Decisions

In accordance with Paragraph 11 of the Access to Information Rules in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution, the Chief Executive determined that the report submitted under item 5 of the agenda was “Not for Publication” because it contained “exempt information”, as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Cabinet agreed that the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst the item was considered, on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in category 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act, 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Variation Order 2006 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

On 10 May 2017, the Chief Executive submitted a report to the Resources Portfolio Holder seeking retrospective approval for an exemption to the council’s contract procedures to commission Lichfields (formerly Nathaniel Lichfields & Partners - NLP) and also seeking approval to commission Turley for the provision of specialist consultancy services in connection with carrying out sensitivity testing of the Objectively Assessed Employment and Housing Need (OAN) figures using the latest economic forecasts and housing projections respectively.

To seek approval to commission consultants to attend meetings as necessary, including examination hearings to explain and defend their evidence work.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder

·         gave retrospective approval for the procurement of Lichfields and approval for the procurement of Turley to provide specialist consultancy services to undertake sensitivity testing of the employment and housing OAN figures for the Local Plan using the March 2017 Experian economic forecasts and the 2014-based sub-national population and household projections (SNPP and SNHP) under the exemption to Contract Procedures contained within the Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules (Appendix F) as set out in Part 4.06.07 of the council’s Constitution, that “the goods, works or services are of a specialist nature carried out by only one or a limited number of firms with no reasonably satisfactory alternatives available.”

·         delegated authority to the Head of Planning Services to approve any additional sensitivity testing deemed necessary as later forecasts and projections are published and where the cost can be accommodated within approved Planning Services budgets and to commission Turley or Lichfields or both to attend meetings as necessary, including examination hearings to explain and defend their evidence work where the cost could be accommodated within approved Planning Services budgets.

On 5 May 2017, the Service Director Health and Wellbeing submitted a report to the portfolio holder seeking approval to appoint a service provider to deliver sub-contracted Caseworker Support Services to help fulfil our obligations in accordance with Home Office requirements.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder gave approval to proceed with the engagement under the exemption to Contract Procedures contained within the Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules on the grounds that exceptions may apply where: “The services are of a specialised nature carried out by only one or a limited number of organisations which have local experience with no reasonably satisfactory alternatives available.”

On 18 May 2017, the Service Director Performance and Innovation submitted a report seeking the Resources Portfolio Holder’s approval to declare land forming part of Derby Road East Car Park Thornton Cleveleys and registered at HM Land Registry with Title Number LA618776 (“the Land”) as surplus to the council’s operational requirements and to dispose of the Land to facilitate the refurbishment of the adjacent property 9-11 Cambridge Road.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder agreed that the Land be declared as surplus and to the disposal of the Land on terms to be agreed by the Council’s Senior Estates Surveyor.

On 1 June 2017, the Service Director People and Places submitted a report to the Leisure and Culture Portfolio Holder proposing a change to the fees and charges for bronze vases at Fleetwood Cemetery due to an increase in external supplier costs.

Decision taken

The Leisure and Culture Portfolio Holder agreed that the fees and charges for bronze vases for the columbarium be increased from £30 to £44 with immediate effect.

On 14 June 2017, the Service Director People and Places submitted a report seeking approval for a consultation process to be undertaken relating to the consolidation of the Council’s five Dog Control Orders into Public Space Protection Orders and to consult on a potential new offence which will also form part of the order..

Decision taken

The Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder agreed that a consultation process be undertaken

·         regarding the replacement of the five existing dog control orders with the proposed Public Space Protection Orders.

·         to consult on a potential new offence to be included in the order, namely, making it an offence to fail to have suitable means to pick up after a dog when requested.

On 15 June 2017 the Service Director Performance and Innovation submitted a report seeking the Resources Portfolio Holder’s retrospective agreement to the renewal of the Council’s recruitment and advertising services contract with Jobs Go Public Resourcing Ltd for a two year period commencing 29 May 2017.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder agreed to the renewal of the Council’s advertising and recruitment services contract with Jobs Go Public Resourcing Ltd for a two year period commencing 29 May 2017 and that the approval to renew the Council’s contract with Jobs Go Public Resourcing Ltd be dealt with under the exemption to Contract Procedures contained within the Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules on the grounds that exemptions may apply regarding the appointment of consultants including architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, solicitors, barrister and other people providing professional services.

On 29 June 2017 the Service Director Performance and Innovation submitted a report seeking the Resources Portfolio Holder’s approval of the renewal of the Council’s energy procurement contract with British Independent Utilities (BIU) for a three year period commencing October 2017.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder agreed to the renewal of the council’s energy procurement contract with BIU for a three year period commencing October 2017 and that the approval to renew the Council’s contract with BIU be dealt with under the exemption to Contract Procedures contained within the Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules on the grounds that exemptions may apply regarding the appointment of consultants including architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, solicitors, barrister and other people providing professional services.

On 13 July 2017 the Corporate Director Health and Wellbeing submitted a report seeking the Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder’s approval to approve a consultation process, relating to the introduction of a new PSPO to prevent members of the public feeding seagulls in identified areas.

Decision taken

The Health and Community Engagement Portfolio Holder agreed that a consultation process be undertaken to consult on a potential new offence to be included on a PSPO, preventing members of the public from feeding seagulls in identified areas.

On 13 July 2017 the Service Director People and Places submitted a report seeking the Resources Portfolio Holder’s approval to develop the Larkholme Grasslands Environmental scheme to detailed design phase using a preferred consultant.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder gave approval:

·         to undertake detailed design of the key structural features for the Larkholme Grasslands scheme as part of the Rossall Coast Defence scheme.

·         for the Head of Engineering Services to enter into an agreement with Broadbent Studios to undertake the detailed design work.

·         to allow for the appointment of consultants under the exemptions to Contract Procedures contained within the Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules on the grounds 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.

On 17 August 2017 the Service Director People and Places submitted a report seeking the Leisure and Culture Portfolio Holder’s approval of the advance spend for columbarium units in the 2017/18 financial year and to bring forward the installation of the final columbarium in the 2018/19 financial year.

Decision taken

The Leisure and Culture Portfolio Holder gave approval for the advance spend for the final two columbariums in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years.

On 17 August 2017 the Service Director People and Places submitted a report seeking the Resources Portfolio Holder’s approval of the renewal of the Council’s Merchant Acquiring Services (card payments) contract with Worldpay for a two year period to take effect once approval has been given.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder gave approval for

·         the renewal of the council’s Merchant Acquiring contract with Worldpay for a two year period with immediate effect, and

·         that the approval to renew the Council’s contract with Worldpay be dealt with under the exemption to Contract Procedures contained within the Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules on the grounds that exemptions may apply regarding the use of framework agreements that necessitates not having to go out to tender and that the services will provide the Council with best value for money.

On 17 August 2017 the Service Director Performance and Innovation submitted a report seeking the Resources Portfolio Holder’s approval to replace boilers at Thornton Little Theatre and to include the scheme in the Council’s 2017/18 Capital Budget.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder gave approval to carry out the replacement of boilers with the cost of £30,000 being met from capital receipts and that the scheme be added to the Council’s 2017/18 Capital Budget.

On 29 September 2017 the Service Director Performance and Innovation submitted a report seeking the Resources Portfolio Holder’s approval to create a Digital Hub at Fleetwood Market and to include the scheme in the Council’s 2017/18 Capital Budget.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder gave approval to create a Digital Hub at the cost of £8,500 and agreed that the scheme be added to the Council’s 2017/18 Capital Budget.

On 29 September 2017 the Service Director People and Places submitted a report seeking the Resources Portfolio Holder’s approval to adopt the proposed Localised Discretionary Business Rate Relief scheme for the financial years 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder gave approval to adopt the proposed Localised Discretionary Business Rate Relief scheme for the period from 2017/18 to 2020/21.

On 29 September 2017 the Service Director People and Places submitted a report seeking the Resources Portfolio Holder’s approval for the installation and annual maintenance of a statue of Sir Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood in Euston Park, Fleetwood.

Decision taken

The Resources Portfolio Holder agreed that the council adopt the statue of Sir. Peter Hesketh-Fleetwood and undertake annual maintenance.

The Resources Portfolio Holder and Service Director Performance and Innovation submitted a report seeking approval to invest in the Digital Transformation Arrangements (DTA) with Microsoft for a three year period.

Decision taken

The portfolio holder agreed that the council enter into a three year agreement for the DTA and gave approval to deal with the agreement under the exemption to Contract Procedures contained within the Financial Regulations and Financial Procedure Rules on the grounds that exemptions may apply where “a framework agreement is available that necessitates the Council not having to go out to tender and the goods, works and services will still provide the Council with best value for money”.

All the reviewed human resources policies below were approved:

·         Capability Policy and Procedure

·         Disclosure and Barring Service Policy

·         Secure Handling and Storage Policy

·         Managing Stress in the Workplace

·         Shared Parental Leave Policy and Notification Procedures

·         Agency Worker Policy and Guidance

·         Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace Policy

·         Employer Discretions Policy

·         Long Service Award