Cabinet Minutes

Date:
Thursday, 12th November, 2020
Time:
4.30pm
Place:
Remote meeting only conducted via Microsoft Teams
 
Please note: all Minutes are subject to approval at the next Meeting

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr Jim Beall ( Chair), Cllr Nigel Cooke, Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy, Cllr Steve Nelson, Cllr Michael Smith
Officers:
Julie Danks, Margaret Waggott, Nigel Hart , Sarah Whaley, Gary Woods (MD), Beccy Brown, Jonathan Nertney (HR&L), Garry Cummings, Lisa Tague, Jane Johnson (F,D&BS), Martin Gray (CHS), Reuben Kench (CL&E), Jamie McCann (CS), Emma Champley (AH).
In Attendance:
Cllrs Louise Baldock, Evaline Cunningham, Clare Gamble, Lynn Hall, Tony Riordan and Sylvia Walmsley.
Apologies for absence:
Cllr Bob Cook, Lisa Evans.
Item Description Decision
Public
CAB
27/20		 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 Councillor Nelson declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in respect of the item entitled Targeted Action Area Review and Next Steps as he was a Board Member on Thirteen, housing provider.

Councillors Beall and Cooke each declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in respect of the item entitled Licensing Act 2003 - Statement of Licensing Policy Review 2021 as a result of being non remunerated Board members on Tees Music Alliance.

Councillor Nigel Cooke declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in respect of the item entitled Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee - Scrutiny Review of Hospital Discharge (Phase 1) as a result of his employment with the TEWV F.T. Councillor Ann McCoy also declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in respect of the same item being a member on the TEWV Board.
CAB
28/20		 MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 15TH OCTOBER 2020 - FOR SIGNATURE/APPROVAL
Preamble
 
CAB
29/20		 TARGETED ACTION AREA REVIEW AND NEXT STEPS
 
Cabinet Decision Record D200037
Preamble
RESOLVED that:-

1.Cabinet approve the extension of the Private Landlord Led Membership scheme review until 18 months after the scheme was initially launched (review to be take place post March 2021).

2.Cabinet note that key TAA work areas will continue to be maintained and delivered through existing Council service teams and community engagement activities organised via Catalyst; and that key work areas would also be considered as part of the Councils planned response to COVID; and that appropriate consultation and engagement is carried out with all relevant Ward Councillors going forward.
CAB
30/20		 FINANCIAL POSITION AND UPDATE TO THE MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN
 
Cabinet Decision Record D200038
Preamble
RESOLVED that Cabinet note the position.
CAB
31/20		 LICENSING ACT 2003 - STATEMENT OF LICENSING POLICY REVIEW 2021
 
Cabinet Decision Record D200039
Preamble
RECOMMENDED to Council that the current Statement of Licensing Policy be readopted.
CAB
32/20		 ADULT SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE - SCRUTINY REVIEW OF HOSPITAL DISCHARGE (PHASE 1)
 
Cabinet Decision Record D200040
Preamble
RESOLVED that:-

1) There is continued regular engagement between local NHS Trusts, SBC and care providers regarding escalation-planning and how this will be managed, with arrangements to be agreed by all stakeholders.

2) North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust provide a prompt response to the communication issues raised by care homes through the survey undertaken as part of this review.

3) The recently issued ‘designated settings’ guidance (for discharge of positive COVID-19 cases from hospital to CQC-approved care home accommodation) be fully implemented.

4) Planning for the use of the Council’s Rosedale Centre (a recently CQC-approved ‘designated setting’) for a second surge takes into account the possibility of higher demand than what was required from March 2020.

5) Local leaders support the desired expansion and funding of local Trust testing capabilities, and that any increase in capacity be prioritised for both Trust and care home staff and patients / residents.

6) Regular testing of care home staff and residents is supported, with a continued push for a quicker turnaround in the notification of test results.

7) The latest guidance from the UK Government, in conjunction with recognised best practice, is fully understood and acted upon by key partners, and is considered during the regular dialogue that takes place between health and social care services.
CAB
33/20		 STOCKTON ON TEES ELECTORAL REVIEW 2020 - WARD BOUNDARY REVIEW-PHASE 2 - WARDING PATTERN CONSULTATION
SUMMARY
Preamble
RECOMMENDED to Council that the responses received as part of Phase 2 Warding Patterns consultation be noted and be submitted to The Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
4.30pm-5.30pm

Preamble

ItemPreamble
CAB
28/20		The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15th October 2020 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
CAB
29/20		Cabinet noted that the Targeted Action Area (TAA) initiative had been established following Cabinet approval in November 2017. At that particular time, two areas of the borough ‘North Thornaby’ (the Victoria area within the Mandale and Victoria ward) and ‘Central Stockton’ were identified as areas which would benefit from a localised and targeted approach to tackling issues related to private rented housing and crime/anti-social behaviour.

Central to the TAA project have been attempts to work collaboratively with local communities and in partnership with agencies such as the police, fire brigade and Registered Housing providers. Given the project had been operating for almost three years, Cabinet were provided with highlights of what had been also achieved to date, reasons why it was now timely to cease the project in its current standalone form, and that key work areas be now incorporated into day-to-day service activity. The report also included an update on the Private Landlord Led Membership Scheme (aimed at driving up standards, property and management of private rented housing) which would continue, and Cabinet approval was sought to extend the formal evaluation of this scheme.

In terms of future working, whilst the TAA scheme as a standalone project would cease, there was an ongoing commitment to supporting these 2 localities through:

•The additional Private Sector Officer and Case Management (Community Enforcement) Officer roles will continue. This will enable both services to continue to deliver a proactive enforcement approach to issues related to both poor private sector housing and crime/anti-social behaviour.

•Partnership working with the police and local housing providers (including information exchange and joint problem solving) is now well-established and will continue through established forums.

•Community Engagement activities (including community communication) will be organised via Catalyst. Catalyst are best placed to organise the delivery of such activities via the established VCSE network.

•The Private Landlord Led Membership would continue. A formal review would be presented back to Cabinet after the scheme has been in operation for 18-months. Representatives from the Councils Private Sector Housing Team would continue to represent the Council on the scheme Steering Group.

Concern was expressed that Ward Members had not been consulted fully on these proposals and therefore it was proposed that Recommendation 2 in the report - the continuation of TAA work areas delivered through Council service areas and Catalyst - be approved on the basis that appropriate consultation and engagement is carried out with all relevant Ward Councillors going forward.
CAB
30/20		Cabinet were provided with an update on the latest financial position of the Council, including a projection for the current financial year and the emerging issues for the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP). The report built upon the report to Council in July 2020 which covered the impact of COViD and approved the use of balances to fund the position should this be necessary. This report updates the position, integrating the COViD impacts into the Council’s overall financial position.

The Covid-19 situation had brought significant uncertainty and volatility to the financial position in 2020/21 and, as widely reported, the pandemic is having a significant financial impact on the financial position of all local authorities. The Government have recognised this and have responded with several announcements of additional funding to support the sector.

To date, Covid Emergency Grant Support amounting to £16.499m had been allocated by Government to Stockton. This is an increase of £3.684m on that previously reported, as a fourth tranche of funding was announced in October 2020.

In addition, a Sales, Fees and Charges Income Compensation Scheme had also been introduced. This income compensation scheme was currently projected to generate between £1.5m and £2.1m in 2020/21. There was no indication currently that either of these significant funding streams would continue beyond 2020/21.

The Council had also been allocated funding to support specific service areas to support the response to COViD. It was anticipated that this funding would be fully utilised by services delivering these new responsibilities:

Business Grant Administration -£170,000
Test and Trace Allocation -£1,311,000
Return to Education Funding -£28,000
Compliance and Enforcement -£110,000
Re-opening High Streets Safely - £175,000
Fund

The financial position for 2020/21 was still evolving and would inevitably continue to do so as the impact of the pandemic becomes clearer. The position had been projected on best available information to the 30th September, but could however change significantly depending upon the impact of the pandemic over the next five months, the response required by the Council and any further Government funding. Since the report had been produced, the Government had announced further Business Support Scheme funding.

The overall position was detailed which incorporated the anticipated COViD pressures and current Government income. Detail was also provided of the additional funding now administered by the Council and the current Capital Programme as at the end of September.

Accepting all of the caveats outlined in the report, this indicated that the previous anticipated call on balances would not be required at this particular moment.

The position for future years however remained extremely uncertain. Not only was it unclear as to any ongoing financial implications of COViD, members were reminded that there is a one year Spending Review and Local Government Finance Settlement bringing no long term funding certainty.

CAB
31/20		Cabinet's views were sought for a proposal to readopt the current Statement of Licensing Policy which was statutorily due to renew by January 2021 until such a time as temporary legislation etc ceased, and there was sufficient and meaningful consultation carried out with licence holders in the hospitality trade and relevant stake holders. A final decision on the proposal would be made by full Council.

The Licensing Act 2003 required all Local Authorities to develop a Statement of Licensing Policy, and policies were to be reviewed at least every five years. Recent Government advice received was for local authorities to readopt the current Statement of Licensing Policy given the impact of COVID 19 on the licensed trade, the revised government regulations and current rules impacting the trade. It was considered that this provided a pragmatic and fair approach to all those working within the licensable activity sector, whilst continuing to meet our statutory obligations under the Licensing Act 2003.

The proposal to readopt the current Statement of Licensing Policy was circulated for response to Responsible Authorities under the Licensing Act 2003 and relevant Members, as well as being advertised on the Licensing website and within all library notice boards. Comments were to be received by 26 October 2020. No comments objecting to the proposal have been received.

The Licensing Authority plan to consult with licence holders in the hospitality trade and relevant stakeholders as and when the trade regains some degree of normal trading.
CAB
32/20		Consideration was given to the final report that presented the outcomes of the Adult Social Care & Health Select Committee review of Hospital Discharge (Phase 1).

The Chair of the Select Committee and Cabinet members wished to place on record their thanks and appreciation to all who contributed to this review, and in particular to the Care Homes that took part, and to the officers who lent their support.

CAB
33/20		Cabinet, at its meeting held on 17th September 2020, recommended to Council approval of the proposed Council Size submission as part of the Local Government Boundary Commission Stockton on Tees Electoral Review 2020. This submission was subsequently approved by Council and forwarded to the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) for comment.

Cabinet note that the Commission had now responded and confirmed that they had approved our future Council Size of 56 Members; a decision which should now be applied when considering the next phase of the consultation, Phase 2 examining warding patterns.

Phase 2 - Consultation on Warding Patterns commenced with all elected members from 24th September - 29th October 2020 and the results from this consultation were summarised at Appendix 1 to the report.

The deadline for submission of comments as part of this consultation was scheduled to end on11th January 2021 and comments can be submitted direct to LGBC via their website.

The Commission’s decision on council size will not be formalised until the Final Recommendations are agreed and published at the end of August 2021.

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