Agenda, decisions and minutes

Decision: That the minutes of the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 17 October 2019 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 consider and receive the report of the Director (Business, Development and Growth).

1.    That options 1 and 2 be considered further by officers with greater detail to be provided to Members at another meeting.

2.    To request the Leader to urge Homes England to respond to his recent letter.

3.    To note that Officers will continue to look at the feasibility of delivering residential and a gypsy and traveller (G & T) allocation on the Chorley land rather than employment and a G & T allocation.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Member (Economic Development and Public Service Reform), presented the report of the Director (Business Development and Growth) which provides an update on the current progress of delivering an employment and gypsy and traveller (G & T) site at Cowling Farm, and presents the options available to deliver the G & T allocation.

Members noted the G & T family’s comments regarding proximity to employment and residential sites and the Leader advised that Homes England had now submitted an application for their site rather than continuing to work collaboratively with the Council. Members expressed their disappointment and noted that the Leader had written to Homes England to express the Council’s concerns. It was agreed that waiting for a response before deciding on which option to pursue would be preferable, and in the meantime both options 1 and 2 should be investigated further.

Decision:

1.    That options 1 and 2 be considered further by officers with greater detail to be provided to Members at another meeting.

2.    To request the Leader to urge Homes England to respond to his recent letter.

3.    To note that Officers will continue to look at the feasibility of delivering residential and a gypsy and traveller (G & T) allocation on the Chorley land rather than employment and a G & T allocation.

Reasons for Recommendation(s):

To progress the delivery of the G & T site and to progress the delivery of the wider site with a use that is financially viable.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

1.    To continue to progress with the employment development has been rejected as it is unviable.

2.    Delivery of the G & T site with the wider site development has been rejected as it will not deliver the G & T allocation within the required timescales.

To consider and receive the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

1.    To note the full year forecast position for the 2019/20 revenue budget and capital investment programme.

2.    To note the forecast position on the Council's reserves.

3.    Request Council note the capital programme to be delivered in 2019/20 to 2021/22 and to approve the adjustments outlined in the report.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the report of the Chief Finance Officer which sets out the provisional revenue and capital outturn figures for the Council as compared against the budgets and efficiency savings targets set for the financial year 2019/20.

Members noted that the forecast of capital expenditure in 2019/20 was £53.691m and the forecast level of balances at 31 March 2020 will be £4m. Members discussed the reserves in place for expanding shared services and noted that the 2019/20 in year underspends would be used to fund Chorley Council’s share of the forecast costs.

Decision:

1.    Note the full year forecast position for the 2019/20 revenue budget and capital investment programme.

2.    Note the forecast position on the Council's reserves.

3.    Request Council note the capital programme to be delivered in 2019/20 to 2021/22 and to approve the adjustments outlined in the report.

Reasons for Recommendation(s):

To ensure the Council’s budgetary targets are achieved.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

To consider and receive the report of the Director (Policy and Governance).

To note the report.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the report of the Director (Policy & Governance) which sets out the performance against the delivery of the Corporate Strategy and key performance indicators during the second quarter of 2019/20, 1 July to 30 September 2019.

Overall, performance of key projects is excellent, with 11 (92%) of the projects now rated as green or complete and one (8%) project currently rated as amber with the action plan for this project contained within this report. Performance of the Corporate Strategy indicators and key service delivery measures is also excellent with 100% of Corporate Strategy measures and 88% of key service delivery measures performing on or above target or within the 5% threshold. Those indicators performing below target, including bin collections, have action plans outlined with measures to improve performance.

In addition, this quarter the 2019 Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) update was released by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government. The overall message for Chorley is positive with the borough now less deprived than it was in 2015 and Members noted the evidence behind these figures was being used to understand and address the issues. 

Decision:

To note the report.

Reasons for Recommendation(s):

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

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

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).

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

To consider and receive the report of the Director (Business, Development and Growth).

1.    To approve masterplan Option D for the Tatton Development.

2.    To approve the progression of the further works identified in the report maintaining the professional services of the appointed consultant to progress the next stage of feasibility works.

3.    To acknowledge that the further works will be funded through the remaining One Public Estate Funding, with any deficit being funded through the income generation reserve.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Member (Economic Development and Public Service Reform), presented the confidential report of the Director (Business, Development & Growth) which present the feasibility study and masterplan options for the demolition of the former bus depot off Eaves Lane and Tatton community centre to allow the development of a new community centre, GP surgery and pharmacy and residential assisted living apartments.

Decision:

1.    To approve masterplan Option D for the Tatton Development.

2.    To approve the progression of the further works identified in the report maintaining the professional services of the appointed consultant to progress the next stage of feasibility works.

3.    To acknowledge that the further works will be funded through the remaining One Public Estate Funding, with any deficit being funded through the income generation reserve.

Reasons for Recommendation(s):

1.    Following a review of the masterplan options, Officers have brought forward masterplan option D as the recommended scheme for the Tatton development.

2.    Option D provides an Assisted Living Unit containing 59 apartments and 12 residential properties, GP Surgery and Pharmacy, new Community Centre and improvements to the Tatton recreation ground.

3.    The proposal promotes the use of space by combining the Assisted Living Unit with both the GP Surgery/Pharmacy and Community Centre into the same extended footprint.

4.    The proposal provides 12 low-rise residential properties to the northern end of the site, which will provide natural surveillance for the park area.

5.    The proposal provides improvements to recreational facilities for the local residents.

6.    The proposal will reduce anti-social behaviour within the area by developing a scheme that compliments the surrounding area. The assisted living will offer 24hr surveillance to the park and community centre.

7.    Maintaining the current consultant team will allow continuity of the design works.

8.    The consultant team to date have provided a value for money high quality service.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

1.    Masterplan Option A – rejected as the community centre and GP surgery separated from the assisted living could be open to ongoing vandalism.

2.    Masterplan Option B – rejected as the community centre separated from the assisted living and GP Surgery could be open to ongoing vandalism. The proposed residential properties take too much of the park/green space.

3.    Do nothing – rejected as this will not deliver the councils corporate objectives.

To consider and receive the report of the Director (Policy and Governance).

1.    To note the consultation responses given in Appendix 1.

2.    To note the changes to the structure given in original report that was approved at Full Council on 25 October 2019. These changes address some of the issues outlined in the consultation responses.

3.    To approve the final structure for a Shared Management Accountants team.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the confidential report of the Director (Policy & Governance) which briefs Members on the outcome of the review of, and amendments to, the existing shared services for finance between South Ribble Borough Council and Chorley Borough Council.

Decision:

1.    To note the consultation responses given in Appendix 1.

2.    To note the changes to the structure given in original report that was approved at Full Council on 25 October 2019. These changes address some of the issues outlined in the consultation responses.

3.    To approve the final structure for a Shared Management Accountants team.

Reasons for Recommendation(s):

A review of shared services, operational structures and staff development will ensure that both councils are supported by a finance team that has the appropriate tools to deliver a best practice service in the most efficient and effective manner.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

To consider and receive the report of the Director (Policy and Governance).

To approve the changes to the Financial Systems and Exchequer Services outlined in the report that were approved by Shared Services Joint Committee on 9 September and by Full Council at both Chorley and South Ribble Councils in September 2019. No further changes have been made to the report since this approval was given.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the confidential report of the Director (Policy & Governance) which briefs Members on the review of, and amendments to, the existing shared services for finance between South Ribble Borough Council and Chorley Borough Council.

Decision:

To approve the changes to the Financial Systems and Exchequer Services outlined in the report that were approved by Shared Services Joint Committee on 9 September and by Full Council at both Chorley and South Ribble Councils in September 2019. No further changes have been made to the report since this approval was given.

Reasons for Recommendation(s):

A review of shared services, operational structures and staff development will ensure that both councils are supported by a finance team that has the appropriate tools to deliver a best practice service in the most efficient and effective manner.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Executive Member (Economic Development and Public Service Reform), briefed Members on recent staffing appointments, and no objections were raised.