Agenda, decisions and minutes

To note any apologies for absence.

See above.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2022  (minutes attached).

The minutes were agreed as a correct record.

To  declare any pecuniary or personal interests relating to specific matters on the agenda.

Please see information note (1) at the end of the agenda

No declarations were made at the meeting.

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Written questions

To answer any written questions from a County Councillor, (or any person living or working in the county, or is affected by the work of the County Council), about any matter which relates to any item on the agenda for this meeting.

The closing date for the receipt of written questions is 4.00 pm on Thursday 16 June 2022.

Please submit any questions to stephen.bace@gloucestershire.gov.uk

A written answer will be provided for each written question received (to be presented to the questioner and to Cabinet (in advance of the meeting). The questions and answers will be taken as read and will not be read out at the meeting. At the discretion of the Leader of Council, each questioner ( in attendance at the meeting) will be allowed to ask one supplementary question (in response to the answer given to the original question).

A copy of all written questions and written answers circulated at the meeting will be attached to the signed copy of the minutes of the meeting.

Urgent questions

An urgent written question may be asked by a member of the public about any item on the Cabinet agenda for that meeting which the Chairperson considers could not have been reasonably submitted by the deadline for the receipt of written questions, provided he or she gives notice of the question to the Chief Executive by 12 noon the day before the meeting.

Question 1 – Cllr Jeremy Hilton asked whether the Cabinet Member would offer advice to Cllr Houston on how he should vote on item 5 given the petition he had submitted on behalf of residents.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin replied that it was not for her to advise the Member on this.

Question 2 – Cllr Jeremy Hilton asked if there had been any resident who had died due to the stress of the upcoming decision.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin replied that she was aware of the death of a single resident in one home but was unable to speculate as to the cause of death.

Question 3 – Cllr Jeremy Hilton asked what legal powers the council had to stop new private care homes opening up to create space in the market.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin replied that there was limited ability to influence the market. In terms of new builds the Council would be a consultee on planning applications.

Question 4 – Cllr Jeremy Hilton referred to Bohanam House and asked about the impact on occupancy of Covid.  He also suggested that the threat of closure reduced the number of residents admitted to the home and had led to some residents leaving. He asked whether the decision to close that care home had already been made.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin confirmed there was no intention to make a decision on care home closures until consideration at this meeting. The world had changed since the beginning of the pandemic.

Question 6 – Cllr Jeremy Hilton questioned the absence of detailed plans to support the claim that redevelopment options had been explored. He suggested Bohanam House could be viable and asked why it was being closed.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin replied that there was an excess of empty beds in Gloucester. This was about sustainability of the market.

Question 7 – Cllr Jeremy Hilton stated that Bohanam House was rated by the Care Quality Commission as ‘good’ while some private sector provision was rated ‘inadequate’.  He  asked why those ‘inadequate’ homes were not being closed.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin replied that the Council had no control over independent providers of care and had to use its influence where it had power to do so.

Question 8 – Cllr Jeremy Hilton suggested the consultation was a persuading exercise and he asked for details of one thing that had been changed in the report from the consultation.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin replied that there was significant feedback included and referred the member to the actions listed in the Equality Impact Assessment.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin provided an analysis of the consultation exercise of suggested actions to influence and aid the sustainability of the Independent health and social Care Market in light of the initial and ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and sought approval for the recommendations associated with that analysis

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1.    Review the analysis of feedback received during the consultation on the proposed decommissioning and closure of four homes built in the 1970’s managed by the Gloucestershire Care Partnership (GCP)

2.    Agree to the closure of the following care homes currently operating under the GCP contract

·         Bohanam House, Gloucester

·         Orchard House, Bishops Cleeve, Tewkesbury

·         The Elms, Stonehouse Stroud

·         Westbury Court, Westbury, Forest of Dean

3.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Public Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adults Social Care Commissioning to

a. initiate such steps as are necessary to decommission those homes.

b. support the residents of those homes to move to alternative placements, as necessary.

c. develop the business case for redeveloping the Elms site in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire for a new care facility”

d. develop the business case for redeveloping the GIS site at Cinderford for a new care facility post 2025

e. work with the Assistant Director of Asset Management & Property Services to identify alternative sites within the Gloucestershire County Council portfolio that may be suitable for development/redevelopment as a sustainable care facility

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin provided an analysis of the consultation exercise on proposals to influence and aid the sustainability of the Independent health and social Care Market in light of the initial and ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. She sought approval for the recommendations associated with that analysis. She emphasised this was about specific care in the right places keeping individuals in their communities.

Under the Care Act 2014 Gloucestershire County Council had a statutory duty to not only meet the needs of people eligible for care, but also to shape the local care market to encourage quality, choice, and sufficiency of provision.

The consultation process had taken 6 weeks and had been transparent and open to anyone to respond to.

In reviewing the officer recommendations, the Cabinet Member asked for agreement for the closure of the following care homes currently operating under the GCP contract

·         Bohanam House, Gloucester

·         Orchard House, Bishops Cleeve, Tewkesbury

·         The Elms, Stonehouse Stroud

·         Westbury Court, Westbury, Forest of Dean

This action, along with the market development approved by Cabinet in March 2022 aimed to:

·         stabilise the Gloucestershire care market,

·         provide short term relief from the impact of Covid but also continued the transformation programme for the way in which Gloucestershire commissions and delivers Adult Social Care

The Cabinet Member spoke about there being ‘too many beds’ in the system.

The focus for care delivery was shifting to supporting independence and supporting, and enabling people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Individuals were entering residential care later in their lives and at a stange when they were likely to have greater complexity of need. They would therefore require facilities that were flexible enough to meet those needs. In addition, it was important to provide dementia care. In decommissioning the four homes listed, the Council was removing care facilities built at a time when needs and expectations of care differed greatly to today. With this in mind Cabinet was also proposing to build or redevelop on these, and where possible, other sites, facilities to meet the projected demographic need profiles of the residents of Gloucestershire.

The Cabinet Member stated that it was understandable that a consultation of this nature would cause distress and that individuals would be angry, shocked and aggrieved. The Cabinet Member acknowledged the work carried out by staff during the Covid pandemic and reflected that better designed homes would have helped them immensely. 

Members discussed the changing market and the need to take difficult decisions in response to this. Assurances were sought about the Bishops Cleeve site and addressing the issues around family and friend’s ability to continue to have access to residents relocated from that site, as well as ensuring that the Council was supporting the desired outcome of allowing individuals to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. In response it was explained that there would be suitable safeguards in place to make sure that families could continue to have access to their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Cllr Nick Housden sought Cabinet approval to award approximately 70 contracts by way of negotiated procedure for the delivery of Public Health Enhanced Services (PHES) by GP practices in order to secure service delivery in the period April 2023 to March 2028. While at the time of drafting this Report the proposal is to award 70 such contracts, this number is subject to change should any existing GP practices merge, or if any new practices open.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Public Health (this delegation will apply to the Director of Public Health from 11 July, in response to changes to the senior management structure which take effect on that date) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities to:

1. Award by way of a negotiated procedure approximately 70 contracts to General Medical Practices for the delivery of Public Health Enhanced Services (PHES) on the basis set out in this Report. Each of the proposed PHES contracts shall continue foran initial period of 2 years (commencing 1st April 2023) andinclude an option to extend its term for a further period of notmore than 3 years. The council shall also reserve a right toterminate each such contract at any time after 31st March 2025;

2. Determine whether to exercise the option to extend the term of each of the said contracts for a further period of not more than 3 years on the expiry of the initial 2 year term;

3. Determine whether to exercise the option to terminate each of the said contracts at any time after 31st March 2025.

Cllr Nick Housden sought Cabinet approval to award approximately 70 contracts by way of negotiated procedure for the delivery of Public Health Enhanced Services (PHES) by GP practices in order to secure service delivery in the period April 2023 to March 2028. While at the time of drafting this Report the proposal was to award 70 such contracts, this number is subject to change should any existing GP practices merge, or if any new practices open.

The current contacts with GPs for the Public Health Enhanced Service (PHES) contracts ended 31^st March 2023.  The GP PHES contract included the provision of the following services:

-       Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)

-       Primary care sexual health clinics

-       NHS Health Checks

-       Stop smoking support

The PHES contract was a key mechanism for delivering important Public Health services including two statutory functions (the provision of the NHS Health Check; and the provision of open access sexual health services, including contraception). The contract length would be for an initial period of 2 years (1^st April 2023 – 31^st March 2025), with an option to extend the contract term for a further 3 years (1^st April 2025 – 31^st March 2028).

The estimated total investment across the GP PHES contracts over the maximum 5 year contract was £5,326,105. This figure was an estimate as LARC, NHS Health Checks and Stop smoking were activity based contracts. The decision to directly award the contracts by way of negotiated procedure was permissible under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (“PCRs”) because competition was absent for technical reasons.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Public Health (this delegation would apply to the Director of Public Health from 11 July, in response to changes to the senior management structure which took effect on that date) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities to:

1. Award by way of a negotiated procedure approximately 70 contracts to General Medical Practices for the delivery of Public Health Enhanced Services (PHES) on the basis set out in this Report. Each of the proposed PHES contracts shall continue foran initial period of 2 years (commencing 1st April 2023) andinclude an option to extend its term for a further period of notmore than 3 years. The council shall also reserve a right toterminate each such contract at any time after 31st March 2025;

2. Determine whether to exercise the option to extend the term of each of the said contracts for a further period of not more than 3 years on the expiry of the initial 2 year term;

3. Determine whether to exercise the option to terminate each of the said contracts at any time after 31st March 2025.

Cllr David Gray sought Cabinet approval to delegate authority to the Executive Director for Economy, Environment and Infrastructure to procure professional services, to continue work towards delivering the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme. In addition he sought to obtain approval to spend, at risk, on delivering the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) including the Options Appraisal Report, and Outline Business Case (OBC) for M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to

• Procure continuation of development work (SOC and OBC delivery) under our Professional Services contract

• Undertake a non-statutory public consultation, and
• Submit the SOC and OBC to the Department for Transport once complete.

Cllr David Gray sought Cabinet approval to delegate authority to the Executive Director for Economy, Environment and Infrastructure to procure professional services, to continue work towards delivering the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme. In addition he sought to obtain approval to spend, at risk, on delivering the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) including the Options Appraisal Report, and Outline Business Case (OBC) for M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme.

This transport scheme had been identified in the Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan as a highways scheme priority. The scheme would support delivery of future sustainable mixed-use development enabling at least 10,000 homes to be delivered along with 120 hectares of employment land. The Cabinet Member noted the importance of infrastructure in supporting the development of Tewkesbury and wider Gloucestershire.

A sum of approximately £6.108 million was required for the development of the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme SOC and OBC for financial year 2022/23.  This was made up from:

• £1.000m existing transport planning base budget
• £1.500m MTFS 2022-23 revenue as approved by GCC in Feb 2022
• £1.500m Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities funding
• £2.108m Carry forward request of 2021-22

The County Council was the current scheme sponsor and would develop and submit the SOC and the OBC. Subject to an approved OBC, National Highways would take over scheme sponsorship.

Once the SOC was approved, the DfT should refund costs associated with the development of the scheme during OBC. Whilst these costs did not reflect the entire cost of developing the OBC, it should cover the cost of the works associated with final scheme design for OBC as this could be considered a capital cost against the scheme.

The Cabinet member emphasised that the work went a long way to help future exciting developments in the city region but he also noted environmental benefits to reducing ‘bottlenecks’ and the ability to put in place more active travel options. 

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to

• Procure continuation of development work (SOC and OBC delivery) under our Professional Services contract

• Undertake a non-statutory public consultation, and
• Submit the SOC and OBC to the Department for Transport once complete.

Cllr Stephen Davies sought Cabinet approval for the Improvement Plan developed in response to the inspection of GCC Children’s Services (published 1st April 2022), prior to its submission to Ofsted.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

• Notes the Ofsted Inspection report (1st April 2022), attached at Appendix 1.
• Approves the Children’s Services Improvement Plan at Appendix 2,

and;

• Delegates authority to the Director of Children’s Services to make any final changes to the Improvement Plan, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years, prior to its submission to Ofsted.

Cllr Stephen Davies sought Cabinet approval for the Improvement Plan developed in response to the inspection of GCC Children’s Services (published 1st April 2022), prior to its submission to Ofsted.

Gloucestershire’s Children’s Services were subject to inspection by Ofsted between 7^th and 18^th February 2022. Ofsted judged the overall effectiveness of services as ‘Requires improvement to be good’ with the judgements on key aspects of performance set out within the body of the report. All elements were judged as ‘Requires improvement to be good’ – acknowledging that considerable improvement had been achieved but that more was required to deliver consistently good services.

The next stage of the improvement journey would be to consolidate the progress to date as the basis for progressing from an overall position of ‘Requires Improvement’ to that of being consistently good. The Council was  required to submit an improvement plan to Ofsted by 15^th July, a copy of which was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

The improvement plan would seek to address the 5 recommendations made by Ofsted, along with the wider range of issues necessary to deliver consistently good services for children and families. Progress against the plan would continue to be monitored by an Improvement Board, comprising of key partner and stakeholder representatives.

The Leader commented that significant progress had been made over the previous four years and the report demonstrated improvement but there was some way to go. He thanked the staff and senior leaders and the Cabinet Member for their dedication and commitment. He thanked former councillors Cllr Boyles and Cllr L Williams for their work at a difficult time.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

• Note the Ofsted Inspection report (1st April 2022), attached at Appendix 1.
• Approve the Children’s Services Improvement Plan at Appendix 2,

and;

• Delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to make any final changes to the Improvement Plan, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Safeguarding and Early Years, prior to its submission to Ofsted.

Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval to make changes to the previously approved Children & Families Capital Programme.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the changes to the Children & Families Capital Programme as set out in the report:

1.1.A new scheme for the expansion of Twyning Primary School, funded by a £0.350 million transfer from the approved Basic Need Provision.

1.2.A new scheme to establish a new 60 place primary special school funded by a £0.650 million transfer from the approved High Needs Provision Capital.

1.3. Additional facilities for Bettridge Special School funded by a £0.150 million transfer from the approved High Needs Provision Capital and approved Basic Need Provision.

1.4.An addition of £0.088 million s106 developer contributions for Ashchurch Primary School.

1.5.An addition of £0.098 million s106 developer contributions for Oak Hill Primary School.

1.6.An addition of £0.172 million s106 developer contributions for Dene Magna School.

1.7.An addition of £0.074 million s106 developer contributions for The Cotswold School.

1.8.A reduction of £0.183 million School Condition Allocation Grant for 2022/23.

1.9.An addition of £6.464 million High Needs Provision Capital Grant for 2022/23 and £7.056 million for 2023/24.

2. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport & Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, to approve the award of Call-Off Contracts under the Gloucestershire County Council Major Capital Works Framework following either a) competitive tendering exercise or b) allocation on rotation, or c) direct award if deemed appropriate for the purpose of undertaking works for the expansion and development of the Gloucestershire schools set out in recommendations 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 to this report.

Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval to make changes to the previously approved Children & Families Capital Programme.

The County Council approved the Children & Families Capital Programme for 2022/23 on 16^th February 2022.  The schemes represented the ongoing commitment to ensuring sufficient school places were available and improving facilities at schools across Gloucestershire to ensure all children and young people benefit from high quality and accessible education provision. He outlined the recommendations with the named schools for the schemes.

The Council was committed to ensuring the right provision and support was available for all children and young people including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.  

There had been some Section 106 Developer Contributions received from housing developments which would be used towards specific projects to enable schools to meet the associated demand for local places. 

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the changes to the Children & Families Capital Programme as set out in the report:

1.1.A new scheme for the expansion of Twyning Primary School, funded by a £0.350 million transfer from the approved Basic Need Provision.

1.2.A new scheme to establish a new 60 place primary special school funded by a £0.650 million transfer from the approved High Needs Provision Capital.

1.3. Additional facilities for Bettridge Special School funded by a £0.150 million transfer from the approved High Needs Provision Capital and approved Basic Need Provision.

1.4.An addition of £0.088 million s106 developer contributions for Ashchurch Primary School.

1.5.An addition of £0.098 million s106 developer contributions for Oak Hill Primary School.

1.6.An addition of £0.172 million s106 developer contributions for Dene Magna School.

1.7.An addition of £0.074 million s106 developer contributions for The Cotswold School.

1.8.A reduction of £0.183 million School Condition Allocation Grant for 2022/23.

1.9.An addition of £6.464 million High Needs Provision Capital Grant for 2022/23 and £7.056 million for 2023/24.

2. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Asset Management and Property Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport & Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, to approve the award of Call-Off Contracts under the Gloucestershire County Council Major Capital Works Framework following either a) competitive tendering exercise or b) allocation on rotation, or c) direct award if deemed appropriate for the purpose of undertaking works for the expansion and development of the Gloucestershire schools set out in recommendations 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 to this report.

Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval to :

1. Run a competitive procurement process to set up a framework agreement, valid for 4 years, for the provision of adult learning services and then to award call off contract(s) of varying lengths up to a maximum of 12 months, depending on the type of courses or piece of work, for the 2022 – 2023 academic year

2. Enter into the funding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for the purpose of funding the delivery of Community Learning and the Adult Skills Programme during the 2022 – 2023 academic year.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED that:

The Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport to:

1. Enter into a funding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) under which the council shall receive ESFA funding for the purpose of delivering Community Learning and Adult Skills Programmes for 2022 – 2023 academic year.

2. Conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of a four-year Framework Agreement for the supply of adult learning programmes through the following five lots:

Employability

First Steps

Adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Difficulties (ALDD)

Supported Internships

Local Flex (Responding to identified/emerging local need)

3. Award such Framework Agreement to the preferred tenderer(s) for each lot set out in Recommendation 2 (up to a maximum of six suppliers per lot)

4. Procure and award Call-Off Contracts for the supply of adult learning programmes under such Framework Agreement whose combined aggregate value shall not exceed £499,999.99.

Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval to:

1. Run a competitive procurement process to set up a framework agreement, valid for 4 years, for the provision of adult learning services and then to award call off contract(s) of varying lengths up to a maximum of 12 months, depending on the type of courses or piece of work, for the 2022 – 2023 academic year

2. Enter into the funding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for the purpose of funding the delivery of Community Learning and the Adult Skills Programme during the 2022 – 2023 academic year.

Without the Education and Skills Funding Agency funding the Adult Learning Direct Delivery Service (Adult Education in Gloucestershire) would not be able to continue to deliver Adult Education in Gloucestershire in the 2022 – 2023 academic year or to procure the delivery of such services from the third-party providers. This funding would support around 4,000 adult learners.

The framework agreement governed the relationship between Council’s Adult Education staff and the Subcontractor in respect of the provision of services by the Subcontractor to the Council’s Adult Education staff.  The costs of the Adult Education contracts would be met from the ESFA grant, totalling £2,645,980.00 for the 2022 – 2023 academic year.  The cost of the framework contract would be contained within the resource available from the grant. The report included the recommendation to conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of a four year framework agreement.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport to:

1. Enter into a funding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) under which the council shall receive ESFA funding for the purpose of delivering Community Learning and Adult Skills Programmes for 2022 – 2023 academic year.

2. Conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of a four-year Framework Agreement for the supply of adult learning programmes through the following five lots:

• Employability
• First Steps
• Adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Difficulties (ALDD)
• Supported Internships
• Local Flex (Responding to identified/emerging local need)
  
  

3. Award such Framework Agreement to the preferred tenderer(s) for each lot set out in Recommendation 2 (up to a maximum of six suppliers per lot)

4. Procure and award Call-Off Contracts for the supply of adult learning programmes under such Framework Agreement whose combined aggregate value shall not exceed £499,999.99.

Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval to launch and deliver the proposed Inclusion and SEND strategies.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Approve the adoption and implementation of the:

1. Gloucestershire SEND Strategy for 2022-2025 and

2. Education and Inclusion Strategy for 2022-2025

set out in Appendices one and two

Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval to launch and deliver the proposed Inclusion and SEND strategies. He stated that consolidating a number of formerly separate strategies into these two strategies allowed for better alignment with national policy makers and a shared vision statement for Inclusion and SEND. 

The proposed Inclusion and SEND strategies continued the work delivered through the Joint Additional Needs and High Needs strategies.  As in the previous strategies the core focus remained on working together to identify and support children’s needs earlier. This aligned with the messages in the SEND Green Paper – “Right Support, Right Place, Right Time”. To do this well, the Council set out a vision for an inclusive local education system that was underpinned by strong foundations and had the features that would enable the system to work together to deliver a great inclusive education for all children and young people in Gloucestershire. While the Council had developed separate inclusion and SEND strategies, they had been developed together and would be delivered through an implementation plan, which would be overseen by the multi-agency SEND and Inclusion Improvement board.

In the strategies the Council set out the importance of:

1.    Effective collaboration, improving the quality and efficacy of multi-agency working, developing an inclusion baseline and improving the clarify and accessibility of the local SEND offer.

2.    Funding systems that supported early intervention. Continuing the development of a common banding system for SEND, funding alternative provision to support earlier intervention and outreach, and developing a non-statutory funding model for SEND.

3. High quality services available at the right time – improving the quality and accessibility of alternative provision, increasing the number of specialist places across the county and focussing on workforce development.

An independent evaluator would be engaged to develop a model to evaluate the work. The pressure on high needs was a national issue but it was important for Gloucestershire to take steps to address this and ensure a balanced budget. In response to a question, the Cabinet Member stated that the numbers of young people with Education Health and Care Plans had been growing and was now at just over 5,000. He could provide specific figures.

Feedback on the stated priorities had been very positive.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Approve the adoption and implementation of the:

1. Gloucestershire SEND Strategy for 2022-2025 and

2. Education and Inclusion Strategy for 2022-2025

set out in Appendices one and two.

Cllr Stephen Davies sought Cabinet recommendation that Council approve Gloucestershire’s Youth Justice Plan 2022/2023.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Recommend the Youth Justice Plan 2022/23, attached at Appendix 1 to

Council for approval.

Cllr Stephen Davies asked Cabinet to recommend the Gloucestershire’s Youth Justice Plan 2022/2023 to Council for approval .

Gloucestershire County Council was the accountable body for youth justice services in the county, working with its statutory partners - police, NHS and probation services.  There was a requirement for each locality to bring forward an annual youth justice plan setting out how youth justice services were to be provided and funded, how they will operate, and their functions. The Council’s constitution required the plan to be considered by Cabinet prior to approval by Council and submission to the Youth Justice Board.

Gloucestershire’s Youth Justice System was generally performing well, although there were considerable national and local challenges in improving outcomes for children and young people and in protecting the wider community. In March 2022, the Youth Justice Board set out revised expectations for the format and structure of youth justice plans for the coming year, which had informed the Council’s plan. Key priorities within the 2022/23 plan, attached at Appendix 1, included serious youth violence, promoting the voice of young people, disproportionality (the over representation of certain groups in the Criminal Justice System) and mobilising health, education and other services.

At the end of the previous month the Youth Justice Board announced a delay in confirming its grant funding, which was anticipated to increase, alongside an expansion of the performance framework for youth justice. As the detail of these changes were yet to be confirmed, the plan attached was at a draft stage and would be finalised as the revised funding and performance requirements became clearer.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Recommend the Youth Justice Plan 2022/23, attached at Appendix 1 to Council for approval.

Cllr Lynden Stowe sought Cabinet approval to conduct a competitive procurement process for the award of a contract for a Managed Print Service for Gloucestershire County Council. The contract will be for to 5 years (with the option to extend for a further 2 years) with an estimated value of £3.85M

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Asset Management & Property Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change to:

1. Conduct a mini-competition process under the Crown Commercial Services Multifunctional Devices (MFDs), Print and Digital Workflow Software Services and Managed Print Service Provision (RM6174) framework agreement in respect of a call-off contract for the supply of a Managed Print Service Contract. The proposed call-off contract, referred to as the “Managed Print Service Contract”, shall continue for an initial period of 5 years and include an option to extend its term for two further periods of not more than 12 months in length.

2. Award such contract to the preferred tenderer; and

3. Determine whether to exercise the options to:

a) extend the term of such Managed Print Service Contract for a further period of 12 months on the expiry of the initial 5-year term;

and

b) extend the term of such Managed Print Service Contract again for a further period of 12 months and on the sixth anniversary of the contract.

Cllr Lynden Stowe sought Cabinet approval to conduct a competitive procurement process for the award of a contract for a Managed Print Service for Gloucestershire County Council. The contract would be for to 5 years (with the option to extend for a further 2 years) with an estimated value of £3.85M

The existing Managed Print Service Contract had served the Council well for 7 years. It had proved to be a successful strategy. Refreshing the Council’s requirements and going out to tender would ensure continued benefits of integrated services at the best market rates.Currently there were 185 Multi-Function Printing devices spread across up to 60 Gloucestershire County Council sites.

There were council-wide efficiencies to be made through delivering a new Managed Print Service that reflected modern ways of working digitally and supporting new agile working arrangements. There were currently 7 key strands to the Managed Print Service (MPS). With the exception of provision of an onsite print room they would all be carried through into the mini competition under the framework. The print room would close at the end of the current contract.

It was anticipated with the current reduction in the use of the Managed Print Services like printing, there would be a significant reduction in the number of devices required overall and savings would be achieved.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Asset Management & Property Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change to:

1. Conduct a mini-competition process under the Crown Commercial Services Multifunctional Devices (MFDs), Print and Digital Workflow Software Services and Managed Print Service Provision (RM6174) framework agreement in respect of a call-off contract for the supply of a Managed Print Service Contract. The proposed call-off contract, referred to as the “Managed Print Service Contract”, shall continue for an initial period of 5 years and include an option to extend its term for two further periods of not more than 12 months in length.

2. Award such contract to the preferred tenderer; and

3. Determine whether to exercise the options to:

a) extend the term of such Managed Print Service Contract for a further period of 12 months on the expiry of the initial 5-year term;

and

b) extend the term of such Managed Print Service Contract again for a further period of 12 months and on the sixth anniversary of the contract.

Cllr Lynden Stowe asked Cabinet to consider the Council's outturn expenditure for 2021/22, agree recommendations and approve changes to the Capital Programme in 2021/22 and future years.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. Note the 2021/2022 revenue budget underspend of £1.533 million and recommend that £1.053 million is transferred to General Reserves, and £480k to the Vulnerable Children’s Reserve in order to provide budget support to SEND as previously approved by Cabinet March 2022.

2. Approve the £8.674 million carry forward of the Covid 19 Emergency Grant funding and transfers and use of carry forwards that total £5.939 million, as detailed in annex 1.

3. Note other technical reserve movements for 2021/22 as set out in annex 3.

4. Note delivery of the £7.393 million of savings against a target of £6.761 million in 2021/22 or 109.35%

5. Transfer £677k to the Business Rates Reserve in relation to the GCC share of the surplus on the Business Rates Retention Pool. In addition, approve a transfer of £834k to the Business Rates Reserve, ring fenced for the Strategic Economic Development Fund also as a result of the Business Rates Pool surplus for 21/22.

6. Note the capital outturn position for 2021/22 of £119.065 million against a budget of £153.909 million, giving in year slippage of £34.844 million.

7. Approve an increase of £13.094 million in the Capital Programme as detailed in section G of the report.

Cllr Lynden Stowe asked Cabinet to consider the Council's outturn expenditure for 2021/22, agree recommendations and approve changes to the Capital Programme in 2021/22 and future years.

The final year end position at the end of 2020/21 was an underspend of £1.533 million 0.3% of total budget. Of this underspend £1.053 million would be transferred to General Reserves and £480k to the Vulnerable Children’s Reserve to provide additional support for SEND. This final position was an indication of robust financial management during the year.

The overall position did show a number of significant variances – the areas of major revenue risk during the year continued to relate to the care of the most vulnerable children and adults. Those demand-led budget areas were subject to significant volatility due to changes in client numbers and care needs and would need to be closely monitored and controlled in the new financial year.

In total, £13.798 million of COVID19 related expenditure has been incurred in 2021/22, and a carry forward of £8.674 million requested to fund the continuing cost of recovery from COVID19 pandemic in 2022/23 and 2023/24. The financial impact of COVID19 will continue to be monitored in 2022/23.

The Cabinet Member outlined that, against a target of £6.7m, the council had overachieved at £7.3m.

Members noted the Capital position as well as the general reserves.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. Note the 2021/2022 revenue budget underspend of £1.533 million and recommend that £1.053 million is transferred to General Reserves, and £480k to the Vulnerable Children’s Reserve in order to provide budget support to SEND as previously approved by Cabinet March 2022.

2. Approve the £8.674 million carry forward of the Covid 19 Emergency Grant funding and transfers and use of carry forwards that total £5.939 million, as detailed in annex 1.

3. Note other technical reserve movements for 2021/22 as set out in annex 3.

4. Note delivery of the £7.393 million of savings against a target of £6.761 million in 2021/22 or 109.35%

5. Transfer £677k to the Business Rates Reserve in relation to the GCC share of the surplus on the Business Rates Retention Pool. In addition, approve a transfer of £834k to the Business Rates Reserve, ring fenced for the Strategic Economic Development Fund also as a result of the Business Rates Pool surplus for 21/22.

6. Note the capital outturn position for 2021/22 of £119.065 million against a budget of £153.909 million, giving in year slippage of £34.844 million.

7. Approve an increase of £13.094 million in the Capital Programme as detailed in section G of the report.

Cllr Dave Norman sought Cabinet approval to go out to statutory public consultation on a new strategy for Gloucestershire Library service.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. That Cabinet approves a public consultation on the draft library strategy for a twelve-week period from 4July to 23September.

2. That Cabinet agrees that the submission of a further report setting out the consultation results and final recommendation on the future strategy for Gloucestershire Library service is brought back to Cabinet for approval in November this year.

Cllr Dave Norman sought Cabinet approval to go out to statutory public consultation on a new strategy for Gloucestershire Library service.

The Current library strategy had been formally adopted in 2012 and was now very outdated.  The new draft library strategy outlined the direction and ambitions for Gloucestershire’s modern library service and was a far more up to date representation of the Council’s vision for the library services it provided to its residents. It included Libraries’ role in supporting the County Council Strategy, particularly in respect of sustainable growth and levelling up.

Views from residents would be sought to ensure the strategy for 2023-2028 met their needs through a 12-week public consultation undertaken from 4^th July to 23^rd September. 

The draft strategy included a new and updated vision for Gloucestershire library services; outlined the current provision within libraries, the aims, and ambitions for the service for the next 5 years (2023-2028) and provided a clear outline of what the library’s core offer is.

The strategy was hinged around the five c’s :

o   Core – defining and enhancing our core service

o   Climate – how libraries are responding to the Climate emergency

o   Community – ensuring libraries continue to meet the needs of their local communities

o   Connecting people – through digital and ICT, connecting people with the services they need at any stage of their lives, connecting people with information and connecting people with each other to reduce social isolation.

o   Creativity – using creativity to enhance people’s lives.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve a public consultation on the draft library strategy for a twelve-week period from 4July to 23 September.

2. Agree that the submission of a further report setting out the consultation results and final recommendation on the future strategy for Gloucestershire Library service is brought back to Cabinet for approval in November this year.

Please note: this report contains both exempt and non-exempt

information.

To discuss the exempt information detailed in the appendices to

the published report, consideration must first be given to whether

the public and press should be excluded from the meeting by

passing the following resolution:-

In accordance with Regulation 4 (2)(b) of the Local Authorities

(Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information)

(England) Regulations 2012, consideration must be given to

confirm whether members of the public and press should be

excluded from the meeting for this item of business because it is

likely that, if present there would be disclosure to them of exempt

information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 A

to the Act, and the public interest in withholding the information

outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the

public.

Cllr Dave Norman asked Cabinet  to consider the outcome of the public consultation and the proposal to relocate Stroud Library to the Five Valleys shopping Centre in Stroud.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. For Cabinet to consider and take account of the outcome of the public

consultation on the re-location of Stroud Library and to agree to the relocation

of Stroud library within Five Valleys shopping centre.

2. That Cabinet delegates authority to the Head of Library & Registration

Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Fire, Community

Safety and Libraries, to conduct a competitive procurement process using

the ESPO Framework 695_20 Furniture solutions for Libraries and

Community Buildings. Undertaking a mini competition to achieve a

contract or contracts for the design, supply and install of furniture and

associated fittings for the library and award such contract to the preferred

tenderer.

3. That Cabinet delegates authority to the Assistant Director of Asset

Management and Property Services in consultation with the Deputy

Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Change to enter into a 25-

year lease for the property within the Five Valleys Shopping Centre

Cllr Dave Norman asked Cabinet to consider the outcome of the public consultation and the proposal to relocate Stroud Library to the Five Valleys shopping Centre in Stroud.

Prior to the discussion, members were advised that, should Cabinet wish to discuss the contents of the exempt information reported at Appendix 3 of the report, consideration would need to be given as to whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

Cabinet agreed to consider this item without having to refer to the exempt information.

Members of the public had had the opportunity to respond to a consultation survey that outlined a proposal to relocate the library service from its current location in Lansdown to a unit within the central newly refurbished Five Valleys shopping centre.

502 survey responses had been received with some additional individual feedback provided to the Council. 70% of survey respondents had been supportive of the move stating they agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal.  39.7% of respondents had stated they would be able to use the library more often in the new location. 73.5% of respondents had been library users.

Appendix 2 of the report demonstrated that the public library space within the new location was larger than that at the current site, this directly addressed the concerns raised in respect of the comparative size of the new public library space.

The new location would be more energy efficient and would no longer rely on a gas boiler.  The new heating/cooling system would have a lower environmental impact embedding the council’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions. It had been good to see that the majority of respondents supported the positive move for the Stroud library service.

The member discussed the provision for those with health challenges or disabilities and the concerns that had been raised as part of the consultation in relation to that.

Having considered all of the information, cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1. Consider and take account of the outcome of the public

consultation on the re-location of Stroud Library and to agree to the relocation

of Stroud library within Five Valleys shopping centre.

2. Delegate authority to the Head of Library & Registration

Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Fire, Community

Safety and Libraries, to conduct a competitive procurement process using

the ESPO Framework 695_20 Furniture solutions for Libraries and

Community Buildings,  undertaking a mini competition to achieve a

contract or contracts for the design, supply and install of furniture and

associated fittings for the library and award such contract to the preferred

tenderer.