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 report the level of spending and exposure against the Council’s Revenue budgets and reserves and balances for the first 3 months to 30 June 2023.  The report also includes an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan 2024/25 – 2026/27.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1.       To note the report.  

2.       To require the respective directors, Chief Executive and Director of Resources to continue to closely monitor and manage service financial and operational performances, specifically the social care services.

3.       To prompt the Scrutiny Leadership Board to continue to independently review the financial and operational performances of Council services.

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 target working balances of £6m by 31 March 2024 rising to £8m by 31 March 2025.

The report seeks approval for an updated version of the Adult Social Care charging policy

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

1. To approve the updated policy attached at Appendix 3a including changes which set out the following:

•                    The use of streamlined processes through lighter-touch assessments in all instances where finances can be verified through secure access to Department of Work and Pensions and HMRC online systems.

•                    A revision to the client notice period from 14 to 7 days for suspended or cancelled care visits in line with care at home provider contractual requirements.

•                    The introduction of a reconciliation process to ensure contributions to the cost of care do not exceed the cost to the Council.

To progress the continued renewal and repainting of the Blackpool Tower steel structure including the completion of all due diligence associated with the project and to complete the project funding package.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To agree that Appendix 4a 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. That the Director of Communications and Regeneration be provided with delegated authority to progress the continued renewal and repainting of the Blackpool Tower steel structure, to include the completion of all due diligence associated with the project, as set out in this Executive report and Appendix 4a to the Executive report.

3.  To authorise the Head of Legal Services to continue to enter into any such documentation as may be necessary and to consider and deal with such due diligence as may be required to provide for completion of the Blackpool Tower steel structure renewal and repainting Scheme.

4.  That authority is provided to complete the project funding package of eleven million pounds, through debt finance in the form of Prudential Borrowing, over six years commencing in Financial Year 2022/23, as detailed in the Appendix 4a to the Executive report.   

This report and Appendices 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 information at this stage as this information would undermine the Council’s position in future negotiations and could risk the scheme not being able to proceed.