To approve as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on 8 February 2017.

The Minutes of Cabinet, held on 08 February 2017, were approved as a correct record.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Leader addressed Cabinet Members and in doing so, explained Councillors Coxshall and Halden were attending the Local Government Chronicle Awards. He further explained that the Council had been shortlisted for two awards:

·         Partnership of the Year - with the Royal Opera House for the trailblazers; and

·         Driving Growth - for the Purfleet Centre.

Councillor Gledhill commented on the announcement of the Government’s budget which highlighted potential increases in funding for Local Authorities for Adult Social Care. 

There was no update on Policy or other issues.

There were no petitions submitted.

The Leader of the Council advised that no questions had been submitted from Non-Executive Members.

The Leader of the Council informed Members that no matters had been referred to the Cabinet by an Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Leader presented the report on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Education and Health and in doing so, explained that currently both the Sexual Health and Children's Health Services were delivered by the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) in joint contract with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

He continued by explaining Members were sought to approve the extension of the existing arrangements for 12 months for the sexual health contract  and five months for the Children’s health services.  Cabinet were notified the interim contracts had been negotiated with NELFT and would result in a saving of £77,000 for the sexual health contract. 

RESOLVED:

Cabinet approve the award of a one (1) year contract to North East London Foundation Trust for the delivery of Integrated Sexual Health Services.

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is not subject to call-in (Chapter 4, Part 3, paragraph 10.14 (d)).

Councillor Gledhill, Leader of the Council addressed Cabinet notifying Members that Thurrock had one of the most ambitious growth programmes in the country.  He continued to advise Members that the Council had over £6billion of investment driving the creation of 26,000 new jobs and 20,000 new homes in the borough over the next 20 years.

The Leader stated that the Thurrock Design Guide had been appropriately amended following the consultation, showing that the Council was listening to residents not solely to investors.

Councillor MacPherson commented that she welcomed the report for making a difference and for showing that the Council was listening to not only residents but also local business.

Councillor S.Little echoed the comments made by Councillor MacPherson, stating she was pleased to see feedback from residents had been taken on board.

Councillor Hebb supported the report remarking that he felt it was clear and included contributions from all stakeholders.

The Leader mentioned that it was important to have a document to support not only the self-builder but also large developers who were building thousands of homes across the borough and small or large businesses. He further commented that with the assistance of Officers, the Portfolio Holder, residents and all stakeholders, he felt this had been achieved.

RESOLVED:

1.    To adopt the Thurrock Design Guide (Appendix B) as a Supplementary Planning Document to the adopted Core Strategy and Policies for the Management of Development Local Plan;

2.    To endorse the Thurrock Design Guide (Appendix B) as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in

Councillor B.Little, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, introduced his report advising Cabinet that following the establishment of the Task Force Group, many improvements had been highlighted and one of these were the road works which were taking place in an ad-hoc manner.

He continued to explain by agreeing the report would give the Council adopted control over who completed road works on Thurrock roads, including putting timings and mitigations in place prior to works commencing. It would also allow the Council to issue financial penalties on delayed completions.

The Leader commented he felt the report was long overdue with congestion in the borough getting worse. He further stated that with the logistics of the borough and the high rate of HGVs movements, when roads were congested, it could cause logistical delays over the country.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet approves the proposal to introduce Permitting Scheme within Thurrock with effect from June 2017.

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in

The Cabinet Member for Environment informed her fellow Cabinet Members that over the previous weekend an event called the Great British Spring Clean was held, during which 313 additional bags of rubbish were collected.

She continued by thanking all of the volunteers who took part in the event.

Councillor Tolson then presented the report, which outlined the Councils waste disposal contracts. It was explained that the Council had support from a specialist waste consultant, who had advised on terms in relation to contractor contracts. 

The Cabinet Member further commented that it was necessary for contractors to meet their obligations and for a professional and efficient service to be provided.

Councillor Hebb, welcomed the report and thanked the Thurrock Gazette for their coverage of the Great British Spring Clean.

Councillor S.Little thanked all of the volunteers who supported the event, especially those in the rural wards within the borough.

The Leader remarked that the work undertaken by residents over the weekend particularly on the A1089, put Highways England and their contractors to shame. He thanked all residents who took part in the Great British Spring Clean.

Councillor Gledhill continued by stating he was pleased the contracts were being looked at and not just being extended.

RESOLVED:

To delegate authority for the tender and subsequent award of waste disposal contracts as set out in para 2.4 to the Corporate Director of Environment and Place in consultation with the  Cabinet Member for Environment for a period of up to 7 years, to the aggregate value of approximately £16-18 million.

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in

Councillor Tolson addressed Members informing them the current waste freighters were now at the end of their life expectancy and becoming unreliable, resulting in the need for the Council to lease seven new vehicles in 2016, as collection rates were suffering. Since the younger vehicles had come into operation collection rates had risen to 99%.

She continued to explain that route optimisation testing was due to conclude, this would enable the Council to purchase the right amount of vehicles required. 

Members were notified other environment vehicles were also at end of life and needed to be replaced. It was discussed that the Council had purchased three tractors including cutting equipment, and the following equipment would also require replacing:

·         8 ride on mowers

·         Hand tools

·         Hedge cutters

·         Gritting vehicles

Councillor S.Little queried whether it would be better to lease or purchase new vehicles.

Councillor Tolson commented that when collection rates were falling, the Council needed new vehicles and we now leased 7 vehicles to complete weekly collections. She also commented on preferential borrowing rates for capital purchases.

Councillor Hebb mentioned that the Administration had invested £1million into Clean it, Cut it, Fill it to keep Thurrock clean. He further stated that if a resident had a bad experience they were likely to tell 10 people compared to a good experience.

The Leader remarked the report was to go out for tender, so the conclusion to either purchasing or leasing vehicles would be made. He continued by stating weekly bin collections would remain, with new vehicles having integrated cameras, Officers would be able to treat pot holes and identify other defects sooner.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet endorses the approach laid out in this report for procuring the Gritting vehicles, Refuse collection vehicles and general plant sub 5 tonnes.

2.    That Cabinet approves commencement of the tendering process for Gritting vehicles, Refuse collection vehicles and general plant sub 5 tonnes in accordance with EU procurement procedures.

3.    That Cabinet approves delegation to the Corporate Director of Environment and Place to enter into and award the necessary contracts following the procurement process, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment.

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in

The Leader introduced the report on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Central Services, he explained 1,000 Thurrock residents were contacted to take part in telephone interviews; the results gave the Council a new insight into what was important to local people.

Cabinet were notified:

·         69% of residents were satisfied with their local area as a place to live;

·         70% felt that they belong to their local area;

·         61% agreed that their local area was a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together;

·         89% felt safe when outside their local area during the day and;

·         70% of residents were satisfied with waste and recycling services.

Councillor Gledhill continued to explain the results of the survey showed that the important issues to residents were being addressed through Clean it, Cut it, Fill it with 9,000 pole holes already being filled across the borough.

It was mentioned the Council were currently below the LGA benchmark for many of the results, however this was to be looked into and targets set to assist with improvement.

Councillor Hebb welcomed the report and commented that by completing the survey allowed the Council to improve the needs of residents. He continued by stating the survey was due to be repeated, which would highlight if residents expectations had been achieved.

During discussions Members commented the report was a good base line for the Council to improve on. It was further commented that those residents who had taken part in the survey were happy to be contacted if they had rated a service or aspect of the Council unsatisfactory, for further information.

The Leader remarked the results of the survey were positive, in that they outlined required improvements from residents. He further commented that results relating to certain aspects such as safety, could be shared with the Council’s partners such as the Safety Partnership and the Police to shape all services.

Councillor Gledhill suggested that recommendation 1.5 be reworded, so that all Overview and Scrutiny Committees receive the report and have the opportunity to comment on the results. This was agreed by all Cabinet Members.  

RESOLVED:

1.    Cabinet consider the headline results from the Residents Survey as set out in Appendix 1;

2.    Cabinet agree the immediate high level actions as set out at 3.7 and request that detailed action plans are developed in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member;

3.    Cabinet agree that the results are used to inform the key performance indicators (KPIs) for 2017/18;

4.    Cabinet agree to repeat the Residents Survey in September 2017;

5.    Cabinet invite all Overview and Scrutiny Committees to consider the headline results in Appendix 1 and actions at 3.7.

Reason for Decision - as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in