Decisions

6.1

Call-In of Cabinet Member for Finance’s Decision on “Disposal of Property at Mount Pleasant, Sharrow Lane”

6.1.1

The Chair of the Economic and Environmental Wellbeing Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee (Councillor Denise Fox) presented a report on the outcome of the Committee’s meeting held on 14th March 2018 where a Call-In of the Cabinet Member for Finance’s decision on 22nd February 2018 regarding “Disposal of Property at Mount Pleasant, Sharrow Lane” was considered.

6.1.2

Councillor Fox, in referring to the decision taken by the Committee, stated that the meeting with Avenues to Zero, herself and Councillor Olivia Blake had now taken place, and it had been agreed at that meeting that Avenues to Zero and the Council would continue to explore potential ways to achieve some of the ambitions set out in Avenues to Zero’s Mount Pleasant bid.

6.1.3

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)        notes the decision of the Economic and Environmental Wellbeing Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee, to take no action in relation to the called-in decision, but to recommend a meeting takes place of Cabinet Member for Finance and Chair of Economic and Environmental Wellbeing Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee with Avenues to Zero to explain more fully information underlying the Individual Cabinet Member decision; and

(b)        welcomes the undertaking given at the meeting held with Avenues to Zero to continue to explore potential ways to achieve some of the ambitions set out in Avenues to Zero’s Mount Pleasant bid.

6.1.4

Reasons for Decision

To allow the decision to be implemented.

6.1.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

To not agree with the decision of the Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee in relation to the called-in decision.

6.1.6

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

6.1.7

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

6.1.8

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Laraine Manley, Executive Director, Place.

6.1.9

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

6.2

Street Culture Scrutiny Task Group

6.2.1

The Chair of the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee (Councillor Chris Peace) presented a report which outlined the work undertaken by the Committee’s Street Culture Scrutiny Task Group and set out the Task Group’s recommendations, which had been endorsed by the Committee.  The full report setting out the findings and recommendations of the Task Group was appended to the report.

6.2.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

thanks (i) the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee for its work in relation to finding out about Street Culture and provision of services in Sheffield and (ii) the Members of the Task Group, and all the Council officers and representatives of partner organisations and groups who contributed to the work of the Task Group;

(b)

notes the Street Culture Scrutiny Task Group Report, attached as Appendix 1 to the report;

(c)

agrees that an initial Cabinet response to the scrutiny recommendations be provided to the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee in July 2018; and

(d)

agrees to provide a Council led multi-agency written response to the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee recommendations for October 2018.

6.2.3

Reasons for the Decision

To maintain momentum, the Scrutiny Committee request an initial response to their recommendations for July 2018, especially those where the Council may or can lead.

Recognising the collaborative approach being taken in regard to Street Culture and provisions in the city, the Scrutiny Committee would like a multi-agency response to its report and recommendations, and feel the Council is best placed to lead on this formal written response to the Scrutiny Committee’s Street Culture Scrutiny Task Group Report and the Committee asks for this by October 2018.

6.2.4

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

An alternative option in relation to the recommendations would be to do nothing with the Task Group Report.  However, given the time and effort spent by the Task Group and contributions to the work and recommendations from organisations across the city, this is not deemed a viable option.

An alternative option in relation to the recommendations would be to respond to the Committee’s report over a much longer timescale. The Scrutiny Committee would like to maintain momentum on this issue but recognise time is required for a multi-agency response, hence the suggestion of an initial Cabinet response in July 2018 and a Cabinet led multi-agency response to its recommendations with a longer timescale of October 2018.

6.2.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

6.2.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

N/A

6.2.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Laraine Manley, Executive Director, Place

6.2.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Safer and Stronger Communities

9.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking to obtain permission for Sheffield City Council (SCC) to enter into contract with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (MBC) to provide them with furnished goods for their service requirement.

9.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-  

(a)

approves the Council entering into a contract for the supply of furnished goods to RMBC, as outlined and detailed within the report; and

(b)

delegates authority to the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Director of Housing and Neighbourhoods Service, to take such other necessary steps not covered by existing delegations to achieve the outcomes outlined in the report.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

The reasons for recommending this business are highlighted in the summary of benefits at section 2.1 of the report.

The undertaking and successful delivery of this contract could be a catalyst to further external 3rd party works. This is good for the Council from a reputational perspective and will contribute to minimising the impact of budget constraints, given it creates an income.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

There were no alternative options presented in the report.

9.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

9.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

9.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Laraine Manley, Executive Director, Place

9.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Safer and Stronger Communities

11.1

The Executive Director, People Services, submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval for the grant aid awards for 2018/19; and to delegate, to the Cabinet Member with voluntary sector responsibility, authority to vary grant aid awards for the financial year 2019/20.

11.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-  

(a)

agrees the grant awards for 2018/19 as set out in the report, which are in line with the budget savings stated in the Revenue Budget report approved by the Cabinet in February 2018 and the multi-year grant agreements; and

(b)

delegates authority to make the decision on any reduction in grant aid awards in year 3 for all multi-year agreements (2019/20) to the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the voluntary sector on the basis that, as previously approved, the awards for year 3 will be within the parameters set out in the September 2016 Cabinet report, between 75% and 100% of the year 1 value.

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

The awards are all within the financial boundaries of the existing multi-year agreements and the budget available to the Council. 

11.3.2

The Cabinet Member responsible for the Voluntary Sector can already set the level of grant award if it is the same percentage reduction across the funds and delegating the option to vary any percentage reduction across the funds allows timely decision making that takes into account needs, impact, as well as the funds available for the grant awards.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

11.4.1

Due to there not being sufficient funds available to award all groups 100% of the year 1 value in year 2, the proposal is to award different levels of grant across the funds based on the strategic needs and impact assessments.  The Council wishes to protect, as far as possible, front line delivery of the grant aid recipient organisations that work directly with the most vulnerable and marginalised in the city.  Therefore, most groups will have a 10% reduction of the potential 20% maximum reduction.  Sheffield Citizens Advice will receive a 2.6% reduction, which reflects the increasing reliance of many households on advice regarding welfare reform and the evidence from other areas that where Universal Credit has already been rolled-out, Citizens Advice becomes even more crucial in managing the transition for many households. Infrastructure support will receive a 20% reduction. 

11.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

11.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

11.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director, People Services

11.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Safer and Stronger Communities

10.1

The Executive Director, Resources submitted a report providing details of proposed changes to the Capital Programme as brought forward in Month 11 2017/18.

10.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-  

(a)

approves the proposed additions and variations to the Capital Programme listed in Appendix 1 of the report, including the procurement strategies and delegates authority to the Director of Finance and Commercial Services or nominated Officer, as appropriate, to award the necessary contracts; and

(b)

gives authorisation to provide grants to third parties as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

The proposed changes to the Capital Programme will improve the services to the people of Sheffield.

10.3.2

To formally record changes to the Capital Programme and gain Member approval for changes in line with Financial Regulations and to reset the Capital Programme in line with latest information.

10.3.3

Obtain the relevant delegations to allow projects to proceed.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

A number of alternative courses of action are considered as part of the process undertaken by Officers before decisions are recommended to Members. The recommendations made to Members represent what Officers believe to be the best options available to the Council, in line with Council priorities, given the constraints on funding and the use to which funding is put within the Revenue Budget and the Capital Programme.

10.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

10.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

10.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Eugene Walker, Executive Director, Resources

10.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee