To approve as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 18 March 2014.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

Councillors M Jones and Mrs Turner declared a personal interest in agenda item 17 ‘Biggleswade Medical Centre’ as they were patients at the Medical Centre.

Councillor Dalgarno declared a personal interest in agenda item 10 ‘Arlesey’ as he was a member of the Arlesey Residents’ Association.

The Chairman announced the following adjustments to the order of business:

·         item 10 ‘Arlesey’ would be considered after item 7 ‘Forward Plan’; and

·         item 11 ‘Outline Planning Thorn Turn’ after item 12 ‘The Future Management of Central Bedfordshire Council’s Residential Care Homes for Older People’.

No petitions were received.

There was one registered speaker who spoke under agenda item 10 ‘Arlesey’.

To receive the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 May 2014 to

30 April 2015.

That the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 May 2014 to 30 April 2015 be noted.

RESOLVED

that the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 May 2014 to 30 April 2015 be noted.

This report seeks approval to secure a partner to promote a planning application for the land east of High Street Arlesey and subsequent disposal of the Council’s assets in the open market.

1.      To authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to proceed in securing a partner to promote a planning application for the land east of High Street, Arlesey and progress a disposal of the Council’s assets in the open market.

2.      That, in agreeing the engagement of a promoter, the Council will need to brief the promoter on the Council’s expectations.  The Council will explore the need to invest in road and other infrastructure at an early date and how to phase the development to minimise disruption to the residents and businesses of Arlesey.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that sought approval to secure a partner to promote a planning application for the land east of High Street, Arlesey and subsequent disposal of the Council’s assets in the open market.

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources moved an additional recommendation, which was duly seconded:-

“that, in agreeing the engagement of a promoter, the Council would need to brief the promoter on the Council’s expectations.  The Council would explore the need to invest in road and other infrastructure at an early date and how to phase the development to minimise disruption to the residents and businesses of Arlesey.”

In accordance with the Public Participation Scheme a member of the public addressed the Executive:-

Mr Harper spoke on behalf of the Arlesey Residents’ Association in support of the proposed development scheme for Arlesey and welcomed the additional recommendation relating to the road.

Reason for decision:  The capital cost and potential capital receipt was potentially greater than £500,000 and therefore required Executive approval.

RESOLVED

1.      to authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to proceed in securing a partner to promote a planning application for the land east of High Street, Arlesey and progress a disposal of the Council’s assets in the open market; and

2.      that, in agreeing the engagement of a promoter, the Council would need to brief the promoter on the Council’s expectations.  The Council would explore the need to invest in road and other infrastructure at an early date and how to phase the development to minimise disruption to the residents and businesses of Arlesey.

Central Bedfordshire Council is a Lead Local Flood Authority and the report proposes as required by the 2010 Flood and Water Management Act the approval of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for Central Bedfordshire. 

That the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy be approved as Central Bedfordshire Council’s working strategy to manage local flood risk in Central Bedfordshire as required by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Services that proposed the approval of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for Central Bedfordshire.  The Strategy would enable the Council to manage local flood risk and would contribute and support the delivery of the Council’s priorities.  It was consistent with the objectives and guiding principles within the Environment Agency’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy and recognised the aspirations of other Risk Management Authorities. 

The Executive noted that the initial set up costs of the Sustainable Drainage Supplementary (SuDS) Approval Body would be met from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) grant and subsequent on going administration costs would be met from application fees received.

Reason for decision:  To allow actions to be progressed to enable the Council to meet its duties required under the Floods and Water Management Act 2010.

RESOLVED

that the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy be approved as Central Bedfordshire Council’s working strategy to manage local flood risk in Central Bedfordshire as required by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

To adopt the revised Sustainable Drainage Guidance as a Supplementary Planning Document.

1.         That the revised Sustainable Drainage Guidance be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document in support of current adopted planning policy and technical guidance for the purposes of development management in support of policy in the emerging Development Strategy.

2.         To authorise the Director of Regeneration and Business Support, in consultation with the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Economic Development, to make any minor amendments to the Sustainable Drainage Guidance prior to publication.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development that proposed the adoption of the revised Sustainable Drainage Guidance as a Supplementary Planning Document.  The guidance set out the Council’s expectations for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to be designed to provide not only drainage improvements, but also other planning policy requirements, including design quality, water quality and reuse, biodiversity, landscape and open space.

In response to a question, it was confirmed that the SuDS Approval Body would be responsible for adopting and maintaining the SuDS scheme through Section 106 Agreements.

Reason for decision:  To meet the Council’s priority of enhancing Central Bedfordshire – creating jobs, managing growth, protecting our countryside and enabling businesses to grow.

RESOLVED

1.         that the revised Sustainable Drainage Guidance be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document in support of current adopted planning policy and technical guidance for the purposes of development management in support of policy in the emerging Development Strategy; and

2.         to authorise the Director of Regeneration and Business Support, in consultation with the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Economic Development, to make any minor amendments to the Sustainable Drainage Guidance prior to publication.

The report proposes the transfer of the management of the seven residential care homes for older people, owned by the Council, to direct council management at the end of the contract with Bupa.

RECOMMENDED to Council

1.      To approve the transfer of the staff in the homes affected to the employment of Central Bedfordshire Council on 1 August 2014 in accordance with TUPE regulations.

2.      To approve the virement from the budget allocated to the Bupa Residential Homes Contract for the period August 2014 to March 2015 of £3,789,000 to a new budget heading of ‘Directly Managed Residential Homes for Older People’ under the Assistant Director, Adult Social Care; the subjective amounts in the budget were set out in paragraph 45 of the Executive report.

3       That it increases the budget estimate for income from Fees for Residential Care Homes by £302,000 for the period August 2014 to March 2015.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Social Care, Health and Housing that proposed the transfer of the management of the seven residential care homes for older people, owned by the Council, to the Council, given the notice received from Bupa to bring to an end the existing contract..  The Council was mindful of the need to provide continuity of care and reassurance to the residents of the homes, who were some of the most vulnerable members of the community and their relatives.  The net cost of the transfer of the homes’ staffing and management to Central Bedfordshire Council was estimated as broadly neutral.

Reason for decision:  To ensure the continued delivery of services to older people in the seven residential homes for older people owned by Central Bedfordshire Council.

RECOMMENDED to Council

1.      to approve the transfer of the staff in the homes affected to the employment of Central Bedfordshire Council on 1 August 2014 in accordance with TUPE regulations;

2.      to approve the virement from the budget allocated to the Bupa Residential Homes Contract for the period August 2014 to March 2015 of £3,789,000 to a new budget heading of ‘Directly Managed Residential Homes for Older People’ under the Assistant Director, Adult Social Care; the subjective amounts in the budget were set out in paragraph 45 of the Executive report; and

3.      that it increases the budget estimate for income from Fees for Residential Care Homes by £302,000 for the period August 2014 to March 2015.

This report seeks approval to pursue an outline planning application for the Thorn turn site for employment uses and explore potential synergies with the proposed new waste transfer facility.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that sought approval to pursue an outline planning application for the Thorn Turn site for employment uses and explore potential synergies with the proposed new waste transfer facility.  If planning consent was secured, the disposal of the employment land would be progressed.  Any design issues or planning constraints would be considered by the Development Management Committee.

Reason for decision:  Any amendment to the existing Deed of Easement might have a financial impact to the Council in excess of £500,000 and required Executive approval.

RESOLVED

1.      to pursue an outline planning application for the Thorn Turn employment land (Option 1); and

2.      to authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to seek best consideration for the employment land (including timing of receipts ‘Option 1b’) through the disposal on the open market.

The report proposes to implement a contract for the supply of specialist professional services which is available through the North East Procurement Organisation framework.

1.         That the implementation of the North East Purchasing Organisation (NEPO) framework contract for the neutral provision of specialist professional services be approved.

2.         To authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to award the contract, following presentations to assess organisational fit and best value.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that proposed a contract for the supply of specialist professional services through the North East Procurement Organisation framework.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to continue to source specialist professional services, as required, in a new and more commercially compliant way for the period of the framework which ends on 16 September 2015 and with the option to extend for a period of up to a further year.  This would contribute to the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Plan 2014/15.

RESOLVED

1.            that the implementation of the North East Purchasing Organisation (NEPO) framework contract for the neutral provision of specialist professional services be approved; and

2.         to authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to award the contract, following presentations to assess organisational fit and best value.

To consider whether to pass a resolution under section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the Press and Public from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that the consideration of the items is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 and 4 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED

that in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

This report contains the financial and business affairs to seek approval to pursue an outline planning application for the Thorn Turn site for employment uses and explore potential synergies with the proposed new waste transfer facility.

1.      To pursue an outline planning application for the Thorn Turn employment land (Option 1).

2.      To authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to seek best consideration for the employment land (including timing of receipts ‘Option 1b’) through the disposal on the open market.

See minute E/13/162 for further details.

To receive the exempt Appendix for the buying organisation framework to access the services of NEPRO to provide neutral vendor services to Central Bedfordshire Council in the provision and management of independent contractors/consultants and consultancies.

See minute E/13/163 for further details.

The report proposes the conversion of the Council owned Acorn Centre in Biggleswade into a dedicated GP primary care medical centre, which will be let on a commercial basis to the Ivel Medical Centre Practice.

1.         That the project target cost of £1.4m funded from the Capital Programme be noted (this is the best estimate but it is still subject to tender in the open market.)

2.         To authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to negotiate the terms of the Agreement for Lease, and the Lease.

3.         To authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to enter into a Build Contract and Agreement for Lease with the Ivel Medical Centre, subject to the satisfactory drafting and execution of the Contract / Agreement by Legal Services.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that proposed the conversion of the Council owned Acorn Centre in Biggleswade into a dedicated GP primary care medical centre, which would be let on a commercial basis to the Ivel Medical Centre Practice.

Reason for decision:  To safeguard primary care services, improve asset performance and secure an annual rental income.

RESOLVED

1.      that the project target cost of £1.4m funded from the Capital Programme be noted (this is the best estimate but it is still subject to tender in the open market.);

2.      to authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to negotiate the terms of the Agreement for Lease, and the Lease;

3.      to authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources, to enter into a Build Contract and Agreement for Lease with the Ivel Medical Centre, subject to the satisfactory drafting and execution of the Contract / Agreement by Legal Services.

The report proposes to ‘call off’ the supply of agency and interim workers available through a framework contract with the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation.

1.         To approve the ‘call off’ of a supplier from the Managed Services for Temporary Agency Resource framework available through the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation.

2.         To authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources,  to award the contract, following presentations to assess organisational fit and best value.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that proposed to ‘call off’ the supply of agency and interim workers through a framework contract with the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to continue to source agency and interim workers, as required, for a period of up to three years with the option to extend for up to a further year.  This would contribute to the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Plan 2014/15.

RESOLVED

1.         to approve the ‘call off’ of a supplier from the Managed Services for Temporary Agency Resource framework available through the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation; and

2.         to authorise the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources,  to award the contract, following presentations to assess organisational fit and best value.