Agenda and decisions

Members of the public intending to attend the meeting are asked to please note that, in the interests of health, safety and security, bags maybe searched on entry to the building.  Everyone attending this meeting is also asked please to behave with due courtesy and to conduct themselves in a reasonable way.

Please note: if the alarm sounds during the meeting, everyone should please exit the building via the way they came in, via the main entrance lobby area, and then the front ramp. Please then assemble on the paved area in front of the building on College Green by the flag poles.

If the front entrance cannot be used, alternative exits are available via staircases 2 and 3 to the left and right of the Conference Hall. These exit to the rear of the building. The lifts are not to be used. Then please make your way to the assembly point at the front of the building.  Please do not return to the building until instructed to do so by the fire warden(s).

Up to one hour is allowed for this item

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum. Petitions, statements and questions received by the deadlines below will be taken at the start of the agenda item to which they relate to.

Petitions and statements (must be about matters on the agenda):

• Members of the public and members of the council, provided they give notice in writing or by e-mail (and include their name, address, and ‘details of the wording of the petition, and, in the case of a statement, a copy of the submission) by no later than 12 noon on the working day before the meeting, may present a petition or submit a statement to the Cabinet.

• One statement per member of the public and one statement per member of council shall be admissible.

• A maximum of one minute shall be allowed to present each petition and statement.

• The deadline for receipt of petitions and statements for the 1 November Cabinet is 12 noon on 31 October 2022.  These should be sent, in writing or by e-mail to: Democratic Services, City Hall, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR

e-mail: democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

Questions (must be about matters on the agenda):

• A question may be asked by a member of the public or a member of Council, provided they give notice in writing or by e-mail (and include their name and address) no later than 3 clear working days before the day of the meeting.

• Questions must identify the member of the Cabinet to whom they are put.

• A maximum of 2 written questions per person can be asked. At the meeting, a maximum of 2 supplementary questions may be asked. A supplementary question must arise directly out of the original question or reply.

• Replies to questions will be given verbally at the meeting. If a reply cannot be given at the meeting (including due to lack of time) or if written confirmation of the verbal reply is requested by the questioner, a written reply will be provided within 10 working days of the meeting.

• The deadline for receipt of questions for the 1 November Cabinet is 5.00 pm on Weds 26 October. These should be sent, in writing or by e-mail to: Democratic Services, City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.

Democratic Services e-mail: democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk

When submitting a question or statement please indicate whether you are planning to attend the meeting to present your statement or receive a verbal reply to your question

To note any declarations of interest from the Mayor and Councillors.  They are asked to indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declarations of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

(subject to a maximum of three items)

To note any announcements from the Chair

That Cabinet:

1.    Authorised Executive Director of People in consultation with the Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Children's Services, Education and Equalities, to takes all steps required to jointly commission with partner authorities and enter into a regional SEND Information, Advice and Support Service for 2+1 years from the 1st of April 2023.

2.    Noted the consultation report at Appendix B.

That Cabinet:

1. Authorised the Executive Director: Growth and Regeneration to take all steps required to negotiate and agree a lease/leases for the Council to take possession of the 24 flats at Eugene Street.
2. Authorised the Executive Director Growth and Regeneration to take all steps required to spend up to £600k to refurbish the 24 flats as outlined in this report.

That Cabinet:

1. Approved the Local Development Scheme at Appendix A.

That Cabinet:

1.   Noted the Officer Executive Decision (OED) taken on 21st September to spend £331k of the Household Support Fund in respect of Free School Meals food vouchers for October 2022 school holidays.

2.   Approved the Household Support Fund Policy October 2022 – March 2023 and change of budget to reflect this funding.

3.   Authorised the Director Finance in consultation with the Cabinet Member and Deputy Mayor; City Economy Finance and Performance to take all steps required to accept and spend (including procuring and awarding contracts over £500k) the remaining £3.7m of the extended allocation of the DWP Household Support Fund as outlined in Household Support Fund Policy October 2022 – March 2023.

That Cabinet approved:

1.  The following supplementary estimates following temporary redirection of earmarked reserves to general reserves and delegated authority to realign those general reserves to meet Q2 spending requirements as approved by Cabinet at P5/Q2:

Appendix A2 – Summary virement adjustments for supplementary estimates

Appendix A3 – G&R Waste

Appendix A4 – People - Adults

Appendix A5 – People - Children

Appendix A6 – People - Education

Appendix A7 – G&R Energy

Appendix A8 – G&R Housing

2. The submission of the 2 external funding bids (subject to finance due diligence):

o Heat Pump Ready Programme, Stream 1 - Solutions for high-density heat pump deployment up to £4m

o Net Zero Cities Pilot Cities Programme, Horizon 2020, the 2014-2020 Research and Innovation Framework Programme of the European Commission up to 1.5m Euros.

Details of these 2 bids are set out in Appendix A1 Sections 7.1.1 and 7.1.2.

Notifications of award or of any material variation is to come back to Cabinet under separate report as key decision due to the related award values.

That Cabinet noted:

3. The General Fund risk adjusted forecast overspend of £12.3m, noting further mitigations continue to be explored.
4. The virement adjustments made as per Appendix A2
5. The significant growing pressure in housing benefit due to a shortfall in subsidy where exempt accommodation providers are commissioned. For 23/24 onwards, the Benefits division will transfer the budget to the relevant commissioning division, either Adult Social Care or Housing Options.
6. That any actual year end favourable improvement as compared to the revised Budget net expenditure position is to be utilised to replenish the Feasibility Fund in line with the capital strategy (£0.7m).
7. The forecast overspend of £2.0m within the HRA (with actual end of year position being funded by a transfer to or from the HRA general reserve).
8. The forecast in-year deficit of £19.9m accumulating to a total £44.6m carried forward deficit in the DSG for 2023/24, and that the Council and the Schools Forum are developing a mitigation plan which will seek to address the High Needs overspend.
9. The forecast £4.7m underspend (£4.4m underspend for the General Fund and a £0.3m underspend on HRA) against the latest approved Capital Programme’s Budget.