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.

The Director of Law, H.R. and Asset Management reported that none of the decisions from the previous meeting, held on 28 May, had been called in.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 May 2009 be approved and adopted.

The members of the Cabinet are invited to consider whether they have a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any of the items on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

The members of the Cabinet were invited to consider whether they had a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any of the items on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest. No declarations were made.

Councillors S Foulkes, P Davies, G Davies, M McLaughlin, J Stapleton and S Holbrook, each declared a personal interest in respect of minute 35 (Early Years Entitlement and Funding Update) by virtue of them being school governors.

Councillor S Foulkes, P Davies, and J Stapleton each declared a prejudicial interest in respect of minute 36 (Inspiring Communities) by virtue of their membership of the Together Neighbourhood Management Project

The Leader of the Council indicated that it was his intention to vary the order of business for the Cabinet in order to consider item 8 (Hospital Discharge Review Report) as the first item on the agenda.

Further to minute 76 (Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 25/3/09) the Hospital Discharge Review Report has been referred to Cabinet for information. 

Further to minute 76 (Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 25/3/09) Councillor Ann Bridson presented the final report of the Hospital Discharge Scrutiny Review Panel. The panel, consisting of Councillors Ann Bridson, Sheila Clarke and Denise Roberts plus Sandra Wall (Older People’s Parliament), had focused on an assessment of the ‘patient experience’ of people aged sixty and over. A variety of methods had been employed to gather evidence, at all times recognising the importance of patient confidentiality, and NHS Wirral had funded the professional research.

The report contained 15 recommendations which had been accepted by the Wirral University Teaching Hospital, Wirral NHS (PCT) and the department of Adult Social Services.  Further reports would be presented to future meetings of the overview and scrutiny committee to ensure that the proposed actions had been taken.

Councillor Bridson referred to the contributions to the report made by the review panel, Alan Veitch (Scrutiny Officer), partner agencies, and patients.  She also referred to the cost implications associated with this detailed research and asked Cabinet to consider the provision of additional funding for future scrutiny projects.

Councillor McLaughlin, portfolio holder, thanked the authors of the report for this detailed piece of work which highlighted areas for improvement to improve the experience of patients and their carers following admission to hospital and subsequent discharge.

The Leader endorsed these comments.

On a motion by Councillor McLaughlin duly seconded it was:

Resolved – That:

Cabinet welcomes the Hospital Discharge Review Report referred to Cabinet from the Social Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 March 2009. This is a helpful and comprehensive piece of work which is of benefit to people in Wirral, will contribute to improving services to all and will help in achieving one of strategic objectives of Wirral’s corporate Plan, “to improve health and well being for all, ensuring that people who require support are full participants in mainstream society”.

Cabinet commends the approach taken by the overview and scrutiny committee and particularly welcomes their partnership approach with Wirral’s older People’s Parliament.

The findings of the report have been accepted by all involved, together with an agreed Action Plan, and Cabinet expects to see that support continue to deliver on those actions, as agreed.

Noting that the Action Plan was updated and received at the Health and Well being Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2009, Cabinet asks that the Committee continues to monitor developments and hold senior managers and Cabinet accountable for the delivery of the agreed actions.

Further to minute 394 (19 March 2009), the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services provided a summary update on the impact of the current recession on Wirral’s economy and identified the steps taken by the Council to support Wirral residents and businesses in the current situation

Resolved –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the Invest Wirral Team be thanked for their efforts in supporting Wirral businesses to mitigate the economic recession.

The Director of Children’s Services presented a report covering four distinct areas of Early Years provision:

(a) Changes relating to the provision of free early education for all eligible 3 and 4 year olds and agreement for funds to be allocated in support of these changes.

(b)  Proposals to change the method of calculating early education funding and the development of a Single Formula Funding for early years provision in schools and the private, voluntary and independent sectors (hereafter referred to as “settings”).

(c)  An early pilot to offer free early education places to eligible 2 year olds.

(d)  Applications for funding, allocated to settings under the Early Years Quality and Access Capital Grant, as first agreed on 23rd April 2009.

Resolved – That

(1)  Cabinet agrees the changes proposed in the provision of early education to all eligible 3 and 4 year olds and the group of providers selected for the pilot extension.

(2)  The allocation of £100,000 for flexibility incentives be made to up to 10 schools and settings who are able to pilot changes and deliver an extended offer to eligible 3 and 4 year olds.

(3)  Proposals for Single Formula Funding to be brought to Cabinet at a later date as a recommendation from the Schools Forum.

(4)  Cabinet agrees the proposals for the pilot programme for 2 year olds.

(5)  The Capital Grants set out in Appendix 2 and proposals for spend in 2009/ 2010 be approved

The Director of Children’s Services reported concerning new government guidance on Children’s Trusts relating to inter-agency cooperation to improve well-being of children, young people and their families. In response to the guidance and self review by the partnership it was proposed that Wirral Children’s Trust partnership arrangements be amended.

Wirral Children’s Trust brought together the partner organisations responsible for services for children, young people and families in a shared commitment to improving children’s lives, and it was led through the Director of Children’s Services and the Lead Member for Children’s Services. The proposed new trust arrangements amended the structure of the trust with the formation of a Children’s Trust Board and a Children’s Trust Executive to replace the current Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership and Management Boards respectively (Appendix 1).

Resolved –

(1) That the new Children’s Trust guidance be noted.

(2)  That Cabinet approve the proposed Wirral Children’s Trust Memorandum of Understanding.

(3)  That a further report be submitted to Cabinet as the national proposals move to a statutory basis in law.

(Councillors S Foulkes, P Davies and J Stapleton, having declared prejudicial interests in this item (see minute 32) left the room during its consideration).

 The Director of Children’s Services presented a report outlining the competitive bidding process for Inspiring Communities programme funding.

He reported that Wirral had been invited to bid into this competitive process and apply for up to £450,000 of  neighbourhood funding.  Three bids were submitted for consideration,  Millennium Training and Education Centre (MTEC LTD), Hair Training and Education Centre (HTEC LTD), Leasowe Women’s Centre (LWC) on behalf of Birkenhead, Tranmere and Leasowe (Appendix A), Leasowe Community Homes (Appendix B), and Together Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder, (Appendix C).  Together Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder was identified as the body to submit the preferred bid working in partnership with the Children and Young Peoples Department. 

The bids were scored by the Children and Young People’s Department.  The methodology, criteria, bids, judgements and scoring were shared with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Lifelong Learning, the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Agreement had been reached with all three bidders for further discussions to take place about areas for development in preparation for any future opportunities to bid and for joint working opportunities

Resolved - That

(1)  The bid produced by Together Management Pathfinder and its partnership group be endorsed as Wirral’s preferred bid.

(2)  Officers continue to work with unsuccessful bidders with a view to developing proposals for a possible future round.

The Director of Regeneration submitted a report seeking Cabinet’s approval to:

(i)  Wirral’s Housing Market Renewal Programme for 2009-10, subject to the completion of a Deed of Variation between Newheartlands and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to secure funding for 2009 -10.

(ii) delegate authority for programme management and delivery to the Director of Regeneration, the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services and the Director of Law, Asset Management and HR.

Resolved - That:

(1)  Subject to the DCLG/Newheartlands Deed of Variation being completed under delegated authority by the Director of Law, Asset Management and HR, the Housing Market Renewal Programme 2009-10 for Wirral, as summarised in the table below and in Appendix 1, be agreed.

HMRI Funding to be allocated:  £’000

Birkenhead Clearance  1,760

Rock Ferry Clearance    800

Tranmere Clearance  1,700

Wallasey Clearance    100

Strategic Site Assembly    650

Private Sector Home Improvements    915

Living Through Change  1,190

Staffing and Resources  1,625

Relocation Loans    150

New Build Schemes    0

(2)  Cabinet delegates authority for programme management and delivery to the Director of Regeneration, the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services and the Director of Law, Asset Management and HR with future progress reports being presented to Cabinet and Scrutiny Committees as appropriate.

The Deputy Chief Executive/ Director of Corporate Services reported upon proposals for the allocation of government grant of £6,332,389 to the Mersey Heartlands Partnership for the years 2009/10 (£2,466,176) and 2010/11 (£3,866,213 subject to Parliamentary approval).

The funding would be used to help deliver additional homes before 2016/17 and in Wirral it was focused on Wirral Waters and the surrounding Housing Market Renewal Initiative Area.  Direct housing provision was limited in the current economic climate and Wirral’s projects aimed to support new homebuyers in the HMRI area, strategic acquisitions and the planning of infrastructure to put in place the conditions for new development when the market improved.

Cabinet was asked to agree (i) the allocation of grant between Liverpool City Council and Wirral Council in the proportion 60:40, reflecting the relative population of the City and Wirral, and; (ii) an allocation of £150,000 revenue funding to Peel Holdings (a capital funding allocation of £150,000 is to be made by the City Council).

Cabinet was also asked to agree the prioritisation of projects set out in the Appendix to the report, recognising that re-prioritisation might occur.  These projects would also to be incorporated within relevant Council revenue or capital programmes.

Resolved –

(1)  That Cabinet agree the distribution of New Growth Point Grant allocation at a ratio of 60:40 between Liverpool City Council and Wirral Council respectively.

(2)  That Cabinet agrees an allocation of £150,000 revenue funding to Peel Holdings, £60,000 in year 2009/10 and £90,000 in year 2010/11 (the latter subject to CLG confirmation) and note that Liverpool City Council is to make an allocation of £150,000 capital funding from year 2009/10.

(3)  That Cabinet agrees the prioritisation of projects as set out in this report, subject to variation due to re-prioritisation within Liverpool or Wirral being delegated to the Steering Group and that re-prioritisation is reported to the next available meetings of the Executive Group and Wirral Cabinet.

(4)  That Cabinet agrees that Wirral projects will be incorporated within the relevant Council revenue or capital programmes.

Report to be circulated separately.

A full review of the financial accounts for 2008-09 had been completed and the Director of Finance submitted a report which provided an overall comparison of the out-turn to the estimate for 2008/09, an analysis of major variations, and details of the reserves and provisions.

Resolved –

(1)  That the revenue out-turn for 2008/09 be agreed.

(2)  That the provisions and reserves be agreed.

The Director of Finance submitted a report which informed Cabinet of the capital out-turn for 2008/09 and the resources used to fund the programme. Under Part IV of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Authority was required to make a number of formal Determinations in respect of its capital expenditure and financing and the Director’s report included those for the 2008/09 financial year.

Resolved –

(1)  That the actions regarding the progress in delivering the programme and the slippage from 2008/09 to 2009/10 be agreed.

(2)  That the capital out-turn and financing for 2008/09 be agreed.

(3)  That the formal Capital Determinations be agreed.

The Director of Finance submitted a report which detailed the collection of Council Tax, Business Rates, Sundry Debtors and Housing Act Advances.  It highlighted key collection indicators and trends with regard to irrecoverable sums and requests approval to write off debts in excess of delegation.

Resolved –

(1)  That the collection summary for 2008-09 be agreed.

(2)  That the irrecoverable sums totalling £72,265.31 be approved for write off.

Report to be circulated separately.

The Director of Finance submitted a report seeking approval of the submission of the Value for Money Gains National Indicator 179 (NI179) which is required to be with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) by 24 July 2009.

Resolved -  

(1)  That the Value for Money Gains National Indicator 179 submission be approved.

(2)  That the Director of Finance be authorised to make any amendments to include information received from Merseytravel and the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority prior to submission.

(3)  That a further report be brought to Cabinet on the 2009/10 NI 179 estimate  which will be due for submission in October 2009.

The Director of Finance submitted a report which provided an overview of Treasury Management activity in 2008/09 and confirmed compliance with treasury limits and Prudential Indicators. It had been prepared in accordance with the CIPFA Treasury Management Code and the Prudential Code.

Resolved –

(1)  That the Treasury Management Annual Report be agreed.

(2)  That the benefits from improved cash flow management which realised savings/additional income of £3.4m in 2008/09 be noted.

(3)  That the transfer of the 2008/09 allocation of MRP to reserves be agreed.

The Director of Finance submitted a report which provided a review of the Risk and Insurance activity during 2008/09 and the plans for 2009/10. It also detailed the current status of the liability, fire and motor claims fund and the impact of measures taken to improve the management of risk.

Resolved -

(1)  That the transfer of £2,106,000 to the General Fund balance be agreed.

(2)  That regular updates on the progress in Insurance and Risk Management be presented to the Audit & Risk Management Committee.

(3)  That the Insurance Fund budget for 2010/11 be presented to Cabinet in November 2009.

The Director of Finance submitted a report which informed Cabinet of the cost of funding the Early Voluntary Retirement Scheme in 2008/09.

Resolved – That the cost of funding early retirements be noted.

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.

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 Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services reported upon applications for financial assistance from two local companies to assist towards their business expansion projects, including details of the individual applications, project costs, financial appraisals, and conditions attached to the award of grant.

Resolved –

(1)  That the applications for financial assistance, as outlined by the Director, be approved.

(2)  That Think Big Investment Fund grants of the amounts recommended in the reports be provided to these companies, subject to the conditions attached to the award of grant.

The Director of Regeneration submitted an update report on the progress made with the renegotiation of Supporting People contracts, and seeking approval to the award of new contracts. 

Resolved – That Cabinet approve the award of contracts, as set out in Appendix One to the Director’s report.

The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services presented a report which provided an overview of the Future Jobs Fund, a joint Department of Work & Pensions and Department of Communities and Local Government initiative to support the creation of 150,000 new jobs nationally over the next two years. Cabinet was asked to:

(a)  agree a delivery model, and;

(b)  the number and the type of the opportunities to be supported by the programme.

It was also proposed that Working Wirral funding be used to support the Wirral element of a Liverpool City Region bid to the Future Jobs Fund.

Resolved (unanimously) –

(1)  That Cabinet authorise officers to continue to work up proposals and note the current position in relation to the Future Jobs Fund particularly:

(i)  Support the Liverpool City Region bid in principle to deliver Future Jobs Fund across the sub-region;

(ii)  Support Option A as the preferred delivery model for the reasons outlined in the report;

(iii)  Support the number and type of employment opportunities across the Council departments as outlined in the report;

(iv)  Authorise the use of Working Wirral monies to provide match funding for the project for the maximum figure identified within section 5.

(2)  That call-in on this matter be waived and the Council be advised accordingly.

Report to be circulated separately following the meeting of the tender evaluation panel.

The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services submitted a report which provided an update on the procurement process for the tender of the Merseyside Information Service (MIS) contract. 

Resolved – That Cabinet agree the recommendations of the report in principle and authorise the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management, and the party leaders, to:

(1)  progress the award of the contract in accordance with the council’s procurement guidelines and tenders submitted under OJEU procedure which would run from 1st August 2009 until 31st July 2012 with provision for a 12 month extension.

(2)  progress the contract subject to an inter agency agreement being put in place between Wirral Council and the seven subscribing members of MIS.