Agenda and minutes

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Venue: Ceremony Room - Lancashire Registration Office - Lancashire Registration Office. View directions

Contact: Due to a change of location, this meeting will not be available on webcast - Josh Mynott  Tel: (01772) 5345801, Email:  josh.mynott@lancashire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from County Councillor Bill Winlow.

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

Minutes:

There were no interests disclosed.

3.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 July 2015 pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2015 be confirmed as a correct record.

4.

Executive Scrutiny Committee - Report of the Chair

Minutes:

County Councillor Darren Clifford, on behalf of the Executive Scrutiny Committee, reported that the recommendations set out in the reports for consideration by Cabinet had been confirmed without modification or amendment at the meeting held earlier in the day.

 

The proposed amendments to the list of consultees on the Corporate Strategy had been noted.

5.

Corporate Strategy: Consultation pdf icon PDF 57 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Mike Kirby, Director, Corporate Commissioning, and Dave Carr, Head of Service, Policy Information and Commissioning (Start Well) presented a report on the development of a new Corporate Strategy. Copies of the initial draft strategy were circulated to the meeting.

 

In presenting the report, it was emphasised that the strategy would cover the timeframe of 2021 and beyond, provided a clear evidence base and strategic framework for the council's direction and decisions, and that it was based on the Marmot principles and the work of the Fairness Commission. Attention was also drawn to the baseline area needs assessment documents.

 

It was confirmed that there would follow a period of consultation with Councillors and key organisations in Lancashire. In addition to the organisations listed in the report, it was confirmed that the following bodies would also be consulted:

 

·  Lancashire Association of Local Councils (LALC)

·  Society of Local Authority Clerks

·  MEPs

·  NHS Hospital Trusts

·  HE/FE establishments

 

Resolved: That the consultation arrangements set out in the report be agreed, with the addition of the following bodies to the list of consultees:

 

·  Lancashire Association of Local Councils (LALC)

·  Society of Local Council Clerks

·  MEPs

·  NHS Hospital Trusts

·  HE/FE establishments

6.

Money Matters - 2015/16 Financial Position and Revised Medium Term Financial Strategy pdf icon PDF 582 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Deputy Leader of The County Council presented a report setting out the Financial Position as at 30June 2015; the latest position in respect of the County Council's reserves; and the County Council's updated financial outlook and Medium Term Financial Strategy for the period 2016/17 to 2020/21.

 

Resolved: That:

  i.  the forecast overspend of £33.251m on the revenue budget in 2015/16 and ongoing pressure of £45.646m be noted

  ii.  the position in respect of the Council's reserves be noted and the transfers outlined in the report be agreed

  iii.  the revised funding gap of £223.200m as set out in the revised financial outlook forecast for the Council be noted.

7.

Base Budget Review pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Minutes:

Steve Browne, Corporate Director, Commissioning and Deputy Chief Executive, presented a report proposing that the council undertake a zero base budget review to inform the council's future budget process, and settings out the approach to the budget review.

 

It was confirmed that full member briefings would be held in October on the initial outcomes of the review, linking in to the development of the Corporate plan and to the normal budget planning cycle.

 

Resolved: That:

  i.  the approach and timetable for the proposed Base Budget Review set out in the report be noted.

  ii.  a procurement exercise be undertaken to put in place a Consultancy Framework to support the activities set out in the report.

 

8.

Redundancy Payments Scheme and Trade Union Consultation pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Minutes:

Steve Browne, Corporate Director, Commissioning and Deputy Chief Executive, presented an update on the progress made to date in relation to the downsizing of the council, and sets out the extended time period over which the Council will need to reduce its workforce. The report additionally presented recommendations with respect to further changes to the Council's Redundancy Payments Scheme and highlighted the requirement to commence formal consultation with the recognised Trades Unions in the event that it became necessary to make staff compulsorily redundant.

 

In presenting the report, it was confirmed that whilst those subject to Compulsory Redundancy (CR) will be able to opt for Voluntary Redundancy (VR) up to their last day of employment, records will be kept to ensure there is accurate reporting to members on the number of staff subject to CR.

 

Resolved: That:

 

  i.  Full Council be recommended to agree to the extension of voluntary redundancy terms until 31 March 2018 based on a multiplier of 1.4.

 

  ii.  the Director of Governance, Finance and Public Services be authorised to issue the necessary statutory notices in respect of the proposals as set out in the report.

 

  iii.  It be noted that subject to the outcome of formal consultation with the recognised Trade Unions, those employees displaced as part of Phase 1 of the Council's transformation will be served with not less than three months' notice of dismissal on the basis of compulsory redundancy, the dismissals to take effect on 31 March 2016.

9.

Urgent Business

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

10.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Cabinet will be held on Thursday, 10 September 2015 at 2.00 pm at County Hall, Preston.

Minutes:

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be on Thursday 10 September at County Hall, Preston.