Author: John Brace

Cllr Green said he had confidence in the gateway process and the external validation. He asked was sort of people came in and did the external validation? Dave Green answered it was 4Ps reviewers who were experts in procurement management. He said the professional assessor had twenty years experience in the local authority area and was an expert in highways management. The assessor was vastly experienced and had undertaken thirty gateway reviews. He had only previously given two greens. Dave Green said the level of experience and systematic approach had been fantastic as the assessor had read every Cabinet report.

Cllr Green paid testament to the work Dave and his team had done which had stood up well to external scrutiny. He thanked them and the report was agreed. The Cabinet went onto consider the report on Choice Based Lettings. Cllr Green said it was his view that foster carers should be identified as a priority for housing. Cllr Clarke said that she would like to add a further recommendation. Cllr Blakeley agreed. Cllr Clarke said she welcomed the agreement that foster carers would have a high priority and move to band B if there was an urgent need to move. Cllr Blakeley seconded the recommendation. Cllr Green said there were human benefits of foster carers. He said some had rubbished the “Wirral’s Future Be a Part of It” consultation. However Wirral had increased its numbers of foster carers and he said this as a very, very important piece of work. He referred to Emma Degg’s campaign on foster carers. The report was agreed.

Cllr Elderton said it was the culmination of hard work since 2006. He said it was logical, comprehensive and professional and that it was now a commercial and financial reality. Dave Green and his team were thanked, however there was still a long way to go.

Cllr Holbrook asked about the indexing for inflation. Dave Green replied that it was CPI-1.5%. Mr. Green felt this was sensible, he was minded to do a bit more but didn’t want to scare off bidders. However the contractor would have to help improve services and to try to identify how to make them more efficient.

Cllr Green said the project had spanned administrations. He said there were benefits to Wirral Council. Dave Green referred to the previous process regarding Biffa and the Council. He said there was now good governance and levels of accountability as well as good project management techniques. The work was validated by external experts. The gate process had introduced discipline as there was a decision made as to whether to proceed or not at each gate. They were not just talking to the office, but had spoken to the Procurement Team, Group Solicitor, funeral directors, Friends of Parks groups, sports users, consultants, Deputy Director of Finance, councillors and all parties. They had taken on board their views and observations. The key was that it was externally verified and validated. This had been clarified with Cabinet and the Members Steering Group in a complicated but speedy procurement. He commended Mark Smith for his work.

The Cabinet then considered the Wirral Flood and Water Management report. This would redesignate the functions of the Flood Working Group, which was referred to in the two appendices. Cllr Rennie said that it was good news as it would enhance the status of the Flood Working Group. However she was concerned that the partner agencies either sent no representative or a different representative each time. She was pleased with the work and that it had all party and member support. The report was agreed.

The Cabinet then considered the Invitation to Tender for the Parks and Countryside Procurement Exercise. Dave Green said Cabinet had agreed what was in and out of scope and that they had built good experience already with the Colas and Biffa contracts. Following the invitation to tender, thirteen pre-qualification questionnaires had been received by the deadline. The contract would be decided on 70% price and 30% quality. At the second call-in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee wanted to ensure successful contracts had admitted body status to the Merseyside Pension Fund. Any procurement exercise would also receive an individual quote for three bids. The first would be for a broadly comparable scheme, the second would be admitted body status with the risks borne by the contractor. The third would be admitted body status with the risks borne by Wirral Council. The Consumer Price Index would be used for inflation with a 1.5% efficiency saving built in. They had done much consulting and he said the trade unions were relaxed over the pension issue. He said it was a good time to procure and referred to the scale and complexity of the process.

The Cabinet’s recommendations to Council for Mayor and Deputy Mayor were Cllr McLaughlin (Mayor) and Cllr Ellis (Deputy Mayor). Cllr Blakeley did say that not everyone agreed with the nomination of Cllr McLaughlin, however the nominations were agreed.

There was one minor change proposed to the Committee Calendar for the 2011/2012 Municipal Year, moving the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on the 27th June to the 20th June. Cllr Green agreed that any minor changes could be delegated to Bill Norman. This was agreed.

The Cabinet then considered the transport capital funding for 2011/2012. Cllr Rennie described it as a disappointing settlement. However she said the money was extremely welcome. She said no area of Wirral was ignored and there was something for everybody. She referred to meetings of the cycling and pedestrian forums and said they were both willing to work closely with the Council. The report was agreed.

The Cabinet then considered the report on the Highway Winter Maintenance costs. The extra costs for gritting had been £358,000. Cllr Rennie welcomed the extra finance that kept Wirral’s road users safe. She said that you only have to travel around Merseyside to see what a high level of pothole filling in that Wirral had. She did say there was plenty more to do including the complete resurfacing of roads to make them safe for everybody. Cllr Green referred to the extra sum of money nationally (£100 million) for road surfacing and potholes. Wirral had applied and received its share of £297,000. He said he was pleased with the complete piece of work and the major changes away from just filling in potholes. The report was agreed.

The Cabinet went onto consider the draft Corporate Plan for 2011 to 2014. The four key themes were “Your Family”, “Your Neighbourhood”, “Your Economy” and “Your Council”. It would be implemented from the 1st April 2011. Cllr Green thanked Emma Degg and her team. He said it built on work done before and he believed in the power of plans. He said the plan itself followed the budget and the consultation. He said it linked action to resources, however they were left with a difficult challenge financially. They faced the option of a managed decline or rejuvenating local government and the work of the Council. Rejuvenating local government would make it more open, honest, accountable and transparent. Help from the voluntary sector would help Wirral Council. 1,100 had left Wirral Council and he wished them well. He felt they treated people fairly. There were 5,000 left, they would work with people on their training and skills to relate to the people they serve.

Cllr Holbrook thanked people for their hard work. He said it had been a twelve month process that had grown as a result of Wirral’s consultation. He said it was ambitious, forward-looking, optimistic and aspirational. He referred to the commitment to address inequalities. He said the new elements were working with people and for people. He said it was the way he wants the Council to continue. He said it reflected people’s priorities and there was no reduction in frontline services.

Cllr Green said it stated Wirral Council’s purpose. He said he wanted a bigger and stronger society. He was pleased there were solid actions regarding inequality, keeping neighbourhoods clean and safe and dealing with gross inequalities. He said it was shameful that there was a different in life expectancy between Seacombe and Heswall after 13 years of growth. The Corporate Plan was then agreed.