A maximum of 15 minutes will be allocated to public questions submitted in writing to Democratic Services (democratic.services@trafford.gov.uk) by 4 p.m. on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must be relevant to items appearing on the agenda and will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

It was noted that there were no questions to be referred to the current meeting.

Members to give notice of any interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

Councillor Carter declared a Personal Interest in Item 6 in view of her role as a trustee of the Big Life Group.

To receive and, if so determined, to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21^st March 2022.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 21^st March 2022 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters referred by the Council or by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Councillor Acton, as Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, advised that the principal item for consideration related to the executive’s response to the task and Finish Group’s report on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller visits. (The following Minute refers.)

To consider a report of the Executive Members for Housing and Neighbourhoods, Environmental Services and Economy and Regeneration.

Councillor Acton welcomed the response of the Executive, acknowledging, as emphasised by the Leader of the Council, that the issues were complex and that further work would be required to explore the recommendations of the Task and Finish group. He hoped that a further update would be made to the Scrutiny Committee once this work had been progressed. Councillor Dagnall, a member of the task and Finish Group, provided the Executive with additional context to the Group’s recommendations; and questions were raised by Members regarding the current and envisaged financial implications, and the extent to which account would be taken of current issues in the developing Local Plan. The Leader of the Council concluded that a further update report would be considered by the Executive later in the year, taking account of the points now raised.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee Task & Finish Group be noted.

(2)       That in response to the recommendations of the Task & Finish Group, the Corporate Director, Place be directed to:

a.    Investigate in more detail the siting of temporary toilet provision at encampments

b.    Investigate suitable consultees on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller issues within the Local Plan

c.    Explore the feasibility of providing a Temporary Stopping Place within the Borough and provide a further report on the matter by December 2022

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Equalities.

[NOTE: Councillor Carter declared a Personal Interest in this item in view of her role as a trustee of the Big Life Group.]

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care introduced a report of the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Equalities which noted that the Council, together with Salford and Bolton local authorities, had previously jointly commissioned a 5-year Lead Provider model substance misuse contract with Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) NHS Foundation Trust. The current contract term commenced in January 2018 and was due to expire in January 2023. It was now proposed that the term of the current contract with GMMH for Drug and Alcohol services be extended for a further period of two years and two months to 31 March 2025.

In discussion, broad support was expressed for the proposal. It was noted that performance indicators existed for the current service, but that benchmarking with other participants in the contract could usefully be undertaken, and that proposals to do this would be brought forward in due course.

RESOLVED - That the proposal to extend the current substance misuse contract for a further period, as detailed in the report, be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration.

The Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration submitted a report which provided Members with background to the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Round 2, which had been announced in the 2022 Spring Statement. It was similar to the Round 1 scheme whereby it was designed to invest in infrastructure that improved everyday life across the UK. The £4.8 billion fund would support town centre and high street regeneration, local transport projects, and cultural and heritage assets. The report set out the three areas proposed to be put forward as bids for LUF Round 2.

In discussion, it was noted that the submission timetable and capacity issues to finalise projects had rendered it impracticable to bid for Round 1 funding; but that initiatives were in place to develop capacity across Greater Manchester in the event of similar future issues.

          RESOLVED -

(1)      That it be approved that three bids be submitted for LUF Round 2 as set out in section 2 of the report.

(2)      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, to develop and submit three bids to the Levelling Up Round 2 Fund as set out in section 2 of the report.

(3)      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Place to accept grant offers the Council receives in the event any of the bids are successful.

(4)      That the Director of Legal and Governance be authorised to finalise and enter into all legal agreements required to implement the above decisions.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Finance and Governance and the Director of Finance and Systems.

The Executive Member for Finance and Governance and the Director of Finance and Systems submitted a report which sought approval to consult on a range of discounts related to unoccupied, empty properties included in the current discretionary policy, to render them more fit for purpose and to align with GM counterparts. In discussion a response was given to a Member’s question regarding the financial apportionment across the existing schemes.

RESOLVED - That approval be given to consult on proposed changes to the Council Tax Discretionary Scheme on Empty Property Charges from April 2023.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Finance and Governance and the Director of Finance and Systems.

The Executive Member for Finance and Governance and the Director of Finance and Systems submitted a report which inform Members of the 2021/22 outturn figures relating to both Revenue and Capital budgets. It also summarised the outturn position for Council Tax and Business Rates within the Collection Fund. In discussion, responses were given to a number of detailed questions, including in relation to the Council’s provision for inflation; and it was agreed that more information would be provided outside the meeting in relation to the Council’s PWLB loan facility and to decarbonisation capital works at schools.

          RESOLVED –

(1)      That the report and the revenue outturn position be noted, showing a budget underspend of £1.530m, which has been transferred to the Budget Resilience, Innovation and Change Reserve.

(2)      That the reserves position, as detailed in paragraph 15 and Appendix 8 to the report, be noted.

(3)      That the final capital programme outturn position as detailed in paragraphs 30 to 47 of the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Council introduced a report which provided a summary of performance against the Council’s Corporate Plan, 2021/22. The Quarter 4 report covered the period 1 January to 31 March 2022, whilst the Annual Report covered highlights from April 2021 to March 2022. The Leader reminded Members that the Council’s corporate priorities had been re-set, and drew attention to a number of key areas of performance within the three priority areas. In response to queries it was noted that work was in progress to refine the available data sets in relation to the climate crisis; and that a further detailed update would be provided in relation to the position on Freedom of Information requests and mitigation measures already in place.

RESOLVED – That the content of the Corporate Plan Quarter 4 Report and Annual Report be noted.

Any other item or items which by reason of:-

(a)       Regulation 11 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the Chairman of the meeting, with the agreement of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairman, is of the opinion should be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency as it relates to a key decision; or

(b)       special circumstances (to be specified) the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency.

[NOTE: The Chair agreed to allow the consideration of this item as Urgent Business in order to allow timely information to be provided to a Member of the Council.]

In response to a query, the Leader of the Council advised that that it was envisaged that an Executive decision, anticipated to be taken during June, would be taken under delegated authority, rather than at the current meeting.