An apology for absence was received from Councillor David MInnery.

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

No Disclosable Pecuniary Interests were declared.

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 27 April 2016.  Attached, marked 3.

Contact:  Amanda Holyoak 01743 257714

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 27 April 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

To receive any public questions or petitions from the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 14.  The deadline for this meeting is 5.00pm on Friday 13 April 2016.

There were public questions or petitions received.

There were no items referred from Scrutiny or Council.

Lead Members:

Cllr. Robert Tindall               Deputy Portfolio Holder for Estates and Built Assets

Cllr. Michael Wood              Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support

Report of the Head of Customer Support and Assets is attached, marked: 5

Contact: Steph Jackson     01743 253861

RESOLVED:

That, in principle, the English Bridge Workshop Ltd (“the Organisation) be granted a 125-year lease of the English Bridge Workshop, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AD (“the Asset”) with delegated authority granted to the Head of Commercial Services to agree final terms of the lease and to complete the transaction.

The Deputy Portfolio Holder for Estates and Built Assets presented a report by the Head of Commercial Services – copy attached to the signed Minutes – seeking approval for the English Bridge Workshop Ltd (“the Organisation) to be granted a 125-year lease of the English Bridge Workshop, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AD (“the Asset”) in principle and for the Head of Commercial Services to be granted delegated authority to agree the final terms of the lease and to complete the transaction. 

In the ensuing debate, a Member requested that the input into this project of a former Councillor, Mansell Williams, be acknowledged.

RESOLVED:

That, in principle, the Organisation be granted a 125-year lease of the Asset with delegated authority granted to the Head of Commercial Services to agree final terms of the lease and to complete the transaction.

Lead Member – Mr Malcolm Pate – Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance – TO FOLLOW

Contact: James Walton       01743 255001

RESOLVED:

That:

(i)            The latest information on the achievement of 2016/17 Savings proposals as set out in Section 4, be noted;

(ii)          The funding gap identified for 2017/18 of £25.714m growing to £40.946m by 2018/19 after the application of one-off funding estimated to be available, as set out in Section 6, be noted;

(iii)         The current savings proposals identified for 2017/18 and 2018/19 to partially close the funding gap as set out in Appendix 3 and summarised in Table 6, be noted;

(iv)         The Council be recommended to make use of available one-off funding as set out in Table 4 and service savings proposals identified as “Green” and “Amber” totalling £10.578m as listed in Appendix 3;

(v)          The application of one-off funding and Green and Amber rated savings, a funding gap of £17.259m remains in 2017/18, growing to £30.368m in 2018/19, be noted;

(vi)         The work which will be undertaken by a Budget Setting Task Group established by Performance Management Scrutiny Committee and which will feed into the Budget process as set out in Section 8, be noted;

(vii)        To consider and note the latest information on Adults Growth Projections as set out in Section 9 be considered;

(viii)      To note the financial implications of the Digital Transformation Programme including any proposals to replace the existing Adults and Children’s Care IT system which have been reported separately to Cabinet on 27 April and 11 May 2016, and that any final recommendations requiring approval will be reported following the production of a final Business Case to Cabinet and Council, as necessary, within an updated Financial Strategy Report;

(ix)         The Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) for 2016/17 as set out in the Personal Budget Contribution Policy for non-residential Service Users be increased by 25% for those of pension age in accordance with the increases in the State Retirement Pension and Pension Credit.  This would be more favourable to these citizens than the MIG as set out in the Department of Health Local Authority Circular LAC (DH)(2016) and would equate to a Minimum Income Guarantee of £194.50 a week for a single pensioner and £148.50 for one of a couple;

(x)          The work to be undertaken in order to provide a response to the Government on Multi Year Settlements and Efficiency Plans, be noted; and

(xi)         To note that a policy change will need to be approved by Council to enable new powers to be exercised to utilise capital receipts for revenue purposes as considered in Section 10.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance which outlined and set out the proposals to close the current funding gap, focussing on the 2017/18 and 2018/19 Financial Years.  This was the first financial strategy report of 2016/17 and reviewed and revised work undertaken throughout 2015/16 to develop the 2017/18 – 2018/19 budget strategy. 

An appendix detailing green and amber rated proposals relating to Public Health was tabled at the meeting.

The Portfolio Holder for Adults proposed an amendment to recommendation 2(I) which would mean that the Minimum Income Guarantee for non-residential Service Users would be increased by 25% for those of pension age in accordance with the increases in the State Retirement Pension and Pension Credit. This would be more favourable to these citizens than the MIG as set out in the Department of Health Local Authority Circular LAC (DH) (2016) and would equate to a Minimum Income Guarantee of £194.50 per week for a single pensioner and £148.50 for one of a couple.

In the ensuing debate, Members welcomed the above amendment, and Group Leaders welcomed the invitation from the Leader to meet during the budget-setting process to discuss ways and ideas to improve the situation.

RESOLVED:

That:

(i)        The latest information on the achievement of 2016/17 Savings proposals as set out in Section 4, be noted;

(ii)       The funding gap identified for 2017/18 of £25.714m growing to £40.946m by 2018/19 after the application of one-off funding estimated to be available, as set out in Section 6, be noted;

(iii)      The current savings proposals identified for 2017/18 and 2018/19 to partially close the funding gap as set out in Appendix 3 and summarised in Table 6, be noted;

(iv)      The Council be recommended to make use of available one-off funding as set out in Table 4 and service savings proposals identified as “Green” and “Amber” totalling £10.578m as listed in Appendix 3;

(v)       The application of one-off funding and Green and Amber rated savings, a funding gap of £17.259m remains in 2017/18, growing to £30.368m in 2018/19, be noted;

(vi)      The work which will be undertaken by a Budget Setting Task Group established by Performance Management Scrutiny Committee and which will feed into the Budget process as set out in Section 8, be noted;

(vii)    To consider and note the latest information on Adults Growth Projections as set out in Section 9 be considered;

(viii)   To note the financial implications of the Digital Transformation Programme including any proposals to replace the existing Adults and Children’s Care IT system which have been reported separately to Cabinet on 27 April and 11 May 2016, and that any final recommendations requiring approval will be reported following the production of a final Business Case to Cabinet and Council, as necessary, within an updated Financial Strategy Report;

(ix)      The Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) for 2016/17 as set out in the Personal Budget Contribution Policy for non-residential Service Users be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

To resolve that in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and Paragraph 10.2 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules, the public and press be excluded during consideration of the remaining items.

RESOLVED:

That Agenda item 9 – Future Social Work Delivery Vehicle – be considered in open session.

Lead Member – Lee Chapman – Portfolio Holder for Adults

Report of the Head of Social Care, Efficiency and Improvement – TO FOLLOW

Contact: Ruth Houghton    01743 253093

RESOLVED: That,

(i)            The Council become the sole shareholder in People2People Shropshire Community Interest Company (company number 07904106) on the terms set out in the company’s Articles, as attached at Appendix A, by accepting the transfer of the shares in the company;

(ii)          Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services to take such steps as are necessary to implement the recommendation above, including authorising the execution of any documentation;

(iii)         Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care to act as Shareholder on behalf of the Council which shall include exercising the Shareholder’s powers in respect of the appointment and removal of company Directors;

(iv)         The Head of Legal & Democratic Services be appointed as signatory on behalf of the Shareholder;

(v)          Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care to agree the terms of a Shareholder Agreement between the Company and the Council to include a list of ‘Reserved Decisions’ to be made by the Council as shareholder to enable the appropriate levels of control over the company, including any limits on expenditure and the approval of contracts with third parties;

(vi)         Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care to negotiate and award a contract for the provision of the social work services listed in paragraph 1.14 of the report to People2People Shropshire Community Interest Company (P2P), subject to the formulation of an acceptable finalised Business Case.  The exercise of such delegation to be conditional upon the prior implementation of Recommendation A above;

(vii)        Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care to transfer additional social work services across the wider health and social care economy to People2People Shropshire Community Interest Company; and

(viii)      Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Services to transfer the employees engaged in the delivery of the transferring services to People2People Shropshire Community Interest Company.

The Portfolio Holder for Adults presented a report by the Interim Director of Adult Services which sought approval to the Council becoming the sole shareholder in the People2People Shropshire Community Interest Company. 

In response to comments, the Portfolio Holder for Adults explained that it would not affect the way people accessed services and the level and quality of service would remain the same.  In response to concerns, he explained that salaries would remain competitive and he would be happy to provide Members with further information.

RESOLVED: That,

(i)            The Council become the sole shareholder in People2People Shropshire Community Interest Company (company number 07904106) on the terms set out in the company’s Articles, as attached at Appendix A, by accepting the transfer of the shares in the company;

(ii)          Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services to take such steps as are necessary to implement the recommendation above, including authorising the execution of any documentation;

(iii)         Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care to act as Shareholder on behalf of the Council which shall include exercising the Shareholder’s powers in respect of the appointment and removal of company Directors;

(iv)         The Head of Legal & Democratic Services be appointed as signatory on behalf of the Shareholder;

(v)          Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care to agree the terms of a Shareholder Agreement between the Company and the Council to include a list of ‘Reserved Decisions’ to be made by the Council as shareholder to enable the appropriate levels of control over the company, including any limits on expenditure and the approval of contracts with third parties;

(vi)         Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care to negotiate and award a contract for the provision of the social work services listed in paragraph 1.14 of the report to People2People Shropshire Community Interest Company (P2P), subject to the formulation of an acceptable finalised Business Case.  The exercise of such delegation to be conditional upon the prior implementation of Recommendation A above;

(vii)        Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Adult Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care to transfer additional social work services across the wider health and social care economy to People2People Shropshire Community Interest Company; and

(viii)      Delegated authority be granted to the Interim Director of Services to transfer the employees engaged in the delivery of the transferring services to People2People Shropshire Community Interest Company.