Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 18 February 2016.

The minutes of the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 18 February 2016 be confirmed as a correct record for signing 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 any interests.

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. 

Report of the Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community

1.            Approval of the 24 preferred projects and actions identified at the Neighbourhood Area Meetings for delivery in 2016/17 as listed in Appendix 1 to the report.

2.            Delegated responsibility granted to the Executive Member (Community) to approve details and costs for each priority as they emerge but within the overall budget allocation for neighbourhood preferred projects.

3.            The successful delivery of neighbourhood preferred projects in 2015/16 as listed in Appendix 2 of the report were noted.

The report of the Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community was presented by the Executive Leader. The report updated Members on the delivery of the 24 preferred projects in 2015/16 and sought approval for the new 24 preferred projects to be delivered in 2016/17.

Councillor Ralph Snape spoke in support of the preferred project proposals for the Chorley Town West Neighbourhood area.

The projects had been determined at the recent round of Neighbourhood Area meetings in January and February. The details of all the proposed projects was provided within the report and delegated authority was required for the Executive Member (Community) to approve finalised details and costs for each priority as they emerged from within the overall budget allocation for all eight areas of the borough.

It was recognised that there was a diverse range of preferred projects and that some would require further consultation to fully understand and determine community needs. Funding of their delivery would be through existing budgets, business as usual resources, levering in partner resources and approaching Parish Councils to release a proportion of their precept.

Decision:

1.            Approval granted of the 24 preferred projects and actions identified at the Neighbourhood Area Meetings for delivery in 2016/17 as listed in Appendix 1 to the report.

2.            Delegated responsibility granted to the Executive Member (Community) to approve details and costs for each priority as they emerge but within the overall budget allocation for neighbourhood preferred projects.

3.            The successful delivery of neighbourhood preferred projects in 2015/16 as listed in Appendix 2 of the report was noted.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To progress the preferred projects determined by the neighbourhood area representatives for the benefit of the communities within their respective neighbourhood areas during 2016/17.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None

Report of the Director of Customer and Advice Services.

The contents of the report were noted.

The report of the Director of Customer and Advice Services was presented by the Executive Member for Customer and Advice Services and updated on the Council’s involvement with various activities relating to Energy Efficiency and continued efforts to combat fuel poverty.

The Council are required to provide a HECA (Home Energy Conservation Act) update report every two years. The last report was in March 2015 and this report acted as an interim report in advance of the next, in March 2017.

The Council has a long standing commitment to combating Fuel Poverty, reflected in the Corporate Strategy. The Councils various Energy Efficiency initiatives therefor aim to deliver Affordable Warmth for customers and reduce the incidence of Fuel Poverty in the borough.

There are currently a number of Energy Efficiency initiatives either in progress or being developed and further details were provided about each of them in the report:

·         Energy Switching Support Service

·         Affordable Warmth Fund Interventions

·         Cosy Homes in Lancashire (CHiL)

·         GB Energy Partnership

It was reported that CHiL has yet to deliver for Chorley residents, thought mainly to be because of issues relating to its promotion and complex processes. Measures had now been taken to address this and the scheme was now being advertised on the Council’s website.

GB Energy is a Lancashire company that offers a wide range of energy related services including competitive rates of Energy supply and the facilitation of Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funded measures for customers experiencing Fuel Poverty. The Council are exploring the possibility of working in partnership with GB on a variety of energy initiatives with the main aim of achieving financial savings for Chorley residents.

Decision: The report was noted.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

The report is for noting and does not contain any specific recommendations.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None

Report of the Chief Executive

Approval of the funding commitment given by the Executive Leader in respect of 24a and 109a bus services currently servicing the Chorley area

The report of the Chief Executive was presented by the Executive Leader and Executive Member (Economic Development and Partnerships) that informed Members and sought approval of a commitment made by the Executive Leader in respect of funding allocated to mitigate the impact of Lancashire County Council (LCC) budget reductions to support bus services in the borough.

In the Council most recent budget a sum of £500k had been set aside to help mitigate the impact on the Chorley area and residents of reduction in LCC budgets. The money is intended as short term financing to allow time to find other sustainable solutions. Decisions already taken by the County Council mean that from 3 April a number of bus services will be cut or reduced.

The report detailed the reasons for looking to continue the 24a and 109a bus services and set out a financing agreement based upon a 70/30% split of costs that had been agreed by both Councils.

There were further reports of other bus services that would also be under threat across the borough and the Cabinet were asked to consider ways of progressing these issues within a formal decision making process.

Decision: Approval granted of the funding commitment given by the Executive Leader in respect of 24a and 109a bus services currently servicing the Chorley area

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To progress a set of options to mitigate the impact on local services of Lancashire County Council budget reductions.

Alternative options 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 Paragraphs 1 and 3 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).

Approval that the press and public be excluded for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclose of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

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

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources) left the meeting at 6.40pm.

Report of the Chief Executive.

Recommendations approved.

The report of the Chief Executive was presented by the Executive Member (Resources) and sought authority for the sale of Council owned land at Southport Road, Chorley.

Decision: Approval that recommendations contained in the report are granted.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

A marketing exercise has been undertaken and the recommendation demonstrates best value has been obtained for the site.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Not to pursue the sale. This will not generate a capital receipt and will not enable the Council to deliver civic space proposed within the Town Centre Masterplan

The report of the Chief Executive

Recommendations approved.

The report of the Chief Executive was presented by the Executive Leader and Executive Member (Economic Development and Partnerships) which responded to the feedback back received to the consultation on the proposed restructure of senior management in the organisation and outlined any amendments made in light of comments received. The report also sought approval for the implementation of the new management structure for the Council.

Decision:

1.            Approval granted that the Directors posts salaries be increased to £70k including car to reflect more recent benchmarking of neighbouring Councils.

2.            Approval granted that the Building Control Trainee post be deleted instead of a Building Control Officer post.

3.            Approval granted for other changes to job descriptions and job titles to be made as listed in the report.

4.            Approval granted that the senior management structure presented to Full Council on 19 January encompassing the changes above.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

This will deliver the objectives identified in the review and, when fully implemented, will realise cashable savings of £336K.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Retain recommendations of the original report.

Report of the Director of Customer and Advice Services

Recommendations approved.

The report of the Director of Customer and Advice Services was presented by the Executive Member (Customer and Advice Services) and outlined the proposed next steps for the refurbishment of Cotswold supported Housing following the outcome of the bid to the Homes and Communities Agency for Homeless Change Grant funding.

The report also sought delegated authority for the awarding of the contract of works by the Executive Member (Resources)

Decision:

1.            Approval granted that the Homes and Communities Contract for Homeless Change Programme funding is accepted along with the associated grant payments totalling £658,735.00.

2.            Approval granted that the Council commences the procurement exercise to select a contractor to undertake the schedule of works to complete the final phase of modernisation of the building and its facilities for homeless people.

3.            Approval granted that the decision to award the contract of works to the successful bidder be delegated to the Executive Member (Resources)

Reasons for recommendation(s)

1.            The refurbishment of Cotswold Supported Housing will be complete and no further significant investment will be required.

2.            The quality of the accommodation will be the same for all 25 flats and the facilities available for life skills, education and training on site will be much improved.

Alternative options considered and rejected.

None