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 no questions had been received for referral 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.

No declarations were made by Executive Members.

To receive and, if so determined, to approve as a correct record the Minutes of the following meetings:

2^nd November 2020

23^rd November 2020

14^th December 2020

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meetings held on 2^nd and 23^rd November, and 14^th December, 2020, be approved as correct records.

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

The substantive item for consideration was the Scrutiny review of the draft 2021-2 budget proposals, referred to in the following Minute.

To consider a report of the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee.

1. That the content of the report and its recommendations be noted.

2. That a formal response be made to Scrutiny in due course.

Councillor Acton, as Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, introduced the key features and recommendations arising from the Scrutiny review of the Executive’s draft budget proposals for 2021/2; and thanked Members of the Executive and Corporate Leadership Team for their engagement with the process. The challenges arising from the pandemic were acknowledged, and Councillor Acton advised that Scrutiny would welcome any opportunity to assist with the development of the Council’s recovery plan. In response, the Leader of the Council thanked the Committee for its input, noting that the Executive would in the normal way make a formal response to the recommendations set out in the report.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the content of the report and its recommendations be noted.

(2)       That a formal response be made to Scrutiny in due course.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Culture and Leisure.

NOTE: A related report is to be considered in Part II of this agenda.

1. That the outcome of stage 1 and stage 2 of the Strategic Outcomes Planning Model (SOPM) be noted and the undertaking of stages 3 and 4 approved.

2. That a proposed revised leisure strategy be noted in line with a refurbishment programme for the three leisure centres of Altrincham, Sale and Stretford, subject to completion of the SOPM stages 3 and 4 which will be submitted to the Executive in 2021.

3. That it be noted that Trafford is developing an Active Travel Plan for 2021 that will include integrated walking and cycling strategy and connectivity to the leisure estate.

4. That it be noted that as part of the formulation of the capital programme for 2021/24 this will include for the development and delivery of the business case for three Leisure Centre refurbishments, along with essential maintenance works across the leisure estate.

5. That it be approved that Trafford Leisure CIC continue the role of managing Council owned leisure facilities within new Governance arrangements based on a new contract and operating agreement.

6. That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place in consultation with the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to negotiate and agree the terms of new agreements and leases with Trafford Leisure CIC Limited in relation to the use and operation of the facilities.

7. That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to enter into and sign and/or seal the said agreements and leases on behalf of the Council.

The Executive Member for Culture and Leisure submitted a report which set out a new Strategic Outcomes Planning Model (SOPM), aligning the leisure strategy with the Council’s corporate plan to inform decisions on leisure facilities and services. The report revised the leisure investment strategy to take account of current financial challenges faced by the Council and Trafford Leisure and confirmed the preferred management option for its delivery. Due to significant budget pressures the investment strategy had been reviewed to provide an affordable option that would improve the leisure centre facilities and continue to meet the objective improving health and wellbeing outcomes for a greater number of Trafford residents through increasing levels of physical activity.

It was noted that a related report was to be considered in Part II of the agenda; and an opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions on the report’s content. These centred on the potential costs of the current refurbishment proposals, and aspirations for the development of outdoor sporting and leisure activities.

          RESOLVED -

(1)      That the outcome of stage 1 and stage 2 of the Strategic Outcomes Planning Model (SOPM) be noted and the undertaking of stages 3 and 4 approved.

(2)      That a proposed revised leisure strategy be noted in line with a refurbishment programme for the three leisure centres of Altrincham, Sale and Stretford, subject to completion of the SOPM stages 3 and 4 which will be submitted to the Executive in 2021.

(3)      That it be noted that Trafford is developing an Active Travel Plan for 2021 that will include integrated walking and cycling strategy and connectivity to the leisure estate.

(4)      That it be noted that as part of the formulation of the capital programme for 2021/24 this will include for the development and delivery of the business case for three Leisure Centre refurbishments, along with essential maintenance works across the leisure estate.

(5)      That it be approved that Trafford Leisure CIC continue the role of managing Council owned leisure facilities within new Governance arrangements based on a new contract and operating agreement.

(6)      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place in consultation with the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to negotiate and agree the terms of new agreements and leases with Trafford Leisure CIC Limited in relation to the use and operation of the facilities.

(7)      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to enter into and sign and/or seal the said agreements and leases on behalf of the Council.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Children's Services.

That the proposals contained within the report be agreed as the detailed capital programme for 2020/21, specifically -

1.     Agree to the reallocation of funding streams of Egerton High School and Delamere School in order to carry out work to improve the facilities and expand provision for pupils with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) detailed in Appendix A to the report: Proposed Capital Projects, SEND Capital Programme, Table 2.

2.     Note the demand for primary and secondary school places, Section 2 and 3 of the report and approve the proposal to expand Firs Primary from 2FE to 3FE as detailed in Section 7.

3.     Note and agree the completion of previous schemes and the demand for early years places, Section 5 of the report.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Corporate Director for Children’s Servicessubmitted a report which drew attention to the Council’s statutory duty to provide sufficient places in schools and early years settings and a duty to meet the needs of children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). The report set out the funding received to support the achievement of this duty, and to meet any risks in relation to school conditions and access; and provided further details and updates on the progress that had been made on existing projects to meet demand for places which had been predicted in 2019.

In discussion, queries were raised regarding the nature of advance planning being undertaken to identify forthcoming pressures on school places, particularly in the context of significant housing developments within the borough, and on the nature of consultations undertaken. It was noted that the pandemic had generated particular immediate challenges in respect of the allocation of school places, but that a working group had been set up to monitor and take account of the kinds of issues and pressures referred to in the discussion.

RESOLVED - That the proposals contained within the report be agreed as the detailed capital programme for 2020/21, specifically -

1.    Agree to the reallocation of funding streams of Egerton High School and Delamere School in order to carry out work to improve the facilities and expand provision for pupils with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) detailed in Appendix A to the report: Proposed Capital Projects, SEND Capital Programme, Table 2.

2.    Note the demand for primary and secondary school places, Section 2 and 3 of the report and approve the proposal to expand Firs Primary from 2FE to 3FE as detailed in Section 7.

3.    Note and agree the completion of previous schemes and the demand for early years places, Section 5 of the report.

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

1. That the content of the report be noted.

2. That the Corporate Equality Strategy 2021-2025 be approved.

The Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing & Equalities submitted a report which proposed the adoption of a strategy which outlined how the Council, as a Provider, Commissioner, Employer, Regulator and Partner, would seek to meet legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 for the benefit of employees, residents and service users. It was noted that the strategy would be supported by Council-wide training, and subject to external monitoring. It was intended that it would be reviewed and updated, with further reports brought to the Executive. An opportunity was provided for discussion, and there was broad support for the strategy’s adoption.

          RESOLVED -

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

(2)      That the Corporate Equality Strategy 2021-2025 be approved.

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

The Executive Member for Finance and Governance drew attention to key features of a report which informed Members of the current 2020/21 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. In discussion a question was raised, in the light of the pandemic’s impact on businesses, of the potential implications for the Council’s revenues deriving from Business Rates. Members were advised that no material impacts were expected on the current year’s estimates; but that the impact on the following year could be more significant. It was envisaged that there would be a national budget in March, and the nature of support offered for businesses could affect the local position.

          RESOLVED -

(1)      That the updated positions on the revenue budget, collection fund and capital programme be noted.

(2)      That the movements in earmarked reserves be noted.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive introduced a report which provided an update on the review of the Council now under way by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE). It explained the two stage process of the review, progress made so far and the timetable for the next steps. Whilst it was noted that decision making on these matters was the responsibility of the Council’s Chief Executive, in response to a question it was confirmed that the proposed Council Size submission would be shared with Members through a cross-party committee prior to submission.

          RESOLVED – That the content of the report 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 Culture and Leisure.

NOTE: A related report is to be considered in Part I of this agenda.

The Executive Member for Culture and Leisure submitted a report, further to that already considered in Part I of the agenda, which set out financial and commercial matters in relation to the proposed new Strategic Outcomes Planning Model (SOPM), aligning the leisure strategy with the Council’s corporate plan to inform decisions on leisure facilities and services.

A further opportunity was provided for Members to raise questions on the report’s content, which built on those considered in Part I of the agenda. They centred on the potential costs of the current refurbishment proposals, which would be assessed further by the Council’s consultant in taking the project forward, and on governance arrangements covering the roles of the Council and Trafford Leisure respectively.

          RESOLVED -

(1)      That the outcome of stage 1 and stage 2 of the Strategic Outcomes Planning Model (SOPM) be noted and the undertaking of stages 3 and 4 approved.

(2)      That a proposed revised leisure strategy be noted in line with a refurbishment programme for the three leisure centres of Altrincham, Sale and Stretford, subject to completion of the SOPM stages 3 and 4 which will be submitted to the Executive in 2021.

(3)      That it be noted that Trafford is developing an Active Travel Plan for 2021 that will include integrated walking and cycling strategy and connectivity to the leisure estate.

(4)      That it be noted that as part of the formulation of the capital programme for 2021/24 this will include for the development and delivery of the business case for three Leisure Centre refurbishments, along with essential maintenance works across the leisure estate.

(5)      That it be approved that Trafford Leisure CIC continue the role of managing Council owned leisure facilities within new Governance arrangements based on a new contract and operating agreement.

(6)      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place in consultation with the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to negotiate and agree the terms of new agreements and leases with Trafford Leisure CIC Limited in relation to the use and operation of the facilities.

(7)      That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Governance and Community Strategy to enter into and sign and/or seal the said agreements and leases on behalf of the Council.