Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

There were no public questions received.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 22^nd June 2020 and 7^th July 2020 be agreed.

Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief Executive which set out the progress that had been made following the Government’s response to Greater Manchester’s Outline Business Case to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide Exceedances at the Roadside (OBC), and the implications of pandemic management policies (the extent of which were not yet fully understood) for the 10 Greater Manchester (GM) local authorities in relation to the schedule of work and statutory consultation on the Clean Air Plan and the link to taxi and private hire common minimum licensing standards (MLS).

Options/alternatives

N/A

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The following be noted;

a)    The progress of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan;

b)    The progress in the development of the Clean Commercial Vehicle and Hardship funds;

c)    The initial funding award of £41m for clean vehicle funds to award grants or loans to eligible businesses;

d)    The Government had accepted the need for vehicle replacement funds for Hackney Carriages, and Light Goods Vehicles, but had requested further development of shared evidence on the needs within that complex sector before responding and does not support the sustainable journeys measure.

e)    Transport for Greater Manchester was seeking confirmation that the funding award for Bus Retrofit is a continuation of Clean Bus Technology Funds to be distributed as soon as possible as per previous arrangements;

f)     The government would not support electric vehicle charging infrastructure through Clean Air monies but had committed to work with GM on securing funding from OLEV;

g)    The implementation of a Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone was delayed to 2022 with a revised implementation date to be confirmed in the consultation commencement report;

h)    The Department for Transport’s positioning paper “Decarbonising Transport – Setting the Challenge”;

i)     The assessment of the possible impacts of COVID-19 to inform a technical briefing note for decision makers; and

j)     The GM local Authorities intend to consult on GM’s proposed MLS, alongside the Clean Air Plan consultation and agree the position for consultation, on when taxi/PHV fleets should be Zero Emission Capable.

2.    The following be agreed:

a)    The position that the GM Local Authorities would move to a statutory public consultation on the GM Clean Air Plan as soon as reasonably practicable;

b)    The position that the GM Local Authorities’ decision to commence a public consultation should be taken once there was a clear timeframe for exiting lockdown and moving to the next phase of the COVID-19 response;

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Director, Commisisoing and Partnerships which sought approval to extend the current contract for Oldham’s delivery of integrated early years offer – Right Start.

The early years period had a critical influence on future outcomes throughout life. The provision of high quality, effective services, which supported communities at this critical time was a priority particularly within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years progress has been made in integrating public health and education services to provide a joined-up offer for families. As the Council further developed models of children’s services provision in Oldham there were opportunities to consider how the Council could more effectively join up community, health and care services as part of a place-based model to create a more seamless offer for children and families.

The position had changed substantially as the current pandemic continued to pose unforeseen and unprecedented challenges to all particularly impacting on front line health, care and support services and the availability of the market place to engage in new procurement exercises this financial year due to resilience planning and business recovery by health providers and therefore a request was made to extend the contract for a further year from 31 March 2021 up until 31 March 2022.

Options/alternatives

Considered at Item 11of the agenda.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information contained at Item 11 of the agenda.

Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Chief Executive which sought approval for the Council to vary the existing Strategic Partnering Agreement with Langtree Property Partners to enable development to continue at Hollinwood Junction.

Creating a Better Place’ incorporated significant programmes of work that had been progressed over the past eighteen months in order to set out a comprehensive vision and strategic framework for the borough.

On the 20^th June 2011, the Council entered into a Strategic Partnering Agreement (SPA) with Langtree Group Plc.

The SPA was entered into following a competitive tender process advertised in OJEU, by which Langtree was selected as the Council’s development partner for the delivery of high-quality business space through the redevelopment of sites and associated infrastructure on the Council owned land known as the Hollinwood Junction site.

Under the SPA, Langtree were appointed to carry out management services. These services consist of submitting the Council’s development plans, assisting the Council with the disposal of property, dealing with development receipts and undertaking all necessary preparatory work on the site prior to development.

The SPA also required Langtree to enter into development agreements with the Council for individual phases of the Hollinwood Junction site.

A development agreement had been entered into by Langtree and the Council under which Langtree carried out a Euro Garages development on the former Roxy Cinema site. A highways contract has been agreed with a contractor for the construction of the phase 1 highway works.The phase 1 highway works will provide the access into the wider Hollinwood Junction employment area.

The gas holder which prevented development of the employment site, had now been dismantled and the remaining void in the ground partially infilled, and the site has been acquired from National Grid.

Options/Alternatives

Option One – Approve the variation of the existing Strategic Partnership Agreement with Langtree Property Partners to enable the development to continue at Hollinwood Junction.

Option Two – Do not approve the variation of the existing Strategic Partnership Agreement with Langtree Property Partners.

RESOLVED – That the Cabinet would consider the commercially sensitive information detailed at Item 10 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 8 - Hollinwood Junction Strategic Partnering Agreement.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations as detailed within the report be agreed.

The Cabinet gave consideration to the commercially sensitive information in relation to Item 7 - Request for an extension to the Right Start service contract provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust.

RESOLVED – That the recommendations as detailed within the report be approved.