Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 November 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2012 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2012.

The minutes of Cabinet (Capital Assets) Committee held on 6 November 2012 were presented.

Resolved:

To receive and note minutes of Cabinet (Capital Assets) Committee held on 6 November 2012.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee’

Councillor Jon Hubbard declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 8 (Tenancy Strategy) as the Vice-Chairman of Selwood Housing.  Councillor Hubbard clarified that he would remain in the room for the debate.

As this was the last meeting of the Cabinet in 2012, the Leader thanked Cabinet colleagues, and in particular the officers for their professional help and support during the year.

The Leader commented that members of the public were welcome to participate in the discussion on items on the agenda.

                   Report of the Service Director for Highways and Transport                                               

Councillor Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, presented the report, which invited Cabinet to consider proposals to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the Council’s street lighting following the recent public consultation.

Councillor Nigel Carter presented the report of the rapid scrutiny exercise which had been undertaken on this report.  Copies of the Scrutiny report were made available.

In response to the scrutiny recommendation that option 4 (installation of LED lighting) should be considered alongside option 3, Councillor Tonge acknowledged that there were savings available through LEDs, however it was considered that the capital costs of installation would decrease further as the technology developed.  As such it was recommended that option 4 be reviewed in 12 months’ time.

Councillor Tonge added that as the proposals required capital funding, this bid would now progress through the Council’s capital bidding gateway process.

Resolved:

That energy savings should be obtained by a scheme to:

(i)         Introduce Part Night Lighting where feasible so that approximately half of the street lights are turned off between midnight and 5.30 a.m.

(ii)       Dim lighting levels at less busy times where appropriate and technically feasible.

(iii)      Use LED lighting or similar energy efficient lighting on new installations.

(iv)      Turn off street lighting where there are no significant pedestrian movements and it is not required for safety reasons.

(v)       Introduce a Street Lighting Management System to provide more responsive and flexible control over the operation of the Council’s street lights.

Reason for the decision

There is a need to reduce street lighting costs because of budget constraints and rising energy costs and carbon tax, and the need to meet the Council’s carbon reduction targets.

The assessment of options indicates that the best balance is a package of measures, including the conversion of about half the existing lights to operate for part of the night, and turning out some lights permanently, and dimming others at off peak periods.

The chosen option would have good economic returns and provide flexibility to adapt to future changes in energy costs and carbon tax.  It has been assessed with a 25 year business case model using a standard Net Present Value appraisal method (NPV). Three scenarios of energy cost increases have been modelled to allow for uncertainties about future energy costs, and overall the chosen option represents a good investment.

                   Report of the Service Director Adult Care and Housing Strategy

Councillor John Thomson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Adult Care, Communities and Housing, introduced the report which invited Cabinet to consider and adopt Wiltshire’s first Tenancy Strategy as required by the Localism Act, to set a framework for the housing providers across Wiltshire to have ‘regard to’ when developing their own tenancy policies.

Resolved:

That the Tenancy Policy be formally adopted.

Reasons for decision

The Localism Bill (2012), S150 places a duty on the Local Authority to prepare and publish a Tenancy Strategy by January 2013.

Report by the Head of Policy, Performance and Corporate Business

Management.

Councillor John Brady, Cabinet member for Finance, Performance and Risk, introduced the report which provided a summary of progress against Wiltshire Council’s Business Plan for the second quarter of 2012/13.

In relation to the Help to live at Home initiative, it was noted that the number of older people in Wiltshire who had been admitted to care homes in 2011/12 was 575, compared to 590 in 2010/11.  These figures compared favourably to adjoining authorities and the national average, and showed that the initiative was delivering real benefits in terms of supporting older people to remain in their own homes.

Resolved:

That the progress against the Business Plan be noted.

Report of the Service Director Finance

Councillor John Brady, Cabinet member for Finance, Performance and Risk, introduced the report, which presented the Council Tax Base 2013-14 for Cabinet’s approval. 

The Council is required to approve its Council Tax Base annually, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992.  The Council Tax Base 2013-2014 has to be notified to major precepting authorities by 31 January 2013.  Each Parish and Town council is also notified of the figure for its area.

Councillor Brady also explained the changes to the calculation which were required under the Localism Act 2011, noting that the overall Council Tax Base was lower under the new arrangements, and that this would impact on Town and Parish Councils when setting their precepts. 

Wiltshire Council had undertaken to ensure there was no impact on Town and Parish Councils in 2013/14, as many had already set their precept.  However, concern was expressed over the potential impact of the new arrangements on Town and Parish Councils in future years, as precept increases had been capped at 3%. 

It was considered that this would have a particular impact on larger councils with full time staff, and on smaller councils for whom 3% would be a very small rise, and did not allow for any one-off expenditure.  It was also noted that the required referendum for any increases above 3% could incur costs which would require an even higher increase.  The Leader and Councillor Jon Hubbard, as Leader of the Opposition, undertook to write to DCLG to set out these concerns and to give some examples of the excellent projects undertaken by Town and Parish Councils as a result of one-off precept increases which had been fully supported by the community, and noting that similar projects may not be possible in the future as a result of these changes.

Resolved:

To approve the Council Tax Base 2013-2014; and approve in principle, subject to any further announcements, regulations or guidance, a new local grant arrangement as set out under the Government’s published response to the outcome of its consultation on providing certainty for local precepting authorities funding.

Reason for decision

Before the Council Tax can be set by the Council in February 2013 a calculation has to be made and approved of the Council Tax Base, which is an annual requirement as laid out in the Local Government Act.

In addition, under new guidance to account for coalition’s imposed changes to Wiltshire’s tax base arising from a need to introduce a new local Council Tax Support Scheme, the Council is required to agree a local arrangement with local precepting authorities to pass down funding to these bodies to ensure they do not suffer financial loss from the unintended consequences of this new scheme.

Report of the Service Director Finance

Councillor John Brady, Cabinet member for Finance, Performance and Risk, introduced the report which advised Cabinet of the revenue budget monitoring position as at the end of Period 7 (end of October 2012) for the financial year 2012/2013 and highlighted new cost pressures or changes since the previous budget monitoring report on 23 October 2012.

Councillor Brady referred to the additional £1.7 million which was required from reserves to support the pressure on Safeguarding Children.  The Leader added that this was due to the increasing number of children who had been taken into care and was in line with the national trend.  In response to a question as to the cause for this increase, it was noted that the key causes were domestic abuse and substance abuse, and that the economic situation may be a contributing factor to these issues.

It was also noted that the Christmas period often generated additional work for the Safeguarding Children team, as domestic and substance abuse were usually higher at this time. The Leader noted the Cabinet’s appreciation for the hard work and dedication of officers in the Safeguarding Children team, for whom this would not be a period of holiday.

Resolved:

That the outcome of the Period 7 (October) budget monitoring be noted.

Reason for decision

To inform effective decision making and ensure a sound financial control environment.

                   Report of the Service Director for Highways and Transport                                               

Councillor Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, introduced the report, which invited Cabinet to award the Highways and Streetscene Contract.

Due to the need to discuss commercially sensitive information, the meeting moved into private session for the debate and decision on this item.

This is to give further notice in accordance with paragraph 5 (4) and 5 (5) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 of the intention to take the following item in private.

To consider passing the following resolution:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Item Number 14 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 I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Reason for taking item in private:

Paragraph 3 - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Resolved

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Item Number 14 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 I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Reason for taking item in private

Paragraph 3 - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

                   Report of the Service Director for Highways and Transport                                               

Resolved:

That:

(i)            The Highways and Streetscene Contract should be awarded to Contractor A.

(ii)          Cabinet authorises the Service Director for Highways and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to satisfy themselves as to the details regarding the Contract, and then to take all necessary steps to enter into the new Highways and Streetscene Contract.

Reasons for Proposals

(i)            The new Highway and Streetscene Contract has major benefits for the Council, including integrating the existing highways, streetscene and street lighting contracts to provide a more responsive service to customers and deliver efficient operation.

(ii)          The tenders received for the Contract were assessed in terms of price and quality, and the most advantageous tender has been identified and recommended for acceptance. The procurement process has been carried out in accordance with the regulations and Council procedures.

(iii)         The new Highways and Streetscene Contract will deliver efficiencies and cost reductions throughout the life of the Contract.  Further details and information will be reported at the meeting.

(iv)         There are processes in place to monitor the performance of the successful tenderer, and there are processes for incentivising performance by the potential award of extensions to the five year contract for up to two additional years. 

Following the decision, it was announced that Contractor A was Balfour Beatty.  The Cabinet expressed its thanks to Ringway for their work with the Council over a number of years, and the Leader undertook to write to Ringway, to convey  this.