Cabinet 20 March 2018

Chairman:     Councillor R Waltham
Venue:     Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Scunthorpe
Time:  4 pm
E-Mail Address: richard.mell@northlincs.gov.uk

 

AGENDA

1.       Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Personal or Personal and Prejudicial interests.
2.       To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 30 January, 2018.
3.       Forthcoming Action from Previous Meetings – Report of the Director: Governance and Partnerships.
4.        Budget Review 2017/18 – Report of the Director: Governance and Partnerships.
5.        Flood Risk Management Update – Report of the Director: Operations.
6.        Council Contribution to Winter Pressures – Report of the Director: Adults and Community Wellbeing.
7.       Dementia Extra Care Housing Scheme Update – Report of the Director: Business Development.
8.       Five Years On – The success of North Lincolnshire’s Imagination Library – Report of the Director: Learning, Skills and Culture.
9.       Community Defibrillator Scheme -Report of the Director: Children and Community  Resilience.
10.     Any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent by reason of special circumstances which must be specified.

MINUTES

PRESENT:-   Councillor Waltham MBE (chairman) in the Chair.

Councillors J Davison, Marper, Poole, Reed and Rose.

Councillors Armiger, Clark, Ellerby, L Foster, T Foster, Gosling, Mumby-Croft, O’Sullivan,  Perry, Swift, and Wilson also attended the meeting.

Denise Hyde, Simon Green, Mick Gibbs, Becky McIntyre, Helen Manderson, K Pavey, Penny Spring, Peter Thorpe, Peter Williams and Richard Mell attended the meeting.

The meeting was held at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

1297   DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS – The following members declared a personal interests –

Member Subject/Minute
Councillor Poole Member of Scunthorpe and Gainsborough

Water Management Board

Councillor Reed Member of Isle of Axholme and North

Nottinghamshire Water Management Board

Councillor Rose Member of Isle of Axholme and North Nottinghamshire Water Management Board
Councillor Waltham MBE Ancholme Internal Drainage Board

1298   MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 30 January 2018, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the chairman.

1299   (26) FORTHCOMING ACTION FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS – The Director: Governance and Partnerships submitted a report containing a schedule of forthcoming issues on which Cabinet had requested reports to future meetings.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

1300   (27)   BUDGET REVIEW 2017/18 – The Director: Governance and Partnerships submitted a report informing Cabinet of the current performance of revenue and capital budgets for the 2017/18 financial year, of the latest revised budget for revenue and of changes to the latest approved 2017/18 capital programme following the Council budget setting meeting held on 1 March 2018.

Appendix 1 of the Director’s report set out the latest approved revenue and capital budget forecast outturn for 2017/18. The forecast revenue outturn based on quarter 3 monitoring showed an improved net revenue spend of £126.11m against a budget of £126.15m and a marginal funding overachievement of £0.10m. This meant that the Council was forecasting to underspend marginally in 2017/18 by £0.14m. A number of adjustments to the revenue budget had been made throughout the financial year as the council continually sought to align budgets with optimal service delivery. The adjustments made under delegated powers were summarised in appendix 2, which also showed the revised position.

The Director also explained that a revised capital programme of £70.45m for 2017/18 had been approved by Cabinet at its meeting in December 2017. During quarter three monitoring, forecast capital expenditure of 2017/18 was amended accordingly and further re-phasing had been necessary. This had been incorporated into the Capital Programme 2017/2022 report to the meeting of full Council held on 1 March 2018 and a revised capital programme of £49.36m was approved. The revised capital programme 2017/18 was set out at summary level in appendix 3 of the report and by scheme in appendix 4.

The report also informed Cabinet that cash balances and debt were being managed in line with the Council’s approved treasury management strategy approved by Council at its meeting on 1 March 2018, explained subsequent changes to the calculation of the minimum revenue provision (MRP), levels of borrowing and a revised set of prudential indicators for 2018/19 and summarised their impact.

Resolved – (a) That the revenue and capital budget monitoring position for 2017/18 set out at appendix 1 of the report be noted; (b) that the revenue budget adjustments approved under delegated powers and the latest revised budget position for 2017/18 summarised at appendix 2 of the report be noted; (c) that the capital adjustments outlined at appendix 3 and 4 of the report and the changes to the capital programme be noted; (d) that the progress against the approved Treasury Management Strategy as outlined in appendix 5 of the report be noted, and (e) that from the next financial year (2018/19), for every six month period, a statement be published on the Council’s website disclosing the non-payment of council tax by any elected member of this Council, subject to any data protection requirements as advised by the Council’s Data Protection Officer.

1301   (28)    FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT UPDATE– The Director: Operations submitted a report updating Cabinet on a number of ongoing flood risk schemes in North Lincolnshire which the Council was working with partners to deliver, and of the proposed allocations of available funding between projects.

The Director in his report explained that the Cabinet at its meeting on 26 January 2018 had approved a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for North Lincolnshire. This set out what the Council intended to do working with other organisations, businesses and communities to manage the risk of flooding in North Lincolnshire over the next 15 years. The report updated cabinet on progress of the following projects –

  • Lincolnshire Lakes and Upgrading of River Trent Flood Defences;
  • Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy;
  • Upgrading of River Humber Flood Defences – South Ferriby and Winteringham Ings, and
  • Current and Planned North Lincolnshire Council Surface Water Drainage Programmes.

Councillor P Clark who was attending under procedure rule 1.37b was invited to speak by the Leader/Chairman.

Resolved – (a) That the progress achieved to date in relation to the various flood risk management projects as set out in the report be noted, and (b) that progressing the local flood risk works programmes as detailed in the appendices to the report be approved.

1302   (29)    COUNCIL CONTRIBUTION TO ALLEVIATING WINTER PRESSURES – The Director:  Adults and Community Wellbeing submitted a report informing the Cabinet of the high performance maintained in reablement services to vulnerable people in North Lincolnshire during this winter period and the recent adverse weather.

The Director in her report stated that the Council continued to prioritise the Protection of Vulnerable People and Enable Community Health and Wellbeing. This meant enabling as many people as possible to be independent and to be active in their communities for as long as possible. The Care Act (2014) also placed a responsibility on Local Authorities to ensure that people in their area received services that prevent, reduce and delay their need for long-term care and support. The Cabinet Member for Adults and Health had recently therefore agreed to invest and increase services that were provided in the home through the Home First Services. These focussed upon short term reablement and rehabilitation and were described further in an appendix to the report.

The report explained that this winter had been very challenging time for the services as admissions to hospital continued to increase. Home First-Hospital had seen an 8% growth in referrals from the wards for people who may have needed care on discharge. This meant that 648 people had required ongoing care from hospital supported by the Home Care First Services. Despite these increases the performance of the service had been excellent during this period, with social care discharge figures down to zero, with a published to date of 1.1 against a target of 2.3 (low is good). Also 91% of people left the service with their needs having been met. During the recent adverse weather conditions all Home First Services continued to be delivered with few disruptions. Many worked above and beyond to make sure services were delivered to vulnerable residents across the whole of North Lincolnshire.

Resolved – That the high performance maintained through this winter period and recent adverse conditions be noted.

1303   (30)    DEMENTIA EXTRA CARE HOUSING SCHEME UPDATE – The Director: Business Development submitted a report informing Cabinet of progress on the specialist Dementia housing scheme on the former Lilacs site on Warwick Road, Scunthorpe.

The report explained that the Lilacs was a purpose built residential care home facility owned and managed by North Lincolnshire Council.  ‘Sir John Mason House’ had now replaced this facility and was operational. Since its replacement, demolition permission had been approved and a contract had been tendered with contractors starting imminently. Approval for a partnership project with ONGO homes, North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Alzheimer’s Society was agreed in 2015 to develop the site into an Extra Care Dementia Housing Scheme; this was in place through a Steering Group arrangement. ONGO homes had secured approximately £1 Million from Homes England towards the specialist scheme, with the remaining funding being provided by ONGO homes. A land deal was in place between NLC Property and Estates and ONGO homes, which would provide NLC with a capital receipt.

In North Lincolnshire 1,328 people over the age of 65 were diagnosed with Dementia in 2017.  On average, the number of people being diagnosed with dementia in North Lincolnshire was just over 1,000 each year.

The Director in her report also summarised the key achievements of this project to date and future milestones set, including the aim for it to be tenanted fully by Spring 2020.

Resolved – That the progress report for the development of a specialist extra care accommodation scheme for dementia be noted.

1304   (31)    FIVE YEAR’S ON – THE SUCCESS OF NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY– The Director: Learning, Skills and Culture submitted a report informing Cabinet of the success of five years of North Lincolnshire’s ‘Imagination Library’.

The Director in his report explained that North Lincolnshire celebrated five action packed years of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library book scheme in February 2018. All children from birth to five years in North Lincolnshire were eligible to register with this hugely popular scheme to inspire young children and highlight the importance of reading for pleasure. The roll out of the Imagination Library had made a significant impact in raising parent, carer and family awareness of the value of sharing and reading books with young children. Since the scheme was launched in February 2013, an incredible 379,882 books have been gifted to children across North Lincolnshire. 6,637 children have now graduated from the scheme, having reached their 5th birthday.

The total number of children registered to date with North Lincolnshire Imagination Library Scheme was 14,940. During the period 2016 to present, consistently high rates of registration had been maintained with 88% of children currently registered. 3,245 of the 8,303 children currently registered live within the 30% lowest super outputs areas. An analysis of the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile data 2016 and 2017 provided strong evidence that the Imagination Library had contributed to the improved outcomes at the end of Early Years Foundation Stage. Of the children registered with the Imagination Library 74.3% achieved a Good Level of Development: 4% above the national score and 10% higher than their unregistered peers.

The report stated that the Dolly Parton Trust promoted North Lincolnshire’s Imagination Library as a ‘model of excellence’ and a ‘world leader’ and summarised positive comments from the Trust’s Regional Director and parents. It also highlighted associated activities held to promote the joys of reading supported by local volunteers, champions, businesses and trusts.

Resolved – That the success of the five years of North Lincolnshire’s Imagination Library, and the difference it has made to young children’s early learning outcomes be noted.

1305   (32)    COMMUNITY DEFIBRILLATOR SCHEME – The Director: Children and Community Resilience submitted a report updating members on the management and roll out if the Community Defibrillator Scheme across North Lincolnshire, and sought continued support for the installation of further community defibrillators and the ongoing maintenance of the current units.

The report stated that defibrillators or Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) placed in the community reduced the risk associated with cardiac arrest by significantly improving the chances of survival. All secondary schools in North Lincolnshire currently had an AED. In 2015 the Council made £75,000 available to extend the numbers of community AED’s and a programme of roll out commenced. The British Heart Foundation advised that AED’s should be placed in areas where there was a high number of cardiac arrests or in rural areas where the time taken for an ambulance or paramedics to attend was considerable, or in areas where large crowds gather or have a large footfall. In 2017/18 a further £20,000 was allocated in the Capital Budget for expansion of the scheme.

The Director in his report also explained that a programme of identifying sites was undertaken with East Midlands Ambulance Service and a large number of suitable geographic locations were chosen to place Community AEDs in 2015/16. 67 Community Defibrillators were placed in communities across North Lincolnshire. A programme of further roll out commenced in 2017/18 and to date 86 AED’s were fully accessible 24 hours a day to the public. In addition, 17 were placed in areas of high footfall, including schools, sports centres, golf clubs and theatres, which were available at times of opening giving an overall total of 103 AEDs. A further five Community sites had been identified and the process of fitting was underway. All AED’s were registered with EMAS. In the last year AED’s have been used 58 times.

Resolved – (a) That the continued roll out across North Lincolnshire of the Community Defibrillator Scheme be approved, and (b) that the scheme be promoted with possible additional sites for siting further AED machines being highlighted.