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.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to the Council to approve the Council Plan.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To note the changes to the Council Tax and Business Rates Discretionary Discount Policy as set out in paragraphs 5.1 – 5.5, of the Executive report.

2. To recommend Council to agree the amended Council Tax and Business Rates Discretionary Discount Policy as set out in Appendix 3a, to the Executive report.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To formally agree to participate in the Lancashire-wide 75% Business Rates Pilot Pool 2019/20 and ask officers to ensure that the Revenue Budget report submitted to Council in February 2019 reflects the Council’s participation.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To approve the outcome of the Council’s procurement exercise for the provision of insurance cover, saving approximately £340,000 per year.  It should be noted that there will be a slight decrease to the overall saving once the cost of insuring Blackpool Coastal Housing’s motor fleet has been confirmed.

2. To delegate responsibility to the Director of Resources to undertake a separate quotation exercise for the provision of cyber liability and Directors and Officers insurance.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1.      To endorse proceeding with the Blackpool Local Full Fibre Network Plan, in line with the steps in the report and Build Out map attached at Appendix 6a, to the Executive report.

2.      To agree that the Council joins the already established Digital Infrastructure co-operative.

3.      To agree to support further build out of the fibre network by co-operative Members subject to Highways and Planning regulations. 

4.      To support Demand Stimulation activities to encourage the take up of Full Fibre Connectivity by Blackpool Businesses and Residents to enable them to better participate in the growing Digital Economy.

5.      To support the establishment of an internal barrier busting team made up of IT, Highways, Planning and co-operative Members to co-ordinate the build out of the fibre network and establish a dig-once principle to individual properties and businesses.

6.      To authorise the Head of Legal to enter into all required legal documentation relating to this Project.

The report for this item is public. However Appendix 7b 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 the proposed development.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To agree that Appendix 7b – Estimated construction costs of the new development is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

2. That the Council bids to Homes England for capital grant to help fund the construction of new Council homes for Affordable Rent at Troutbeck Crescent.

3. That the Council procures a building contractor to construct new Council homes at Troutbeck Crescent, and that subject to grant funding being made available and planning approval received, authority is given to the Head of Legal to enter into a design and build contract for a cost not exceeding the sum set out in Appendix 7b, to the Executive report.

4. To grant delegated authority to the Head of Legal to authorise the relevant legal documents to progress the scheme including to the de-designation of the public open space on the site.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To note the report.  

2. To continue to lobby Government (HM Treasury, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Education in particular) along with local authority peers, the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services for more funding to cope with the mounting demand and new burdens presenting in 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 Parking Services.