To consider the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 27 July 2021.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 27 July 2021 be approved as a correct record.

Members are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary, personal or personal and prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests relating to items on this agenda and/or indicate if S106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.   

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate / Chief Finance Officer.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate / Chief Finance Officer which sought approval for the procurement of insurance contracts and approval for a switch of budgets within Directorates. 

Alternatives considered

To not approve the procurement would leave the Council open to risk.  Not reporting on financial performance puts at risk the achievement of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan. Effective 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 plan and facilitates timely corrective action.

RESOLVED

1.    That the forecast 2021/22 financial positions for Revenue, Capital, and the Collection Fund as at the end of June 2021, be noted as detailed in section 4 of the submitted report.

2.    That the emergency delegated decision which has been made for the use of the Covid Local Support Grant of £882k to contribute to food vouchers for the Summer Break, be noted as shown in section 4.1.2 of the submitted report.

3.    That approval be given to the commencement of procurement for the Council’s long term contracts for insurance detailed in section 4.1.2.

4.    That the Health & Social Care Pool Budget opening position be noted as detailed in section 4.2 of the submitted report.

5.    That approval be given to the Budget Pressure requests detailed in section 4.3.

6.    That the forecast achieved Savings target be noted as detailed in section 4.4 of the submitted report.

7.    That the net Capital budget changes of £11,697k, which includes the return of £400k of budget relating to Link4Life be noted as detailed in section 4.6.1 of the submitted report.

8.    That the Capital re-phasing of £56,258k into future years detailed in section 4.6.2 of the submitted report.

9.    That approval be given to the requests to switch budgets within the Economy Service and Neighbourhoods Service as detailed in section 4.6.3 of the submitted report.

10. That the switch between Resources and Neighbourhoods as detailed in section 4.6.3 of the submitted report, be noted.

Reason for recommendation

To provide information on the financial position of the authority, as effective budget management is critical to ensuring financial resources are spent in line with the budget and are targeted towards the Council’s priorities.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Facilities / Director of Neighbourhoods.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Facilities / Director of Neighbourhoods which sought approval to end the policy of charging residents for wheelie bins.

Alternatives considered

The council could continue to charge for bins but the income target would not be met and would be contrary to the wishes of the current administration. The council could charge residents of new build properties for their first set of bins if the developer refuses to pay.

RESOLVED

1.    That the charge to residents for new and replacement wheeled bins 240 litres or less, is stopped.

2.    That should a property repeatedly requests replacement bins without good reason the council reserves the right to charge for replacement bins or refuse to supply them.

3.    That Developers be required to pay for the first set of wheeled bins at any new development. The charge for 140 litre or 240 litre bins will be £25 per bin, current charges for larger bins will remain.

4.    That approval be given to £165k from the budget pressure fund to mitigate the removal of bin charges in 2021/22.

Reason for resolution

The recommendation in the report taken to the 25 August 2020 cabinet was for bin charges to be reviewed 12 months after implementation.  The benefit of returning to not charging was considered to be of greater benefit to residents and the council.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services / Interim Director of Childrens Services.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Adults and Social Care / Director of Commissioning which sought approval for adoption of a compliance policy covering Stairlift, vertical lift and step lift service, maintenance and inspection.

Alternatives considered

To continue to have informal arrangements in place, which wouldn’t be acceptable if we were subject to any investigation by the Health and Safety Executive.

RESOLVED

That the Lift Compliance Policy be adopted.

Reason for resolution

Following a recent review of lift compliance, it has been determined that a formal approved policy is required to set out how we will meet our responsibilities within the legislation governing this area.

To consider the report Cabinet Member for Highways and Housing / Director of Neighbourhoods.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability / Director of Neighbourhoods which sought approval to accept an external funding grant at a total of £756,200.00 to develop a significant scheme to promote active travel.

Alternatives considered

No alternatives had been considered, without the development cost funding there was no alternative budget to progress this scheme.

RESOLVED

That the external funding grant at a total of £756,200.00 to developa significant scheme aimed at active travel.

Reason for resolution

The proposals form part of the Council’s approved Rochdale Transport Delivery Plan which set out plans to develop a network of active travel corridors to promote sustainable modes of travel and support economic growth.

To consider the report of Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability / Director of Neighbourhoods.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for / Director of Neighbourhoods which sought approval to accept external funding grant at a total of £915,000 from the Department for Transport Active Travel Fund.  The aim of Active Travel Fund is to try and embed walking and cycling as part of long-term commuting habits to secure the associated health, air quality and congestion benefits.

Alternatives considered

To not accept the grant.

RESOLVED

That acceptance of the Active Travel Fund grant at a total of £915,000 be approved.

Reason for resolution

To deliver other active travel projects in other areas of the borough.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications / Director of Economy.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications which sought approval to accept grant funding from Historic England of £368,294 towards eligible works of £460,367 to carry out repairs to Hopwood Hall.

Alternatives considered

Not to accept the grant.

RESOLVED

1.    That the grant funding offer from Historic England is accepted.

2.    The Director of Economy be delegated authority to accept the grant on behalf of the Council.

3.    That the Assistant Director, Legal, Governance & Workforce be authorised to undertake any legal work on behalf of the Council to ensure that the grant funding offer from Historic England is obtained.

Reason for resolution

To enable the Council to carry out extensive repair works to Hopwood Hall, a grade II* listed building in the Council’s ownership, assisting in the viability of proposals for the sustainable reuse of the building.

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer / Director of Childrens Services.

Consideration was given to a report of the Monitoring Officer advising Cabinet of the findings of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LG&SCO) issued on 7 April 2021.

Alternatives considered

There were no alternatives considered

RESOLVED

That the compliance outcome be noted.

Reason for resolution

In the interests of open and transparent governance Cabinet are required to receive information about the complaint and remedy, to ensure in so far as is possible, that a similar situation does not re-occur in future.

To consider that the press and public be excluded from the remaining part of the meeting pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that discussions may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the provisions of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

RESOLVED

That the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following five items of business, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

Reason for the resolution

Should the press and public remain during debate on these three items there may be a disclosure of information that is deemed to be exempt under Parts 1 and 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications / Director of Economy.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications / Director of Economy which set out an offer to release the Council from obligations contained within a Deed of Dedication on a site at Cutgate Shopping Precinct Car Park, Edenfield Road, Rochdale.

Alternatives considered

Cabinet could decide to accept or decline the offer to be released from the Deed of Dedication.

RESOLVED

1.    That the offer to release the Council from the Deed of Dedication and that the Deed of Dedication be declined.

2.    That the Council’s position on the car park is reviewed in 2025.

3.    That work be undertaken to identify an annual budget for the ongoing maintenance of the car park in accordance with the costs outlined within the submitted report.

Reason for resolution

To ensure that the car park is managed for the public good.