Agenda and decisions

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

To consider the final report and recommendations resulting from the scrutiny review of the School Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To approve the final report and recommendations resulting from the scrutiny review of the School Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic subject to the Cabinet Member’s comments. The Executive expressly endorsed the view of the Cabinet Member that recommendation 4 the production of a best practice guide would be unnecessary duplication given the others ways of sharing best practice already in place.

To consider the recommendation of the Member Training Panel on 13 October 2020 to approve the Member Training Plan 2020-2023.

If approved this document will form part of Executive policy framework.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To approve the Member Training Plan 2020 – 2023, attached at Appendix 3a to the Executive report, with effect until 31 December 2023.

To consider for recommendation to Council the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2021/2022.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To note the impact of the Scheme to date as set out in paragraphs 6.7 and 6.8.

2. To recommend to the Council to agree the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 4c, to the Executive report.

3. To recommend to the Council that the reduction applied to working age claimants remains the same as the 2020/21 Scheme agreed by Council on 12 February 2020 and that the main elements and method of calculating awards will be the same.

4. To recommend that the Council agrees to continue to operate a Discretionary Discount Policy to be awarded in cases of exceptional hardship as set out at Appendix 4a, to the Executive report. 

5. To note at this point in time the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government may still issue changes to the known position for the Pensioner National Scheme. Required changes would be incorporated into the final Scheme presented for adoption at Council on 10 February 2021.

This report sets out the further progress in the delivery of the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, revisions to the Masterplan and Delivery Plan and outlines activity planned for the next twelve months. The still emerging economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainties which surround Brexit make future forecasting and planning of Enterprise Zone investment difficult and therefore an enhanced risk-based approach to delivery is being adopted for the next twelve months until greater certainty exists. 

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.      To agree that Appendix 5a, to the Executive report, financial detailed figures is not public for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as the costings would undermine the Council’s position in continuing and future negotiations.

2.      To note the progress made on the delivery of the Enterprise Zone Masterplan.

3.      To approve the revised draft Masterplan, with its proposed two phase delivery strategy for further consultation and presentation to the Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Economic Prosperity Board and the Local Enterprise Partnerships Enterprise Zone Governance Sub-Committee for approval.

4.      To note the updated detailed expenditure and income forecast as set out in the revised delivery plan and summarised at paragraph 6.12 in respect of the overall project and the anticipated expenditure to the end of the project in 2041 of £72.6m at present value.   

5.      To confirm the forecast expenditure of up to £19.2m plus associated costs of Prudential Borrowing for the period to the end of financial year 2021/22, to enable continued development of  the  Phase 1 enabling infrastructure,  together with site assembly and  preparatory works for phase two which are within the terms of the existing approval .

6.      To reconfirm and note the delegation to the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, to authorise expenditure on individual schemes and property acquisitions within the Enterprise Zone and inter-related airport holdings of Blackpool Airport Properties Ltd (BAPL).

To request approval to make a non-immediate Article 4 direction order to remove the permitted development right for demolition of locally listed buildings outside conservation areas and for exterior painting.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To approve the making of a non-immediate Article 4 direction order to remove the permitted development right for demolition of locally listed buildings outside conservation areas, and for exterior painting.

To consider a revision to the funding arrangements for the Ward Grants Scheme.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

1. That the ward funding scheme is amended with effect from 1 April 2021 to reflect that the £15,000 allocation is split between the ward councillors, thereby giving each an allocation of £7,500 each and removing the requirement for both councillors to agree to funding of an individual scheme. 

2. To revise the maximum carryover to £2,500 per councillor with effect from year end 2020/21 and to note that any residual funding is used to meet one-off costs for a ward funding app.

3. That the revised criteria for applications for ward funding is approved with immediate effect to ensure that any schemes applied for meet the Council’s objectives in terms of sustainability and climate change. 

To report the level of spending and exposure against the Council’s Revenue budgets and reserves and balances for the first 7 months to 31 October 2020.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To note the report.

2.      To continue to lobby central government (HM Treasury, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Transport, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Department for Education in particular) along with local authority peers and networks and the Local Government Association for the funding necessary to cope with the demands and new burdens presenting as a result of both Covid and within Children’s Services.

3.      To require the respective directors and Director of Resources to continue to closely monitor and manage service financial and operational performances, specifically Children’s Services, Strategic Leisure Assets and Growth and Prosperity and also the 3 Wholly Owned Companies that are facing the biggest impact from the Covid pandemic these being Blackpool Transport Services (BTS), Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited (BECL) and Blackpool Operating Company Limited (BOCL).