Decisions

The Council approved budgets and directorate spending limits for the 2017/18 financial year on 21 February 2017. The purpose of this report is to inform Cabinet of the Council’s overall financial performance against revenue and capital budgets as at the end of December 2017

To note;

1. The current forecast revenue underspend at period 9 of (£0.4m)
2. A number of supplementary estimates, which total £3.809m for the People Directorate, as per the schedule detailed in this report, effected by way of a one-off virement from other General Fund services
3. Progress against planned savings and further mitigation
4. Forecast capital expenditure of £147.7m, £87.9m below the budgeted capital programme for 2017/18.

That the item would be deferred on the basis of a slight budget underspend shown for period 9 and potential changes to the formula for calculating s31 small business rate relief.  Opportunity would be taken to review the decision in line with the corporate strategy and allow further consultation if necessary.

This report requests that Bristol City Council adopts minimum standards for procurement of Food and Catering Services (to be known as the Good Food Standards).

1. Approved the policy framework for Good Food & Catering Procurement, involving a hierarchy of good food standards that support health and sustainability.
2. Noted that the good food standards will make use of the Soil Association Food For Life (FFL) Served Here award criteria and the Bristol Eating Better Award - applied appropriately depending on size, type and nature of the food/catering.

Authority was given to the Educational Improvement Director to spend £26.7m on capital schools projects in consultation with the portfolio holder and S151 officer.

1.    Noted the Lockleaze Sites Appraisal and Delivery Strategy study and the recommended delivery approach set out in Appendix A.

2.    Authorised spend of £1.081m Estate Regeneration Grant received from DCLG to help deliver new housing and regeneration in the Lockleaze Estate.

Recommendation no.3 was withdrawn.

4.    Authorised spend of £6.686m ‘Unlocking Lockleaze Development’ Housing Investment Fund grant award from Homes England.

5.    Authorised officers in consultation with the Service Director, Finance to submit grant funding applications to secure external funding as appropriate, including: Local Growth Fund, Early Investment Programme, and Accelerated Construction Programme, and to invest any such grants awarded to deliver the sustainable transport improvements and other infrastructure required to enable housing delivery in Lockleaze.

6.    Agreed, subject to further Cabinet approval of the detailed business case and any joint venture agreements, to dispose of the Romney House/Lockleaze School site, Lockleaze Day Centre/Blake Centre Site and Branwhite Close sites (‘Package A’) to the Council’s proposed Local Housing Company for residential led development.

7.    Agreed the sale of the following sites to a Homes West partner: Constable Road/Crome Road sites, and Herkomer Close (‘Package B’) for residential led development.

8.    A number of smaller sites (within ‘Package C’) are expected be developed by Bristol City Council (through the Housing Revenue Account) to provide additional affordable housing. Remaining sites identified within Package C with potential for self-built or community land trust will be disposed of.

9.    Cabinet reaffirmed the approach previously agreed in April 2012 that land sales and acquisitions in Lockleaze support regeneration in the vicinity of Gainsborough Square, Lockleaze.

This report seeks approval for delivery of the WECA grant funded Employment Support Innovation Fund Pilot.

It was agreed to proceed with the delivery of the Employment Support Innovation Fund with immediate effect.

That, following the approval of the change request by the WECA Committee on 2 February 2018, authority was delegated to the Service Director of Transport to facilitate the relevant procurement of materials and associated expenditure required to implement the scheme.

This report recommends approval of a revised Affordable Housing Practice Note (AHPN) that will provide updated guidance to developers when submitting eligible residential planning applications and incentivise developers to increase affordable housing supply in advance of a new Bristol Local Plan.

1. Adopted the Affordable Housing Practice Note 2018, recognising that it is only an interim measure that does not introduce new policy and supports the implementation of the existing Bristol Local Plan.
2. Noted the responses to the engagement process in Appendix B.

A report to seek approval for the Better Lives programme approach and objectives, and the investment priorities for the Improved Better Care Fund (IBCF). Also to consider:

1. The procurement of a consultant

2. The increased rate for home care that has been applied since November 2017.

•      Delegated authority was given to the Head of Service (South/ Hospitals – Adult Care Support and Chair of the Governance Board) to pilot, purchase and rollout the “best fit” mobile technology for Social Care teams to enable them to do their jobs more effectively.

•      Approval was given to spend within the parameters of the summary spreadsheet attached (Total value - Capital £912,409 and a recurring revenue cost of £186,763) to achieve service improvement work.

•      It was noted that the Governance Board had responsibility for ensuring that the right devices are bought, that mobile applications work and that the culture and working practices develop to harness the potential of the technology.

This report seeks approval to proceed with the application and the acceptance of further grant funding from Defra to carry out the new statutory direction set by the Government in relation to a clean air action plan.

1.      Approved the submission to Government of the Strategic Outline Case for the Bristol Clean Air Action Plan.

2.      Approved the project plan to complete the development of the Clean Air Action Plan, including engagement and consultation.

3.      Approved submission of funding bids and spending of any funding secured from Government on the development of the Clean Air Action Plan up to a limit of £2m.

4.      Approved submission of funding bids and spending of any funding secured from the Government’s Early Measures Fund for Local NO2 Compliance.