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.

The following declaration of interests were made by a councillor in accordance with the code of conduct in respect of items under consideration at this meeting –

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2015.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2015.

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.

There were no questions from the public received in time for this meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.2.

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

There were no items of Chair’s urgent business.

Andrew Hardingham (Assistant Director for Finance) will submit a report on a proposal for Plymouth City Council, together with its three partner authorities (Devon County, Torbay and Somerset Councils) to relinquish its interest in the PLUSS Organisation which provides a range of employment and training programmes for people with disabilities and to support the conversion of the organisation to a Community Interest Company (CIC).

The proposal is considered to be in the long term interests of PLUSS and will enable the organisation to continue to provide its current services to the disadvantaged members of society and in turn affords the owners the opportunity to divest themselves of ownership of PLUSS, which removes current risks and liabilities.    

The 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

Andrew Hardingham (Assistant Director for Finance) submitted a report on a proposal for Plymouth City Council, together with its three partner authorities (Devon County, Torbay and Somerset Councils) to relinquish its interest in the PLUSS Organisation which provided a range of employment and training programmes for people with disabilities and to support the conversion of the organisation to a Community Interest Company (CIC).

The report indicated that the proposal was considered to be in the long term interests of PLUSS and would enable the organisation to continue to provide its current services to the disadvantaged members of society and with continued growth on a national platform.  It would also afford the owners the opportunity to divest themselves of ownership of PLUSS, which would remove current risks and liabilities.

Councillor Tuffin (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) presented the proposals and thanked management and staff for their hard work and endeavour and wished the organisation all the best for the future with continued provision of services to the local community.  

David Northey (Head of Corporate Strategy) attended the meeting for this item and referred to the previous Cabinet decision (minute 79 (2013/14) referred) which gave approval to sell the organisation but had not proceeded.  Cabinet was also advised that the conversion to a CIC was scheduled for December 2015 to give a period of trading before the Department for Works and Pensions contract was due for renewal next year.    

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed that –

Anthony Payne (Strategic Director for Place) will submit a report updating Cabinet on the progress of the History Centre project and on the outcome of the Heritage Lottery Fund mid-term review.  The report seeks approval of the business case, allocation of funding, the commencement of procurement and the delegated authority for the Strategic Director for Place (in consultation with Councillor Smith) to appoint the contractor.

The 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

Anthony Payne (Strategic Director for Place) submitted a report updating Cabinet on the progress of the History Centre project and on the outcome of the Heritage Lottery Fund mid-term review.  The report sought approval of the business case, allocation of funding, the commencement of procurement and delegated authority for the Strategic Director for Place (in consultation with Councillor Smith) to appoint the contractor.

Councillor Smith (Deputy Leader) introduced the proposals and on behalf of Cabinet, thanked the officers for working tirelessly on this project.

Gareth Simmons (Strategic Project Director) gave a presentation on the project and David Draffan (Assistant Director for Economic Development) and Paul Brookes (Programme Director) also attended the meeting for this item.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed that –

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) will submit a report updating Cabinet on the progress of the dementia friendly city part of the Joint Dementia Action Plan and providing information on future plans.

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) submitted a report updating Cabinet on the progress of the dementia friendly city part of the Joint Dementia Action Plan and providing information on future plans.

Councillor Tuffin (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) presented the progress report and reported that he had been honoured to present certificates yesterday to dementia friends who had shown a huge commitment to the community.  

On behalf of Cabinet, Councillor Tuffin thanked Claire Puckey (Commissioning Assistant) for her enthusiasm and her work and indicated that she was an example of best practice in her field.

Rachel Silcock (Commissioning Manager) also attended the meeting for this item and reported on the work of other organisations in the city who were contributing to the initiative.  At the invitation of Cabinet, Claire Puckey also reported further on some of the outcomes which had been identified in the report and the officers undertook to convey Cabinet’s best wishes to the team.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed -

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) will submit a report seeking to enhance current community domiciliary care provision by replacing one contract which is due to expire on 3 April 2016 and to award an additional contract.  The report will set out the result of the tender process and recommend the award of two contracts for community domiciliary care provision to the tenderers who submitted the most economically advantageous tenders.

The 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 seeking to enhance current community domiciliary care provision by replacing one contract which was due to expire on 3 April 2016 and to award an additional contract.  The report set out the result of the tender process and recommended the award of two contracts for community domiciliary care provision to the tenderers who had submitted the most economically advantageous tenders.

Councillor Tuffin (Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care) introduced the proposals.  

Councillor Evans (Leader) referred to the full details of the tender process which for reasons of commercial confidentiality were contained in a separate private report.

Caroline Paterson (Strategic Commissioning Manager) attended the meeting for this item and Cabinet was advised that the contracts would ensure that workers were properly rewarded, that visits were meaningful, would promote quality services, provide more flexibility across the market and provide choice for people.

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed to award a two year contract, commencing on 4 April 2016, containing an option to extend the contract for a further three years in annual increments, to the two successful tenderers for the delivery of a Community Domiciliary Care Services in Plymouth identified in the Part 2 report (referred to in minute 42 below).

(Councillor Jon Taylor declared a private interest in the above item).

Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) will submit a report seeking agreement to award a contract for up to seven locally based children’s homes beds for the period to 31 March 2017, with an option to extend for a further year, if required.

The decision will be based on an analysis of the current placement provider market and local need and will enable Plymouth children and young people in care to be placed in or closer to the city with care provided by a reputable children’s home provider, maintaining their support networks and reducing the cost of their care.

The 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 seeking agreement to award a contract for up to seven locally based children’s homes beds for the period to 31 March 2017, with an option to extend for a further year, if required.

The report indicated that decision would be based on an analysis of the current placement provider market and local need and would enable Plymouth children and young people in care to be placed in or closer to the city with care provided by a reputable children’s home provider, maintaining their support networks and reducing the cost of their care.

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

Liz Cahill (Strategic Commissioning Manager) and Emma Crowther (Commissioning Officer) attended the meeting for this item.  Cabinet Members were advised that the Council were currently working successfully with the provider and that although a tender process had not been undertaken to provide this urgent provision, the contract would be reviewed as part of the Peninsula tender process prior to expiry of the contracts in March 2017 and that a business case would be submitted during Spring 2016.

Councillor Philippa Davey as a corporate parent, thanked all those concerned for this much needed provision which would benefit both the children and their families.    

Councillor Evans (Leader) referred to further information relating to the need for the additional placements and the provider market and performance which for reasons relating to individuals and commercial confidentiality were contained in a separate private report (referred to in minute 43 below).

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed that a contract is awarded for up to seven locally based children’s homes beds to The Cambian Group, consisting of two existing solo homes, three new solo provisions which are to be created, plus the option to block purchase placements at an existing two-bedded provision for the period to 31 March 2017, with an option to extend for a further year, if required at an estimated cost of approximately £1,260,000 per year.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) 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 they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  At the time this agenda is published no representations have been made that this part of the meeting should be in public.

(Members of the public to note that, if agreed, you will be asked to leave the meeting).

Agreed that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Further to the report referred to in part 1 of the agenda, Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) will submit a report on commercially sensitive details relating to the award of contracts for community domiciliary care services.

Further to minute 39 above, Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) submitted a confidential report relating to the award of contracts for community domiciliary care services.

Caroline Paterson (Strategic Commissioning Manager) reported that the contract award was being recommended following an open tender process. 

Agreed to award a two year contract as set out in minute 39 above to the two successful tenderers identified in this report.

(Councillor Jon Taylor declared a private interest in the above item).

Further to the report referred to in part 1 of the agenda, Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) will submit a report on commercially sensitive details relating to the children’s residential placement contract award and also confidential information relating to individuals.

Further to minute 40 above, Carole Burgoyne (Strategic Director for People) submitted a confidential report relating to the need for the additional placements and the provider market and performance in relation to the children’s residential placement contract award.