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 approve the SEND Partnership’s new SEND Strategy 2022-25 prior to its launch at the SEND Conference.

Once approved the strategy will form part of the Executive policy framework.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To approve the Blackpool SEND Strategy 2022-25 attached at Appendix 2a, to the Executive report, with effect until 31 December 2025.

To seek approval to proceed with the development of The Meadow site at Highfurlong School - subject to Planning consent - to accommodate a two-storey extension and associated facilities to ensure sufficient local provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.         To agree that Appendix 3a to the Executive report, the Financial Considerations is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as it includes detailed costings that enable the scheme to be viable. The publication of such information could prejudice continuing and future negotiations.

2.         To approve the development, following a procurement process via the Procure NW Framework (£1m to £5m contract for partners).

3.         To approve the budget of £4.8 million for phase one of this scheme.

The report is now seeking authority to enter into an agreement with the Integrated Care Board pursuant to section 75 to continue to maintain pooled funds out of which prescribed local authority functions and prescribed NHS functions can continue to be provided.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To approve entering into a partnership agreement under section 75 of the NHS act 2006 with the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board

2. To delegate authority to the Director of Resources to negotiate the terms of section 75 agreements with Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Blackpool Borough Council for 2022/23 and any further subsequent section 75 agreements with the same parties.

3. To authorise the Head of Legal Services to enter into any section 75 agreements between the Integrated Care Board and the Council.

To consider the recommendation of the Licensing Committee from its meeting on 8 November 2022 on the proposed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

Once approved this policy will form part of the Executive Policy Framework.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To approve the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy, attached at Appendix 5b to the Executive report, with effect until the 31 December 2027.

This report sets out the further progress on the delivery of the Enterprise Zone and related activity at Blackpool Airport since the Executive in February 2022.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To agree that Appendices 6c and 6dto the Executive report Revised Delivery Plan and Comparative expenditure and income graphs, are not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as it includes detailed costings that enable the Enterprise Zone to continue to be viable. The publication of such information could prejudice continuing and future negotiations.

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

3. To note the higher levels of risk associated with the overall whole life expenditure and income forecasts, given the increasingly volatile nature of the economy and uncertainty over the long term format of business rates.

4. To approve the forecast expenditure budget to the end of financial year 2023/24 of £44.20m, increasing the total approved cumulative expenditure by £14.48m from £29.72m to £44.20m, plus associated costs of Prudential Borrowing, as set out in section 6.11.

5. To note:

a)      the total estimated cumulative expenditure from April 2016 to end of March 2023 of £23.06m; the whole life expenditure forecast to the end of the Enterprise Zone in 2041 of £79.75m at present values, which with the current anticipated prudential borrowing costs currently totals £84.36m, and the estimated forecast whole life income of £71.93m as set out in paragraph 6.11.

b)      These figures will inevitably change in the future and the Council will only commit resources essential to the delivery of the Enterprise Zone within the anticipated income forecast notwithstanding the projections above, will keep progress under close scrutiny and will continue to report annually to the Executive.

6. To note the increase in the commitment to provide match funding for the Towns Fund project from £10.5m by an additional £5.90m to £16.40m which is contained within the approval in resolution 4.

7. To approve the delegation to Director of Communications and Regeneration, 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 provide an update on progress with the delivery of the Town Deal Programme.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To note the progress with Blackpool’s Town Deal Programme.

This report seeks approval to appropriate for planning purpose a parcel of land pursuant to Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 (“LGA 1972”), for the delivery of the Revoe Community Sports Village project that is being supported with funding through the Town Deal programme and significant private investment through Blackpool Football Club

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To delegate authority to the Director of Communications and Regeneration to undertake the appropriation processes in respect of the Subject Land and to agree the timing of the implementation and all matters relating to the appropriation, to deal with all matters arising from the decision and complete the appropriation process and conditional on the grant of Planning Permission subsequently to invoke section 203 and section 204 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 (“HPA 2016”).

2. To authorise the Head of Legal Services to enter into any such documentation as may be necessary to give effect to or flowing from the appropriation for planning purposes of the Subject Land.

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 2022.  The report also includes an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan 2023/24 – 2026/27.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

1. To note the report.  

2. 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, Adult Services, Growth and Prosperity and Strategic Leisure Assets.

3. To prompt the Scrutiny Leadership Board to continue to independently review the financial and operational performances of the services listed in resolution 2.

4. To continue to lobby central government (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Department for Health and Social Care 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 burdens and demands presenting as a result of exceptional inflationary pressures and demographic demands upon statutory services.

5. To continue to work towards increased target working balances of £8m from £6m with formal effect from the start of financial year 2023/24.