Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That in the absence of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Councillor P Mason be appointed as Chairman for the meeting,

Apologies were received from Councillor R Domleo and Councillor B Dowding.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any personal and/or prejudicial interests in any item on the agenda

No declarations of interest were made.

Members of the public wishing to address the Joint Extra Care Housing Management Board on reports contained within the agenda for the meeting shall be given the opportunity to do so subject to:-

1          the opportunity being extended to one person to speak in support of each agenda item and one person to speak against each agenda item when called to do so by the Chairman;

2          an indication of the desire to speak on the agenda item being made by the person just prior to the meeting and the name supplied to the Democratic Services Officer in attendance.  The first person registering to have precedence in the event of more than one person wishing to speak either for or against the agenda item;

3          each person addressing the Joint Extra Care Housing Management Board being limited to three minutes speech;

4          an opportunity being provided for an expression of a contrary view, event though no prior notice has been given, when a member of the public has spoken for or against the item;

5          in the event of the person having registered to speak on an agenda item not wishing to take up their right to speak on the agenda item because it was deferred, the person will automatically be given the right to speak on the agenda item at the next meeting of the Joint Extra Care Housing Management Board;

6          the Chairman of the meeting having discretion to rule that a person wishing to address the meeting shall not be heard if, in his/her opinion, that issues or the organisation or the person wishing to make the representations on that issue had received an adequate hearing,

There were no members of the public present.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2010 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2010 be approved as a correct record.

To receive an update on the application for funding for the Round 5 Extra Care Housing PFI and consider the future of Joint Extra Care Housing Management Board.

Consideration was given to a report which detailed the position with the application for funding for Round 5 Extra Care Housing PFI.

On 22 November 2010 the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) had announced the withdrawal of funding support for PFI pipeline projects and stated that they were not able to offer continued support for the Round 5 Extra Care Housing Project.  It was also stated that the HCA would work with Authorities to consider future options.

Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council had incurred considerable costs in the development of the Outline Business Case and provision of information for the HCA.  The costs were currently estimated at £400k and would be shared 50/50 between both Councils.  Discussions were ongoing with the HCA with regard to these costs.  It was agreed that the Board would write to the HCA, outlining their concerns about the withdrawal of the financial support.

The future role of the Joint Extra Care Housing Management Board was discussed and it was agreed that the Board should meet in 6 months time to receive a report on the progress with the Round 3 Extra Care Housing Scheme.

The contracts for the Round 3 Scheme were held jointly and severally by Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council.  Serving the contracts was not an option as it would constitute a substantial change to the terms and conditions and could be open to challenge under the Public Contracts Regulations 2006.  In order to facilitate the efficient management of Round 3 Schemes it was agreed that an Inter Authority Agreement be drawn up. 

RESOLVED:

1          The withdrawal of funding for the Round 5 Extra Care Housing Project be noted and a letter be sent to the HCA.

2          The Joint Extra Care Housing Management Board to meet in 6 months time and the current terms of reference be updated.

3          An Inter Authority Agreement to cover the management of the Round 3 PFI Scheme be agreed and entered into by the respective Councils.