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.

No declarations were made by Executive Members.

To receive and, if so determined, to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 27^th November 2017.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 27^th November 2017 be approved as a correct record.

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

The Executive received and gave initial consideration to two Scrutiny reports, as set out in more detail below.

For the Executive to consider and respond to a report of the Scrutiny Committee.

1. That the content of the report be noted.

2. That a formal response be made to Scrutiny when the Executive brings forward its final budget proposals in February 2018.

Councillor Michael Young, as Chairman of Scrutiny Committee, presented the Scrutiny Review of the Executive’s draft budget proposals for 2018-19, noting some concern regarding a number of risk classifications associated with the proposals. On behalf of the Executive, the Leader confirmed that a formal response would be made to the report as the Executive brought forward its updated budget proposals.

            RESOLVED -

(1)        That the content of the report be noted.

(2)       That a formal response be made to Scrutiny when the Executive brings forward its final budget proposals in February 2018.

For the Executive to consider and respond to a report of the Scrutiny Committee.

1. That the content of the report be noted.

2. That the Executive Member for Corporate Services be requested to produce a formal response to the report and its recommendations.

Councillors Michael Young and Cordingley, as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of Scrutiny Committee, presented the Scrutiny Review of the Council’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Some concern was particularly highlighted regarding the timescale envisaged to address problems identified, and the impact on operational issues such as the effective capturing of customer feedback. In response, the Leader acknowledged that it was in the Council’s interests to maintain effective communications with its customers, and indicated that a formal response would be promptly made to the report’s recommendations.

            RESOLVED -

(1)        That the content of the report be noted.

(2)       That the Executive Member for Corporate Services be requested to produce a formal response to the report and its recommendations.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning.

That the Trafford Economic and Housing Growth Framework be approved.

The Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning submitted a report presenting for approval the Trafford Economic and Housing Growth Framework, intended to set the strategic priorities for growth in the borough, the actual measures required to deliver them, and providing for a cost benefit analysis to identify the overall impact of the measures over a five year period. It identified the key growth interventions required to help maximise economic and housing growth in Trafford; a number of key performance indicators for each intervention; and a summary of the financial benefits to Trafford based on a cost-benefit analysis model. Coupled with the Trafford Vision 2031, Corporate Objectives and the wider GM strategic arena, it formed a comprehensive up approach to delivering future growth to benefit Trafford’s residents and businesses. An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions in respect of the report’s content.

RESOLVED - That the Trafford Economic and Housing Growth Framework be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning.

PLEASE NOTE: The 3 appendices to this report are exceptionally extensive. They are published in full with this agenda on the Council’s website; but are not being circulated in hard or emailed copy.

1. That the findings of the public consultation on the draft Refreshed Stretford Masterplan be noted.

2. That the recommended approach to continued engagement be approved.

3. That the Refreshed Stretford Masterplan be approved.

The Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning submitted a report which presented for approval the refreshed Stretford Masterplan, which was to provide the strategic framework for the delivery of the emerging opportunities for the town centre and wider Stretford area, identifying areas for future development and the key actions required to deliver major investment and regeneration. The Executive Member advised the Executive of key issues which had arisen during the course of the consultation, and consequent amendments which were now proposed to the Masterplan. An opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions on the report’s content, and it was noted that there would be an opportunity for more detailed discussion at the meeting of Council on 31^st January 2018.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the findings of the public consultation on the draft Refreshed Stretford Masterplan be noted.

(2)       That the recommended approach to continued engagement be approved.

(3)       That the Refreshed Stretford Masterplan be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning.

NOTE: A related report is to be considered in Part II of this agenda. (Item 13 below refers.)

1. That the content of the report be noted.

2. That the proposal to award the contract for the provision of parking enforcement and ancillary services to the preferred bidder, identified in the Part II report, be approved.

The Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning submitted a report which set out details of the reasons for procuring a contract for parking enforcement and ancillary services, an outline of the EU Tender process undertaken jointly with Salford City Council, the outcome of the selection process, and the proposal to award the contract for the delivery of parking enforcement and ancillary services to the winning bidder. (A supplementary report was considered in Part II of this agenda. Minute 183 below refers.)

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the content of the report be noted.

(2)       That the proposal to award the contract for the provision of parking enforcement and ancillary services to the preferred bidder, identified in the Part II report, be approved.

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

1.    That the Executive Structure set out in the report be approved.

2.    That it be noted that that, subject to NHS approvals and the agreement of Council, it is proposed that Trafford Council Chief Executive will be appointed to the Accountable Officer for NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group.

3.    That agreement be given to the next steps for further alignment of functions within Trafford Council and NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group as set out in the report, including the appointment of a Joint Chief Finance Officer operating across the two organisations.

4.    That the requirement be noted for a period of assurance in relation to financial resilience of both organisations, to be carried out by the Accountable Officer and Joint Chief Finance Officer after the implementation of the Executive structure whilst moving forward with the integration.

5.    That it be noted that a further report will be brought back to Executive in the summer to update on progression of these proposals.

The Executive Member for Health and wellbeing submitted a report which focussed on seeking approval to bring Trafford Council and NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group services together under a single Executive structure led by the Chief Executive who will assume the Accountable Officer role following NHS England approvals. Approval was sought to move to the next phase of integration which included appointments to posts in the Executive structure, further alignment of functions and a period of financial due diligence to be undertaken following the appointment of the joint Chief Finance Officer. An opportunity was provided for Members to ask questions on the report’s content. These focused on a query to the proposed Accountable Officer, to which she responded, on the nature of the challenges posed by integration, and the potential financial issues arising from the linking of budgets. The Executive Member and Leader of the Council drew attention to paragraph 3.6 of the report, which set out the intention to undertake a period of due diligence; and it was noted that further updates would be referred to the Executive, as appropriate.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the Executive Structure set out in the report be approved.

(2)       That it be noted that that, subject to NHS approvals and the agreement of Council, it is proposed that Trafford Council Chief Executive will be appointed to the Accountable Officer for NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group.

(3)       That agreement be given to the next steps for further alignment of functions within Trafford Council and NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group as set out in the report, including the appointment of a Joint Chief Finance Officer operating across the two organisations.

(4)       That the requirement be noted for a period of assurance in relation to financial resilience of both organisations, to be carried out by the Accountable Officer and Joint Chief Finance Officer after the implementation of the Executive structure whilst moving forward with the integration.

(5)       That it be noted that a further report will be brought back to Executive in the summer to update on progression of these proposals.

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

The Executive Member for Corporate Resources and Chief Finance Officer submitted a report which informed Members of the current 2017/18 forecast outturn figures relating to both Revenue and Capital budgets. It also summarised the latest forecast position for Council Tax and Business Rates within the Collection Fund. An opportunity was provided for Members to ask questions on the report’s content. These concentrated on variances within the Adults and Children’s services area, particularly in deflection from care, the Higher Needs Block and implications for the Dedicated Schools Grant, and on interpretation of variances within the EGEI Directorate. On the latter, the Executive Member agreed that further consideration would be given to clarifying the presentation of this information.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the forecast revenue budget underspend of £216k be noted.

(2)          That the estimated benefit be noted of up to £5.1m to be received from the 2017/18 GM 100% Business Rates Retention Pilot, as a result of a new benefit sharing agreement. This would be transferred to a new earmarked reserve to fund the 2018/19 budget.

(3)          That the Executive note the interim dividend received from Manchester Airport investment of £1.784m most of which is being used to fund an extra £1.4m investment in the highways infrastructure in 17/18.

(4)          That the changes be noted to the Capital Programme as detailed in paragraph 18 to the report, which includes the extra highways investment referred to above.

To receive and note the following:

The Executive received for information details of Key Decisions to be taken by the GMCA from January 2018 onwards, and of decisions taken by the GMCA and AGMA on 24/11/17.

            RESOLVED – That the content of the decision summaries be noted.

Motion   (Which may be amended as Members think fit):

            That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the remaining items on the agenda, because of the likelihood of disclosure of “exempt information” which falls within one or more descriptive category or categories of the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, as amended by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, and specified on the agenda item or report relating to each such item respectively.

RESOLVED - That the public be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the remaining items on the agenda, because of the likelihood of disclosure of “exempt information” which falls within one or more descriptive category or categories of the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, as amended by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, and specified on the agenda item or report relating to each such item respectively.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning.

NOTE: A related report is to be considered in Part I of this agenda. (Item 7 above refers.)

The Executive Member for Housing and Strategic Planning submitted a report which set out details of the reasons for procuring a contract for parking enforcement and ancillary services, an outline of the EU Tender process undertaken jointly with Salford City Council, the outcome of the selection process, and the proposal to award the contract for the delivery of parking enforcement and ancillary services to the winning bidder. An associated report was considered in Part I of this agenda (Minute 178 above refers), and Members were now advised of the details of the evaluation process and the identity of the successful bidder. Details of any formal decisions taken in relation to this item are set out at Minute 178 above.