Decisions

On 1st March 2022 the Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC) published details of the ADULT SOCIAL CARE OMICRON SUPPORT FUND.  This was the final specific ASC Covid funding stream.

Surrey County Council (SCC) has received £1m of Omicron Support Fund monies.  Funding was provided so that “Local authorities have discretion to use the funding as needed locally, to support the adult social care sector, including relevant local authority staff, in its COVID-19 response, and in particular increased challenges posed by the Omicron variant”.

The funding was unringfenced and did not have to be spent within a set period.  When the funding was received, the Council was paying out the final allocations of the Infection Control and Testing Fund 3 and Recruitment & Retention Fund round 2 funding streams to ASC providers.  It was agreed therefore that Omicron Support Fund monies would be retained on the balance sheet so they could be utilised to support ASC providers in the early part of the 2022/23 financial year.

As with all previous Covid grant funding streams, the Council consulted with the Surrey Care Association to seek views on the best way to dispense the limited grant funds across Surrey’s broad ASC provider base.  Following this consultation the Adults Leadership Team determined that given this funding stream is unringfenced it would be most appropriate to invite all ASC providers to bid for funds against a set of criteria.  Providers were invited to submit applications for a funding allocation towards:

•The cost of staff sickness in April 2022.

•Hardship payments to pass onto staff members who have suffered loss of earnings due to sickness and/or the need to self-isolate.

•The cost of facilitating safe visiting in April 2022, with the option to submit a claim for the period May-June 2022 as well if funds could accommodate.

•Other cost pressures caused by the pandemic in April 2022, with the option to submit a claim for the period May-June 2022 as well if funds could accommodate.

Due to the limited value of grant funds, a decision was taken to prioritise funding for providers who provide services to residents whose care is funded by the Council.  This was made clear on the application form.

An online form was prepared to gather applications and this form was sent to providers on 20th May 2022 inviting them to apply with a deadline of 10th June 2022.

Applications were received from 165 providers, totalling £3.1m.

It was AGREED that:

£330k would be allocated from the Household Support Grant to enable the continued provision of food vouchers to children entitled to benefit related Free School Meals at £15 per child for the October half term.  This is to include 2, 3 and 4 year old children with Funded Early Education Provision (FEEP) and EY Pupil Premium.

Proposal will be developed for the remaining allocation over the next 2-3 weeks.  The Council will work with key stakeholders and partner organisations, including Boroughs and Districts, to develop a strategic needs assessment to identify the most vulnerable households in the County.  Including options for distributions, proposed allocations and distribution mechanisms.

The current maintenance contract for the Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) sites around Surrey is due to expire at the end of September 2021. Therefore, there was the requirement to tender for a new contract.

As part of the procurement process, local suppliers were engaged as to encourage competition within this limited market. Two supplier responses were received and evaluated on price and a number of quality areas.

From the two tender responses, Millane Contract Services scored highest. This supplier provided a complaint quality response and most competitive pricing of £1,195,764 (tender pricing schedule sum).

Decision made:

It was AGREED that:

1. Millane Contract Services is awarded the contract for the GRT Maintenance with a tender sum of £1,195,764.00 (over the period of 4 years).   

This project is looking to expand Freemantles school to provide curriculum spaces for an additional 80-90 pupils at secondary and further education age range.   This will be in the form of a two storey standalone block containing 9 class bases, specialist spaces, toilets, and associated areas.  Creation of external play areas, and additional car parking spaces

As part of the tender process, an Expression of Interest (EOI) was sent out to the suppliers on the Southern Construction Framework. 3 suppliers showed initial interest from the EOI and 3 suppliers eventually providing tender responses.

The three tender responses were evaluated on price, quality of questions responses including Social Value. The quality questions were scored by three separate evaluators and also a separate QS.

From the three tender responses, Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Ltd scored highest in the Tender Moderation, and provided a competitive response with a price of £752,952.00. This is the price for Stage One of the project (design element). The overall project budget is £9.8million.

A second Delegated Officer Decision Report will be produced for sign off once the second stage of the project is ready to commence (approx. 2 months).

It was AGREED that:

1. Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure Ltd is awarded the contract for the Freemantles School Expansion with a Stage One tender sum of £752,952.00 (Refer to Tender Report).   

That the Service Manager for School Admissions be authorised to go out to statutory consultation on the proposed changes to admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for September 2023:

a)    Removal of use of ‘nearest school’ for Hurst Park Primary School, Langshott Primary School, Meath Green Infant School, Tillingbourne Junior School and Wallace Fields Junior School

b)    Walton on the Hill Primary School – introduction of a catchment area to replace ‘nearest school’

c)    Reigate Priory School – confirmation of the measuring point that will be used to measure home to school distance

d)    West Ashtead Primary School – reduction of Year 3 PAN from 30 to 2

e)    Leatherhead Trinity Primary School – introduction of a Year 3 PAN of 4

f)     Felbridge Primary School – introduction of a Year 3 PAN of 2

g)    Nursery schools – priority for children of staff

h)    Introduction of a supplementary information form for social/medical applicants

That the Service Manager for School Admissions be authorised to go out to statutory consultation on the proposed changes to admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for September 2023:

a)    Removal of use of ‘nearest school’ for Hurst Park Primary School, Langshott Primary School, Meath Green Infant School, Tillingbourne Junior School and Wallace Fields Junior School

b)    Walton on the Hill Primary School – introduction of a catchment area to replace ‘nearest school’

c)    Reigate Priory School – confirmation of the measuring point that will be used to measure home to school distance

d)    West Ashtead Primary School – reduction of Year 3 PAN from 30 to 2

e)    Leatherhead Trinity Primary School – introduction of a Year 3 PAN of 4

f)     Felbridge Primary School – introduction of a Year 3 PAN of 2

g)    Nursery schools – priority for children of staff

h)    Introduction of a supplementary information form for social/medical applicants

The Cabinet Member for Education and Learning determined the statutory notice published thereby bringing into effect the formal commencement of the proposal that St Peter and St Paul CE Infant School is expanded from a one form entry (1FE) infant school for pupils aged 4 to 7 years to become a one form entry (1FE) primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 years.  The proposal would come into effect from September 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Learning determined the statutory notice published thereby bringing into effect the formal commencement of the proposal that St Peter and St Paul CE Infant School is expanded from a one form entry (1FE) infant school for pupils aged 4 to 7 years to become a one form entry (1FE) primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 years.  The proposal would come into effect from September 2022.

In April 2019 the council took back responsibility for operating eight residential care homes for older people that had been previously operated by Anchor Hanover Trust under contract. The homes are:

Abbeywood, Ash Vale

Barnfield, Horley

Birchlands, Englefield Green

Chalkmead, Merstham

Heathside, Woking

Keswick, Great Bookham

Meadowside, Staines

Orchard Court, Lingfield

Following independent building surveys and a refresh of the council’s commissioning strategy for older people, the Executive Director for Adult Social Care considers that the council should consult publicly on the future of the care homes.

We want to ensure that care meets the future needs and aspirations of Surrey’s ageing population so that people can lead independent and fulfilling lives for as long as possible.

As a county council we’re focused on modernising care so it’s tailored to people’s strengths and needs - including through investing in extra care apartments with support staff always on hand and working to improve choice for people who have advanced or complex conditions by increasing the provision of more specialist residential care.

It was AGREED that a public consultation on the future of the eight residential care homes for older people, operated by the council, start on the 11 October and close on 5 January 2022.

This decision record sets out the key information for publication on the decision by the Executive Director for Customer, Digital and Transformation to approve expenditure for a Your Fund Surrey project located in Tandridge. The agreed recommendations are set out below and details of the project are set out in a decision report attached as an annex to this record.

Decisions made:

It was AGREED

1.            that funding to be awarded to:CF105 Weybridge Men’s Shed, for the full amount requested £30,000

2.        that funding to be awarded to CF159 Claygate Recreation Ground Trust - Inclusive Community Clubhouse access and Family Garden project, for the full amount requested £35,000.

Reasons for Decisions:

These decisions are to enable expenditure from the Your Fund Surrey to be awarded to projects which have been objectively scored and assessed to meet the criteria for Your Fund Surrey by Officers and further considered by the Your Fund Advisory Panel.
 

Details on each of the applications for funding are set out in the Your Fund Surrey Delegated Decision Reports in  Annex 1 and 2.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) agreed:

(i) That the county council’s intention to introduce the proposals in Annex 1 is formally advertised, and subject to statutory consultation;

(ii) That if no objections are received when the proposals are advertised, the appropriate traffic regulation orders are made;

(iii) That if objections are received which cannot be resolved, in accordance with the county council’s scheme of delegation, the Parking Strategy and Implementation Team Manager considers them, in consultation with the Chairman / Vice Chairman of this committee and the county councillor for the division, and decides whether or not they should be acceded to and therefore whether the order should be made, with or without modifications.

(iv) the locations identified for conversion in to on-street electric vehicle charging points are approved. These locations are shown in Annex 2

(v) That the Parking Strategy and Implementation Team Manager is delegated authority to adjust the positions of the on-street Electric Vehicle charging bays in consultation with the Chair, Vice-Chair and Local Member prior to statutory consultation (if necessary). These locations are listed in each County Councillors division of this report, and displayed in their own set of drawings (Annex 2)

Reasons for recommendations:

It is recommended that the waiting restrictions are implemented as detailed in Annex

1. They will make a positive impact towards:

·         Road safety

·         Access for emergency vehicles

·         Access for refuse vehicles

·         Easing traffic congestion

·         Better regulated parking

·         Better enforcement

This will help us achieve our 2030 Community Vision objectives:

·         Residents live in clean, safe, and green communities where people and organisations embrace their environmental responsibilities.

·         Journeys across the county are easier, more predictable, and safer.

The Local Committee (Mole Valley) agreed:

(i)            To co-opt substitutes in the municipal year 2021/22. 

Reasons for recommendations:

Under the County Council's Constitution (Part 4. Standing Orders, Part 3 40 (f)) no substitutes are permitted for district/borough council co-opted members of local committees, unless a local committee agrees otherwise at its first meeting following the Council’s annual meeting and in relation to all meetings in the following year.

The Education and Lifelong Learning Service is responding to a consultation on the way in which the “hard” or “direct” schools national funding formula might be implemented, in order to remove residual local discretion in allocating funding to mainstream schools. The consultation is largely about technical changes required in order to remove local discretion. It is not about the principle of a national formula as such. This is the first stage of a two stage consultation.

Decision made:

It was AGREED to submit the proposed attached response to the consultation outlined above.

Reasons for Decision:

The responses to the consultation will be submitted to Government so that it can be considered in relation to any future decision on the proposal.