JOINT LEAD MEMBER BRIEFING
FINANCE AND SUPPORT SERVICES
AND
HUMAN RESOURCES AND EQUALITY.
1 August, 2011
Meeting commenced: 9.00 a.m.
“
ended: 10.15 a.m.
PRESENT: Councillor Bill Hinds
-
Councillor Roger Jones -
OFFICERS: Martin Vickers
John Tanner
Allison Lobley
David Hunter
John Spink
Lisa Linden
Jon Stonehouse
Elaine Davis
Tim Hewitt
Sue Wilkinson
Chris Mee
Karen Lucas
-
Lead Member for Finance and Support
Services (in the Chair)
Executive Support Member for Human
Resources and Equalities
Strategic Director of Customer and
Support Services
Assistant Director (Customer Services)
Assistant Director (Administration)
Assistant Director - Corporate ICT
City Treasurer
Strategic HR Manager
Deputy Director
Senior Development Manager
Development Manager
BSF Project Director
PFI Accountant
Principal Democratic Services Advisor
ITEM
1.
APOLOGY FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Murphy & Mullen and
Debbie Brown.
2.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
3.
RECORD OF BRIEFING
The record of the briefing held on 25 July, 2011, was approved as a correct record.
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Joint Finance and Support Services Lead Member Briefing
Human Resources and Equality Lead Member Briefing
8 August, 2011
ITEM
4.
ITEMS FOR LEAD MEMBER DECISION (PART 1 OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)
4b
FILLING OF VACANT POSTS / AGENCY WORKER REQUESTS/CHANGES OF
APPROVAL
Further clarification with regard CH&SC Support Worker be sought.
RESOLVED: THAT the proposals regarding the filling of vacant/agency posts and
changes of approval requests as reported be agreed.
4b
IRWELL RIVER PARK: ENVIRONMENT IMPROVEMENTS – ANACONDA
STRETCH.
RESOLVED: (1) THAT the commitment of funding to deliver this £220,000
programme of work with funding of £140,000 secured through the City Council’s
capital allocation for Irwell River Park approved by Cabinet on 7 March 2011 be
approved.
(2) THAT the commitment of Section 106 contributions of £80,000
(References 164, Planning Approval 06/53263/REM and Reference 130, Planning
Approval 05/50268/FUL) be noted.
(3) THAT a fee and subsequent drawdown from the Irwell River Park
capital allocation of £36,000 for Urban Vision to progress all technical, engineering,
project management and supervision aspects of implementing the Anaconda
Routeway Enhancement works, which is based on rates set out in the Service Level
Agreement between Urban Vision and the City Council be approved.
(4) THAT authority is given for the Deputy Chief Executive to directly
allocate the contract to Birse Civils up to a maximum construction price of £220,000
through Salford City Council’s Rethinking Construction arrangements, to be
managed by Urban Vision. Value for money will be ensured through the partnering
arrangement and negotiations with the contractor.
(5) THAT the Environment Directorate will carry out the maintenance of
soft works once the contract is completed, from April 2012. The cost of this
maintenance has been estimated by Environment Directorate as being £19,800 per
year. The City Treasurer has confirmed that these costs for annual maintenance can
be provided for through the annual revenue allocation that is set aside for the
ongoing revenue costs of capital schemes. A Service Level Agreement will be drawn
up to confirm the scope of soft works maintenance prior to completion of the works
be approved.
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Joint Finance and Support Services Lead Member Briefing
Human Resources and Equality Lead Member Briefing
8 August, 2011
ITEM
(6) THAT the ongoing annual maintenance for hard works delivered by
Urban Vision Highway Services commences once the works are completed, from
April 2012. This will be to a standard equivalent to the level of maintenance of
riverside footpaths and canal towpaths in the rest of the City be approved.
4c
CLARENDON PRIMARY SCHOOL
Sue Williams outlined the details of a scheme to create additional physical capacity
in order to temporarily increase the admission number at Clarendon Road primary
school following an unprecedented rise in the demand for reception places in
Salford. This will allow the school to accommodate up to 30 additional reception/
year 1 pupils in the school from September 2011 and to enable these pupils to move
up through the school for the following 5/6 years.
RESOLVED: THAT the use of a portion of the Local Authority’s 2011/12 unallocated
basic need funding balance, to temporarily increase the admission number at
Clarendon Road primary school from September 2011 be approved.
4d
PROVISION OF INTERNET FILTERING SERVICE LINE
This report proposes the contracting of the ‘So Internet’ service provider to deliver
filtered internet content to young people.
RESOLVED: THAT an exception to Council Standing Orders to enable the contract
with ‘So Internet’ an internet service provider, which delivers safe filtered internet
content for young people who are not attending a school for one year with an
optional extension of one additional year be approved.
EXCLUSION TO THE PUBLIC
RESOLVED: THAT, under section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the
public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the
grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as specified in
the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.
5
ITEMS FOR LEAD MEMBER DECISION (PART 2 CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC)
5a
VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT/SEVERANCE
RESOLVED: THAT the applications for voluntary early retirement and severance, as
submitted, be approved.
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Joint Finance and Support Services Lead Member Briefing
Human Resources and Equality Lead Member Briefing
8 August, 2011
ITEM
5b
BSF
Lead Member requested further details pertaining to phase 3.
RESOLVED: (1) THAT the current required Phase 2 Unitary Charge City Council
revenue contribution and to note the proposed City Council financial commitments
for the Salford BSF programme as a whole be approved;
(2) THAT the current BSF Project Team Budget for 2011/12 and
2012/13 be approved;
(3) THAT the City Treasurer be authorised to issue an updated Section
151 Officer affordability letter in connection with the revised BSF proposals;
(4) THAT the underwriting of a Schedule of Works for the Phase 2
Grouped School PFI Scheme (upto a maximum of £5.872m) which will need to be
undertaken prior to financial close by S&W TLP Ltd (“the LEP”) be approved;
(5) THAT the Strategic Director of Customer and Support Services be
authorised to approve and sign the legal Underwriting Commitment Letter which will
be developed in conjunction with the BSF Legal Advisers, Partnerships for Schools
(PfS) and the LEP.
5c
SUPPLIER OF THE PRIVATE MPLS NETWORK EQUIPMENT TO SALFORD CITY
COUNCIL
RESOLVED: THAT he appointment of Virgin Media Business Ltd as the equipment
supplier for the City Council’s Private MPLS network, at a total capital cost of
£149,000 for goods and services and a revenue cost of £13,000 be approved.
5d
EMERGENCY PERSONAL CARE
RESOLVED: THAT interim contractual arrangements to meet emergency personal
care and support needs for vulnerable adults with Learning Disabilities at Harwood
Court, M7 and 71 Catherine Street without undertaking a formal tender process. The
contracts with Living Ambitions and SLC Paragon will be for a period of 2 years with
an option to extend for up to 1 year be approved.
5e
RE-NEGOTIATION OF CARE HOME FEES
RESOLVED: THAT the commissioning of OLM Financial Management Services to
undertake a project to reduce the price of high cost, out of area care home
placements without undertaking a sealed quotation process be approved.
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Joint Finance and Support Services Lead Member Briefing
Human Resources and Equality Lead Member Briefing
8 August, 2011
ITEM
5f
WRITE OFF – SALIX HOMES.
RESOLVED: THAT the write-off of former tenant arrears to the value of £208,682.38
be agreed.
5g
CONTRACT EXTENSION – COMMUNITY SPEECH AND COMMUNICATION
SERVICE.
Lead Member requested a further report on the service.
RESOLVED: (1) THAT the extension to the contract between Salford City Council
Children’s Services Directorate and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust for a
Special Education Needs Speech, Language and Communication Service from 1 st
September 2011 until 31st July 2012 for £45, 354 be approved;
(2) THAT approval be given to the exception of Standing Orders to
enable the extension of the contracts referred to above.
6
BRIEFING ITEMS FOR LEAD MEMBERS
6a
COUNCIL TAX, BUSINESS RATES, BENEFIT PROCESSING AND RENT
ARREARS.
John Tanner provided an update with regard to council tax, business rates, benefit
processing and rent arrears.
6b
GROUP BASED SHORT BREAK ACTIVITIES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN
RESOLVED: THAT the report be noted.
5