To approve as a correct record, the Minutes of the meetings of the Executive held on 3 April 2018 and 10 May 2018.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meetings held on 3 April 2018 and 10 May 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

None were declared.

Item 14 ‘Cranfield Community Building’ had been withdrawn.

To consider petitions received in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.

None were received.

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 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.

That the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 be noted.

RESOLVED

that the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 be noted.

To approve the Temporary Accommodation Placement Policy.

That the Transitional Accommodation Placement Policy be approved.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Adults, Social Care and Housing Operations that set out the draft Transitional Accommodation Placement Policy.  There was a desire to place all homeless households in suitable properties within, or in close proximity to Central Bedfordshire, but where that was not possible the policy clarified how the Council would prioritise households for placement in Central Bedfordshire, neighbouring areas, or further afield, recognising that there were instances where a placement out of area was beneficial.

Reason for decision:  To provide a rationale and clarity on how the Council would make temporary and interim accommodation placements to suitable properties.

RESOLVED

that the Transitional Accommodation Placement Policy be approved.

The decision was unanimous.

To agree the response of the Executive to the outcomes of the scrutiny enquiry into Integration of Health and Social Care II as received at the previous Executive meeting on 3 April 2018.

That the Executive’s response to the enquiry into Integration of Health and Social Care in Central Bedfordshire, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Members for Health and for Adults, Social Care and Housing Operations that set out the Executive’s response to Phase 2 of the Social Care, Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny enquiry into integration of health and social care in Central Bedfordshire.

In response to a question, the Executive Member for Health explained that West Mid Bedfordshire had been identified as a future location for an integrated health and care hub.  It was unlikely that the hub would be developed until the major housing developments in the area had been built.  In the meantime, consideration would be given to developing a ‘spoke’ in the Cranfield area.

Reason for decision:  To enable the recommendations, where applicable, to be implemented.

RESOLVED 

that the Executive’s response to the enquiry into Integration of Health and Social Care in Central Bedfordshire, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved.

The decision was unanimous.

To provide Members with the outcomes of the scrutiny enquiry into pupil attainment in Central Bedfordshire as reported to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

1.         That the report and recommendations of the enquiry, set out in Appendix A to the report, be noted.

2.         That a response to the report be submitted to the Executive for consideration within two months indicating what action, if any, it proposed to take and if it decided to take no action, the reasons for that decisions.

The Executive considered a report from Councillor Nicols that set out the outcomes of the scrutiny enquiry into pupil attainment in Central Bedfordshire, as reported to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The enquiry considered the following elements:

·         minimising the impact of deprivation on children, speech and language difficulties and the use/management of the pupil premium;

·         the recruitment and retention of good quality teaching staff;

·         governor training; and

·         the education journey of the child in Central Bedfordshire.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Executive to review the recommendations emerging from the enquiry before determining its response.

RESOLVED

1.         that the report and recommendations of the enquiry, set out in Appendix A to the report, be noted; and

2.         that a response to the report be submitted to the Executive for consideration within two months indicating what action, if any, it proposed to take and if it decided to take no action, the reasons for that decisions.

The decision was unanimous.

To seek Executive support for the application from Church End Lower School, Marston Moretaine to the Department for Education, under Section 10 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, as amended by the Education Act 2011, for a change of designation from a Foundation School to a Church of England Voluntary Controlled School.

1.         That the favourable responses to the preliminary consultation carried out by the school be noted and that the application from Church End Lower School to the DfE for the consideration of a change of designation from a Foundation school to a Voluntary Controlled school, be supported.

2.         That subject to approval by the DfE, the statutory process to be carried out by the school, which would require publication of a statutory notice followed by formal consultation of at least four weeks, be supported.

3.         That determination for the proposed change of designation be made by the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, if responses to the formal consultation were favourable. If responses to the formal consultation were not favourable, the determination to be made by the Executive.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children that sought support for the application from Church End Lower School, Marston Moretaine to the Department for Education (DfE) for a change of designation from a Foundation school to a Church of England Voluntary Controlled school.

Reason for decision:  Following the favourable response to the school’s statutory consultation, to support the application to the DfE for the Church End Lower School to change its designation to become a Church of England Voluntary Controlled school.

RESOLVED

1.         that the favourable responses to the preliminary consultation carried out by the school be noted and that the application from Church End Lower School to the DfE for the consideration of a change of designation from a Foundation school to a Voluntary Controlled school, be supported;

2.         that subject to approval by the DfE, the statutory process to be carried out by the school, which would require publication of a statutory notice followed by formal consultation of at least four weeks, be supported; and

3.         that determination for the proposed change of designation be made by the Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, if responses to the formal consultation were favourable. If responses to the formal consultation were not favourable, the determination to be made by the Executive.

The decision was unanimous.

To adopt the Quadrant Accommodation Plan.

That the Quadrant Accommodation Plan be approved as a direction of travel.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery that presented the proposed Quadrant Accommodation Plan.  The Plan was part of a suite of documents developed to establish and articulate a holistic approach to the management of the Council’s assets. 

The Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery moved a revised recommendation, which was duly seconded:-

‘to approve the Quadrant Accommodation Plan as a direction of travel’.

In response to a question, the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery reassured that services would continue to be delivered in a way that was accessible to residents in the south of Central Bedfordshire.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to manage effectively its corporate accommodation.

RESOLVED

that the Quadrant Accommodation Plan be approved as a direction of travel.

The decision was unanimous.

To seek approval the consultation on the emerging draft Farm Estate Plan.

That the draft Farms Estate Plan be approved for the purpose of public consultation.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery that set out the draft Farm Estates Plan.  The Plan was part of a suite of documents developed to establish and articulate a holistic approach to the management of the Council’s assets.  The Plan was a specific element of the Asset Management Strategy and articulated the Council’s approach to its farm estate.

In response to a question, the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery explained that the Council’s Farms Estate comprised 4,700 acres made up of various tenancies.  As these tenancies came to an end, the Council would reassess the future of the land in question, with a view to consolidating land to improve viability of farms. This would be after appropriate consultation.

In response to a question, the Director of Community Services explained that there was still an intention to utilise the funding in the Capital Programme for land purchases to add to the Estate.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to manage its Farms Estate.

RESOLVED

that the draft Farms Estate Plan be approved for the purposes of public consultation.

The decision was unanimous.

To approve the transfer of the Cranfield Community Building when built, on the Home Farm development in Cranfield, to Cranfield Parish Council.

This item was withdrawn.

This item was withdrawn.

To authorise the Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery, to tender and award the contract for construction of Stratton 5a industrial unit, Biggleswade.

1.         To authorise the Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery, to tender the contract for construction of Stratton 5a industrial unit, Biggleswade.

2.         To authorise the Director of Community Services, in consultation with Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery, to award the contract for the construction of Stratton 5a industrial unit, Biggleswade.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Assets and Housing that set out the proposal to tender and award a contract for construction of Stratton 5a industrial unit, Biggleswade.

Reason for decision:  To enable the Council to secure a tenant; any delays might risk the loss of the proposed tenants and delay the revenue income in the Medium Term Financial Plan.

RESOLVED

1.         to authorise the Director of Community Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery, to tender the contract for construction of Stratton 5a industrial unit, Biggleswade; and

2.         to authorise the Director of Community Services, in consultation with Executive Member for Assets and Housing Delivery, to award the contract for the construction of Stratton 5a industrial unit, Biggleswade.

The decision was unanimous.

The report sets out the provisional outturn financial position for 2017/18 as at the end of March 2018 (subject to audit).

1.      That the provisional revenue outturn position for 2017/18, which was an underspend against budget of £0.078M, be noted.

2.      To note that the provisional outturn position and new proposed earmarked reserves were approved by the Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Executive and Director of Resources under a delegated approval granted by the Executive on 3 April 2018.

3.      That the proposed new earmarked reserves, as set out in Table 2 in the report, be noted.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that set out the provisional outturn position for 2017/18 as at the end of March 2018.

In response to a question, the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources explained that the overspend in Corporate Resources was due to higher legal costs associated with greater calls on LGSS Law by Children’s Services and more legal spend being channelled through LGSS Law rather than other legal providers.

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

RESOLVED

1.      that the provisional revenue outturn position for 2017/18, which was an underspend against budget of £0.078M, be noted;

2.      to note that the provisional outturn position and new proposed earmarked reserves were approved by the Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Executive and Director of Resources under a delegated approval granted by the Executive on 3 April 2018; and

3.      that the proposed new earmarked reserves, as set out in Table 2 in the report, be noted.

The decision was unanimous.

To report the provisional capital outturn for 2017/18 as at the end of March 2018 (subject to audit).

RESOLVED

1.         That the capital gross provisional outturn position, which is a spend of £63.2M (£98.7M in 2017/18) be noted, demonstrating the continued significant capital investment made by Central Bedfordshire to support its community.

2.         That the net overspends between £150K and £500K as listed at Appendix B to the report, be approved.

3.         That the proposed gross deferred spend of £51.5M (£30.1M net) from 2017/18 to 2018/19 as detailed at Appendix C to the report, be noted. This was approved by the Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Executive and Director of Resources under a delegated authority given by the Executive on 3 April 2018 due to the accelerated timescale for the accounts closure.

RECOMMENDED to Council

That the net overspend be approved on:

a)      Library and Leisure Centre renewal in Dunstable £1.596M (paragraph 43*)

b)      Flitwick Leisure Centre Redevelopment £3.037M (paragraph 43*)

c)      Woodside Link £1.101M (paragraph 49*)

d)      Fleet replacement programme £0.624M (paragraph 49*).

*Appendix A to the Executive report.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that set out the provisional capital outturn for 2017/18 as at the end of March 2018.

The reason for decision:  To facilitate effective financial management and planning.

RESOLVED

1.         that the capital gross provisional outturn position, which was a spend of £63.2M (£98.7M in 2017/18) be noted, demonstrating the continued significant capital investment made by Central Bedfordshire to support its community;

2.         that the net overspends between £150K and £500K as listed at Appendix B to the report, be approved; and

3.         that the proposed gross deferred spend of £51.5M (£30.1M net) from 2017/18 to 2018/19 as detailed at Appendix C to the report, be noted. This was approved by the Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Executive and Director of Resources under a delegated authority given by the Executive on 3 April 2018 due to the accelerated timescale for the accounts closure.

RECOMMENDED to Council

that the net overspend be approved on:

a)      Library and Leisure Centre renewal in Dunstable £1.596M (paragraph 43*)

b)      Flitwick Leisure Centre Redevelopment £3.037M (paragraph 43*)

c)      Woodside Link £1.101M (paragraph 49*)

d)      Fleet replacement programme £0.624M (paragraph 49*).

*Appendix A to the Executive report.

The decision was unanimous.

To report the provisional Housing Revenue Account outturn for 2017/18 as at the end of March 2018 (subject to audit).

1.      That the provisional revenue outturn position of a surplus of £8.23M, thus strengthening the Council’s ability to invest and improve its stock of Council houses be approved.

2.      That the provisional capital outturn of £7.519M and the proposed slippage of £4.944M deferred to 2018/19 be approved.  These works relate to Future Investment (£4.797M) and Stock Protection (£0.147M) as set out in table 2 in the report.

3.      Noted that the provisional outturn position and new proposed earmarked reserves were approved by the Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive and Director of Resources under a delegated approval granted by the Executive on 3 April 2018.

4.      To note that Right to Buy sales were slightly higher than previous financial years, with retained receipts totalling £3.928M, resulting in a year end balance, after funding of the Capital Programme, of unapplied capital receipts of £8.145M.

5.      To note that as part of the funding of the Capital Programme there was a contribution of £0.194M from the Independent Living Development Reserve to fund spend at Houghton Regis Central.  A further contribution of £2.837M had been made from the Strategic Reserve, towards the Capital Programme (£2.741M) and the transfer of assets from the General Fund (£0.096M).

6.      To note that the net increase in reserves was £5.199M, so that, at the year end, the HRA would have £28.97M of reserves available, of which £2.0M was identified as a minimum level of HRA Balances.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that set out the provisional Housing Revenue Account outturn for 2017/18 as at the end of March 2018.

The reason for decision:  To facilitate effective financial management and planning.

RESOLVED

1.      that the provisional revenue outturn position of a surplus of £8.23M, thus strengthening the Council’s ability to invest and improve its stock of Council houses be approved;

2.      that the provisional capital outturn of £7.519M and the proposed slippage of £4.944M deferred to 2018/19 be approved.  These works relate to Future Investment (£4.797M) and Stock Protection (£0.147M) as set out in table 2 in the report;

3.      noted that the provisional outturn position and new proposed earmarked reserves were approved by the Leader, Deputy Leader and Chief Executive and Director of Resources under a delegated approval granted by the Executive on 3 April 2018;

4.      to note that Right to Buy sales were slightly higher than previous financial years, with retained receipts totalling £3.928M, resulting in a year end balance, after funding of the Capital Programme, of unapplied capital receipts of £8.145M;

5.      to note that as part of the funding of the Capital Programme there was a contribution of £0.194M from the Independent Living Development Reserve to fund spend at Houghton Regis Central.  A further contribution of £2.837M had been made from the Strategic Reserve, towards the Capital Programme (£2.741M) and the transfer of assets from the General Fund (£0.096M); and

6.      to note that the net increase in reserves was £5.199M, so that, at the year end, the HRA would have £28.97M of reserves available, of which £2.0M was identified as a minimum level of HRA Balances.

The decisions was unanimous.

To receive the quarter 4 2017/18 performance monitoring report.

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

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 quarter 4 2017/18 performance for Central Bedfordshire’s Medium Term Plan indicator set.

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

RESOLVED

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

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

The decisions was unanimous.