To approve as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on 15 March 2023.

The minutes of Cabinet held on 15 March 2023 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.

No interests were declared.

The Leader began his statement by stating that he has been in the role as Leader of the Council for 3 weeks and thanks to the Chief Executive and senior officers providing excellent briefings and advice he has been able to hit the ground running.

The Leader stated that he has appointed a new cabinet and with the support of the right officers he is satisfied that they will carry out the reforms that are needed for this Council to get back to financial recovery and sound governance.

The Leader further stated that there is a long way to go, more of which we will find out when the Government release the BVI report. The Leader confirmed that it is an opportunity to reshape and reform the Council so that it will provide the services that residents need.

No Petitions had been submitted by Members of the Public.

No questions had been submitted by Non-Executive Members.

No matters have been referred to Cabinet for consideration by an Overview and Scrutiny Committee other than some comments from the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee which are in relation to the Waste Item to be heard later.

Councillor B Maney raised in relation to School Crossing Patrol Officers that when Cabinet was looking into potential savings the service was identified as one that is not a statutory service. Cabinet are looking into whether that service can be funded by schools or by third parties in the borough. There have been some discussions with third parties which could bear fruit but it is in the early stages. Councillor B Maney highlighted that the letter sent to schools was not worded particularly well and has caused some confusion. Councillor B Maney confirmed there is no intention to remove that service.

The Leader echoed Councillor B Maney’s comments and stated that whilst they are looking at alternative ways of funding there are no plans to remove the service.

The Leader confirmed the following appointments to Outside Bodies.

Anglian (Eastern) Regional Flood & Coastal Committee – Councillor G Collins

Association for Public Services Excellence – Councillor A Jefferies

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors – Councillor G Polley

Essex Partnership for Flood Management – Councillor G Collins

Essex County Traveller Unit – Councillor A Jefferies

Impulse Leisure – Councillor J Thandi

Local Government Association – Councillor B Johnson and Councillor Q Abbas

Opportunity South Essex – Councillor A Jefferies

South East Local Enterprise Partnership – Strategic Board – Councillor A Jefferies

South East Local Enterprise Partnership – Accountability Board – Councillor A Jefferies

Thurrock Arts Councillor – Councillor J Redsell

Thurrock Sports Council – Councillor J Thandi

Thurrock Estuary 2100 Strategic Programme Board – Councillor A Jefferies

Thurrock Community Safety Partnership – Councillor A Jefferies

ASELA – Councillor A Jefferies

High House Production Park – Councillor D Arnold

RESOLVED:

1.That the nominations to Outside Bodies, Statutory and Other Panels be approved as set out above.

This item will be considered under the urgency provisions contained in Chapter 8, Section 14 of the Constitution.

The Leader confirmed that the Waste report had gone to Overview and Scrutiny and their comments were in front of Members tonight. The Leader confirmed that Overview and Scrutiny broadly welcomed what is being proposed however they would like to remove the words ‘interim solution’ from recommendation 1.1 and replace it with ‘until a fully costed Waste Implementation Plan has been completed’. They would also like to add to recommendation 1.3 ‘that this should be brought to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee not less than one month before Cabinet’. The Leader confirmed that he had no issue with either of these proposed amendments and stated that he hoped the other Cabinet members would agree.

The Leader recognised that the service with regard to the brown bins has not been acceptable to residents for quite some time. The Leader stated that there has been a much improved service for waste and recycling collections.

The Leader welcomed the review of the service.

Councillor G Coxshall queried the timelines for the review of the waste service.

The Acting Director of Public Realm confirmed this would be completed by the end of the year.

Councillor Snell highlighted that a resolution was needed, and what is being proposed is a sensible solution. Councillor Snell highlighted that a comment was made at Overview and Scrutiny that the suspension of the brown bin service in the months of December and January when this service was less needed could be extended to the month of November and weekly recycling collections reinstated.

Councillor B Maney stressed that pairing back the recycling service did not sit well with him and he really hopes this is an interim solution as he was concerned residents may put recycling in the green bins. Councillor B Maney also suggested that as the leaves are falling much later the brown bin service should perhaps be suspended for the months of January and February.

The Leader responded that in December there is more packaging due to Christmas and that is why December and January were selected.

RESOLVED:

1.Option 5 be approved for the collection of garden waste and the associated change to the frequency collection of recycling until a fully costed Waste Implementation Plan has been completed

2. A full strategic review of the waste service be undertaken to provide for a sustainable service in the context of reducing budgets, increasing costs, demographic and other pressures, changes in legislation.

3.That the scope of the strategic review will be developed for members consideration, but will include the type, levels, and forms of delivery of service. This should be brought to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee not less than one month before Cabinet.

Reason for decision: as outlined in the report

This decision is subject to call-in

Councillor G Coxshall introduced the report and explained that the report is about the award of contract for Occupational Therapy and Independent Mobility Assessments. The tender process has been completed and the outcome has now been received. The budgetary envelope remains the same as last year.

Councillor B Maney queried on page 37 how the figure of £99,360 per annum was arrived at and if this is enough to provide the service. He further queried if now the decision has been made whether it should go back to the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider.

The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care and Community Development confirmed that the figure of £99,360 is the outturn figure of what was spent last year. The good news is that despite the various pressures people are under the figure has been kept within this cash envelope and he has no reason to believe the high quality of service would reduce. If demand increased then it would affect the waiting times for the assessments. He further confirmed that he had not been advised to take this back to Overview and Scrutiny.

RESOLVED:

1.That Cabinet agrees with Procurement’s recommendation to appoint the winning provider to fulfil the obligations under the contract to provide an occupational therapy and independent mobility assessment service.

Reason for decision: as outlined in the report

This decision is subject to Call-in

Councillor G Coxshall introduced the report and confirmed it is regarding the award of contract for telecare equipment.

Councillor Carter queried whether digital transformation was part of this.

The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care and Community Development stated that they have built into the contract the digital switchover and the provider selected is compatible with that switch.

Councillor Snell queried if only one company had come forward.

The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care and Community Development confirmed that only two companies came forward. It is a fairly limited market and one provider was picked from those two options.

Councillor B Maney queried how they came to the contract figure.

The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care and Community Development confirmed they did set a cash limit when going to tender and this was accepted. In the current financial climate, it is necessary to set limits when going out to tender although there is normally a tolerance when considering this. The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care and Community Development Assured confirmed that through the tender process where they consider a number of different criteria they are assured the chosen provider is capable of delivering a good service for the contract amount.

Cabinet went into exempt session to discuss the appendices to item 12 and 13. Cabinet members sought further clarification from officers on the procurement process, requested additional information on the weightings and rationalisation behind the application. Cabinet membersrequested that all future procurement reports must include more explanatory detail of the decision, the procurement process, rationalisation and outcome of the weightings in supporting the successful supplier. The Leader requested additional information is made available to Cabinet on items 12 and 13.

(Detailed minutes are contained in the exempt minutes).

RESOLVED:

1.That Cabinet agrees with Procurement’s recommendation to appoint the winning provider to fulfil obligations under the contract to supply, install, maintain and repair telecare equipment.

Reason for decision: as outlined in the report

This decision is subject to Call-in