to ensure they are fully aware of their responsibilities and the reporting mechanisms in place.

The Executive Leader stressed the importance of working with the Police, as Councillors and Council officers have, at times, greater access to people and their homes than the Police. 

If additional guidance was needed a Councillor or officer could ask for advice from a Designated Safeguarding Officer.  If required advice could be requested without giving the name of the person involved.  Assurances were given that an investigation would be undertaken discreetly before any action was taken. 

There were several typographical errors within the document that would be corrected before it was published. 

Decision made

Approval granted to the policy and procedures for ensuring concerns raised by Council representatives in relation to adult safeguarding were properly dealt with.

Reason(s) for decision

To ensure there is a coherent policy and documented procedure for dealing with concerns relating to adult safeguarding.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None.

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

Recommendation approved. 

The Executive Member (Homes and Business) presented a report providing information regarding lettings of properties through the sub-regional Choice Based Lettings system, Selectmove, through which the majority of social housing in Chorley had been allocated since 27March 2011.

Choice Based Letting systems were designed to allow the applicant to have more choice over where they live by proactively bidding on properties they want to live in rather than waiting to be allocated a property on a traditional waiting list.

South Ribble and Preston City Council had been jointly operating a choice based lettings system since 2007.  At the time of making the decision the Council recognised the benefits of giving people in the area more choice, however, it was considered important that people with a local connection to Chorley accessed a significant number of the Chorley properties. 

Throughout the last financial year there had been 405 lets in Chorley and 80.2% of the lets were to households living in Chorley or with a Chorley connection (e.g. employment, previously lived in the area, or to give or receive support).  Therefore inward migration from other council areas with no local connection was 19.8%, however when the households in Chorley who chose to move to Preston or South Ribble the net inward migration was 10.4%.

In order to increase the supply of social housing to households with a local connection and ensure that the 10% threshold was not exceeded going forward a review of the current policy options is being undertaken working with partners in the Select Move scheme as a matter of urgency.  In the interim a number of actions would be undertaken and these were outlined in the report.  They included pro-active promotion of Select Move to Chorley residents, including a press release, posters and a new quick reference guide which would also inform applicants who need assistance how Chorley Council can help them bid for properties. 

There would also be close monitoring of migration on a monthly basis so early interventions can take place and a new Selectmove application form would make it easier to monitor and report on local connection, in conjunction with changes to the online forms.  It was clarified that the application form was currently in paper format, but the bidding process was online.  Different options were being investigated on how to best assist residents who did not have access to the internet to bid on properties. 

One of the benefits of the system was the ability to drill down into the detail which would assist with future policy development.  All new build and newly acquired social housing would be covered by a new Local Connection Policy.

An issue was raised in relation to the banding of properties.  This would be reviewed separately. 

Decision made

The findings of the report and future actions outlined within it be noted.

Reason(s) for decision

It is important that Executive Cabinet is aware of the migration situation in the first 5 quarters for which Selectmove has been operating.

Alternative  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.EC.142

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

Recommendation approved.

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

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

Recommendation approved.

The Executive Member (Resources, Policy and Performance) presented a report which sought approval to implement the recommendation proposed following the Shared Financial Services Budget Review and in the light of feedback received during the consultation process.  The report also followed on from, and was consistent with, the Shared Services Joint Management Committee recommendation made on 26 March 2012. 

Decision made

Approval of the report for implementation and specifically the eight proposals post the consultation period.

Reason(s) for decision

The proposals are aimed at achieving the following:-

·                Succession planning and staff development.  

·                Review resources to match the service’s future work programme.

·                Responding to changing customer needs linked to achieving continued value for money through efficiencies.

·                Review into the two tier grading structure for Accountant’s posts in the accountancy functions.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

1.         The restructuring proposals put forward are considered to be the optimum solution to achieve the objectives of the review and have been amended, where considered to be appropriate, after consideration of the responses received from staff during the consultation process.

2.         The amendments made to the original proposals and subsequent recommendations are highlighted in each of the proposals below.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of People and Places (to be tabled at the meeting). 

1.         Recommendation approved.

2.         Recommendation approved.

The Executive Member (Places) presented a report which sought approval to consult on changes to the structure of the Streetscene and Leisure Contracts team

Decision made

2.         That following consultation, subject to only minor alterations, the final decision to implement the proposals be delegated to the Executive Member for Places and supported by the HR team. 

Reason(s) for decision

To support the delivery and implementation of the Streetscene Modernisation Strategy to develop future organisational structures appropriate to future service delivery methods

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected