Report No.219/2018 was received from the Strategic Director for People.

Mr D Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Lifelong Learning, Early Years, Special Educational Needs & Disabilities and Inclusion introduced the report the purpose of which was to provide Cabinet with assurance that there was a comprehensive approach by the Learning and Skills Service that contributed to the Council meeting Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 requirements. These requirements placed a duty on the Council to ensure that their functions, and any other services that they contracted out to others, were discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

During discussion the following points were raised;

i.      Mrs Stephenson noted that access by providers to online safety training was at 82% and that it would be good to see this number increase;

ii.    Mrs Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills, confirmed that a conference to include online safety was being planned for spring 2019 and would be aimed at parents and early years providers; and

iii.   The subscription to CareKnowledge had been well received and provided access to training sessions and information on safeguarding and other information regarding the care of young children and people.

DECISION:

1)    Cabinet NOTED the actions and priorities for Safeguarding through Education identified within the report.

Reasons for the decisions

The report provided elected Members with an overview of the activities undertaken by the Learning and Skills Service, in partnership with Children’s Social Care to provide all childcare providers and school staff with training and guidance, so that they know and understand how to keep the children in their care safe and from harm.

Through regular review of this aspect of the Learning and Skills Service role, assurances could be made regarding the effectiveness of the work undertaken and would enable planned actions to be timely, relevant and leading to continued quality of support for education providers.

Cabinet RESOLVED that the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)).

Report No.212/2018 was received from the Chief Executive.

Mr Oliver Hemsley, Leader and Portfolio Holder for Rutland One Public Estate & Growth, Tourism & Economic Development, Communications and Resources (excluding Finance) introduced the report, the purpose of which was to update Cabinet on the opportunity to bid for Government (Department of Culture, Media and Sport) Local Full Fibre Networks Challenge Fund (Wave 3) and make a recommendation to Cabinet to proceed with a full bid.  The report also advised the estimated revenue costs to proceed with a full bid within the existing Digital Rutland revenue budget and requested approval for proposed match funding within the existing Digital Rutland capital budget as set out in Exempt Appendix A.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i.      The Challenge Fund Programme had been launched by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and was managed by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and Rutland was well placed to meet the rural priority of the fund in Wave 3;

ii.    This would be a good opportunity for investment in the growth and prosperity of Rutland;

iii.   Rutland was already in a very strong position in relation to a bid for this funding with Superfast Broadband coverage in the County expected to be at around 97% by Spring 2019;

iv.   There had been some communication with stakeholders to gain their commitment to the project, but responses from some Schools had not been forthcoming so far.  Mr Wilby, Portfolio for Lifelong Learning, requested that the information was provided in a clear and concise way, accepting that it was a complicated subject area, so that the Education Team could work with those schools in order to ascertain their commitment;

v.    The list of public sector assets to be upgraded had been based on current broadband capabilities, how far the asset was from the exchange and on the further commercial opportunities that could be stimulated as a result of the upgrades. Those that were less than 200m away from the exchange would not be eligible for funding but would still have the option of approaching a commercial provider and the cost would be minimal due to the proximity to the asset.   Where there were properties within villages which were not included in the list, but that were designated as part of resilience plans, there could be a business case for upgrading through property services and Parish Councils might be approached to make a contribution;

vi.   It was anticipated that the approved list would be subject to change and there would be a reserve list for upgrades should there be residual funding to support these;

vii.  The Capital match funding requested is an existing ring-fenced fund left over from previous projects.  The residual fund is reserved for digital improvements; and

viii.The Council would seek to involve multiple providers in the bidding process for the supply of the new full fibre upgrades.

--o0o--

After further debate on this item the Cabinet APPROVED that the meeting returned to public session.

--oOo--

DECISIONS

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the opportunity to bid for Central Government (DCMS) Local Full Fibre Networks Funding.

2)    APPROVED commitment of existing revenue budget to further support bid development as outlined.

3)    APPROVED Council Capital match funding to the bid as outlined in Exempt Appendix A.

4)    DELEGATED to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder the authority to sign a Grant Agreement with DCMS subject to a successful bid outcome, project assurance and value for money assessments.

5)    NOTED that further reports will be brought to Cabinet for approval.

Reasons for the decisions

The recommendations if approved would provide full fibre connectivity to a significant number of public sector sites and extend full fibre coverage in the County particularly in our more rural areas.

To support the delivery of the:

·         Council’s strategic aims and objectives

·         Council’s Corporate Plan

·         Rutland’s Economic Growth Strategy

·         Draft Digital Rutland Strategy 2018-22 (Report due for Cabinet Approval)

To support inclusive economic and well-being objectives.

To support more effective delivery of public services.

To stimulate further commercial investment to realise increased resilience and opportunities for our business and communities.

To support the aims and objectives of the Local Full Fibre Network Challenge Programme.

--o0o--

Mrs L Kinsley left the meeting and did not return.

Mr D Pye joined the meeting.

--o0o--

Report No. 217/2018 was received from the Strategic Director for Places.

Mrs L Stephenson, Portfolio holder for Culture & Leisure, Highways & Transportation, introduced the report the purpose of which was to seek Cabinet approval to adopt and utilise the new powers as described in the report and the associated Enforcement Policy.

During discussion the following points were noted:

1. The recommendation from Officers was that the charge for contravention of the Policy should be £150 with no reduced fee for early repayment;
2. The annual cost for street cleaning of £600,000 as stated in the report included costs associated with cleansing town and village roads as well as cleansing rural roads, emptying dog waste bins, de-littering carriageways, verges and lay-bys; and
3. Mr Pye would enquire as to whether there was requirement to purchase a license for provision of catering at lay-bys.

DECISIONS:

1.    Cabinet APPROVED the adoption of the Littering from Vehicles Enforcement Policy included in appendix A of the report.

2.    Cabinet attributed a value of £150 to the Penalty notice for a contravention of the ‘Littering from Vehicles Outside London (Keepers:Civil Penalties) Regulations 2018’.

Reasons for the decisions

·       The option to not utilise the powers will restrict the Council’s ability to tackle littering and the effect it has on the County.

·       By approving the Littering From Vehicles Enforcement Policy officers would be able to reduce the impact of litter in the County.

--o0o--

Mr D Pye left the meeting and did not return.

--o0o--

Report No.193/2018 was received from the Strategic Director for Resources.

Mr G Brown, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning, Environment, Property and Finance introduced the report the purpose of which was to inform Cabinet and all Members of the full year forecast position as at Quarter 2 for 2018/19 and to alert them to any issues that may impact on the Medium Term Financial Plan to enable them to maintain sound financial management of the Council’s operations.

The detailed report included at Appendix A gave an update on;

·         Revenue budget (section 1)

·         Capital budget (section 2)

·         Corporate finance updates (section 3)

·         Debts and treasury matters (section 4)

During discussion the following points were raised;

i.      The Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan was currently being updated as part of the budget and significant work had been done to identify savings in order to mitigate the potential £1million funding gap;

ii.    The Local Government Finance Settlement would be received in early December 2018 which was earlier than in previous years;

iii.   The underspend in Childrens Services detailed on page 12, was well received..  It was recognised that this had a positive impact they had on the children concerned, and was achieved through the hard work and commitment of the Fostering Team and Foster Carers; and

iv.   Mr Hemsley noted that early intervention in many areas had resulted in cost savings.

DECISIONS:

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the 2018/19 revenue and capital outturn position as at Quarter 2 (Appendix A, section 1 and section 2)

2)    RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL to keep the Green Waste charge at £35 for 2019/20, reduced the discounted fee to £26 and delegated authority to the Director for Places to set this fee annually subject to the fee not increasing beyond this amount (see appendix 3, para 3.9.3-3.9.4)

3)    NOTED the intention to use the earmarked social care reserve to fund additional Disabled Facilities spending should the existing spending projection hold true.

4)    APPROVED use of the Winter Care funding of £135k received from Government to meet cost pressures.

5)    RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL to fund £85k from prudential borrowing on investigation works to determine future property maintenance requirements on Council owned assets.

Reasons for the decisions

The Quarter 2 position is broadly as expected and is positive in light of the Medium Term financial outlook.

--o0o--

Mrs G Curtis joined the meeting.

--o0o--