Agenda, decisions and minutes

All Cabinet Members were present.  Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Leader of the Opposition, had sent his apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

The record of decisions of the Cabinet meeting of 25 September 2014 are attached.

RECOMMENDED that the record of decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 25 September 2014 be approved as a correct record to be signed by the Chair.

DECISION: that the record of decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 25 September 2014 were approved as a correct record, to be signed by the Leader.

The purpose of the report, by the Head of Financial Services and Section 151 Officer, in Appendix A is to inform members and the wider community of the Council’s Treasury Management position at 30 September 2014 and of the risks attached to that position. The report also seeks to vary the investment counter party limits for unrated building societies to reflect the 2014 Building Societies Database published by KPMG in September and to obtain approval to increase the variable interest rate exposure limit to reflect the increased level of short term investments.

The recommendations will be forwarded to Council for approval on 11 November 2014.

The recommendations as contained within the report are referred to Council for approval so are not subject to call-in.

Chris Ward, the City Treasurer and Section 151 Officer presented his report.

RECOMMENDED to Council:

1.            That the following actual Treasury Management indicators for the second quarter of 2014/15 be noted:

(a)          The Council’s debt at 30 September was as follows:

(b)          The maturity structure of the Council’s borrowing was:

(c)          The Council’s interest rate exposures at 30 September 2014 were:

(d)          Sums invested for periods longer than 364 days at 30 September 2014 were:

2.            That the investment counter party limits of unrated building societies be revised as follows:

3.            That the variable interest rate exposure limit for 2014/15 be increased by (£45m) from (£196m) to (£241m), ie. from net investments of £196m to net investments of £241m.

The report by the Director of Children's Services and Strategic Director concerns the proposed Youth Justice Strategic Plan for 2012-2015.

RECOMMENDED that Council approves the Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015.

(1) Cabinet noted the achievements made by the Youth Offending Team, the progress made since the full Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) inspection in November 2013 and endorsed the new priorities for the team and Management Board in driving practice forward.

(2)Cabinet endorsed the refreshed Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2015-17 and recommend that it is approved by Council.

(As this is a referral to Council this is not subject to call-in)

The report was presented by Jon Gardner, Manager of the Youth Offending Teams (YOT),  This strategic plan focused on the risked posed by young people Portsmouth and that of reoffending, as well as seeking to address and reduce custodial entrants and first time entrants to the youth justice system. Councillor Young acknowledged the challenges faced by the YOT since its disaggregation from the Wessex YOT and felt that the plan was showing that improvements were being made and important issues addressed, which was supported by the Cabinet.

DECISIONS:

(1) Cabinet noted the achievements made by the Youth Offending Team, the progress made since the full Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) inspection in November 2013 and endorsed the new priorities for the team and Management Board in driving practice forward.

(2)Cabinet endorsed the refreshed Youth Justice Strategic Plan 2015-17 and recommend that it is approved by Council.

(Within recommendation 2 the endorsement of the strategic plan would need full Council approval.)

The attached report by the Chief Executive seeks to:

      i.        To briefly explain the background to the three key strategic partnerships and their strategy development processes.

    ii.        To inform Cabinet of the joint business planning process that has been agreed across the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB), the Safer Portsmouth Partnership (SPP) and the Children's Trust Board (CTB).

   iii.        To seek Cabinet's endorsement of the associated strategies that have been agreed by those partnerships.

(Links to each of the separate plans are contained within the body of this report.)

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet

(1)  note the process that has been developed to ensure effective joint work between the three strategic partnerships (HWB, CTB and SPP)

(2)  recommend to Full Council that they endorse the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Safer Portsmouth Plan and Children's Trust Plan as approved by the respective strategic partnerships.

The Cabinet:

(1)          noted the process that has been developed to ensure effective joint work between the three strategic partnerships (Health & Wellbeing Board, Childrens Trust Board and Safer Portsmouth Partnership)

(2)          recommends to Full Council that they endorse the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Safer Portsmouth Plan and Children's Trust Plan as approved by the respective strategic partnerships.

(As this is a referral to Council this is not subject to call-in)

David Williams, as Chief Executive, presented this report which set out the work taking place in an integrated way within the strategies being developed with PCC's partners, and this would need Council approval of the accompanying plans.  The Leader was grateful for the joint working taking place within each of these bodies.

DECISIONS: The Cabinet:

(1)          noted the process that has been developed to ensure effective joint work between the three strategic partnerships (Health & Wellbeing Board, Childrens Trust Board and Safer Portsmouth Partnership)

(2)          RECOMMENDS to Full Council that they endorse the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Safer Portsmouth Plan and Children's Trust Plan as approved by the respective strategic partnerships.

DECISION: the omissions of these key decisions reports (future Commissioning of Youth Support Services and Support for the provision of affordable finance - the latter containing exempt information), from the October Forward Plan were noted.

The attached report by the Head of Children's Social Care and Safeguarding seeks agreement from Cabinet on the proposal to re-commission youth support services. 

RECOMMENDED:

(1)That Cabinet approve the re-commissioning of the youth support arrangements as set out in paragraph 1.3;

(2)That Cabinet note that the externally provided part of the current ITYSS service configuration (currently provided by Motiv8)  will not be renewed following the current contract termination date of the 31 December 2014, temporary extensions are to be agreed to  ensure  a managed transfer of young people to other services; and,

(3)That Cabinet delegate authority to the, Cabinet Member for Children & Education to approve, following consultation, proposals to meet the needs of vulnerable young people in the City.

(1) Cabinet approved the re-commissioning of the youth support arrangements as set out in paragraph 1.3;

(2)That Cabinet noted that the externally provided part of the current ITYSS service configuration (currently provided by Motiv8)  will not be renewed following the current contract termination date of the 31 December 2014, temporary extensions are to be agreed to  ensure  a managed transfer of young people to other services; and,

(3) Cabinet delegated authority to the, Cabinet Member for Children & Education to approve, following consultation, proposals to meet the needs of vulnerable young people in the City.

Katy Ricks, Team Leader ITYSS (accompanied by Mandy Thompson) spoke on behalf of staff to give their detailed response to the report by the Head of Children's Social Care & Safeguarding, copies of which were circulated to the cabinet members and time was taken to read this at the meeting.  This set out the impact of the proposals on young people and their families and the services in the city and it also set out their alternative proposals to make the required savings.

Mandy Thompson wished to stress that a lot of the young people they worked with were not attending schools or college; it is their job to reintegrate them, meeting with vulnerable clients and using venues such as the Go For It Centre to facilitate this.  She explained that the team had only been able to meet together the previous day to put forward their response and had not been involved in consultation on the report itself.

Julian Wooster, Director of Childrens Services & Strategic Director responded by outlining the proposals and agreed the value of the preventative work with young people, including NEETs, for which a re-commissioned service was being sought, relying on joint funding to help to ensure the right level of support and skills, such as through the extended Trouble Families Programme, Cities of Service initiative and help from the voluntary sector.  Consideration would also be given to the use of the pupil premium by schools and there would be further consultation needed regarding the Go For It Centre.

Councillor Young, as Cabinet Member for Children & Education, reiterated that this would be a very difficult decision to be taken in response to the projected overspend of £2.5m by this portfolio which has to be addressed, and he thanked the staff for their very considered paper which reflected the valuable service being provided.   Whist Councillor Young suggested deferral of this item the Cabinet Members believed that the financial position needed to be reported to Council, setting out how the overspend was being addressed, and therefore the Leader asked that the report be supported but that Councillor Young work further with the schools regarding their financial contributions and at the Go For It Service, and liaise with the ITYSS team leaders.  There would also be a visit by a Strategic Director from North East Lincolnshire who would be sharing their experience of services passing to a mutual/not for profit organisation, which may be of interest to the staff.

DECISIONS:

(1) Cabinet approved the re-commissioning of the youth support arrangements as set out in paragraph 1.3;

(2)That Cabinet noted that the externally provided part of the current ITYSS service configuration (currently provided by Motiv8)  will not be renewed following the current contract termination date of the 31 December 2014, temporary extensions are to be agreed to  ensure  a managed transfer of young people to other services; and,

(3) Cabinet delegated authority to the, Cabinet Member for Children & Education to approve, following consultation, proposals to meet the needs of vulnerable young people in the City.

The Cabinet:

(1)          Noted the contents of this report;

(2)          Agreed the hosting of the Coroners Service within Portsmouth City Council;

(3)          Agreed to the movement of staff from their respective organisations to PCC employment directly;

(4)          Noted the ring-fencing of budget with regard to the Coroners Service.

Michael Lawther, City Solicitor & Strategic Director presented the report of the Head of Customer, Community & Democratic Services, and he commended the bringing of the service in from Hampshire County Council (which funded 30%) to Portsmouth City Council (which funded 70%), which would retain the service in the city with benefits to the community and it would give PCC more control of its administration and budget.  Councillor Lee Mason, as Cabinet Member for Resources, thanked officers for their hard work on this and agreed that this service should not be controlled at a distance by HCC which would mean the risk of bereaved families having to travel to Winchester, whereas this should be a local service.  It was further noted that the Coroner himself was appointed to his independent role by the Lord Chancellor, but that his staff would transfer to PCC's terms and conditions.

DECISIONS - The Cabinet:

(1)          Noted the contents of this report;

(2)          Agreed the hosting of the Coroners Service within Portsmouth City Council;

(3)          Agreed to the movement of staff from their respective organisations to PCC employment directly;

(4)          Noted the ring-fencing of budget with regard to the Coroners Service.

The report by the Strategic Director for Regeneration seeks approval of the aims of the Dunsbury Hill Farm (DHF) project and to delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Head of Financial Services and Section 151 Officer to carry out the highways works and commission the work needed to evaluate the next stage of the project.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)  The aims of the Dunsbury Hill Farm Project as set out in this report are approved.

(2)  Subject to the City Council project governance arrangements and a prior financial appraisal approved by the Section 151 officer authority to commence the highways works and to commission the works needed to evaluate the next stage of the project is delegated to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Head of Financial Services and Section 151 Officer.

(3)  The revised financing for the scheme including the additional £2.163 million borrowing is approved and the Corporate Capital Programme is amended to reflect the revised capital budget.

(4)  Further authority will be sought from the City Council to approve the possible site development options and opportunities that will arise from the highways works.

RECOMMENDED to Council:

(1)  The aims of the Dunsbury Hill Farm Project as set out in this report are approved.

(2)  Subject to the City Council project governance arrangements and a prior financial appraisal approved by the Section 151 officer authority to commence the highways works and to commission the works needed to evaluate the next stage of the project is delegated to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Head of Financial Services and Section 151 Officer.

(3)  The revised financing for the scheme including the additional £2.163 million borrowing is approved and the Corporate Capital Programme is amended to reflect the revised capital budget.

(4)  Further authority will be sought from the City Council to approve the possible site development options and opportunities that will arise from the highways works.

(As this is referred to Council it is not subject to call-in)

Alan Cufley, Head of Corporate Assets, Business & Standards, presented the report with the Project Officer Kevin Hudson.  There would be a further report back to Cabinet.  The Cabinet Members were supportive of the development of this strategic site, and Councillor Ellcome as Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation hoped that the skills of the in-house highway designers would be further utilised.

RECOMMENDED to Council:

(1)  The aims of the Dunsbury Hill Farm Project as set out in this report are approved.

(2)  Subject to the City Council project governance arrangements and a prior financial appraisal approved by the Section 151 officer authority to commence the highways works and to commission the works needed to evaluate the next stage of the project is delegated to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Head of Financial Services and Section 151 Officer.

(3)  The revised financing for the scheme including the additional £2.163 million borrowing is approved and the Corporate Capital Programme is amended to reflect the revised capital budget.

(4)  Further authority will be sought from the City Council to approve the possible site development options and opportunities that will arise from the highways works.

That in view of the contents of the following items on the agenda the Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to adopt the following motion:

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985, the press and public be excluded for the consideration of the following items on the grounds that the reports contain information defined as exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972”.

The public interest in maintaining the exemption must outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information.

Under the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) England Regulations 2012, regulation 5, the reasons for exemption of the listed items is shown below.

Members of the public may make representation as to why the item should be held in open session.  A statement of the Council’s response to representations received will be given at the meeting so that this can be taken into account when members decide whether or not to deal with the item under exempt business.

(NB     The exempt/confidential papers on the agenda will contain information which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties.  Members are reminded of standing order restrictions on the disclosure of exempt information and are invited to return their exempt documentation to the Local Democracy Officer at the conclusion of the meeting for shredding.)

Item                                                                             Exemption Para No.*

Support for the provision of affordable Finance

(Appendix 1 only)                                                                            3

* Paragraph Numbers:

1. Information relating to any individual

2. Information that is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

DECISION - to adopt the following motion:

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985, the press and public be excluded for the consideration of the following items on the grounds that the reports contain information defined as exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972”.

Minute 94                                                                              Exemption Para No.

Support for the provision of affordable Finance

(Appendix 1 only)                                                                            3

The purpose of the report by the Head of Financial Services and Section 151 Officer is to set out the general responsibilities of both the City Council and the S151 Officer in relation to safeguarding public funds and, in that context, seek a decision from Cabinet in relation to entering into a loan facility agreement with United Savings and Loans (US&L), formerly known as the Hampshire Credit Union.

RECOMMENDED

(1)          That, taking into account the Council's obligations to safeguard public funds, the Cabinet consider:

(i)    Not providing a loan facility agreement to US&L

(ii)  Providing a loan facility agreement on the terms referred to in Appendix 1.

(2)          In the event that a loan facility agreement is approved, the S151

Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be given delegated authority to determine whether to enter into a loan facility in accordance with the terms in exempt Appendix 1.

(1)          That, taking into account the Council's obligations to safeguard public funds, the Cabinet agreed to provide a loan facility agreement to US&L on the terms referred to in Appendix 1.

(2)In the event that a loan facility agreement is approved, the S151

Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be given delegated authority to determine whether to enter into a loan facility in accordance with the terms set out in exempt Appendix 1 to the report.

Chris Ward, Head of Financial Services and Section 151 Officer presented this report and the financial obligations of the Council when giving consideration to the request for a loan, which were discussed by the Cabinet Members in exempt session.

DECISIONS:

(1)          That, taking into account the Council's obligations to safeguard public funds, the Cabinet agreed to provide a loan facility agreement to US&L on the terms referred to in Appendix 1.

(2)          In the event that a loan facility agreement is approved, the S151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be given delegated authority to determine whether to enter into a loan facility in accordance with the terms set out in exempt Appendix 1 to the report.