Agenda and draft minutes

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Contact: Shirley Hudspeth 0151 691 8559  Committee and Civic Services Manager

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Items
No. Item

102.

Leader's Update

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Pat Hackett welcomed everyone to the last meeting of the Cabinet as the Council would have new governance arrangements from the Annual Council Meeting (A Committee System) scheduled for 28 September 2020. Councillor Hackett informed that this was the first Cabinet meeting to be held remotely. He then drew Cabinet Members’ attention to the following facts about the Cabinet:

 

The Cabinet had been created following the Local Government Act 2000 to include a Leader and up to ten Members. The Council had adopted the practice in January 2001.

 

Several meetings had included over forty agenda items:

 

·  19-03-09 – 52

·  14-01-10 – 41

·  04-02-10 – 41

·  18-03-10 – 41

·  22-07-10 – 46

·  12-04-12 – 53

·  21-06-12 – 42

 

In this time the Leader of the Council had changed four times: Councillor Steve Foulkes (to 2010), Councillor Jeff Green (to 2011), Councillor Phil Davies (to 2019) and then Councillor Pat Hackett.

 

Since 4 January 2001, there had been:

 

·  330 Cabinet meetings;

·  fifty different Councillors had sat on the Cabinet in that time, chaired by four different Leaders, Councillor Pat Hackett being the fourth;

·  930 Cabinet Member decisions had been taken; and

·  there had been a coalition Cabinet during this time with 5 Labour, 3 Conservative and 2 Liberal Democrat Members.

 

Councillor Hackett thanked all of the officers, past and present, for their contributions to the civic life of Wirral over the 19 years of this system of governance which had seen many challenges and changes.  He informed that one constant was that in that time, Cabinet Members had tried to perform to the best of their ability for the residents of the borough they represented.

103.

Members' Code of Conduct - Declarations of Interest

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

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Stuart Whittingham declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 10 - Cradle to Career Programme by virtue of the Headteacher at the school where he was a Governor being involved with the programme.

 

Councillors Tony Jones and Tom Usher declared personal and prejudicial interests in Agenda Items 13 &15 – Lease for New Offices in Birkenhead Commercial District and its exempt appendix by virtue of them being Board Members of the Wirral Growth Company.

104.

Minutes

The minutes of the last two meetings, held on 17 and 24 February, 2020, have been printed and published

 

RECOMMENDATION:  That the minutes of both meetings be approved and adopted.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 17 and 24 February 2020 be confirmed as a correct record.

 

105.

Executive Key Decisions Taken Under Delegated Powers pdf icon PDF 951 KB

Key Decisions – taken under delegated powers. Period 21 February, 2020 to date.

 

Proposed Approval of Updated Highway Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Communications Plan

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 21 February, 2020

Effective from: 29 February, 2020

 

Proposed Extension to Existing Highway Contracts

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 21 February, 2020

Effective from: 29 February, 2020

 

Acceptance of Tender and Award of Contract – A554 Tower Road, Birkenhead

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change

Date of decision: 24 February, 2020

Effective from: 3 March, 2020

 

Arboriculture Services – Approval of Contract Strategy and Procurement Route

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 28 February, 2020

Effective from: 7 March, 2020

 

Grassroot Football Development in Wirral

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 5 March, 2020

Effective from: 13 March, 2020

 

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020-2025

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March, 2020

Effective from: 1 April, 2020

 

Town Centre / High Street Funds – Birkenhead and New Ferry Future High Street Fund

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March, 2020

Effective from: 1 April, 2020

 

Coronavirus Contingency Planning

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March, 2020

Effective from: 1 April, 2020

 

Highway Structural Maintenance Programme 2020/21 – Funding Allocations and Detailed Programme for Classified Roads

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March, 2020

Effective from: 1 April, 2020

 

Birkenhead Market

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March, 2020

Effective from: 1 April, 2020

 

Amendments to Private Sector Housing and Regeneration Assistance Policy

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning

Date of decision: 27 April, 2020

Effective from: 5 May, 2020

 

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Plan Programme 2020/21

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change

Date of decision: 26 June, 2020

Effective from: 4 July, 2020

 

Highway Structural Maintenance Programme 2020/21 – Local (Unclassified) Roads Programme

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 3 July, 2020

Effective from: 11 July, 2020

 

Reintroduction of Car Parking Charges Options

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 9 July, 2020

Effective from: unknown – item called-in

 

Pooled Fund Arrangements 2020/21

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Wellbeing

Date of decision: 15 July, 2020

Effective from: 23 July, 2020 (subject to call-in)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the following Key Decisions taken under delegated authority for the period 21 February 2020 to the date of publication of the Cabinet agenda be noted as follows:

 

Proposed Approval of Updated Highway Asset Management Policy, Strategy and Communications Plan

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 21 February 2020

Effective from: 29 February 2020.

 

Proposed Extension to Existing Highway Contracts

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 21 February 2020

Effective from: 29 February 2020.

 

Acceptance of Tender and Award of Contract – A554 Tower Road, Birkenhead

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change

Date of decision: 24 February 2020

Effective from: 3 March 2020.

 

Arboriculture Services – Approval of Contract Strategy and Procurement Route

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 28 February 2020

Effective from: 7 March 2020.

 

Grassroot Football Development in Wirral

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 5 March 2020

Effective from: 13 March 2020.

 

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020-2025

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March 2020

Effective from: 1 April 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Town Centre / High Street Funds – Birkenhead and New Ferry Future High Street Fund

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March 2020

Effective from: 1 April 2020.

 

Coronavirus Contingency Planning

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March 2020

Effective from: 1 April 2020.

 

Highway Structural Maintenance Programme 2020/21 – Funding Allocations and Detailed Programme for Classified Roads

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March 2020

Effective from: 1 April 2020.

 

Birkenhead Market

 

Decision Maker: Leader of the Council

Date of decision: 24 March 2020

Effective from: 1 April 2020.

 

Amendments to Private Sector Housing and Regeneration Assistance Policy

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning

Date of decision: 27 April 2020

Effective from: 5 May 2020.

 

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Plan Programme 2020/21

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change

Date of decision: 26 June 2020

Effective from: 4 July 2020.

 

Highway Structural Maintenance Programme 2020/21 – Local (Unclassified) Roads Programme

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 3 July 2020

Effective from: 11 July 2020.

 

Reintroduction of Car Parking Charges Options

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Community Services

Date of decision: 9 July 2020

Effective from: unknown – item called-in.

 

Pooled Fund Arrangements 2020/21

 

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Wellbeing

Date of decision: 15 July 2020

Effective from: 23 July 2020 (subject to call-in).

106.

Outbreak Management pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Chris Jones thanked the Director of Public Health and the whole Public Health Team for the fantastic work they had undertaken during the Coronavirus Crisis.

 

Councillor Jones introduced a report by the Director of Public Health recommend to the Cabinet the local structure and governance of Outbreak Management for all outbreaks, but specifically in relation to COVID-19.

 

The Director informed the Cabinet that HM Government has asked Local Authorities and Directors of Public Health to undertake several actions as part of an outbreak management framework.  This includes the establishment of a local Outbreak Management Plan, Outbreak Management Board and Health Protection Board.

 

The Cabinet noted that it was the intention of the Government that cross-party and cross-sector working would be strongly encouraged, and all tiers of government were intended to be engaged in a joint endeavour to contain the virus, including Local Resilience Forums, NHS Integrated Care Systems and Mayoral Combined Authorities. Councils were to be free to work at wider geographic levels if they so wished.

 

It was also noted that the Council would partner and attend regional outbreak management groups/boards across Merseyside and Cheshire, and support the arrangements across Wirral, it had been recommended that a local Outbreak Management Board and Health Protection Board be initiated.

 

Directors of Public Health working with Public Health England’s local health protection teams building on existing health protection plans would put in place measures to identify and contain outbreaks and protect the public’s health.

 

The Director’s report set out her responsibilities and the support available to her, provided details on outbreak management, the Outbreak Management Board and on contract tracing. 

 

The Director reported that decisions on steps to be taken by the Council in respect of local incidences were executive decisions (prior to the Council’s Annual Meeting). These decisions were likely to be taken in urgent response to advice from her and information provided by the test and trace service, Health Protection Board and NHS linkages.

 

The Cabinet was informed that Local authorities across England had been allocated a share of £300 million to support the new Test and Trace Service.  The funding was intended to help local communities develop and action plans to reduce the spread of coronavirus in their area. The Council had received its share of the funding - £2,733,018 in June 2020.

 

As there was a risk that the cost of implementing the local and regional infrastructure for outbreak management may exceed the budgeted amount allocated, a governance process had been put in place to oversee the spend of the Test and Trace Funding.  The Outbreak Management Board had regular oversight of how the fund was allocated. The Chief Executive and Chief Internal Auditor had regular oversight of how the fund was administered to ensure the grant conditions were met.

 

Attached to the Director of Public Health’ report was:

 

·  Appendix 1 – Terms of Reference for Outbreak Management Board and Health  Protection Board;

·  Appendix 2 – Outbreak Management Governance Structure Chart; and

·  Appendix 3 – Outbreak Management  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106.

107.

Revenue Monitoring Quarter 1 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 253 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a report by the Senior Finance Manager which summarised the projected year-end revenue position as at the end of Quarter 1 (June 2020) of the 2020/21 financial year, including:

 

·  the financial risk profile presented by the COVID-19 pandemic

·  a review of pressures and savings contained within the original budget position and

·  an update to the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

 

The Cabinet was informed that the year-end forecast recorded as part of the June 2020 financial monitoring activity represented an adverse variance to revenue budget of £30.432m; this comprised:

 

  • £23.987m forecast variance in relation to revenue budget overspends (including a forecast increase to in-year, earmarked reserves of £0.546m), the adverse position has arisen largely due to matters arising through the COVID-19 Pandemic:

 

  • £2.150m forecast capital receipts, which supported the revenue budget position via flexible use of capital receipts; and

 

  • A £4.296m gap in direct COVID-19 funding against forecast requirements.

 

It was reported that additional financial support had recently been announced by the Government, including:

 

·  £500m of funding to cover national local authority spending pressures (tranche 3); and

 

·  a co-payment mechanism for irrecoverable sales, fees and charges income, with the Government due to cover 75% of losses beyond 5% of planned income and designed to mitigate the sales and fees income losses for Local Authorities.

 

The Cabinet noted that this funding would mitigate, in part, the budget gap, however, the details relating to the implementation of the additional financial support were unknown, which meant the impact on the Council’s position was yet to be determined.

 

The Cabinet also noted that some savings had been identified through building closures (£0.4m) and the suspension of events (£0.413m).  Many buildings had been re-purposed for COVID-19 activity, and most others were still incurring the fixed costs associated with longstanding assets (such as rates, rents, insurance), the savings were primarily from reduced utilities costs.

 

The Cabinet was aware that the Council’s financial position remained challenging with much uncertainty given the recent announcement of further funding and a forthcoming Spending Round. The financial position was fluid and developing with the Government having stated its continuing support to the sector. The Council continued to limit spending to essential areas of service delivery only and Corporate Directors were supported to mitigate the risk of overspending.

 

Councillor Williamson made reference to the fact that this was the last Cabinet meeting and in her role as Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources paid tribute to the Director of Finance and her Team who she had worked with for the last three years.  She thanked all the officers and informed that through their efforts the Council had been on a stable footing and had delivered some progressive initiatives within Finance.  Councillor Williams said that it was such a shame that the Council was now in the financial position it was in but Members understood that residents’ health came first and that was what the Council had tried to address during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

 

This was the first time she had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

108.

Capital Monitoring Quarter 1 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 140 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a report of the Senior Finance Business Partner which provided an update on the progress of the Capital Programme 2020/21 at the end of June 2020. It recommended that the Cabinet agreed the 2020/21 Capital Programme of £131.7 million which took account of re-profiling, additional funding requirements and grant variations identified since the Capital Programme was formally agreed on 2 March 2020.

 

The Cabinet considered the following background information:

·  the Capital Programme 2020/21 Position by Directorate

·  Reprofiling of Expenditure from 2019/20

·  Grant Funded Schemes

·  Recommendations to Council: Approval for Funding

·  Capital Funding Requirements

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

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  the Cabinet recommends to the Council the approval of additional funding for the schemes referred to in paragraph 3.3. of the report and as follows:

 

·  Integrated Transport Block Funding - £1,150,000 of allocated to Wirral Council by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to support the delivery of the Combined Authority Transport Plan Programme in 2020/21. The programme is a package of schemes designed to support increased numbers of journeys to be undertaken by sustainable active modes reducing resident’s reliance on the private car and reducing carbon emissions.

 

·  Highways Maintenance Funding - £2,149,000 of allocated to Wirral Council by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to support maintenance of the network in 2020/21.  The programme of investment in our highway assets will support improvements to roads/footways/bridges and lighting.

 

·  Disabled Facility Grant - £4.163,000 allocated to Wirral Council by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to provide grants for people with a permanent disability of any sort – including physical and learning disabilities, sensory impairments and mental illness. The grants are to help towards making changes or adaptations to a home to allow the person to continue living there.

 

(2)  the Cabinet recommends to the Council the approval of the revised Capital Programme of £131.7 million for 2020-21.

109.

Financial Monitoring Outturn 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a report by the Director of Resources that outlined how the Council had managed its resources to provide value for money services during 2019-20.  The report included a Revenue Outturn summary and service area performance against budget.  It also summarised the key headlines for Revenue, Capital and Collections and concluded the reporting to the Cabinet for the 2019-20 financial year. 

 

Further details to support the content of the report were provided in the appendices to the report as follows:

 

·  Appendix 1  Revenue Outturn 2019-20

·  Appendix 2  Capital Outturn 2019-20

·  Appendix 3  Collection Summary Outturn 2019-20

 

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

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  Revenue

 

(a)  it be noted that the gross expenditure has been balanced to gross income with the appropriate allocation of reserves;

 

(b)  it be noted that the General Fund Balance at 31 March 2020 of £10.668 million; and

 

(c)  it be noted that the Earmarked Reserves totalling £66.768 million.

 

(2)  Capital

 

(a)    the additional re-profiling of £19.4 million from 2019/20 to 2020/21 be noted;

 

(b)  the financing of the Programme for 2019/20 be noted; and

 

(c)  the Programme for 2020/21 and beyond be kept under review   to ensure it is realistic, deliverable and affordable.

 

3  Collection Summary

 

(a)  it be note that the in-year collection rate for Council Tax is 94.8%, the same as the previous year;

 

(b)  the increase in cash collected for Council Tax 2019/20 of £11.7 million be noted; and

 

(c)  the in-year collection rate for Business Rates of 97.53% (In 2018/19 the collection rate was 97.9%.) be noted; 

 

(d)  the £86.557 million of Sundry Debtors collected in the year be noted; and

 

(e)  the sundry debts for Adults Social Services and Other Directorates detailed in the report to be written-off against the Provision for Bad Debts of £2.271 million be approved.

110.

Wirral Tree, Woodland and Hedgerow Strategy pdf icon PDF 158 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Elizabeth Grey introduced a report by the Lead Commissioner – Environment Wirral which informed that the Council had developed the Wirral Tree Strategy (WTS) in partnership with Wirral Initiative for Trees (WiT) and a range of other key stakeholders. This ambitious strategy focused on tree protection, maintenance and planting and sought to dramatically increase Wirral’s Urban Forest (including the green infrastructure of parks, gardens, woods, trees in streets, footpaths, green spaces, trees and hedges) as a means of carbon capture. It was anticipated that WTS would also support the development of a National Tree Strategy.

 

The Wirral Tree Strategy (WTS), including an Executive Summary, was attached to the report as Appendix 1.

 

Councillor Grey informed that over the next ten years, the Council and its partners would:

 

·  establish a clear picture of Wirral’s tree stock and its benefits;

·  plant over 200,000 trees (at least 21,000 per year, net of loss incurred through Ash Dieback) such that Wirral’s tree canopy cover would be doubled once those trees were fully grown;

·  replace every felled tree with multiple new trees;

·  ensure that all new and replacement trees were planted under the principle of ‘right tree for the right place’;

·  ensure that all decisions and activities undertaken in relation to trees were made in a structured and consistent way; and

·  work constructively with individuals and groups across Wirral to deliver this ambitious vision and action.

 

The Cabinet was informed that in pursuit of this vision, the WTS would provide a mechanism for:

 

·  improving the provision and care of trees, woodlands and hedgerows;

·  formulating a focused action plan for the 2020-2030 period and beyond; and

·  monitoring the action plan(s) and policies for the care, management and enhancement of Wirral’s trees, woodlands, and hedgerows.

 

Councillor Grey informed that whilst the WTS was a ten-year strategy which covered the period of 2020-2030, it was also an ongoing framework for thinking about trees, woodlands, and hedgerows across the Borough of Wirral. The WTS was intended to be a living document, which would grow, change, and develop to meet future challenges in implementing the strategy, and, as such, would be regularly revised and extended over the next 50 years.

 

The Cabinet noted that the Council could continue operations without adopting a tree strategy. However, this course of action would be problematic in several respects.

 

Firstly, the Council would have no strategy in place to guide the process of replacing the trees which had been recently felled across the borough as part of the tree management regime. Not only would this course of action allow Wirral’s tree stocks to be depleted at a time when their benefits were vital in response to the climate emergency, it would contrast sharply with the commitments to replace such trees that the Council had made to residents, partners and stakeholders. If the Council were to fulfil its commitments to residents, partners, and stakeholders, as well as responding adequately to the practical reality of the climate emergency, it needed the WTS to provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.

111.

Enforcement Policy 2020 pdf icon PDF 99 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Elizabeth Grey introduced a report by the Assistant Director – Safer Wirral Service which sought the approval of the updated Wirral Council Enforcement Policy. The Cabinet was informed that the Council’s previous Enforcement Policy had last been amended in 2016 and, therefore, in line with good governance and subsequent changes in the Council’s approach to enforcement, it must now be updated.

 

The Cabinet noted that the Policy provided guidance to officers, businesses, and the public on the range of options that were available to achieve compliance with legislation enforced by the Council’s various regulatory services. It was designed to help officers; businesses and the public understand the Council’s objectives and methods for achieving compliance and the criteria it considered when deciding the most appropriate response to a breach of legislation.

 

It was reported that the key changes to the policy document included the removal of references to a robust approach to litter and dog fouling by authorised third parties. Other changes had expanded the scope of the policy to include safety within sports grounds which had previously been absent. Minor formatting issues and phrasing had also been reviewed. 

 

The Cabinet was informed that not updating the Policy could be considered as an option.  However, for the purposes of good governance, best practice and to reflect the changes in the approach to litter and dog fouling by authorised third parties the policy had been reviewed and where required, updated.

 

This matter affected all wards within the Borough and was a key decision.

 

Appended to the report at Appendix 1 was the Wirral Council Enforcement Policy 2020.

 

Councillor Grey informed that the new Enforcement Policy met all the statutory requirements of the Regulator’s Code.  The Policy explained how the Council would respond to non-compliance in a way that was transparent, accountable, proportionate, consistent and risk based.  The Policy covered a broad range of regulatory services, its scope took in multiple areas including housing, environmental Health, Trading Standards, Planning Enforcement, Building Control, Waste and Environment, Licencing and Safety of Sports Grounds.  It was an overarching policy and each separate service area would have specific technical policies which refer to it. 

 

Councillor Grey also informed that the Policy removed some of the more contentious elements contained in the previous version concerning the use of external contractors using the zero-tolerance approach especially in Waste and Environment. The Policy was now more about graduated enforcement and should be non-confrontational.  However, it was robust, and officers had open to them all enforcement powers legally available should the situation require this.  The Policy allowed both fairness and effectiveness in dealing with non-compliance and enforcement.  It would help businesses and individuals to understand the Council’s objectives and methods of achieving compliance and the criteria used when deciding the most appropriate response when responding to a breach of legislation.

 

Councillor Pat Hackett reported that he was pleased that there was going to be zero tolerance and recognised the need to be robust in the way that the Council carried  ...  view the full minutes text for item 111.

112.

Cradle to Career Programme pdf icon PDF 634 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Tom Usher introduced a report by the Assistant Director: Early Help and Prevention which provided an overview of the Cradle to Career programme which was a collaboration between the Council, the education charities Right to Succeed and SHINE, the Steve Morgan Foundation, North Birkenhead Development Trust and the community of North Birkenhead to develop a place-based approach that would reduce the inequality gap for children and young people by transforming how public services, education providers and residents worked together for collective impact. The report outlined what the programme would deliver and the role of the Council’s Children’s Services and partners.

 

Councillor Usher informed that it was a pleasure to present this report to the last Cabinet meeting.  He had held his portfolio since May 2019 and during this time some great progress had been made in respect of the quality of children’s social services.  He appreciated the support and dedication of Cabinet Members, the Director of Child, Family and Education and his Team who had all shown an extraordinary dedication to improving the lives of children and families in the borough.  It had been a pleasure for him to work with the Team.

 

Councillor Usher reported that this project supported the Wirral Plan 2020-25 objectives:

 

-  Working for a prosperous, inclusive economy where local people can get good jobs and achieve their aspirations.

-  Working for safe and pleasant communities where Wirral residents feel safe, and where they want to live and raise their families.

-  Working for happy, active, and healthy lives where people are supported, protected, and inspired to live independently; and

-  Working for brighter futures for Wirral’s children, young people, and families by breaking the cycle of poor outcomes and raising the aspirations of every child in the borough.

 

This matter affected the Bidston St. James Ward and was not a key decision.

 

Councillor Usher made the point that this project was not short term, it was mid to long term and it was something the Council could fully support when local government was funded.  Unfortunately, the Council was under serious financial pressures which had not been helped by the Coronavirus Pandemic.  Councillor Usher was disappointed that the Government had praised the Council for its good work and for providing resources for this project, working in a way that really took seriously the  poverty and deprivation that occurred in some of its local communities but it had also decided not to cover all of the expenditure the Council had incurred whist assisting the Government with its response to the Pandemic

 

The Cabinet was informed that two other options had been considered.  The first option had been to not to engage as an active partner of the Cradle to Career Programme but to continue to deliver services to residents in North Birkenhead in the same way as had been done over previous years. This would risk the investment from sponsors being withdrawn and the opportunity for place-based change being lost. The second option had been to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112.

113.

Treasury Management Annual Report 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 310 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a report by the Senior Finance Business Partner – Treasury Management which informed that the Council’s treasury management activity was underpinned by the CIPFA’s Code of Practice on Treasury Management (“the Code”), which required the Council to approve treasury management semi-annual and annual reports.

 

The Cabinet noted that the report fulfilled the Council’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to both the CIPFA Code and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Investment Guidance.

 

It was reported that proactive Treasury Management activity had resulted in savings of £0.9 million. These savings were on top of the £2 million worth of Treasury Management savings already built into the 2019/20 budget. The additional savings resulted due to a combination of increased investment income and securing lower cost loans.

 

The level of Capital Financing debt, including the Merseyside Residuary Body debt managed by the Council on behalf of the constituent authorities, was £173 million at 31 March 2020. The Cabinet noted that this was a reduction of £91 million since 1 April 2012 and reflected policies to minimise and delay borrowing costs which adversely impact upon the revenue budget.

 

The Council had complied with the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators as set out in the agreed Treasury Management Strategy for 2019/20.

 

This matter affected all the Wards within the Borough and the decisions in the report were key decisions.

 

Appended to the report at Appendix 1 was the Prudential and Treasury Indicators 2019/20.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)  the 2019/20 Treasury Management Annual Report be agreed and recommended to the Council for approval at its meeting in October 2020; and

 

(2)  the saving of an additional £0.9 million above the budgeted savings target from treasury and capital financing activities in 2019/20 be noted.

 

 

 

114.

Consideration of Gaining Real Living Wage Accreditation pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Janette Williamson introduced a positive report by the Head of Procurement that summarised the work being undertaken to explore gaining accreditation with the Real Living Wage Foundation.

 

The Cabinet noted that this initiative supported all five components of the Wirral Plan as the Council’s contracts supported all services:

 

·  Safe and Pleasant Communities

·  Sustainable Environment

·  Active and Healthy Lives

·  Brighter Futures

·  Inclusive Economy

 

The Cabinet was informed that the requirement to provide the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage was a statutory requirement and thus was already included in the Council’s contracts.

 

The Living Wage Foundation was an independent organisation that recognised the leadership of responsible employers who choose to pay a real Living Wage based on the cost of living, not just the government minimum.

 

Councillor Williamson reported that there were three key reasons why it mattered to pay the Real Living Wage:

 

·  Safeguarding workers from in–work poverty: It was only through accreditation that local authorities could ensure that all the money they spend was being used to pay people the Real Living Wage.

 

·  Investing in the local economy: The cumulative impact of local authorities paying the Real Living Wage. When workers earned enough to live, they had more income to spend in the local economy.

 

·  Demonstrating Civic Leadership: Strong and visible leadership was important to the growth of the Real Living Wage and there was a huge opportunity for local authorities to play an even greater role, beyond their own workers, in tackling in-work poverty in their communities.

Councillor Williamson informed that through accreditation, a number of local authorities were making a commitment to tackle in-work poverty in their communities.  They were ensuring that all staff were paid at least the living wage and that the independently calculated rates were implemented each year to keep up with the cost of living.  As well as directly employed staff the accreditor’s must also ensure that all third party regularly contracting staff received the real living wage. 

 

Councillor Williamson reported that the Council must give employees dignity, respect and enough income so that they could have a good quality of life.  This was the bear minimum that the Council owed to its residents and its workforce. Inequality was at the very heart of what the Council had to tackle going forward. It had to look at and reduce inequalities of income, health and wellbeing.  This was a great step forward.  Councillor Williamson was pleased that she could end her tenue as a Cabinet Member on this optimistic note.  She was confident that this would move forward and the Council would be accredited soon.

 

Councillor Anita Leech welcomed the detailed report.  She informed that the Covid-19 Crisis had made people realise that they were very dependent on people who were paid a low wage and so was pleased about the discussions being held about this.  People who had been helping to save lives were struggling with food and fuel poverty.

 

Councillor Chris Jones thanked Councillor Williamson for the work she had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 114.

115.

Business Overview and Scrutiny Review into The New Ferry Explosion pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Pat Hackett introduced a report on the New Ferry Explosion Scrutiny Review carried out by a cross party panel set up by the Business Overview & Scrutiny Committee, consisting of Councillors Dave Mitchell, Jo Bird, Steve Hayes, and Mike Collins.  The agreed outcomes were:

 

·  to ensure that all necessary steps had been taken to address those residents, traders and other people affected by the incident; and

 

·  to consider what improvements could be made by the Council and partner organisation in their response to future disasters. 

 

The review had been carried out during November and December 2019 when there had been several interviews and stakeholder sessions held.  The full report, recommendations and scoping document were attached as appendices to the report.

 

The eight recommendations were as follows:

 

1.  The Council should focus on putting people directly affected first. For example, making hardship payments to victims as soon as the scale of a disaster and needs of the victims has been fully identified. In certain urgent circumstances, the Local Authority should consider making these payments without the approval of full Council. Bespoke support should also be included, through the NHS, housing services and Victim Support or other advocacy providers.

 

2.  The Panel notes that some residents and traders felt they didn’t know who to turn to. Contacts numbers for the public to use should be coordinated, up to date and available for the public to use immediately, via a centralized 0800 number. This should be publicised online and through the media as well as in paper copies. Translators and British Sign Language should be made available for those who need them. Social media to be used to convey information and updates and special information channels to be created such as text messaging. Key numbers such as victims, injuries and property damage should be put out by communications to avoid any media under reporting.

 

3.  Any future incidents that involve significant damage to a site or area, the local authority should ensure that the site is ‘made good’ and landscaped once they are able to access it legally. This could be through grassing, hoardings or involving the local community with murals. Where possible the area should be screened to reduce the visual impact of the site on the community. The council should also actively attempt to improve the sites before we have legal access to the properties. Once the site is available for regeneration, the wider community should be consulted as much as possible to include their ideas and should be delivered.

 

4.  There should be pro-active support for traders, as stated in the All Hazards Emergency Plan. More communication, promotion and marketing with council support. Open for business signs should be installed as soon as the area is secure. National government should be approached and requested to make payments for loss of trade to businesses consistent with other places affected by disasters such as Salisbury and Whalley Bridge.

 

5.  The authority should delay billing until insurance companies are taking claims and/or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

116.

Lease for New Offices in Birkenhead Commercial District pdf icon PDF 138 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Pat Hackett introduced an updated report by the Director of Law and Governance following approval by the Cabinet at its meeting on 24 February 2020 of the Wirral Growth Company LLP Partnership Business Plan.  (Minute No. 94 refers.)  He informed that the Council’s plans for economic growth were about creating community wealth.  They were also about creating jobs and opportunities for local people, regenerating commercial areas and inspiring ambition.  Councillor Hackett was of the view that prosperous communities were happier, healthier, and better places in which to live. The proposals set out in the report detailed the next steps for taking forward the strategic regeneration objectives of the Wirral Growth Company for Central Birkenhead.

 

Councillor Hackett reported that Council officers had been working with the Wirral Growth Company LLP to finalise the location of the proposed new Birkenhead Commercial District. This development was  to be underpinned by the Council taking a lease of space anticipated to be approximately 150,000 sq. ft net for a period of approximately 40 years, with a maximum rent payment period of 35 years to enable funding for future re-developments by the Wirral Growth Company LLP.

 

Whilst the business case for this development was approved by Cabinet at its meeting of 24 February 2020 the report recommended to Members that there should be no significant delay in proceeding with the above lease arrangements, notwithstanding the economic effects of the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

The report sought authority for the Director of Law and Governance to negotiate and finalise the terms of the lease structure in consultation with the Director of Regeneration and Place and enter into a conditional agreement for the lease and such other documentation as may be reasonably necessary to progress the proposed lease structure. There were also consequential recommendations regarding the appointment of contractors and the amendment of the Milestones for entering into the agreement for lease.

 

This matter affected all wards within the borough and the decisions were Key Decisions.

 

In considering other options the Cabinet noted that to not enter into the agreement for lease the Council would be exposed to a claim that it had breached the partnership agreement and this would trigger a potential compensation payment to its Joint Venture Partner. This option was, therefore, not recommended.

 

Another option was to revisit the means of financing with a view to an outright purchase of the property.  This was not recommended as the merits of such an option had been fully considered by the Cabinet in the report of 24 February 2020. Whilst financing a purchase via the Public Works Loan Board had been considered, the Council would be directly funding the preparation and construction costs from day one, placing a liability on the Council. The annuity lease mechanism meant that the forward funder would be funding this. Also, the timing of payments with lower amounts under the annuity lease in the early and mid-term life of the asset meant that the annuity lease was predicted to result in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.

117.

Exempt Information - Exclusion of the press and public

The following item contains 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 item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act. The Public Interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

 

118.

Lease for New Offices in Birkenhead Commercial District

Exempt appendices to agenda item 13.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That further to Minute No.115 above, the content of the exempt Appendices 1 and 4 circulated with the agenda, be noted.

 

Councillors Tony Jones and Tom Usher returned to the meeting.

119.

Leader's Report and Presentation

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Pat Hackett informed that the last year had been a great experience but a bag of mixed emotions at times.  Councillor Hackett was proud to have been Leader of a Cabinet and Council that had grown so much in a short time. He believed he had been part of something special.  He had been privileged to work alongside so many ambitious individuals, leading a strong workforce to achieve collective goals and ultimately make massive strides in the Council’s vision for the borough.

 

Councillor Hackett reported that during the past few months the Council had been dealing with a crisis never encountered before.  How people lived and worked had been completely turned upside down.  Faced with unprecedented challenges and pressures placed on the Council to protect and support the local community, like never before, he had watched the Council, its fantastic workforce and all Members of the Council overcome every barrier, make quick difficult decisions, and come together to lead the Council through on of the most difficult periods this country had seen since World War II.  The way the workforce had adapted was beyond what it had been thought could happen and officers had been rightly praised for the quick turnaround to help local residents from March 2020 onwards, rightly winning plaudits as the first in the country on so many fronts.  Councillor Hackett informed that the Cabinet sent out its sincere thanks to all the workforce as Wirral had, undoubtedly, led the way.

 

Councillor Hackett then introduced an eight-minute video presentation on the Council and Cabinet’s achievements over the last extraordinary year. He also took the opportunity, at this last meeting of the Cabinet, to thank each of the Cabinet Members in turn along with the staff for their hard work during the last year.  Councillor Hackett provided a summary of each of the following projects and initiatives:

 

·  The Local Plan which would shape the borough for years to come.

·  Replacing the boroughs Street Lights with energy efficient LED Lights.

·  The Community Bank – North West Mutual Ltd.

·  Keeping Wirral Green, a plan to tackle climate change.

·  Wirral’s evolving Cycling and Walking Infrastructure and Active Travel.

·  Major Regeneration for Wirral.

·  Affordable Living and Housing – High Quality New Homes.

·  A Borough of Tourism and Culture.

·  Support for Care, including funding made available.

·  Real Living Wage including seeking accreditation.

·  Support for Children and Young People - putting them at the centre of every decision made.

·  Covid-19 – Feeding, Supporting and Protecting Wirral Residents.

 

Finally, Councillor Hackett informed that as the Council, cautiously, moved to some sort of business as usual it would have regard to what had been learnt and would use it to continue to build a Council that Wirral businesses and residents could be proud of and trust, working first and foremost for the residents of the borough.  It would be a Council built on community. 

 

Following the presentation each Cabinet Member took the opportunity to thank the officers for putting the presentation together, other Cabinet Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.