Agenda and minutes

         Apologies were received from Councillor Scott and Councillor Lamb.

          There were no declarations of interest.  

          The minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2014 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

Cabinet received a report which sought its approval to enter into a strategic partnership with Empower Community Management LLP (EC), a social enterprise that would, as its primary purpose, deliver the installation of solar PVs on residential properties in the city and deliver a community benefit scheme to Peterborough.

The scheme would be the first of its type in the UK and in particular, the first of its kind involving a council.

Councillor Cereste introduced the item and commended officers for bringing forward such an innovative scheme. He further highlighted key points including there being no  cost to the home owner for installation; an overview of the criteria for the scheme; the savings which could be realised by the home owner and the bonus payment received after five years; the first pilot scheme which would be rolled out to 1500 homes and if successful, would be rolled out further; the money that both the community and the Council would receive for every 1500 houses, this being in the region of £1m; and the provision of short term up front construction finance that was being provided by the Council and the profits that would be made from that for the city.

Cabinet debated the report and key points raised, along with responses to questions provided by Councillor Cereste, included:

·         Councillor North commended the scheme and highlighted the positive community aspects that the scheme would bring, particularly in terms of those individuals who were in fuel poverty in the city and also in terms of environmental issues;

·         The scheme had been endorsed by local MPs and the scheme highlighted Peterborough’s innovativeness;

·         The first wave was very city centric and it was requested that emphasis be placed on rural communities for the second wave;

·         Information on how the scheme could be applied for should be detailed on the Council’s website and the process for application made as simple as possible;

·         The financial benefit to the 1500 people, who would benefit from the first phase, would equate to around £6m over the period of the scheme. Going forward, the scheme could be worth in the region of £50-£60m city wide and for residents; and

·         The various energy saving schemes that the Council was rolling out, could save each individual person that took part in the region of £640 to £700 per annum. Officers had been requested to put forward a simple list of all of the schemes available for publication on the Council’s website.

         Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to approve:

1. That the Council enters into a strategic partnership agreement with Empower Community Management LLP to enable a first project to deliver solar PV on private residential properties in Peterborough;

2. That the Council enters into a shareholder agreement to become an equal partner in a Community Interest Company with Empower Community Management LLP;

3. That the initial target area be the Green Deal Community Fund area set out in section 4.6 of the report;

4. An intention to roll out the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Cabinet received a report which followed a review of current day opportunities for people with learning and physical disabilities provided by the Council, which had been commissioned to understand if the Council was meeting people’s needs or if services could be offered differently and improved upon.

In the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), signed off by Council in March 2013, it had been agreed that greater emphasis should be placed on supporting adults to maintain their independence for as long as possible, including, where possible, enabling them to stay living in their own homes and for them to play a bigger part in the community in which they lived.

Cabinet had received reports on this subject in December 2013 and then again in March 2014 where it was agreed that future options should be considered in consultation with stakeholders, with a recommendation being brought back to Cabinet for future consideration and implementation. The agreed model of service and the delivery vehicle would subsequently be subject to consultation with stakeholders.

In March 2014, Cabinet had concluded that the current day service model was not compatible with personalisation and did not support individuals to maximise opportunities for independence. Cabinet had therefore requested a proposal which took a number of factors into consideration.

Ms Assunta Genovese, a service user of 49 Lincoln Road addressed Cabinet and provided an overview of the support offered to her and the activities that were available to her. Ms Genovese further advised that she had been part of the day opportunities design group and had looked at how day opportunities were provided in Thurrock. She advised that although Thurrock did well, Peterborough provided a better service.

Councillor Fitzgerald introduced the item and provided an overview of the background to the issue and an overview of the model. Further key points included the continuation of all services, but with some being provided in a slightly different manner; individual care packages being provided for those people with the most need; the challenge to make individuals strive for personal development and to give people more opportunities to be able do so; the investments that would be made in the service and the improvements that investment would make; the move to Kingfisher at the Bretton Centre for those individuals with complex and profound needs; the continuation of Fletton Day Centre for the foreseeable future and the developments that could be made going forward.

Councillor Seaton thanked Ms Genovese for addressing Cabinet and for providing an overview of the service which she utilised, this being 49 Lincoln Road. Councillor Seaton further highlighted all of the services available at 49 Lincoln Road including bills advice, key workers, employment etc. and queried whether all of these services would still be available following implementation of a new model. The Director for Communities responded and advised that all services would still be available with further expansion, particularly in relation to employment through the micro enterprises.

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED to agree:

1. To an open  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Cabinet received a report as part of the Council’s agreed two stage budget process, as outlined in the report considered by Cabinet on 24 November 2014.

The purpose of the report was to enable Cabinet to consider the feedback from consultation undertaken to date with Scrutiny, residents, partner organisations, businesses and other interested parties and to recommend to Council approval of phase one budget proposals.

An addendum document had been circulated prior to the meeting of Cabinet which contained revised recommendations.

Councillor Seaton introduced the item and provided an overview of the background to the issue. Further key points included the wide reaching ongoing budget conversation; the challenges faced due to the £44m cut in grant; the work which had been undertaken alongside officers and the cross party budget working group; the release of the budget proposals in two phases; full analysis of the feedback being included within the addendum to the Cabinet report; the feedback and consultation sessions  which highlighted the understanding that the public had in relation to the issues faced by the Council; the consultation responses being taken into account but also being balanced with achieving the required level of savings; the cessation of Your Peterborough magazine leading to a decrease in communication opportunities with residents; the issues raised being consistent throughout; the deferral of proposals for shrub replacement and grass cutting to Phase 2 of the budget proposals to allow further discussion; the proposal to charge for blue badge parking and the bigger issue being the availability of accessible spaces rather than charging itself and the work that would be undertaken alongside the disability forum to address this issue; comments which had been received with regards to proposals for bowls clubs and the further work that would be undertaken to identify alternative ways to provide the service; comments which had been received with regards to Council Tax Support, this not being part of the proposals for Council in December;  the comments which had been received relating to suggested savings and the work that was already being undertaken in relation to some of the suggestions; the second set of proposals which would have to close the remaining £8m savings gap and the feedback process which would be repeated for this second phase.

Councillor Seaton summarised by stating that the Council was committed to providing a bright future for the city and its residents and it was believed that the phase one proposals struck the right balance between tackling the financial challenges faced and maintaining focus on education, jobs creation and economic prosperity and quality of life for residents.

Cabinet debated the report and key points raised, along with responses to questions provided by the Executive Director of Resources included:

·         It was still unclear as to when the grant settlement would be;

·         There had been a number of concerns raised around the bowling greens. Could consideration therefore be given to postponing any decision on the bowling greens to the second phase?

·         The feedback received from the bowling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

          Cabinet received a quarterly Director’s update report which provided an overview of Children’s Services Improvement.

Cabinet considered the report and RESOLVED:

To note the contents of the report and the key points as of October 2014, these being:

·          Continued increase in early intervention assessments (CAFs);

·          Conversion rate from contact to referral 20% lower than same time two years ago;

·          Majority of referrals had a single assessment completed and in timescale;

·          Re-referral rate staying low;

·          Continuing high number of Child Protection enquiries;

·          High number of children subject to a Child Protection Plan; and

·          Continued increase in Looked After Children (383).

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

The reason for the report was to provide Cabinet with an overview of Children’s Services improvement.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

          There were no alternative options considered.