Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors J Hodson and K Wilkie.

If, by virtue of the date by which a decision must be taken, it has not been possible to follow Rule 15 (i.e. a matter which is likely to be the subject of a key decision has not been included on the Forward Plan) then the decision may still be taken if:

a)    The Borough Solicitor, on behalf of the Leader, obtains the agreement of the Chairman of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the making of the decision cannot be reasonably deferred,

b)    The Borough Solicitor, on behalf of the Leader, makes available on the Council’s website and at the offices of the Council, a notice setting out the reasons that the decision is urgent and cannot reasonably be deferred.

There were no items of special urgency.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.  (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet.)

Councillors Forshaw (tenant of Council accommodation) and Councillor Wright (connected person tenant of Council accommodation) declared disclosable pecuniary interests in agenda item 6a (HRA Revenue and Capital Mid-Year Review) but considered they were entitled to speak and vote by virtue of an exemption as nothing in the report relates particularly to their relevant tenancy or lease.

Residents of West Lancashire, on giving notice, may address the meeting to make representations on any item on the agenda except where the public and press are to be excluded during consideration of the item.  The deadline for submissions is 10.00am Friday 2 November 2018.

Representations were received from two residents in relation to the following item:-

6d – Burscough Parish Neighbourhood Plan Submission Version.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the following meetings of Cabinet

·         11 September 2018

·         17 October 2018

RESOLVED               That the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 11 September and 17 October 2018 be received as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

Consideration was given to the reports relating to the following matters requiring decisions as circulated and contained on pages 1097 – 1130 and 1241 – 1243 and page 1245 of the Book of Reports.

(Relevant Portfolio Holders: Councillor J Forshaw & A Yates)

Councillor Forshaw introduced the joint report of the Director of Housing and Inclusion and the Borough Treasurer which provided a summary of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Housing Capital Programme positions for the 2018/19 financial year.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  A.      That the 2018/19 HRA and Housing capital programme positions be noted.

                        B.      That the proposed budget adjustments identified in Appendix 2 to the report be endorsed for consideration by Council.

                        C.     That call-in is not appropriate for this item as the report is being submitted to the next meeting of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2018.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

Councillor Yates introduced the report of the Borough Treasurer which provided a summary of the projected revenue position on the General Revenue Account (GRA) at the mid-year point of the 2018/19 financial year.

A motion from Councillor Yates was circulated at the meeting.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the motion from Councillor Yates and the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED A.      That the financial position of the GRA be noted including the position on reserves and balances

                        B.      That a one off grant of £15,000 be provided to Junk Food Café in light of a favourable budget variance which provides an opportunity to support the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Objectives.

                        C.     That call-in is not appropriate for this item as the report is being submitted to the next meeting of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2018.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

Councillor Yates introduced the report of the Borough Treasurer which sought agreement of a Revised General Revenue Account Capital Programme for 2018/19 and provided an update on progress on capital schemes.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  A.      That the revised Capital Programme, including the budget adjustments contained within Appendix A to the report be endorsed for consideration by Council.

                        B.      That progress against the Revised Capital Programme be noted.

                        C      That call-in is not appropriate for this item as the report is being submitted to the next meeting of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2018.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Hodson)

The Leader introduced the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration which sought authorisation to publicly consult on the Submission Version Burscough Parish Neighbourhood Plan, subject to it meeting the required compliance check.  He also sought delegated authority to undertake associated actions.

The Leader and the Director of Development and Regeneration responded to the representations made at the meeting (minute 50 refers).

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and the representations of Minute no. 50 and accepted the reasons contained in the report.

RESOLVED  A.      That authority is delegated to the Director of Development and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning to consider whether the Submission Version Burscough Neighbourhood Plan meets the requirements of regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, and if so to publicise the plan in accordance with regulation 16 of those regulations.

                        B.      That authority is delegated to the Director of Development and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, to make the Borough Council's formal response to the Submission version Burscough Parish Neighbourhood Plan and for subsequent submission of the Neighbourhood Plan for examination under regulation 17 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 and appointment of an independent examiner.

It is recommended that members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 & 2 (an individual) & 3 (financial/business affairs) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and as, in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption under Schedule 12A outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(Note: No representations have been received about why the meeting should be open to the public during consideration of the following items of business).

Part 2

(Not open to the public)

RESOLVED           That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 & 2 (an individual) & 3 (financial/business affairs) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of that Act and as, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption under Schedule 12A outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(Note:    No representations had been received in relation to the following items being considered in private.)

Consideration was given to the report relating to the following items of business as contained on pages 1131 – 1240 and 1247 – 1249 of the Book of Reports.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor I Moran)

The Leader introduced the report of the Director of Development and Regeneration which provided and update on the most recent commercial property investments made by the Council and requested an uplift in the level of investment delegated to the Strategic Asset Purchasing Committee to £2million.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before and accepted the reasons therein.

RESOLVED  A.      That the update on the most recent commercial property investments be noted.

                        B.      That the level of investment delegated to the Strategic Asset Purchasing Committee be increased to £2million.

C.      That the call-in procedure is not appropriate for this item as the report is to be considered at the meeting of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2018.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor K Wilkie)

The Leader introduced the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment which provided an update on progress with the implementation of the recommendations of the grounds maintenance and street cleansing review and sought agreement of service standards and the establishment of a revised structure.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  A.      That progress made against each of the recommendations attached at Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

                        B.      That the service standards outlined in Appendix 2 to the report be agreed.

                        C.     That the call-in procedure is not appropriate for this item as the report is to be considered at the meeting of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2018.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Forshaw)

Councillor Forshaw introduced the report of the Director of Housing and Inclusion which advised of the findings of a review of the response maintenance and voids contract delivery model.   She sought approval to implement interim arrangements for the response maintenance service pending proposed new contractual arrangements to commence in 2020.

Minute no. 13 of the Landlord Services Committee (Cabinet Working Group) meeting held on 31 October 2018 was circulated at the meeting.

A motion from Councillor Forshaw was circulated at the meeting.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the minute of the Landlord Services Committee (Cabinet Working Group), the motion from Councillor Forshaw and the details as set out in the report before it and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  A.      That the Council retain an outsourced delivery model for the response maintenance and voids contract, but that the contract scope is widened to include gas servicing / breakdown and cyclical maintenance programmes.

                        B.      That the pricing model is based upon price per property, price per void, price per gas and price per architype, with a limited range of exclusions to this price, and a schedule of rates for communal areas and leaseholder repairs and any exclusions.

                        C.     That the Director of Housing and Inclusion be authorised to seek tenders and enter into a contract for responsive maintenance and voids on the basis set out at paragraph 5.2 of the report.

                        D.     That pending the entering into of the contract under recommendation C. above the Director of Housing and Inclusion in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services be authorised to put in place an interim arrangement from 1 April 2019 to ensure a continued level of service.

                        E.      That any financial implications resulting from items D. above be addressed as part of the 2019/20 budget setting process.

                        F.      That a further report on the contract be prepared for Cabinet’s review at year 3 (2022-23) in order to consider the viability of bringing the service in house.

                        G.     That this item be referred to the next meeting of the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be held on 22 November 2018.