Decisions

On consideration of the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee report detailing the Committee’s inquiry into the Big Society Cabinet agreed to receive the report on the Big Society Inquiry to enable the Executive to formulate its response to the recommendations contained within it, in order to comply with the requirements set out in the Council’s Constitution.

To seek approval of the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing on the Townhill Park Regeneration Framework Financial Model, Delivery Framework and funding for the implementation of Phase 1.  The Townhill Regeneration Framework report approved by Cabinet on 12th March 2012 focused on approval of the principles of the Regeneration Framework and implementation of Phase 1, subject to approval of an affordability assessment to be included in the 16th April Cabinet report.  The focus of this Cabinet report is consideration and approval of the impact on the Housing Revenue Account business plan, General Fund finances, the implications for the Delivery Framework and the funding of capital expenditure for the implementation of Phase 1. 

(i)  To agree that the HRA capital programme will fund the site preparation costs set out in this report, currently estimated at £10.7M, and:

·  To approve a virement of £10.7M from the uncommitted provision for Estate Regeneration which exists in the HRA capital programme and business plan to establish a specific budget for Townhill Park, the phasing for which is set out in appendix 2.

·  To approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, capital spending of £2.8M on phase 1 of the Townhill Park project, phased £0.3M in 2012/13, £1.6M in 2013/14 and £0.9M in 2014/15.

(ii)  To note that the General Fund capital programme will be required to fund highways infrastructure, open space improvements and replacement community facilities where appropriate, at an estimated cost of £2.8M with the method of funding this being agreed once the use of the Community Infrastructure Levy and the value of the GF capital receipts are known.

(iii)  To agree that the preferred approach for the provision of the new social housing is for this housing to be supplied by a Housing Association and that 50% of this new social housing provision will be provided for letting at target rents with a potential subsidy from the council, estimated at £3.9M, to be funded through a mixture of reduced land receipts (£2.6M) and utilisation of the uncommitted funding in the Housing GF capital programme (£1.3M), subject to legal advice on the potential financial implications for the HRA.

(iv)  To agree that the phase 1 regeneration of Townhill Park will be by way of a Development Agreement.

(v)  To agree to recommend to Council that:

·  £21M of the 30 year HRA revenue surplus is utilised to meet the long term revenue costs of the regeneration of Townhill Park which includes the requirement to repay the debt on the dwellings that have been disposed of from the general HRA revenue balance as there is no net capital receipt to fund this repayment.

·  The General Fund capital programme funds the highways infrastructure, open space improvements and replacement community facilities where appropriate, at an estimated cost of £2.8M with the method of funding this being agreed once the use of the Community Infrastructure Levy and the value of the GF capital receipts are known.

To consider outstanding objectives to the proposal to introduce a Residents’ Parking Scheme in the off-street parking areas within Holyrood Estate, in place of the current system of individually rented spaces.  Cabinet will make a decision as to whether the proposals shall be approved, withdrawn or amended.

As part of the formal legal process for Traffic Regulation Orders, items are brought to Cabinet by the Traffic Management team to decide upon objections raised in response to the Public Notice.

(i)  To approve the introduction of a permit parking scheme in the off-street parking areas in Holyrood Estate.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Learning setting out proposals for the distribution of available resources within the Children’s Services and Learning Capital Programme for 2012/13. Specifically, the report will seek approval for proposals to spend the following:

·  The Additional Basic Need Grant for 2011/12 (£3.1 million)

·  The Basic Need Grant for 2012/13 (£4.7 million)

·  The Capital Maintenance Grant for 2012/13 (£3.1 million)

·  The Special School Estate Capital added to the Capital Programme in 2011/12 (£2.0 million)

(i)  Subject to complying with Financial and Contract Procedure Rules, to delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services and Learning, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and  Learning, to do anything necessary to give effect to the recommendations in this report.

(ii)  To add, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, a sum of £15,408,000 to the Children’s Services and Learning Capital Programme, for Primary Review Phase 2, as shown in Appendix 1, funded from non-ring fenced Department for Education Basic Need Grant.

(iii)  To note that assumptions have been made about the likely level of Basic Need Grant to be awarded in future years. If the final award is less than anticipated any shortfall in funding will be met from borrowing for which provision has been made in the revenue budget forecast. If the final award exceeds the anticipated sum then this revenue provision will no longer be required and the additional grant will be available to fund other capital priorities as determined corporately.

(iv)  To add, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, a sum of £2,915,000 to the Children’s Services & Learning Capital Programme in 2012/13, funded from non ring fenced Capital Maintenance Grant, for the following schemes, as detailed in Appendix 2:

·  £1,000,000 Health & Safety

·  £500,000 Renewable Heat Incentive

·  £400,000 Lord’s Hill Academy Offsite Works

·  £140,000 Fairisle Infant and Nursery School Lobby

·  £110,000 Bitterne Park Infant School Roof

·  £100,000 Glenfield Infant School Windows and Ventilation

·  £100,000 Schools Access Initiative

·  £100,000 Asbestos Management

·  £50,000 School Fencing

·  £290,000 School Capital Maintenance

·  £125,000 Project Management

(v)  To approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, capital variations totalling £1,500,000 to the programme approved by Council on 15 February 2012, as detailed in Appendix 2.

(vi)  To approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, capital expenditure within the CSL Capital Programme of £16,160,000, phased £9,379,000 in 2012/13 and £6,781,000 in 2013/14, for the following projects:

·  £10,745,000 Primary Review Phase 2

·  £2,500,000 Pupil Referral Unit Capital – The sum to be approved also includes £1,000,000 which is already in the CSL Capital Programme as well as the £1,500,000, which this report is seeking to add to this scheme

·  £1,000,000 Health & Safety

·  £500,000 Renewable Heat Incentive

·  £400,000 Lord’s Hill Academy Offsite Works

·  £140,000 Fairisle Infant and Nursery School Lobby

·  £110,000 Bitterne Park Infant School Roof

·  £100,000 Glenfield Infant School Windows and Ventilation

·  £100,000 Schools Access Initiative

·  £100,000 Asbestos Management

·  £50,000 School Fencing

·  £290,000 School Capital Maintenance

• £125,000 Project Management

(vii)  To note that approval for the remainder of the Primary Phase 2 expenditure added in recommendation (ii) above will be brought forward to Cabinet when sufficient detail can be provided to effectively inform decision making.

(viii)  Added the receipt of additional funding from Government to the Capital Programme and approved the following schemes:

·  St. Johns Primary – Mission Hall repairs - £75,000

·  Wordsworth Primary – site access improvements - £150,000

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Learning seeking approval for leasing arrangements for the pre-school.

Under the terms of the existing Short Term Lease, the Oasis Academy: Lord’s Hill will vacate the Oaklands site upon completion of its new buildings (currently scheduled for September 2012). Whilst the Council is exploring options in relation to this site’s long-term use, there is a need to put measures in place to ensure that the onsite pre-school is adequately housed in the short-term. In this respect, it is proposed that the pre-school facilities should be let to the existing provider (Oasis Community Learning) on a rolling programme, at nil rent, in order that this provision can be sustained in its current location.

The current paper will seek Cabinet’s approval for the above-outlined course of action and the necessary delegated authorities to undertake the letting process.

(i)  Subject to obtaining consent from the Secretary of State to dispose of the relevant area (as identified in Appendix 1), to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services and  Learning, following consultation with the Heads of Legal, HR and Democratic Services, Property and Procurement and Finance, and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Learning, to approve the details and completion of the letting of the pre-school facilities on the Oaklands site to Oasis Community Learning at the appropriate time, following the vacation of the former Oaklands Community School site by Oasis Community Learning.  A 2-year lease will be offered, which will be reviewable after 1 year.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to decide the future service delivery arrangements for the ROMANSE and CCTV services. Cabinet are requested to decide whether the future services should be delivered by an external provider or the integrated and transformed internal service teams. 

If the decision is to outsource the service then an officer decision will be made on 24th April by the Environment Director as to the preferred future provider, subject to an acceptable final tender being received from bidders which offer best value for the City Council.

(i)  That the City Council should enter into a 10 year partnership contract with Balfour Beatty Living Places with an option to extend by a further 5 years, to deliver a new combined ROMANSE and CCTV Service at City Depot with a service commencement date of 1^st October 2012.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Director of Environment, in consultation with the Head of Finance and IT, the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services to proceed to financial and contractual close.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Head of Legal, HR and Democratic Services to enter into all necessary legal contracts and documentation to action the above decisions.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Housing seeking a decision in regard to whether to participate in the Local Authority Mortgage Scheme. This would assist first time buyers access mortgages from established Lenders.

To consider the information about the Local Authority Mortgage Scheme and make any recommendations to Council that are considered appropriate, subject to resolving the outstanding legal issues to the satisfaction of the Director of Corporate Services. 

Arts Council England have offered Southampton City Council a total of £349,000 over 3 years for the arts complex for the appointment of an interim Artisitc Director and other staff, and a programme of events, audience development and learning up to the launch of the arts complerx in early 2015.  SCC are funding the partnership funding of £240,000 for this over the three years from revenue allocations already in the Leisure and Culture budget and allocated by Finance to the new arts complex.  The senior manager of Leisure Mike Harris has approved the Funding Agreement and will be the signatory, 

Agreement to sign the funding agreement is sought.

To approve the signing of Arts Council England 12/13 to 14/15 national portfolio revenue funding agreement.