Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Jabbar.

Any member of the public wishing to ask a question at the above meeting can do so only if a written copy of the question is submitted to the Contact officer by 12 Noon on Wednesday, 15 March 2023.

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There were no public questions.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th February 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Consideration as given to a report of the Director of Finance which provided the Cabinet with an update on the Council’s 2022/23 forecast revenue budget position at Annex 1 of the report and the financial position of the capital programme as at 31 December 2022 (Quarter 3) together with the revised capital programme 2022/23 to 2027/28, as outlined in section two of the report at Annex 2 of the report.

Revenue Position

The forecast outturn position for 2022/23 was a projected deficit variance of £1.280m after allowing for approved and pending transfers to and from reserves. An operational deficit of £2.055m reduced by £0.775m with the anticipated effect of management actions and strengthened restrictions in relation to expenditure and recruitment. Whilst improving, it was recognised that this remained a challenging position and every effort would be made to further reduce the overall variance before the year end.

The position included additional costs and pressures that had been identified by the Authority in this financial year because of the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were currently two areas which continued to experience significant pressures attributed to the on-going impact of the pandemic; Community Health and Adult Social Care was reporting an adverse variance of £5.717m and Children’s Social Care was recording £3.555m. These pressures were being offset against a corporate provision of £12.000m COVID-19 Legacy funding which was set aside during the 2022/23 budget setting process specifically to mitigate the on-going costs of the pandemic. The residual balance of £2.728m was being used to reduce the operational pressure. This would be monitored for the remainder of the financial year with action taken to address variances and take mitigating action as detailed in the report.

An update on the major issues driving the projections was detailed within Annex 1,

The forecast pressure of £1.280m at Quarter 3 was a £0.953m decrease to the adverse position of £2.233m reported at month 8 and forecasted the impact of, as previously reported, the management actions that had been strengthened across all service areas to review and challenge planned expenditure, control recruitment and to maximise income.

Information on the Quarter 3 position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Collection Fund was also outlined in the report.

Against a generally improving position, the DSG was forecasting an unchanged in-year surplus of £3.287m, which reverses the deficit brought forward leaving a forecast year-end surplus of £0.514m. Action would continue to be taken with the aim of mitigating cost pressures and delivering and maintaining a surplus position. To assist, Oldham had been invited by the Government to take part in the Delivering Better Value in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Programme which would provide dedicated support for the SEND Review reforms to 55 Local Authorities with historical DSG deficit issues with the aim of putting the DSG of participating Authorities on a more financially sustainable footing. Working with partners, detailed work had commenced on compiling the grant application for submission in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Finance which sought approval for a number of amended Local Taxation and Benefits Discretionary Policies, and the introduction of an Empty Property Premium Policy for 2023/34.

The report provided the full detail of proposed updates to the discretionary policies used to support Local Taxation and Benefits administration i.e., Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefits and Council Tax Reduction administration.

The policies and proposed changes were:

• The Discretionary Council Tax Discount Policy

- To introduce the option to award a discretionary discount under the Exceptional Hardship Payment (EHP) scheme to Council Tax arrears accrued outside of the current financial year. The EHP scheme is the means in which the Council consider requests for discretionary discounts from residents in Exceptional financial hardship under Section 13A (1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act.

The Discretionary Council Tax Discounts Policy provided guidance in regard to requests for the removal of empty property premiums. The proposed update would remove this guidance so that a new expanded policy can be introduced solely for this purpose as outlined in the Empty Property Premium Policy. The proposed Discretionary Discount Policy was presented at Appendix 1 to the report.

• The Discretionary Rate Relief Policy

- Central Government had introduced additional discounts and reliefs for the

2023/24 financial year. They had been incorporated into the proposed

Discretionary Rate Relief Policy 2023/24 which was presented at Appendix 2 to the report.

• The Empty Property Premium Policy

- For 2023/24 there was the introduction of a policy covering the application of the Empty property Premium in relation to Council Tax.

The Council currently applied a 100% empty property premium for property

unoccupied and unfurnished for over 2 years. From April 2023, further

premiums would be applied for properties unoccupied and unfurnished for over 5 years. This would mean empty property premiums will be applied as set out below.

• 100% premium on properties unoccupied and unfurnished for at least 2

years

• 200% premium on properties unoccupied and unfurnished for at least 5

years

• 300% premium on properties unoccupied and unfurnished for at least 10

years

To help provide guidance to affected property owners and to Council Officers

administering the premium it was proposed that a specific policy detailing the

circumstances in which the Council would consider the removal of the premium was appropriate. This was included at Appendix 5 of the report.

• Local Welfare Provision and Discretionary Housing Payments

- The Local Welfare Provision (LWP) and Discretionary Housing Payments

(DHP) policies had also been subject to an annual review. No proposals for

changing the policies had been identified for 2023/24.

Options/alternatives considered

Option 1 – Do Nothing

Option 2 - Approve the Local Taxation and Benefits Discretionary Policies

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The proposed amendments to the existing Local Taxation and Benefits Discretionary Policies for 2023/24 together with and the introduction of the Empty Property Premium Policy for the 2023/24 financial year be approved.

2.    The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Report to follow.

Report deferred.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director, Place and Economic Growth which sought approval to support the provision of a new high specification pitch facilities to unlock wider opportunities for further investment in community sports pitches, enhanced education provision, more health opportunities and creation of additional employment opportunities.

It was reported that the Council was aware of the Borough’s outstanding sporting achievements with some amazing contributions locally, regionally, nationally and internationally from Oldham’s residents and communities. The elite sporting achievements were now in a number of different sporting fields including netball, cricket, rugby, and we’re now hoping for a turn of fortune following the recent acquisition of Oldham Athletic Football Club.

As with many sporting activities, grass roots provision and investment in youth provision, clubs and community facilities were paramount to help secure a more successful and sustainable future, with talent management and development opportunities to help people, teams and clubs reach their highest possible potential. 

The Council had facilitated the coming together of the Football and Rugby clubs in Oldham, both Oldham Athletic and Oldham RLFC.

The investment  in a new pitch at Boundary Park the Council would assist with the Rugby Club’s shared ambition of playing their home games at Boundary Park from the 2024 season.

Options/alternatives considered

Option 1 – To approve the capital grant funding, subject to agreeing a formal grant funding agreement and subject to subsidy control rules.  This would unlock all the opportunities identified in this report, and careful / robust monitoring regimes would ensure obligations are met for wider community benefit. 

Option 2 – Do not proceed with the finance agreement. This would protect Council capital funds, but it would not bring about any of the enhanced facilities described in this report for sport, enhanced skills and training programmes, nor importantly facilities for Oldham’s residents and community groups. 

Option 3 – To consider the development of a business case for a new multi-million pound sports facility to bring about the same benefits as options 1, to secure rugby league within the borough and to provide enhanced community facilities.  This option is not recommended due to the significant impact on time, resource and future funding investment decisions needed to secure the same outcomes as the grant award / financial agreement.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The retention of rugby league matches for Oldham Rugby League Football Club within the Borough boundaries and to facilitate growth in community engagement and participation be approved.

2.    The growth and enhancement of higher education provision within the Borough to support a new pipeline of complementary health and sporting employment opportunities be approved.

3.    A grant of £1million capital funding from Council Capital Strategy to enable the provision of an enhanced pitch facility at Boundary Park, which was needed to unlock recommendations 1 and 2 above be approved.

4.    Delegation be given to the Executive Director for Place and Economic Growth, and Directors of Finance and Legal Services in consultation with the Leader of the Council to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director for Place and Economic Growth which sought approval to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Under the proposed grant agreement, Oldham have been allocated grants funding that would enable the expansion and continued delivery of three services dedicated to supporting residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness between 2022-25.

The Council were currently delivering three specific services that are intrinsically linked by virtue of the support they provided to people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness. The three respective service were:

-       A Bed Every Night (ABEN)

-       Community Accommodation Support Tier 3 (CAS-3)

-       Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI)

For the Council to secure the funding needed to continue delivering these vital services locally and to formalise monitoring and reporting arrangements, it needed to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The services had been operational for a number of years, save for CAS-3 which was entering its second year of delivery following a successful pilot year (2021-22).

The identified services that GMCA sought to provide ongoing funding between 2022-25 were very much embedded in Oldham and were seen as vital services support the ongoing delivery of its Homelessness Prevention and Reduction Strategy and Central Government’s Ending Rough Sleeping Strategy.

Options /alternatives considered

Option 1 – Do not enter into grant agreement with GMCA. Proceeding with this option would result in the Council being unable to deliver the 3 projects detailed in this report and increased numbers of rough sleepers in Oldham during a period of significant homelessness and pressure, which is further exacerbated by the cost of living crisis.

Options 2 – Enter into agreement with GMCA to continue delivering ABEN, CAS-3 and RSI programmes. Taking this approach would enable the Council to continue funding provision that prevents rough sleeping in the borough. The grant available will fund ongoing temporary accommodation placements for rough sleepers and individuals open to HMPPS, not owed a statutory accommodation duty by the LA. The funds will also make resources available that would stimulate move on into alternative, settled accommodation.

RESOLVED- That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information at Item 18 before making a decision.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Economy that sought approval and acceptance of the £2,295,803 UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grant allocation following confirmation of award from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLHUC) in early December 2022.  Oldham submitted applications against three interventions from the UKSPF Communities and Place programme; namely:

• E1: Funding for improvements to town centres and high street, including better accessibility for disabled people, including capital costs and running costs.
• E3: Creation of and improvements to local green spaces, community gardens, watercourses and embankments, along with incorporating natural features into wider public spaces.
• E6: Support for local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF or the Fund) provided £2.6 billion of new funding for local investment by March 2025, with all areas of the UK receiving an allocation from the Fund via a funding formula.

Local Authorities were directed to identify and build on their own strengths and needs at a local level, focused on pride in place and increasing life chances. Local places will be able to use the Fund to complement funding such as the Levelling Up Fund, and mainstream employment and skills provision to maximise impact and simplify delivery. There are three key investment priorities under the Fund:

            - Community and Place

            - Supporting Local Business; and

            - People and Skills

This report related  to the Community and Place investment priority. 

GMCA were the accountable body for the Fund and, following submission of the GM UKSPF Investment Plan to Government at the end of July 2022, the focus of UKSPF in GM was on implementation planning.

GMCA invited local authorities to submit proposals to ensure projects are compliant with Government guidance and would collectively meet the required outputs and outcomes as set out in the GM UKSPF Investment Plan for the Communities and Place Investment Priority.

Oldham had been allocated £2.298m from UKSPF across the key interventions of the programme namely E1, E3 and E6.

The Council had focused its proposals around active, accessible public realm and travel routes; rehabilitation of green space including infrastructure for community and visitor use; and a programme of cultural events that build upon and generate legacy projects for Oldham's residents and visitors alike.

The proposed programme was drawn from the Creating a Better Place strategy and action plan and will support a range of projects that will meet the core 3 interventions.

Options/Alternatives

Option 1- Do nothing.  Failure to accept the grant allocation of UKSPF would reflect negatively on the perception of the town and its ambitions. It would have significant implications for delivery of the project budgets and, therefore, the achievement of regeneration ambitions and objectives.

Option 2 - Formally accept the UKSPF award allocation for £2.296m and enter into the Memorandum of Understanding as set out in this report.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information contained at Item 19 of the agenda before making a decision.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director, Place and Economic Development which sought approval of and to accept the £20m Levelling Up Round 2 (LUF2) capital grant allocation following confirmation of award from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in January 2023.

Three projects were selected by DLUHC for progression and financial support from LUF2 broken down as follows: -

• £4.790m for Jubilee Park and Greenway Corridor,
• £6.400m for Northern Roots Learning Centre
• £8.810m for Green Shoots Business Centre

The Levelling Up Fund Round 2 (LUF2) prospectus was introduced in March 2022 with a focus on the following three investment themes:

 • local transport projects that make a genuine difference to local areas

 • town centre and high street regeneration; and

 • support for maintaining and expanding the UK’s world-leading portfolio of cultural and   heritage assets.

LUF2 is a competitive process between local authorities and funding award decisions made by Central Government, specifically the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). In August 2022, Oldham submitted 2 bids into LUF2; the Green Technology and Innovation Network and the Creative Improvement District.

Within Round 2, more than 100 projects totaling £2.1 billion had been supported to boost economies, regenerate communities, and enhance transportation links across the UK. Oldham was successful in its application for £20m for the Green Technology and Innovation Network.  The bid for Creative Improvement District was unfortunately unsuccessful in this round; however there remained further opportunities within the LUF programme to develop and resubmit in the future.

Oldham was one of 111 areas awarded funding to support the three projects within the town centre included in the Green Technology and Innovation Network bid, which aim to enhance active travel networks, deliver vital education infrastructure and create transformational public open space.

The Creating a Better Place Operations Board and Programme Board would provide oversight and strategic management of the projects. This board was already established and working successfully to deliver the Manchester Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund. The Programme Board would meet monthly to discuss Oldham’s wider public realm and active travel projects and are ideally placed to include the LUF projects within their remit.

A Monitoring Group is being established to oversee financial obligations against performance and will report into the CAPB structures.  Wider governance within the Council is in place to ensure issues can be managed with an appropriate level of authority which will ensure the delivery of the project objectives to cost, quality and time.

Delivery for the projects would require the appointment of experienced external contractors and service providers, including project managers/employers' agents; cost consultants; design consultants and other specialist consultants as required, along with main contractors.  All the aforementioned will hold the relevant insurances and will be required to indemnify the Council in event of any adverse impact resulting from their involvement.

The appointment of project professionals would be closely managed through enforceable contracts. External legal and other appropriate professional advice will be in place  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Education, Skills and Early Years which sought approval to accept the funding allocation for the academic year 2022-2022 for the Lifelong Learning Service.

The report provided detail of the  funding offer received from the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) funding allocations of the Adult Education Budget grant for the 2022-2023 academic year and highlighted how this funding would be used to meet the ESFA’s, GMCA’s and Council’s key priorities.

Following devolution of the Adult Education Budget, the Council’s Lifelong Learning Service was now funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Prior to devolution this was directly awarded by the Education & Skills Funding Agency).

The Service delivery was designed to meet the GMCA Strategy Council’s ambition and key objectives as set out in the Corporate Plan and to support the Oldham Partnership Our Future. The Service worked with the 6 district partnerships with a focus upon the Council’s ‘Get Oldham Working’ campaign and the Co-operative Agenda.

The Service delivered a range of employability programmers in liaison with the Employment and Skills team (GOW), Job Centre Plus, Welfare to Work Providers and the 6 districts. The Service also works closely with the Voluntary and Community sector via Action Together. Partnerships with Children’s Centres, Schools, Public Health, Adult and Children Social Care and others to enable the Service to deliver targeted work which develops self-reliance, confidence, independence, heath and progression to further learning, training and employment.

For the academic year 2022 – 2023, the Adult Education Budget would continue to be split based on the initial 2019/20 geographical delivery with an allocation of GMCA Devolved Education Budget. The allocation provided for the service was a total of £2,804,560.02.

All funds were to be used to support Oldham Lifelong Learning Service’s Strategic Plan, Self-Assessment Report (SAR), Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), the Oldham Community Learning Plan and Lifelong Learning Service’s Business Plan and the Council Corporate Plan. The funding would also support the GM Strategy and GM Local Industrial Strategy and in negotiation with GMCA it will maintain the position of prioritising Adult Skills funded provision.

The Adult Education Budget (AEB) block grant aimed to engage adults and provide skills and learning they need to equip them for work, an apprenticeship or other learning. It enabled more flexible tailored programmes of learning to be made available, which may not require a qualification. This would help those furthest from learning or the workplace.

Options/Alternatives considered

Option 1 - To accept the funding and to enter into suitable funding agreements.

Option 2 - To decline the funding.

RESOLVED – That the funding of £2,804, 560.02.for the academic year 2022-2023 be accepted.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Director Youth, Leisure & Communities which approval to extend the term of the Leisure Management Contract between Oldham Council and Oldham Community Leisure (OCL) and the proposed contract variations (as detailed in the commercially sensitive report at Item 21).

The contract, in respect of leisure facilities in Oldham, commenced on 28 March 2013 for an initial term expiring on 31 March 2023 (Contract).but under the terms of the contract this term could be extended for a period of up to 5 years.

OCL delivered the leisure offer through operating leisure centres owned by the Council, and a wider community offer. 

The council worked in close partnership with OCL to ensure that the outputs and outcomes it required from the services were met and that continuous improvement was achieved throughout the Contract Period.

A performance monitoring system was in place with the aim of providing reasonable and prudent checks, while focusing on KPIs which confirmed that a high quality of service was being delivered and measuring the contribution of the service to the Council’s outcomes. OCL were performing well. 

The level of subsidy the Council provided was low in comparison to other GM authorities and many nationally.  Overall financial performance was positive.

To support the monitoring of the performance of OCL, in addition to the contracted quarterly performance meetings, monthly monitoring meetings were also in place. 

Prior approval was given by Cabinet to undertake negotiations with OCL around the contract extension and any required contract modifications and the commercially sensitive information contained at Item 21 of the agenda included the outcome of those negotiations.

The Leisure contract, which is for a 10 plus 5-year term, is due for consideration this financial year with the extension (if approved) beginning 1 April 2023.  If an additional 5-year extension was agreed the contract would finish at the end of March 2028. 

Options/alternatives considered

Options were considered at Item 21 of the agenda due to the commercial nature.

RESOLVED – That the cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information contained at Item 21 of the agenda before making a decision.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Director, Youth, Leisure and Communities, which sought approval of Utilities Benchmarking under the contract with Oldham Community Leisure (OCL).

Utilities benchmarking can be carried out where there are extraordinary fluctuations in the utility market. OCL had served notice on the Council invoking the Utility benchmarking clause in the Contract and the details were included at Item 22 of the agenda due to commercial sensitivities.

There had been ongoing discussions with OCL regarding increased energy costs for both gas and electricity in 2022/23.  OCL had provided figures as detailed at Item 21 of the agenda.

Internal discussions had taken place with Finance and Legal colleagues to understand the Utility benchmarking provisions in the Contract and it was concluded that OCL had the contractual right to undertake a benchmarking exercise due to the fluctuations in the utility costs.

Options/alternatives considered

Options were considered at Item 22 of the agenda due to commercial sensitivities.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information contained Item 22 of the agenda before making a decision.  

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Adult Social Care (DASS) which sought approval to novate the Green Square Accord contract to Allied Health Services Ltd.  The report provided an updated position regarding the due diligence checks that had been completed.

Green Square Accord Limited (GSA) were one of the preferred providers working in East Cluster under the Flexible Purchasing Agreement (FPA) for the Provision of Care at Home, Extra Care and Specialist Care at Home Services (DN373470). Contracts for the provision of the Services to individuals were made under the FPA. GSA delivered over 500 hours of care per week to over 50 service users.

In December 2022 GSA requested Oldham Council’s written agreement for their contract to be novated to Allied Health Services Ltd, a company owned by Cera Care, by 23^rd January 2023.

The Council commenced due diligence in response to the request to novate and specified the information needed for a decision to be reached. The due diligence process could not be concluded by the date of the proposed sale of the business on 23^rd January 2023 and, therefore, delegated decision approval was obtained for GSA to sub-contract the FPA and the delivery of the Services under the current contract to Allied Health Services Ltd as an interim arrangement so that ongoing service delivery could continue whilst a decision on the proposed novation was reached.

GSA sold the care at home part of its business in the North of England to Allied Healthcare Limited (a part of the Cera Care Group), as planned, on 23^rd January 2023. 

GSA remained under contract with the Council pending a decision on novation, but services were currently being delivered by Allied.

The due diligence process was complete and authority was sought to novate the GSA contract to Allied Health Services Ltd. 

Options/Alternatives considered

Option 1 – To novate the GSA contract to Allied Health Services Ltd.

Option 2 – Not to provide agreement to novate the GSA contract to Allied.  This option would present an immediate risk to service delivery.  GSA have no operational functions remaining within the North West and there would be a risk to service delivery within the contract notice period.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information at Item 23 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(s) 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.

Consideration was given to the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 10, Approval of Grant Funding Agreement with Greater Manchester Combined Authority

RESOLVED – That:

1.    Oldham Council to agree and enter into grant agreement with Greater Manchester Combined Authority be approved.

2.    The continued delivery of the three services captured in the grant agreement namely, ABEN, CAS-3 and RSI be approved.

Consideration was given to the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 11 UKSPF Grant Acceptance.

RESOLVED – That:

Cabinet is asked to:

1.    The acceptance of the £2.296m UKSPF grant against the three interventions approved for funding by DLHUC BE approved and broken down as follows:

2.    It be noted that as accountable body for UKSPF, GMCA has issued a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in respect of the grant, along with supporting documentation, which is currently under review by the Council ‘s legal services.

3.    Authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place and Economic Growth to agree the terms of the MOU issued by GMCA in respect of the grant award in consultation with the Director of Legal Services and approve appointments of professional teams and contract award in respect of the agreed budgets.

4.    Authority be delegated to Director of Legal Services or their nominated representative to finalise and enter into the MOU issued by GMCA in respect of the grant award subject to the completion of any necessary due diligence on subsidy control compliance and authority to agree and complete any project change requests under the MOU.

5.    Authority be delegated to the Director of Economy or their nominated representative to agree monitoring and evaluation of defined outputs and negotiations thereupon as required over the grant delivery period of 2022/23 – 2024/2025.

6.    The internal governance and administration for the UKSPF grant will be performed via the Creating a Better Place Programme Board (CAPB) structures alongside a dedicated UKSPF Delivery Group for which Terms of Reference will be agreed by the Director of Economy or their nominated representative be endorsed.

Consideration was given to the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 12, Levelling Up Fund Grant Acceptance.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The acceptance of the £20m LUF2 grant over financial years 2022/23 – 2024/25 be approved against the three projects approved for funding by DLUHC broken down as follows:

2.    Authority be delegated  to the Director of Economy to progress the Northern Roots Learning Centre and the Green Shoots Business Centre projects and to meet revenue costs including design, business case development and any such expenditure as is necessary to deliver the grant funding conditions of the award.

3.    Authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Director of Legal Services, to agree terms of the grant funding agreement issued by DLHUC in respect of the grant award and to approve the procurement and appointment of contractors and service providers to supply any works, supplies or services needed to deliver the three projects within the agreed budgets

4.    Authority be delgetaed to Director of Legal Services or their nominated representative to finalise and enter into any grant funding agreement that is issued by DLUHC and approved by the Executive Director for Place and Economic Growth in respect of the grant award, to complete any necessary due diligence on subsidy control compliance, to agree and complete any project change requests under the grant agreement and to finalise and enter into any contracts for the supply of any works, supplies or services needed to deliver the three projects within the agreed budgets.

5.    Authority be delegated to the Director of Economy or their nominated representative to agree monitoring and evaluation of defined outputs and negotiations thereupon as required over the grant delivery period of 2022/23 – 2024/2025.

6.    The internal governance and administration for the £20m LUF grant will be performed via the Creating a Better Place Programme Board (CAPB) structures alongside a dedicated Monitoring Group for which Terms of Reference will be agreed by the Director of Economy or their nominated representative be endorsed.

Consideration was given to the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 14 Oldham Community Leisure – Contract.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    A contract extension of five years from 1 April 2023, together with the contract modifications detailed in the commercially sensitive report be agreed.

2.    Alternative future delivery models for leisure services be explored.

3.    The financial requirements in respect of the contract, as detailed in the commercially sensitive report be approved.

Consideration was given to the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 15 Oldham Community Leisure (OCL) - Utility Benchmarking.

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The requirement for Utility Benchmarking under the terms of the contract be approved.

2.    All further recommendations as contained in the commercially sensitive report be approved.

Consideration was given to the commercially sensitive information in relation Item 16 Contract Novation - Green Square Accord to Allied Health Services Ltd (Care At Home).

RESOLVED – That

1.    The Green Square Accord contract be novated to Allied Health Services Ltd.

2.    The  service delivery would be monitored robustly and provider failure processes would be implemented if necessary.