Decisions

Appendix 2 to this report is not for publication as it contains exempt information of the description in Paragraphs 14 and 21 of Parts 4 and 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Agreed: that the site identified in this Report is appropriated to use for housing purposes under Part II of the Housing Act 1985 to the intent that the sites shall be held under the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) rather than its General Fund –

• St Mellons Enterprise Centre

Agreed: that the Cardiff Harbour Authority enter into an agreement to pay ABP an annual payment of £150k from April 2019 – March 2022 as a contribution to their annual dredging costs of the Wrach Channel

Agreed: that

1. the outcome of the evaluation process as set out in Appendix A in terms of the bidders rankings be noted;

2. That officers are instructed to inform those parties that tendered in this matter (as well as those who expressed an interest in this matter) of the outcome of the evaluation process and proposed way forward (as detailed in this report);

3. the Framework Agreement with the organisation highlighted in Appendix A be formally conclude.

Agreed: that

1.      Cardiff Council signs The UK Steel Charter to demonstrate the Council’s support for the aims and objectives of the Charter.

2.      The Council takes the steps as set out in Appendix 1 –

The UK Steel Charter - Cardiff Council Commitments and How they will be met in support of the UK Steel Charter.

Agreed: that

i.   the existing third party framework, NPS, for the provision of Agency Payroll Services via the Direct Award route be called off; and

ii.  a contract for the WITS Agency Payroll Services be awareded to Matrix SCM Limited for a term of one (1) year from the 1st October 2019 until 31st September 2020.

1, The additional licensing scheme in Plasnewydd is due to expire in November 2019. This report seeks authorisation from Cabinet to carry out required statutory consultation before returning to Cabinet for consideration of re-declaration of the Scheme.

2. To brief Cabinet on changes in England currently being considered in Wales which would have significant positive impacts on the HMO licensing function in Cardiff if replicated in Wales.

3. To brief cabinet on the sharp rise in enforcement activity required on “poorly converted buildings” where tenants are being placed at risk

RESOLVED: that

1.            the Shared Regulatory Service be authorised to undertake the required statutory consultation for the re-declaration of the Plasnewydd Additional Licensing Scheme.

2.            Officers be authorised to inform Welsh Government of the Council’s support for the proposed expansion of Mandatory HMO licensing, as in England but to also include “poorly converted buildings”.

3.            It be noted that such an expansion will have resourcing implications, only some of which will be recoverable from HMO licence fee income.

Management of Cardiff Works and Matrix (contract for temporary agency) workers was transferred from Human Resources to Housing and Communities in April 2019.

The overarching vision behind the transfer, was to forge new ties and fully align opportunities between theInto Work services, Cardiff Works and the other agency provision. This would include guaranteed interviews, work placements and into work clients being given priority with any emerging opportunities.

Matrix have been supplying the Council with agency staff since December 2016. The contract ends on 7th September 2019.

The service area need to carry out a full service review to understand exactly what is required from the service provider and how best to add value to the contract, prior to any recommissioning taking place. It is proposed in order for this to be done a direct award to Matrix be made for 12 months. It is intended that the new contract should be in place by September 2020

RESOLVED: that a direct award to current provider Matrix SCM Ltd (for agencies services) for a period of 12 months be approved. The duration of this direct award will be from 8^th September 2019 to 7^th September 2020.

The report will inform the Cabinet of the key risks facing the Council. The Cabinet will have last sighted the Corporate Risk Register (CRR) at a Cabinet Meeting in December 2018. Senior officers review the document quarterly and the Cabinet once every 6 months.     

Corporate Risk owners are at a Director level, and they each input to the review of this document. 

RESOLVED: that the content of the Corporate Risk Register be noted

This Strategy is designed to develop and maintain a culture in which fraud, bribery and corruption are understood across the organisation as unacceptable, for which firm action is and will be taken to prevent and detect fraud loss, bring fraudsters to account quickly and efficiently, and to recover any losses.

RESOLVED: that the Counter-Fraud and Corruption Strategy be approved

In order to progress the Indoor Arena approval is required to acquire the appropriate land interest to support the development.

RESOLVED: that

i)       the preliminary due diligence set out in the appendices to this report undertaken since the last report presented to Cabinet on the Indoor Arena in November 2018 be noted

ii)      authority be delegated to the Director of Economic Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Investment and Development, the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to enter into the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) attached at Confidential Appendix 4 relating to the acquisition of the Red Dragon Centre site and to report back to Cabinet before any legal agreements are entered into.

iii)     Authority be delegated to the Director of Economic Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Investment and Development, the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to deal with all aspects of the procurement of a developer/operator consortium for delivery of the new Indoor Arena subject to the approval of the preferred bidder by Cabinet at a later meeting. 

iv)     authority be delegated to the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer to commission an independent review of the Full Business Case, including the implications of any land assembly requirements, to be presented back to Cabinet as part of its consideration of the Full Business Case in due course. 

This report will set out a 3 year strategic plan to deliver excellent outcomes in children’s services. It will set out how the Council and partners will develop prevention, improve practice, support and develop the workforce, improve the range of service offers and achieve improved performance.

RESOLVED: that the Cardiff Children’s Services Strategy 2019 – 2022 be approved

To progress the public space protection orders

RESOLVED: that

(i)            the responses to the consultation on the text of the draft Public Spaces Protection (Dog Controls) Order 2019 attached as Appendix E be noted;

(ii)           the Public Space Protection (Dog Controls) Order 2019 attached as Appendix A, be approved subject to any agreed amendments;

(iii)         an information report be submitted on this matter to Full Council on 18^th July 2019; and

(iv)         the implementation arrangements as set out in the report be noted

The annual complaints report for the Council provides the total number of complaints and compliments received by the Authority each financial year.  

This includes information on the volumes received by each service area with narrative provided on trend analysis, explaining any increase or decrease from the previous year. Improvements made by the Council as a result of customer feedback is also considered and documented. 

Additional information is provided on complaints that have been escalated to the Public Ombudsman for Wales including data such as the number of complaints being upheld.

RESOLVED: that the contents of the report be noted

At its meeting on 14 December the Cabinet considered a report setting out the Council’s priority schemes to be undertaken as part of Cardiff’s Band B 21^st Century Schools Programme.  The priorities include a proposal for Willows High School to be rebuilt and expanded to provide a new 11-16 high schools with eight forms of entry.  This report seeks Cabinet’s approval to consult on this proposal.

RESOLVED: that officers be authorised to consult on proposals to

•      Discontinue St Albans R.C. Primary School from 31 August 2021;

•      Increase the capacity of Baden Powell Primary School from 420 places (2 Forms of Entry) to 630 places (3 Forms of Entry), and reduce the age range of the school from 3-11 years to 4-11 years, from September 2021;

•      Transfer Baden Powell Primary School to Tremorfa Park and replace the existing buildings with new build facilities with capacity to provide 630 places (3 Forms of Entry).

•      Transfer Willows High School to Tremorfa Park and replace the existing buildings with new build accommodation, increasing the capacity of the school from 1,121 places (7.4 Forms of Entry) to 1,200 places (8 Forms of Entry)

•      To establish post-16 provision for up to 250pupils within the new buildings;

•      Increase the capacity of Tremorfa Nursery School from 112 places to 128 places and expand the range of services provided on site including Flying Start childcare and parenting support, within an Integrated Children’s Centre  on the existing  Tremorfa Nursery School site and the vacated St Albans R.C. Primary School site;

•      Upgrade community facilities in the Splott Ward through the replacement of public open space at the former Willows High School site, significantly enhanced community facilities located on the new school site and replacement pitches for shared use with St Albans Rugby Club and the wider local community at Tremorfa Park.

•      Note that officers will bring a report on the outcome of the consultation to a future meeting to seek authorisation as to whether to proceed to publish proposals in accordance with section 48 of The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013.

To seek Cabinet approval for the budget strategy in respect of 2020/21 and the MTFP which includes consideration of the financial position and savings targets for each directorate.

To note the Budget Timetable Framework and forward this to council for approval.

RESOLVED: that

(1)      the budget principles on which this Budget Strategy Report is based and the approach to meeting the Budget Reduction Requirement both in 2020/21 and across the period of the Medium Term Financial Plan within the context of the objectives set out in Capital Ambition be agreed.

(2)      directorates work with the relevant Portfolio Cabinet Member, in consultation with the Corporate Director Resources and Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance to identify potential savings to assist in addressing the indicative budget gap of £25 million for 2020/21 and £101 million across the period of the Medium Term Financial Plan.

(3)      Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, to implement any saving proposal in advance of 2020/21 where no policy recommendation is required or where a policy decision has already been taken.

(4)      It be noted that work will continue to update and refresh the MTFP and that this will be reported to Members as appropriate. 

(5)      expressions of interest be sought from officers in respect of the voluntary redundancy scheme, in order to support the delivery of savings required in the report.

(6)      Council be recommended to agree the Budget Timetable Framework set out in Appendix 2 be adopted, and that the work outlined be progressed with a view to informing budget preparation.

(7)      consultation on 2020/21 budget proposals take place in order to inform the preparation of the draft 2020/21 Budget.

The Statutory Director of Social Services is required to produce an annual report on the effectiveness of Social Services.  This report is fundamentally a requirement on authorities, members and officers to tell local citizens and key stakeholders how well they think their arrangements for delivering social care services are working.

RESOLVED: that the Local Authority’s Social Services Annual Report for 2018/19 be approved for consideration at Council

Agreed: that

1)     the contract be awarded to Biobag Ltd for the provision of biodegradable bags on a 24 month basis with the option to extend for a further 12 months. 3 year value being £1,230,546.00.

2)     a formal contract be established with Biobag Ltd.

3)     those providers that have submitted a tender in this matter be informed of the outcome of the evaluation process.