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.

The Chairman, Councillor Rachel Bailey, declared a non-pecuniary interest in an item on the agenda relating to the sale of Redsands, Nantwich. She signalled her intention to vacate the chair and leave the meeting when the matter was considered.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relevant to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

Sue Helliwell referred to an announcement by NatWest Bank that it would be closing its Alsager branch in May. She said that the residents of Alsager would be very pleased if Councillors P Groves, D Stockton, P Bates and

A Arnold could help in trying to get the bank to reconsider its position. A residents’ meeting had been arranged for 20^th January at 6.30 pm and the Cabinet members were invited to attend. A meeting had already been held with Fiona Bruce MP who had been supportive.

Councillor P Groves suggested that the four Cabinet members in question write a joint letter of support to NatWest Bank, asking the Bank to reconsider its decision. The Chairman added that the Council would liaise with the local MP on the matter. Councillor P Bates supported Councillor Groves’ suggestion and indicated that he would be happy to attend the residents’ meeting if his diary allowed.

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 D Flude referred to the recent closure of a care home in Alsager. She thanked Councillor J Clowes and the relevant social work team for the smooth transition of the people who had to be moved from the home and for the ongoing support for those people, and for looking at and reviewing the Council’s policy in this area. The Chairman noted that local ward members had also expressed their thanks. Councillor Clowes thanked Councillor Flude for her kind words which she would pass on to the team in question.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th December 2016.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th December 2016 be approved as a correct record.

To consider an update on the changes being brought in by the Government to apprenticeships and specifically the introduction of an apprenticeship levy. The report also seeks approval to establish a procurement framework for apprenticeship training providers.

Cabinet considered a report on the Government’s proposals for apprenticeships and on the introduction of an apprenticeship levy. The report sought approval to establish a procurement framework for apprenticeship training providers.

Cabinet had regard to the final report and recommendations of the Apprenticeships Task and Finish Group (March 2016) which had been appended to the Cabinet report.

The Chairman acknowledged the clear cross-party support for apprenticeships and commented that the work of the Skills and Growth Company in this area was second to none.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    notes the changes being introduced  by the Government to apprenticeships, and specifically the introduction of an apprenticeship levy;

2.    approves the development of a register of training providers for the delivery of apprenticeships from April 2017 via a formal OJEU tendering process; and

3.    authorises the Head of Strategic HR, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Policy and Legal Services, to award and enter into contracts with the successful providers, following a fully compliant OJEU procurement exercise for contract periods covering an initial period of 3 years with the option to extend the contract for a further 2 years (Total 5 years).

To consider a report seeking approval to bring forward the Phase 3 Gainshare Broadband Project to extend fibre broadband coverage.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the Phase 3 Gainshare Broadband Project to extend fibre broadband coverage throughout the Borough.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning advised that whilst this was a BT project, the Council could signpost those rural areas of the Borough where there was a particular need for superfast Broadband coverage. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Integration advised that the Council would be supportive of any rural communities which decided to take a more proactive approach to achieving superfast Broadband coverage for their area.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves a contract change to the Superfast Extension Project contract held with BT, which will commit £3.34m from the reinvestment fund to extend the rollout of superfast broadband to an additional 5387 premises by June 2018;

2.    authorises the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure and the Chief Operating Officer, to invest any future additional funds accumulated in the reinvestment fund to further the rollout of superfast broadband; and

3.    authorises the Director of Legal Services to enter into any necessary legal documentation to give effect to the above recommendations.

To consider a report seeking approval of the approach to procuring the Council’s next Highway Service Contract.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval of the approach to procuring the Council’s next Highway Service Contract.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    authorises the Executive Director Place, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Highways and Infrastructure, to progress the process for procuring a new Highway Service Contract for the Council;

2.    approves the establishment of a pre-procurement advisory cross-party Member Panel, the composition of which will be determined by the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Infrastructure, to make informal recommendations to the Portfolio Holder in respect of priorities for the Contract;

3.    notes that the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee will receive a report on the suggested procurement approach to allow its recommendations to be considered by Cabinet before a decision is made;

4.    notes the establishment of an officer Project Board involving key staff from other Council service areas in delivering the Contract, including Legal, Finance, HR, Assets, Procurement and external advisers;

5.    notes that the funding allocations are in place to develop and deliver a new Highway Service Contract; and

6.    notes that the decision on contract model, duration and procurement route will be brought back to Cabinet for approval following completion of the tender process, and that Cabinet will also approve the award of contract to the preferred/recommended provider.

To consider a report which seeks approval for the re-procurement of three Nurseries in Crewe.

Cabinet considered the re-procurement of three Nurseries in Crewe. The nurseries were located at Oak Tree/Underwood West, The Brooks and Monks Coppenhall. 

Councillor D Flude declared a non-pecuniary interest on the basis that one of the nurseries was located at the site of a school where she was the chairman of governors.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    approves the re-procurement of the three Nurseries on their current sites and that the requirement for crèche facilities within the specification be extended beyond the three Crewe Nursery sites to support the programme of activities across Cheshire East;

2.    authorises the Executive Director People and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children and Families, to undertake the procurement process, award contracts and take all necessary steps to mobilise the contract; and

3.    authorises the Director of Legal Services to enter in to the contract with the successful bidder together with any ancillary legal documentation required including the granting or taking of leases, underleases and licence agreements (after having consulted with the Head of Assets in respect of any property agreements).    

To consider a report on the revision of the Council’s Code of Corporate Governance to ensure compliance with updated best practice guidance from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants and Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (CIPFA/SOLACE).

Cabinet considered a report on the revision of the Council’s Code of Corporate Governance to ensure compliance with updated best practice guidance from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants and Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.

The revised Code had been considered by the Audit and Governance Committee at its meeting on 8^th December 2016 and the Committee had recommended that Cabinet adopt the revised Code subject to an amendment to Core Principle E; the amendment had been included in the report to Cabinet. The Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee, Councillor G Baxendale, attended the Cabinet meeting and spoke on the matter.

RESOLVED

That subject to the revisions shown as track changes in Appendix A to the report, Cabinet notes the recommendation and associated comments of the Audit and Governance Committee and:

1.    adopts the revised Code of Corporate Governance (Appendix A, as amended) to ensure that the Council adheres to best practice in its governance arrangements;

2.    notes that the Annual Governance Statement will be used to report publically on the extent to which the Council has complied with its adopted Code; and

3.    notes that the Code will be reviewed and updated as necessary in the light of operational experience.

The Chairman, having declared an interest at the beginning of the meeting, vacated the chair and left the meeting, it having been proposed and seconded that Councillor J P Findlow be appointed Chairman for the remainder of the meeting.

RESOLVED

That Councillor J P Findlow be appointed Chairman for the remainder of the meeting.

Councillor J P Findlow in the chair

To consider a report on the sale of the former children’s home.

Cabinet considered a report on the sale Redsands, Nantwich, a former children’s home which was now surplus to requirements and had been vacant since 2009. 

The Property had been marketed for sale by Engine of the North on behalf of the Council and it was proposed that the Council accept an offer by Richmond Care Villages Holdings Limited to develop the property as a specialist centre of excellence for dementia care which would operate as a satellite campus to their existing care village in Nantwich. 

RESOLVED

That the Executive Director Place be authorised to advertise the intention to dispose of the land in accordance with the Local Government Act should any of the land be identified as open space and the consultations be considered by the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and approve the freehold disposal of the former Redsands Children’s Home, Nantwich as shown edged red on the plan attached to the report to Richmond Care Villages Holdings Limited, or to a group company, on terms to be agreed by the Executive Director Place in consultation with the Director of Legal Services, the Chief Operating Officer, the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration.