Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

The Chair welcomed County Councillor Phillippa Williamson to her first meeting of Cabinet as the newly appointed Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools.

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.

None.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 11 April 2019 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Cabinet received a report providing details on the county council's 2018/19 revenue and capital outturn position. 

It was reported that the 2018/19 revenue position at the end of the year was net expenditure of £745.375m, which represented an in-year underspend of £19.265m which is 2.52% of the revenue budget, and that this position included significant levels of support from reserves that have previously been agreed.

Resolved: That

  i.  the council's final revenue and capital outturn position for 2018/19 be noted 

  ii.  the transfer of the 2018/19 underspend to the transitional reserve be approved

Cabinet received a report setting out a proposal to strengthen the county council's role as an employer of members of the Armed Forces community through the preparation of a formal expression of interest for a 2020 Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.

Resolved: That officers be authorised to scope and prepare a formal expression of interest with the Ministry of Defence for a Gold Award under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme 2020, and that a further report be provided to Cabinet in 2019 to seek approval of the expression of interest, providing details on how the county council intends to meet the award criteria.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to re-purpose previously approved funding from the National Productivity Investment Fund programme to support a number of priorities aimed at reducing congestion.

Resolved: That

  i.  The re-purposing of funding as detailed at Appendix 'A' totalling £2.455m be approved.

  ii.  The allocation of £1.950m of the re-purposed funding to support emerging priorities detailed in the report be approved.

  iii.  The creation of a contingency fund of £0.505m be approved.

Cabinet received a report proposing a Restricted Parking Zone within the centre of Broughton village as part of the work to create the improved public realm that is currently being implemented within the village.

Resolved: That the revocation of existing waiting restrictions and introduction of new waiting restrictions and parking bays as detailed in the report, in order to provide a Restricted Parking Zone within Broughton village centre, be approved

Cabinet received a report presenting a Moss Roads Strategy which aimed to classify each of the roads by virtue of the function it provided and support the prioritisation for schemes for the Capital Maintenance Programme.

Resolved: That

  i.  the Moss Roads Strategy, as set out in the report, be approved

  ii.  the proposed programme of works, as set out in the report, be approved.

Cabinet received a report proposing making a Traffic Regulation Order to address anomalies in parking restrictions and to clarify, simplify and tidy up a number of discrepancies identified in the Preston and Rossendale districts, and new restrictions in the districts of Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale, West Lancashire and Wyre to improve highway safety for all users and provide some amenity parking.

Resolved: That the proposals for parking restrictions on the various lengths of road within the Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Preston, Rossendale, West Lancashire and Wyre Districts as detailed within this report be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on a proposal to remodel health improvement services, including drug/alcohol, tobacco and healthy weight services, following public consultation. The proposal was to: 

·  Healthy weight services – cease the current Active Lives Healthy Weight (ALHW) contracts on 31 March 2020, reduce the value of the associated budget by £1.5m and to pursue a different offer which maximises the use of open spaces and digital opportunities.

·  Substance misuse rehabilitation – remodel services and reduce the value of the associated budget by £675,000.

·  Stop smoking services – remodel services.

Cabinet considered the consultation responses, and equality analysis and the mitigations proposed.

Resolved: That

1. The cessation of the Active Lives Healthy Weight service by 31st March 2020; retaining a residual budget of £500,000 to support development of future health improvement initiatives be approved.
2. A reduction in the budget of £675,000 for drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, ahead of a planned re-procurement exercise be approved.
3. The proposal to remodel stop smoking services in line with national policy and evidence base with a focus on targeted groups within the community as detailed in the report be approved.
4. A one-off investment of £500,000 to assist in the remodelling of services and development of non-clinical approaches with a focus on prevention, to promote good physical and mental health across all ages, including wellbeing and home improvement services as set out in reports elsewhere on the agenda be approved.
5. Further work be undertaken with partners to identify opportunities for collaborative working to develop integrated approaches to prevention and health improvement.
6. Multi-agency workforce development through the roll out of the Making Every Contact Count Programme (for signposting and general lifestyle advice); and development of a digital offer, to maximise self-care opportunities afforded by health and wellbeing apps and other social media platforms be endorsed.

  vii.  The thanks of Cabinet to the officers who assisted in the production of the report be recorded

Cabinet considered a proposal to cease the Integrated Home Improvement Service, following a full public consultation, taking into account the consultation responses, and Equality Analysis. It was noted that ceasing the service would result in an annual budget saving of £880,000

Resolved: That

1. The Integrated Home Improvement Service contracts be decommissioned (ceased) by 31st March 2020, and that work be approved to take place with existing providers to deliver this.
2. The development of new approaches and integrated pathways, utilising some of the one off investment funding of £0.500m agreed by Cabinet as part of proposals relating to Health Improvement Services be supported.
3. A procurement exercise be undertaken to deliver a 'minor adaptations' service which is currently delivered through the Integrated Home Improvement Service.
4. The thanks of Cabinet to the officers who assisted in the production of the report be recorded.

Cabinet considered a proposal to cease the Lancashire Wellbeing Service following a full public consultation, taking into account the consultation responses and Equality Analysis. It was noted that ceasing the service would save £2.010m by 2020/21,

Resolved: That

1. The cessation of the Lancashire Wellbeing Service by 31 December 2019 be approved.
2. Continued support of a Deaf Wellbeing Worker post be approved.
3. The development of community based approaches to meet wellbeing needs, recognising the social value of community assets such as green space and local enterprises, utilising some of the one off investment funding proposed as part of the Health Improvement Services item elsewhere on the agenda be supported.
4. Multi-agency workforce development through the roll out of the Making Every Contact Count Programme (for signposting and general lifestyle advice); and development of a digital offer, to maximise self-care opportunities afforded by health and wellbeing apps and other social media platforms be endorsed.
5. The thanks of Cabinet to the officers who assisted in the production of the report be recorded.

Cabinet considered a report on proposals in relation to payments for sleep-in services, following a formal consultation with providers. It was noted that the proposed changes had been developed in response to a successful legal challenge by Mencap in relation to payments for sleep-in services for adults with learning disabilities.

Resolved: That

  i.  the findings of the consultation and the Equality Impact Assessment as set out in the report be noted

  ii.  The following revised proposal be approved:

·  To pay a flat rate sleep-in fee from 1 October 2019 that is set at £61.18 based on the condition that staff are paid £45 per shift,  as and when it is reasonable to vary the contractual provision and/or amend the rate payable.

·  To approve a phasing in period of 6 months with a top up of £13.60 for the period 1 October 2019 to 31 March 2020 to allow time for service providers to transition to new staff terms and conditions. During the transition period, the total fee payable (£74.78) is based on the condition that staff are paid £55 per-sleep-in shift, as and when it is reasonable to vary to the contractual provision and/or amend the rate payable.

Cabinet were asked to consider three new policy, procedures and guidance documents developed as part of a review of all adult social care policies, practice and guidance following the introduction of the Care Act 2014. The policies presented for approval were:

·  Choice of Accommodation

·  First and Third Party Top Ups

·  Discharge of Hospital Patients with Care and Support Needs (excluding patients being discharged from mental health hospitals)

Resolved: That the policies as set out in the report be approved

The following urgent decision has been taken by the Leader of the County Council in accordance with Standing Order C28(1) since the last meeting of Cabinet, and can be viewed by clicking on the relevant link(s)

Cabinet, Lead Member and Champion Appointments

The urgent decision taken by the Leader was noted.

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.

There was no urgent business.

The next meeting of Cabinet will be held on Thursday 11 July 2019 at 2.00 pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday 11 July at County Hall, Preston.

No representations have been received.

Click here to see the published Notice of Intention to Conduct Business in Private.

Cabinet noted the Notice of Intention to Conduct Business in Private and that no representations had been received.

The Cabinet is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, it considers that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as indicated against the heading to the item.

Resolved: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as indicated against the heading to the item.

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information)

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information) 

Cabinet considered a report on works to operational premises.

Resolved: That the recommendations as set out in the report be approved

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information)

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information) 

Cabinet considered a report on the provision for Special Educational Needs.

Resolved: That the recommendations set out in the report, as amended to also include additional consideration of Option B, be approved.

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information)

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information) 

Cabinet considered a report on ceasing to maintain a specialist provision for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in east Lancashire.

Resolved: That the recommendations as set out in the report be approved.