Contract award to Grant Thornton for Reporting Accountant work for Housing Benefit Subsidy Claim for five years from 2022/23 to 2027/28

The Director of Finance agrees to award a contract for the Council to Grant Thornton LLP. This will be for a five year term and is to commence subject to contract in June 2023

The Director of Finance introduced the report which detailed the Capital Outturn for 2022/23 and the resources used to fund the Programme. It asked that the Committee recommended that Council agree the revised 2023/24 Capital Programme which took account of re-profiling, virements, additional funding requirements and grant variations identified since the Capital Programme was formally agreed on 28th February 2022.

Members of the Committee raised several queries regarding the delivery of different capital projects including the Enterprise Resource Planning System, Regeneration and Highway Maintenance which the Chief Executive undertook to seek responses via the relevant Director to the relevant Committees. The Director of Finance further assured the Committee that any capital virements are either decided by or reported to Policy & Resources Committee.

Resolved – That

(1)  Council be recommended to approve the revised Capital Programme of £178.1 million for 2023/24, including the virements of budget referred to in Appendix D.

(2)  Council be recommended to note the financing of the Programme for 2022/23.

(3)  Council be recommended to note the additional year-end re-profiling of £38.2m from 2022/23 to 2023/24.

This report updates on the community asset transfer (CAT) of Hoylake Municipal Golf Course, and makes recommendations on community asset transfer (CAT) matters relating to Bromborough Civic Centre, Woodchurch Leisure Centre and Brackenwood Golf Course. It builds upon the CAT decisions made by this committee at its meetings of 16 June 2022, 25 October 2022, 2 February 2023 and 9 March 2023.

Resolved – that,

1.  the Director of Finance be authorised to conclude negotiations on the heads of terms in exempt Appendix 2, for the transfer of Brackenwood Golf Course to Brackenwood Community Golf Limited, once an increase in the rent proposal from the company is agreed, and some provision for very small football/tennis pitches has been explored. This should form part of the recommendation to Policy and Resources Committee as the Asset value is £950k which is above the value that can be agreed by this Committee or the Director of Resources.

2.  since the committee is minded to try and move towards a Community Asset Transfer for Bromborough Civic Centre, this item be moved to the July committee to enable a workshop to be convened so as to give both business cases the examination they deserve.

3.  the consideration of the future of Woodchurch Leisure Centre had been ongoing for quite some time and now requires urgent consideration and determination.  To that end, the business case is to be referred to the Director of Finance for his immediate attention, following which a report is to be brought to the meeting of Policy and Resources Committee on 12 July for determination, ensuring that members are acquainted with all key facts.

As detailed in the report.

Resolved – That the recommendations as detailed in the report be approved

This report provides the Committee with an update on the sustainable operating model and programmes of inclusive tennis activity that prevents low income from being an obstacle to participation in tennis across the borough. The report includes details of how the model supports social inclusion and overall participation in relation to the acceptance of the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) capital grant funding for tennis court improvement works across Wirral, presented to Committee on 21st July 2022.

It will also provide an update on the current progress of the tennis court improvement works across Wirral. Improvement to the environment and opportunities within parks and open spaces is a core strand of Wirral’s Sport and Physical Activity Strategy as seen in Appendix 1

Resolved – that,

1.the amendment to the charging policy in paragraph 3.28 within the sustainable operating model to ensure that low income is not an obstacle to participation in tennis across the borough be approved.

2. the operating model as set out in paragraphs 3.26 to 3.28 of the report be implemented and a local operator with charges set in accordance with the principles contained in Option 3 in Appendix 4 as modified by paragraph 3.28 of the report be procured.

The Council has a legal duty to maintain the safe flow of traffic on its network under the Traffic Management Act 2004. Part of this duty is to deliver a Parking Service which

includes the enforcement of on and off-street parking restrictions, the initial processing of penalty charge notices up to and including Notice to Owner stage and the issuing of resident, country park and staff parking permits and parking dispensations. The service also provides emergency cover for the school crossing patrol service. The incumbent contractor is NSL Limited, Registration No. 06033060. The Council have worked with NSL for almost 20 years.

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for a 5-year extension to the Council’s current parking enforcement contract with NSL Limited.

Resolved – that,

1.  The extension of the current contract for parking enforcement services with NSL Limited, Registration No. 06033060 for a further period of 5 years be approved.

2.  A report be brought back to Committee in advance of the 2026 review, looking at in-house and hybrid provision.

This report requests that the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee approves the purchase of Parks Machinery, following a recent competitive tender exercise, from the Parks Machinery Capital included in the Council's Capital Programme.

Resolved – that the Director of Neighbourhoods be authoried, following the recent competitive tender exercise, to award the contracts to purchase the Grounds Maintenance Machinery detailed in this report from the highest scoring bidders in accordance with the Most Economically Advantageous Tenderer Criteria.

This report provides Members with an update regarding the on-going work to

develop a parking strategy for the borough and sets out the results of phase 1 of

public and stakeholder consultation. The report also seeks approval to undertake

phase 2 of consultation.

A further report will be submitted to this Committee in December 2023 for

consideration of the feedback from the phase 2 consultation and seeking approval

for the adoption of a parking strategy

Resolved – that the Director of Regeneration and Place be authorised to undertake further consultation in Summer 2023 on the potential interventions (as identified in Section 3.11 of this report) to be considered for inclusion in a Wirral Parking Strategy.

This report updates on the report taken to Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee on the 6th of March 2023 regarding the recommissioning of sexual and reproductive health services in Wirral.

The Director of Public Health has been authorised by the Committee to commence the re-commissioning of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for an initial five-year period from the 1st of April 2024 with the option for two one-year extensions to a value of £20,300,000 over the seven-year term and award a contract to the successful party/ies following this process.

In light of additional financial pressures likely to be experienced by providers that have

since been identified, this report asks for approval to increase the maximum financial value of the contract.

The proposals within this report supports the implementation of the Wirral Plan 2021 – 26 priorities, Brighter Futures and Active and Healthy Lives

Resolved - that the Director of Public Health be authorised to commence the recommissioning of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, as otherwise agreed at the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee of 6th of March 2023 at an increased value of £21,109,078 from £20,300,000. An increased value of £809,078 over the seven-year term.

The purpose of this report is to present to the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee the findings and recommendations for greater alignment of All Age Disability Service.

The scoping, initiation, planning and engagement phase is complete. The recommendations within this report support the delivery of the Wirral Plan - ‘Equity for People and Place 2021-2026’ with particular focus to the key theme of ‘Active and Healthy Lifestyle’, with the right care, at the right time with the best possible outcomes for adults with care and support needs. They also underpin the Wirral Health and Well-being Strategy 2022-2027 for people to live and age well.

Resolved – that the priorities and indicative timeframe for the All Age Disability Review, as listed in Appendix 4 to this report be approved.

The purpose of this report is to seek the Committee’s approval of the Adult Social Care

Community Reablement Model. This is designed to add value to a person’s experience with the reablement system.

The report Community Reablement Model contained within the comprehensive Target

Operating Model attached in Appendix 1. This is split into six sections: -

1. Context

2. Design model

3. People

4. Financial

5. Governance & Reporting

6. Appendix

The Adult Social Care Community Reablement Model (the model) supports the delivery of the Wirral Plan 2021-2026 ‘Active and Healthy Lives’ theme: “Working for happy, active and healthy lives where people are supported, protected and inspired to live independently.”

And the ‘Brighter Futures’ theme: “Brighter Futures for all, regardless of their background”.

Resolved – that the Adult Social Care Community Reablement Target Operating Model as set out in Appendix 1 of this report be approved.

The purpose of the report is to request approval from Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee to recommission the Wirral Independence Service (WIS) within quarter 2 of financial year 2023/2024. The current contract ends in June 2024 and there are no further contract extensions available.

This is a joint commission with NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (Wirral Place) (NHSCMICB) and is managed via the

Better Care Fund.

The WIS is inclusive of:

·  The provision of Community Equipment.

·  Technology Enabled Care and Response service.

·  Carers emergency card.

·  Falls Pick up service.

·  Falls prevention service.

·  Provision of Paediatric equipment.

·  Education equipment for schools.

The commission will support the following Wirral Plan objectives:

·  Sustainable Environment - working towards a clean-energy, sustainable borough that leads the way in its response to the climate emergency and is environmentally friendly.

·  Inclusive Economy - working for a prosperous, inclusive economy - helping businesses to thrive and creating jobs and opportunities for all.

·  Safe and Vibrant Communities - working for safe and vibrant communities where our residents feel safe and are proud to live and raise their families.

·  Active and Healthy Lives - working to provide happy, active and healthy lives for all, with the right care, at the right time to enable residents to live longer and healthier lives

Resolved – that,

1.  The re-commission of the Wirral Independence Service on a 5-year contract (with options for a 3-year, plus a 2-year contract extension) with a total contract value of £4.2m annually, up to £42m over 10-years be approved.

2.  The director of Adult Social Care and Health be authorised to award the contract to the most economically advantageous tenderer.

It is a statutory duty as defined by the Care Act 2014, to offer a person a Direct Payment as a cash alternative to a directly commissioned care and support service where a person has been assessed as having eligible needs. This applies both to carers and people in need of care and support. The regulations of the Children Act 1989 also place a duty on Local Authorities to offer a Direct Payment to disabled children.

The review of Direct Payments was presented to the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee on 29 November 2022 and approval was given to explore how a Personal Assistant (PA) register could best be delivered with the intention of increasing the numbers of people, carers and families choosing to use a Direct Payment. This report sets out the options as they relate to the Personal Assistant (PA) register as identified by the Direct Payments working group. The proposed model (Appendix 1) and Implementation Plan (Appendix 2).

This review has been a collaborative exercise and included, as equal partners, officers of the Council, people with lived experience, and representatives from Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) and the Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (WCHCFT). The report supports the following priorities from the Council’s Wirral Plan:

· Working for safe and vibrant communities where our residents feel safe and are proud to live and raise their families.

· Working to provide happy, active, and healthy lives for all, with the right care at the right time to enable residents to live longer and healthier lives

Resolved – that,

1. The proposed service model (Appendix 1) and implementation plan (Appendix 2) be endorsed

2. The Director of Adult Social Care and Health be authorised to progress with implementation of phase 2 of the proposed service model as detailed in Appendix 1 , commence the proposed procurement exercise and award the contract.

3. A further report be brought to a future Committee with proposals for implementation of the remaining phases of the model.

This report seeks approval of the Wirral Drugs Strategy which sets out a vision for uplifting communities and enabling all people in Wirral to live healthier lives free from the harmful impacts of drugs. There will be a focus on improving the health of people who use drugs, and preventing the early deaths that are seen too often. Prevention will be key, as will a vision for a positive narrative for recovery, combatting the stigma associated with drug use, and strengthening the voice of people with lived experience.

The Wirral Drugs Strategy will contribute to the Wirral Plan aims, in particular promoting ‘Active and Healthy Lives’. Supporting Wirral residents and communities to live healthier lives free from the harmful impacts of drugs is aligned to the ambitions set out in Wirral’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy and will contribute to the reduction of health inequalities within the Borough.

Resolved – that the Wirral Drugs Strategy 2023-2027 as set out as Appendix 1 to this report and further request the Director of Public Health be approved and a report be submitted on an annual basis to enable the Committee to monitor progress.