Agenda, decisions and minutes

To note any apologies for absence.

No apologies.

Executive Director of Corporate Services, Steve Mawson, attended the meeting on behalf of Chief Executive, Pete Bungard.

Leader of Council, Cllr Mark Hawthorne, welcomed Cllr Carole Allaway Martin to the meeting as the newly appointed Cabinet Member – Adult Social Care: Commissioning. The Leader also welcomed new Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Mark Preece.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2019 (attached)

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2019 were confirmed and agreed as a correct record of that meeting.

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 23 January 2020.

Please submit questions to Jo Moore, Democratic Services, Shire Hall, Gloucester, GL1 2TG or to jo.moore@gloucestershire.gov.uk

A written answer will be provided for each written question and published on the  council website. The questions and answers will be taken as read and need not be read out at the meeting. At the discretion of the Leader of Council, each questioner will be allowed to ask a supplementary question in response to the answer given to the original question. If the Cabinet member is unable to provide a response, a written response will be provided after the meeting.

A copy of all written questions and answers 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.

A total of 28 member questions were submitted for consideration in advance of the meeting. No public questions were submitted.

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

https://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=117&MId=9393&Ver=4

The following supplementary questions were asked at the meeting.

Question 1: Cllr Rachel Smith

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

Conscious of the lack of paper responses to the budget consultation, what would be the estimated additional cost to the council to produce a few (carbon neutral printed) paper copies of the consultation document?

Response by: Cllr Lynden Stowe (Cabinet Member: Finance and Change) 

There would be little cost involved in producing a handful of paper copies of the consultation document. However, the usefulness of producing only a handful of documents would be limited. To have an impact, it would be necessary to produce several 1000 copies.

Action: Cllr Stowe offered to obtain a price for producing paper copies of the consultation document to consider in advance of next year’s budget consultation period.

Question 2: Cllr Rachel Smith

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

Given the clear desire from local residents, (for increased investment in climate change action), the £1m Action Fund is not enough. Are you ignoring the climate change emergency by ignoring the views of residents?

Response by: Cllr Lynden Stowe (Cabinet Member: Finance and Change) 

The decision to create a £1m Action Fund, (to fund carbon reduction initiatives in 2020/21), is not ignoring the views of residents. It is a proactive decision introduced as a starting point to better understand and devise long term plans for tackling climate change.

The problem is that the council has to prioritise the very important issue of addressing climate change against other priorities. This has to be considered against the amount of income generated from council tax payments, which is already set at the maximum amount of council tax the council can set.

If Cllr Smith would like to put forward suggestions on how to address the climate change emergency and what services would need to be cut to allocate the additional funding, I would be interested to consider the proposals at the next council (budget) meeting.

Question 3: Cllr Rachel Smith

Agenda Item 5: Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Corporate Strategy 2020-21

Funding allocated to undertake detailed business cases as part of the Strategic Infrastructure Business Case is all related to investment in M5 junction improvements. Can you confirm how long it will be before you allocate funding for the development of segregated cycling routes and other low carbon initiatives?

Response by: Cllr Lynden Stowe (Cabinet Member: Finance and Change) 

We will need to see the timescale of funding from Government before considering how the funding will be allocated. Cabinet includes many champions of cycling. When we receive the funding, cabinet will consider how to invest some of the reserves  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and Revenue and Capital Budget 2020-21 for recommendation to County Council, including the proposals set out in the annexes relating to the detailed MTFS.

Supporting Documents: -

Appendix 1     Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)

Appendix 2     Budget Consultation Report

Appendix 3     Corporate Scrutiny Committee Minutes (9 January 2020)

Appendix 4     Due Regard Statement (to follow)

The decision to take into account the outcomes of the recent formal budget consultation and feedback from the Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee.

Cllr Shaun Parsons (Chairman of the Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee), to present the Scrutiny Committee’s observations following consideration of the draft budget proposals at the budget scrutiny meeting on 9 January 2020.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, presented for approval, the Medium Term Financial Strategy, (MTFS), and the final revenue and capital budget proposal for 2020/21, for recommendation to County Council on 12 February 2020.

In making his recommendations, Cllr Stowe highlighted the following changes for incorporation in the report to Council:

1. An additional £10k per member, (£530k in total), as highways local funding;
2. An additional £1m; which would be transferred from the Invest to Save Reserve to the Vulnerable Children Reserve, (this amount was already included in the cabinet report);
3. A change to the Treasury Management Strategy to address the options for green investment issues, (as agreed by the Audit and Governance Committee).

Having considered all of the information, including the outcomes of the council’s formal budget consultation, the due regard statement relating to the decision and observations from the Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee meeting on 9 January 2020, Cabinet noted the reasons for the recommendations and,

RESOLVED to:- 

1.    Note the outcome of the budget consultation as set out in Appendix 2 of the report and the minutes of the Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee (COSC) meeting held on 9 January 2020, as detailed at Appendix 3 of the report;

2.    Approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and the final revenue and capital budget for 2020/21 for recommendation to County Council, including all of the proposals set out in the annexes of the detailed MTFS (Appendix 1);

3.    Note the schools funding allocations, the provisional local government finance settlement and forecast reserve movements, as summarised in the decision report and as set out in the MTFS;

4.    Recommend to Council a revenue budget of £468.183 million, a Band D Council Tax of £1,345.32 and consequential precepts on District Councils;

5.    Note the Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Strategy & Investment Strategy, as set out in Annexes 7 and 10 of the detailed MTFS;

6.    Note the Risk Management Policy Statement & Strategy, as set out in Annex 11 of the detailed MTFS.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, presented for approval, the Medium Term Financial Strategy, (MTFS), and the final revenue and capital budget proposal for 2020/21, for recommendation to County Council on 12 February 2020.

In making his recommendations, Cllr Stowe highlighted the following changes to incorporate in the report to Council:

1. An additional £10k per member, (£530k in total), as highways local funding;
2. An additional £1m, (funded from the Invest to Save Reserve), to be added to the Vulnerable Children Reserve, (this amount was already included in the cabinet report);
3. A change to the Treasury Management Strategy, from which to address green investment issues, (as recommended by the Audit and Governance Committee).

Cllr Stowe reminded members that the MTFS and 2020/21 draft budget had been approved by Cabinet on 20 December 2019. This was followed by a 4 week period of public consultation and scrutiny, in response to which Cllr Stowe had been encouraged by the positive feedback received to the budget proposals.

Cllr Stowe outlined several changes to the budget, (as detailed above), including the request to increase an allocation to members from which to address small highway and environmental issues within their individual wards, a request that had received the support of cabinet. Responding to the feedback, Cllr Stowe proposed an amendment to the proposed budget to include an increase to the Highways Local allocation by £10,000 per member (£530,000 in total).

A further proposal to be included in the recommendations to council, (already included in the budget report), was an additional £1million, (funded from the Invest to Save Reserve). It was proposed that this amount be added to the Vulnerable Children Reserve and used to address the current overspend in children’s services.

The proposed change to the Treasury Management Strategy, to address green investment issues, (as recommended by the Audit and Governance Committee), would allow the council to plan for future investment, in addition to fulfilling any current projects already in place.

It was confirmed that the current draft budget proposals included an additional £415,000 to fund a Community Maintenance Gang, (the new term used to refer to the Lengthsman Scheme).

In presenting the 2020/21 budget proposals, Cllr Stowe reported an increase on the previous years budget of £31.2 million, (an increase of 7.1%). This included over £40 million of new investments in delivering vital services.

In addition, Cabinet proposed new capital investment projects of £83.7 million as a significant investment in the delivery of services for the residents of Gloucestershire. Spending on the proposed new schemes, and those schemes already approved, was anticipated to reach almost £200 million in 2020/21. 

It was confirmed that, since the Cabinet meeting on 20 December 2019, the Government had issued its Annual Financial Settlement. This had been broadly in line with the Council’s previous funding estimates for general fund services and therefore did not necessitate any changes to the proposed budget. In addition, the Department for Education had announced the Dedicated School Grant allocations, including  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note the recommendations made during the independent examination of the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire and to make a recommendation to Council that the plan be adopted. 

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, proposed making a recommendation to Council that the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire, (as amended), be adopted for publication. 

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to Council to:-

A.   Note the Inspector’s Report (see Appendix 1) and its recommendations including the incorporation of proposed main modifications to the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire as a prerequisite to the adoption of the Plan;

B.   Delegate authority to the Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to finalise additional modifications to the Plan including those published by the Council in July 2019 (see Appendix 2) and any further additional modifications now required;

C.   Adopt the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire, incorporating the main and additional modifications (see Appendix 3) as required by Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning in accordance with Section 23(3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended); and

D.   Delegate authority to Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to complete the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) to make the Plan and other documents and information publically available and notify specified persons as soon as reasonably practicable after the Plan is adopted.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, proposed Cabinet make a recommendation to Council that the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire, (as amended), be adopted for publication. 

In compliance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, (as amended), and requirement for all planning authorities to produce local plans, Gloucestershire County Council, (in its capacity as the local Mineral Planning Authority), is required to produce a Minerals Local Plan.

Subject to adoption by Council at the County Council meeting on 12 February 2020, the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire (2018-2032) will replace the existing Gloucestershire Minerals Local Plan (1997-2006). The updated plan would form part of the statutory development plan for Gloucestershire and provide a comprehensive and up to date policy framework against which all mineral planning decisions, including the quarrying and processing of minerals, must be made for the period to 2032.

Cllr Moor reported that the new plan had been in preparation over a number of years. To meet the requirements of Local Planning Regulations, this had involved undertaking rounds of extensive public consultation, preparation of a Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment and an independent examination by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. The examination had been conducted over the Summer and Autumn of 2019.

In December 2019, the Inspector’s Report had concluded that, provided the main modifications to the Minerals Local Plan, (as consulted on between July and September 2019), were incorporated into the document, the plan formed an appropriate basis for mineral planning in Gloucestershire and was considered capable of being adopted.

Thanking officers for their hard work and for accomplishing the plan in a timely and professional manner, Cllr Moor outlined each of the recommendations before commending the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire (2018-2032) as appropriate for adoption by Council on 12 February 2020.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to Council to:-

A.   Note the Inspector’s Report (see Appendix 1) and its recommendations including the incorporation of proposed main modifications to the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire as a prerequisite to the adoption of the Plan;

B.   Delegate authority to the Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to finalise additional modifications to the Plan including those published by the Council in July 2019 (see Appendix 2) and any further additional modifications now required;

C.   Adopt the Minerals Local Plan for Gloucestershire, incorporating the main and additional modifications (see Appendix 3) as required by Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning in accordance with Section 23(3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended); and

D.   Delegate authority to Director of Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning to complete the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider an update on the year-end forecast for the 2019/20 County Council’s Revenue and Capital Budgets

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, gave an update on the year end forecast for the 2019/20 County Council’s Revenue and Capital Budgets.

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

RESOLVED to: -  

1.    Note the forecast revenue year end position as at the end of November 2019 (Period 8) for the 2019/20 financial year as a balanced position;  

2.    Approve a transfer of £0.437 million from the Rates Retention Reserve as part of the on going review of Revenue Reserves;

3.    Note the forecast capital year end position as at the end of November 2019 of £107.433 million against the revised budget of £109.837;

4.    Approve the £0.470 million increase to the capital programme as outlined in Section C of the report.

Cllr Lynden Stowe, Cabinet Member for Finance and Change, gave an update on the year end forecast for the 2019/20 County Council’s Revenue and Capital Budgets.

Cllr Stowe reported a forecast revenue year end position as at the of end of November 2019 (Period 7) with a balanced budget of £429.661 million.  He stated that this had been achieved following a comprehensive review of reserves and making in year efficiencies. Cllr Stowe explained that this net position masked a significant forecast overspend in Children and Families of £13.362 million and reflected continuing pressure on external placements and staffing budgets for safeguarding children.

Cllr Stowe informed members that the budget proposals proposed by the revenue and capital budget 2020-21 aimed to address the vast investment required in delivering children and families services. 

Economy, Environment & Infrastructure Budgets were forecast to overspend by £0.478 million. Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and Regulatory Services were forecasting a minor overspend of £0.136 million. The overspends would be offset by a number of underspends, many of them one-off, identified in corporate budgets; one-off contributions from reserves and in-year efficiencies.

The forecast year end capital position was reported at £107.433 million. This would allow a slight in year slippage of £2.404 million with no impact on the overall cost of the capital programme. Cllr Stowe proposed an increase of £0.470 million to the capital programme, as detailed in the report.

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

RESOLVED to: - 

1.    Note the forecast revenue year end position as at the end of November 2019 (Period 8) for the 2019/20 financial year as a balanced position; 

2.    Approve a transfer of £0.437 million from the Rates Retention Reserve as part of the on going review of Revenue Reserves;

3.    Note the forecast capital year end position as at the end of November 2019 of £107.433 million against the revised budget of £109.837;

4.    Approve the £0.470 million increase to the capital programme as outlined in Section C of the report.

To consider, (for approval), the council’s School Co-ordination and Admissions Arrangements 2021.  

Cllr Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Economy, Education and Skills, sought approval of the council’s School Co-ordination and Admissions Arrangements for 2021. 

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

RESOLVED that: -

The School Co-ordination and Admission Arrangements, (as set out in the documents below), be approved: -

Appendix 1: The Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for 2021 for all Primary/Infant/Junior/Secondary Schools and Academies;

Appendix 2: The Admissions Arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Primary/Infant/Junior Schools and Secondary School for 2021 (Including Published Admission Numbers);

Appendix 3: Protocol for pupil admittance over published admission number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools for 2021;

Appendix 4: School Admissions guidance for children of UK service personnel and crown servants for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools;

Cllr Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Economy, Education and Skills, sought approval of the council’s School Co-ordination and Admissions Arrangements for 2021.

School admissions form an important part of the council’s work. Regulating admissions through the government statutory School Admissions Code 2014, the Council is required to determine admission arrangements for entry to community and voluntary controlled schools for the following academic year, each year.

Cllr Molyneux informed members that the 2021 admission arrangements remained almost unchanged since 2016, where a full consultation had been completed. He clarified that, with no significant changes to the proposed admission arrangements for 2021/2022, a full public consultation was not required by law.

He stated that the Council was required to prepare a co-ordinated admissions scheme for all maintained schools and academies, allowing parents to apply only the once. This included applications for infant/ primary schools, for the reception year, transferring from infant to junior school and secondary schools at Year 7.

Outlining the recommendations, Cllr Molyneux recommended that Cabinet approve the proposed admission arrangements based on the consultation undertaken in 2016.

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

RESOLVED that: -

The School Co-ordination and Admission Arrangements, (as set out in the documents below), be approved: -

Appendix 1: The Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme for 2021 for all Primary/Infant/Junior/Secondary Schools and Academies;

Appendix 2: The Admissions Arrangements for Community and Voluntary Controlled Primary/Infant/Junior Schools and Secondary School for 2021 (Including Published Admission Numbers);

Appendix 3: Protocol for pupil admittance over published admission number for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools for 2021;

Appendix 4: School Admissions guidance for children of UK service personnel and crown servants for Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools;

To seek approval to continue with the current specialist sexual health delivery model for the commissioning of specialist sexual health services.

Cllr Tim Harman, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, sought approval to continue with the council’s current specialist sexual health delivery model for the commissioning of specialist sexual health services.

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

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, to: -

1. Continue the current Specialist Sexual Health Service delivery model;

2. Enter into a Section 76 Agreement with the Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group for the commissioning of Specialist Sexual Health Services;

3. Review and extend the agreement annually up to a maximum period of a further four years (to the end of March 2024).

Cllr Tim Harman, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, sought approval to continue with the Council’s current specialist sexual health delivery model for the commissioning of specialist sexual health services.

Cllr Harman proposed that the Council continue with the current arrangements for the provision of sexual health services in Gloucestershire. Based on the evaluated benefits drawn from the collaborative agreement between the Council and the CCG, he stated there was very little value in making any changes to the arrangements.

Cllr Harman outlined each of the recommendations and proposed that the Council continue with the current Specialist Sexual Health Service delivery model. The agreement would be reviewed and agreed annually.

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

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet delegate authority to the Director of Public Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, to: -

1. Continue the current Specialist Sexual Health Service delivery model;

2. Enter into a Section 76 Agreement with the Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group for the commissioning of Specialist Sexual Health Services;

3. Review and extend the agreement annually up to a maximum period of a further four years (to the end of March 2024).

To seek approval to provide Highway Consultancy Services for the delivery of the Ashchurch Bridge over Rail Project.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, sought approval to enter into an agreement with Tewkesbury Borough Council for the County Council to provide Highway Consultancy Services for the delivery of the Ashchurch Bridge over Rail Project.

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

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet delegate authority to the Lead Commissioner, Highway Authority, (in consultation with Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning), to authorise Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), as Highways Authority, to enter into a Consultancy Services Agreement with Tewkesbury Borough Council (TBC) under which GCC shall provide Project Management, Design, Planning and Construction Supervision, in connection with the Ashchurch Bridge over Rail (ABoR Project) and the wider Garden Town Project.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, sought approval to enter into an agreement with Tewkesbury Borough Council for the County Council to provide Highway Consultancy Services for the delivery of the Ashchurch Bridge over Rail Project.

Cllr Moor informed members that Tewkesbury Borough Council (TBC) had been awarded funding from Homes England through the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) to build a bridge over the railway in Ashchurch. The aim of the bridge would be to unlock the Garden Town development opportunity to the north east of Tewkesbury. Cllr Moore stated that the Council would play an important role in assisting to facilitate the requirement for housing in the county. 

He explained that the decision would enable GCC, as Highways Authority, to provide technical expertise to TBC and facilitate the delivery of the ABoR Project. The project would be funded in its entirety by TBC, using a grant of £8m from the Housing Infrastructure Fund, received from Homes England. It was noted that TBC would be the “client” for the purposes of the project. Hence, TBC would itself procure construction works in respect of the project and contract directly with the successful tenderer thereunder. Both Atkins and GCC staff would provide guidance and supervision in relation to Project Management, Design, Planning and Construction Supervision.

Cllr Moor stated that the Council’s expertise as Highways Authority would be utilised to design and construct a fully compliant bridge and link roads to the relevant highway standards. It was anticipated that, as Highways Authority, the Council would adopt the highway and the highway structure when the bridge was opened to public for vehicle use. Regular risk assessments would be carried out, to be undertaken by a project team set up to support and monitor the project.

Cllr Moor explained that the design stage of the project would be completed by April 2020, following immediate negotiations with Network Rail. Noting the importance of the proposal to much needed investment in housing development for the county, Cabinet commended the decision. 

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

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet delegate authority to the Lead Commissioner, Highway Authority, (in consultation with Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning), to authorise Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), as Highways Authority, to enter into a Consultancy Services Agreement with Tewkesbury Borough Council (TBC) under which GCC shall provide Project Management, Design, Planning and Construction Supervision, in connection with the Ashchurch Bridge over Rail (ABoR Project) and the wider Garden Town Project.

To seek approval to commence Phase 2 of the council’s review of bed based care services prior to development of new contract terms in conjunction with delivery of the council’s support services.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning, sought approval to commence Phase 2 of the council’s review of bed based care services prior to development of new contract terms in conjunction with delivery of the council’s support services.

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

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet delegate authority to the Interim Head of Integrated Commissioning (Older People) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning to:

1. Approve the initiation of “Phase 2” of the review of the council’s bed-based care services contract (known as the “Pre-Placement Contract” or the PPC);

2. Conduct a consultation process with care home providers that will inform the development of new bed based care contract terms); and

3. Develop such new contract terms in conjunction with the council’s support services;

in anticipation of such new contract terms being brought back to Cabinet for approval in December 2020, prior to implementation of a procurement process for bed based care services.

Cllr Carole Allaway Martin, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning, sought approval to commence Phase 2 of the council’s review of bed based care services prior to development of new contract terms in conjunction with delivery of the council’s support services.

Cllr Allaway Martin explained that the current Pre-Placement Contract, (dated 2006), did not include recent legislation and that the council’s commissioning expectations were not being met by the current contract.

To address this issue, the work that would be required involved making some significant changes, which could be divided into three stages. 

Stage 1 of the work was currently nearing completion. This comprised a Deed of Variation (DOV) to the existing contract (PPC) being drafted to include GDPR and the Care Act. Cllr Allaway Martin confirmed that the DOV had been signed off by the Director of Adult Social Care and shared with providers for signing.

Stage 2 involved the development of a new bed based care contract and would include some elements which would be fundamentally different from the current arrangements (as detailed in the report). A detailed analysis of the consequences of any changes would be carried out and any mitigating actions would be identified prior to bringing the new contract to Cabinet for approval.

Stage 3 required a decision from cabinet to agree the new contract and procurement process. This decision would be presented for consideration in December 2020.

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

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet delegate authority to the Interim Head of Integrated Commissioning (Older People) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Commissioning to:

1. Approve the initiation of “Phase 2” of the review of the council’s bed-based care services contract (known as the “Pre-Placement Contract” or the PPC);

2. Conduct a consultation process with care home providers that will inform the development of new bed based care contract terms); and

3. Develop such new contract terms in conjunction with the council’s support services;

in anticipation of such new contract terms being brought back to Cabinet for approval in December 2020, prior to implementation of a procurement process for bed based care services.

Cabinet to appoint a council (member) representative on to the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors.

Cabinet agreed the appointment of Cllr Brian Robinson as council representative on the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors.

Cabinet agreed the appointment of Cllr Brian Robinson as council representative on the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors.