Agenda, decisions and minutes

To note any apologies for absence.

No apologies were made at the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2018 (minutes attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2018 were agreed and signed as a correct record of that meeting.

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

Please see the note at the end of the agenda

No declarations of interest were made at the start of the meeting. 

At item 11 of the agenda, Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Bikini Bathrooms and chose to leave the meeting for consideration of the item.

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 12 April 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 to a written question and will be given to the questioner and to Cabinet Members before the meeting. The question and answer will then be taken as read at the meeting itself and need not be read out.

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 15 member questions were submitted in advance of the meeting.

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

http://192.168.220.171:9071/documents/b14060/Cabinet%20Questions%20and%20Answers%20Wednesday%2018-Apr-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://192.168.220.171:9071/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=8898&Ver=4

The following supplementary questions were asked at the meeting.

Question 1: Cllr Paul Hodgkinson

Agenda item 10: Financial Monitoring Report 2017-18

Cllr Hodgkinson stated that the reported spend on consultants in 2017/18 represented a rise of 23 % for the same time the previous year. In view of the financial pressures placed on the council, Cllr Hodgkinson asked the cabinet member to justify this increase?

Response by: Cllr Ray Theodoulou - Cabinet Member for Finance and Change

Cllr Theodoulou informed Cllr Hodgkinson that the expenditure was justified from the comparative cost of hiring permanent staff, which he stated could be more costly than using consultants. Cllr Theodoulou explained that, the council used consultants where it needed to seek expert advice and these were expendable. 

Question 2: Cllr Paul Hodgkinson

Agenda item 10: Financial Monitoring Report 2017-18

Cllr Hodgkinson asked if the increase in the use of consultants in 2017/18 was a blip and if the costs would not be as high this year?

Response by: Cllr Ray Theodoulou - Cabinet Member for Finance and Change

Cllr Theodoulou said there was no question about the costs forecast for some of the larger items of expenditure in 2017/18. Although he hoped the costs would not increase, there could be no guarantee. Cllr Theodoulou referred to the key areas of challenge within the Children and Families and Adult Services and confirmed he would not hesitate to hire consultants if expert advice was needed to support these areas.

Question 3: Cllr Paul Hodgkinson

Agenda item 10: Financial Monitoring Report 2017-18

Cllr Hodgkinson noted that the cost of using consultants in 2016/17 was 23% less than that recorded in 2017/18. Reflecting on this and the 4.5% increase in council tax, Councillor Hodgkinson asked the Cabinet Member if he thought residents would be happy with this amount of expenditure given the backdrop of the council’s current economic position, including the need to invest in highway repairs?

Response by: Cllr Ray Theodoulou - Cabinet Member for Finance and Change

Cllr Theodoulou informed Cllr Hodgkinson that, if the council didn’t invest in consultants, it wouldn’t benefit from the outcomes they generated. Cllr Theodoulou believed tax payers would be indignant if the council didn’t provide for the vulnerable people in the county. The condition of roads was a national issue, not peculiar to Gloucestershire. 

Question 4: Cllr Paul Hodgkinson

Agenda item 10: Financial Monitoring Report 2017-18

Cllr Hodgkinson questioned the answer given to his original question and asked Cllr Theodoulou to confirm if a relationship existed,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To seek Cabinet Member approval for the procurement and award of a contract or contracts for the council’s waste transfer services. 

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Fire, Planning and Infrastructure, sought approval to i) carry a procurement process for the haulage and delivery of residual waste to Javelin Park, (and to other contracted treatment facilities in Gloucestershire), and ii) to undertake a cost evaluation exercise to determine the estimated cost of delivering residual waste direct to the Javelin Park energy from waste facility.

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

RESOLVED to: -

Delegate authority to the Commissioning Director, Communities and Infrastructure to:

(i)        Conduct a legally compliant procurement process for the provision of waste transfer services divided into the 3 Lots described in paragraph 17 of the published decision report, to enable (a) the bulking and haulage of residual waste from Forest of Dean, Cotswold, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury districts to the Javelin Park EfW; and b) the bulking and haulage of food waste and garden waste to respective treatment facilities identified in paragraph 3 of the report, as required, (together comprising the “Waste Transfer Services”). The advertised term of the contracts to be awarded, (subject to paragraph (iii) below), in respect of such Lots shall be 3 years, with an option to extend each contract by a further 3 year period;

(ii)      Carry out a cost evaluation exercise, in consultation with Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council, to determine the estimated cost to Gloucestershire County Council of the WCA’s delivering residual waste direct to the Javelin Park EfW; and for

(iii)     A further report will be brought to determine the way forward following the conclusion of the competitive tender process described in paragraph (i) and the cost evaluation exercise described in paragraph (ii).

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Fire, Planning and Infrastructure, sought approval to i) carry a procurement process for the haulage and delivery of residual waste to Javelin Park from the Forest of Dean District Council, Cotswold District Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council, and ii) to undertake a cost evaluation exercise to determine the estimated cost of delivering residual waste direct to the Javelin Park energy from waste facility.

Cllr Moor confirmed that the Javelin Park Energy to Waste Facility was due to commence commissioning in March 2019, and would become fully operational in July 2019. The council was required to deliver all of its residual waste to Javelin Park, in addition to delivering food and garden waste to the other treatment facilities. 

The councils contract with Enovert, (in respect of transfer, haulage and landfill), was due to expire in January 2020 and could not be extended. Cllr Moor informed members that it was necessary to procure new contracts to deliver waste to Javelin Park.

Stroud District Council and Gloucester City Council could deliver direct. The Forest of Dean District and Cotswold District Councils could continue with their transfer arrangements. Cllr Moor confirmed Cheltenham and Tewksbury Borough Councils would need additional trucks and staff and were likely to incur other costs and changes to the services they provided. The alternative would be to provide a third waste transfer station for Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. 

Cllr Moor outlined 3 options. He explained that, as the costs for the schemes would not be known until the transfer was complete, he proposed carrying out an evaluation exercise to compare the costs of a new waste transfer station versus direct delivery to Javelin Park, with a report back to Cabinet, seeking advise on the best solution. He said that, until the bids had been received, he was not in a position to decide a way forward.

Cllr Moor believed there would be no strain on the existing budget from taking this option and until the outcome of the cost evaluation exercise was known, he anticipated using existing waste budgets and the waste reserve to meet costs. 

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

RESOLVED to: -

Delegate authority to the Commissioning Director, Communities and Infrastructure to:

(i)        Conduct a legally compliant procurement process for the provision of waste transfer services divided into the 3 Lots described in paragraph 17 of the published decision report, to enable (a) the bulking and haulage of residual waste from Forest of Dean, Cotswold, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury districts to the Javelin Park EfW; and b) the bulking and haulage of food waste and garden waste to respective treatment facilities identified in paragraph 3 of the report, as required, (together comprising the “Waste Transfer Services”). The advertised term of the contracts to be awarded, (subject to paragraph (iii) below), in respect of such Lots  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To seek approval for the capital receipt from the sale of the Bishop’s College site to contribute to funding for the scheme to convert Barnwood Park School to a co-educational school and expand the school by one form of entry.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Growth, sought approval to use the capital received from the sale of the former Bishop’s College site to provide to provide a new sports hall as part of a scheme to convert Barnwood Park School to a co-educational school and expand the school by one form of entry. 

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

RESOLVED to: -

Approve the addition of £2.040 million taken from the capital receipt fund following the sale of Bishop’s College site to transfer to the Barnwood Park expansion scheme to fund a new sports hall, and the transfer of £0.899 million Basic Need Grant from the approved capital budget to the unallocated Basic Need Grant budget.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Growth, sought Cabinet’s approval to use the capital received from the sale of the former Bishop’s College site to provide to provide a new sports hall as part of a scheme to convert Barnwood Park School to a co-educational school and expand the school by one form of entry. 

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

RESOLVED to: -

Approve the addition of £2.040 million taken from the capital receipt fund following the sale of Bishop’s College site to transfer to the Barnwood Park expansion scheme to fund a new sports hall, and the transfer of £0.899 million Basic Need Grant from the approved capital budget to the unallocated Basic Need Grant budget.

To seek Cabinet approval to :

a)    Enter into the funding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency for the purpose of funding the delivery of Community Learning and Adult Skills Programmes during the 2018-2019 academic year; and

b)    Engage in an OJEU compliant competitive procurement process to set up a framework agreement, valid for 4 years, for the provision of adult learning services and to then award call-off contract(s) of varying lengths up to a maximum of 12 months, dependent on the type of course or piece of work, for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Growth, sought approval to i) enter into a funding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency for the delivery of Community Learning and Adult Skills Programmes during the 2018-19 academic year and, ii) engage in a competitive procurement process to set up a framework agreement for the provision of adult learning services.

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

RESOLVED to: -

Authorise the Commissioning Director, Communities and Infrastructure to:

1. In consultation with the Cabinet Member – Economy, Skills and Growth, enter into a funding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency under which the council shall receive ESFA funding for the purpose of delivering Community Learning and Adult Skills Programmes for the 2018-2019 academic year;

2. To conduct an OJEU legally compliant competitive procurement process for the purpose of awarding a framework agreement for the delivery of adult learning programmes. Providers will be asked to submit bids with prices that will be applicable for four years as the framework will be valid for four years. The framework will have a minimum of 4 Lots. Minimum  award criteria (most economically advantageous based on quality and price) will be set out in the ITT and those suppliers who submit bids which meet or exceed the criteria will be appointed to the framework, up to a maximum of 10 suppliers per Lot.

Call-off contract(s) can be then awarded in a combination of ways that include by course, set pieces of work or, annual agreements, dependent on the type of course/work being awarded, up to a maximum of 12 months per contract;

3. Upon conclusion of such competitive procurement process, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member - Economy, Skills and Growth, to award such framework agreement(s) to up to 10 suppliers who meet or exceed the minimum award criteria per Lot or, in the event that the preferred provider(s) for the contract(s) are either unable or unwilling to enter into those contract(s), to enter into such contract(s) with the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider(s); and

4. To award call-off contract(s) (up to the value of £499,999 In respect of any single call-off contract) under such Framework Agreements to the highest scoring framework provider(s) who have been evaluated as offering the Council best value for money for the delivery of adult learning programmes or, in the event that the preferred provider(s) for such call-off contract(s) are either unable or unwilling to enter into those contract(s), to enter into such call-off contract(s) with the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider(s). Call-off contracts above £250k in value will be made in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member. Any call-off contract with a value of £500,000 or more must be the subject of a separate Cabinet Decision.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Growth, sought approval to i) enter into a funding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency for the delivery of Community Learning and Adult Skills Programmes during the 2018-19 academic year and, ii) engage in a competitive procurement process to set up a framework agreement for the provision of adult learning services.

Cllr Stowe informed members that the funding agreement was one of several positive outcomes emerging in recent months and one that had been reflected in a good Ofsted Inspection report the previous year.  

Reporting slight variations in the amount of funding anticipated from the agreement, an increase from £2.3 to £2.45m for Community Learning and a slight decrease from £400.000 to £390,000 for Skills and Apprenticeship Programmes, Cllr Stowe reported an overall increased net benefit of approximately £1m, which he said was encouraging. 

Commending the Employment and Skills Team on the success and hard work of the team in producing positive results, Cllr Stowe said he hoped to report on similar good outcomes in the future.  

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

RESOLVED to: -

Authorise the Commissioning Director, Communities and Infrastructure to:

1. In consultation with the Cabinet Member – Economy, Skills and Growth, enter into a funding agreement with the Education and Skills Funding Agency under which the council shall receive ESFA funding for the purpose of delivering Community Learning and Adult Skills Programmes for the 2018-2019 academic year;

2. To conduct an OJEU legally compliant competitive procurement process for the purpose of awarding a framework agreement for the delivery of adult learning programmes. Providers will be asked to submit bids with prices that will be applicable for four years as the framework will be valid for four years. The framework will have a minimum of 4 Lots. Minimum  award criteria (most economically advantageous based on quality and price) will be set out in the ITT and those suppliers who submit bids which meet or exceed the criteria will be appointed to the framework, up to a maximum of 10 suppliers per Lot.

Call-off contract(s) can be then awarded in a combination of ways that include by course, set pieces of work or, annual agreements, dependent on the type of course/work being awarded, up to a maximum of 12 months per contract;

3. Upon conclusion of such competitive procurement process, and in consultation with the Cabinet Member - Economy, Skills and Growth, to award such framework agreement(s) to up to 10 suppliers who meet or exceed the minimum award criteria per Lot or, in the event that the preferred provider(s) for the contract(s) are either unable or unwilling to enter into those contract(s), to enter into such contract(s) with the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider(s); and

4. To award call-off contract(s) (up to the value of £499,999 In respect of any single call-off contract) under such Framework Agreements to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the responses to the statutory public consultation on the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) 2018-21

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Fire, Planning and Infrastructure, presented the responses to the statutory public consultation on the Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) for Gloucestershire.

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

RESOLVED to: -

1.    Endorse and adopt the final IRMP 2018-21; and

2.    Authorise the Chief Fire Officer to undertake such actions necessary to implement the adopted IRMP 2018-21

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Fire, Planning and Infrastructure, referred to the responses to the statutory public consultation on the Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) for Gloucestershire.

Seeking endorsement from cabinet before authorising the Chief Fire Officer to take the necessary actions to implement the adopted plan, Cllr Moor confirmed that several wide ranging observations from a cross section of the community had emerged from the consultation, including several of his own.

Key information derived from the observations included; the need to focus on adopting a more integrated working approach with other blue light services and the need to become better at promoting how the Fire and Rescue Service, acting on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council in its capacity as the Fire Authority for Gloucestershire, needed to become better at promoting how diverse the fire service was as an organisation and what the benefits of working for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service were.

Members were advised that adoption of the IRMP would assist in providing guidance during a review of the service in Spring 2019.

Commending the work of officers in producing a strategic and comprehensive plan, Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne referred to the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service as ‘very forward thinking’ and acknowledged the lead the fire service had taken in being recognised as one of the most cost effective and integrated fire services in the UK.

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

RESOLVED to: -

1.    Endorse and adopt the final IRMP 2018-21; and

2.    Authorise the Chief Fire Officer to undertake such actions necessary to implement the adopted IRMP 2018-21

To seek approval to conduct an EU compliant open competitive procurement process for the award of contracts for Public Notices Advertising and Recruitment Advertising.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, sought approval to conduct an EU compliant competitive procurement process for the award of the council’s Public Notices Advertising and Recruitment Advertising contracts.

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

RESOLVED to: -

Authorise the Commissioning Director: Communities and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Change; Fire, Planning and Infrastructure and Highways and Flood to:

1. Conduct an EU compliant competitive open tender process for the procurement of: -

(a)  a Public Notices Advertising contract with an estimated value of £1.5M over its term; and

(b)  a Recruitment Advertising contract with an estimated value of £600k over its term

Each contract will commence in June 2018 for an initial term of two years with an option to extend for a further year in each case. 

2. Upon conclusion of the competitive tender process, to award and enter into a contract for a Public Notices Advertising and a contract for Recruitment Advertising to the preferred provider, evaluated in each case as offering the council best value for money for the provision of the respective services. In the event that a preferred provider for either contract is either unable or unwilling to enter into a contract with the Council, then the Commissioning Director: Communities and Infrastructure, to be authorised to enter into such contract, (for each contract), with the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, sought cabinet approval to conduct an EU compliant competitive procurement process for the award of the council’s Public Notices Advertising and Recruitment Advertising contracts.

Cllr Theodoulou presented the report in conjunction with fellow cabinet colleagues, Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Fire, Planning and Infrastructure and Cllr Vernon Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood.

Cllr Theodoulou confirmed that the proposals would be applied to the two contracts as separate agreements, with both contracts due to expire on 12 June 2018. Outlining the cost advantages of simultaneous procurement processes, Cllr Theodoulou highlighted this would most likely deliver best value for the Council.

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

RESOLVED to: -

Authorise the Commissioning Director: Communities and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Change; Fire, Planning and Infrastructure and Highways and Flood to:

1. Conduct an EU compliant competitive open tender process for the procurement of: -

(a)  a Public Notices Advertising contract with an estimated value of £1.5M over its term; and

(b)  a Recruitment Advertising contract with an estimated value of £600k over its term

Each contract will commence in June 2018 for an initial term of two years with an option to extend for a further year in each case. 

2. Upon conclusion of the competitive tender process, to award and enter into a contract for a Public Notices Advertising and a contract for Recruitment Advertising to the preferred provider, evaluated in each case as offering the council best value for money for the provision of the respective services. In the event that a preferred provider for either contract is either unable or unwilling to enter into a contract with the Council, then the Commissioning Director: Communities and Infrastructure, to be authorised to enter into such contract, (for each contract), with the next willing highest placed suitably qualified provider.

To provide an update on the year-end forecast for the 2017/18 county council’s revenue and capital budgets.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cabinet Member: Finance and Change, gave an update on the year end forecast for the council’s 2017/18 Revenue and Capital Budgets.

Having considered all of the information, known proposals and the reasons for the recommendations, Cabinet

RESOLVED to: -

1.    Note the forecast revenue year end position, as at the end of February 2018 for the 2017/18 financial year of a net £0.977 million underspend.

2.    Approve the transfer of £0.310 million to the Transformation Reserve from Business Support Services budget in respect of HR & Organisational Development projects for use in 2018/19.

3.    Approve the transfer of £2 million savings from the capital financing budget to the capital fund reserve, following County Council approval to amend the minimum revenue provision (MRP) from £8.2 million to £6.2 million payable in 2017/18.

4.    Note the forecast capital year end position as at the end of February 2018 of £99.038 million against a re-profiled budget of £107.538 million.

5.    Approve the allocation of £0.008 million developer contribution to provide a first aid room at Winchcombe School.

6.    Approve the allocation of £0.075 million developer contribution to the Cotswold School 6^th Form block scheme.

7.    Approve the addition of £2.040 million capital receipt funding to the Barnwood Park expansion scheme and the transfer of £0.899 million Basic Need Grant to the unallocated Basic Need Grant budget.

8.    Approve the allocation of £0.014 million developer contribution to fund internal adaptations at Cirencester Kingshill School.

9.    Approve a new scheme to provide additional teaching capacity at Kings Stanley Church of England Primary School, funded by £0.025 million developer contributions.

10.Approve the allocation of £0.422 million s106 developer contributions towards the provision of a new Performance and Education Space and 6^th Form block at Chipping Campden School.

11.Approve the addition of £0.034 million developer contribution to the Shurdington Primary School scheme and the transfer of £0.034 million Basic Need Grant to the unallocated Basic Need Grant budget.

12.Approve an increase of £0.250 million to the School Kitchen Upgrades capital scheme, funded by a revenue contribution.

13.Approve an increase of £0.060 million to the Children & Families capital programme, funded by school contributions.

14.Note the transfer of the £0.578 million Lewis Lane Hub scheme from the Children & Families Capital Programme to the AMPS Capital Programme to reflect the current management and reporting of these works.

15.Approve a new scheme for the Healthy Pupils Capital Fund, funded by £0.409 million Department for Education (DfE) grant.

16.Note the reduction of £0.234 million in the Schools Condition Allocation for 2018/19.

17.Approve a new scheme to purchase Open Objects software to enhance the Family Information Service (FIS) website, funded by £0.010 million DfE grant.

18.Approve an increase of £1.037 million in the Highways Capital budget.

19.Approve an increase of £0.006 million to the Stroud Library refurbishment scheme, funded by s106 developer contribution.

20.Approve an increase of £0.019 million to the ICT Capital programme, funded by  ...  view the full decision text for item 10.

Cllr Ray Theodoulou, Cabinet Member: Finance and Change, gave an update on the year end forecast for the council’s 2017/18 Revenue and Capital Budgets.

Cllr Theodoulou confirmed this would be the penultimate financial monitoring report for the 2017/18 financial year, with the final year forecast figures reported at this meeting representing a reasonable prediction of what might be expected in the year end outturn report.

Cllr Theodoulou confirmed that, in spite of the pressures placed on the revenue account throughout the year, an underspend of £977k was anticipated as opposed to the deficit reported the previous month. This had been achieved from movements in reserves.

Noting the impact from meeting the council’s statutory obligations within Adult Social Care and Children and Families, Cllr Theodoulou clarified that the Adult Social Care budget had benefitted from receipt of the full allocation of the social care levy. This, combined with being able to draw from the Better Care Fund and underspends and slippages in other areas, had resulted in a year end underspend forecast of £657k.

Referring to the intensive work being undertaken by the Children and Families Team, combined with the having to manage an unprecedented surge in demand for residential services from an increased number of children coming into care, Cllr Theodoulou outlined some of the staffing and recruitment issues the council was having to address within this service area, for which he predicted further challenges in the management of this budget area in the years ahead and a total overall net deficit of £6.29m forecast for the 2017/18 year end.

Reporting better outcomes in the technical and corporate services budget, Cllr Theodoulou informed members that the budget had benefitted from better than expected investment returns and from late grant announcements. The anticipated surplus of £6.4m in the technical and cross cutting account would be used to offset deficits in the children’s budget.

Updating members on the capital budget, Cllr Theodoulou informed members that the overall capital spend in 2017/18 was expected to reach £99m, approximately £8m less than the budgeted amount.

Cllr Theodoulou referred to the £10.57m one off capital schemes, approved by cabinet in 2017/18, but not yet completed. The cabinet member advised members he would be seeking authority to carry forward £2.3m of the unallocated funds to 2018/19 in the 2017/18 year end report.

Drawing attention to recent investments in education, including £1.19m for the Cotswold Academy School and £2.5m towards the Barnwood Park School expansion scheme, the cabinet member also sought approval of a number of key investment decisions. The net result of the allocations of capital identified by the report would increase the capital budget by £4.175m.

Giving due regard to the volatility of changes inherent in the council’s demand led services and the impact on vulnerable adults and children across the county, the cabinet member recommended the report for approval.

Commending the level of investment in schools, education and highways, Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, informed members that, for future rounds of reporting,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

To update members on the increased costs of delivering the GSWB Llanthony Road Improvements Scheme following approval by Cabinet in February 2017.  

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

To discuss the exempt information included within the annexes to the published report, it will first be necessary to give consideration as 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.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Fire, Planning and Infrastructure, updated members on the increased costs of delivering the GSWB Llanthony Road Improvements Scheme. The Cabinet Member also presented details of the Gloucestershire Growth Deal Capital Grant approved by the Gfirst LEP Board, before seeking approval for the council to increase the council’s capital contribution to the scheme, following increased land purchase costs and the cost of delivering road improvements.

Prior to the discussion, members were advised that, should Cabinet wish to discuss the contents of the exempt information reported in an Appendix to the report, consideration would first 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 report without making reference to the exempt information.

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

RESOLVED to: -

1.    Note the confirmation that the County Council will receive Growth Deal Funding of £2 million from the GFirst LEP; and.

2.    Increase the GCC Capital contribution to the GSWB Llanthony Road Improvements scheme by £2.475 million to be funded from the Highways Capital grant.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Bikini Bathrooms and chose to leave the meeting for consideration of this item.

In Cllr Hawthorne’s absence, Deputy Leader, Cllr Ray Theodoulou, acted as Chairman.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Fire, Planning and Infrastructure, updated members on the GSWB Llanthony Road Improvements Scheme following increased land purchase costs and the cost of delivering road improvements. The Cabinet Member also referred to details of the Gloucestershire Growth Deal Capital Grant granted by the Gfirst LEP Board, before seeking approval for the council to increase the council’s capital contribution to the scheme.

Cllr Moor informed members that a scheme of this size was incredibly complex. The scheme proposes a widening of the single carriageway section of road between Llanthony Road and St Anne Way. In addition to optimising traffic signals to maximise traffic flows and improvements to the side road junctions, the scheme includes improvements to pedestrian crossing facilities and the widening of pedestrian and cycle facilities linking existing facilities at either end of the scheme. The scheme is included in the County Council’s adopted Local Transport Plan.

Cllr Moor confirmed he would monitor the scheme through lead cabinet member meetings and that it was his intention to be vigilant to avoid having to seek additional funding in the future

The County Council has secured £2M Growth Deal funding for the scheme, approved by GFirst LEP Board, for which a funding agreement was signed between both parties.

The original budget for the scheme was £4.97M, (based on estimated land costs of £2M and design and build costs of £2.97M). As the business case, design and land negotiations developed, it was necessary to review the estimates, now re-estimated at £3.7M for land, and £3.75M for design and build of the scheme, representing a total scheme cost of an estimated £7.45M. The budgeted figure included the cost of compensation for businesses and landowners in addition to contract procurement costs and the cost of the road widening and improvement scheme.

Consultation on the scheme with relevant landowners and businesses had commenced and was ongoing.

Cllr Vernon Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood, commended the merits of the scheme and expressed his full support for the proposals, clarifying that the scheme would be of major strategic importance to the road improvement works at Over and the Metz Way, due to commence later in the year. Cllr Smith said the scheme would help in moving the county’s transport network into the 21^st Century.  He also said that, if the council ‘didn’t invest in major projects, traffic in Gloucestershire would grind to a halt’.

Prior to the discussion, members were advised that, should Cabinet wish to discuss the contents of the exempt information reported in the Appendix to the report, consideration would first 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)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.