Decisions

To note a new proposed strategic delivery approach to the emerging Council Homes Regeneration Programme

That Cabinet:

1. Approved the development of a Bristol Estate Regeneration Programme (Council Homes)

2. Noted the commitment to work with residents in and open and transparent way that reflect the values of the Council. This includes honest conversations with residents about the stock issues not likely to be resolved by one off investments.

3. Approved the proposed commitments and offers (principles at this stage) set out in this report, as a basis for preliminary discussion with residents on estates where regeneration may be considered by the Council.

4. Authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Section 151 Officer, to apply for and accept external `capacity’ funding to help support the delivery of this programme.

5. Noted the methodology used to select estates that will be considered as part of the Estate Regeneration Programme.

6. Authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to agree to proceed to consult on selected estates as part of the Estate Regeneration Programme.

Cabinet:

Approved the recommendations as set out in the report.

Cabinet:

Approved the increase in the value of the contract award sum from £400k to up to £1,000k for the period up to 31st July 2020.

To update Cabinet on work done and to seek approval for a future management option for delivery of leisure services across leisure centres and swimming pools currently operated by Sports & Leisure Management (SLM).

Cabinet:

1.      Approved the management option of competitive procurement of the leisure services to a multi-site trust or hybrid trust;

2.      Approved the procurement of managers/operators for the leisure facilities in order for new management arrangements to be in place commencing 1st April 2022;

3.      Authorised the Executive Director People in consultation with the Mayor to take all steps necessary to procure and award the contract.

Cabinet

1.      Authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member Transport and Energy to take all steps necessary to procure and enter into the framework agreements required for the Bristol Highways Maintenance and Associated Works Framework from 2021 to 2025 at a cost of approximately £69m;

2.      Authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member Transport and Energy to take all steps necessary to procure and enter into a term maintenance contract for Gully cleansing and drainage surveying for the period of 4 years for a sum up to £800k.

To seek approval for the project to complement the South Bristol Enterprise Support project, and for the procurement of commissioning partners for the project

Cabinet:

1.      Approved the Council to accept and spend the WECA Grant awarded at its January Joint Committee, and that the Council be the lead and accountable body for the implementation of the North and East Bristol Universal Business Support Project;

2.      Approved the commissioning of delivery partners for the North and East Bristol Universal Business Support Project at a total value of £0.9 m over 3 years to March 2023, following WECA funding approval of the Productivity Challenge / Universal Business Support programme, and subject to sufficient match funding being confirmed from the Council and private sources;

3.      Authorised the Executive Director Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Service Director – Economy of Place and Cabinet Member/Deputy Mayor – Finance, Governance and Performance to take all steps necessary to commission and enter into agreements with delivery partners, and funding agreements with WECA (up to £450,000) and private and charitable sector partners (up to £150,000).

Cabinet:

1.      Authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Energy, the Cabinet Member for Finance, and the s151 Officer, to apply for and accept revenue and capital grant funding from the Heat Network Investment Project (HNIP) to support the delivery of the council’s heat network projects. Note that, if accepted, Heat Network Investment Project grant award must be held by a special purpose vehicle (SPV), which is subject to a separate Cabinet approval;

2.      Subject to capital grant funding of £5.3m being award by the HNIP, Approved the allocation of up to £4.9m (funded from prudential borrowing) for the next phase of the Bristol heat networks as noted in this Cabinet report, to be deployed in line with the phasing of planned development as contained in Table 1 below (revisions to this will be subject to business cases being agreed with the s151 Officer);

3.      Authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Energy, to:

a) agree terms and approve associated waste heat supply contracts with the University of Bristol;

b) agree terms and approve associated contracts for joint heat supply project(s) with Geneco/Wessex Water (sewer heat) and the Coal Authority (former mineworkings);

4.      Authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Energy, to sign heat connection agreements with customers and procure and enter into contracts for delivery of all goods, works and services (including associated operation and maintenance contracts) referenced in Appendix A to this Cabinet Report to the value of the funding agreed;

5.      Cabinet to note that BCC are in the process of setting up a City Leap Joint Venture that could be the actual capital fund source for this and other related schemes rather than BCC Prudential borrowing.

To seek approval for an extension of the Information Advice and Guidance Grant for Information, Advice & Guidance Services until April 2024.

Cabinet:

1.      Approved the extension of the grant funding plan using existing arrangements for Information, Advice and Guidance Services for a maximum annual grant of £560,000 from 1st November 2020 to 30th October 2021 with the option to extend for a further two and a half years to 30th April 2024;

2.      Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Communities, to award the extended grant funding.

Cabinet:

Approved the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Inclusion Strategy.

To seek approval for the disposal of surplus land at Bonnington Walk to allow for the development of modular homes.

Cabinet:

1.      Approved the disposal of land at Bonnington Walk, Lockleaze to L&G Modular Homes, on the principles set out in this report;

2.      Authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration (with appropriate legal and procurement advice) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make minor variations to the precise boundaries of the site;

3.      Authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration (in consultation with the Director of Finance, Director of legal and the Cabinet Member for Housing), to take all steps necessary to finalise the terms of the proposed disposal and conclude all associated agreements and contracts;

4.      Authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration (in consultation with the Director of Finance, Director of legal and the Cabinet Member for Housing), to negotiate and, subject to financial viability, acquire the affordable housing units to be provided within the scheme and a further 21% of the units provided, for use as additional affordable housing or to meet other housing objectives;

5.      Approved the land shown in Appendix Ab being appropriated from the General Fund (Parks) to the HRA, subject to the land being declared surplus to requirements; with the necessary capital financing adjustments made to General Fund and HRA accounts based on the valuation of the land appropriated;

6.      Authorised the use of the HRA land receipt (subject to financial viability and value for money), for acquiring affordable homes on the site;

7.      Authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration (with appropriate legal and procurement advice) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to conclude a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with L&G Modular, to work in partnership to deliver new homes on the site.

To note the progress of the Joint Local Transport Plan 4.

Cabinet:

Noted the JLTP4 prior to adoption by by the West of England Joint Committee on 20th March 2020.

To seek approval of the Refugee & Asylum Seeker Strategy.

Cabinet:

1.      Authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration to accept and spend the grant award from MHCLG for £2,814,768 to reduce rough sleeping for 2020/21;

2.      Approved the draft Commissioning Plan and budget for services to reduce, and prevent rough sleeping in the city from October 2020;

3.      Authorised the Executive Director of Growth and Regeneration and Head of Procurement, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to approve the final commissioning plan, tendering recommendations, and to take all steps necessary to deliver, procure and award a contract from October 2020 for two and half years, with options to extend annually for a further three years subject to MHCLG funding.

To seek approval to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle to receive and spend government grant funding for heat networks.

1.      Authorised the Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Energy and the Green New Deal, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Performance the Chief Finance Officer to

a) establish and operate two (2) special purpose vehicles in order to accept the HNIP capital grant funding and establish the competitive heat commercial model in action; and

b) transfer to the SPVs the following heat network assets in line with HNIP grant funding applications:

i. Redcliffe heat network Phase 2;

ii. Old Market heat network Phase 1;

2.      Delegated authority to the Chief Finance Officer (S.151 Officer) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Performance to transfer and agree the terms of the previously approved Prudential funding, to the SPVs, via onward lending loan agreement (in the region of £6.21m).

To seek approval for capital funding for expansion and improvements at South Bristol Cemetery and updating on strategic provision to meet future demand.

Cabinet:

1.      Approved a £1.7m Capital expenditure for Cemeteries and Crematoria, consisting of £1.4m for extension of burial provision and associated quality improvements at South Bristol Cemetery and £0.3m for undertaking feasibility and options appraisal work to inform a Business Case for future North Bristol and cemetery provision;

2.      Delegated authority to the Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Procurement and the Director of Finance:

a)      to agree the Final option to be implemented at the South Bristol Cemetery once the concept stage proposals have been completed and accessed.

b)      to take programme and financial decisions within the budget envelope and scheme of delegation as the project develops.

3.      Notes that a further report will be brought back to Cabinet following completion of feasibility and Business Case Work on North Bristol Cemetery and Crematorium provision; and with details of opportunities for further investment at South Bristol Cemetery to improve the quality and provision of bereavement services offered.

To seek approval for the Corporate Property Strategy.

Cabinet

1.      Approved and adopted the Corporate Property Strategy;

2.      Authorised the Executive Director Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Performance to review the Property Strategy every 3 years or where necessary on a change of corporate strategy or Administration where this is not a key decision;

3.      Delegated authority to the Executive Director Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Performance, and the S151 Officer, to consolidate all property related budget (spend) that may currently exist within other service area budgets, following the completion of an Asset Management Plan for the Councils operations.

More information to follow.

Cabinet noted:

1.      A risk of overspend on General fund services of £6.6m for 19/20 representing 1.8% of the approved budget (Appendix A), supplementary estimates requests will be expected to balance the 2019/20 in-year position;

2.      A forecast £2m underspend position with regard to the Housing Revenue Account and any underspend at year-end will be carried forward and built into the future programme;

3.      A forecast £1.1m overspend for the Dedicated Schools Grant against approved budget;

4.      Risks of £0.1m overspend to be covered by ring-fenced reserves on Public health, which is being monitored;

5.      The Sundry Debt position of £21.6m over 90 days as at Period 10, increased from £20.8m since P9. Individual directorate detail included under Appendix A1-6.