To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2015.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2015.

The Chair welcomed Lesa Annear, the newly appointed Strategic Director for Transformation and Change to this her first meeting of Cabinet.

Cabinet Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.  A flowchart providing guidance on interests is attached to assist councillors.

There were no declarations of interest made by councillors in accordance with the code of conduct in relation to items under consideration at this meeting.

To receive questions from the public in accordance with the Constitution.

Questions, of no longer than 50 words, can be submitted to the Democratic Support Unit, Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ, or email to democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk. Any questions must be received at least five clear working days before the date of the meeting.

One question was submitted by a member of the public for this meeting, in accordance with Part B, paragraph 11 of the Constitution.

In the absence of the questioner, a written response would be sent to him as set out below -

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) reported that following a tendering process, he had taken a delegated decision today to agree the freehold sale of the Civic Centre to Urban Splash, subject to contract.

At the invitation of Cabinet, Nathan Cornish (Urban Splash Group Director) gave a presentation on some of the company’s previous successes in Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester and Sheffield where they had taken on difficult projects and brought them back to life.

He also reminded Cabinet Members that the company had helped to transform the city’s Royal William Yard.

With regard to the Civic Centre, he indicated that the future uses of the building were yet to be determined however he anticipated a mixed use scheme and hoped to work in partnership with the Council to achieve the best regeneration results.

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) reported that staff would be informed of the decision during the afternoon and that the remaining staff in the Civic Centre would continue to vacate the building until the Autumn. 

Councillor Evans (Council Leader) and Tracey Lee thanked Nathan for attending the meeting and for his presentation. 

The thanks of Cabinet were also extended to Anthony Payne (Strategic Director for Place), David Draffan (Assistant Director for Economic Development) and his team, and to all staff who had worked on this project.

Councillor Lowry advised that the decision had been made based on best price and value to the taxpayer and that he looked forward to working with Urban Splash.

(In accordance with Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the Chair brought forward the above item for urgent consideration because of the public interest in the decision).

Councillor Kate Taylor (Chair of the Your Plymouth Scrutiny Panel Co-operative Review Group) has been invited to attend to present the recommendations in the report of the Your Plymouth Scrutiny Panel following a co-operative review into problem debt. 

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director of People) will submit a report responding to the recommendations in the scrutiny report.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/q3d6bmh

Councillor Kate Taylor (Chair of the Your Plymouth Co-operative Review Scrutiny Group and of the Panel) attended the meeting and presented the scrutiny recommendations following their review of Problem Debt.

She highlighted that –

She also thanked the officers who had supported the review and the witnesses.

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) submitted a report on the recommendations which came from the review and Councillor Penberthy (Cabinet Member for Co-operatives, Housing and Community Safety) –

Peter Aley (Head of Neighbourhood and Community Services) and Laura Griffiths (Financial and Social Inclusion Officer) also attended the meeting for this item.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed that –

Councillor James (Chair of the Co-operative Scrutiny Board) has been invited to attend to present the recommendations of the Co-operative Scrutiny Board in the Budget Scrutiny Report 2015/16 following the scrutiny of the delivery of the co-operative vision within a four year sustainable budget. 

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) will submit a report responding to the recommendations in the scrutiny report.

Councillor James (Chair of the Co-operative Scrutiny Board) attended the meeting and presented the recommendations in the scrutiny report, Budget Scrutiny 2015 -16, following the scrutiny of the delivery of the co-operative vision within a four year sustainable budget. 

Councillor James –

Ross Jago (Performance and Research Officer) attended the meeting for this item.

Councillor Evans (Council Leader) proposed the response to the recommendations as detailed in the report of Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) and indicated that training should be included in the induction programme for new members to provide an improved grounding in scrutiny.       

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed -

Further to the indicative budget report which was agreed by Cabinet on 9 December 2014 for consultation, Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) will submit a report on the proposals for the 2015/16 budget.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/q3d6bmh

Further to the indicative report “Delivering the Co-operative Vision within a four year sustainable balanced budget” which was agreed by Cabinet on 9 December 2014 for consultation, Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) submitted a report on proposals for the 2015/16 budget.

The update report detailed -

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the proposals and indicated that –

David Northey (Head of Corporate Strategy) and Malcolm Coe (Assistant Director for Finance) attended the meeting for this item.

Following an invitation from Councillor Evans (Council Leader), Cabinet Members reported on the improvements that had been delivered in their areas in the last 12 months, and also those that would be delivered in 2015/16, including –

Cabinet Members expressed their thanks to Councillor Lowry, David Northey and the finance team for their work and support.

Councillor Evans also reported that this was the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

Malcolm Coe (Assistant Director for Finance) will submit a report setting out the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators, including the Annual Investment Strategy as required by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice for Treasury Management in Public Services which had been considered and recommended by the Audit Committee. 

The mid-year review of the 2014/15 Treasury Management Strategy will also be submitted which has been referred to the City Council by the Audit Committee, for noting. 

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/q3d6bmh

Malcolm Coe (Assistant Director for Finance) submitted a report setting out the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators, including the Annual Investment Strategy as required by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice for Treasury Management in Public Services which had been considered and recommended by the Audit Committee. 

The midyear review of the 2014/15 Treasury Management Strategy was also submitted.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the proposals.  

David Northey (Head of Corporate Strategy) and Malcolm Coe (Assistant Director for Finance) attended the meeting for this item.

The City Council is Recommended to –

The Corporate Management Team will submit a report outlining the finance monitoring position of the Council and to update Cabinet on the interim staff spend and numbers as at the end of December 2014. Cabinet will be asked to approve relevant budget variations and virements, to approve the revised capital budget and to note the changes to the capital programme in the quarter.   

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/q3d6bmh

The Corporate Management Team submitted a report outlining the finance monitoring position of the Council as at the end of December 2014 and provided details on how the Council was delivering against its financial measures using its capital and revenue resources.  Cabinet was asked to approve relevant budget variations, virements and to note thenew schemes added to the Capital Programme in the quarter.   The report also provided an update on the interim staff spend and numbers as at the end of December 2014.

Councillor Lowry (Cabinet Member for Finance) introduced the proposals and reported that the estimated revenue overspend at the end of the financial year was £1.746m as at December 2014 and that he and the officers were working hard to close the gap.  

David Northey (Head of Corporate Strategy) and Malcolm Coe (Assistant Director for Finance) attended the meeting for this item.

Councillor Evans (Council Leader) thanked the officers for their work.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed –

The City Council is Recommended to approve the revised Capital budget for 2014-18 of £237.406m.

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) will submit the quarter 3 2014/15 corporate performance monitoring report which will show progress and emerging trends of the Corporate Plan and progress of the pledges.

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) submitted the third quarter 2014/15 Corporate Performance Monitoring Report (to 31 December 2014), tracking progress of the outcomes in the Corporate Plan, highlighting both cause for celebration as well as delays and issues requiring corrective action. The report also outlined the progress of the 50 pledges.

Giles Perritt (Assistant Chief Executive) introduced the report and highlighted –

Councillor McDonald (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health) reported further on the timing of assessments in relation to Children’s Safeguarding which was causing concern and indicated that further work was needed.  She emphasised that once the backlog was cleared, the performance would improve, however she and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board would be keeping it under review.

Agreed that Cabinet commits to the delivery of the commitments appended to the written report

(The Vice Chair took the Chair in the absence of the Chair for part of the discussion on the above item).

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) will submit a report providing an update on the Care Act 2014 and implementation in Plymouth.  Cabinet will be asked to agree not to financially assess carers, and to approve the Care and Support Needs Policy and the Deferred Payments Policy.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/q3d6bmh

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) submitted a report -

Councillor Tuffin (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) welcomed Graham Wilkin (Interim Senior Manager, Co-operative Commissioning) to this his first meeting of Cabinet and introduced the proposals.

Councillor Tuffin reported that -

Kate Jones (Project Manager, Strategic Co-operative Commissioning) and Graham Wilkin (Interim Senior Manager, Co-operative Commissioning) attended the meeting for this item.

In response to questions, Cabinet Members were advised that –

Councillor Evans asked officers to include concerns on double counting for the Better Care Fund when making representations on the ‘missing millions’.

Alternative options considered and the reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed -

Kelechi Nnoaham (Director of Public Health) will submit a report providing an overview of the role of the Health Visiting Service, highlighting local need and outlining future development plans in the context of an integrated service.  Cabinet will be asked to approve the local authority’s commissioning and contracting approach to health visiting services for children from 0-5 years, following the transfer of the service from NHS England, on 1 October 2015.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Council and Democracy/Councillors and Committees/Library/Cabinet background papers or using the following hyperlink –

http://tinyurl.com/q3d6bmh

Kelechi Nnoaham (Director of Public Health) submitted a report providing an overview of the role of the Health Visiting Service, highlighting local need and outlining future development plans in the context of an integrated service for families with children pre-birth to five years old.

Approval was sought for the local authority’s commissioning and contracting approach to health visiting services, following the transfer of commissioning responsibility from NHS England on 1 October 2015.

The proposal would provide continuity of support to families, would enable the Council to implement its contract terms and conditions at the earliest opportunity and would align the length of contract to the children’s centre contracts awarded in 2014.

Councillor McDonald (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health) introduced the proposals.

Julie Frier (Consultant in Public Health Medicine), Liz Cahill (Strategic Commissioning Manager) and Andrea Langman (Commissioning Officer) attended the meeting for this item.

In response to questions, Cabinet Members were advised that –

Alternative options considered and the reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed that upon transfer of commissioning responsibility, Plymouth City Council will award a two year contract to the existing provider of Health Visiting Services, Plymouth Community Healthcare, for the period 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2017, with the option to extend for up to a further three years.