Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Adam Yates.

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 9 September 2022.

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 of interests.

To receive as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 7 June 2022.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7 June 2022 be received as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

To note the following change of Terms of Reference of the Estates Regeneration Cabinet Working Group:

Functions:

(a)   To oversee the Revival Project

(b) To oversee the development of key HRA estates improvement and regeneration schemes

(c) To consider innovation options in development and construction in potential schemes.

(d) To report recommendations to Cabinet and/or Council as appropriate

(e) To monitor the Cabinet approved Asset Management Strategy, to ensure appropriate investment in the asset portfolio, including consideration of proposed capital programmes and initiatives to contribute to the commitment to be a carbon neutral Borough by 2030.

RESOLVED:   That the following change of Terms of Reference of the Estates Regeneration Cabinet Working Group be noted:

Functions:

(a)   To oversee the Revival Project

(b) To oversee the development of key HRA estates improvement and regeneration schemes

(c) To consider innovation options in development and construction in potential schemes.

(d) To report recommendations to Cabinet and/or Council as appropriate

(e) To monitor the Cabinet approved Asset Management Strategy, to ensure appropriate investment in the asset portfolio, including consideration of proposed capital programmes and initiatives to contribute to the commitment to be a carbon neutral Borough by 2030.

Consideration was given to report relating to the following matters requiring decisions and contained on pages 173 to 322 of the Book of Reports.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

The Leader, Councillor Yvonne Gagen, introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, which provided details on the level of resource required to enable the target for "WL108 average answered wait time for callers to the contact centre", to reduce to 60 seconds.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendation contained therein.

RESOLVED:   That the target for WL108 remains at 145 seconds.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services. 

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor N Pryce-Roberts)

The Leader introduced the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services, which provided a summary of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Housing capital programme positions for the 2022/23 financial year.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the 2022/23 HRA and Housing capital programme positions be noted.

B.     That the proposed budget adjustments identified in paragraphs 4.3 and 4.4 of the report be approved, namely to move £50k budget from central administration to electrical testing; and £30k from contributions to bad debt provision to central heating servicing.

C.         That the significant budget pressures be noted.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services. 

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

The Leader introduced the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services, which provided a summary of the General Revenue Account (GRA) position for the 2022/23 financial year at quarter 1.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the 2022/23 GRA quarter 1 position be noted.

B.     That future GRA Revenue Monitoring reports be considered by the newly established Budget/Council Plan Committee, unless there are specific recommendations for Cabinet to consider.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

The Leader introduced the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services, which set out details of Treasury Management operations for the first quarter of 2022/23 and to report on the Prudential Indicators, where available.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the Treasury Management activity and Prudential Indicator performance for the first quarter of 2022/23 be noted.

B.     That future Treasury Management monitoring reports be submitted to the Budget/Council Plan Committee, unless there are specific recommendations for Cabinet to consider.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

The Leader introduced the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services, which detailed the Revised General Revenue Account (GRA) Capital Programme for 2022/23 and provided an update on the progress of capital schemes at quarter 1.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the revised Capital Programme, including the re-profiling, virements and budget adjustments contained within Appendix A to the report and the progress against the Revised Capital Programme at Quarter 1, be noted.

B.     That future GRA Capital Monitoring reports be considered by the newly established Budget/Council Plan Committee, unless there are specific recommendations for Cabinet to consider.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Fennell)

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Councillor Ann Fennell, introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community, which sought approval of a temporary suspension of part of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Funding Programme 2023/24.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

The Head of Planning & Regulatory Services addressed the meeting and sought agreement to the Infrastructure Funding Statement being circulated via a Members Update item, rather than being considered by Cabinet in November 2022.

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the request from the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the temporary suspension of part of the CIL Funding Programme 2023/24 as set out in the report be approved as follows:

1.           That the relevant parts of the 2023/24 CIL Funding Programme detailed in this report will be suspended temporarily pending recommencement in Spring 2023 to cover two full financial years (2024/25 and 2025/26).

2.           That amendment to the Governance Framework (see Appendix 1) is approved to allow the recommendation at A. to take place. Thereafter the original Governance Framework Timetable will return to the original format.

B.     That the resource issues regarding CIL and the need for contingency planning in relation to staff, be noted.

C.     That the Infrastructure Funding Statement be circulated via the Members Update, prior to it being formally published.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

The Leader introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, which provided an update on the Council's Risk Management Framework and set out details on the Key Risks facing the council and how they are being managed.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting and referred to the agreed comments of that Committee, which read:

"That the risk owner look again at the risk 'Delays In Preparation of new Local Plan' to change the rating higher than 'cautious'."

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   That the progress made in relation to the management of the risks shown in the Key Risk Register (Appendix A) be endorsed.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services. 

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

The Leader introduced the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services, which presented the updated Medium-Term Financial Forecast (MTFF) for 2023/24 to 2025/26 and the latest forecast budget gap for the three years of £3.014m, comprising:

·     £0.539m in 2023/24

·     £1.474m in 2024/25

·     £1.001m in 2025/26

The report also detailed the reserves position as at 31 March 2022 and set out the annual budget setting process for 2023/24.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the latest Medium-Term Financial Forecast (MTFF) for 2023/24 to 2025/26 and the latest reserves position as at 31 March 2022, be noted.

B.     That the annual budget setting process for 2023/24, detailed in paragraph 9 of the report, be endorsed.

C.     That the Council continue to actively look at options for reducing current spending.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Housing, Transformation & Resources.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

The Leader introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, which presented the Corporate Peer Challenge Report and draft action plan.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the Corporate Peer Challenge report be welcomed.

B.     That the action plan be agreed.

C.     That Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee monitor the delivery of the action plan.

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 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 report relating to the following matter requiring a decision and contained on pages 323 to 330 of the Book of Reports:

To consider the report of the Corporate Director Transformation, Housing & Resources.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor A Yates)

The Leader introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources, which detailed options for the future use of the vacant site at New Court Way, Ormskirk, and sought authority to invite expressions of interest for development.

The Leader advised that the report had been considered by the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 6 September 2022, the minutes of which had been circulated prior to the meeting.

A revised Appendix B had been circulated prior to the meeting.

In reaching the decision below the Cabinet considered the decision of the Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the report before it and the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources be authorised to take all necessary steps to prepare and advertise the site for expressions of interest, including some brief indicative Heads of Terms with a view to receiving development proposals.  To be based on a lease of the land hatched per the attached plan at  Appendix A to the report.

B.     That the Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources to report back to Cabinet on the results of the expressions of interest exercise in order that it can decide on the course of action that would best meet the Council's priorities.