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.

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.)

1.    Councillors J & K Wilkie (tenants of Council accommodation) and Councillor Wright (relative is a tenant of Council accommodation) declared disclosable pecuniary interests in agenda items 6(d) 'Housing Strategy' and 6(g)   'HRA Revenue and Capital Monitoring' 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.

2.    Councillors I Moran, J Wilkie & K Wilkie declared non-pecuniary interests in agenda item 6(b) 'Introduction of a Car Lease Salary Sacrifice Scheme' due to them having relatives employed by the Council.

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 6 March 2020.

There are no items under this heading.

To receive as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting of Cabinet held on 14 January 2020.

RESOLVED               That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 January 2020 be received as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

Consideration was given to report relating to the following matters requiring decisions and contained on pages 1143 to 1326 of the Book of Reports.

Councillor Yates introduced the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services which provided details on the key risks facing the Council and how they are managed, and sought approval to changes to the Risk Management Policy.

The Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services circulated a revised report which had been updated to include a reference to COVID-19.

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

RESOLVED  A.      That the progress made in relation to the management of the risks shown in the Key Risks Register (Appendix A to the revised report) be noted and endorsed.

B.     That the updated Risk Management Policy (Appendix B to the revised report) be approved.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor Y Gagen)

Councillor Gagen introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources which sought approval for the introduction of a Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme for staff.

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 proposal to introduce a Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme into the Council as an additional benefit in kind for staff with effect from 1 April 2020 be approved.

B.     That it be noted that the scheme will promote and encourage the use of the low CO2 emission vehicles to staff to encourage the support the Council's Carbon neutral ambitions.

C.     That delegated authority be given to the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources and the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development to undertake the detailed implementation of the Car Lease Salary Sacrifice Scheme.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor K Wright)

Councillor Wright introduced the report of the Director of Place and Community which provided an overview of the service provided by Preston Care & Repair to residents and proposed that a grant be made to the organisation from the disabled facilities grant funding budget to enable continuation of the service.

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 Head of Housing & Regulatory Services be given delegated authority to amend the Housing Renewal Assistance Policy 2015 to allow DFG funds to be awarded to external organisations in order to meet the aims of the Regulatory Reform Order 2002 and the aims of the Better Care Fund .

                        B.         That 10% of the 2018/19 and 2019/20 disabled facilities grant allocation underspend be used to commission Preston Care & Repair to provide services to West Lancashire customers.

                        C.        That the Head of Housing & Regulatory Services be given delegated authority in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder to determine the amount of DFG funding, if any, to be given to Preston Care & Repair on an annual basis.  

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Wilkie)

Councillor J Wilkie introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community which reviewed the progress and considered an extension to the Housing Strategy 2014-2019 and sought approval to the action plan for the extended period.

Minute No.25 of the Landlord Services Committee (Cabinet Working Group) held on 4 March 2020 was circulated at the meeting.

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

RESOLVED  A.      That the progress of the Housing Strategy for the period 2014-2019 as shown in Appendix B to the report be noted.

B.     That the operating term of the existing Housing Strategy be extended to June 2021.

C.     That the Housing Strategy Action Plan 2020-2021 as shown in Appendix C to the report be approved.

D.     That the Corporate Director of Place and Community be authorised, after consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to make any further minor amendments to the Housing Strategy Action Plan 2020-2021.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor I Moran)

The Leader introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources which presented performance monitoring data for the quarter ended 31 December 2019.

Minute No. 60 of the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 5 March 2020 was circulated at the meeting.

In reaching the decision below, Cabinet considered the Minute of the Corporate & Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the details as set out in the report before it, and accepted the reasons contained therein.

RESOLVED  A.      That the Council’s performance against the indicator set for the quarter ended 31 December 2019 be noted.

B.     That the call-in procedure is not appropriate for this item as the report was submitted to the meeting of the Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 5 March 2020.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor I Moran)

The Leader introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation & Resources which sought approval to progress the draft "Council Plan 2020/21" for consultation and for the retention of the existing Annual Suite and Quarterly Performance Indicators.

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 draft “Council Plan 2020/21” attached at Appendix A to the report be reviewed and approved for wider consultation.

B.     That the stakeholder consultation on the draft plan be undertaken and the consultation feedback used to refine the final Council Plan to be considered by Council in October.

C.     That the existing Annual Suite of performance indicators and key quarterly indicators attached at Appendix C to the report be retained and reported on following current practice until at least October 2020.

                        D.     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 26 March 2020.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor J Wilkie)

Councillor J Wilkie introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community which provided an update on the current position of the 2019/20 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Council Housing Capital Investment Programme.

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 financial position in respect of the 2019/20 HRA and Council Housing Capital Investment Programme be noted.

B.        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 26th March 2020.