Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

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

There were no interests declared.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2015 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee considered the following reports to be presented for decision by Cabinet on 2 April 2015.

The Committee received a report a report setting out a proposed Assurance Framework (AF) for the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in accordance with the requirement for all LEPs to prepare an Assurance Framework, prior to the draw down of Local Growth Fund funding from Government in April 2015. It was highlighted that it was the responsibility of the County Council, as the Accountable Body for the LEP, to confirm to Government that the AF had been prepared in line with guidance issued by Government and that it had been approved by the Accountable Body.

In presenting the LEP Assurance Framework, it was noted that the Framework has been widely consulted upon and would be subject to annual review involving Overview and Scrutiny. It was also noted that indications from government were that the Framework as presented satisfied the necessary requirements.

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to Cabinet be noted and that no additional comments or suggested recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report providing details of the outcome of the 2013/14 and 2014/15 campaigns to increase the take up of children entitled to free schools meals across Lancashire. It was reported that by sharing information with District Councils it was possible to identify children who were entitled to, but did not currently receive, free school meals. This required coordination and co-operation between the County Council and the Lancashire District Councils.

It was recognised that this bought significant benefits both to individual families and to schools, through increasing receipt of Pupil Premium funding. In response to a request by the committee, the Leader confirmed that she would raise the issue of the approach taken by districts to the data matching exercise in order to increase take up.

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to Cabinet be noted and that in addition the Leader of the Council be asked to raise the issue of the approach taken by districts to the data matching exercise in order to increase take up at a future Lancashire Leaders meeting.

The Committee considered the following key decisions due to be taken by individual Cabinet Members.

The Committee received a report outlining how the County Council would be working with BT plc to extend the coverage of Next Generation Access (NGA) to Superfast Broadband across Lancashire.

It was reported that coverage in Lancashire would reach 97% by the end of the year, compared to the national benchmark of 95%, and that the next step was to roll out access to hard to reach, mainly rural areas.

It was confirmed that the Council was now better able to ensure that the coverage data was accurate and up to date, and that regular progress updates would be provided, including a report to the Scrutiny Committee before the end of the calendar year.

Resolved: That the recommendation in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and that it additional be noted that a full update on progress would be presented to the Scrutiny Committee before the end of the calendar year.

The Committee received a report on a proposal to permanently expand Lancaster Road Primary School in Morecambe, with effect from September 2016, following a full statutory consultation process.

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee received a report setting out the proposed admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for the school year 2016/17.

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report concerning the determination of the statutory scheme for co-ordinating admissions for Lancashire's primary and secondary schools and academies for 2016/2017.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet member asked for his thanks and appreciation for the work of the Pupil Planning Team be recorded.

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee received a report setting out key elements of a new Safeguarding policy framework covering a range of requirements to ensure the County Council meets its legal obligations under the Care Act.

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report setting out a proposal for the County Council to enter into a "Section 75" Financial Agreement governing the Better Care Fund, allowing for the formal pooling of resources with the NHS.

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

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 the Executive Scrutiny Committee will be held on Tuesday 19 May 2015 at 2pm at the County Hall, Preston

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be at 2pm on Tuesday 19 May 2015 at County Hall, Preston.

The Committee 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 1 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 press and 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 paragraphs of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Local Government act 1972 and that in all circumstances the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee received a report setting out a recommendation, following completion of a tender process conducted in accordance with the County Council's standing orders, to approve the award of contracts for an Integrated Home Improvement Service.

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee received a report setting out a recommendation, following completion of a tender process conducted in accordance with the County Council's Procurement Rules, to approve the award of a contract to a single contractor to undertake the Centenary Way Viaduct Major Maintenance

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee received a report setting out a recommendation, following completion of a tender process conducted in accordance with the county council's Standing Orders, to approve the award of a contract to a single contractor to undertake the M65 Junction 10 to 14 Centre Reserve Barrier Replacement.

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee received a report setting out a recommendation to approve the award of contracts for the supply and distribution of Bread, Morning Goods and Sweet Bakery Products to County Council catering establishments

Resolved: That the recommendations in the report to the Cabinet member be noted and no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.