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).

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 03 October 2017

 Cabinet is 12 noon on Monday 02 October 2017. 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 03 October 2017 Cabinet is 5.00 pm on Wednesday 27 September 2017. 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)

None at time of publication

One matter has been referred to Cabinet from Overview and Scrutiny Management Board which met on 20 October 2017

Formal response from the Mayor

I don’t accept there was any undue delay in appointing a head of paid service. In fact, the fuss that was made in the papers and our local broadcaster sat comfortably in the tradition of hyperbolic descriptions of mythical failure more than it spoke to the realities.

The challenge was real, and if we could have scripted the council’s journey, we wouldn’t start from here. But we would have needed to avoid inheriting the organisation described by Bundred.

Bundred set out challenges, and there were even more in the last decades.

But what you’re addressing, this focus on a failed structure, is one of the reason for failure. You’re in the weeds of the organisation, we are focused on delivery and a structure that delivers.

Within 48 hours of the last day of employment of the former Chief Exec my team brought forward a draft senior management restructure for consultation within the organisation.

The draft restructure will make the organisation:

•          more responsive to political leadership,

•          better able to deliver our vision for the city and

•          saves three quarters of a million pounds year on year, just from the senior

             two grades.

On the issues of vacancies and interims,  it is surely self-evident that in an organisation that has historically failed to deliver, facing cuts imposed by the national government’s philosophy of austerity and was described as having suffered from a collective failure of leadership (both officers and political), and needing to save money, there would be departures. Interim appointments have protected the council from long and expensive contracts, severance payments and brought in urgently needed expertise while we have been working on the future shape of the council.

I would add given the Bundred report, scrutiny should be more self-aware of the errors of the past. We’re dealing with the errors of the past.

On the concerns around the Cabinet forward plan, these are mis-directed. To list a raft of officer ambitions that may never come to fruition would be a mistake simply to populate a forward plan. My policy has been that no item is added to the mayor’s forward plan until I am completely sure the policy has been appraised, costed, risk assessed and examined by my cabinet. This policy will continue.

However the addition of non-urgent late items is unacceptable, and I sympathise with the view of OSM. I have told council officers we can’t work like this.

I would add that some councillors have appeared in the press complaining that they are not being told everything that we are doing to sort out the council, appraise and secure investment for our major infrastructure projects. This while sharing confidential information that harms the council. In the last 2 weeks senior Representatives, of two opposition parties have openly shared confidential information from HR committee to the press. This doesn’t make an atmosphere where we can share information that could harm the council if councillors have proven themselves untrustworthy  ...  view the full decision text for item 6.

To note any announcements from the Chair

Approved the revised Private Housing Enforcement Policy and the new Civil Penalty Notice Policy and in accordance with the Council’s constitution authorised the Director of Neighbourhoods to delegate the powers to officers as set out in the report

Approved retrospectively the sign off of the Occupational Health Contract to the preferred supplier Avon Partnership Occupational Health Service

1) Noted the progress on the project to form a Regional Adoption Agency (Adoption West) in line with national policy directives.

2) Approved proposals for the establishment of the Adoption West Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) (as a company limited by guarantee) as outlined in this report subject to receipt, scrutiny and endorsement of the fully costed business case.