Members must indicate at this stage any items on the agenda in which they must declare an interest.  Members must verbally give notice of their interest at the meeting and complete the form attached with this agenda. 

Members are also advised to take advice with regard to any matter where there is potential bias or predetermination in any business to be considered at the meeting and whether they should take part in decision making at the meeting.

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and the Council's adopted Code of Conduct, they must declare the nature of any discloseable pecuniary interest; personal interest and/or prejudicial interest required of them and, in the case of any discloseable pecuniary interest or prejudicial interest, withdraw from the meeting during consideration of the item, unless permitted otherwise within the Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the minutes of the meetings of Cabinet held on 24^th May 2016 and 6^th June 2016.

DECIDED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th June 2016 be approved subject to the deletion of Councillors Brett and Martin from the paragraph headed ‘also in attendance’.

The Cabinet considered a report presenting the Council’s Food and Feed Service Plan for 2016/17, together with identified variations from the previous years’ Service Plan, and providing details of future developments for the Service.  The Cabinet was further advised that an FSA audit follow up had indicated that the Service has made good progress and continues to address the outstanding actions to ensure the Authority delivers an appropriate level of official food controls within the Borough

The recommendations were presented as it is a requirement of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Framework Agreement that local Food Authorities should review their performance in relation to Food on an annual basis and the Food and Feed Plan was submitted for consideration accordingly.

Alternatives considered: None, as the authority is obliged to produce an annual Food and Feed Service Plan.

In considering the report Members sought clarification as to whether an area of high density premises can be covered by generic licensing conditions or if they must be issued on an individual basis.    

DECIDED – That (1)the Food Standards Agency letter dated 13th June 2016 as set out in Appendix 1 of the submitted report be noted.

(2) Food and Feed Service Plan as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be adopted as the authority’s Food and Feed Service Plan for 2016/17,

(3) the Director of Public Health and the Director of Economy be requested to report to a future meeting of Cabinet advising on the application of planning and licensing policies on an area basis.  

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods detailing performance in relation to the delivery of the priorities in the Corporate Plan 2015/16. 

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services advised that more recent indicators suggested improvements in performance of the Schools Service.

DECIDED – That the report be noted.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which sought approval of the submitted Place Plan.  The Place Plan for the Borough had been developed as a refresh of the Sustainable Community Strategy by the Borough’s Transformational Leaders Group.  Members were requested to adopt the plan as the overarching partnership plan by means of articulating the ambition for the Borough for the next five years.

The Council led the development of the Borough’s Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) 2011-2021 under the direction of the former Pride Partnership (Rochdale’s Local Strategic Partnership). Although the vision and priorities contained within the SCS is for 20-years, the SCS itself was a four-year partnership delivery plan.  Accordingly, the Transformational Leaders Group refreshed the SCS to produce an overarching Place Plan for the Borough that encompassed the other partnership plans in place or under development.

Alternatives considered: To refresh the Sustainable Community Strategy as a stand-alone document was not considered appropriate given the existence and emergence of other Strategies and Plans and the need to integrate these and the process for managing impact and performance bearing in mind the reduction in resources across partners; or, not adopting a plan was not considered to be suitable given the need for the borough to articulate its aspiration for the place and its people in one succinct document within a growing and strengthening Greater Manchester region and the evolving plans for devolution.

In considering the report Members requested the plan be reviewed to reflect items from the Middleton and Heywood Townships and provide greater balance between entertainment achievement with that of arts and sports.  The Director of Neighbourhoods advised that the online version of the plan would be updated with a periodic review and any fundamental changes by either the Council or partner organisations would be reported to Cabinet.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

DECIDED – That the Place Plan, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the submitted report, be approved.    

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods providing details of the progress made by the “Place Based Working“ integrated team since the Making a Difference Kirkholt Pilot, and requesting identification of an Early Adopter site along with approval of the adoption of a proposed work plan and approach to the project.

Following the Kirkholt Pilot the report detailed a second phase of place based working, which is part of a Greater Manchester Public Service Reform project.  As part of the Greater Manchester Place workstream, all 10 local authority areas are expected to develop and deliver a place based “Early Adopter” site to commence in November 2016.

Alternatives considered: Members were asked to consider the results of the Kirkholt Pilot and identified another area for implementation of the proposed work plan.

DECIDED – That (1) the progress of the integrated team within the Kirkholt Pilot be noted;

(2) the adoption of a “way of working” approach be approved;

(3) the location of an Early Adopter site in the neighbourhood of College Bank and Lower Falinge, be approved; 

(4) the preparation of a “Local Implementation Plan” which will support an application for funding from the Greater Manchester Place workstream, be noted;

(5) the Council’s Chief Executive will present a paper outlining  the Council’s approach and progress at the Greater Manchester Public Service Reform Board, be noted.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Resources which presented an updated Revenues and Benefits Service Fraud Prosecution and Sanctions Policy which required re-adoption following legislative changes.

The recommendations were presented as the lack of a Fraud Prosecution and Sanctions Policy would expose the Council to the risk of not being able to effectively combat fraud and corruption in relation to the Revenues and Benefits business activities of the Council. The policy therefore brings together a range of legislation providing a full range of sanctions, penalties and prosecution available to councils’ to support an effective deterrent regime. The revised policy had been drafted following changes to some of the legislative amendments within the Governments Welfare Reforms.

Alternatives considered: none.

DECIDED – That the Fraud Prosecution and Sanctions Policy, as detailed within appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

The Director of Resources presented an update on the current Council Tax Support Scheme and a comparison of Schemes across the Greater Manchester authorities; advised on the legislative requirements to review the Scheme and consultation arrangements; and presented options and funding implications for changes to the Scheme for 2016/17.

The recommendations were presented as s1A of the Local Government Finance Act 2012 required local authorities to consider whether to revise or replace its local Council Tax Support Scheme each year. 

Alternatives considered:  A number of options had been considered and assessed, including considerations of impacts on vulnerable groups and financial implications for the authority.

DECIDED – That (1) the proposal to amend the Scheme for 2017/18 to reduce the minimum payment for working age claimants from 20% to 15%, (award capped at 85% of a Band A property), be approved for consultation;

(2) the formal consultation period, as detailed in paragraph 3.5 of the submitted report, be approved;

(3) the results of the consultation be reported to Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet in early November 2016 with a final proposal of the Local Council Tax Scheme submitted to Council on the 18th January 2017;

(4) the Scheme be automatically updated annually for national changes affecting the operation for the award of local council tax support thus ensuring that criteria for award remains in line with the award of housing benefit, with inflation increases for deductions, premiums and allowances to increase in line with DWP guidance.

The Cabinet received a report of the Director of Resources advising on the Council’s projected revenue financial position for the 2016/17 financial year and which sought consideration a number of matters to enable decision making and actions in respect of that position.

The recommendations were presented to ensure effective financial management to keep Council expenditure within available resources.

Alternatives considered:  Not to report on financial performance put at risk the achievement of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan and effective budget management was critical to ensuring financial resources were spent in line with the budget and were targeted towards the Council’s priorities.

DECIDED – That (1) the projected 2016/17 Revenue Budget position be noted;

(2)  the Budget Pressure Fund requests detailed at paragraph 3.5.7 of the submitted report, be approved;

(3) the overall sundry debt position as at the 31st May 2016, be noted.

The Cabinet received a report of the Director of Finance advising on the Council’s projected capital financial position for the financial year 2016/17 and seeking approval of the identified amendments to enable decision making and actions where identified within the submitted report.

The recommendations were presented to ensure effective financial management to keep Council expenditure within available resources.

Alternatives considered:  Not to report on financial performance put at risk the achievement of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan and effective budget management was critical to ensuring financial resources were spent in line with the budget and were targeted towards the Council’s priorities.

DECIDED – That (1) the current projected 2016/17 Capital position be noted;

(2) the budget changes identified within paragraph 3.4.1 of the submitted report, be noted;

(3) the re-phasing amounts identified within paragraph 3.5 of the submitted report, be noted;

(4) the budget identified within paragraph 3.6 of the submitted report, be noted;

(5) expenditure on existing schemes, as detailed in paragraph 3.7.1 of the submitted report, be approved from unallocated Capital Receipts to fund the increased expenditure;

(6) the use of £1m of unallocated Capital Receipts for each of 4 years (2016/17 – 2019/20) to fund expenditure relating to the Asset Development Fund, as detailed within paragraph 3.7.2 of the submitted report, be approved.

The Cabinet received a report of the Director of Resources advising on the Council’s projected forecast Collection Fund position for the 2016/17 financial year.

The recommendations were presented to ensure effective financial management to keep Council expenditure within available resources.

Alternatives considered:  Not to report on financial performance put at risk the achievement of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan and effective budget management was critical to ensuring financial resources were spent in line with the budget and were targeted towards the Council’s priorities.

DECIDED – That the projected 2016/17 Collection Fund forecast, be noted.

The Cabinet received a report of the Director of Resources advising on the Council’s Saving Proposals financial position for the 2016/17 financial year, as at the end of May 2016.

The recommendations were presented to ensure effective financial management to keep Council expenditure within available resources.

Alternatives considered:  Not reporting on financial performance puts at risk the achievement of the Authority’s medium term financial strategy. Good budget management is critical to ensuring financial resources are spent in line with the budget and are targeted towards the Council’s priorities. Monitoring enables the early identification of variations against the strategy and facilitates timely corrective action.

DECIDED – That the Savings Proposals forecast position as at the end of May 2016, be noted.

DECIDED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business since it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, namely information relating to the business or financial affairs of any particular person (including the person holding that information).

The Director of Economy introduced a report seeking the creation of an annual Asset Development Fund for the purpose of investment to improve revenue income, increase capital values, to assemble sites for development, and to stimulate business growth and job creation.

Alternatives considered: the report set out a number of alternative approaches highlighting the potential strengthens and weaknesses of adopting a different approach.

DECIDED – That (1) the creation of an invest-to-save vehicle by way of an Asset Development Fund be approved, subject to management in accordance with the proposals as detailed within the submitted report, and the option for the nature of that vehicle as detailed at paragraph 2.1.4 be further examined;

(2) the authority to expend the assets of the fund be delegated to a Delegated Decision-Making Panel comprising the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Members for Finance and Housing & Environment;

(3) expenditure up to a maximum of £250,000, be delegated to the Director of Economy in consultation with the Director of Resources, provided that the expenditure is within an annual programme of strategic objectives as approved by the Delegated Decision-Making Panel;

(4)       The property assets earmarked for use by the Asset Development Fund, as detailed within the submitted report, be approved.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Economy detailing proposals for the creation of a new permanent market in Rochdale town centre. The report provided Members with a summary of the findings of a Feasibility Study; identified the key issues, risks and timescales; and a business case associated with a preferred option. Furthermore the report sought Members’ consideration of property and highways matters, together with management arrangements for any market established.

DECIDED – That (1) the report be noted;

(2) the recommendations contained within paragraph 2 to the submitted report be approved;

(3) the delegation of matters to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council/Regeneration Portfolio Holder and the Deputy Leader of the Council as detailed at paragraphs 2.3, 2.9 and 2.10 be confirmed, and the Head of Legal be authorised to execute all the appropriate Legal Agreements on behalf of the Council;

(4) the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order and the principle of applying for any necessary road closures in respect of the highways rights over The Butts under Section 247 of the Town & Country Planning Act , as detailed in the submitted report, be approved.