Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2017 and the Extraordinary meeting held on 2 June 2017 as a correct record.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 11 May 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

The minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held on 2 June 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

Councillor Gething

To consider the adoption of a new Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy.

Cabinet considered a report on adopting a new Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy.

The report explained that local authorities have a legal duty to inspect their areas for contaminated land.  Where contaminated land is found, the Council must identify the appropriate persons responsible for cleaning-up the contamination, specify the works to be done and the periods within which the work has to be carried out.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

·         Maintain existing strategy.

Resolved to adopt the Council’s new Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy.

Reason for the decision:

Statutory guidance recommends that local authorities review and update their strategies every five years to take account of changes in legislation and statutory guidance. The proposed new contaminated strategy takes these changes into account.

Councillor Williams

To note the provisional Capital outturn for 2016/17.

Cabinet considered a report on the provisional capital outturn spend for 2016-17.

Resolved that Cabinet notes the contents of the report.

Councillor Williams

To note the provisional Revenue outturn for 2016/17.

Cabinet considered a report on the provisional revenue outturn for 2016-17.

Resolved that Cabinet notes the contents of the report.

Councillor Williams

To note the Treasury Management Strategy annual report.

Cabinet considered the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2016-17.

Resolved that Cabinet notes the contents of the report.

Councillor Attewell

To consider changes to the provision of the telecare and Spelthorne Personal Alarm Network (SPAN) service due to changes in funding.

Cabinet considered a report on funding arrangements for Telecare and the Spelthorne Personal Alarm Network (SPAN).

The report explained the key changes between the previous agreement and new funding agreements with Surrey County Council.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

12 week free trial

·         Reduce the 12 week free trial to 6 weeks;

·         No change to current free trial service.

Telecare

·         Cease to provide telecare equipment;

·         Continue to provide telecare equipment with no charge to the client.

Resolved to:

1.    Agree 12 week free alarm service following an overnight hospital stay in the last 4 weeks;

2.    Agree to use the money set aside from the Council Tax increase 2016-17 which was ring fenced for Independent Living services to support the telecare service (likely to be in the region of £34,518);

3.    Delegate authority to agree telecare pricing structure to the Group Heads for Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Portfolio Holder.

Reason for the decision:

To allow the alarm and telecare service provided by Spelthorne to consider future charging options.

Councillor Mitchell

To consider the adoption of Spelthorne’s Corporate Health and Safety Policy.

Cabinet considered a report on the adoption of the Spelthorne Corporate Health and Safety Policy.

The report explained that the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a legal requirement on all organisations to assess and control the risks to the health safety and welfare of employees and the public that arise from the activities associated with the organisation.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

·         To recommend amendments to the policy;

·         Not to adopt the policy.

Resolved to:

1.    Adopt the corporate Health and Safety Policy;

2.    Authorise the Chief Executive to agree minor variations to the adopted Health and Safety Policy.

Reason for the decision:

To safeguard the health, safety and welfare of staff, the public and its members.

Councillor Harvey

To consider the appointment of representatives to serve on Outside Bodies and Working Groups. The nominations are attached to the report.

Cabinet considered a report on the proposed appointments of representatives to Outside Bodies and Working Groups for 2017-18.

Resolved that Cabinet appoints representatives to Outside Bodies and Working Groups for 2017-18 as shown in Appendix A of the report.

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

The following are the latest service updates from various Council departments.

A flotilla of boats will sail from Sunbury Lock to Staines-upon-Thames led by the Queen’s rowbarge Gloriana in celebration of the Mayor of Spelthorne’s River Day on Saturday 24 June. Gloriana will be joined by the Impossible Dream, a specially adapted wheelchair friendly motorboat which has been chosen as one of the Mayor’s charities, and the Jolly Brit, the former tender to the Royal Yacht Britannia. Local rowing clubs and schools will also join the flotilla. Residents have been invited to come along, enjoy the entertainment, and help raise money for local good causes.

The Staines Business Improvement District (BID) went live on 1 April. It will run for an initial five year period after which another vote will be taken to decide whether the BID should continue for a further five years. The BID has attracted more funding through the levy than first thought, with £399K being collected annually. The BID commissioned the Queen’s Row barge Gloriana to be part of the celebrations at the Staines-upon-Thames Day.

The Community Safety Partnership has now acquired two portable CCTV cameras which can be deployed in response to complaints regarding fly-tipping or anti-social behaviour.

The final of the Spelthorne Business Plan Competition was held on 25 May at BP’s headquarters in Sunbury-on-Thames. Six finalists pitched in a Dragons’ Den style final for a prize of £3,500 and a year’s package of business support. The winners were George Goodger and Adam Wright with their invention Cillguard, a unique product for wheelchair users which prevents their cars from being scratched when transferring in and out of cars. Second place and a prize of £1,500 went to Danielle Pauling, Clare Pauling and Amanda Hadley for a family business idea called Grave Angels. Third place and £500 was awarded to Kirsti McCabe for her web based business idea ‘The Routine Edit.’

The Council’s Neighbourhood Services team has installed electric vehicle charging points at two of the car parks in Staines-upon-Thames. Six individual 7kW charging bays have been installed at Elmsleigh multi-storey car park and a dual 3.6kW charger which can charge two cars simultaneously at Tothill multi-storey. The charging bays are free to use and customers simply download an app to get started.

Spelthorne residents and housing register applicants are being asked for their views on changes to the way that social housing is allocated. The Council currently shares an allocations policy with Elmbridge Borough Council and local housing associations and some applicants can move areas under this policy. In the future however, the Council plans to adopt a single borough approach and to give reduced priority to social housing tenants who have other options available through their housing association landlords. The consultation ends Friday 30 June. Visit www.spelthorne.gov.uk/housing-survey

Plans are underway for this year’s schools citizenship events in the autumn term. The Junior Democracy event in October and Senior Schools’ Parliament event in November will both feature presentations and workshops delivered by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2390.

To consider any items which the Chairman considers as urgent.

There were none.

To move the exclusion of the Press/Public for the following items, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Resolved to move the exclusion of the Press and Public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Councillor Gething

To consider a request for a supplementary capital estimate to purchase grounds maintenance equipment.

This report contains exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006 Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because (a) the report contains details of a proposed procurement, and to publish details of the Council’s intentions in advance would prejudice a best value deal for the Council and (b) the report contains confidential details of a negotiated settlement with our supplier and publication of the details of this settlement would prejudice the ability of the Council to conclude this negotiation on the best terms possible.

Cabinet considered an exempt report that requested grounds maintenance be brought back in-house and sought approval of a supplementary capital estimate for the purchase of machinery.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

·         Hire or lease the equipment;

·         Do nothing.

Resolved to:

1.    Agree that following the mutual termination of the grounds maintenance contract that the service be brought in-house as the most efficient, effective and economic way of providing a service to the Borough’s residents;

2.    Recommend to Council a supplementary capital estimate of £500k for the purchase of machinery, plant & vehicles to be used for maintenance and servicing of parks and open spaces.

Reason for decision

Capital purchase is the financially sustainable option for acquisition of vehicles and machinery. Purchasing through a framework will ensure that the correct procurement process is followed and delivery timescales are met.