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 16 December 2020 attached to be signed as a correct record.

The Leader of the Council presented the minutes of the previous meeting held on 16 December 2020 for approval.

Arising from discussions Councillor Ogilvie requested that his query and Councillor Tomlinson’s response in relation to Minute 174 - Worden Hall Project be included in the minutes, i.e. that once the tender scoring had been concluded, what would be the priority given two close options to either deliver on time but over budget or under budget and late; to which Councillor Tomlinson responded that staying within budget would be the priority.

Decision made (unanimously):-

That, subject to the inclusion of the above amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

A copy of the Cabinet Forward Plan for the period 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021 attached for information.

The Leader of the Council presented the Cabinet Forward Plan for the period 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021. A discrepancy between the printed and published document was highlighted due to technical issues. It was clarified that at the top of page 16 the Details of the decision to be taken was the “River Ribble Strategy and Action Plan”.

Decision made (unanimously):-

That, subject to the amendment above, the Cabinet Forward Plan for the period 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021 be noted.

Report of the Shared Services Lead – Democratic, Scrutiny and Electoral Services attached.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster, presented a report of the Shared Services Lead – Democratic, Scrutiny and Electoral Services detailing urgent decisions taken in accordance with the Council’s Constitution due to the COVID pandemic.

Councillor Foster advised members in attendance that there may be additional urgent decisions taken in the coming days regarding business grants following Cabinet concerns that the Government criteria is too restrictive. He also referred to concerns regarding digital exclusion of children without access to laptops during lockdown and the Cabinet was looking to address this.

Decision made (unanimously):-

That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Communities attached.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure presented a report of the Director of Communities which proposed amendments to the existing Assistance policy to reflect the findings of the 2019 Stock Condition survey.

The report explained the key findings of the survey after comparison with the previous stock condition survey which was carried out in 2012. The report sought approval of the amendments to the existing policy to ensure it addressed issues raised in the 2019 Stock Condition survey.

Arising from discussions on the report a comment was made regarding the Trustmark Scheme. The Director of Communities indicated that the Scheme was not being used in this instance, however the Council does encourage local traders to register.

Councillor Ogilvie enquired as to the percentage of properties in the Borough that were surveyed. The Director of Communities agreed to provide this information outside of the meeting.

The current assistance policy does not provide any help for elderly residents who have a CAT1 Hazard but are not in receipt of a qualifying benefit. This along with affordability issues means residents who need the help cannot qualify for it. This has resulted in occupiers being left in the property with a hazard until such time as they are able to afford the work, or the council has to seek assistance from external funders which takes time and may not cover all the costs.

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).

Resolved (unanimously): – That the press and public be excluded from the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Decision made (unanimously):-

That the press and public be excluded from the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Report of the Director of Communities attached.

Resolved (unanimously):-

1.That Cabinet recommends to Full Council that the future management of the Council’s Leisure Centres be taken back to an in-house management arrangement. This will mean the Council decides not to extend its current leisure management contract with Serco Leisure Operating Ltd at the end of March 2021.

2. Subject to approval by Full Council on the above recommendation, officers will bring a further report to Cabinet as to how the proposed new in-house management arrangement will operate. This will balance the requirement for the council to maintain influence over the borough’s leisure services whilst ensuring the most financially efficient approach is undertaken.

3.     That Cabinet requests that officers continue working with SERCO to finalise any compensation payable to Serco Leisure Operating Ltd with respect to loss of income in relation to the closure of the Leisure Centres and delegates that decision to the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure in consultation with the Section 151 Officer of the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure presented a report

of the Director of Communities bringing forward options on the future

management of leisure centres in South Ribble.

Decision made (unanimously):-

1.That Cabinet recommends to Full Council that the future management of the Council’s Leisure Centres be taken back to an in-house management arrangement. This will mean the Council decides not to extend its current leisure management contract with Serco Leisure Operating Ltd at the end of March 2021.

2. Subject to approval by Full Council on the above recommendation, officers will bring a further report to Cabinet as to how the proposed new in-house management arrangement will operate. This will balance the requirement for the council to maintain influence over the borough’s leisure services whilst ensuring the most financially efficient approach is undertaken.

3.     That Cabinet requests that officers continue working with SERCO to finalise any compensation payable to Serco Leisure Operating Ltd with respect to loss of income in relation to the closure of the Leisure Centres and delegates that decision to the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure in consultation with the Section 151 Officer of the Council.

Reasons for decision

As per the report from the LGA in July 2020, culture and leisure has been among the parts of the economy worst hit by Covid-19. This has meant that councils throughout the country are having to review the current operating models for providing leisure services to residents.

As well as the effects of Covid-19, the current contract with Serco Leisure Operating Ltd is due to expire at the end of March 2021 and as such the council is required to review the approach to delivering leisure services.

Considerable work has been undertaken on looking at a variety of future options for the management of the council’s leisure centres. This has included setting up alternative in-house delivery models or extending the existing contract with Serco Leisure Operating Ltd (SLOL) and then going through a tender exercise to outsource the management of leisure centres to a third party. The decision is a result of the work undertaken taking on board the current and future impact of the COVID crisis.

Alternative options considered and rejected

An initial options appraisal procured in March 2020 was considered by officers. The following options were considered:

·         extending the existing contract with Serco Leisure Operating Ltd;

·        retendering the leisure contract to the open market; or,

·        to set up a delivery model whereby the council’s leisure services would be delivered internally.

The options balanced the requirements for the council to ensure value for money and suitable potential transfer of risk whilst ensuring the council maintained sufficient control over the leisure services provided to its residents.