Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alan Jarrett (Leader of the Council) and Rupert Turpin (Business Management).

The record of the meeting held on 7 March 2017 was agreed and signed by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services as a correct record.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

Councillor Filmer declared an interest in agenda item 8 (Transfer of Information Centre Function at Chatham Waterfront Way Bus Station to Medway Norse) because he is a Director of Medway Norse. He left the room during consideration of this item.

(The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services varied the order of the agenda so that item 8 (Transfer of Information Centre Function at Chatham Waterfront Way Bus Station to Medway Norse) was considered as the last agenda item.)

Other interests

There were none.

Background:

This report provided details of the outcomes of the consultation agreed by Cabinet on 20 December 2016 on proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy for both mainstream children and for children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND). An overview of consultation outcomes and proposed changes was provided in paragraph 3 of the report.

The report provided details of the comments of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee which discussed this matter on 9 March 2017.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) was included at Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

To provide greater financial sustainability as budget spend is reduced and directed to those in greatest financial need.

Background:

This report provided details of the recent consultation outcomes concerning the move towards families primarily using Direct Payments to purchase community-based Short Breaks. An overview of consultation outcomes was provided in paragraph 5 of the report.

In addition, the report provided an overview of the proposed changes to enhance the overnight Short Breaks service currently provided by Aut Even.

The report provided details of the comments of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 6 October 2016, 6 December 2016, and 9 March 2017.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) was included at Appendix 2 to the report.

With reference to the proposal to move the overnight Short Breaks service from Aut Even to Parklands, the report recommended that discussions be undertaken with the Medway Clinical Commissioning Group and that an eight-week public consultation be undertaken to gain feedback from all interested parties.

Reasons:

To improve the support provided to children with disabilities and their families by providing early support and low-level intervention which will reduce the need for emergency and long-term placements and contribute towards cost savings across a range of services.

To enhance the current overnight Short Breaks service to enable the service to expand, thereby providing additional support to children with disabilities and their families.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Background:

This report provided details of the outcomes of the informal consultation agreed by Cabinet on 27 September 2016 on the proposals to enlarge the premises and change the lower age limit at Halling Primary School, by way of statutory prescribed alterations. An overview of consultation outcomes was provided in paragraph 5 of the report.

A transcript of the public consultation meeting held on 11 January 2017 to discuss the proposed expansion was included in Appendix 4 to the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) screening form was included at Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

Proceeding to a period of statutory representation will ensure the Council complies with its duty to follow the full consultation process when proposing changes to school organisation.

Background:

This report provided details of the outcomes of the informal consultation agreed by Cabinet on 27 September 2016 on the proposals to enlarge the premises and change the lower age limit at St Mary’s Island Church of England Primary School, by way of statutory prescribed alterations. An overview of consultation outcomes was provided in paragraph 5 of the report.

A transcript of the public consultation meeting held on 27 January 2017 to discuss the proposed expansion was included in Appendix 4 to the report

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) screening form was included at Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

Proceeding to a period of statutory representation will ensure the Council complies with its duty to follow the full consultation process when proposing changes to school organisation.

Background:

This report provided details of the proposed transfer of the Information Centre function at the Chatham Waterfront Way Bus Station to the Council’s joint venture company, Medway Norse, to enable the service to achieve savings and service efficiencies. This would include the provision of information and ticket sales at the Information Centre within the Facilities Management contract.

The report stated that the transfer of the Information Centre function would take effect from 1 June 2017 subject to necessary transition activity.

An Exempt Appendix provided details of the outline business case, options appraisal and detailed business case.

Reasons:

Combining the Information Centre service with the Facilities Management service already provided by Medway Norse will ensure that operation of the Bus Station facility is more efficient. Combining the services will also provide Medway Norse with the opportunity of reviewing and streamlining the service to achieve further efficiencies. Medway Norse also have a good range of customer service trained staff who will be able to add additional value to the Information Centre service.

Background:

This report set out a proposal to agree a 20% increase in the Council’s planning fees from 1 July 2017 in line with proposals set out in the recent Government white paper ‘Fixing our broken Housing Market’ which was published on 7 February 2017.

The report stated that this provided an opportunity to make improvements to resourcing, leading to better services, improved performance and greater capacity to deliver growth in the planning service.

Reasons:

To deliver growth in Medway and help meet the Local Plan target for housing needs. 

Background:

This report provided details of a proposal to make an agreement with Gravesham Borough Council to place Medway Council’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO) at the disposal of Gravesham Borough Council.

The report noted that the agreement to place any of its officers at the disposal of another local authority could be agreed by Cabinet as set out in Chapter 3, Part 1 – Responsibility for local choice functions, function 16 of the Council’s Constitution.

Reasons:

To complete the formalities required for implementation of Gravesham Borough Council’s decision to designate Medway Council’s Chief Legal Officer as its Monitoring Officer.

Background:

This report presented information on vacancies that officers had requested approval to commence recruitment for, following the process agreed by Cabinet on 7 January 2003 (decision number 9/2003).

Details of the posts were set out within Appendix 1 to the report.

An addendum report was circulated which provided details of an additional post.

Reasons:

The posts presented to Cabinet will support the efficient running of the Council.

Background:

This report sought approval to commence the procurement of adult substance misuse specialist treatment services following review and discussion at Procurement Board on 15 March 2017.

The report noted that the current contract would end on 30 June 2018, but that the Council would offer a new contract start date from 1 April 2018 as the current service provider was due to stop providing a service on 31 March 2018.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) was included at Appendix 1 to the report.

An Exempt Appendix provided details of the financial analysis in respect of procurement of this service.

An addendum report was circulated which provided details of comments of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 March 2017.

Reasons:

Specialist treatment for adult substance misusers delivered in community settings enables adults in effective treatment that directly supports their recovery from problematic substance misuse, rebuilding relationships, improving outcomes for families engaged with Medway social care services, mental health services, community and acute health services and reducing involvement in offending behaviour. The provision also directly contributes to reductions in anti-social behaviour.

By commissioning specialist community-based recovery resources and interventions, recovery can be sustained in a more robust and long lasting way, improving outcomes for individuals and families affected by problematic substance misuse and directly supporting the performance of key partners and stakeholders.

Background:

This report sought approval to commence the joint procurement with Kent County Council of an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) Provision.

The report noted that the existing Joint Medway-Kent IFA Framework agreement was due to end in June 2017, with a new framework starting from 1 September 2017.

The report also noted that proposals for a renewed Framework were discussed and reviewed by the Procurement Board on 15 March 2017.

An Exempt Appendix provided details of the financial analysis in respect of procurement of this service.

Reasons:

The current framework is no longer fit for purpose and ends in June 2017. A three-month extension will be applied until 31 August 2017 allowing time to procure the revised model.

Background:

This report sought permission for the award of an NHS contract for a Young Persons’ Wellbeing Service, to which the Council was an Associate Commissioner and co-funder.

The report noted that following consideration by the Procurement Board on 11 May 2016, the Cabinet approved the commencement of this requirement at Gateway 1 on 25 October 2016. 

An Exempt Appendix provided information in respect of a financial analysis, evaluation and award, parallel procurement exercises and a Regulation 84 (Public Contracts Regulations 2015) procurement report.

Reasons:

The Provider’s proposed solution and offer to deliver the service meets the objective criteria set out in the tender documents and represents value for money for the Council, as well as providing an opportunity for positive change to the service delivery model.