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

No declarations of interest were received.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17 July 2017 be confirmed as a correct record.

At its meeting on 4 July, 2017, the Business Overview and Scrutiny Committee referred the Scrutiny Review on Resident Parking to the Cabinet. A covering report, Overview and Scrutiny Committee minute and Scrutiny Review are attached.

Councillor Phil Davies reported that this item of business had been deferred.

Key Decisions – taken under delegated powers. Period 7 July, 2017 to date. No item(s) to report.

The Cabinet noted that no Key Decisions had been taken under delegated powers during the period 7 July 2017 to the date of agenda publication (23 August 2017).  

Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a report by the Revenues Senior Manager which informed that the impact of the 2017 Business Rates Revaluation had been intended to be fiscally neutral.  However, the Revaluation resulted in significant variations for some businesses.  In recognition of this impact, the Government, in the Spring Budget 2017 had announced the availability of additional funding for businesses affected by the increase.  Since then further details had been announced by the Government on the implementation of the proposals.

The report sought approval of additions to the Council’s National Non Domestic Rates Discretionary Rate Relief Policy effective from 1 April 2017 which was appended.  The changes related to the Government’s announcements in respect of Supporting Small Businesses, the Discretionary Fund and Support for Public Houses.  With the detail behind the initial Government announcement now available, the Policy was recommended for amendment to enable the financial benefits to be given to businesses.

Councillor Williamson reported that the Council had made the process to be followed as simple as possible for all of those who qualified for this discretionary relief and was updating its computer software as quickly as possible in respect of this.

Councillor P Davies informed the Cabinet that he considered that this was a positive report that was picking up the pieces of the Government’s re-evaluation exercise.  He was pleased that the Council was able to help over 600 small business and 100 public houses this year. The additional funding provided by the Government was welcomed and it was noted that this may be the difference between some businesses’ surviving rather than going under.

This was a Key Decision and affected all wards within the Borough.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)  the National Non-Domestic Rates Discretionary Relief Policy be amended to incorporate the changes in respect of Supporting Small Businesses, the Discretionary Fund and Support for Public Houses; and

(2)  the National Non-Domestic Rates Discretionary Relief Policy as detailed in the Appendix to the report be approved for 2017/18.

Councillor George Davies introduced a report by the Strategic Commissioner - Environment that contained the following quote (from Ensuring Wirral’s Neighbourhoods were Safe, March 20169):

“Success in building safer neighbourhoods is beyond the ability of the Police or the Council alone and requires an even greater partnership approach within and across all partner agencies communities.” 

The Cabinet was aware that the Wirral Plan: A 2020 Vision set out a shared partnership vision to improve outcomes for Wirral residents.  Delivery of the priorities and outcomes described in the Plan were underpinned through the development and implementation of a set of key strategies and a delivery plan.

It was noted that the communities of Wirral were increasingly diverse and complex, which required a more sophisticated response to the challenges faced both now and in the future.  Whether it was child sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, cybercrime or new and emerging threats from serious and organised crime such as human trafficking or terrorism, the leaders of the Wirral Partnership acknowledged that if they were to meet their community’s needs, they must continue to review and adapt available resources to ensure the maximum benefit to its citizens.

Attached to the report was the Safer Wirral Hub Full Business Case, a key community safety document which articulated how Wirral’s community safety and safeguarding partners would come together to provide services which were critical to supporting the delivery of the Wirral Plan, specifically, but not exclusively Pledge 7 (Zero tolerance towards  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.