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, HR and Asset Management reported that none of the decisions from the previous meeting, held on 23 July 2009, had been called in.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 July 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.

Councillor Simon Holbrook declared a personal interest in minute 90 (Building Britain’s Future – Challenge Fund) due to his daughter being a tenant in a property near to one of the sites referred to in the report.

The Chief Executive, Steve Maddox, declared a personal interest in minute 89 (Connexions Contract Extension) due to him being the Council representative on the Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership.

The Director of Children’s Services presented a report detailing the proposed increase to Lifelong Learning fees for 2009-10 in the light of LSC funding allocation. Wirral Lifelong and Family Learning Service (WLFLS) was funded by the Learning and Skills Council Greater Merseyside (LSCGM), through the Personal and Community Development Funding (PCDL) funding stream. The LSC funding was allocated annually for local authority adult learning as a grant, contingent on fulfilling planning requirements in partnership with LSCGM and Wirral PCDL partnership. A requirement of the LSC was that the service should review income targets and the policy for charging fees for adult courses.

The Director reported that income was predicted at around £30,000 for 2008-09 and this was used to supplement courses. It was proposed to update the fee rates annually in line with other local providers of adult learning. An increase in fee income to approximately £33,000 was expected for 2009-10, which would be used by the WLFLS to help offset the actual reduction in funding.  Any additional income could extend the number of courses offered.

With the permission of the Chair, the Leader of the Conservative Group addressed the Cabinet. The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management responded that specific regulations precluded discrimination on the grounds of age. Services could be looked at which were more leisure related to see if there was scope for some differential charging for the over 60’s and the Director of Children’s Services suggested that he would bring a report to a future meeting on the charging policy.

Resolved - That the changes in Lifelong Learning fees policy be approved.

The Director of Children’s Services presented a report requesting Cabinet’s agreement to an extension of the existing Connexions contract with the Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership for a period of 3 months from 1 October to 31 December 2009.

For the period of the new contract, which was due to start on 1 October 2009, Halton would become the contract holding Authority. The timescale to award the contract had been extended. An additional stage had been included in the process whereby the three prospective bidders submitted a detailed solution before their final bid and the Director gave details of the revised timeline.

The 6 Merseyside authorities and Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership Ltd had agreed in principal to a 3 month extension of the existing contract to take account of the revised timeline. The 3 month extension to December 2009 for all Merseyside Authorities would cost £4,171,290, Wirral’s contribution being £810,450. In 2009-10 Wirral’s Connexions budget was £3,501,900. The Council’s agreed share of the payments profile for April – September totalled £1,881,000, leaving £1,620,900 for the remainder of the year. The contract extension would cost £810,450 and was within the existing budget provision.

Resolved - Following confirmation from the 5 other Merseyside partner authorities, who have agreed to pay their share of costs in order to extend the Connexions contract from 1 October to 31 December, that the existing contract with Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership be extended.

The Director of Regeneration submitted a report which sought Cabinet’s approval to the submission of a funding bid to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) under the Government’s Challenge Fund Initiative to provide 22 new housing units (which would be managed by a Registered Social Landlord) on sites in Seacombe, Bebington and Prenton. The deadline for bids was 30 October.

The costs for preliminary works, estimated to be in the order of £105,000 (excluding VAT), were to be met from the Regeneration Capital Programme 2009/10. This would be fully recoverable if the scheme was successful. The delivery of the scheme currently estimated to be in the region £2.8m would be met by 50% grant funding from the Challenge Fund with the remaining 50% secured through prudential borrowing with the rental income from the properties servicing the loan. If the bid was successful Wirral would be required to enter into a funding agreement with the HCA.

The Leader of the Council referred to the fact that the Council was in competition with other authorities for these funds and although there were risks in that money had to be invested for preliminary works without the guarantee of a successful outcome, the opportunity for £2.8m of funding was one that should not be missed.

The Head of Housing and Regeneration commented that the sites suggested met the criteria for the funding bid and were all available for immediate development.  

Resolved - That, subject to the planning process, Cabinet approves the use of £105,000 from the Regeneration Housing Capital Fund to undertake the preliminary works required to support a bid submission to the Government’s Challenge Fund Initiative to deliver 22 units of affordable housing on three sites in Wirral.

The Director of Regeneration sought Cabinet approval for the introduction of an equity-based ‘Home Purchase Assistance’ Loan. The loans would be available to support sustainable homeownership and would initially be targeted at ‘Housing Market Renewal’ new build schemes. A property appreciation loan of up to 30% of property value would be offered to potential buyers. That would assist those persons for whom a level of home ownership was a viable option but who were unable to access sufficient finance due to the current restrictions on mortgage lending.

The report also requested delegation to the Director of Regeneration to determine other residential property, owned by the Council, which might be included within the scheme. Examples of such property might include those ‘Housed’ properties which were proving difficult to sell.

If approved, the new loan product would be offered with immediate effect, using part of the Council’s allocation of Growth Point funds totalling £740,000, as agreed by Cabinet, 25 June 2009 (minute 29 refers). It was proposed to use the existing contract with ART Homes Ltd, as the managing agent for this product, through a variation to the existing contract for Equity Relocation Loans and Equity Renewal Loans.

The loan product would only be offered to new applicants beyond 31 March 2011 if alternative funding was then available and a review of the mortgage market deemed it necessary.

The Leader of the Council emphasised that the money used for this scheme would all be from Government grants.

Resolved -

(1) That the introduction of a Home Purchase Assistance Loan Scheme, within the terms set out in the report and the policy document appended to the report, be approved.

(2) That Cabinet agrees to prioritise Sevenoaks (formerly ‘Fiveways’), 8 ‘Housed’ properties and 3 Tudor Road decant properties acquired as part of the ‘Fiveways’ redevelopment scheme.

(3) That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration for determination of future availability of Home Purchase Assistance Loans for Council-owned dwellings that are to be sold.

(4) That delegated authority be given to the Director of Law, Human Resources and Asset Management, to vary the existing contract with ART Homes Ltd to deliver the Home Purchase Assistance Loan Scheme until 31 March 2011.

The Director of Technical Services advised Members on the recent success of the Council in securing asset management funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) to assist in the development of the Council’s asset management capability for managing and maintaining Wirral’s highway network.

The Grant funding had been allocated over a two year period. For 2008/09 the capital funding would be £43,600 with single revenue grant of £50,000. For 2009/10 the capital funding would be £40,800. It was intended to use the grant from the DfT to contribute to the delivery of the Highway Asset Management Strategy including the costs of any new ICT systems required. The cost of delivering the Strategy, including a new ICT system, might exceed the DfT Grant available and in the event that this was the case then subject to a continued robust business case it was proposed any shortfall would be met from mainstream Departmental Capital and Revenue budgets for highway maintenance.

Cabinet were requested to approve the use of the DfT Grant to deliver the Highway Asset Management Strategy as outlined in the report.

Resolved -

(1) That the Grant outlined in section 5.0 of the Director’s report be formally noted and accepted.

(2) That the implementation of the Highway Asset Management Strategy described in section 6.0 of the Director’s report be endorsed.

(3) That the use of the DfT Grant to deliver the Highway Asset Management Strategy, subject to business case confirmation, be approved.

The Director of Finance presented a report on the projected budget for 2010-2011 which would be the final year of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR). The report set out the variations that had been identified for 2010-11, a number of other developments, details of balances and apportionment of efficiency requirements.

With the permission of the Chair, the Leader of the Conservative Group addressed the Cabinet. The Director of Finance reported that the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2010-11 would be issued by the Government at the beginning of December.

Resolved - That the projected budget for 2010-11 be updated and reported regularly to the Cabinet.

The Director of Finance presented a report which summarised the review of the issues contained within the Corporate Risk Register. Cabinet was asked to consider and approve the draft revised Register, which was submitted as an appendix to the report.

Resolved -

(1) That the Corporate Risk Register be approved.

(2) That progress in managing the corporate risks continues to be included in the quarterly Performance and Financial Monitoring Report.

(3) That all members be involved in future reviews of issues in the Register through the members’ training programme.

The Director of Finance presented a report which gave details of the Government scheme that had recently been introduced to defer the increase in ratepayers’ bills for the 2009-10 year. Cabinet was advised of the process and its likely effects.

Resolved - That the implementation of the deferral scheme be agreed.

The Director of Finance reported that, on 26 July 2007, Cabinet had agreed two policies governing the records management procedures of the Council. In keeping with good practice, these policies had been reviewed and were presented for approval.

The policies were:

(i) the Corporate Retention and Destruction Policy which replaced the Corporate Retention Policy, published in July 2007;

(ii) the Corporate Records Management Policy, last published in July 2007.

Both policies were attached as appendices to the report.

Resolved - That the Corporate Records Management Policy and Corporate Retention and Destruction Policy be agreed.

The Director of Finance provided details of the 2008/09 Audit Commission Value for Money profile of Wirral compared with its nearest neighbours. The nearest similar neighbour methodology made it possible to identify councils with similar demographic features.

Resolved -

(1) That the findings outlined within the report be noted.

(2) That further investigation be undertaken on the reasons for the low cost profiles and a further report be brought back to the Cabinet.

The Director of Regeneration presented a report informing members of the results of the Gateway O Review of the Parks and Countryside Service Procurement Exercise (PACSPE) undertaken by the 4ps Organisation and the Interim Business Case findings by Capita Symonds. 4ps had made eight recommendations which were discussed by the PACSPE Members Group at their meeting on 15 July 2009 and actions were agreed in response to the recommendations. These were attached in an appendix to the report.

Approval for funding for the next stage of the procurement exercise was requested from the Efficiency Investment Budget.

The Leader of the Council referred to the need to keep ‘Friends’ groups informed and the Head of Cultural Services stated that meetings with ‘Friends’ groups had been held and further meetings were being arranged.

Resolved -

(1) That Cabinet supports the actions listed in Appendix 1 of the Director’s report.

(2) That the PACSPE Members Group decision, in response to the 4ps recommendations, to instruct Capita Symonds to provide a more detailed analysis of three procurement options, be endorsed.

(3) That a further £115,000 be allocated from the Efficiency Investment Budget to pay for the cost of further Gateway reviews and additional consultancy support to be spent in 2009/10 and 2010/11.

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 Director of Finance reported concerning an application for the reduction or remission of non - domestic rates on the grounds of hardship.

Resolved - That as the circumstances are sufficiently exceptional, an award of full relief at a cost of £520.46, to be contained within the discretionary rate relief budget, be approved.

The Director of Finance reported that the Policy and Resources Committee had agreed on 24 January 1990 (amended on 15 December 1992) that 100% discretionary rate relief be given to certain non profit-making voluntary or sporting organisations which broadly fitted the agreed criteria. Any applications that met the criteria were referred to Cabinet for consideration. He gave details of an application which had recently been received which did not appear to fully meet the criteria, but was being referred for consideration.

Resolved - That no relief be awarded.

The Director of Finance outlined the work undertaken by Procurement in collaboration with the Merseyside Procurement Group to provide a corporate agency staff service for Council use for four years commencing 1 October 2009. Four tender submissions had been received and he gave details of the evaluation process.

Resolved - That the award of the contract for Agency Staff, commencing 1 October 2009, for a period of four years to Matrix SCM, be approved.

The Director of Adult Social Services advised Members of a proposal made by Servite Housing to transfer the Vincent Harkins Day Centre to another company and assign the care and support to an alternative provider.  Members were advised that the arrangements had been implemented under the delegated powers of the Director of Adult Social Services to 31 March 2010. 

Resolved - That

(1) Cabinet notes and supports the actions taken under delegated powers to ensure the continuity of service.

(2) Cabinet notes that the arrangements put in place are temporary to 31 March 2010.

The Deputy Chief Executive / Director of Corporate Services sought Cabinet approval to provide a grant from the Think Big Investment Fund to the company named in the report in the sum of £100,000 to assist towards their business expansion project.

Resolved - That a Think Big Investment Fund Grant of £100,000 be approved towards the business expansion project being undertaken by the company named within the report.

The Deputy Chief Executive / Director of Corporate Services sought Cabinet approval to provide a grant from the Think Big Investment Fund to the company named in the report to assist towards their business expansion project.

Resolved –

(1) That a Think Big Investment Fund Grant, paid over two years, be approved towards the business expansion project being undertaken by the company named within the report, subject to the conditions detailed in the report.

(2) That the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management be authorised to draw up and sign a legal agreement between the Council and the business based upon the content of the Director’s report.

(3) That “call in” be waived to enable the Council to proceed with negotiations with the company immediately.

The Director of Regeneration submitted a report which sought Cabinet approval to:

(i) accept the grant offer from the NWDA in respect of funding for the new Intensive Business Start Up Programme (ISUS) from 2009/10 to 2011/12;

(ii) accept the tender from Enterprise Solutions to provide the ISUS Programme and to fund the Council’s contribution to it and a complementary grant scheme from the Working Neighbourhood Fund, and

(iii) waive “call in” to meet the financial requirements of the NWDA with respect to the grant agreement and to ensure that the ISUS programme could commence in Wirral from 1 October 2009 thereby ensuring no gap in the service for those who want to start a business in Wirral.

Resolved - That

(1) the funding agreement for the ISUS project with the NWDA in the sum of £1,593,863 (subject to annual review) be entered in to;

(2) £386,137 of Working Neighbourhoods Funding be agreed to fund the ISUS project;

(3) a tender from Enterprise Solutions in the sum of £1,980,000 be accepted for the delivery of the ISUS project in Wirral, subject to an annual review of performance and confirmation of NWDA funding which will be given on an annual basis for 2010/11 and 2011/12;

(4) £700,000 of Working Neighbourhoods Funding be agreed to fund the business start up grants which will support the ISUS project;

(5) a provisional sum of £920,000 of Working Neighbourhoods Funding be agreed to fund a Wirral Community Business Coach Programme and other services complementary to the ISUS Programme subject to a further report to Cabinet;

(6) “call in” be waived to enable the Council to meet funding timescales set by the NWDA and to implement the ISUS project in Wirral on 1 October 2009 thereby avoiding any gap in service for those wanting to start a business in Wirral.