Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cummins.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2016

Decision Made:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Commissioning Support and Business Intelligence

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Commissioning Support and Business Intelligence which provided details of the current contractual arrangements and the proposals for the future procurement of Domiciliary Care services in Sefton.

The Leader of the Council asked officers to be timely in the consideration of contract procurement extensions and to avoid extensions of contracts if possible.

Decision Made:

That having given full consideration to all of the information provided in the report, approval be given to the extension of the existing Domiciliary Care contracts for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.

Reasons for Decision:

The Council has current Domiciliary Care contracts in place with four Providers which were awarded from 1April 2012 following a competitive tendering exercise. The contracts were for an initial set term of five years and included a provision that they could be extended for a further period up to two years from 1April 2017.

The existing contracts have been extended for an additional twelve month period from 1 April 2017 to 31st March 2018 in order to provide stability of provider for service users, allow sufficient time to develop, trial and review a revised outcome based service model and to conduct a new competitive procurement exercise in order to award new contracts from 1 April 2018 onwards.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The following options were considered and rejected:

1.    Do not extend existing contracts and conduct procurement exercise for the awarding of new contracts from 1 April 2017 onwards

This option was considered but was not recommended as it would mean either maintaining largely the current service specification/delivery arrangements or implementing changes that are untested. Instead the recommended approach enables us to work with known providers to test a new model/approach before procuring longer term contracts to deliver the new model/approach. In addition, one contracted provider had served notice to terminate the contract early, necessitating the identification of a replacement provider during the current contract term. If the contracts were to terminate in April 2017, service users and care workers would face the concern and disruption of two potential changes in provider/employer within a matter of a few months.

2.    Extend existing contracts for an additional two year period

This was considered but was not recommended as it delays the full open procurement of a new model and possibly the full realisation of benefits from such a model, beyond the 12 months considered necessary.

Report of the Executive Director

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director which provided details of the development of a new Vision for the Borough, which had been produced through close working with partners, businesses, private sector organisations, the voluntary, community and faith sector and the community. The Vision and Outcomes Framework would help the Council focus on what’s important and to be ambitious for the Borough and its communities in the future.

This report provided the feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and an updated 2030 Vision Outcomes framework for consideration.

Decision Made: That

(1)       the Overview and Scrutiny Committees be thanked for their comments and it be noted that their comments and feedback had been reflected in the Outcomes Framework set out in Annex B of the report and will be reflected in the development of future engagement plans and activity;

(2)       the recommended changes to the themes set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report be approved;

(3)       the Council be recommended to approve the Core Purpose set at in paragraph 2.13 of the report;

(4)       subject to any required changes, the Council be recommended to approve the Vision and Outcomes Framework set out in Annex B of the report;

(5)       it be noted that the Outcomes Framework for Change will help the Council deliver against the Vision and the new Core Purpose;

(6)       changes be made to the formal documentation to evidence the impact of the above decisions against the Vision and Council’s Core Purpose; and

(7)       the current two sponsors Councillor Patricia Hardy and Councillor Paulette Lappin, retain an overview sponsorship role.

Reasons for Decision:

Sefton Council is leading on developing a new and exciting vision for the future of the borough and wants anyone who lives, works or visits Sefton to be involved. Working closely with partners, businesses, private sector organisations, the voluntary, community and faith sector and the wider Sefton community, the aim is to focus on what is important and to be ambitious for the borough and its communities in the future.

Imagine Sefton 2030 engaged the public, local businesses and potential investors in creating a vision that would collectively promote shared prosperity, coordinated public investment, and a healthy environment and population.

The Vision and Outcomes Framework would guide long term planning - helping to collectively stimulate growth, prosperity, set new expectation levels and to help focus on what is important for Sefton.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The role of the public sector is changing and so the Council and partners must prepare for the future. Doing nothing is not an option and a silo based approach would not maximise opportunities for the borough.

Report of the Head of Corporate Resources

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Corporate Resources which provided details of the current forecast outturn position for the Council for 2016/17 at the end of August 2016 based on the latest analysis of expenditure and income due to the Council, in addition to the progress in delivering approved savings; the current forecast on Council Tax and Business Rates collection for 2016/17; the current position of the Capital Programme and proposals for the addition of resources for new capital allocations to the Capital Programme.

Decision Made: That

(1)          the current forecast outturn position as at the end of August 2016 be noted;

(2)          the progress to date on the achievement of approved savings for 2016/17 and residual savings carried forward from previous years be noted;

(3)          the forecast position on the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates for 2016/17 be noted;

(4)          the current position of the 2016/17 Capital Programme be noted; and

(5)          the Council be recommended to include the additional capital allocations, outlined in paragraph 6.4 and 6.7 of the report, to the 2016/17 Capital Programme.

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure Cabinet are informed of the forecast outturn position for the revenue budget and delivery of savings as at end of August 2016; the updated forecast of the outturn position with regard to the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates; the latest forecast outturn of the Capital Programme, and to seek the inclusion of additional schemes financed from Section 106 monies into the Capital Programme.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.