Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services.

Councillor Phil Davies informed that the Floral Pavilion had hosted a major national conference that day, as part of the International Festival for Business taking place throughout June and July.  He had been in attendance and reported that business delegates were addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg and the Business Secretary, Vince Cable. This show cased Wirral and the City Region.  He thanked the Officers who had organised the event which had raised the profile of Wirral.  It had been a very prestigious event and it had been a real coup to have it taking place in Wirral.

Councillor Phil Davies informed that there would be a Special Cabinet meeting on 4 September 2014 to consider the outcome of the consultation on the proposal to close the Lyndale School.

Councillor Ann McLachlan was delighted to announce that the Council had been successful in obtaining the North West Employers’ Organisation’s Charter for Elected Member Development.  Members would receive the award at a celebration event scheduled for the autumn.  This had been a significant part of the Council’s improvement journey.  It had been awarded this Charter a few years ago but had let it lapse.  The Organisation Development Team had carried out significant work to help achieve the Charter and there was now an appropriate programme of Members’ training in place.  The Team and Elected Members’ were now working flat out towards achieving level 2.  Councillor McLachlan thanked everyone who had been involved in this achievement.

Councillor Phil Davies added his congratulations to all concerned.

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.

Councillor G Davies declared a non pecuniary interest in Item No. 14 on the agenda – Wirral Council and Magenta Living – Community Fund by virtue of him representing the Council and negotiating funding from Magenta Living. (Minute No. 16 refers.)

Councillor S Wittingham declared a pecuniary interest in Item No. 14 on the agenda – Wirral Council and Magenta Living – Community Fund by virtue of his appointment to the Magenta Living Management Board.  He indicated that he would leave the room whilst this item of business was under consideration.  (Minute No. 16 refers.)

Councillor P Hackett declared a pecuniary interest in Item No. 12 on the agenda – Alexander Hall, Rocky Lane, Heswall by virtue of his employment as his employer was involved with the asset transfer. He indicated that he would take no part in the discussion on this item of business. (Minute No. 14 refers.)

Councillor P Davies declared a non pecuniary interest in item No. 3 on the agenda – Day Nursery Provision by virtue of him being a governor of St Werburgh’s Catholic Primary School. (Minute No. 5 refers.)

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.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13^th March be approved as a correct record. 

A report by the Director of Children’s Services updated Members on the position regarding savings to day nursery provision of £772,000 – agreed as part of the Council’s budget options. 

The Director of Children’s Service was in attendance at the meeting and requested that the Cabinet only have regard to the proposal in the report regarding the day nursery at the New Brighton setting becoming a Social Enterprise model of delivery in partnership with New Brighton Day Nursery Ltd.  She proposed that the other proposals be put on hold for the time being and be the subject of a future report to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  Cabinet approves and agrees to the New Brighton Day Nursery provision detailed within the report being transferred, subject to all requisite Council conditions/requirements being met, to New Brighton Day Nursery Ltd, a separate legal entity established as a social enterprise model, under a five year contract with a target transfer date of 1 September 2014;

(2)  the Director of Children’s Services together with the Head of Legal and Member Services be authorised to agree all necessary terms and make all appropriate arrangements, including the completion of  all requisite legal documentation, as appropriate and necessary to give effect to (1) above; and

(3)  the Cabinet agrees that the other matters detailed in the report be deferred to a future meeting.

Councillor Phil Davies introduced a report by the Chief Executive provided the Cabinet with an update on the progress of the Future Council project, and an outline of the emerging budget options which were coming out of the project, along with the principles upon which these options had been developed. 

The emerging options would be further developed and then published by the Chief Executive, as officer budget options, for full public, staff and service user consideration in September 2014. 

The appendices provided with the report, together with a summary of the universal, cross cutting budget options which were also in development, were also in the process of being discussed by all four Policy and Performance Committees, in accordance with the Cabinet recommendation from April 2014.  (Minute No. 187 refers.)

Councillor Phil Davies informed that as the Government continued to make significant cuts particularly to local authorities in the north, the Council had no option but to look at new delivery models.  The Council had to provide good quality services as effectively as possible.  A thorough review of all 81 Council Services was underway.  A clear process and timetable had been mapped out and there would be a very detailed consultation plan with all stakeholders.  This was a key priority for the Council over the next year.

The Chief Executive reported that the Future Council Programme was an alternative to the slash and burn approach that had previously adopted.  There would be some hard choices to make.  Options would be presented to the Cabinet in an attempt to reduce layers of management to avoid cuts to front line services.  This was a much more structured approach.

Councillor Phil Davies made the point that in an ideal world the Cabinet would not want to do any of this.  Unfortunately, a Conservative led Government was discriminating against northern local authorities.  This was where the responsibility lay and if the current level of cuts continued he considered that there would be little left of local government by 2020.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the principles described within the Position Papers upon which budget options and investment proposals are being developed be noted; and

(2)  the Cabinet accepts the need to proceed with the remodelling work under the Future Council initiative, but agrees to express our grave concern with further cuts by the Tory-led government to this Council’s budget, requiring additional savings of at least £45m over the next two years. This comes on top of the £109m cuts over the past three years. Cabinet agrees to write to our four Wirral MPs asking them to lobby relevant ministers to reverse these damaging cuts.

National Non Domestic Rates were the contribution to Council’s income from non domestic properties.  Sums payable were set by nationally set rate poundages against each property value.  This system had been in place since 1990. 

Councillor Phil Davies introduced a report by the Head of Business Processes that sought approval to amend the Authority’s current discretionary rates relief policy to adopt additional criteria as set out in the government’s guidance to its Non Domestic Rates Reoccupation Relief for it to be appropriately rewarded in 2014/15 and 2015/16, the period in which it would be fully funded by central government.  The updated policy was set out in Appendix 1.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the Authority’s Discretionary Rates Relief policy be extended to include eligibility for Retail Reoccupation Relief and will adopt the eligibility criteria as set out by the Government and award this relief in 2015/6; and

(2)  the updated policy, attached to the report at Appendix 1 be approved for use for 2014/15 and later years until amended including Retail Reoccupation Relief criteria. 

At its meeting on 14 April, 2014, the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee (minute 36 refers) considered a report from the Head of Business Processes on the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme 2014/15 and Future Support Options. As part of its resolution, the Committee made a recommendation to Cabinet which the Cabinet is asked to consider.

The minute and report are attached.

At its meeting on 14 April, 2014, the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee considered a report by the Head of Business Processes on the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme 2014/15 and Future Support Options. As part of its resolution, the Committee made a recommendation to Cabinet which the Cabinet was asked to consider. (Minute No. 36 refers)

The Committee had resolved:

‘(1)  That this Committee sets up a Task and Finish Group to examine future options for the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme as a potential piece of work in the new municipal year recognising that the timing of this is critical.

(2)  That this Committee recommends to Cabinet the establishment of a reserve to include the unspent grant funding so the Authority could review spending on welfare assistance and that it would be disheartened to see this unspent funding subsumed into general reserves rather than go towards extending the lifetime of the LWA scheme.

(3)  That the Chief Executive be asked to write to the appropriate Government Minister and request that the Government rethink its position on this grant funding for 2015/16 and beyond.’ 

The Cabinet had approved the updating of Wirral’s local discretionary support scheme “Local Welfare Assistance on 24 January 2013 and a small number of specific scheme amendments for 2014/15 had been made.  The background to the scheme and those changes had been set out in the March Cabinet report. 

The specific grant funding was only available for 2014/15 and would not be available thereafter.  A Local Authority had no statutory requirement to have a scheme and locally specified its own scheme.  The Cabinet Members were asked to consider if they wished to propose options for going forward given the short term period now available with this grant. 

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet agrees the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee’s recommendations as set out above.

Emma Degg, Head of Neighbourhoods and Engagement, will give a presentation on this item.

The Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment and the Corporate Marketing Officer made a joint presentation to the Cabinet on driving Inward Investment through marketing Wirral.  The key messages were as follows:

·  Thinking Big and focussing on the future

·  There’s a perfect storm of HUGE opportunities

·  We are the ONLY CENTRE for offshore renewable energy on the UK west coast

·  95% of ALL UK CAR PRODUCTION takes place within a 3 hour drive

·  The ITC will be THE HUB of International business in the UK and Western Europe

·  Major funding, £15 MILLION, to support businesses moving into renewable energies

·  We told business to ‘THINK BIG’ – we did and we have delivered

·  WIRRAL READY NOW

·  A message TAILORED specifically for businesses in our key sectors

·  A new website, using CUTTING EDGE technology

·  A whole new approach to SOCIAL MEDIA – building relationships

·  That is a VERY DIFFERENT type of marketing campaign

·  Wherever OUR TARGETS will be, so will we

·  High end, INTERACTIVE tools to drive home our message

·  Top quality print, leaving a LASTING impression

·  Investwirral.com

Following the presentation Members’ questions were answered as appropriate.

Councillor Phil Davies informed the Cabinet that the need for better career’s advice in schools had been discussed at the major national conference that had been held that day at the Floral Pavilion.  (Minute No. 2 refers.)  The more that the Council could encourage businesses to visit schools and make pupils aware of the opportunities that exist the better.  The skills agenda had been given a lot of attention by the Government Ministers today.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment and the Corporate Marketing Officer be thanked for their informative presentation; and

(2)  everyone be encouraged to visit the striking website.

Councillor Chris Jones introduced a report by the Director of Adult Social Services reminded the Cabinet that on 14 March it had agreed the following recommendations:

1.  Agree to the establishment of a Wirral Local Authority Trading Company (LATC) model.

2.  Agree for officers to progress the development of the Co-Design Project Group with key stakeholders including staff and parents/carers.

3.  Agree to a further progress report in June 2014 that will include the full project plan and implementation timetable.

The report also brought forward the Strategic Business Case, Implementation and Project Plans and a report in relation to the Due Diligence undertaken.  The Cabinet was provided with an update on progress in relation to recommendation 3, the development of the Co-Design Project Group. 

The Families and Wellbeing Directorate, Department of Adult Social Services (DASS) had identified that there may be a significant opportunity to improve outcomes, achieve efficiencies and create sustainability of service provision by implementing a new approach to delivering its Day Services for people with a learning disability.  With a continued national focus on personalised services and, more specifically, offering more choice through Direct Payments, the Council needed to ensure the sustainability of a range of services within this changing environment.  Moreover, personalisation was driving councils to become commissioners rather than providers of services and the Council needed to consider a delivery model that would strategically meet this impetus. 

Appendices to this report contained exempt information and were included in Part 2 of the Agenda at Item No. 19.  (Minute No. 20 refers.)

RESOLVED: That

(1)  more detailed work is required on some of the financial implications to the Council including the potential savings, business rates and VAT implications. At this stage the business case demonstrates a clear rationale for the establishment of a Local Authority Trading Company that will deliver sustainable services whilst meeting MTP savings. This will be subject to a robust challenge process;

(2)   consideration be given to the potential to include other services to generate greater revenue and deliver services more innovatively; and

(3)   subject to satisfactory outcomes, approved by the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Governance, Commissioning and Improvement and Chief Executive, in relation to the detailed financial and governance implications, it be recommended that:

(a)the Council approves the formation of a Local Authority Trading Company;

(b)the Council agrees to the transfer Day Services and Daytime opportunities into the Local Authority Trading Company and then further defines the Company’s strategic ambitions to plan to move towards an expanded commercial scope;

(c) the Council considers its Council-wide strategic approach and aligns appropriate other work to maximise the benefits of an expanded scope;

(d)an implementation programme is established to oversee the transition of services to the new Local Authority Trading Company;

(e) the Cabinet receives regular updates on progression commencing in mid-September; and

(f)  the business case for transferring Day Services to a Local Authority Trading Company be presented to the Cabinet for final approval after the conclusion of the challenge process.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Councillor Adrian Jones introduced a report by the Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Universal and Infrastructure Services which provided the Cabinet with a strategy document that had been developed to guide the Council’s future strategic property decisions and to inform the more detailed asset management strategies of Council Services. 

The Strategic Asset Management Plan set out details of key asset priorities and the implementation plan to deliver those priorities from 2014-2017.

The Cabinet noted that the Plan would be supplemented by detailed and specific strategies, which would be published separately and monitored in line with local and national benchmarking. 

RESOLVED: That

(1)  Cabinet approves the new Council Strategic Asset Management Plan 2014-2017; and

(2)  the Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Universal and Infrastructure Services, Head of Facilities Management Service and their team be congratulated on the strategy document that they have produced.

Councillor Adrian Jones introduced a report by the Head of Universal and Infrastructure Services that informed that the Wirral Borough Council (Grange Road, Birkenhead) Compulsory Purchase Order 2008 (CPO) had been confirmed with modifications by the Secretary of State on 28 July 2008 and all outstanding legal interests had been vested in the Council on 8 December 2009.

The Council had invoked its compulsory purchase powers in support of a private sector redevelopment to facilitate the new Asda supermarket fronting Grange Road, Birkenhead. 

The Cabinet was informed that there was an outstanding claim following the making of the CPO, which related to the relocation of B & M Retail Limited from 238 Grange Road to 117-127 Claughton Road.  This was a disturbance claim relating to relocation costs and alleged permanent loss of profits as a consequence of the move.  This claim was due to be considered by the Upper Tribunal (formerly the Lands Tribunal) following B & M’s application to the Tribunal for the matter to be determined at Tribunal. 

RESOLVED: That:

(1)  the Cabinet authorises the Director of Universal and Infrastructure Services to appoint appropriate Counsel and an expert witness (or expert witnesses) and a mediator if necessary to represent the Council at the Upper Tribunal as an exception to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules;

(2)  the Director of Universal and Infrastructure Services, or his representative, be authorised to negotiate and settle any compensation payment arising from B&M’s application to the Upper Tribunal; and

(3)  it be noted that any costs associated with the application to the Upper Tribunal on this matter, including any compensation payments payable to the B & M, will be met by Pochin.

Councillor Adrian Jones introduced a report by the Head of Universal and Infrastructure Services that sought authority to dispose of the freehold interest of three industrial units on Tarran Way West, Tarran Industrial Estate, Moreton to the current lessee.

The Cabinet was informed that units 1 to 3 Tarran Way West comprised of three 2,000 sq ft interconnecting industrial units on the Tarran Industrial Estate, Moreton.  The three units were held on a nine year lease from 1 February 2007 to M Rogers trading as A1 Autocare at an annual rent of £28,500 per annum.  Under the terms of the lease, the tenant was responsible for all internal and external repairs and insuring the units.  The lease included a break clause to enable the tenant to terminate the lease on serving six months notice at any time.  M Rogers had been a tenant of unit 1 since 1993.

The lessee had enquired about purchasing the freehold interest of the three industrial units.  Negotiations had taken place and a figure of £270,000 plus fees had provisionally been agreed for the freehold.  These were the only industrial units on the Tarran Industrial Estate owned by the Council although approximately one quarter of the estate was owned by it on 99 year ground leases.  The Cabinet was told that if the Council retained the units there was a risk the tenant could serve six months notice to terminate the lease and the Council could be left with three vacant industrial units.  Due to the layout of the communal access road, units and rear yard, the units could be difficult to re-let individually.

RESOLVED:

That the freehold of Units 1-3 Tarran Way West, Tarran Industrial Estate, Moreton be sold on the terms set out in the report.

Councillor Adrian Jones introduced a report by the Head of Universal and Infrastructure Services that sought authority to dispose of Alexander Hall, Rocky Lane, Heswall.

The Cabinet, at its meeting on 15 January 2009 had identified a number of facilities, including Alexander Hall, which should be transferred to community management, where the community expressed an interest. 

Alexander Hall was a timber, pre-fabricated building, which had been constructed in the 1960s and had been used as a community hall until recently.  The type of construction meant it had a limited life and this had been endorsed by an independent survey. 

The Cabinet noted that Alexander Hall, along with the nearby Heswall Hall, had been advertised as available for community management in accordance with the Council’s Community Asset Transfer policy.  A selection process had identified a group representing the existing users of the Halls, who organised themselves to form the Heswall Halls Steering Group, who developed a proposal involving both halls, which was approved by the Cabinet on 14 October 2010.  The steering group then became the Heswall Hall Community Trust (HHCT).  Its proposal aimed to take over facilities which, at that time, generated significant losses and to operate them in such a way as to generate a profit.  On this basis, the group’s proposal revolved around developing Heswall Hall as the main focus of community activities and to gradually relocate users of Alexander Hall to Heswall Hall.  This proposal only required the group’s use of Alexander Hall for a short time and was transferred to them on a three year lease, which could be terminated by the group as and when the facility was no longer required.  The group successfully relocated activities to Heswall Hall in a much shorter time and handed Alexander Hall back to the Council in December 2011. 

As part of the process of transferring Heswall and Alexander Halls, the Heswall Hall Community Trust made it clear that it viewed Alexander Hall as an important community facility and that any receipt for a future sale should, in some way, be made available to fund community facilities in the locality.  Members therefore had agreed that the transfer of Heswall Hall should include provision for the Trust to be able to apply for a portion of a receipt generated by the future sale of Alexander Hall, to fund future community based projects at Heswall Hall.  A legal agreement set out the basis of determining the money available to the Trust, which in essence reflected a share of the proceeds of sale, less monies spent by the Council from its repair and maintenance budget on the refurbishment of Heswall Hall.  The amount available to the Trust was capped and the maximum figure which it could apply for was in the region of £25,100.

Alexander Hall was now vacant and unused and, due to its construction and condition was deemed unsuitable for any long-term uses.  This background has been previously reported to the Portfolio Holder for Central and Support Services and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Councillor Chris Meaden introduced a report by the Head of Business Processes that detailed the current situation with regard to Wirral’s Library network with specific regard to its smaller Community Library sites.  The financial pressures facing the Council meant it was necessary to review all its services.  The Cabinet was informed that in respect of Libraries, a number of other authorities had reduced their library network due to this ongoing loss in funding.  To mitigate such impacts on libraries, Councils had the option to engage with local community groups where there was an interest in voluntarily running part or all of a library site which may be preferable to total loss.  The report detailed a method of dealing with this as a community right to run proposal and sought the Cabinet’s direction for it to be progressed. 

Councillor Meaden thanked all of the Library and One Stop Shop staff for all of the help they had given.

Councillor Phil Davies referred to what he considered as irresponsible reporting in the press this week.  It had been claimed that Libraries were being closed when this was not the case.  He informed that the Council was facing challenging circumstances brought about by a Government that did not care about local services.  The Council was aware that there were community groups that were interested in running community facilities and so it was taking advantage of this.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet agrees to allow Officers to engage in discussion with local groups regarding the degree of involvement in supporting the running of community libraries and report back to it with their findings and proposals for how this may be taken forward. 

Councillor Stuart Whittingham left the room whilst the next item of business was under discussion.

Councillor George Davies introduced a report by the Director of Resources that updated the Cabinet on the Community Fund which was administered by Magenta Living (formerly Wirral Partnership Homes).  It sought agreement for the release of the Environmental Warranties set-aside within the Fund so that the sum was available for distribution in accord with the operation of the Fund. The liability for any environmental claims, which was considered a low risk, then rested with the Council for which provision had been made within the Council’s Insurance Fund. 

A report to Cabinet on 23 September 2010 had provided a comprehensive overview of the management arrangements for the Fund which had been established as a consequence of the transfer of the bulk of the Council housing stock to WPH (now Magenta) in February 2005.  The Cabinet was informed that subsequent updates had amended the Council representation in managing the Fund and endorsed the representatives to authorise, on behalf of the Council, the release of money from the Fund. 

RESOLVED: That:

(1)  the Council position regarding Environmental Warranties be acknowledged and the release of the set-aside in the Community Fund be confirmed;

(2)  the liability of the Council in respect of Environmental Warranties be recognised with provision for this liability made within the Council’s Insurance Fund;

(3)  the availability of Community Fund Grant support of £1.5 million for 2014/15 to finance the services identified in Section 7.4 of the report be noted; and

(4)  having regard to the financial position of the Community Fund the services supported by the Fund in 2014/15, it be noted that these services are potential growth in the Budget Projections for 2015/16.

Councillor Stuart Whittingham returned to the meeting.

Following consideration of the Notice of Motion, ‘No to Nuisance Calls’ (referred from Council on 10 March, 2014) by the Regeneration and Environment Committee (minute 46 (9 April 2014) refers) the Cabinet is requested to consider the final part of the Committee’s resolution which reads, ‘That the Cabinet be requested to write to local MPs, encouraging them to support the Private Members’ Communications (Unsolicited Telephone Calls and Texts) Bill.’

The minute of the Regeneration and Environment Committee is attached.

The Cabinet was informed of the resolutions made, following consideration of the Notice of Motion ‘No to Nuisance Calls’ (referred from Council on 10 March, 2014) to the Regeneration and Environment Committee (Minute No. 46 refers), as follows:

‘Resolved –

(1)  That the ‘No to Nuisance Calls’ campaign be supported, and appropriate steps be taken to promote the campaign via the Trading Standards service and through publicity in libraries and other public buildings.

(2)  That the report of the Trading Standards Strategic Manager be noted.

(3)  That the proposal of the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment to promote cross Departmental working be supported.

(4)  That the Committee to be appointed for 2014/2015 be asked to consider how best to address the problem.

(5)  That the Cabinet be requested to write to local MPs, encouraging them to support the Private Members’ Communications (Unsolicited Telephone Calls and Texts) Bill.’

RESOLVED:

That a letter be sent to local MPs, encouraging them to support the Private Members’ Communications (Unsolicited Telephone Calls and Texts) Bill.

The Freedom of Information Scrutiny Review has been referred to the Cabinet by the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee at its meeting on 14 April, 2014.

Attached are the minute, report and Scrutiny Review.

The Freedom of Information Scrutiny Review was referred to Cabinet by the Transformation and Resources Policy and Performance Committee at its meeting on 14 April, 2014. 

Councillor Adam Sykes was in attendance at the meeting and introduced the report on the findings and recommendations of the Freedom of Information Scrutiny Review which had been undertaken by three members of the Committee, Councillors Christina Muspratt, Adam Sykes and Stuart Whittingham.

The Cabinet noted that the Review Panel’s report contained eight recommendations which it believed should assist the Council in managing its requirements to meet the Freedom of Information Act and also to become a more open and transparent Council.

Councillor Adam Sykes reported that the Council’s Freedom of Information response times had improved and were now at 85% and within the guidelines.

Councillor Ann McLachlan congratulated Councillors Sykes, Muspratt and Whittingham on the Freedom of Information Scrutiny Review and the Final Report and informed that she considered it to be an excellent piece of Task and Finish work.  There were eight recommendations flowing from it and an action plan had been drawn up which would be implemented between now and December 2014 and there would be a single point of contact for FOIs within Departments.  Timescales would be shortened and consideration would be given to how all FOI information was captured before it was disseminated.  If new computer software was required a business case for it would be produced.  The position with FOI would be regularly reported to the Chief Executive’s Strategy Group and to Policy and Performance Committees.  It was also intended to include frequently asked questions on the Council’s website.

Councillor McLachlan also informed that a further piece of work would be carried out by the Council’s Marketing Team to establish how accessible the information was on the website.

All in all this had demonstrated that Members working together could identify shared solutions that would assist the Council in a structured way.

Councillor Adam Sykes thanked the Cabinet Member for the way it had been decided to take FOIs forward.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  the report of the Scrutiny Panel be noted;

(2)  Councillors Christina Muspratt, Adam Sykes and Stuart Whittingham be thanked for their hard work on the FOI Scrutiny Review; and

(3)  the Head of Legal and Member Services and his Team be thanked for their contributions.

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.

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.

Appendices D, F and G to agenda item 8.

Exempt by virtue of paragraph 3 as they contain commercially sensitive information.

Cabinet noted the contents of the exempt appendices to Minute No. 10.