Agenda and minutes

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no members of the public wishing to speak.

A period of 20 minutes is allocated for questions to be put to Cabinet Members by members of the Council. Notice of questions need not be given in advance of the meeting. Questions must relate to the powers, duties or responsibilities of the Cabinet. Questions put to Cabinet Members must relate to their portfolio responsibilities.

The Leader will determine how Cabinet question time should be allocated where there are a number of Members wishing to ask questions. Where a question relates to a matter which appears on the agenda, the Leader may allow the question to be asked at the beginning of consideration of that item.

Councillor K Edwards asked about progress with, and the timescale for, the Macclesfield Community Governance Review. The Leader asked for a written response to be sent to Councillor Edwards.

Councillor B Murphy sought assurances that any further proposals to establish Alternative Service Delivery Vehicles would be notified to Members in sufficient time to enable Members to give them full consideration in advance of any relevant decision-making meeting. He also asked if a briefing session could be arranged for all Members in relation to a proposed ASDV for Integrated Transport, with particular reference to the governance arrangements. The Leader indicated that he was happy to arrange such a session.

Councillor L Brown asked if the primary objective for the proposed Integrated Transport ASDV as set out in the (now deferred) report on the agenda could be reviewed. The Leader indicated that the primary objective would be reviewed.

Councillor L Brown also sought assurances that any future governance arrangements for Macclesfield would protect the position of the town’s Mayor. The Leader replied that Macclesfield would continue to have a Mayor; this was not in question.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th March 2014 (to follow).

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th March 2014 be approved as a correct record.

To consider a proposal for the Council to underwrite the remaining cost of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass by up to £2.5m in order to open up the Midpoint 18 site for development to facilitate significant private sector-led investment.

Cabinet considered a proposal for the Council to underwrite the remaining cost of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass by up to £2.5m in order to open up the Midpoint 18 site for development, thus facilitating significant private sector investment.

Pochin Developments Ltd had been granted outline planning consent in 2008 for an extension to the existing Midpoint 18 scheme (‘Phase 3’) to include the completion of the southern section of the Middlewich Eastern Bypass, which was a requirement to open up the site for development. £19.5m of the £22m cost of the Bypass had been identified, subject to securing the final £2.5m. 

The report also sought Cabinet support to delegate authority to accept a revised final grant offer letter from Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for £4.1m Regional Growth Fund.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet agrees

1.    to make a formal offer to Pochin Developments Ltd (PDL) to underwrite the shortfall in cost of delivering the final section of Middlewich Eastern Bypass, up to a maximum of £2.5m.   

2.    that the Council continue to seek alternative funding for the bypass, including from developer contributions, Community Infrastructure Levy and other public sector funding sources (e.g. Local Growth Fund), which could be used as an alternative to replace its underwriting, or for the Council to recoup if allocated.

3.    that if the Council’s underwriting is called upon, authority be delegated to the Director of Economic Growth and Prosperity, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holders, to award this sum by means of a grant agreement in a form approved by the Head of Legal Services to PDL, subject to the securing of all other funding to deliver the bypass.

4.    that authority be delegated to the Director of Economic Growth and Prosperity and Head of Legal Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders, to accept a revised final grant offer letter from BIS in relation to the £4.1m Regional Growth Fund (RGF) allocation, subject to:

(a)  the satisfactory advice of the Head of Legal Services & Monitoring Officer.

(b)  CEC obtaining legal advice clarifying whether formal procurement of any involved entities (including principal contractor) is required by law or by BIS or recommended to manage risk as referred to in 9.0, and PDL’s acceptance of our resulting approach.

(c)  securing agreement of all funding parties to a revised delivery timetable that complies with respective requirements.

(d)  appropriate inputs from PDL and its partners in providing all information required to satisfy RGF criteria, s278 agreement, etc.

To consider a report seeking approval to proceed with the implementation of a wholly-owned company limited by shares to deliver all the functions of the Council’s Integrated Transport Unit.

This matter had been deferred to a later meeting.

To consider and endorse an updated Sustainable Libraries Strategy.

Cabinet considered an updated Sustainable Libraries Strategy.

The Council was committed to retaining its libraries and to broaden their role to develop community hubs that appealed to a wider audience.

The updated Strategy defined the service priorities to ensure that the Council delivered a comprehensive, efficient and sustainable library service. These priorities included improved literacy, informal learning, digital inclusion, information provision, the development of community hubs and improved efficiency.

RESOLVED

That the Sustainable Libraries Strategy be endorsed.

To update Members regarding the report to Cabinet on 12^th November 2013: Cared for Children and Care Leavers.

Cabinet considered an updated report on Cared for Children and Care Leavers.

The Children and Families Scrutiny Task and Finish Group had completed a review of the 16 Plus service for Cared for Children and care leavers, the aim of the review being to look at how to improve the outcomes of some of the Borough’s most vulnerable young adults. The report had initially been presented to Cabinet in November 2013 and officers had been asked to review the recommendations and report on progress.

The updated report now before Members set out the various recommendations of the Care Leavers Review and the current state of progress in each case. Of over 50 recommendations, the vast majority of actions had now been completed.

Cabinet had requested the views of Officers in regard to recommendation 13.2.2: “That alongside the Lead Member for Corporate Parenting, a non-Executive Councillor, with no Chairmanship duties, be appointed as a ‘Cared for Children’ champion to liaise with cared for children and to drive through the Corporate Parenting agenda and to monitor the outcomes of the Task Group reports on cared for children. (p21 – para 7.4)”.

As all elected members were Corporate parents and the Council had a portfolio holder, it was felt that this particular recommendation should not be taken forward.

RESOLVED

That

1.    progress be noted in light of the recommendations from the work undertaken by the Task and Finish – Scrutiny group; and

2.    the recommendation not to pursue the appointment of a non-executive Councillor as a Cared for Children champion be endorsed.

To consider and endorse the Council’s Better Care Fund Plan.

Cabinet considered the Council’s Better Care Fund Plan.

The Better Care Fund had been announced by Government in June 2013 and provided an opportunity to transform local services so that people were provided with better integrated care and support.

The Cheshire East Better Care Plan united a shared vision of Cheshire East Council, NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group and South Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group, for improving outcomes for residents through improving how health and social care services worked together.

There was a requirement to submit the Council’s Better Care Plan to NHS England by the 4^th April. A first draft had been submitted in February. A revised draft was attached as Appendix 1.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    endorses the Better Care Fund Plan for submission to NHS England;

2.    notes the decision not to expand the Better Care Fund with additional resources from the partners at this time, but to keep under review the opportunities to incorporate further funding at a future date;

3.    endorses the commitment to providing the best possible care within the community and ensuring that local hospitals continue to play a key part within the continuum of care in Cheshire East, which supports people to live well and for longer in their local communities; and

4.    notes and endorses the amended decision of the Health and Wellbeing Board that for reasons associated with the Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group being identified as part of a ‘challenged economy’ by Monitor that separate operational plans are progressed using the Better Care Fund resources to drive the intended outcomes for residents via Connecting Care (South) and Caring Together (East).

To consider a report setting out proposals focussing on early intervention and building stronger communities.

Cabinet considered a report setting out proposals which focussed on early intervention and building stronger communities.

The approach focussed on how the Council delivered services as locally as possible to develop strong communities. There were five main strands: to develop a community engagement strategy; to promote and support community partnerships; to develop community hubs; to support Members in their front line role; and to establish strategic partnerships

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    agrees that this is a resident and partnership-led approach to creating stronger communities;

2.    agrees that the engagement of residents and partners, especially the faith and voluntary communities and their commitment and enthusiasm, be encouraged and supported;

3.    notes that the five main areas of focus as set out in Appendices A-E to the report are the right ones to pursue once the Council’s partners have been consulted; and

4.    notes that detailed papers on each area will be brought to Cabinet for discussion on progress on a six-monthly basis, or more frequently if there are significant items to report, following consultation with local residents.

To approve the co-ordinated scheme and admission arrangements for 2015 and subsequent years, subject to any review.

Cabinet considered the co-ordinated scheme and admission arrangements for 2015 and subsequent years.

The co-ordinated scheme (Annex 1 to the report), would apply to applications for places in all publicly funded mainstream primary and secondary schools (including academies) for the school year 2015-16.

The proposed admission arrangements (Annex 2) included the overall procedure, practices, criteria, published admission number and supplementary information to be used in deciding on the allocation of school places.

Current admission numbers and proposed changes for community and voluntary controlled schools for 2015 were set out in Appendix 1.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet approves

1.    the proposed coordinated admission scheme, which all local authorities are required by section 88M of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to have in place (Annex 1 to the report); and

2.    the proposed admission arrangements for Cheshire East community and controlled schools, which are the overall procedure, practices, criteria and supplementary information to be used in deciding on the allocation of school places (Annex 2).

To consider proposals to ensure continuity of service delivery during the transformation process relating to facilities management.

Cabinet considered proposals to ensure the continuity of service delivery during the transformation process relating to facilities management.

Under Major Change Project 7.5 – Asset Major Change, the Council would be considering options for the future delivery of all property-related services, building on the achievement of the Corporate Landlord model and the formation of the Development Company.

A number of facilities management contracts, which ensured that buildings could continue to operate, were due to expire within the next 12 months. In order to ensure continuity of service it would be necessary to publish a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union for such works.

Linked to the wider project, the report dealt with mechanisms that must be put in place to ensure that effective service delivery was maintained during the transformation process.

RESOLVED

That

1.    approval be given to publish a contract notice in the OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union);

2.    approval be given to the establishment of Facilities Management contracts or a Total Facilities Contract, should this be the most cost effective route following the tender process;

3.    delegated authority be granted to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assets, to award contracts to providers meeting the requirements of the Contract/s;

4.    delegated authority be granted to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assets, to abort the procurement, should the Contract no longer be required; and

5.    delegated authority be granted to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Assets, to utilise the Stockport Strategic Property Partnership on the basis of recommendations from Assets, Finance, Procurement and Legal Services.