Agenda, decisions and minutes

To note any apologies for absence.

See above.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2024 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 of interest 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 9 May 2024.

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.

5 Public questions had been received. Supplementary questions were asked on the following:

Question 1 – David Redgewell asked if the Council had had detailed discussions with Cheltenham Borough Council regarding the bus stops in Cheltenham and overcrowding. He hoped that the councils could work together.

Cllr Philip Robinson replied that those meetings had happened with the Borough Council and that discussions continued.

Question 2 – David Redgewell asked about Stroud Valley, stating that it appeared to be that Stagecoach West had a recruiting problem. He asked if there had been  any progress from Stagecoach on what they were going to do around that issue?

Cllr Philip Robinson replied that driver recruitment was an issue and he had discussed it at the Enhanced Partnership meeting and that it was a matter for Stagecoach.

Question 3 – David Redgewell suggested that it would be useful to have a conversation with South Gloucestershire to make sure there was cohesion with cross border statements in the West of England Bus Service Improvement Plan.

Cllr Philip Robinson replied that the council had contacted South Gloucestershire and a meeting would take place before the submission of the BSIP.

10 Member questions had been received. Supplementary questions were asked on the following:

Question 5- Cllr Roger Whyborn asked about the ambition to have 4 buses an hour on principle urban routes and 1 bus an hour on routes across the county. How likely was it to happen within the vision and ambitions of the BSIP?

Cllr Philip Robinson replied that as the report said, the frequencies stated were ambitious but achievable.

Question 6- Cllr Roger Whyborn asked what was the target date was to achieve the one day cross-county ticket referred to in the report.

Cllr Philip Robinson replied that a working group needed to be established with the operators and so a firm date could not be given at that stage.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne sought Cabinet approval for Gloucestershire’s Economic Strategy (2024 to 2034) - Driven by innovation, built on heritage and its

Action Plan.

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

RESOLVED to:

(a) approve the adoption of Gloucestershire’s Economic Strategy (2024 to 2034) - Driven by innovation, built on heritage set out in Appendix A: and

(b) delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure to lead the implementation of the Economic Strategy’s Action Plan set out in Appendix B, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Economic Growth Board and the Gloucestershire City Region Board.

5.1     Cllr Mark Hawthorne sought Cabinet approval for Gloucestershire’s Economic Strategy (2024 to 2034) - Driven by Innovation, Built on Heritage and its

Action Plan.

5.2     Following the LEP’s integration into the County Council from the 1 April the new long-term strategy superseded previous economic strategies for the county and demonstrated the County Council’s commitment to providing strategic leadership on the economy.He thanked officers for developing the strategy as well as the work of Cllr David Gray.

5.3     The strategy introduced a new long-term vision - Gloucestershire 2050 - which provided a clear statement of intent to achieve a greener and more inclusive economy. It had been shaped by four strategic priorities and supported by a detailed Action Plan outlining the delivery priorities. The priorities of the strategy included:

o   Sustainable Growth -The importance of long-term infrastructure planning to support a new county-wide Spatial Development Strategy.

o   Inward Investment – Building on the successes of attracting significant investment into the county’s transport network.

o   Employment and Skills - A strong local workforce was an essential element in the delivery of long-term economic growth.

o   Business Innovation and Support - Gloucestershire possessed a well-established and robust business support ecosystem and would continue to provide a support offer that helped businesses to navigate the complexities of starting, maintaining, and scaling-up their business and to overcome various barriers to growth.

5.4     Cllr David Gray outlined the importance of collaboration and confirmed his view that the ambitions were captured well within the strategy.

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

RESOLVED to:

(a) approve the adoption of Gloucestershire’s Economic Strategy (2024 to 2034) - Driven by innovation, built on heritage set out in Appendix A: and

(b) delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure to lead the implementation of the Economic Strategy’s Action Plan set out in Appendix B, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Economic Growth Board and the Gloucestershire City Region Board.

Cllr David Gray sought Cabinet approval for the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to procure the continuation of development work (Strategic Outline Business Case (SOC) and Outline Business Case (OBC)) on the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme under our Professional Services contract, or other approved procurement route.

He sought approval to undertake a non-statutory public consultation, when appropriate, concerning options for transport scheme development, and to submit the SOC and OBC to the Department for Transport once complete.

In addition approval was sought for the Executive Director for Economy, Environment and Infrastructure to continue work towards delivering the Mass Rapid Transit SOC and OBC.

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:

1. Procure the professional services required to secure continuation of development work (SOC and OBC delivery) on the M5 junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme, either by commissioning work under the Council’s Professional Services contract, or by awarding a call-off contract or contracts under an alternative, compliant framework, or a combination of both.

2. Identify scheme options for the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme, undertake a non-statutory public consultation concerning options, when appropriate, and to consider the outcome of that consultation when identifying the preferred option which will be taken forward within the OBC.

3. Approve and submit the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme SOC and OBC to the Department for Transport (DfT) once complete.

4. Procure the professional services required to secure continuation of development work (SOC and OBC delivery) on the Mass Rapid Transit Transport Scheme, either by commissioning work under the Council’s Professional Services contract, or by awarding a call-off contract or contracts under an alternative, compliant framework, or a combination of both.

6.1     Cllr David Gray sought Cabinet approval for the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to procure the continuation of development work (Strategic Outline Business Case (SOC) and Outline Business Case (OBC)) on the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme under our Professional Services contract, or other approved procurement route.

6.2     He sought approval to undertake a non-statutory public consultation, when appropriate, concerning options for transport scheme development, and to submit the SOC and OBC to the Department for Transport once complete. In addition approval was sought for the Executive Director for Economy, Environment and Infrastructure to continue work towards delivering the Mass Rapid Transit SOC and OBC.

6.3     The M5 Junction 9 and A46 Transport Scheme was a proposal to upgrade the M5 Junction 9 near Tewkesbury and re-route the section of the A46 which currently passes through Ashchurch to the east of the M5 (between M5 Junction 9 and Teddington Hands roundabout).

6.4     Cllr Gray outlined that infrastructure was needed to facilitate housing and economic development and that this needed to be carried out in a sustainable way to help people lead healthier lives.  The A46 provided a strategic link between the Southwest and the Midlands, via Gloucestershire. However, the section of the A46 through Ashchurch was currently acting as a key constraint on the route, with drivers experiencing significant delays. This caused congestion, air pollution and substantial negative impacts on the economy - both locally and regionally. A key aim of the Scheme was to help solve long-standing traffic issues at that key location on the A46 corridor, which would help local people to access their homes and businesses.

6.5     The scheme was being developed with a view to supporting the delivery of future sustainable mixed-use development which would enable at least 10,000 homes to be delivered along with 120 hectares of employment land at Ashchurch by 2041 and beyond.

6.6   The Mass Rapid Transit Scheme sought to support and enable economic growth by providing capacity for the increasing travel demand across the Central Severn Vale (CSV) and wider Gloucestershire and would also form a key aspect of supporting the decarbonisation of the transport network.

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:

1. Procure the professional services required to secure continuation of development work (SOC and OBC delivery) on the M5 junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme, either by commissioning work under the Council’s Professional Services contract, or by awarding a call-off contract or contracts under an alternative, compliant framework, or a combination of both.

2. Identify scheme options for the M5 Junction 9 and A46 (Ashchurch) Transport Scheme, undertake a non-statutory public consultation concerning options, when appropriate, and to consider the outcome of that consultation when identifying the preferred option which will be taken  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Cllr Dom Morris sought Cabinet approval to delegate authority to evaluate options in relation to the council’s Highways Professional Services requirements and to procure (as appropriate) either a replacement HighwaysProfessional Services Contract, or Framework Agreement withmultiple suppliers, or a combination of both.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Determine not to exercise the council’s option for an extension of up to four years under the council’s current Highways Professional Services contract (including schemedesign and consultancy support) with AtkinsRéalison 31^st March 2025.

2. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment & Infrastructure, in consultation with theCabinet Member for Highways and Flood, Cabinet Memberfor Environment and Planning, the Chief Finance (s151)Officer and the Monitoring Officer to:

a) Evaluate contracting options in relation to the council’s Highways Professional Services requirements with effect from 1st April 2025.

b) Subject to the outcome of Recommendation 2 a), conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of either: (i) a replacement Highways Professional Services Contract; or (ii) a multi-supplier framework agreement; or (iii) a combination of both, commencing no later than 1st April 2025 for the provision of highways professional services. The proposed highways professional services contract orframework agreement or combination of both shallcontinue for a period of up to 4 years and will have acombined maximum contract value of £60 millionover the contract term.

c) Subject to the outcome of the matters described in Recommendation 2 a) and 2 b) and the financial restrictions set out in the Resourcing Implications section of this report below, award a multi-supplierHighways Professional Services frameworkagreement; and then procure as many Call-Off Contracts thereunder as may be required by the council for the supply of design and consultancy support in respect of specific highways schemes.

d) Subject to the outcome of the matters described in Recommendation 2 a) and 2 b) and the financialrestrictions set out in the Resourcing Implicationssection of this report below, award either inconjunction with or instead of Recommendation 2 c),a replacement Highways Professional Services Contract to the preferred tenderer.

7.1     Cllr Dom Morris sought Cabinet approval to delegate authority to evaluate options in relation to the council’s Highways Professional Services requirements and to procure (as appropriate) either a replacement HighwaysProfessional Services Contract, or Framework Agreement withmultiple suppliers, or a combination of both.

7.2     The report recommended that the existing Highways Professional Service Contract with AtkinsRéalis (including scheme design and consultancy support), which expired in April 2025 would not be extended beyond its original contract term. Given the change in work volume, scope and breadth that would arise from changing priorities, the council believed it can achieve greater choice, value for money and access to broader expertise by undertaking a new procurement.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Determine not to exercise the council’s option for an extension of up to four years under the council’s current Highways Professional Services contract (including schemedesign and consultancy support) with AtkinsRéalis on 31^st March 2025.

2. Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment & Infrastructure, in consultation with theCabinet Member for Highways and Flood, Cabinet Memberfor Environment and Planning, the Chief Finance (s151)Officer and the Monitoring Officer to:

a) Evaluate contracting options in relation to the council’s Highways Professional Services requirements with effect from 1st April 2025.

b) Subject to the outcome of Recommendation 2 a), conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of either: (i) a replacement Highways Professional Services Contract; or (ii) a multi-supplier framework agreement; or (iii) a combination of both, commencing no later than 1st April 2025 for the provision of highways professional services. The proposed highways professional services contract orframework agreement or combination of both shallcontinue for a period of up to 4 years and will have acombined maximum contract value of £60 millionover the contract term.

c) Subject to the outcome of the matters described in Recommendation 2 a) and 2 b) and the financial restrictions set out in the Resourcing Implications section of this report below, award a multi-supplierHighways Professional Services frameworkagreement; and then procure as many Call-Off Contracts thereunder as may be required by the council for the supply of design and consultancy support in respect of specific highways schemes.

d) Subject to the outcome of the matters described in Recommendation 2 a) and 2 b) and the financialrestrictions set out in the Resourcing Implicationssection of this report below, award either inconjunction with or instead of Recommendation 2 c),a replacement Highways Professional Services Contract to the preferred tenderer.

Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval for Gloucestershire’s draft Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and to enable it to be finalised, published, and submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) by 12 June 2024.

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

RESOLVED to:

1) Approve the draft BSIP for publication and submission to the DfT by 12 June 2024, subject to the requirement for any amendments, as outlined in

recommendation two below.

2) Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport to make any required amendments to the document, should this be necessary as a result of awaited guidance/decisions from the Department for Transport (DfT).

8.1     Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval for Gloucestershire’s draft Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and to enable it to be finalised, published, and submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) by 12 June 2024.

8.2   This was a draft BSIP due to the timing of the deadline. Government had asked local authorities to review their Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). The submission of a 2024 BSIP to DfT by 12 June 2024 was a condition of the provision of any DfT BSIP phase 2 funding in the 2024/25 financial year. The BISP outlined Gloucestershire’s vision ‘for buses to be at the heart of an attractive, affordable, and integrated transport system for everyone in Gloucestershire’, supported by six objectives as detailed in the report:

·   A more comprehensive bus network

·   Faster and more reliable bus services

·   More attractive fares and ticketing

·   Improved information, marketing and innovation,

·   Better vehicles, and

·   Improved interchange and bus stop infrastructure.

8.3   To achieve this vision and the objectives, the BSIP set out a detailed programme for improvements until 2025 and beyond 2025. Delivery of the BSIP 2024 would be measured against six targets, to improve:

·   Bus Journey Times

·   Bus Journey Reliability

·   Passenger Numbers

·   Network Accessibility

·   Vehicle Quality, and

·   Public Satisfaction.

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

RESOLVED to:

1) Approve the draft BSIP for publication and submission to the DfT by 12 June 2024, subject to the requirement for any amendments, as outlined in

recommendation two below.

2)Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Bus Transport to make any required amendments to the document, should this be necessary as a result of awaited guidance/decisions from the Department for Transport (DfT).

Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval of the Accessibility Strategy.

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve and adopt the Pupils with Disabilities School Accessibility Strategy as set out at Appendix 1.

9.1     Cllr Philip Robinson sought Cabinet approval for the Accessibility Strategy.

9.2     All local authorities had a responsibility to produce and regularly review their Accessibility Strategy.  Accessibility strategies did not apply to academies or free schools. However, all schools, including academies and free schools, must have an Accessibility Plan which was based on the same principles as set out in the Council’s Accessibility Strategy. 

9.3     The strategy was last updated in 2020. The cabinet report set out what had been done to refine the strategy, ensuring that it is still relevant and accurately represented the local area. The principles of the 2020 strategy remained appropriate and compliant with relevant legislation and with the duties set out in Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

9.4     The objectives of the strategy were to:

·     Increase the extent to which pupils with special educational needs and/or disability can participate in the school curriculum.

·     Improve the physical environment of the schools for the purpose of increasing the extent to which disabled pupils are able to take advantage of education and benefits, facilities and services provided or offered by the schools.

·     Improve the delivery to disabled pupils of information which is readily accessible to pupils who are not disabled.

·     Support schools to further develop robust and effective Disability Equality Schemes and Accessibility Plans.

·     Ensure compliance with statutory regulations.

9.5     The updated strategy set out educational guidelines and school access expectations for pupils with a disability.  It responded to the request from parent carers and education professionals to: simplify the strategy; make clear the available resources to schools and to ensure that, as far as possible schools are accessible to all pupils. The strategy reflected developments to SEND provision across the Education and Children and Families services in Gloucestershire and included a template to assist schools in addressing and recording the requirements set out in the strategy.

9.6     Gloucestershire’s Parent Carer Forum had reviewed the updated strategy and would continue to work with us to ensure that it remains relevant through Annual Reviews and changes in legislation.

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve and adopt the Pupils with Disabilities School Accessibility Strategy as set out at Appendix 1.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne sought Cabinet approval to distribute up to £3,936,505, (subject to Government confirmation of funding for Year Two to Five), over the five-year period from FY 2024/25 to FY 2020/29, into projects and activities that will enable the delivery of the requirements of the DHSC’s Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve, subject to further development of the local delivery model, the allocation of the DHSC’s £3,936,505 Local Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant 2024-2029 (“LSSSSG”) on the following basis, noting that the sums specified below are indicative at this stage given that more detailed development of the local delivery model is to take place, and the value of the grant for Years Two to Five are subject to Government confirmation:

a. Up to £300,000 during year one of the LSSSSG grant period (FY 2024/25), increasing by increments to £355,000 in year five (FY 2028/29), adding up to a total of up to £1,670,000 over the five-year grant period, to fund additional stop smoking coaching capacity to provide behavioural support to people who want to quit, to be delivered by one or more commissioned providers.

b. Up to £328,701 during year one of the LSSSSG grant period (FY 2024/25), increasing by increments to £382,301 in years four and five (FY 2027/08 and 2028/29), adding up to a total of up to £1,814,305 over the five-year grant period, for the additional approved pharmacological support e.g., nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medication or vapes, needed alongside behavioural support to help smokers to quit.

In the event that any proposed adjustments to these indicative allocations should exceed key decision thresholds a further key decision will be sought.

2. Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Health, regarding the selection and implementation of the most suitable commissioning route(s) for implementing the allocation of funding described in Recommendation 1 above and (where appropriate) the subsequent award and/or modification of relevant contracts.

3. Note that the remaining total of up to £452,200, over the fiveyear grant period, will be invested in a range of supporting activities to enable the council to deliver against the requirements of the LSSSSG. These will include, but not be limited to; fixed-term officer capacity to support commissioning and project management; community engagement and social marketing. Decisions regarding the deployment of funds for these lower cost activities will not exceed the key decision threshold and will be made by the Director of Public Health.

10.1   Cllr Mark Hawthorne sought Cabinet approval to distribute up to £3,936,505, (subject to Government confirmation of funding for Years Two to Five), over the five-year period from FY 2024/25 to FY 2020/29, into projects and activities that will enable the delivery of the requirements of the DHSC’s Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant.

10.2   This was a five-year grant confirmed annually to enable local councils to enhance their stop smoking services.  The funding was ring-fenced and is additional to the budget allocated to stop smoking interventions from the public health grant. Assuming no reduction in the annual allocation, the total value of the grant over the five-year period would be £3,936,505.

10.3   Guidance accompanying the grant agreement set out the following areas of activity:

·                         Leadership and commissioning capacity to expand local stop smoking offers.

·         Increasing local resources to help people quit e.g., behavioural support and stop smoking aids such as nicotine replacement therapy.

·         Building demand for local stop smoking support e.g., partnership working to improve identification and referral of smokers, and marketing.

10.4 It was outlined that there was already a good level of support in the County GP practices and community groups.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve, subject to further development of the local delivery model, the allocation of the DHSC’s £3,936,505 Local Stop Smoking Services and Support Grant 2024-2029 (“LSSSSG”) on the following basis, noting that the sums specified below are indicative at this stage given that more detailed development of the local delivery model is to take place, and the value of the grant for Years Two to Five are subject to Government confirmation:

a. Up to £300,000 during year one of the LSSSSG grant period (FY 2024/25), increasing by increments to £355,000 in year five (FY 2028/29), adding up to a total of up to £1,670,000 over the five-year grant period, to fund additional stop smoking coaching capacity to provide behavioural support to people who want to quit, to be delivered by one or more commissioned providers.

b. Up to £328,701 during year one of the LSSSSG grant period (FY 2024/25), increasing by increments to £382,301 in years four and five (FY 2027/08 and 2028/29), adding up to a total of up to £1,814,305 over the five-year grant period, for the additional approved pharmacological support e.g., nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medication or vapes, needed alongside behavioural support to help smokers to quit.

In the event that any proposed adjustments to these indicative allocations should exceed key decision thresholds a further key decision will be sought.

2. Delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Health, regarding the selection and implementation of the most suitable commissioning route(s) for implementing the allocation of funding described in Recommendation 1 above and (where appropriate) the subsequent award and/or modification of relevant contracts.

3. Note that the remaining total of up to £452,200, over the five year grant period, will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin sought Cabinet approval for the publishing of the council’s Adult Social Care Market Position Statement 2024 which will set out the challenges for the provision of adult social care over the next twenty years.

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve the adoption and publication of the Adult Social Care Market Position Statement 2024, as set out in the Appendix to this report.

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities to maintain and update the MPS on an annual basis until 2030.

11.1   Cllr Carole Allaway Martin sought Cabinet approval for the publishing of the council’s Adult Social Care Market Position Statement 2024 which set out the challenges for the provision of adult social care over the next twenty years.

11.2   The Care Act 2014 placed a statutory duty on local authorities to ensure a sufficiency of adult social care provision to meet demand for the whole population. Whilst there is no duty to provide a Market Position Statement it was considered good practice and one way of ensuring sufficiency. She thanked officers for their work on the document.

11.3   The purpose of the document was to describe our current market demand and capacity, analyse projected changes over the next twenty years and inform what the council proposed to do in the future to respond to the challenges identified. The new Market Position Statement would be published on the council’s website, and the Council intended to periodically update it as the market picture developed over the next few years.

11.4   The key messages were contained within the report. The Market Position Statement identified the challenges for adult social care over the coming years and pointed to the direction of travel for the council in terms of addressing those. There was an increased need to promote health and wellbeing to ensure that people entered older age in good health, and then stayed in good health for as long as possible

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

RESOLVED to:

Approve the adoption and publication of the Adult Social Care Market Position Statement 2024, as set out in the Appendix to this report.

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities to maintain and update the Market Position Statement on an annual basis until 2030.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin sought Cabinet approval to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning to implement thepreferred option, to ensure provisions for residential and nursingservices can continue to be delivered in five homes, owned byGloucestershire County Council:

The Coombs (Forest of Dean)

Rodley House (Forest of Dean)

Henlow Court (Stroud)

GrevillHouse (Cheltenham)

Paternoster (Cotswolds)

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

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning to:

1. Exercise the break clause and end the care contract with Gloucestershire Care Partnership with respect to the provision of residential and nursing care at the following five homes owned by Gloucestershire County Council:

a) The Coombs (Forest of Dean)

b) Rodley House (Forest of Dean)

c) Henlow Court (Stroud)

d) Grevill House (Cheltenham)

e) Paternoster (Cotswolds)

2. Conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of a 7-year framework agreement, with the option to call-off individual contracts for each care home for the supply of residential and nursing care provision

3. Award such Framework Agreement to the preferred

tenderer;

4. Award call-off contracts under the framework for the supply of residential and nursing Provision to the five homes listed in recommendation (1) above, for a period of 5 years with the option to extend for a further 2 years, whose combined aggregate value shall not exceed £53.9m (excluding

contractual inflation, if applicable)

5. The Framework Agreement shall make provision to call-off further contracts for the supply of residential and nursing care at additional homes (including new-build homes owned by Gloucestershire County Council and any that are returned to Gloucestershire Council Council) up to a total framework value of of £234 million (excluding contractual inflation, if applicable). Any such additional call-off contracts will be subject to a further Cabinet decision.

6. Note that the effect of exercising the break clause with respect to these five homes will not end the contract with our current provider in regard to the provision of care in the remaining four homes:

a) Millbrook Lodge (Tewkesbury)

b) Monkscroft Care Centre (Cheltenham)

c) Jubilee Lodge (Cotswolds)

d) Chestnut Court (Gloucester)

12.1   Cllr Carole Allaway Martin sought Cabinet approval to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning to implement thepreferred option, to ensure provisions for residential and nursingservices can continue to be delivered in five homes, owned byGloucestershire County Council:

The Coombs (Forest of Dean)

Rodley House (Forest of Dean)

Henlow Court (Stroud)

Grevill House (Cheltenham)

Paternoster (Cotswolds)

12.2 Cabinet noted the recommendations in the report recognising their importance in order to continue the Council’s duty under the Care Act. The preferred option was to invoke the break clause in January 2025.

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

RESOLVED to:

Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care, Wellbeing and Communities in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning to:

1. Exercise the break clause and end the care contract with Gloucestershire Care Partnership with respect to the provision of residential and nursing care at the following five homes owned by Gloucestershire County Council:

a) The Coombs (Forest of Dean)

b) Rodley House (Forest of Dean)

c) Henlow Court (Stroud)

d) Grevill House (Cheltenham)

e) Paternoster (Cotswolds)

2. Conduct a competitive procurement process in respect of a 7-year framework agreement, with the option to call-off individual contracts for each care home for the supply of residential and nursing care provision

3. Award such Framework Agreement to the preferredtenderer;

4. Award call-off contracts under the framework for the supply of residential and nursing Provision to the five homes listed in recommendation (1) above, for a period of 5 years with the option to extend for a further 2 years, whose combined aggregate value shall not exceed £53.9m (excluding contractual inflation, if applicable)

5. The Framework Agreement shall make provision to call-off further contracts for the supply of residential and nursing care at additional homes (including new-build homes owned by Gloucestershire County Council and any that are returned to Gloucestershire Council Council) up to a total framework value of of £234 million (excluding contractual inflation, if applicable). Any such additional call-off contracts will be subject to a further Cabinet decision.

6. Note that the effect of exercising the break clause with respect to these five homes will not end the contract with our current provider in regard to the provision of care in the remaining four homes:

a) Millbrook Lodge (Tewkesbury)

b) Monkscroft Care Centre (Cheltenham)

c) Jubilee Lodge (Cotswolds)

d) Chestnut Court (Gloucester)

Please note: this report contains exempt  information.

To discuss the exempt report 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 Lynden Stowe sought Cabinet approval to implement an updated Digital and ICT operating

model.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the continued development and implementation of the Digital and ICT model outlined in this report and approve the proposed changes to current service delivery within Digital and ICT (“DICT”) as described in option 4 and to insource the Enterprise Support Service, set out in paragraph 27 of this report with the primary aim of increasing the council’s digital and technical capability and its control over services delivered to the council.

2. To note that the consequence of the above is that GCC will not exercise the extension options under/within its contract with Cantium Solutions Ltd for the supply of ICT Operational Services designed for Public Sector - Enterprise Support Services.

13.1   Cllr Lynden Stowe sought Cabinet approval to implement an updated Digital and ICT operating model.

Prior to the discussion, members were advised that, should Cabinet wish to discuss the contents of the exempt information in 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.

13.2   Cabinet agreed to consider this item in exempt information.

Resolved

That in accordance with Section 100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following agenda items, 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.

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

RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the continued development and implementation of the Digital and ICT model outlined in this report and approve the proposed changes to current service delivery within Digital and ICT as described in option 4 and to insource the Enterprise Support Service, set out in paragraph 27 of this report with the primary aim of increasing the council’s digital and technical capability and its control over services delivered to the council.

2. To note that the consequence of the above is that GCC will not exercise the extension options under/within its contract with Cantium Solutions Ltd for the supply of ICT Operational Services designed for Public Sector - Enterprise Support Services.