Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Wallasey Town Hall. View directions

Items
No. Item

112.

Members' Code of Conduct - Declarations of Interest

Members of the Cabinet are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Minutes:

No such declarations were made.

113.

Minutes

The minutes of the last meeting have been printed and published.  Any matters called in will be reported at the meeting.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  That the minutes be approved and adopted.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 December 2013 be approved as a correct record.

 

114.

Council Budget Projections - 2014-17 pdf icon PDF 90 KB

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Resources which provided an overview of the Council’s future financial position and an update to the Medium Term Financial Strategy approved in March 2013. The report further outlined the approach to operate within the finance available and for the budget options for 2014/15. 

 

The latest predictions indicated forecast net funding available over the 3 year period of £780 million against a current net spend forecast of £863 million, a funding deficit of £83 million.

 

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  the forecast funding gap for 2014/17 to include assumptions regarding items still to be determined such as the Local Government Finance Settlement and the determination of levies for 2014/15 be noted; and

 

(2)  a further update be presented to Budget Cabinet in February. 

115.

Budget Consultation Feedback pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive, which indicated that on 16 September 2013, the Council published a series of budget options for consultation, as it sought to make savings of £27.5 million in 2014/15.

 

The Chief Executive introduced the report which highlighted the options which had been subject to comprehensive consultation with residents, Elected Members, Trade Unions, staff, partners, businesses, community organisations and other stakeholders.The report presented the feedback from those consultations for consideration.

 

The budget options for the individual departments along with the budget consultation demographic and geographical data and the feedback from the Policy and Performance Committee were attached as appendices to the report.

 

Councillor P.Davies thanked the members of the public, staff, partners and local businesses and groups who took part in the survey which had been used to shape the options going forward. He further thanked the Head of Neighbourhoods and Engagement and her team for all their work in co-ordinating the consultation process.

 

Councillor P. Davies invited Alan Small, Unite Union to address the Cabinet on its Budget proposals.

 

Mr Small speaking for members of Unite Union informed the Cabinet that they felt that the questions contained within the surveys were misleading.

 

In relation to the proposals relating to the CCTV control room, feedback from staff was that those redundancies had already been earmarked and that this was a foregone conclusion.

 

Mr Small referred to the option relating to parks and beach maintenance and felt this was totally unacceptable given that a reduction in services would mean beauty spots would be ruined and considering that the Wirral would be hosting the Open in Hoylake in 2014, attracting many tourists and visitors to the Borough this may have a detrimental effect.

 

Councillor P. Davies invited Phil Goodwin, Unison Branch Secretary to address the Cabinet on its Budget proposals.

 

Mr Goodwin on behalf of Members of Unison, endorsed the comments made by Mr Small in relation to the options regarding the CCTV Control Room and the Beaches and Parks.

 

Mr Goodwin indicated that on behalf of staff, the Union was worried about the large scale compulsory redundancies these savings would make and asked the Cabinet to reconsider.

 

He asked the Cabinet to choose an uncapped scheme with a multiplier to enable those who wished to leave the Council may do so under a better scheme. He urged cabinet to retain the 1.8%.

 

In relation to the severance deal, their view was that this should be retained longer than the agreed period.

 

He urged the Cabinet to consider the hard working workforce and their families and indicated that staff had already taken on board huge cuts.

 

Councillor P.Davies thanked both Mr Small and Mr Goodwin and at this point circulated the following revised recommendations for the Cabinet’s consideration.

 

National Context

 

Last year, we made some extremely difficult decisions in order to set a legal budget. This year, due to continuing huge, disproportionate and unfair cuts from the Tory-led government, we are in the same position  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

116.

Financial Monitoring 2013/14 (Month 7) pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Resources, which detailed the Monitoring Position for Month 7 (ending 31 October 2013).  The reports detailing the Revenue and Capital Monitoring 2013/14 for Month 7 were attached as appendices to the report.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  Revenue:

 

(a)  That at Month 7 (October 2013), the full year forecast projected a General Fund underspend of £519,000 and if achieved at year end this should be earmarked against future Council restructuring costs be noted. 

 

(b)  The use of £175,000 of General Fund balances to fund the part year effect of the increase in energy prices in 2013/14 be approved.

 

(2)  Capital:

 

(a)  The spend to date at Month 7 of £12.70 million, with 58% of the financial year having elapsed be noted.

(b)  The revised Capital Programme of £43.666 million(Table 1 at Paragraph 4.1 be approved;

(c)  The re-profiling of a number of schemes into 2014/15, totalling £0.219 million be approved;

(d)  The inclusion of £0.200 million for Arrowe Park changing facilities to be funded from unsupported  borrowing be  approved; and

(e)  The removal of the park depot rationalisation scheme (£0.500 million) pending re-submission of a composite depot scheme be approved.

 

117.

Council Tax Base Information pdf icon PDF 146 KB

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Business Processes which brought together related issues regarding the proposed Council Tax Tax-Base for 2014/15 upon which the annual billing and Council Tax levels will be set; the proposed Council Tax Discounts and exemptions for 2014/15 and the Council Tax Support Scheme to be used during 2014/15.  All, apart from the Pensioner Household Discount, need to be approved by Council by 31 January 2014.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  The figure of 87,786.2 be approved and recommended to Council as the Council Tax-Base for 2014/15.

 

(2)  That the level and award of each local discount for 2014/15 be made as follows: -

Wirral Women’s and Childrens Aid

 

To award the Refuge discount of 50% and the Flats discount of 75%.

 

Pensioner Household Discount

 

The current Pensioner Household discount be varied to be 5% for those households where all residents are aged 70 or over, in properties falling bands A,B,C and D.

 

Empty Property Discounts

 

The discount and premium rate for 2014/15 remain unchanged as follows:

Discount category D 0% - Full charge on properties undergoing renovations

Discount category C 0% - Full charge on empty properties from date they become unoccupied

Empty Premium 150% - Properties empty for more than two years

 

(3)  That the Council Tax Support Scheme approved for use in 2013/14 be also approved as the Scheme for 2014/15 subject to:-

The annual up-rating of figures be in line with that used for the Housing Benefits Scheme.

 

The funding of the up-rating (£265,000) and the impact of a potential Council Tax rise to be met by the Council.

 

 

 

118.

Social Enterprise Development - Day Services pdf icon PDF 153 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Adult Social Services which stated that the Cabinet committed on February 18th 2013 to explore the possibility of an alternative delivery model, i.e.: a single social enterprise model across all day services to deliver the year two and three savings already agreed by the Council.  The report updated on progress and sought agreement to proceed with the recommended option.

 

Councillor Chris Jones introduced the report which provided a detailed summary of five options available to the council; an analysis of the options and identified which of the options were feasible in terms of progressing to alternative models of delivery for day services in a timely manner.

 

The data relating to each element of the service had been identified and analysed in relation to each of the options.  This was then incorporated into an evaluation matrix which can be found in Appendix 1 of the report. 

 

During the strategic review it was identified that some options were not feasible for a variety of reasons including timescales and saving requirements.  These were clearly identified at the end of each summary.  The review identified that only two of the five options were feasible.  The caveat to this are that one option (1. Develop a standalone Local Authority Trading Company or Social Enterprise) would require a longer development time which would negate making full savings in 2014.  The other feasible option (2. Shared Services with another neighbouring authority) would require further exploration although this could be achieved relatively quickly and would therefore enable the Council to make the savings required and also offer an improved service to the people who use day services. 

 

The report sought agreement to develop the preferred Option 2 whilst enabling the proposal from the Parents/Carers Group in relation to the establishment of a Social Enterprise, to be developed further into a business case. The proposal would need to be reviewed taking into account best practice, service delivery implications and future sustainability, as well as being cognisant of the Council’s statutory duties.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  The Director of Adult Social Services be requested to further explore Option 2 with the neighbouring Local Authorities, and submit a final report in February 2014 setting out the full business case; and

 

(2)  Parents/Carers Group be authorised to develop a business case in relation to their proposal to develop a social enterprise model (Option 1).

 

 

 

119.

Charging for Services pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the report of th Director of Adult Social Services, which sort to recommend further public consultation with regard to recommended revisions to the fairer charging and fairer contributions policy. 

 

Councillor Chris Jones introduced the report which sort to undertake a specific eight week consultation process with the people potentially affected by the proposed fairer charging changes prior to implementing charging proposals from 1 April 2014.  This included both changes that had been subject to 2014-15 budget proposals and those set out in the report as new proposals.  The report also proposed streamlining collection and recovery processes in the PFU.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  a detailed further eight week consultation process be held with all those directly affected by the proposed charging changes (any other person or body/stakeholder considered appropriate).  To include those that was already subject to the What Really Matters consultation, and as such were also subject to Budget Council approval on 16 December.

 

(2)  the revised FCP as set out in Appendix A be taken through an eight week consultation process, following which;

 

a.  a fairer contributions charging basis be put into effect.

b.  the day services currently treated as non-chargeable become chargeable.

c.  the extra care services currently treated as non-chargeable become chargeable.

d.  the revised respite charges come into operation following immediate consultation and implementation.

e.  the revised short-term charges come into operation.

 

(3)  The following actions which are not subject to consultation be brought into effect as soon as possible;

 

a.  two additional posts be established in Legal Services for DASS recovery action.

b.  the Director of Adult Social Services and the Head of Legal and Member Services be authorised to appoint external legal capacity for DASS debt recovery.

c.  the Director of Adult Social Services be given delegated authority with immediate effect to compromise debts in appropriate cases.

d.  a permanent recovery team be established in Business Processes as set out in the report.

 

 

120.

Public Health Outcomes Fund pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Chris Meaden introduced the report of the Director of Public Health/Head of Policy and Performance which explored the potential to identify and manage a fund to support voluntary sector organisations who may be in crisis where appropriate.  The report provided a proposal to establish such a fund.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the proposal be approved to enable the Voluntary Sector Support Fund to be offered to other organisations.

121.

Improvement Board Review

This item has now been withdrawn.

Minutes:

This item was withdrawn.

122.

Exempt Information - Exclusion of the Press and Public

The following items contain exempt information.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  That, under section 100 (A) (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 by the relevant paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That, under section 100 (A) (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 by the relevant paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

 

123.

Request for Financial Assistance through Regional Growth Fund (1)

Minutes:

Councillor Pat Hackett introduced a report of the Strategic Director – Regeneration and Environment that sought approval to provide a grant to the company named in the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)  a grant be approved towards the project being undertaken by the company named in the report, to be paid over two years, from the date of the signing of the legal agreement; and

 

(2)  the Head of Legal and Member Services be authorised to draw up and sign the legal agreement between the Council and the business based upon the content of the report and subject to the detailed contracting process.

 

124.

Request for Financial Assistance through Regional Growth Fund (2)

Minutes:

Councillor Pat Hackett introduced a report of the Strategic Director – Regeneration and Environment that sought approval to provide a grant to the company named in the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)  a grant be approved towards the “IT Investment Project” being undertaken by the company named in the report, to be paid over two years, from the date of the signing of the legal agreement; and

 

(2)  the Head of Legal and Member Services be authorised to draw up and sign the legal agreement between the Council and the business based upon the content of the report and subject to the detailed contracting process.

 

125.

Request for Financial Assistance through Regional Growth Fund (3)

Minutes:

Councillor Pat Hackett introduced a report of the Strategic Director – Regeneration and Environment that sought approval to provide a grant to the company named in the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)  a grant be approved towards the “Business Expansion Project” being undertaken by the company named in the report, to be paid over two years, from the date of the signing of the legal agreement; and

 

(2)  the Head of Legal and Member Services be authorised to draw up and sign the legal agreement between the Council and the business based upon the content of the report and subject to the detailed contracting process.