Agenda and minutes

County Councillor Lorraine Beavers replaced County Councillor Alyson Barnes for this meeting.

None.

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.

None declared.

Resolved: - That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2016 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

The Committee considered the following reports on decisions due to be taken by Cabinet.

The Committee considered a report setting out the External Auditor's Annual Audit Letter for Lancashire County Council for the year ended 31 March 2015.

The report summarised the key findings arising from the work that the County Council's External Auditor, Grant Thornton, had undertaken for that year and which had been undertaken in accordance with the Audit Plan of April 2015.

It was noted that the Annual Audit Letter had been considered by the County Council's Audit and Governance Committee on 25 January 2016.

Resolved: - That the recommendation set out in the report to Cabinet be noted, and that no additional comments or alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of the proposed Treasury Management Policy and Strategy for 2016/17 and which included the County Council's borrowing and investment strategies, the updated strategy on the use of financial derivatives and the new proposed minimum revenue provision policy, together with the treasury management prudential indicators.

It was noted that approval of the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy was a matter reserved to Full Council.

Resolved: - That the recommendations set out in the report to Cabinet be noted, and that no additional comments or alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of the proposed timescale for completion of a property review. It was noted that the review was being undertaken to achieve a sustainable long term reduction in the County Council's corporate property portfolio to align with the aspirations of the draft Corporate Strategy and to enable the future delivery of public facing services through a range of multi-functional Neighbourhood Centres.

It was confirmed that a letter had been sent to public sector partners, and that extensive engagement with County Councillors would continue.

Resolved: - That the recommendation set out in the report to Cabinet be noted, and that no additional comments or alternative recommendations be made.

(Report to follow)

The Committee considered a report setting out details of the responses received following the first stage of the Library Service consultation, considering service design, need and use. It was confirmed that the responses would be used to inform the service design for the future. It was also noted that the Council's "Have Your Say" internet pages invited interested parties to express an interest in taking over the management of specific buildings or services, and that this offer was currently open until 27 March 2016.

Resolved: - That the recommendations set out in the report to Cabinet be noted, and that no additional comments or alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of the requirement for Cabinet to review, on an annual basis, the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and set the policy.

It was noted that RIPA provided a framework for certain public bodies, including local authorities, to use covert surveillance to gather information about individuals without their knowledge for the purposes of undertaking statutory functions in connection with the prevention or detection of crime.

It was noted that local authorities were subject to regular inspections on their use of RIPA from the Office for Surveillance Commissioners (OSC) and that local authorities were also subject to a reporting requirement to an appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was further noted that in Lancashire, covert surveillance was used infrequently and only in connection with Trading Standards activities.

Resolved: - That the recommendation set out in the report to Cabinet be noted, and that no additional comments or alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered the following reports on Key Decisions due to be taken by individual Cabinet Members as indicated.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of a draft Social Value Policy and Framework which set out the legal context for social value and the proposed approach for the County Council to deliver social value through its commissioning and procurement activities. It was noted that the aim of the policy was not to alter the commissioning and procurement processes, but to ensure that the County Council gives consideration to the wider impact of the service's delivery in line with the requirements of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. The policy would enable the County Council to demonstrate more effectively how the choice of a supplier through a tendering process not only provided the most economically advantageous service, but one which also secured wider benefits for the community.

It was noted that the implications for suppliers column under the objectives in the report were examples, and that other factors, such as tacking aggressive tax avoidance, could be included.

Resolved:- That the recommendation set out in the report to the Leader of the County Council be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of the consultation within the County of Lancashire, representatives of the local Diocesan Church Education Authorities and the governing bodies of all Lancashire maintained schools, Free Schools and Academies on the establishment of the relevant area for consultation on admission arrangements.

Resolved:- That the recommendation set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report setting out proposals to determine the admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for the school year 2017/18.

Resolved: - That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report regarding the determination of the statutory scheme for co-ordinating admissions for Lancashire's primary and secondary schools and academies for 2017/2018.

It was noted that references in this report and the previous report were unclear on the number of associated infant and junior schools with close links, and that this would be rectified in the final documentation.

Resolved: - That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report which detailed that providers appointed to the County Council's home care framework had not received a rate increase since April 2014, due to the intention to undertake a procurement exercise to establish a new framework with effect from 2016. It was reported that a review of budgetary constraints and market conditions indicated that rate increases should be applied in accordance with existing contract terms and conditions, taking into account the requirements of the Care Act 2014 and the statutory guidance issued thereunder. It was therefore proposed that a rate increase should be implemented as set out in the report.

Resolved:- That the recommendation set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of the administration process and charges relating to resident parking schemes in Lancashire. It was reported that, following a review of the administration and charges relating to residents parking schemes, a number of changes were proposed to establish a more integrated and uniform management and charging regime, initially in the 7 areas administered by the County Council.

It was noted that it was intended that discussion would take place with district councils where schemes were administered by them, although there had been no firm outcomes from this at this stage. It was recognised that local elected members would need to be informed of any proposals affecting their areas.

Resolved: - That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of proposals, and the results of public consultation, to develop off-carriageway cycle facilities around the junction of Ringway, Corporation Street and Fleet Street, Preston. It was reported that the provision of such facilities at this major junction would assist in encouraging cycling within Preston city centre. The total cost of the proposals was £12,900. The proposals would be funded jointly from the County Council's 2014/15 Road Safety Allocation at a cost of £2,900 and Section106 funding from Preston City Council totalling £10,000.

It was confirmed that full consideration had been given to both pedestrians and cyclists in designing the scheme.

Resolved:- That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

The Committee considered a report setting out details of a review of the Preston bus station car park pay and display charges and permit charges, Preston on-street pay and display charges and Lancaster on-street pay and display charges, as a result of which, a number of recommendations were being made.

Resolved:- That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport be noted, and that 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 to be considered.

The next meeting of the Executive Scrutiny Committee will be held on Tuesday, 8 March 2016 at 2pm at the County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would take place on Tuesday 8 March 2016 at 2pm in Cabinet Room 'C' - The Duke of Lancaster Room, 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 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 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 of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee considered the following reports on Key Decisions due to be taken by individual Cabinet Members as indicated.

(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.)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed amendment to the Award of Framework Contracts for the Servicing, Repair and Maintenance of Mechanical and Electrical Equipment

Resolved:- That the recommendation set out in the report to the Leader of the County Council be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

(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.)

The Committee considered a report on the proposed award of contracts for Advocacy Services (Countywide).

Resolved:- That the recommendation set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

(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.)

The Committee considered a report on the proposal to charge for membership of Trading Standards Safe Trader Scheme.

Resolved: - That the recommendation set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.

(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.)

The Committee considered a report on a proposed Children's Social Care Referral and Assessment Service Framework.

Resolved:- That the recommendation set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools be noted, and that no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.