Agenda, decisions and minutes

To note any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllrs Vernon Smith and Kathy Williams.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2018  (minutes attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2018 were agreed and signed as an accurate record of that meeting.

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

Please see the information note at the end of the agenda

Cllrs Tim Harman and Dave Norman declared non-pecuniary interests in item 11 of the agenda, (Contract Award for the Provision of Actuarial Services to the Gloucestershire Pension Fund). The declarations were made due to Councillors Harman and Norman being in receipt of local government pensions from the Gloucestershire Pension Fund. 

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 was 4.00 pm on Thursday 4 October 2018

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.

A written answer will be provided for each written question and presented to the questioner and to Cabinet Members before the meeting. The questions and answers will be taken as read at the meeting and need not be read out. 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 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.

Public Questions

No public questions were considered at the meeting.

Member Questions

A total of 17 member questions had been submitted for consideration prior to the meeting.

Please refer to the link below to view the responses to the questions: -

http://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/documents/b14818/Cabinet%20Member%20Questions%20and%20Answers%20Wednesday%2010-Oct-2018%2010.00%20Cabinet.pdf?T=9

If unable to access the document at the link above, please go to the link below and select the ‘Cabinet Questions and Answers’ PDF document at the top of the web page: - 

http://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=8901&Ver=4

The following supplementary questions were asked at the meeting.

Question 2: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

Agenda item 8: Agenda item 8: Replacement and refresh of firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Cllr Hilton supported the proposal to invest in providing new Personal Protective Equipment. Concerned that the only assessment to have been undertaken during the procurement process appeared to have been to consider whether or not to join the Kent Consortium, Cllr Hilton asked if this had been the only assessment or if other suppliers had been considered?

Response by: Cllr Dave Norman (Cabinet Member: Public Protection, Parking and Libraries)

Cllr Norman explained that the proposal sought to offer the best value for money and provide the best personal protection for Gloucestershire fire-fighters. Cllr Norman accepted more time could have been spent on the proposal but believed the Acting Chief Fire Officer had made the best decision.

Question 3: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

Agenda item 8: Agenda item 8: Replacement and refresh of firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Cllr Hilton raised concerns about the proposal to enter into a collaborative arrangement with the Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the possibility of a monopoly emerging from purchasing PPE from Bristol Uniforms PLC. Cllr Hilton asked if the Cabinet Member had concerns about potential price increases should Bristol Uniforms PLC become the supplier of PPE for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

Response by: Cllr Dave Norman (Cabinet Member: Public Protection, Parking and Libraries)

Cllr Norman stated ‘we are where we are’ and advocated that the proposal was the way forward in purchasing uniforms in the future. As a supplier for many years, Cllr Norman believed the Bristol Uniform Company offered good service and provided quality uniforms. 

Question 4: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

Agenda item 10: Proposed Parking Operational Services Contract

Cllr Hilton asked the Cabinet Member to provide a written report on complaints received from members of the public about poor enforcement due to APCOA not undertaking enforcement patrols? Cllr Hilton stated that the report gave no indication of performance in relation to this aspect and questioned what problems this might have created in the past and how the council might address the problem in the future.

Response by: Cllr Dave Norman (Cabinet Member: Public Protection, Parking and Libraries)

Cllr Norman agreed to liaise with officers and provide Cllr Hilton with a written report after the meeting.

Question 5: Cllr Jeremy Hilton

Agenda item 10: Proposed Parking Operational Services Contract

Cllr Hilton believed the number of Civil Enforcement Officers employed by APCOA was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To provide an update on the financial forecast on the 2018/19 revenue and capital budgets.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1.    Note the forecast revenue year end position as at the end of August 2018 for the 2018/19 financial year of a net £2.711 million overspend.

2.    Note the forecast capital year end position as at the end of August 2018 of £0.248 million slippage against the current budget of £103.731 million.

3.    Note the forecast overspend in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) of £3.24 million in 2018/19, which exceeds the £2.4 million of uncommitted DSG balances brought forward, and endorses on going discussions with the Schools Forum to agree actions to bring DSG back into balance in future years.

4.    Note the recommendation to Council regarding the funding of the M5 Junction 10 works within the Cheltenham Cyber Business Park – Transport Mitigation and M5 Junction 10 Business Case Development report elsewhere on the agenda.

5.    Approve a one off transfer of £0.5 million from the Insurance budget in Technical and Corporate to Highways to support the costs associated with the demobilisation of the Amey contract and the mobilisation of the new highways contract.

6.    Approve the allocation of £1.470 million of the additional Business Rates Retention (BRR) pilot income of which £1 million will be used to offset demand pressures within Adult Social Care and £0.470 million will be used to fund electric vehicle infrastructure. Both these allocations are in line with those approved by Council in February 2018.

7.    Approve the addition of £0.013 million to the Highway Capital budget funded from a variety of sources as outlined in the body of the report.

8.    Approve the transfer of £0.150 million from the Highways Capital Programme to the Strategic Infrastructure Capital Programme to fund the anticipated overspend on the Priory / Oakley flood alleviation scheme.

9.    Note the risks and opportunities associated with entering into a Gloucestershire 75% Business Rates Retention Pilot in 2019/20 and:

• Support the application to the Government to become a pilot 75% Business Rates Retention in 2019/2020 for Gloucestershire.
• Authorise the Director: Strategic Finance, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, to commit Gloucestershire County Council to entering into the pilot for 75% Business Rates Retention in 2019/2020 for Gloucestershire in the event the bid to DHCLG is successful, and
• Note that in the event the pilot bid is unsuccessful then the Council will remain in the Gloucestershire Business Rates Pool for 2019/2020

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, presented the Financial Monitoring Report 2018/19, (October 2018), including an update on the financial forecast for the 2018/19 revenue and capital budgets.

Cllr Theodoulou reported a forecast year end position as showing a £2.711million overspend on a net budget of £418.081 million. Cllr Theodoulou informed members that this position included a forecast overspend in the Children and Families budget of £8.92 million, (reduced to £6.32 million from the council’s use of one-off income generated by the business rate retention pilot scheme).

Cabinet noted that the impact of the emerging overspend in the Dedicated Schools Grant was being addressed by the Schools Forum.

The Adult Care Budget had been forecast with a balanced position for the 2018/19 year end, a forecast achieved from use of the one off transfers and allocations detailed on pages 30 and 31 of the financial monitoring report.

Cllr Theodoulou outlined some of the challenges impacting on the Adult Care and Children and Families Budgets, including the repercussions of an ageing population and the increasing number of children coming into care.

Acknowledging the £1.2 million overspend reported by the Highways Commissioning Group, Cllr Theodoulou explained that the overspend was largely attributed to responding to essential road repairs and the damage caused by adverse weather conditions earlier in the year. It was hoped a transfer of £500k from the technical and corporate budget would support this process.

Cabinet was asked to note the recommendation to Council to agree funding for works to Junction 10 of the M5 Motorway Junction, (as set out on page 45 of the agenda). This included approval of an allocation of £275k from the A417 Missing Link Reserve. 

Cllr Theodoulou reported that the Capital Budget was expected to meet forecast by a small margin. Savings achieved from Quarter 1 of the 2018/19 budget (£5.1million) represented 31% of the annual target. Achievement of the target was dependent on planned savings within Adult Care Services.

Referring to the progress of the Gloucestershire  Business Rate Retention Pilot Scheme, Cllr Theodoulou referred to pages 40 and 41 of the agenda for details of the proposed bid to participate in the 2019/20 Pilot. Following the success of the first scheme, Cabinet was asked to approve participation in the scheme should the bid be approved.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1.    Note the forecast revenue year end position as at the end of August 2018 for the 2018/19 financial year of a net £2.711 million overspend.

2.    Note the forecast capital year end position as at the end of August 2018 of £0.248 million slippage against the current budget of £103.731 million.

3.    Note the forecast overspend in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) of £3.24 million in 2018/19, which exceeds the £2.4 million of uncommitted DSG balances brought forward, and endorses on going discussions with the Schools Forum to agree actions to bring  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive an update on transport improvements scheduled for West of Cheltenham and at Junction 10 of the M5 Motorway.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

(1)  Approve that the County Council becomes project promoter of the £22M Growth Deal 3 allocation for the Cheltenham Cyber Business Park transport mitigation package;

(2)  Approve the use of the £3.3M Growth Deal funding the County Council has already received from Government via a s31 grant to progress the preparation of the scheme business case(s) for the Cheltenham Cyber Business Park ahead of the formal funding by the GFirst LEP Board;

(3)  Note that a further £550K will be required during 2018/19 on the development of an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the M5 Junction 10 Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) bid submission to Homes England by the deadline of 1^st March 2019;

(4)  Recommend to Council that up to £275K is allocated from the A417 Missing Link Reserve to fund the OBC for M5 Junction 10, should the County Council fail to obtain funding from the Homes England bid.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Growth, updated members on the allocation of government funding awarded to progress the Cheltenham Cyber Business Park Transportation Mitigation package. These included transport improvements to the road network west of Cheltenham and Junction 10 of the M5. 

In presenting the report, Cllr Stowe sought authorisation for officers to invest in the development of an outline business case for the M5 Junction 10 Housing Infrastructure Fund submission bid. He also sought approval for the use of up to £275k from the A417 Missing Link Reserve, should funding from the Homes England bid not succeed.

Cllr Stowe described the proposals as ‘top priority’ and thanked the MP for Cheltenham, Alex Chalk, for encouraging local support and for maintaining the momentum at central government for two of the largest infrastructure projects for Gloucestershire. He confirmed that the decision related to many of the challenges identified by the 2050 Vision initiative, and would help create local employment and provide additional housing.

Cllr Stowe thanked Commissioning Director: Communities and Infrastructure, Nigel Riglar and the members of his team for their commendable work in moving the investment forward.

Cabinet members spoke in support of the proposals and, having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

(1)  Approve that the County Council becomes project promoter of the £22M Growth Deal 3 allocation for the Cheltenham Cyber Business Park transport mitigation package;

(2)  Approve the use of the £3.3M Growth Deal funding the County Council has already received from Government via a s31 grant to progress the preparation of the scheme business case(s) for the Cheltenham Cyber Business Park ahead of the formal funding by the GFirst LEP Board;

(3)  Note that a further £550K will be required during 2018/19 on the development of an Outline Business Case (OBC) for the M5 Junction 10 Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) bid submission to Homes England by the deadline of 1^st March 2019;

(4)  Recommend to Council that up to £275K is allocated from the A417 Missing Link Reserve to fund the OBC for M5 Junction 10, should the County Council fail to obtain funding from the Homes England bid.

To seek approval to conduct a compliant competitive tender process and to award a contract in respect of the A38 Cross Keys roundabout capacity improvements and signalisation proposals.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to

Authorise the Lead Commissioner: Highway Authority to:

(1)  Conduct a compliant competitive tender process for the award of a contract to a single supplier for the construction of the A38 Cross Keys Roundabout Capacity Improvements and Signalisation Scheme

(2)  Upon conclusion of the competitive tender process, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, enter into a contract with the preferred provider evaluated as offering the Council best value for money for delivery of the services.  In the event that the preferred provider for the contract is either unable or unwilling to enter into that contract with the Council then the officer is authorised to enter into such contract with the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider; and

(3)  Acquire land required for the scheme make any other ancillary orders that might be required to successfully implement the scheme.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, presented proposals relating to the junction of the A38 and B4008 known as the Cross Keys Roundabout.

Cllr Moor highlighted the strategic importance of the junction and the improvements and enhancements the scheme was anticipated to provide. 

It was noted that information on the funding for the scheme had been presented in a series of public events held during recent weeks with planned dates over the course of the next six months confirmed as; the issue of tender documents in January 2019; the tender assessment and award of the scheme in March 2019; construction works commencing in April 2019 and completion in November 2019.

The total budget for the scheme was reported as £3.851million. This included £2.696 million received from the National Productivity Investment Fund, (secured by the Department of Transport in October 2017), and £1.155 million from the Highways Capital Programme. 

Cabinet members welcomed the proposals and expressed their support for the scheme. Leader of Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, stated that the improvements were long overdue and that local residents were delighted by the anticipated improvements. 

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to

Authorise the Lead Commissioner: Highway Authority to:

(1)  Conduct a compliant competitive tender process for the award of a contract to a single supplier for the construction of the A38 Cross Keys Roundabout Capacity Improvements and Signalisation Scheme

(2)  Upon conclusion of the competitive tender process, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, enter into a contract with the preferred provider evaluated as offering the Council best value for money for delivery of the services.  In the event that the preferred provider for the contract is either unable or unwilling to enter into that contract with the Council then the officer is authorised to enter into such contract with the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider; and

(3)  Acquire land required for the scheme and make any other ancillary orders that might be required to successfully implement the scheme.

To seek approval to award a framework agreement, (procured pursuant to a competitive procurement process carried out by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), to Bristol Uniform PLC for the supply of firefighting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Authorise the Acting Chief Fire Officer, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member and Kent Fire and Rescue Service, to enter into a competitively procured two-year framework agreement with Bristol Uniforms PLC, (the sole supplier thereunder, for the supply of firefightingPersonal Protective Equipment.

Cllr Dave Norman: Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Parking and Libraries, presented proposals for the award of a framework agreement with Bristol Uniform PLC for the supply of firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE).

The preferred decision, (to authorise the Acting Chief Fire Officer in consultation with Cllr Norman, as Cabinet Member, to enter into an agreement with Bristol Uniform PLC), had been subject to engagement with the Kent Fire and Rescue Service and a competitive procurement process for the supply of firefighting equipment. 

Cllr Norman stressed the importance of the investment and confirmed that the County Council had already agreed to invest £600k of capital funding over the next two years to fund the project.

Speaking in support of the advice and the professional opinion of the Acting Chief Fire Officer, Cllr Norman stated that the decision offered value for money and would enable a full refresh of firefighter personal protection equipment in compliance with legal requirements.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Authorise the Acting Chief Fire Officer, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member and Kent Fire and Rescue Service, to enter into a competitively procured two-year framework agreement with Bristol Uniforms PLC, (the sole supplier thereunder, for the supply of firefightingPersonal Protective Equipment.

To seek authority to consult on the terms of the proposed payment model to be used in the development of a Waste Tipping Away Policy by the Council. 

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1.    Authorise the Head of the Joint Waste Management to conduct a consultation exercise with the District, Borough and City Councils within Gloucestershire as to the:

(a)  Adoption of the NAWDO model as the financial mechanism for the calculation of Tipping Away payments under s52(10) Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA);

(b)  Operational issues and any other relevant considerations which should be taken into account in the development of a Tipping Away Policy.

2.    Require the Head of the Joint Waste Management to report back to Cabinet with the results of and recommendations arising from the consultation authorised under Recommendation 1.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, outlined the options for the transportation of waste collected by the Gloucestershire Waste Collection Authorities (WCA’s) to the final point of disposal operated by the County Council as Waste Disposal Authority (WDA)  .

The options included: -

1)    The provision of either a disposal point or a bulking and transfer facility by the County Council within a waste collection area for the use of the local Waste Collection Authority, or

2)    Requiring the WCA to transport waste outside its collection area, and where this is judged to be unreasonably far, a reasonable contribution to the cost of this to be made by the County Council to the WCA. This process is known as ‘Tipping Away’.

Cllr Moor explained that, in the event of option 2, although the Environmental Protection Act 1990 defined the responsibilities of both the WDA and the WCA, it did not specify the limits of what was considered reasonable in terms of distances travelled and levels of contributions made.

In addressing this aspect, many WDAs had formalised their approaches to how this might be achieved by the adoption of a ‘tipping away policy’ to set out the method or calculation used in determining a reasonable tipping away payment. Such policies to take into account local circumstances and provide clarity to those parties involved in the planning of budgets and haulage logistics.

Cllr Moor stated that, although residual waste tipping away payments had been made to Stroud District Council for some time, Gloucestershire County Council did not currently have an adopted policy in place with which to inform future waste transportation arrangements. He added that, such a policy would be useful for all waste streams, including food waste, garden waste and residual waste where treatment locations may change in future.

Cllr Moor stressed the importance of the decision before referring to a meeting of the Gloucestershire Joint Waste Committee held the day before, on 9 October 2018, where it had been agreed to undertake a 6 week consultation with the Gloucestershire WCAs on the development and adoption of a tipping away policy where there was a requirement for the WCAs to deliver waste to locations outside of their collection areas.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

1.    Authorise the Head of the Joint Waste Management to conduct a consultation exercise with the District, Borough and City Councils within Gloucestershire as to the:

(a)  Adoption of the NAWDO model as the financial mechanism for the calculation of Tipping Away payments under s52(10) Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA);

(b)  Operational issues and any other relevant considerations which should be taken into account in the development of a Tipping Away Policy.

2.    Require the Head of the Joint Waste Management to report back to Cabinet with the results of and recommendations arising from the consultation authorised under Recommendation 1.

To seek approval to conduct a legally compliant competitive tender process for the purpose of awarding a contract for the provision of parking enforcement services across Gloucestershire.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Authorise the Lead Commissioner for Communities and Infrastructure to;

1.    Agree the preferred service option as proposed by officers.

2.    Conduct a legally compliant competitive tender process for the purpose of awarding a contract for the provision of parking enforcement services across Gloucestershire. The proposed contract shall be awarded to a single supplier and continue for an initial period of 5 years and shall include an option to extend such period for 3 further years.

3.    Upon conclusion of such competitive tender process, enter into a contract with the preferred provider who is evaluated as offering the Council best value for money for delivery of the required services. In the event that the preferred provider for the contract is either unable or unwilling to enter into that contract with the Council then the above-mentioned officers are authorised to enter into such contract with the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider.

4.    Liaise with the Lead Cabinet Member regarding the progress of this procurement and keep him advised of any significant new risks that emerge in the course of implementing the procurement process described  in the published decision report.

Cllr Dave Norman, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Parking and Libraries, reflected on the level of interest that had been attributed to this item during consideration of the member’s questions submitted for consideration under item 4 of the agenda.

Cllr Norman outlined the options available to Cabinet and advised that the preferred option was to support the proposal outlined at item 2.4 of the decision report, to procure a new Parking Operational Services Contract for a period of 5 years, with provision for a 3 year extension.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Authorise the Lead Commissioner for Communities and Infrastructure to;

1.    Agree the preferred service option as proposed by officers.

2.    Conduct a legally compliant competitive tender process for the purpose of awarding a contract for the provision of parking enforcement services across Gloucestershire. The proposed contract shall be awarded to a single supplier and continue for an initial period of 5 years and shall include an option to extend such period for 3 further years.

3.    Upon conclusion of such competitive tender process, enter into a contract with the preferred provider who is evaluated as offering the Council best value for money for delivery of the required services. In the event that the preferred provider for the contract is either unable or unwilling to enter into that contract with the Council then the above-mentioned officers are authorised to enter into such contract with the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider.

4.    Liaise with the Lead Cabinet Member regarding the progress of this procurement and keep him advised of any significant new risks that emerge in the course of implementing the procurement process described  in the published decision report.

To seek authorisation to:

1. Enter into an Access Agreement with Norfolk County Council to access the National Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Framework and;

2. Conduct an EU compliant tender processing using the Framework for the award of a seven year contract for the provision of Actuarial Services to the Gloucestershire Pension Fund.    

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Authorise the Director of Finance and Enabling Services to:

1.    Enter into an Access Agreement with Norfolk County Council to access the National Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Framework (“the Framework”) and pay Norfolk County Council an access fee of £5,000;

2.    Conduct an EU compliant tender processing using the Framework for the award of a seven year contract, having an initial term of four years and an option to extend for a further three years, for the provision of Actuarial Services to the Fund with a total estimated value of £1.4m;   

3.   Upon conclusion of the tender process to enter into a contract with the preferred provider evaluated as offering the Council best value for money for the delivery of the services. In the event that the preferred provider is either unable or unwilling to enter into a contract with the Council then the Director of Finance and Enabling Services is authorised to award a contract to the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider for delivery of the services.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, presented the report and proposed the award of a contract for the provision of ‘Actuary Services’ to the Gloucestershire Pension Fund.

Cllr Theodoulou explained that the Council, (as Administering Authority), had a statutory requirement to obtain a valuation of the fund’s assets and liabilities and produce a report in respect of the valuation every three years. The current contract is due to expire on 31 March 2019.

Cllr Theodoulou informed members that the proposal to enter into an Access Agreement with Norfolk County Council would enable the Council to access the National Local Government Pension Scheme Framework for the tender and procurement of a seven year contract for the provision of services. He advised members of four nationally recognised suppliers who provided actuarial services for local government pension funds, each of which had been appointed to the national framework.

The proposed contract, with an estimated total value of £1.4 million, will be a for a term of seven years, comprising an initial term of 4 years, with an option to extend for a further 3 years.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVED to:

Authorise the Director of Finance and Enabling Services to:

1.    Enter into an Access Agreement with Norfolk County Council to access the National Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Framework (“the Framework”) and pay Norfolk County Council an access fee of £5,000;

2.    Conduct an EU compliant tender processing using the Framework for the award of a seven year contract, having an initial term of four years and an option to extend for a further three years, for the provision of Actuarial Services to the Fund with a total estimated value of £1.4m;   

3.   Upon conclusion of the tender process to enter into a contract with the preferred provider evaluated as offering the Council best value for money for the delivery of the services. In the event that the preferred provider is either unable or unwilling to enter into a contract with the Council then the Director of Finance and Enabling Services is authorised to award a contract to the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider for delivery of the services.

To consider the disposal of properties and sites deemed surplus to requirement in line with the Policy for the Disposal of Property.

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

To discuss the exempt information contained in the appendices to the published report, consideration must first be given to whether the public 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, the public to be excluded from the meeting for this item of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were 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.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and

RESOLVE, in line with the Policy for the Disposal of Property, to: 

1)    Confirm that those sites described at Appendix A (Exempt) which have previously been declared surplus by Cabinet in January 2018 and not yet disposed of, continue to be declared surplus to requirements

2)    Declare the sites listed on the proposed Schedule of Disposals Appendix B (Exempt) surplus to the Council’s land and property requirements,

and in relation to both of these schedules, delegate authority to the Head of Property Services to dispose of the sites in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change.

Prior to the discussion, members were advised that, should Cabinet wish to discuss the contents of the exempt information reported in Appendix A and Appendix B of the decision 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 the item without reference to the exempt information.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cabinet Member: Finance and Change, sought approval of two Schedule of Disposals proposed to meet the three year ‘Meeting the Challenge 3’ capital receipt target of £33 million for the period 2018/19 to 2020/21. 

Cllr Theodoulou confirmed that, as part of the Meeting the Challenge 2 (MTC2) Programme,  the Council’s Asset Management and Property Services had successfully achieved £52.5 million in capital receipts during the period April 2015 to March 2018, (against a target of £60 million).

Further sales, totalling £7.5 million, had been agreed during the final year of the MTC2 Programme but would not be received until the current financial year (2018/19) due to delayed sale completions.

Capital receipts received and sales agreed to date for 2018/19 totalled £8.522 million.

Having considered all of the information, including known proposals and the reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and, in line with the council’s Policy for the Disposal of Property: 

RESOLVED  in line with the Policy for the Disposal of Property, to: 

1)    Confirm that those sites described at Appendix A (Exempt) and had previously been declared surplus by Cabinet in January 2018, (and not yet disposed of), continue to be declared surplus to requirements; and

2)    Declare the sites listed on the proposed Schedule of Disposals Appendix B (Exempt) surplus to the Council’s land and property requirements,

and in relation to both of these schedules, delegate authority to the Head of Property Services to dispose of the sites in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Change.

Prior to the discussion, members had been advised that, should Cabinet wish to discuss the contents of the exempt information reported in Appendix A and Appendix B of the decision 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 the item without reference to the exempt information.