Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were none.

Members are requested to indicate at this stage in the proceedings any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that if the interest is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct) they must leave the room for the whole of that item. If the interest is not a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, but is such that a member of the public could reasonably regard it as being so significant that it is likely that it would prejudice their judgment of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may make representations, but then must leave the meeting for the remainder of the item.

There were none.

Minutes of the last meeting held on Wednesday, 14 October 2020 attached.

Decision made (unanimously):

That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2020 be agreed as a correct record.

Cabinet Forward Plan covering the period 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021 attached for information.

The Leader of the Council presented the twelve month Cabinet Forward Plan for the period 1 November 2020 – 31 October 2020 for information.

Decision made (unanimously):

That the Cabinet Forward Plan for the period 1 November 2020 – 31 October 2020 be noted.

Decision made (unanimously):

That the report be noted.

The Leader of the Council presented a report of the Assistant Director of Scrutiny and Democratic Services informing the Cabinet of the urgent decisions taken in accordance with the Council’s Constitution due to the CO-VID19 pandemic.

Decision made (unanimously):

That the report be noted.

Report of the Interim Chief Executive enclosed.

Decision taken (unanimously):

1.     That Cabinet thanks the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel for its detailed scrutiny of the report and accepts the recommendations made at its meeting on 9 November 2020;

2.     That Cabinet welcomes the report and  looks forward to the next report when more data will be available to measure against the newly approved Corporate Strategy.

The Leader of the Council presented a report of the Interim Chief Executive providing Cabinet with a position statement for the newly approved Corporate Strategy for quarter two (July – September) 2020/21.

He also presented comments and recommendations made by the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel at its meeting on 9 November 2020, which were as follows:

1.     The Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel thanks the Leader, Chief Executive and Shared Services Lead – Partnerships and Transformation for presenting such a detailed report and answering questions;

2.     The Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel looks forward to the directorate performance indicators being presented to future meetings;

3.     The Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel welcomes the offer of the corporate strategy project mandates being provided to panel members;

4.     The Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel asks that that a future meeting takes a ‘deep dive’ into the organisational development strategy; and

5.     The timeframes involved in the project to deliver a mental health programme for young people be reviewed.

Arising from the discussion on the report, the Chief Executive agreed to provide Councillor Ogilvie with further details regarding the calculation of the figure ‘40% of service requests will be received via self-service channels’.  

Decision taken (unanimously):

1.     That Cabinet thanks the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel for its detailed scrutiny of the report and accepts the recommendations made at its meeting on 9 November 2020;

2.     That Cabinet welcomes the report and  looks forward to the next report when more data will be available to measure against the newly approved Corporate Strategy.

Reasons for decision

The Council’s newly agreed performance framework (agreed 14^th October 2020) set out the process for reporting progress against the objectives of the Corporate Strategy. Robust monitoring will ensure that the council continues to deliver its priorities and achieves the best outcomes for residents.         

Alternative options considered and rejected

Not applicable.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive to follow.

Decision taken (unanimously):

1.     That the new logo identified at Appendix A to the report be agreed;

2.     That the logo be introduced in line with the launch of the new website in January 2021.

The Leader of the Council presented a report of the Interim Chief Executive recommending approval for a new Council logo.

It was agreed at Cabinet on 14 October 2020 that the Council would go out to consultation on a selection of logos. The report summarised the feedback from that consultation and detailed the further changes that had been made that led to presenting the option at appendix A for approval.

Arising from discussions it was agreed that officers provide Cllr Michael Green with answers to the following questions:

-        When did the consultation start and end?

-        Why was only social media used?

-        Can councillors have details of all the 350 comments received?

-        Why consult with 3 options and then recommend a different one?

Decision taken (unanimously):

1.     That the new logo identified at Appendix A to the report be agreed;

2.     That the logo be introduced in line with the launch of the new website in January 2021.

Reasons for decision

The principle of refreshing the council’s logo had already been agreed to ensure it is modern and fit for purpose in the digital age.

The changes outlined below made were based on the feedback from the options that went out to consultation:

·       We created a simplified rose, which fits in with the style of the logo better and is based on the rose within the traditional South Ribble crest

·       We adjusted the blue font colour so it is slightly darker and matches better with the shade of red used for the rose

·       We softened the outline of the shield to make it look like the words and image belong together a bit better and to move away from comments that it was like a football club/school badge crest

Alternative options considered and rejected

An alternative option was to retain the existing logo but given the need to modernise, the ability to create the new brand in house at no cost and the feedback from the resident survey this was rejected.

Alternatives to the final choice were considered as part of the consultation, but changes were made to the final recommended option for the reasons given above.

Report of the Deputy Director of Finance enclosed.

Decision taken (unanimously):

1.     That Cabinet thanks the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel for its detailed scrutiny of the report and accepts the recommendations made at its meeting on 9 November 2020;

2.     That the report be noted;

3.     That the re-profiled budgets for the capital programme, which reflects forecasted underspend against the existing budgets, detailed in Appendix C of the report, be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets presented a report of the Deputy Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) explaining the Council’s overall financial position for quarter 2 of the financial year 2020-21. 

The Cabinet Member also indicated that the financial details regarding funding in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic would in future be the subject of a separate report, which he expected early in the new year.

The Scrutiny and Budget Performance Panel considered the report at its meeting on 9 November 2020 and made the following recommendations:

1.     The Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel thanks the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets and Deputy Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) for their detailed report and answering questions;

2.     The Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel welcomes the relatively small variance in budget so far in the year;

3.     The Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel support the Cabinet Member’s proposal to bring together all COVID-19 related financial information into the one report for monitoring purposes;

4.     The Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel looks forward to the results of the review of reserves as part of next year’s budget process; and

5.     The Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel is encouraged with the delivery of the capital programme at this stage in the year.

Decision taken (unanimously):

1.     That Cabinet accepts the recommendations of the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel made at its meeting on 9 November 2020;

2.     That the report be noted;

3.     That the re-profiled budgets for the capital programme, which reflects forecasted underspend against the existing budgets, detailed in Appendix C of the report, be approved.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet welcomed the recommendations of the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel made on 9 November 2020.

The decision to re-profile budgets for the capital programme reflect the recommendations of the Section 151 officer, which will ensure the Council’s best overall financial position.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, for the reasons given above.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive enclosed.

Decision taken (unanimously):

1.     That Cabinet endorses the Community Wealth Building Action Plan;

2.     That Cabinet asks the Deputy Chief Executive to prepare a delivery plan covering the period to March 2022 including resources to deliver the actions; the delivery plan to be considered by Cabinet in January 2021;

3.     That further engagement with the business sector be undertaken which will be reported to Cabinet in January 2021 and will feed into the delivery plan to be considered at that meeting;

4.     That the delivery plan above be considered as part of the emerging budget for 2021/22;

5.     That a Member Learning Hour on Community Wealth Building be held prior to the Cabinet meeting in January 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Social Justice and Wealth Building presented a report of the Director of Planning and Property detailing the draft South Ribble Community Wealth Building Action Planfor consideration.

Issues were raised by members regarding the ‘socially just use of land’ and the consultation process. It was agreed that an explanatory note be circulated in relation to the issues raised.

Arising from the reference to the Member Learning Hour, it was suggested that it would be useful to have report from a Council comparative to South Ribble which has implemented such an Action Plan.

Decision taken (unanimously):

1.     That Cabinet endorses the Community Wealth Building Action Plan;

2.     That Cabinet asks the Deputy Chief Executive to prepare a delivery plan covering the period to March 2022 including resources to deliver the actions; the delivery plan to be considered by Cabinet in January 2021;

3.     That further engagement with the business sector be undertaken which will be reported to Cabinet in January 2021 and will feed into the delivery plan to be considered at that meeting;

4.     That the delivery plan above be considered as part of the emerging budget for 2021/22;

5.     That a Member Learning Hour on Community Wealth Building be held prior to the Cabinet meeting in January 2021.

Reasons for decision

As evidenced in the new Corporate Plan and Community Strategy, the Council has an ambition and vision for Economic Development activity to be undertaken in a cooperative way involving a range of public, commercial and social sector partners and residents of the Borough. It also has the ambition that all activities undertaken by these partners should bring maximum local economic, social, democratic, cultural and environmental benefit for South Ribble and its residents.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, for the reasons given above.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

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

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

Decision made (unanimously):

That the press and public be excluded from this meeting.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive enclosed.

Decision taken (unanimously):

 That recommendations 2 and 3 of the confidential report be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure presented a report of the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development bringing the St Gerard’s Football Pitch project back before members following an open tender process to seek permission to spend the allocated capital budget and award the contract to the Preferred Bidder identified by the procurement process.

Decision taken (unanimously):

That recommendations 2 and 3 of the confidential report be approved.

Reasons for Decision

The St Gerard’s project relates to a specific S106 amount of funding available for the development of a new football pitch at the club. The money has been built into the Council’s capital programme. As part of the green links programme the project was also highlighted in a report to Cabinet in June 2019.  We have now reached the stage of requesting Cabinet to award the contract to allow works to begin.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The alternative option was to do nothing, however this was rejected for the reasons given above.