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 and discuss the report on the Council Tax 2019/2020 for recommendation to the Council meeting on 27 February 2019 as part of the Council’s budget setting process.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.         That having considered all information received since the meeting of the Executive on 4 February 2019 including the Final Settlement Funding Assessment announced on 29 January 2019 to confirm the Executive’s recommendation to Council regarding the General Fund Revenue Budget 2019/20.

2.         To recommend to Council approval of a level of Blackpool Council’s Council Tax for the year 2019/20 of £1,556.31 at valuation band D equivalent (an increase of 2.99%).

3.         To recommend to Council the level of net expenditure for the General Fund Revenue Budget 2019/20 of £124,073,000.

4.         To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire’s precept for the financial year 2019/20 at valuation band D equivalent was agreed on the 13 February 2019 as £201.45, an increase of £24.

5.         To note that the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority met on the 18 February 2019 and set its precept for the financial year 2019/20 as £69.48 for a Band D Tax equivalent (a 2.99% increase). This increase was reported at the meeting.

To consider and discuss the Green and Blue Infrastructure, this proposed strategy will, once approved, become part of the Council’s Executive Policy Framework.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.      To approve the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy and Action Plan for Blackpool as attached at Appendix 3a, to the Executive report, with effect from 1 March 2019 to 28 February 2029.

2.      To request the Director of Community and Environmental Services to take steps prior to the publication to ensure that the strategy and action plan are converted into suitable accessible formats.

Councillor Hobson, the Chairman of the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee has been invited to address the Executive on the Scrutiny Review.

Councillor Cross, Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Health, will then offer a response as the relevant Cabinet Member. The other members of the Executive will then be invited to discuss further the review before confirming the Executive’s response to the recommendations outlined in the Scrutiny Review.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To agree the recommendations of the Whole Systems of Care final report action plan as outlined below, referring them to the relevant organisation where applicable and working towards their implementation and also noted the observations made by the relevant Cabinet Member:

1. That Blackpool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust consider introducing a policy to limit the number of family and friends attending the emergency department to one/two associates at a time as per the policy on Wards at the hospital in order to reduce the appearance of a full department and to free up seating for patients.

2. That Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group review extended access appointments to look at usage, the reasons why the service is not more widely used and how to improve use of appointments to report back to the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee in July 2019 including the Cabinet Member’s request for increasing advertising and staff training in addition.

3. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to explore the impact of delayed receipt of prescriptions from the pharmacy on discharges from hospital and report back to the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee with the reasons for pharmacy delays and a course of action to address those delays at the relevant Scrutiny Committee meeting in July 2019.

4. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust identify ways to offer facilitated parking for discharge staff (either Council or NHS and report back at the relevant Scrutiny Committee meeting in July 2019.

5. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust work with all relevant partners to review discharge processes and ensure they are efficient, effective and to identify if any parts of the processes could be carried out after the patient has left the hospital.

6. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust work to improve relationships and communications with care homes. Also noting the Cabinet Member’s request for better notice provided of discharge to allow residential and domiciliary care staff to better plan for discharge of their residents and patients.

7. That all partners use social media to send out alerts relating to accident and emergency waiting times, walk in centre waiting times and available GP appointments on a day. Each partner organisation to assist the others in disseminating the information.

8. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust install signage at an appropriate point prior to the car park entrance alerting people to current waiting times.

9. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust consider offering parking refunds to patients attending accident and emergency inappropriately to leave again, preventing having paid for parking being the only reason why a person would wait and not try an alternative, more appropriate avenue.

10. That Blackpool Council consider how available marketing signage around the town could be used to promote positive NHS messages. Noting the Cabinet Member’s concerns regarding how to avoid confusion with roles and responsibilities.

Further to the motion approved at the Council meeting on 27 June 2018, to consider and discuss a proposed policy for reducing the Single Use Plastics within the Council.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To adopt the Single Use Plastics policy attached at Appendix 5a, to the Executive report, and the Draft Action Plan attached at Appendix 5d, to the Executive report.

2. To request the Chief Executive to sign the charter attached at Appendix 5b, to the Executive report, on behalf of the Council.

3. To approve the Communications Programme attached at Appendix 5c, to the Executive report.

4. To recommend that the Council’s wholly owned companies adopt the policy and charter for Single Use Plastics.

To consider and discuss proposals for the future structure of safeguarding boards.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To approve in principle the revised arrangements for the Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire Safeguarding Children Strategic Partnership Board to replace the Blackpool Local Safeguarding Children’s Board in line with the Statement of Principles outlined in the report to the Executive report.

2. To note that the current Serious Case Review arrangements will be replaced by Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews.

3. To note that the existing Child Death Overview Panel will continue to exist in the form outlined in paragraph 5.2 of the Executive report.  

4. To delegate authority to the Director of Governance and Partnerships to sign off the final terms of reference and memberships on behalf of the Council and note that these will also be approved at the first meeting of the bodies and by the Police and Clinical Commissioning Groups.

To consider and discuss a loan to Blackpool Housing Company Limited.

 The report for this item is public. However Appendix 7a contains information regarding the negotiations and the proposed or potential courses of action and are currently exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered on balance that the public interest would not be served by publishing the information as it could prejudice future development.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.      To agree that Appendix 7a, to the Executive report, Company financial projections  is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.      To authorise the Director of Resources to arrange a further committed loan facility for the benefit of the Company in the sum of £40.8million. This loan will allow the Company to deliver the plan approved in March 2017 and to cover the period to March 2025, enabling the assembly of a portfolio of circa 950 quality, affordable homes for rent in Inner Blackpool.

3.      To maintain a quarterly monitoring system and allow Public Works Loan Board resources to be transferred to the company over a period up to and including 31 March 2025. 

4.      To remove the £10m per year drawdown limit imposed by the Executive approval for the original tranche of funding (EX32/2015).

To consider and discuss the Car Parking Strategy to enable future development in the town centre.

The report for this item is public. However Appendices 8c and 8d contain information regarding the negotiations and the proposed or potential courses of action and are currently exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered on balance that the public interest would not be served by publishing the information as it could prejudice the proposed development.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To agree that Appendix 8c Assessment of Town Centre Car Parking Options and Appendix 8d Financial and Legal Considerations, to the Executive report, are not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

2. To agree to the principal of providing the additional car parking spaces servicing the town centre to accommodate the demand identified in this report.

3. To authorise expenditure to the sum of up to £16,000,000 to deliver the additional town centre parking provision identified in the report and in the indicative designs attached at Appendix 8c, to the Executive report.

4. To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to authorise expenditure and contracts to deliver the most appropriate option within the financial limits in this report to the Executive.  

Further to Decision EX57/2019, to consider and discuss next steps in the Blackpool Central project.

The report for this item is public. However Appendices 9a and 9c contain information regarding the negotiations and the proposed or potential courses of action and are currently exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered on balance that the public interest would not be served by publishing the information as it could prejudice the proposed development.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.      To agree that Appendix 9a, to the Executive report, Blackpool Central financial projections  is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.      To agree to delegate authority to the Chief Executive for approval of the final terms of the Land Sale arrangements, having undertaken all necessary financial and legal due diligence.

3.      To agree £1.9m funding, as outlined in Appendix 9a, to the Executive report, to cover aspects identified to enable delivery of the scheme and protect the Council’s interests.

4.      To delegate authority to the Head of Legal to enter into any proposed legal agreements relating to the scheme. 

To consider and discuss next steps in the Talbot Gateway project.

The report for this item is public. However Appendices 10a, 10b, 10c and 10 d contain information regarding the negotiations and the proposed or potential courses of action and are currently exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered on balance that the public interest would not be served by publishing the information as it could prejudice the proposed development.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.         To agree that Appendix 10a Assessment of Options, Appendix 10b Proposal Document to Potential Occupier, Appendix 10c Plan of Options and Appendix 10d Legal and Financial Considerations, to the Executive report, are not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.         To authorise expenditure to the sum of up to £1,250,000 to carry out concept and initial designs for the most appropriate option to meet this future potential demand.

3.         To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to authorise expenditure and contracts to produce concept and initial designs within the financial limit agreed in 1 and the detailed estimates in Appendix 10d, to the Executive report.