Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded members of the need to declare known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.

Further to his comments at the last meeting regarding the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower block fire in London, and recognising the national concern about renovation works to high-rise blocks of flats and general fire safety measures in place for all buildings, the Leader of the Council read out to the meeting a statement regarding providing an update of the position in Swindon. A copy of the Leader’s statement is attached to the minutes at Appendix 1. 

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th June 2017.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th June 2017 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Mr Tim French, a resident of the Borough, asked about the Council’s intentions with regard to the future replacement of its minibus fleet. The Leader of the Council advised that a written response would be provided.

Certain items are expected to include the consideration of exempt information and the Cabinet is, therefore, recommended to resolve "That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to in the items listed below, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act".

Resolved – That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded during the discussion of the matters referred to in the item listed below, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

            Item No.                      Paragraph No.          Minute No.

                10                                        3                            24

Councillor Russell Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Commercialisation, and the Corporate Director, Resources and Transformation, submitted a joint report presenting the 2017-18 Revenue Budget forecast out-turn and a Capital Programme update.

Councillor Jim Grant, the Leader of the Opposition, referred to the status of key budget risks, and asked, specifically, about the expected shortfall on the small scale house development building and the progress of the Euclid Street site development. Councillor Holland and Councillor Oliver Donachie, the Cabinet Member for the Economy and Skills, responded to the questions at the meeting.

Resolved – (1) That the projected Revenue Budget out-turn position for 2017-18, set out in Table 1 and Appendix 1 of the report, be noted.

(2) That the use of the budget risk contingency of £4.183m to mitigate the projected shortfall arising on the high risk savings proposals be approved.

(3) That the virements set out in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

(4) That the use of the capital reserve to meet the infrastructure costs of establishing the new libraries operating model, as set out in paragraphs 3.12 and 3.13 of the report, be approved.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.

Councillors Fionuala Foley, the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and School Attainment, and Mary Martin, the Cabinet Member for Communities and Place, and the Head of Education and the Head of Highways and Transport, submitted a joint report setting out the Council’s legal duties in relation to Education Transport and the results of the consultation on options for post 16 transport for mainstream students and students with a Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND). It was noted that the Education Transport Policy proposed for approval would be implemented for pupils attending education establishments from the start of the academic year 2018/19.

Councillor Foley advised the meeting that the figure in paragraph 5.1.2 of the covering report had been corrected following agenda despatch, that the amount of £3.2m should read £2.7m. She then presented the report, highlighting particular changes made to the policy with regard to the continuation of automatic discretionary subsidised support for pupils in the Ridegway area, and in the decision not to introduce an annual contribution from parents for post-16 SEND pupils’ travel, both of which had been made in direct response to the consultation feedback.  Councillor Mary Martin and the Leader commented on the detail of the report and the effectiveness of the consultation process undertaken in support of the review, with the Leader making particular reference to the effect of consultation outcomes in shaping the policy recommendations.

Resolved – (1) That the analysis of the consultation undertaken on the options for post 16 transport for mainstream students and students with a Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND), attached at appendix 1 to the report, be noted.

(2) That the proposed Education Transport Policy 2018/19, attached to the report at Appendix 2, be approved, including:

·        Changes to remove automatic discretionary subsidised support for pupils accessing mainstream Post 16 education, with the exception of the transport from the Ridgeway transport area to the Ridgeway 6th form for reasons set out in the body of the report, in response to the consultation and the need for young people to be able to access education the transport arrangements are maintained with an annual contribution of £495 (this is detailed within Part 1 of the report from paragraph 3.13 to paragraph 3.19).

·        Changes relating to Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND) 16 years to 25 years travel to offer a Personal Travel Budget (PTB), a bus pass. Options to increase independent travel training and more personal travel arrangements will be explored, but in response to the consultation there will be no introduction of an annual contribution from parents. (this is detailed within Part 2 of the report from paragraph 3.20 to paragraph 3.37).

(3) That the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Digitalisation be authorised to investigate and establish methods such as a travel app to assist parents when taking up personalised travel budgets.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.

In accordance with the requirement of the Council’s Debt Management Policy, Councillor Russell Holland, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Commercialisation, and the Director of Law & Democratic Services and the Head of Revenues & Benefits, submitted the annual report of debts written off in 2016/17.

Councillor Holland informed members that discussions were being held with the Department of Work and Pensions on how the Universal Credit was affecting the rate of housing rent arrears.

Resolved – That it be noted that:

1.    The Collection rates for Council Tax and Miscellaneous Incomes improved in the financial year 2016/7, whilst the collection rates for Business Rates and Housing Rents reduced. All collection rates remain above average compared to other Unitary Authorities.

2.    The work being undertaken to reduce Council Tax recovery proceedings and the use of Enforcement Agents has led to a 38% reduction in the number of summonses issued (a fall of 5,382) in the last 3 years. The number of referrals to bailiffs did increase slightly in 2016/7, but is still lower than in the financial years 2013/14 and 2014/15.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.

Councillor Brian Ford, the Cabinet Member for Adults’ Health and Social Care, and the Director of Law and Democratic Services, submitted joint report inviting Cabinet to consider references from the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board held on 24^th May 2017 regarding (i) the development by NHS England and its partners of a toolkit to help health and social care organisations work together in identifying, assessing and supporting the wellbeing of carers and their families, this including a template Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) that local partners can use to help us work together in supporting Carers of all ages and their families, and (ii) the Better Care Fund planning process and resource allocation.

In response to a question by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ford expanded on how the Council was working with the Clinical Commissioning Group to ensure the most effective use the Better Care Fund.

Resolved – (1) That the intentions and principles of the Carers Memorandum of Understanding be supported.

(2) That, with reference to the Better Care Fund 2017-19:

a)   The proposed spend on the additional funding of £2.914m as outlined in the Spring Budget 2017 be agreed.

b)   The Director of Adult Services be authorised to produce the Better Care Fund Plan, in conjunction with the Accountable Officer of the Clinical Commissioning Group, in line with statutory guidance published by NHS England with the level of adult social care spending protected in line with spend in 2016/17 plus inflation of 1.79%.

c)    The Director of Adult Services, the Director of Finance (Section 151 Officert), and the Director of Law and Democratic Services be authorised to update the National Health Services 2004 Section 75 Agreement with the Better Care Fund agreed funding.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.

(To Follow)

Councillor Toby Elliott, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Sustainability, and the Corporate Director, Economy, Regeneration and Skills, submitted a joint report proposing a collaboration between the Council and a major local business partner to develop a Council owned site in South East Swindon to provide good quality housing across a mix of tenures and investment in the community to maximise the benefits delivered through the residential development.

Councillor Emma Bushell, representing Walcot and Park North, and Councillor Jim Grant, the Leader of the Opposition, asked questions about engagement with Ward Members and the local community regarding the report proposals and other local projects and opportunities to use the same collaborative arrangements to facilitate developments elsewhere. Councillor Elliott responded to the questions at the meeting.

Resolved – (1) That the Head of Property Assets, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Sustainability, and the Corporate Director for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills, be authorised to negotiate terms for an option agreement with the business partner identified in the report for the disposal to the partner of the site identified in the plan attached as an Appendix to the report, on the terms set out in the main body of the report and subject to Cabinet agreeing the final terms.

(2) That the Director of Law and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Sustainability, Corporate Director for the Economy, Regeneration and Skills, and the Head of Property Assets, be authorised to enter into such necessary legal agreements to effect the transaction in order to protect the Council’s interests and in compliance with Procurement and State Aid rules.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.