Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chadderton and Chauhan.

Councillor Roberts declared a personal interest at Items 12 and 16 Procurement of Early Intervention Service and Health Improvement and Weight Management Service by virtue of her Council appointment to the Positive Steps Board.

There were no public questions received.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21^st October 2019 be approved.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Director of Finance which advised them of the performance of the Treasury Management function of

the Council for the first half of 2019/20 and provided a comparison of performance against the 2019/20 Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators.

The Cabinet were informed that the Council was required to consider the performance of the Treasury Management function in order to comply with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management (revised 2017). The report set out the key Treasury Management issues, for Members’ information and review, and

outlined:

• An economic update for the first six months of 2019/20;
• A review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy;
• The Council’s capital expenditure, as set out in the Capital Strategy, and prudential indicators);
• A review of the Council’s investment portfolio for 2019/20;
• A review of the Council’s borrowing strategy for 2019/20;
• Why there has been no debt rescheduling undertaken during 2019/20;
• A review of compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2019/20.

Options/ Alternatives considered:

In order that the Council complied with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management, the Council had no option other than to consider and approve the contents of the report. Therefore no options/alternatives were been presented for consideration.

RESOLVED - That the following be approved and commended to Council:

1. The Treasury Management activity for the first half of the financial year 2019/20 and the projected outturn position
2. The amendments to both Authorised Limit and Operational Boundary for external debt as set out in the table at Section 2.4.5 of the report.
3. The amendments to the Capital Financing Requirement (CFR) as set out in the table at section 2.4.5
4. The addition to the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 with regards to specified investments as presented at Appendix 3.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Finance which provided the Cabinet with an update on the Council’s 2019/20 forecast revenue budget position and the financial position of the capital programme as at 30^th September 2019 (Quarter 2) together with the revised capital programme 2019/23.

In relation to the Revenue position, the Cabinet was informed that the current forecast outturn position for 2019/20 was a projected deficit variance of £1.625m, after allowing for approved and pending transfers to and from reserves.

The most significant areas of concern were the People and Place, Children’s Services and Community Services & Adult Social Care portfolios. Action was being taken and would continue for the remainder of the financial year to address variances and take mitigating action as detailed in the report.

The overall corporate position was, to a limited extent, being managed by offsetting favourable variances, most noticeably from Capital, Treasury and Corporate Accounting budgets. An update on the major issues driving the projections was provided.

The report reflected the financial position at Quarter 2 and could be regarded as an early warning of the potential year end position if no corrective action was taken. The Cabinet noted that management action had been initiated across all service areas to review and challenge planned expenditure and to maximise income. Progress was being made and this was demonstrated in the position outlined in this report.

Information on the Quarter 2 position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Collection Fund was also outlined in the report. There were currently no significant issues of concern in relation to the HRA, however the Collection Fund was forecasting an in-year deficit of £195k. The DSG continued to be an area which was facing a financial challenge, with a projected deficit increase in 2019/20. Action was being

taken with the aim of reducing the cumulative deficit and bringing the DSG towards a balanced position.

Options/Alternatives considered:

1. Approve the forecast revenue and capital positions presented in the report, including proposed changes.
2. Approve some of the forecasts and changes included in the report.
3. Not to approve any of the forecasts and changes included in the report.

RESOLVED - That:

1. The forecast revenue outturn for 2019/20 at Quarter 2 being a £1.625m overspend be approved.
2. The forecast positions for both the HRA and Collection Fund be approved.
3. The use of reserves as detailed in Appendix 1 to Annex 1 of the report be approved.
4. The revised capital programme for 2019/23 as at Quarter 2 be approved.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Education, Skills and Early Years which sought approval of the Special Educational Needs and or Disabilities (SEND) Strategy and Development Plan.

Following the Ofsted/CQC inspection in October 2017 of Oldham’s effectiveness in identifying and meeting the needs of children and young people who have SEND, the local SEND Partnership had co-produced a new SEND Strategy and development plan for Oldham.

It was reported that as a local partnership significant improvement was being driven to ensure the services offered were making a real difference to the lives of Oldham’s children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

The final version of the SEND strategy and development plan were appended to the report for consideration and approval.

Option 1 – Approve the SEND strategy and development plan.

Option 2 – Do not approve the SEND strategy and development plan.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Strategy and development Plan as appended to this report be approved.

2.    The mission and outcomes of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Strategy and development plan be approved and endorsed.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Economy which provided details of a request to adopt Homeless Friendly pledges, which involved reviewing service delivery to ensure accessibility and an inclusive service for homeless people.

The report provided details of the Homeless Friendly charity founded in 2017 which aims to promote a cultural shift in how homeless people are viewed and treated offering understanding and flexibility in terms of practical issues such as attending appointments.

The Housing Options service had returned in-house to Oldham Council and this presented an opportunity to review the service was delivered and pledging to become Homeless Friendly would provide reassurance to homeless people when accessing advise and support, within a non-judgemental and understanding environment.

Options/Alternatives considered

Option 1 – Pledge that Oldham Council becomes Homeless Friendly. This option would help to ensure homeless people receive an inclusive service form the Council and promote positive engagement.

Option 2 – Do not pledge to become Homeless Friendly. This would not be in line with the Council’s Corporate ambition to working with a resident focus.

RESOLVED – That Oldham Council pledge to become Homeless Friendly.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive, which sought approval in principle of charging fees for providing pre-application advice to prospective applicants/developers and the approval of the charging schedule attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Council had provided a free of charge pre-application advice service to applicants and developers however due to competing work pressures and a limited officer resource there had been delays in providing advice which had resulted in customer complaints and dissatisfaction.

The introduction of a charging scheme as operated by most Planning Authorities would enable reinvestment in the Development Management Service and provide an improvement upon the existing free advice service without additional costs to the public purse.

Option 1 – Not to provide a pre-application advice service.

Option 2 – To continue to provide a free advice service without any additional funding.

Option 3 – To provide a fee charging scheme for pre-application planning advice.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The implementation of a fee charging scheme for planning pre-application advice be approved.

2.    The fee charging schedule as detailed at appendix 1 be approved.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Economy which sought approval to accept the terms of an agreement of reconciliation with Oldham Property Partnerships.

On 27^th January 2010 the Cabinet resolved to enter into an agreement with Oldham Property Partnerships (OPP) for the developer to acquire an area of Council owned land in Failsworth. The approved report set out the basis of how the land value would be calculated, with capital receipt due to the Council only becoming known once the scheme was completed.

In terms of the completed development value, the Council and OPP both appointed professional valuers. In terms of the costs of construction the Council appointed and independent quantity surveyor to verify the costs OPP claimed had been incurred in completing the development.

Terms had provisionally been agreed with OPP and approval was sought to accept the terms of the agreement.

Options/Alternatives

Option 1 – Do Nothing.

Option 2 – Seek to dispute the offer from OPP.

Option 3 – Agree the settlement being proposed by OPP.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information contained at Item 15 of the agenda before making a decision.

Councillor Roberts declared a personal interest at Items 12 and 16 Procurement of Early Intervention Service and Health Improvement and Weight Management Service by virtue of her Council appointment to the Positive Steps Board.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Director of Communities and Reform which sought approval for the extension of the All Age Early Help contract for a further 9 months until December 2020.

All Age Early Help was established in April 2015 with some service delivery being in-house and a significant element of the service being delivered through a contract with Positive Steps. The contract was let for 3 years with an option to extend for an additional year.

The option for a further year was exercised and in February 2019 the Cabinet agreed a further contract extension up to March 2020.

The extension was to allow for the completion of a review considering the long-term development of Early Intervention and Prevention Services.

The review produced several key considerations which would inform the proposed approach to the procurement and continuing development of those services. The request for a further extension was required in order to complete the procurement of a new all age low and medium entry level intervention service and a new health improvement and weight management service.

Option 1 – Do not re-procure the non-statutory elements of All Age Early Help Contract.

Option 2 – Extend the current contract with Positive Steps for up to nine months.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information contained at Item 16 of the agenda before making a decision.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report which provided Members with an update of the Levy Methodology Agreement (LAMA).

The LAMA was a proposed 6 year agreement between the 9 District Authorities subject to the Combined Authority waste disposal arrangements, to fairly allocate the waste and resources budget and replace the 2018/19 Inter Authority Agreement.

A review of the current methodology i.e. the Inter Authority Agreement was deemed appropriate following the recent procurement exercise which resulted in a fundamentally revise contract to deliver waste disposal.

The LAMA would allocate the fixed and variable costs of the budget by waste stream, trade waste, Household Waste Recycling Centres and GMCA – Waste and Resources own costs. An update to the LAMA was required as a result of the award of a new contract. To enable the budget setting process to take account of potential waste levy costs, agreement was required by each district and the proposed 202/21 levy would then be allocated as per the LAMA.

Option 1 – Agree the proposed Levy Allocation Methodology Agreement.

Option 2 – Do not agree the proposed Levy Allocation Methodology Agreement.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would give consideration to the commercially sensitive information contained at Item 17 of the agenda before making a decision.

That, in accordance with Section 100A(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 contain exempt information under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

RESOLVED that, in accordance with Section 100A(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 contain exempt information under paragraphs 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and it would not, on balance, be in the public interest to disclose the reports.

The Cabinet gave consideration to the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 11 - Oldham Property Partnerships - North Bank Redevelopment Reconciliation.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations as detailed in the commercially sensitive report be approved.

The Cabinet gave consideration to the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 12 - Procurement of Early Intervention Service and Health Improvement & Weight Management Service

RESOLVED – That the recommendations as detailed in the commercially sensitive report be approved.

The Cabinet gave consideration to the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 13 - Levy Allocation Methodology Agreement

RESOLVED – That the recommendations as detailed in the commercially sensitive report be approved.