Agenda and minutes

None received.

To receive declarations of interest from Members.

Cllrs Sleigh and Grinsell reminded Members that they were on the WMCA Investment Board. Cllr Courts advised he was the Lead Member on the WMCA for Housing and Land Board and Cllr Mackiewicz also sat on that Board. Cllr Qais advised Members that she was employed by the DfE.

To answer any questions, if any asked by any resident of the Borough pursuant to Standing Orders.

None received.

To receive for information only the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 May 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2023 were presented for information, including those in private.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 2023, including those in private be received for information.

The Cabinet is invited to approve a Regional Partner arrangement with Birmingham Children’s Trust, to support improvement in Children’s Social Care. Sir Alan Wood will be attending the Cabinet meeting to outline the reasons for this recommendation and to answer any questions that Cabinet may have.

The Cabinet was invited to approve a Regional Partner arrangement with Birmingham Children’s Trust, to support improvement in Children’s Social Care.

Members welcomed Sir Alan Wood to meeting who outlined the reasons for the recommendation and answered any questions that the Cabinet had.

The report provided the background to the proposal. Members were also advised that The Children’s Services Commissioner set out a range of options for the future delivery of Children’s Social Care in his 17th March 2023 report.

Members were advised that proposal set out a clear framework for improvement support from a near neighbour that had been on the improvement journey that Solihull needed to follow. It provided the experience, capacity and resilience that Solihull needed and would help to build on the strengthened relationships with the lead safeguarding partners.

In responding questions, Sir Alan confirmed that he had considered other possible partners, that the Council had been working with, but recognised the similar journey Birmingham had been on, and the progress they had made to improve services, the Council was already working with Birmingham, the same partners were involved i.e. police and health, there was a large cross over of children moving from Birmingham to Solihull and vice versa, and logistically it made sense. On the question of an annual review of these arrangements, Sir Alan advised he was comfortable with a 2 year review, given the amount of work that was needed to be done.

Members noted that the roles of responsibilities for the Council and Regional Partner was clearly set out in the report. Members thanked Sir Alan for all his work and were enthusiastic to get the job done.

RESOLVED:

That it be approved that Birmingham Children’s Trust becomes the Council’s Regional Partner for improvement in Children’s Social Care for a period of three years (with a review after two years), with effect from 1st July 2023.

Members were provided with a report on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) financial position as at 31 March 2023 incorporating the revenue, capital and reserves final out-turn.

Members were provided with an update on national technical issues which affected the 2021/22 Statement of Accounts and External Audit. The report also covered the following:

·  Status of the 2022/23 Statement of Accounts

·  Financia Monitoring

·  General Fund Revenue Final Position 2022/23 (including a breakdown for each Portfolio)

·  Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)

·  Budget Strategy Reserve position as at 31 March 2023

·  Capital Accounts Final Outturn- 2022/23

·  Medium Term Financial Strategy – RAG Status of Savings/Mitigations

·  Reserves including key reserves held within each Portfolio

·  Balance Sheet Analysis

·  Business Rates and Council Tax position 2022/23

Members noted the position concerning the accumulated deficit on the DSG and the advice from Government that the statutory override treatment will end in three years’ time. Officers confirmed that work was taking place and the Council had taken up the Delivering Better Value (DBV) Grant, to improve delivery of SEND services. Clarification was sought in relation to the consolidation of reserves and how this would be managed. The amount of reserves held in Adult Social Care and Health (£5m) was flagged as a concern. Officers advised that this reserve was in a better position than had been anticipated. Officers confirmed that vacancies were not being used as a strategy to manage budgets.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the 2022/23 final position on the General Fund Revenue Accounts, as summarised in section 3 of the report and detailed in Appendices A to F, including endorsing the budget movements undertaken in the final quarter which are detailed at Appendix F be approved;

(ii)  That the Carry Forward and Reserve Requests as per paragraph 3.12 and summarised in Appendix B be approved. These requests will deliver a net nil position for the Core Council budgets;

(iii)  That the contribution of £51,132 to the Safeguarding Adults reserve per paragraph 3.19 be approved;

(iv)  A new reserve was created in 2021/22 for Hospital discharges and a contribution made, approval was given for a further contribution in 2022/23 and for future varying contributions to/from this reserve depending on financial performance per paragraph 3.20;

(v)  That the creation of a new reserve per paragraph 3.30 to manage Our Voice, Our Services (OVOS) donations, to be drawn down as required to fund OVOS activities as part of our corporate parent responsibilities be approved;

(vi)  That the additional contribution to the CCTV reserve per paragraph 3.36 be approved;

(vii)  That it be agreed to contribute the residual balances of business rates windfall funding held in existing reserves for Cleansing and Maintenance and Environment Services Contract Review, and the balances on the Waste and recycling reserve and Brown Bins Legal case reserve to the Environment Services Contingency Reserve per paragraphs 3.38 and 3.39;

(viii)  It was agreed to combine the existing reserves held for Trading Standards Equipment Replacement, Theatre Bar, Payment Kiosk Replacement and £197,000 from the reserve held for Library  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Cabinet was provided with an update on the funding position and proposed future priorities for the Employment and Skills Service.

Members were advised that the priorities and service delivery from January 2024 included:

·  A refreshed direct delivery model to support residents looking for work or training. This would be a bespoke service based on individual circumstances and preferences and could be light touch or intensive subject to their needs.

·  A new approach to employer engagement with a single employer offer bringing together all skills, recruitment and careers support.

·  Continuation of the Life Ready Careers Hub offer.

·  NEET (not in employment, education or training) prevention work in schools and colleges to support young people who may not have an offer of education or training post 16.

·  A specialised / targeted offer to help residents with disabilities to access education, employment or training.

·  Continual development of system leadership to enable the team to maximise opportunities and develop effective partnerships with the wider employment and skills system.

·  New investment in developing Solihull’s adult and community learning offer to enable more businesses and leaners to access opportunities in line with their needs.

Members were advised that the confirmation of new funding, enabled the Council to retain much of the scope of service currently delivered, with the opportunity to reshape this in line with current strategic commitments and wider priorities, particularly in relation to delivering the new Economic Strategy, the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Health Inequalities Strategy and the Joint Additional Needs Strategy, as well as the Council Plan.

The revised local priorities considered local needs and filled gaps in provision that were not delivered by partners, with a focus on where the Council as a local authority were best placed to deliver services and where the Council added value to nationally or regionally commissioned provision. It was important that the service strikes the right balance between supporting economic growth and the need for our businesses to thrive, alongside providing the most appropriate, supportive interventions for residents to find work which enabled them to develop a positive career pathway and benefit from being in work or training. The inclusion of employment and skills activity within these strategies would enable the Council to demonstrate this.

In responding to questions Officers clarified the support given to care experienced children. Officers confirmed that post employment support both for the individual and the employer was an area of development. Officers clarified how project monitoring would be managed robustly.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the priorities for Employment and Skills to be implemented from January 2024, be approved; and

(ii)  That the Medium Term Financial Strategy funding position set out in paragraphs 8.1 and 8.2 of the report be noted.

The Cabinet was provided with an annual update on the Council’s corporate risk register.

The key points Cabinet were advised of, included:

·  The corporate risk register was last reviewed by the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) on 11th April 2023;

·  The total number of corporate risks had increased compared to last year with additional risks identified in relation to Children’s Services as well as the Council’s ability to attract and retain staff;

·  Keeping residents safe in high rise buildings continued to be recognised in the register. A new risk had been added recognising the responsibility of the Council as landlord and regulator under the Building Safety Act 2022.

Officers confirmed that there were different methods of managing a risk register, and the private sector tended to use different methods. In relation to project work with external partners how registers were managed was under review. As the Risk Register was reviewed, Officers confirmed that this could include how much granular detail was recorded. Officers confirmed that the calculations used regarding the weight of vehicles in Mell Square Car Park were very robust. With regard to SEND Statutory requirements Officers confirmed that demand was still increasing and the of level of risk was unlikely to go down anytime soon.

RESOLVED:

Cabinet noted the information produced regarding the Council’s identified corporate risks.

The Cabinet was provided with an update on progress and asked to authorise the use of Council reserves and borrowing to progress Phase 1 construction works on the former Mountfort Pub site. This would deliver 25 social rented dwellings and associated highway section agreement works.

Members were reminded that the aim of the Kingshurst project was to transform the Village Centre through the delivery of a thriving community and health-led regeneration scheme. Significant progress had been made since the last report which was summarised in the report before Members.

Officers acknowledged the challenges of the current construction environment, but the recommendation to enter into contract with WD to deliver Phase 1 would initiate the regeneration of the village centre using funding available through the Council’s Housing Revenue Account and Housing grant. In April 2023 there were 2,829 people on the housing register with an identified housing need of which 63% required a home of 2 bedrooms or more. This option would enable the project to help address the shortfall of affordable housing in Solihull and bring the long vacant former Mountfort public house site into use.

It was expected that during the construction of the Mountfort site, market conditions in the construction industry would settle and the remaining construction phases could be priced with greater surety and confidence. The project team would continue to seek grant funding to contribute to further phases of the project.

The recommended phased approach enabled the project to move forward whilst WD were still active on-site and significantly reduced the costs associated with new preliminary construction works and potentially having to appoint a new contractor.

Members were pleased to see the delivery of net zero homes, including the environmental impact of the materials regarding their embodied carbon. Officers confirmed that there was no proposal to change the tenure of mix.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That it be approved to proceed with the refined phasing strategy to contribute to the local need for affordable housing and to respond positively to the challenges of rising inflation and market volatility, as set out in section 3 of the report;

(ii)  That it be agreed to delegate approval to the Director of Economy and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to enter into contract with Willmott Dixon for the construction of 25 social rented properties on the former Mountfort Pub site and associated highway section agreement works. This would be subject to completion of the value for money appraisal. Prior to entering into a contract, it be approved that the Director of Economy and Infrastructure provide a letter of intent to Willmott Dixon to allow instructions to be placed with utility providers;

(iii)  That the costs associated with the award of contract to Willmott Dixon and associated project costs be funded as set out at paragraph 6.3 of the report and in the private appendix be approved;

(iv)  That it be approved that authority is granted to the Director of Economy and Infrastructure and the Director of Resources  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The meeting is likely not to be open to the public during discussion of the following items because the reports contain exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972

RESOLVED:

That, pursuant to Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business to be transacted, on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information in terms of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the said Act.

This appendix is referenced in the public report Item 8.

This appendix is referenced in the public report Item 9.