Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Wednesday 15th July 2020 10:00am

Venue: Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams

Contact: Mike Bradbury  Email: michael.bradbury@staffordshire.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

148.

Decision notice of the meeting held on 17 June 2020 pdf icon PDF 168 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision – That the notes of the meeting held on 17 June 2020 be approved.

149.

Leader's Update

Oral report of the Leader of the Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision – That the oral report of the Leader of the Council giving an update on a range of issues including the how the County Council is working closely with Public Health England and borough councils to manage any new Covid-19 outbreaks and stop the spread of the infection; businesses across Staffordshire reopening their doors in recent weeks and the County Council’s continuing work to support them with everything from grants to PPE packs; the reopening of more council services, including some of our libraries, our registrars service for weddings, and our heritage services; and the ongoing work with schools to help them prepare for all children and young people returning to education in September; be noted.

150.

Minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 1 July 2020 pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision – That the minutes of the meeting of the Property Sub-Committee held on 1 July 2020 be received.

151.

Integrated Performance Report - Quarter 1, 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 258 KB

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Philip Atkins

 

 

 

“Before Coronavirus struck, we had allocated two-thirds of this year’s budget to adult care and supporting vulnerable children and young people. The future implications for this authority, particularly around the rising costs of adult care and children’s services, remain a serious concern.

 

Throughout the pandemic, we have continued to support those who need us the most. This includes the care sector, where we have helped 343 care providers and pledged around £15.5million to help with their day to day duties. We’ve also provided nearly 2 million pieces of PPE to ensure staff can do their job safely.  This is in addition to our support for vulnerable families through our Family Hubs, and local businesses through our Business Support Fund.

 

Lockdown restrictions are easing, but there is still a long way to go for the economy, both on a local and national level, to recover. We need to work with Central Government to help our communities recover economically in the short term and, in the long term, find a sustainable solution to the national problem of providing social care.

 

We are currently managing our £10 million overspend well, and continue to respond to the crisis and its aftermath.”

 

Philip Atkins OBE, Leader of the Council

 

The overspend is mostly due to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also due to cost pressures in adult social care and children and families services that were evident before the crisis hit.

 

The Coronavirus pandemic has put extra pressures on council finances as we deal with the crisis, but we continue to do what is needed and to spend on what is required to get through the pandemic. We continue to support and look after those in adult health care who need our support at the same time as protecting vulnerable children in our care, both of which remain our key priority.

 

We continue to ensure that the county council and its finances are managed carefully and effectively.  Be assured, wherever spending is necessary, we will always try and get the best value for money for tax-payers and our residents”.

 

Mike Sutherland, Cabinet Member for Finance

 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an overview of the Council’s progress, performance and financial position in delivering against its Strategic Plan and Delivery Plan.

 

Decision That the report be received.

152.

The Award of the Service and Testing of Domestic Water Systems Framework Agreement pdf icon PDF 223 KB

Cabinet Member for Commercial

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

“Ensuring we get maximum value and benefit from all our contracts is a key priority for this council.

 

This new award will not only do that, but will ensure that water systems in our buildings are inspected, maintained and remain fit for purpose.”

 

Mark Deaville, Cabinet Member for Commercial

 

Reasons for the Decision To consider to the procurement process to secure and manage the Framework Agreement for the service and testing of domestic water systems which will commence around 1 September 2020 for up to 4 years.

 

Decision – (a) That the Council concludes its regulated procurement in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for the Service and Testing of Domestic Water Systems (the “Framework Agreement”), in readiness for an agreement commencement of 1 September 2020.

 

(b) That, following the conclusion of the procurement, authority be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services to approve:

 

            i.       the Framework Agreement to be awarded and entered into with the successful tenderer to the Framework Agreement; and

          ii.        all subsequent call-off contracts under the Framework Agreement to be awarded and entered into with the successful tenderer under this Framework Agreement;

         iii.       any novation of the Framework Agreement and call-off contracts to a new provider or variations to the terms of the Framework Agreement or call-off contracts, in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (if applicable); and

         iv.       the 2 x 1-year extension to the Framework Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (if applicable).

 

153.

Provision of Apprenticeship Services pdf icon PDF 219 KB

Cabinet Member for Learning and Employability

Additional documents:

Minutes:

“The training and placing of apprentices is one of our top priorities as a council, and is a vital part of our strategy to bring growth and prosperity to Staffordshire.

 

Apprenticeships are high-quality pathways to successful careers. They also provide opportunities for new and existing employees to develop and progress, which helps the county council to meet our current and future skills needs. Having a system that allows us to procure and manage training easily is therefore essential.”

 

Philip White, Cabinet Member for Learning and Employability

 

Reasons for the Decision – To consider changing to a new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to procure apprenticeship provision as the current system will be not be extended for use after September 2020.

 

Decision – (a) That the Council to join the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation’s (ESPO) Apprenticeship Dynamic Purchasing System (ADPS) 554_18 for the fixed period of 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2024; and

 

(b) That the Council’s Assistant Director for Skills and Employability continues to be authorised to approve the award of contracts with training providers through the ESPO ADPS, and the release of funds from the apprenticeship levy to fund training.

 

(c) That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Learning and Employability, in discussion with the Assistant Director for Skills and Employability, to develop a number of asks of Government to decentralise responsibilities and resources to enable Staffordshire to drive the local skills agenda, and that regular updates be provided to Cabinet on progress.  

154.

Update from COVID-19 Member Led Local Outbreak Control Board pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Reasons for the Decision – To consider an update from the COVID-19 Member Led Local Outbreak Control Board including the development of a Covid-19 Local Outbreak Control Plan to help identify outbreaks, prevent the spread of infection.

 

Decision – That the report be received.

155.

Decisions taken by Cabinet Members under Delegated Powers pdf icon PDF 188 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decision – That the following decisions taken by Cabinet Members under delegated powers be noted:

 

Cabinet Member

Decision

Cabinet Member for Economic Growth

In approving the making of an allocation of £90,000 for the delivery of Emergency Start Back PPE signposting and the distribution of 2,000 free Emergency Start Back PPE Packs for Micro Businesses (9 employees or less) in priority sectors who work in close proximity and unable to maintain social distancing.

 

 

156.

Forward Plan of Key Decisions pdf icon PDF 231 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 19 August to 16 December 2020, which detailed the following issues, was approved:

 

Subject Matter

Contact

Treasury Management report for the year ended 31 March 2020

Name: Rob Salmon

Tel: (01785) 276354

Review of Future Use of Kingston Centre, Stafford

Name: Andrew Marsden/ Ian Turner

Tel: (01785) 278787/

277228

Mitigation Plans for Cannock Chase Special Area of Conservation

Name: Janene Cox

Tel: (01785) 278368

North Staffordshire Ministerial Direction for Nitrogen Dioxide - Project Update

Name: Clive Thomson

Tel: (01785) 276522

Refurbishment of Council Owned Older People Nursing Home

Name: Andrew Jepps

Tel: (01785) 278557

Waste Disposal Arrangements in the North of Staffordshire from 2025

Name: Clive Thomson

Tel: (01785) 276522

Nexxus Trading Services Limited - Annual Report 2019/2020

Name: Dr Richard Harling/

Helen Riley

Tel: (01785) 278700/ 278580

Recommissioning of Home Care Services

Name: Helen Trousdale

Tel: (01785) 277008

Adult Learning Disability 2022 Community Offer: Update on Learning Disability Services Directly Provided by Staffordshire County Council

Name: Andrew Jepps

Tel: (01785) 278557

Integrated Performance Report 2020-21 - Quarter 2

Name: Andrew Donaldson/ Rob Salmon

Tel: (01785) 278399/ 276354

Children’s and Families (including SEND) System Transformation – Update

Name: Janene Cox

Tel: (01785) 278368

 

 

 

 

Philip Atkins OBE

Leader of the County Council