Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Tony McArdle (Chief Executive), Glen Garrod (Executive Director of Adult Care and Community Wellbeing) and Pete Moore (Executive Director of Finance and Public Protection).

There were no declarations of interests made at this point in the proceedings.

The Executive Councillor for Culture and Emergency Services was pleased to report that the Registration Service had recently been awarded an Excellence Standard.

The Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services was pleased to announce that the Adoption Service had won a First4Adoption’s Excellence in Adoption Practice Award.

The Executive Councillor for Community Safety and People Management was pleased to report that the Youth Offending Service had achieved the Restorative Service Quality Mark. 

The Executive Councillor also congratulated all those officers involved in developing the 'Ask Angela' scheme.  The Executive commended the initiative and highlighted that it received international recognition.

The Executive Councillor also highlighted that Mark Housley (County Officer Public Protection) had returned to his substantive post at Lincolnshire Police.  Darryl Pearce had since taken up the position of County Officer Public Protection.  The Executive recorded its thanks for the work of Mark Housley during his time in this position.

The Leader of the Council provided an update on the latest position with regard to Devolution.  It was noted that South Kesteven District Council had recommended to its Executive/Cabinet not to approve the devolution scheme.

Further to above, the Leader advised that since the County Council's decision to recommend to the Leader not to support the devolution scheme, the Leader had sought information from the Secretary of State on a number of issues.  The Secretary of State had since clarified that for the devolution deal to proceed; a directly elected mayor was non-negotiable. The Secretary of State had also provided reassurance in relation to the transfer of transport and highways responsibilities to the combined authority.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Executive held on 4 October 2016 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Environment and Economy, which invites the Executive to consider recommendations in relation to Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Site Locations (Pre-Submission Draft))

That the Executive:

(1)  endorse the Site Locations (Pre-Submission Draft) document and recommend to the County Council that they approve it for submission to the Secretary of State;

(2)  approve publication of the Site Locations (Pre-Submission Draft) document for consultation as to its soundness and legal compliance to commence on 7 November 2016 for a period of six weeks;

(3)  delegate to the Planning Manager in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Development) authority to determine any modifications that should be submitted to the Secretary of State in order to address issues that arise through the consultation exercise and to recommend on behalf of the Executive to the County Council that such modifications be submitted to the Secretary of State alongside the document;

(4)  delegate to the Planning Manager in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Development) authority to determine any further modifications to be proposed to the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State in order to address issues that arise during the examination in public; and

(5)  endorse the revised programme set out in this report for the completion of the Site Locations document through to its adoption by the County Council.

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director for Environment and Economy, which in brief sought the Executive's approval to publish the Site Locations (Pre-Submission Draft) document for consultation as to its soundness and legal compliance, and the Executive's endorsement of the document to the County Council for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for examination, subject to the recommendations set out in the report.

The Executive Councillor for Development introduced the report and advised that the Site Locations (Pre-Submission Draft) document would represent the second part of the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan, the first part (the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document) having been adopted in June 2016. The Executive Councillor highlighted  the importance of the County Council having in place an up-to-date Minerals and Waste Local Plan to  ensure that both mineral extraction and waste management in the County accord with the principles of sustainable development.  This would be achieved through the timely progression and adoption of the Site Locations document, which would complete the Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

In response to a question seeking clarification on the main changes to the document since the previous draft which was considered by the Executive on 1 December 2015, two amendments were noted.  Firstly, as a result of the modifications to the Core Strategy and Development Management Policies document arising from the examination of that document, the amount of sand and gravel for which the County Council must make provision in the Site Locations document had been reduced. This had therefore resulted in a reduction in the number of sites proposed for allocation. Secondly, following the previous consultation exercise, a site at Urn Farm, Greatford had been replaced by a site immediately to the south at Manor Farm Greatford, which was considered to have less environmental impacts.  It was confirmed that the local member had been consulted and did not object to the change.

It was noted that the Environmental Scrutiny Committee had considered a report concerning Lincolnshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan: Site Locations (Pre-Submission Draft) at its meeting on 14 October 2016.  It was noted that the Committee had unanimously supported the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

(1)  endorse the Site Locations (Pre-Submission Draft) document and recommend to the County Council that they approve it for submission to the Secretary of State;

(2)  approve publication of the Site Locations (Pre-Submission Draft) document for consultation as to its soundness and legal compliance to commence on 7 November 2016 for a period of six weeks;

(3)  delegate to the Planning Manager in consultation with the Executive Councillor (Development) authority to determine any modifications that should be submitted to the Secretary of State in order to address issues that arise through the consultation exercise and to recommend on behalf of the Executive to the County Council that such modifications be submitted to the Secretary of State alongside the document;

(4)  delegate to the Planning Manager  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Environment and Economy, which seeks approval to proceed with awarding a construction contract for the Lincoln Eastern Bypass)

(1)  That approval be given to the award of a construction contract to Carillion for Lincoln Eastern Bypass. This award will be subject to the confirmation of £49.95m funding by central government, expected in December 2016;

(2)  That the potential requirement for an increase in the County Council's contribution to the scheme cost, to cover the increases in costs since provisional funding was granted in 2011, and that there is potential for savings to be made on the current estimate, be noted;

(3)  That authority be given to the Executive Director for Environment & Economy, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT, to finalise and enter into the contract documentation when central government funding is confirmed.

Consideration was given to a report from the Executive Director for Environment and Economy, which sought approval to proceed with awarding a construction contract for the Lincoln Eastern Bypass.  In addition, the Executive was asked to note the increase in the current cost estimate, although there were significant opportunities to reduce the estimate once the contractor had been formally appointed.

The Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT presented the report to the Executive and in doing so highlighted that the Lincoln Eastern Bypass formed an intrinsic part of the Lincoln Integrated Transport Strategy and was a key intervention that would help achieve the transport aims and objectives identified within the Strategy. It was noted that the work would result in a temporary road closure at Heighington Road.  However, it was stressed that the diversion was for a short period of time and was of a reasonable distance. 

It was noted that the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee had considered the same report at its meeting on 24 October 2016.  The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee confirmed that the recommendations within the report had been unanimously supported by the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED

(1)  That approval be given to the award of a construction contract to Carillion for Lincoln Eastern Bypass. This award will be subject to the confirmation of £49.95m funding by central government, expected in December 2016;

(2)  That the potential requirement for an increase in the County Council's contribution to the scheme cost, to cover the increases in costs since provisional funding was granted in 2011, and that there is potential for savings to be made on the current estimate, be noted;

(3)  That authority be given to the Executive Director for Environment & Economy, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT, to finalise and enter into the contract documentation when central government funding is confirmed.

(To consider a report from the Executive Director of Children's Services, which seeks approval of the final service model and commissioning route for children’s health services in scope of the review)

That the Executive:

(1)  Approves the final model for new children’s health services set out in the Preferred Children's Health Service Model section of this report.

(2)  Approves the following commissioning options:

a)    That the children’s health service 0-19 (25 SEND) is in-sourced and provided by the Council's Children's Services department.

b)    That the existing online counselling service contract with Xenzone is varied from 1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2018 to include a pilot for the additional elements required under the review.

c)    That a single online counselling service is procured through an open competitive tender and services are operational from 1^st April 2018. 

d)    That the additional sexual health service elements required under the review are embedded into Public Health’s existing Lincolnshire integrated sexual health service contract by way of a variation to the existing agreement.

e)    That the Executive Director of Children's Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor responsible for Children’s Services, be delegated the authority to approve the final form and content of the emotional wellbeing, including whether the service should be provided by the Council alongside the new children’s health service 0-19 (25 SEND) or procured through an open competitive tender process. This will require further discussions with schools and the School Forum to identify if there is a method for achieving joint commissioning, subject to school funding changes.  Delegation to include determining the form and content of the service and approving the entering into of all necessary legal documentation.

(3)  That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director for Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor responsible for Children’s Services, to take all decisions necessary to give effect to the decisions in paragraphs 1 and 2 above to include approving the form and content and the entering into of all necessary legal documentation.

A report from the Executive Director for Children's Services was considered, which sought approval of the final service model and commissioning route for children's health service in scope of the review. 

The Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services introduced the report and highlighted that the current contractual arrangement with Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust for those services was due to cease on 31 March 2017 with an option to extend to 31 March 2018.  The review of children's health services would support the Council to find savings of £350k in 2017/18 and a further £350k in 2018/19.  It was stressed that additional savings would be sought where possible.

In response to a question, the Executive was advised that by integrating children's health services for 0-19 (25 SEND), the service would be aligned to the Council's Early Help and Social Care teams for children and young people.  This mirrored the government's intention in joining up the commissioning powers for 0-19 public health services and would allow a service to be delivered that that offered a coherent, effective, life course approach.

It was noted that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee had considered the same report at its meeting on 21 October 2016 and the comments of the Committee had been circulated at the meeting.  The Chairman on the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee advised that the Committee had unanimously supported the recommendations within the report.

RESOLVED

That the Executive:

(1)  Approves the final model for new children’s health services set out in the Preferred Children's Health Service Model section of this report.

(2)  Approves the following commissioning options:

a)    That the children’s health service 0-19 (25 SEND) is in-sourced and provided by the Council's Children's Services department.

b)    That the existing online counselling service contract with Xenzone is varied from 1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2018 to include a pilot for the additional elements required under the review.

c)    That a single online counselling service is procured through an open competitive tender and services are operational from 1^st April 2018. 

d)    That the additional sexual health service elements required under the review are embedded into Public Health’s existing Lincolnshire integrated sexual health service contract by way of a variation to the existing agreement.

e)    That the Executive Director of Children's Services, in consultation with the Executive Councillor responsible for Children’s Services, be delegated the authority to approve the final form and content of the emotional wellbeing, including whether the service should be provided by the Council alongside the new children’s health service 0-19 (25 SEND) or procured through an open competitive tender process. This will require further discussions with schools and the Schools Forum to identify if there was a method for achieving joint commissioning, subject to school funding changes.  Delegation to include determining the form and content of the service and approving the entering into of all necessary legal documentation.

(3)  That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.