Councillor AW Johnson.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2014.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider responses to the resolutions of General Overview & Scrutiny Committee (2 December 2014) following the call in of the decision of cabinet taken on 13 November, and confirm a preferred option for the South Wye Transport Package (SWTP) including the preferred route for a new link road from the A49 to the A465 (with a link to the B4349)

The Vice Chairman of the General Overview and Scrutiny Committee (GOSC) opened this item by explaining how the committee had spent approximately 5 hours looking in depth at the decision made by cabinet on 13 November 2014 and had resolved that the decision should be referred back to cabinet with the two recommendations in the report.

The Cabinet Member for Infrastructure advised the decision taken on the 13 November 2014 for the preferred route was key in providing infrastructure improvements. The call in from GOSC had allowed the decision to be looked at to ensure it was sound and well founded. Having listened to the arguments put forward and the responses from officers and consultants he was satisfied the decision was based on sound reasons and had been through a robust process. He reminded members that the funding for the project was in place.

The Assistant Director, Place Based Commissioning began his presentation by explaining the layout of the report and confirming that it was focussed on the two recommendations from GOSC.

A Group Leader wished to make a point of correction at this point as he alleged the wording of the first recommendation from GOSC was incorrect; the word actuality should have been accuracy. He questioned if this affected the content of the report.

The Assistant Director, Place Based Commissioning advised that both the accuracy and actuality of the cost modelling and scoring had been looked at and the changing of the word within the recommendation would not change the response given.

Gary Dymond from Parsons Brinkerhoff (PB) presented the response to the first of the GOSC recommendations. He confirmed that cost estimates had been consistently undertaken for all route options and were in line with industry practice and relevant guidance. A review of the approach had been done by Balfour Beatty and this had validated the results. He pointed out to members the details of the approach within the report.

Phil Davidson (PB) gave the response to the second of the GOSC recommendations. He advised that the inclusion of Grafton Wood on the Ancient Woodland Register does not change the mitigation measures they would have to put in place. He confirmed the exact nature of the mitigation being developed will be in the environmental statements produced as part of the planning process. He pointed out that similar mitigiation would be required for all route options.

In reply to a Cabinet Members question, the Section 151 Officer confirmed that he was satisfied with the robustness of the response and recommended that Cabinet proceed with their decision. He confirmed he had spent time with the project team and had looked at the robustness, accuracy and risks of the project along with the consistency of the approach taken, from a financial perspective. He confirmed to cabinet that he has had experience of projects of this nature. Having gone through the figures in detail he was satisfied the information presented to cabinet was accurate and consistent.

A Cabinet Member questioned if the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

To provide Cabinet with an updated position on the projected outturn for 2014/15.

The Section 151 Officer presented Cabinet with the Budget Monitoring Report giving an updated position on the projected outturn for 2014/15 as at the 31 October 2014.

It was confirmed that the budget was on target for this year and progress has been made on hitting targets for the next two financial years.

The Section 151 Officer pointed out the report is consistent with previous statements but additional items have been added in line with good practice.

The level of bad debts reported is comparable with previous years, and is within acceptable limits.

Details of savings schemes are shown in the new savings monitoring report. Thanks were given to the Audit and Governance Task Group who gave their comments about the report, which has been implemented following an external audit recommendation. The information within the report shows savings are being delivered in line with the decisions made by council in February 2014.

In answer to a Cabinet Members query about the risks surrounding the possible lowering of the cap on Council Tax increases and the settlement to local authorities from central government, the Section 151 Officer was confident that the cap would remain at 2%. As the budget has been set with a proposed increase of 1.9% no referendum on this matter would need to be held.  Further information will be available in the coming days on the level of settlement that will be received but it is expected to be in line with previous assumptions on which the budget has been set.

Resolved

THAT: 

(a)        Cabinet notes the council is projected to spend within its budget for this financial year;

(b)       Cabinet notes the capital and treasury projected outturns;

(c)        The bad debt written off to date in 2014/15 be noted; and

(d)       Cabinet agrees the virement of 2014/15 revenue and capital budgets to meet in year pressures within council directorates; and

(e)        Cabinet notes the performance to achieve 2014/15 and future savings plans.

To approve the Herefordshire Nursery Education Funding Policy.

The Cabinet Member for Young People and Children’s Wellbeing presented the report asking Cabinet to approve the Nursery Education Funding Policy. It is a statutory duty of the council to deliver nursery education for 2, 3 and 4 year olds and the policy sets out the criteria for this and brings together the processes required.

The Assistant Director, Commissioning and Education added that there are just under 10,000 0 – 5 year olds in the county. There is currently a good take up of nursery education for 3 and 4 year olds and a national expectation that there will be an increasing number of 2 year olds. The policy has been developed together with providers. The policy supports the Health and Wellbeing strategy around the Healthy Child Agenda.

A Cabinet Member welcomed the extra funding to areas of extra need.

Resolved:

THAT:  the Herefordshire Nursery Education Funding Policy (appendix 1) be approved.

To seek approval to establish a well-being centre in Kington, based at the current customer services centre and library, incorporating current services whilst co-ordinating preventative health provision for residents of Kington and the surrounding area.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing presented Cabinet with a report to seek approval to establish a well-being centre in Kington, based at the current library. This would be a new model of well-being centre for the town and surrounding rural areas bringing together health, social care and shared services into one building. If the centre is a success it is hoped the model could be rolled out to other areas, but modified to suit their needs.

The Head of Community and Customer Services went onto explain that Kington had two issues relating to this project, how to maintain the existing library and customer service site and the health prevention needs of the town. Work had been done together with the Town Council and it is hoped this project will kick start the further engagement with health providers, private and voluntary sector.

Further clarification was given on the calculations of the revenue funding figures.

Following a members concern about if the public understand the concept and name of the scheme and what it will mean for them, the Head of Community and Customer Services explained the name had not been yet decided upon.

The Director of Adults Wellbeing advised the community will have its part to play in the naming of the service and what they want from it. An example of a service that will be provided is a drop in social care clinics where potential service users and carers can get face to face, general advice, without being on a waiting list for assistance.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing added that the publicity for the centre would be done once the project is approved.

Resolved

THAT:

(a)        a wellbeing centre is established in Kington at the current customer services and library from a combination of funding from customer services and health prevention from April 2015; and

(b)       £78,000 capital funding is allocated to improve the facilities at the centre.

The Cabinet Member for Young People and Children’s Wellbeing presented the item concerning the joining of the extended National Troubled Families Programme to run from 2015/16 to 2019/20.

He confirmed the council has been part of the scheme since 2012 and so far has helped 250 families. This has reduced crime and anti-social behaviour and improved school attendance and back to work rates for these families. Additional funding of £1.1million has been received, by the end of this financial year it is hoped 310 families would have been helped.

Due to the success of the scheme, the council has been asked to join the extended scheme for 5 years. This extends the reasons families can be assisted and it is hoped 1000 extra families can be helped over the lifetime of the initiative.

Concerning the identification of families the Assistant Director, Commissioning and Education confirmed that most of the extra families will already be known to the council and our partners such as the Police, Job Centre Plus and Housing. The figure of 1000 is an estimate based on known information and the widening criteria of the scheme.

The Assistant Director, Commissioning and Education clarified the use of figures in paragraph 6 of the report. The figures in brackets refer to national figures for the whole population.

It was also confirmed that locally the scheme is known as Families First, the name used in the report refers to the national scheme that it is part of.

The Assistant Director, Commissioning and Education confirmed payments are received from central government as a one off fee, and then payment by results.

Following a member’s query about youth services the Assistant Director, Commissioning and Education confirmed the council does not directly fund universal youth services but does facilitate multi agency meetings and a support approach using he common assessment framework.  Youth clubs and other opportunities are provided by schools, colleges, the voluntary, community and private sectors..

Resolved

THAT:       the council, as lead partner, joins the extended national Troubled Families programme.