Agenda and minutes

Members will disclose any pecuniary and any other significant interests they may have in relation to the matters to be considered at this meeting.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting of Cabinet held on Wednesday 15 February 2023.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting of 15 February 2023 were approved as correct record.

To receive and respond to any questions from members of the public.

Public questions for Cabinet may be submitted at any time by writing to Democratic Services or via email democratic.services@wyre.gov.uk. Public questions for this meeting must be received by noon on the Thursday before the meeting is held and do not need to specifically relate to items on this agenda. Questioners should provide their name and address and indicate to which Cabinet member the question is to be directed.

The total period of time allocated for public questions will not normally exceed 30 minutes.

None received.

Report of the Resources Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director Resources (Section 151 Officer).

The Resources Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director Resources submitted a report to inform the Cabinet of the need to conduct a tender exercise and renew the insurance cover required by the council.

The Resources Portfolio Holder, Councillor Henderson introduced the report.

Decisions

Cabinet agreed:

·         To approve the re-tender of the council’s insurance arrangements with support from the council’s insurance brokers, AJ Gallagher, in order to have the new insurance policies in place from 30 June 2023.

·         That approval is given to use YPO under their Dynamic Purchasing System framework number 978 (Insurance Placement) to run a competition to market our risk to the insurance market.

·         That approval is given to authorise the Corporate Director Resources to select the most appropriate insurance provider(s) on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender bid(s).

Report of the Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director Environment.

The Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director Environment submitted a report to seek the approval from Members to enter into an agreement with a new provider to deliver specialist enforcement services to address environmental crimes such as dog fouling, littering and other dog control measures under the Public Space Protection Orders.

The Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder, Councillor Bridge introduced the report.

Decisions

Cabinet agreed:

·         That Members approve the two year environmental enforcement agreement (with a 12-month extension option), with Waste Investigations Support & Enforcement Ltd (‘WISE’), on a nil cost basis, with no financial risk to the council.

·         Members agree to retain the fine for littering fixed penalty notices (FPN) at £100 and continue with the current early payment reduction of £80 for littering fixed penalty notices if paid with 10 days (FPNs remain at £100 for PSPOs without any reduction for early payment).

·         That delegated authority will be given for fully trained WISE officers to issue FPNs on behalf of the council for the duration of the agreement.

·         That Members agree to the arrangement as a concessions contract on the basis that “the goods, works, or services are of a specialised nature carried out by only one or a limited number of firms with no reasonably satisfactory alternatives available”, which ensures the agreement remains in-line with existing Procurement Regulations and Council procedures. The agreement would remain in place for 24 months (from 3 April 2023), with the option for a further 12 month extension.

·         That Members delegate the final details of the agreement to the Corporate Director Environment in consultation with the Legal Services Manager.

Report of the Resources Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director Resources (Section 151 Officer).

The Resources Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Resources submitted a report that set out the policies and objectives of the council in respect of Treasury Management activities, to explain how the council seeks to achieve the objectives and manage and control the activities for 2023/24 which includes the Capital Strategy.

The Resources Portfolio Holder, Councillor David Henderson introduced the report. He expressed the importance of councillors’ attendance at Treasury Management training sessions.

In response to a question from the Leader of the Council, Michael Vincent regarding the recent collapse of Credit Suisse, the Corporate Director Resources, Clare James reassured the Cabinet that the council was not affected by this incident.

Decisions

Cabinet agreed:

·         To recommend to Council that the Treasury Management Policy Statement 2023/24 be approved and formally adopted. (Appendix 1).

·         To approve the revised Treasury Management Practices 2023/24 (Appendix 2).

·         To recommend to Council that the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy 2023/24 (Appendix 3) be approved.

·         To recommend to Council that the MRP Policy Statement 2023/24 (Appendix 4) be approved and formally adopted.

·         To recommend to Council that the Capital Strategy 2023/24 (Appendix 5) be approved.