To approve as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 5 February 2019.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

None were declared.

To receive any matters of communication from the Chairman.

Item 13 ‘Recommissioning Arrangements for Supervised Contact for Looked after Children’ would be considered after item 17 ‘Quarter 3 Performance Report 2018/19’.

To consider petitions received in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.  The following e-petition has been submitted:

·         Public Health concerns regarding the Recycling Operations at Totternhoe.  The petition has received 253 signatures.

The petition on public health concerns regarding the recycling operations at Totternhoe had been deferred to the Executive meeting on 11 June 2019.

To respond to general questions and statements from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.

No members of the public had registered to speak.

To receive the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020.

That the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020 be noted.

RESOLVED

that the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020 be noted.

To seek approval for the proposed expansion to Edward Peake Church of England VC Middle School and commitment to the required capital expenditure.

1.         That the new school places required in Biggleswade, through the expansion of Edward Peake Church of England VC Middle School, Potton Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SG18 0EJ by 2 forms of entry (60 places in each year group) for September 2020, be approved to meet the Council’s statutory duty under The Education and Inspections Act 2006.

2.         That the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, be authorised to approve the commencement of capital expenditure as set out in this report, subject to the granting of planning permissions under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children that provided the outcome of the preliminary and statutory consultations undertaken on the proposal to expand Edward Peake Middle School, Biggleswade by 2 forms of entry (60 places in each year group) by September 2020.

The report sought approval of the proposed expansion and commitment to the required capital expenditure.  It was noted that there was no net cost to the Council for the proposed expansion.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to provide local schools for local children and to support the expansion of local popular and successful schools.

RESOLVED

1.         that the new school places required in Biggleswade, through the expansion of Edward Peake Church of England VC Middle School, Potton Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SG18 0EJ by 2 forms of entry (60 places in each year group) for September 2020, be approved to meet the Council’s statutory duty under The Education and Inspections Act 2006; and

2.         that the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, be authorised to approve the commencement of capital expenditure as set out in the report, subject to the granting of planning permissions under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act.

To inform the Executive of the priorities and knowledge gap agreed by Central Bedfordshire Community Safety Partnership using the partnership Strategic Assessment.  

1.      That the Council confirms its support for:

(a)     the priorities and ‘Knowledge Gap’ identified for Central Bedfordshire for 2019-2021:

Ø  Priority One – Ending Exploitation

Ø  Priority Two – Tackling Domestic & Sexual Abuse

Ø  Knowledge Gap – Prevalence & Impact of Substance Misuse

(b)     the delivery of Central Bedfordshire’s Community Safety Partnership Strategy 2019-2021.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Community Services that set out the priorities and knowledge gap agreed by the Central Bedfordshire Community Safety Partnership, using the partnership Strategic Assessment. 

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to confirm its support of the priorities and knowledge gap as a proactive partner in reducing crime and disorder, responding to residents’ concerns and fulfilling its statutory duty.

RESOLVED

1.      that the Council confirms its support for:

(a)     the priorities and ‘Knowledge Gap’ identified for Central Bedfordshire for 2019-2021:

Ø  Priority One – Ending Exploitation

Ø  Priority Two – Tackling Domestic & Sexual Abuse

Ø  Knowledge Gap – Prevalence & Impact of Substance Misuse

(b)     the delivery of Central Bedfordshire’s Community Safety Partnership Strategy 2019-2021.

To outline the new proposed local arrangements to establish the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

That the proposed Central Bedfordshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements be approved.

The Executive considered a report from the Independent Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board that set out the proposed Central Bedfordshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements for publication on 29 June 2019 and implementation on 1 September 2019.  The local safeguarding arrangements had been reviewed following the publication of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018.

Reason for decision:  To comply with legislation that places responsibility on the Police, the local Clinical Commissioning Group and Local Authorities to establish and put in place multi-agency arrangements for safeguarding children. 

RESOLVED

that the proposed Central Bedfordshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements be approved.

The purpose of this report, and its submission to Executive, is to request approval for the procurement of a Multidisciplinary Design and Project Management partner for Capital Construction Schemes.

1.         That the approach to procuring a Multidisciplinary Design and Project Management partner be approved.

2.         That the Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery, be authorised to issue an invitation to tender and award the contract(s) to the most economically advantageous tenderer.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery that sought approval for the procurement of a Multidisciplinary Design and Project Management partner for Capital Construction Schemes.

In response to a question, the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery confirmed that the 1% fee would be based on the consultancy element only.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to source the necessary capacity to meet the needs of the Council in terms of its Capital Programme.

RESOLVED

1.         that the approach to procuring a Multidisciplinary Design and Project Management partner be approved; and

2.         that the Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery, be authorised to issue an invitation to tender and award the contract(s) to the most economically advantageous tenderer.

To seek approval to award the contract for the repairs, maintenance and roof replacement programme to the Council’s housing stock.

That the award of the most economically advantageous tender to Contractor B, as set out in the exempt Appendix A, for the delivery of the repairs, maintenance and capital works programme to the Council’s housing stock for roofing works, be approved.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Adults, Social Care and Housing Operations that sought approval to award the contract for the repairs, maintenance and roof replacement programme to the Council’s housing stock.

Reason for decision:  To ensure that the Council’s housing stock was well maintained.  Contractor B had demonstrated the technical ability and alliancing approach necessary to deliver the programme and had submitted a competitive tender.

RESOLVED

that the award of the most economically advantageous tender to Contractor B, as set out in the exempt Appendix A, for the delivery of the repairs, maintenance and capital works programme to the Council’s housing stock for roofing works, be approved.

To report the quarter 3 revenue budget monitoring 2018/19.

1.      That the revenue forecast outturn position of an overspend of £1.9M (before the release of the contingency), be noted.

2.      That the budget includes £2.1M of contingency against which no call has yet been made.  If this contingency is released, then this results in an underspend of £0.2M.

3.      To request officers to continue to look for compensatory savings in order to deliver a balanced budget (before contingency).

4.      That the Chief Executive and the Director of Resources (s.151 Officer), in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources, be authorised to approve the 2018/19 revenue, capital and HRA provisional financial outturn positions, subject to audit, as set out in paragraphs 1-3 in the report.

5.      That this delegation is subject to the final outturn position not being more than 1% over/under net budget.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that set out the forecast outturn position as at December 2018.

Members noted that the year-end forecast was again for a slight underspend, maintaining the 8 year track record of Central Bedfordshire Council achieving its budget. The Deputy Leader and the Executive Member for Corporate Resources and the Chairman passed on their thanks to officers.

Reason for decision:  To facilitate effective financial management and planning.

RESOLVED

1.      that the revenue forecast outturn position of an overspend of £1.9M (before the release of the contingency), be noted;

2.      that the budget includes £2.1M of contingency against which no call had yet been made.  If this contingency was released, then this results in an underspend of £0.2M;

3.      to request officers to continue to look for compensatory savings in order to deliver a balanced budget (before contingency);

4.      that the Chief Executive and the Director of Resources (s.151 Officer), in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources, be authorised to approve the 2018/19 revenue, capital and HRA provisional financial outturn positions, subject to audit, as set out in paragraphs 1-3 in the report; and

5.      that this delegation was subject to the final outturn position not being more than 1% over/under net budget.

To report the quarter 2 capital budget monitoring 2018/19 report.

1.         That the capital gross forecast outturn position is a spend of £87.7M (£63.2M in 2017/18), demonstrating the continued significant capital investment made by Central Bedfordshire to support its community.

2.         That the forecast overspend on the Highways Depot South/Highways Structural Maintenance that will be confirmed in the outturn report, be noted.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that set out the capital forecast outturn position as at December 2018.

Reason for decision:  To facilitate effective financial management and planning.

RESOLVED

1.      that the capital gross forecast outturn position was a spend of £87.7M (£63.2M in 2017/18), demonstrating the continued significant capital investment made by Central Bedfordshire to support its community; and

2.      that the forecast overspend on the Highways Depot South/Highways Structural Maintenance that would be confirmed in the outturn report, be noted.

To report the quarter 3 housing revenue account budget monitoring 2018/19.

1.      That the revenue forecast of a balanced budget with a contribution to HRA Reserves of £6.491M, be noted thus strengthening the Council’s ability to invest and improve its stock of Council Houses.

2.      That the capital forecast position indicates a net outturn of £18.42M, representing a positive variance against budget of £25.13M, with proposals for slippage of £6.71M.

3.      That Right to Buy (RtB) sales be monitored for the possible impact on predicted surpluses in the medium to longer term.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that set out the Housing Revenue Account projected outturn revenue and capital position as at December 2018.

Reason for decision:  To facilitate effective financial management and planning.

RESOLVED

1.      that the revenue forecast of a balanced budget with a contribution to HRA Reserves of £6.491M, be noted thus strengthening the Council’s ability to invest and improve its stock of Council Houses;

2.      that the capital forecast position indicates a net outturn of £18.42M, representing a positive variance against budget of £25.13M, with proposals for slippage of £6.71M; and

3.      that Right to Buy (RtB) sales be monitored for the possible impact on predicted surpluses in the medium to longer term.

To receive the 2018/19 quarter 3 performance monitoring report.

1.      That performance against the indicators currently being used to help support the monitoring of progress against the Medium-Term Plan priorities, be noted.

2.         That officers be requested to further investigate and resolve underperforming indicators as appropriate.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that set out the 2018/19 Quarter 3 performance update for the Council’s Medium-Term Plan indicator set.

Reason for decision:  To ensure a rigours approach to performance management across Central Bedfordshire.

RESOLVED

1.      that performance against the indicators currently being used to help support the monitoring of progress against the Medium-Term Plan priorities, be noted; and

2.         that officers be requested to further investigate and resolve underperforming indicators as appropriate.

To update Executive Members on the outcome of recommissioning arrangements for Supervised Contact for Looked after Children and to seek approval for the decision to award the new contract for April 2019-March 2024 to the successful tenderer.

That the award of the contract to Contractor A, as specified in the exempt Appendix A, be approved.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children that set out the outcome of the recommissioning arrangements for Supervised Contact for Looked after Children and sought approval to award the Contract for April 2019 to March 2024 to the successful tenderer.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to have in place arrangements for Supervised Contact for Looked after Children.

RESOLVED

that the award of the contract to Contractor A, as specified in the exempt Appendix A, be approved.

To receive the exempt Appendix.

Minute E/18/143 related to exempt business.  See minute E/18/137.

To receive the exempt Appendix.

Minute E/18/144 related to exempt business.  See minute E/18/142.