Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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 Chief Operating Officer, 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 Chief Operating Officer, 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.

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 4 June 2021.

There were no items under this heading.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal & Democratic Services Manager 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.)

There were no declarations.

To receive as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday 13 April 2021.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 13 April 2021 be received as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

1.      To note the Leader has appointed Cabinet Working Groups for 2021/22 as circulated at the Annual Meeting on 19 May 2021 with the terms of reference now included in the Constitution.

2.      To note the 'Proper Officer Provisions and Scheme of Delegation to Chief Officers' insofar as they are executive functions, and the Scheme of Delegation to Cabinet Members as set out in the Constitution.

RESOLVED:   A.      That the Cabinet Working Groups for 2021/22 appointed by the Leader, and the terms of reference included in the Constitution be noted.

B.        That the 'Proper Officer Provisions and Scheme of Delegation to Chief Officers' insofar as they are executive functions, and the Scheme of Delegation to Cabinet Members as set out in the Constitution be noted.

Consideration was given to reports relating to the following matters requiring decisions and contained on pages 13 to 128 of the Book of Reports:

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor K Wilkie)

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources, regarding recommendation from Corporate

& Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 11 March 2021, in relation to the review of a trial of Compaction Litter Bins.

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

RESOLVED:     That the trial of compaction litter bins in designated locations be postponed and further reviewed in one year's time, and that the capital funds of £10k allocated to litter bin review work stream, of which £5k was specifically designated for the trial in a high footfall location (10 compaction bins @ £500 each) be utilised to bring forward and support the Borough wide litter bin replacement upgrade programme.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Wilkie)

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community, regarding the revised Tenancy Policy.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the details as set out in the report and appendices before it, and the reasons contained therein, and that the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee fully supported the report, at its meeting on 27 May 2021.

RESOLVED:               A. That the Tenancy Policy attached at Appendix 1 be

Approved.

B.  That the Head of Housing & Regulatory Services, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, be given delegated authority to make minor drafting updates and changes, arising from new legislation as required for this policy.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor I Moran)

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community, regarding an update on the work against the Terms of Reference of the Community Wealth Building Cabinet working group.

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

RESOLVED:   A.      That progress be noted

B.      That a Community Wealth Building Specialist be recruited, to take forward and support the development of a Community Wealth Building Strategy at a total cost of £15,000.

C.      That delegated authority be given to the Corporate Director of Transformation & Resources, in consultation with the portfolio holder for Economic Regeneration, to lead the work of the consultant.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Adam Yates)

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources, providing performance monitoring data for the quarter ended 31 March 2021.

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

Cabinet expressed thanks for the work of officers involved.

RESOLVED:   A.      That the Council’s performance against the indicator set for the quarter ended 31 March 2021 be noted.

B.      That call in is not appropriate for this item as the report will be submitted to the meeting of the Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 10 June 2021.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Wilkie)

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community, which provided an update on recent progress made towards delivering the action plans set out within the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2030 and the associated carbon savings made, to progress towards West Lancashire's carbon neutral Council target by 2030.

The report also sought delegated authority for the Corporate Director of Place and Community to submit bids to the forthcoming funding opportunities listed in Appendix C and enter into the required contracts to deliver the associated projects.

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

Cabinet expressed thanks for the work of officers involved.

RESOLVED:   A.      That the progress report and funding secured to date        be noted.

B.      That delegated authority be given to the Corporate Director of Place and Community to submit bids to the forthcoming funding opportunities listed in Appendix C to the report and enter into the required contracts to deliver the associated projects.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor D Evans)

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community, which provided an update on the outcome of the planning services review and sought agreement of the recommendations to be taken forward and implemented.

The minute of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 27 May 2021 had been circulated prior to the meeting

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

RESOLVED:   A.      That the findings in the Red Quadrant report be noted and the Corporate Director Place and Community, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to take forward the recommendations set out in Appendix 1 to the report, following consideration of the agreed comments of Planning Committee.

B.        That the costs of £25,000 outlined at paragraph 6.2 of the report, for Red Quadrant's continued involvement in taking forward a number of the recommendations to create capacity and drive forward change be approved.

C.        That an update on progress be brought back to Cabinet in Spring 2022.

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 paragraph 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).

RESOLVED:     That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and 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 paragraph 1,2 and 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 item being considered in private)

Consideration was given to a report relating to the following matters requiring decisions and contained on pages 129 to 134 of the Book of Reports:

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Wilkie)

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community, which sought approval to commence consultations regarding the future of the Home Care Link (HCL) service including options for transferring the services delivered by Home Care Link to another provider.

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

RESOLVED:   That the subject to consideration by Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee:

A.      That delegated authority be given to Director of Place and Community to commence consultations with key stakeholders regarding the future of HCL, including consideration of options for transferring the service to an external provider.

B.      That delegated authority be given to Director of Place and Community to identify suitable alternative providers and negotiate terms with the preferred delivery partner, taking into consideration the following priorities:

·      Need to maintain a high quality, competitive service for West Lancashire Council tenants supported by the Council’s Independent Living Service, delivered by trusted partner

·      Need to achieve a seamless transfer to high quality, cost effective service for existing HCL private subscribers

·      Work with any client organisations to ensure a seamless transfer of their services and enable them to make informed choices around the future service delivery for their clients

·      Need to provide West Lancashire communities with access to high quality technology enabled care in the future

·      Providing, if possible, continuation of employment for the HCL team

C.   That the Director of Place and Communities be authorised to implement interim measures, which may include the transfer of service to assist with business continuity or provide a different hosting solution giving flexibility to the service. These issues are being explored and need further investigation.

D.   That the proposals to transfer HCL services to a suitable, alternative provider which offers a value for money service, which mirrors or exceeds the service currently offered to residents, be supported.