Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a report which provided an update on the progress in delivering the Capital Programme 2017/18 at the end of June 2017.  It recommended that the Cabinet agree the 2017/18 Capital Programme of £88.0 million which took into account re-profiling identified during the 2016/17 final accounts together with any additional grant funding notified to the Council.  The Cabinet noted that expenditure to date was £4.8 million.

This matter was a key decision which affected all Wards in the Borough.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the spend at Quarter 1 of £4.8 million, with 25% of the financial year having elapsed be noted and that this is suppressed by the inclusion of amounts that were charges against 2016/17 in accord with accounting practice;

(2)  the revised Capital Programme of £88.0 million be agreed and referred to the  Council; and

(3)  agreement be given to the Growth Fund scheme being amended to provide a combination of business loans and grants rather than just loans. 

Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a report which set out the projected revenue position for 2017/18 as at the end of Quarter 1 (30 June 2017).

The latest forecast was an overspend of £4.2 million for 2017/18.  This was essentially as a consequence of additional investment into Children’s Services and associated legal costs regarding the placement of children. 

This was a key decision which affected all the Wards in the Borough.

RESOLVED: That:

(1)  the Quarter 1 forecast year end overspend of £4.2 million, of which £3.9 million relates to Children’s Services and related legal costs, be noted;

(2)  the £8.5 million distribution from the Revenue Budget Contingency be approved;

(3)  the receipt of £0.18 million of New Homes Bonus Returned Funding Grant, which will be added to General Fund Balances, be noted;

(4)  Officers continue to identify actions and take measures to effectively manage the overall budget and reduce the impact of the projected overspends;

(5)  the £1.225 million ‘one-off’ funding from General Fund balances for an extended borough wide programme of tree maintenance works be referred to Council for approval; and

(6)  the £0.125 million for a rolling programme of tree inspection and maintenance be added to the Council budget projections from 2018/19 onwards, be noted. 

Councillor Bernie Mooney introduced a report which informed the Cabinet that, in line with the national agenda, Local Authority School Improvement officers had been working with school leaders to develop a more autonomous and self-improving school system, enabling schools, irrespective of their status, to lead their own improvement.  The conversion of schools to academies had resulted in increased autonomy for these schools that were answerable to the Regional Schools Commissioner’s office and the Education Funding Agency.  The Cabinet noted that the majority of Wirral secondary schools (76%) were academies and currently only 7% of Wirral primary schools were academies.

The Cabinet was informed that the significant reduction of £3.2 million in the Education Services Grant received by the local authority to undertake statutory duties around school improvement had meant that schools could not rely on the Local Authority to continue with these functions in the way they had previously.  Whilst there was now some reduced provision within the Schools Budget and a new grant from September the majority of national school improvement funding available could only be accessed through collaborative bids by Teaching School, Local Authorities and Multi-Agency Trusts (MATs).

Councillor Mooney proposed that the Leader of the Council be requested to write to the Secretary of State for Education expressing extreme concern at the reduction in Wirral’s Education Services Grant because the Council should be investing in young people’s education.  Cutting this budget was a huge retrograde step and the Government should reconsider its decision.

Councillor Mooney informed that achieving well at school was fundamental to improving the quality of life for all of the children and young people in Wirral.  The strategy aspired for all of education settings to be rated as ”good or outstanding” by 2020, and the Council must deliver improvements in our early years, school and college education over the coming years to enable Wirral pupils to be the best they could be.  The strategy aimed to make sure there was consistent quality and levels of attainment across the borough, continuing our record of exceeding national averages for quality, achievement and attainment for all students.

Appended to the report was the Wirral Schools Strategy, a key strategic document which articulated the demand for children and young people to be the best they could be. 

The Cabinet noted that the vision of the Schools Strategy was:

“For all Wirral children and young people to achieve their potential, contribute positively to society and lead fulfilling and successful lives”

To achieve  this vision, it was essential for the whole school community including pupils, parents, carers and teachers and the local community to work together to help the children and young people to be the best they could be.

The Cabinet also noted that the Strategy covered three broad priorities:-

1.  All children and young people in Wirral attend schools which are good or outstanding.

2.  All children and young people are supported to achieve their full potential, with a particular focus on our most vulnerable pupils.

3. Children and young people attend the school which best meets their needs.

The Wirral Plan: A 2020 Vision set out a partnership vision to improve outcomes for Wirral residents. Delivery of the priorities and outcomes described in the Plan were underpinned through the delivery of a set of key strategies. The Wirral Schools Strategy was a key strategic document that articulated the ambition for children and young people to be the best they could be.

The Wirral Schools Strategy affected all Wards in the Borough and its approval was, therefore, a key decision.

Councillor Phil Davies supported the proposal that he write to the Secretary of State for Education.  He considered the cut in Education Services Grant to be a big mistake and he was hopeful that the Leaders of the other Political Groups would also sign the letter.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham reminded the Cabinet that Britain’s exit from the European Union was not far off and as a consequence it was important to invest in young people so that they could acquire the skills to be successful ‘post Brexit’.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the Wirral Schools Strategy be approved;

(2)  the Leader of the Council be requested to write to the Secretary of State for Education to:

(a)  express extreme concern at the reduction in Wirral’s Education Services Grant as the Cabinet considers that it should be investing young people’s education

(b)   inform that cutting Education Services Grant is a huge retrograde step; and

(c)  demand that the Government reconsider its decision: and

(3)  the Leaders of the other Political Groups be invited to sign the letter at (2) above.

Councillor Angela Davies left the meeting.

Councillor Chris Jones introduced a report which sought agreement from the Cabinet to progress Public Health’s proposed commissioning intentions for 2017/18.  The Cabinet was informed that the proposals in the report linked to the delivery of the Wirral Plan 2020 and the statutory responsibilities of the local authority in respect of public health. 

The proposed actions detailed in the report affected all of the Wards in the Borough and were, therefore, key decisions. 

Appended to the report were Public Health contracts by provider 2017/18 (including commissioning intentions). The Cabinet noted that the current expenditure in respect of Public Health Contractual Investments 2017/18 amounted to £20,263,715.  Councillor Phil Davies informed that this was a huge investment but it was important to meet the Council’s pledges around health and quality of life.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the contents of the report be noted and the schedule of commissioning and contracting activities as set out in table 2 and Appendix 1 of the report be agreed;

(2)  provision be made to meet contracts totalling £1,530,000 (£306,000 per annum) for the provision and delivery of the National NHS Healthchecks programme, for a 5 year contract (2018-23);

(3)  provision be made to meet contracts totalling £685,000 (£137,000 per annum) for an initial 3 year contract (2017-20) with the option of two one-year extensions for the delivery of Third Sector Infrastructure and Support services; and

(4)  provision be made to meet contracts totalling £1,000,000 (£200,000 per annum) for an initial three year contract (2018-21) with the option of two one-year extensions for the delivery of Weight Management services. 

Councillor Angela Davies returned to the meeting.