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 a review of the emergency delegation of powers due to the Coronavirus previously approved in decision EX22/2020.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To amend decision 2 of EX22/2020  to read “as an emergency measure, to delegate all urgent Executive decision making to the Chief Executive and the Council’s Directors (as appropriate), in relation to their areas of responsibility. This decision making to be in response to issues caused directly or indirectly from the Coronavirus pandemic and would protect citizens in regard to public safety. This delegation to only be used after consultation with the Leader of the Council and the relevant Cabinet Member(s) and only when other forms of decision making are not available.”

2. To note that Executive meetings can now take place virtually subject to the revised procedure rules approved at the Council meeting on 11 May 2020 and where possible this should be preferred course of approval for key decisions.

3. To note that the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council and the Extended Corporate Leadership Team will continue to hold regular conference calls with the three Opposition Group Leaders (Councillor Mrs Callow has had and will have a dual role in this as Lead Scrutiny Member), to brief them on the current situation affecting the Council and any decisions taken or likely to be taken, seeking their views as appropriate.

4. To note that the Council at its meeting on 11 May 2020 agreed to delegate Council functions in this regard to the Chief Executive and also agreed to continue with the conference calls with the Group Leaders and MPs and that this would be reviewed at the next formal Council meeting (20 July 2020). It is recommended that these Executive delegations be reviewed again at the next Executive meeting on 13 July 2020. It may be that at that juncture then normal decision making processes may be reverted to or a timetable put in place for such a reversion.

To seek agreement to proceed with the acquisition of land at Devonshire Road, Blackpool (former Devonshire Road Hospital site).

While the report and Appendix 3a are public documents. The Appendix 3b is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.It is considered that publication of this document would significantly undermine the Council’s position in continuing negotiations and the public interest would not be served by publishing this information.  

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To agree that Appendix 3b, to the Executive report, Financial estimatesis not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

2. To approve in principle the acquisition of acquisition of land at Devonshire Road, subject to the financial limits outlined in Appendix 3b, to the Executive report.

3. To delegate to the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, to reach agreement with the vendor as to the purchase price and complete the transaction.

4. To delegate authority to the Head of Legal Services to enter into any proposed legal agreements relating to acquisition of the Devonshire Road site.

To consider the next, third, phase of Talbot Gateway regeneration in accordance with the Development Agreement dated 12 March 2009 between the Council and Muse Developments Ltd (the Developer), bringing in a wider development area in order to satisfy the current demands in the market.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To agree, in principle, that if other options are exhausted then the Council would consider the use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers to assemble the site outlined in Appendices 4a and 4b, to the Executive report.

2. To authorise the Chief Executive to pursue detailed negotiations with the developer and other interested parties as necessary.

3. To delegate authority to the Chief Executive to authorise expenditure and contracts pursuant to decision 2.

4. To instruct relevant Officers to commence all necessary preparatory works for the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order to support the site assembly of the land required for the third phase of the regeneration and any associated road improvements and road closures.

5. That Officers be required to bring a further report to the Executive to authorise the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order should such powers be required.

To consider the Libraries Ambition Plan, if approved this document will form part of the Council’s Executive Policy Framework.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To approve the Libraries Ambition Plan, as attached at Appendix 5c and 5d to the Executive report, with effect until 31 March 2024.

The report of the Director of Resources on the Provisional Revenue Outturn for 2019/20 compared with the approved budget and the capital expenditure in the year ended 31 March 2020 with sources of funding.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To approve the provisional revenue outturn for 2019/20 and in so doing to note that the figures are subject to external audit and final accounting adjustments (ref. paragraph 2.1).

2. To approve the recommendations regarding the treatment of specific service under/overspends as outlined (ref. paragraph 3.2).

3. To approve the provisional capital outturn for 2019/20 and methods of scheme funding as outlined (ref. paragraphs 4.2 and 4.5).

4. To note the Prudential Indicator (ref. paragraph 4.3).

5. To note the levels of the earmarked reserves including those for the Housing Revenue Account and maintained schools (ref. paragraphs 6.1, 6.3 and 6.4).

6.      To note the revised dates for the draft, final audited accounts and the public inspection of accounts (ref. paragraph 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3).

The Treasury Management Outturn Report for the year ended 31 March 2020 and its Annexes 1 to 5.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To approve the report concerning Treasury Management activities for the financial year ended 31 March 2020.