Decisions

On 15^th January 2021 the Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC) published details of the ADULT SOCIAL CARE (ASC) RAPID TESTING FUND.

 

This fund is to support ASC providers to conduct rapid flow device (RFD) tests for COVID-19, primarily in care homes.

 

Surrey County Council’s (SCC) funding allocation is £4.7m. This was paid to SCC on 21^st January 2021.

 

The key aspects of the fund are as follows:

 

·         Funding is for costs associated with Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing only, incurred in the period 2^nd December 2020 – 31^st March 2021.

 

·         80% (£3.8m for Surrey) is ringfenced for rapid testing in care homes and must be distributed on a per bed basis within 10 working days of receipt of the funding.

 

·         20% (£0.9m for Surrey) is discretionary in terms of how it is allocated to ASC providers, although it can still only be spent on rapid testing in CQC registered ASC settings.

 

·         To be eligible to receive funding, ASC providers must complete the national capacity tracker at least weekly and also provide monthly expenditure returns to SCC.

 

SCC must complete a monthly return to DHSC setting out how much funding has been distributed and how much providers have spent the funding allocated to them. The timetable for this is aligned with the reporting requirements for Infection Control Fund round 2.

It was agreed that SCC would distribute all of Surrey’s Rapid Testing Fund, including the 20% discretionary element, to care homes who are compliant with the grant conditions based on the number of registered beds in each home.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the outline Agile Office Estate Strategy, overall direction of travel and its proposal to develop an associated Agile Office Estate Programme be agreed.

 

2.    That an allocation of £300k programme budget funding for dedicated external resources required to develop programme detail including a full Programme Business Case be agreed.

 

3.    That a finalised Strategy and Programme Business Case seeking approval of required resources to deliver the full programme be produced by Q2 2021.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

The County Council’s office estate has evolved over time with some but not a completely coordinated approach. This has brought about a situation where the current corporate office estate is no longer fit for purpose and subject to several weaknesses. The most striking example of many of these characteristics is County Hall, which has been outside of the County boundaries since 1965.

Specifically, the current corporate office estate is:

·         of generally low quality, that does not efficiently support the adoption of Agile modern working practices.

·         expensive compared to industry benchmarks and expensive to maintain.

·         high in its carbon output with poor energy efficiency.

·         relatively poorly located and under-utilised.

 

This Agile Office Estate strategy proposes to address these issues by adopting a strategically led approach to transforming the County Council’s corporate office estate.

Using the move out of County Hall as a catalyst and embracing the principles of the One Public Estate, while recognising that the impact of Covid has created a major step change in the way the organisation operates. The following benefits will be targeted through the work of the strategy:

o   Reduce overall spend on the office estate by c£3m per annum.

o   Reduce overall space from c50,000m2 to c20,000m2.

o   All offices to be within County.

o   Carbon emissions to fall from 2,600 tonnes per annum to net zero by 2030.

 

Key strategic public sector partners will be engaged to identify collaborative opportunities to enable closer and more effective working across organisations as well as delivering financial efficiencies across the public sector in Surrey.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

 

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

1. That the progress of the Fund since its launch in November 2020 be noted.
   
   
2. That a VCFS representative from Surrey Community Foundation sit on the network of experts that assess and score bids.
   
   
3. That the establishment of the YFS Advisory Panel be noted.
   
   
4. That the suggested timescales for the next steps for the Fund and the opening of the first funding window be agreed.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

Your Fund Surrey (YFS) continues to represent a significant and exciting opportunity for Surrey County Council (SCC) to invest in a meaningful and lasting way in communities, and for communities to drive projects that will make a real difference. The Fund fills a unique gap in the market for investment in truly resident and community-led projects to have a positive impact on the places in which they live.

YFS is a key part of the Council’s wider Empowering Communities programme of work that is seeking to stimulate local engagement and involvement. By providing the financial backing for community-led projects, the Fund will help to ensure the benefits of the funding match local need and builds local resilience and sustainability by helping people help themselves.

This report highlights the innovative ways in which communities have been involved and engaged in the development of the Fund and the significant interest so far from groups in wanting to use YFS to design and deliver projects that will benefit the areas in which they live.

The recommendations set out the continued work and planned next steps to ensure the Fund is accessible to all and can start to support successful projects once the funding window opens in spring 2021. As set out in the proposed timescales, this timeline is subject to review and monitoring of the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the Farnham Infrastructure Programme and progress to date be noted.

2.    That the decision to move £2.5m for the Quick Wins (project 1) is approved and the ongoing feasibility work from the capital pipeline to the capital budget be delegated to the Capital Programme Panel.

 

3.    That the continued development of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme be noted with further reports brought back to Cabinet for projects 2 (Town Centre), 3 (A31 Hickleys Corner) and 4 (A325 Wrecclesham Relief Road) as more detailed business cases are developed.

 

4.    That the highway schemes associated with Project 1 ‘Quick Wins’ is agreed and progressed through consultation (statutory or otherwise) and responsibility to resolve objections and decide whether to implement the proposals is delegated to the Executive Director for Environment, Transport and Infrastructure in consultation with the Deputy Leader.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

The recommendations will enable the Farnham Infrastructure Programme to be developed to provide an exemplar future transport model for similar towns within Surrey by providing the necessary funding to continue development and implementation.

The capital programme (part of the 2021-26 Medium Term Financial Strategy) includes provision for future investment in Farnham over the next five years.  Subject to Capital Programme Panel (CPP) approving a business case, £2.5m will be moved from the capital pipeline to the capital budget to allow the Quick Wins and further feasibility work to progress in 2021/22. As further schemes are developed and business cases approved in respect of projects 2-4, funding will be moved from the capital pipeline to the capital budget to allow works to commence.

The approval to advertise Traffic Regulation Orders would normally be sought from the Waverley Local Committee. Due to the timing of meetings Quick Wins (project 1) could be delayed if delegated approval is not sought now from Cabinet.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the sale of land and buildings as outlined on the attached plan in Annex 1 to [E-2-21] through a [E-2-21] on an unconditional basis (subject to contract) as set out within the Heads of Terms Annex 2 is authorised. 

Reason for Decision:

 

See Minute 20/21

 

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.            That the sale of land and buildings as outlined on the attached plan within Annex 1 (Marketing pack) on a unconditional basis - further details included within the Part 2 Paper be authorised.

2.            That the separate marketing and subsequent disposal of the freehold and long underlease from the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames of the Bittoms car park on an existing use basis be approved.

3.            That delegated authority be granted to the Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources and the Director of Land & Property to authorise a future disposal of the Bittoms Car park based upon Best Consideration being obtained following a Marketing exercise or Special Purchaser interest.

Reason for Decision:

 

By approving these recommendations Surrey County Council (SCC) will be able to fulfil the long-term commitment to move its Civic Heart to within the County of Surrey

 

The disposal will deliver a significant capital receipt for SCC whilst delivering revenue savings from ongoing running costs and maintenance liabilities associated with a Grade II listed building.

 

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources & Performance Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

 

1. That the strategy is agreed and the use of £11.5m of the total approved SEND Capital Funding of £79.6m be approved in principle for a programme of adaption and refurbishment of SCC owned assets and maintained schools in Phase 3 of the SEND capital programme to create 400 additional specialist school places in Surrey for September 2021.

 

2. That delegated authority to agree individual projects and resources is given to the Cabinet Member for All Age Learning and Cabinet Member for Resources, subject to a detailed business case for each scheme.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

Following the introduction of The Children and Families Act, 2014 and revised SEND Code of Practice in 2015, Surrey has seen the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) increase by between 11-18% each year, resulting in the projected demand for 5,100 specialist school places.

This significant increase in demand for specialist provision has led to a historic over reliance on the independent school sector. Surrey’s ambition is to ensure sufficient maintained placement availability for the cohort of children and young people who have SEND and need specialist placements. The recommended Phase 3 SEND capital investment completes the planning for sufficiency of specialist school places in the academic year 2021/22.  

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee]

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet makes the following recommendations to Council on 9 February 2020. 

 

Cabinet recommends that Council: 

1. Approves the net revenue budget requirement be set at £1,003.6 million (net cost of services after service specific government grants) for 2021/22 (Annex B), subject to confirmation of the Final Local Government Financial Settlement;
2. Approves the total Council Tax Funding Requirement be set at £777.9 million for 2021/22.  This is based on a council tax increase of 2.49%, made up of an increase in the level of core council tax of 1.99% to cover core Council services and an increase of 0.5% in the precept proposed by Central Government to cover the growing cost of Adult Social Care (Annex E);
3. Notes that for the purpose of section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council formally determines that the increase in core council tax is not such as to trigger a referendum (i.e. not greater than 2%);
4. Sets the Surrey County Council precept for Band D Council Tax at £1,549.08, which represents a 2.49% uplift. This is a rise of £0.72 a week from the 2020/21 precept of £1,511.46. This includes £139.01 for the Adult Social Care precept, which has increased by £7.55. A full list of bands is as follows:

5. Approves the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for 2021/22 to meet the statutory guidelines for the use of such receipts to fund transformation (Annex F);
6. Notes that underlying General Fund Balances are projected to remain at £24.2 million as at 1 April 2021;
7. Approves the Total Schools Budget of £537.3 million to meet the Council’s statutory requirement on schools funding;
8. Approves the overall indicative Budget Envelopes for Executive Directorates and individual services for the 2021/22 budget (Annex B);
9. Approves the total £1,905.5 million proposed five-year Capital Programme (comprising £1,026.2m of budget and £879.2m pipeline) and approves the £184.9 million Capital Budget in 2021/22 (Annex C);
10. Approves the Capital and Investment Strategy (Annex G), which provides an overview of how risks associated with capital expenditure, financing and treasury will be managed as well as how they contribute towards the delivery of services;
11. Approves the policy for making a prudent level of revenue provision for the repayment of debt (the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy) (Annex I);
12. Agrees the Council’s refreshed Transformation Programme (as set out in section 3 of 2021/22 Final Budget Report and Medium-Term Financial Strategy to 2025/26)
13. Note that the investment in transformation required to deliver improved outcomes and financial benefits is built into the proposed Medium-Term Financial Strategy (as set out in section 3 of 2021/22 Final Budget Report and Medium-Term Financial Strategy to 2025/26) and;

Cabinet recommends that the Audit & Governance Committee approves the following:

14. Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators (Annex H) which set a framework for the Council’s treasury function to manage risks, source borrowing and invest surplus cash.

Reason for Decision:

 

Council will meet on 9 February 2021 to agree a budget and to set the Council Tax Precept for 2021/22. Cabinet is required to recommend a budget to Council for consideration at this meeting. The budget directs available resources to support the achievement of the Council’s ambitions and priorities in the 2030 Vision and the Refreshed Organisation Strategy. The budget will also support the delivery of the continuing transformational changes that are required to ensure that the Council can improve priority outcomes for residents, while managing growing demand for services and ensuring future financial sustainability.

 

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the sale of the [E-3-21] site as outlined in red on the attached plan at Annex 1, extending to 1.97 ha (4.87 acres) to [E-3-21] on an unconditional basis as set out in the report, for a consideration of [E-3-21] is authorised.

2.    That delegated authority be given to the Director of Land & Property, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources to agree a 10% variation in the agreed sale price to reflect possible changes and circumstances as a result of the ongoing due diligence process.

Reason for Decision:

 

The property is no longer considered suited to ongoing service delivery, nor capable of generating significant income. The capital receipt from the sale will contribute to the funding sources available to the council in support of its delivery of its capital programme, specifically, as outlined below, to reimburse the cost of the [E-3-21].

 

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

RESOLVED:

 

1. That Surrey County Council becoming Joint Applicant with the Environment Agency in obtaining the Development Consent Order for the River Thames Scheme under the Planning Act 2008 subject to a legal agreement setting out the governance and financial arrangements be approved.
2. That Surrey County Council entering into negotiations for a legal agreement with the Environment Agency to include the governance and financial arrangements, how risk will be managed and how disputes will be resolved be approved.
3. That the approval of the separation of responsibilities for SCC’s role as both applicant and host authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Environment, Transport and Infrastructure in consultation with the Planning Group Manager.
4. That the approval of a Service Level Agreement setting out the requirements and expected levels of service between SCC as Host Authority be delegated to the Planning Group Manager.

Reason for Decision:

It is recommended that Cabinet approves Surrey County Council becoming Joint Applicant for the River Thames Scheme alongside the Environment Agency, to enable influence over the programme, process, design, assurance and delivery, to ensure it represents the best interests of the County.

As Joint Applicant, Surrey County Council would be legally responsible for ensuring the process set out in the Planning Act 2008 is followed from pre-application through to the completion of the project and that works are carried out in accordance with the Development Consent Order.

Officers are confident that being Joint Applicant would be at no extra cost to Surrey County Council as the project funding, including the approved £237 million contribution, will cover costs including resourcing. A Service Level Agreement is also being developed that would cover any additional costs incurred by Surrey County Council acting as Host Authority.

Surrey County Council is in a strong position to take on the role of Joint Applicant on this strategically important project which aligns with the Councils desire to take more of a leadership role in delivering infrastructure. There are several risks in this approach and would need to be kept entirely separate from SCC’s role as a host authority.  However, there is already a positive and collaborative relationship with the Environment Agency, and we are ready to mobilise the required resources to drive the River Thames Scheme forward.  It will also send a strong message to residents and Government that the scheme is being delivered though a true partnership between the two organisations.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet make the following recommendations to the Council on 9 February 2021.

 

Cabinet recommends that Council: 

Recommendation 1

That priority for children who have the school as their ‘nearest school’ is removed for the majority of community and voluntary controlled schools for 2022 admission, as indicated in Enclosure 5.

 

Reasons for Recommendation

·         It will ensure the local authority complies with a decision of the Schools Adjudicator

·         It will ensure that the admission arrangements for these schools comply with the School Admissions Code in regard to catchments

·         It will simplify the admission arrangements 

·         It will enable parents to better understand how their application will be considered

·         Analysis would indicate that this change will have no or minimal impact on the intake to each of these schools 

·         It will enable school specific criteria to remain where they already exist to accommodate feeder links

·         The final distance criterion will still exist which will enable remaining applicants to be prioritised based on the distance they live from the school, ensuring children who live closer to the school are allocated ahead of children who live further away

·         55% of academies, foundation, trust and voluntary aided schools do not give priority on the basis of ‘nearest school’

 

Recommendation 2

That a sibling link is introduced for Beauclerc Infant School with Chennestone Primary School for 2022 admission.

 

Reasons for Recommendation

·         There was overall support for this change

·         It is supported by the Headteacher and Governing Body of the school

·         It would support families with more than one child as families with a sibling at Chennestone School would benefit from sibling priority for a place at Beauclerc Infant School

·         It would maximise the opportunity for families to keep children together or at schools with agreed links

 

Recommendation 3

That a sibling link is introduced for Horley Infant School with Yattendon School for 2022 admission.

 

Reasons for Recommendation

·         There was overall support for this change

·         It is supported by the Headteacher and Governing Body of the school

·         It would support families with more than one child as families with a sibling at Yattendon School would benefit from sibling priority for a place at Horley Infant School

·         This proposal is in line with a separate proposal by the Governing Body of Yattendon School to introduce a reciprocal sibling link with Horley Infant School  

·         It would maximise the opportunity for families to keep children together or at schools with agreed links

 

 

 

Recommendation 4

That the Published Admission Number for Reception at Onslow Infant School is reduced from 90 to 60 for 2022 admission.

 

Reasons for Recommendation

·         It is supported by the Headteacher and Governing Body of the school, having been requested by them

·         There will still be sufficient places for local children if the PAN is decreased

·         It would help the school maintain financial viability

·         It reflects what is currently being operated within the school

·         It will have no impact on children who are currently on roll at the school 

 

Recommendation 5

That the Published Admission Numbers (PANs) for September 2022 for all other community and voluntary controlled schools (excluding Onslow Infant School which is covered by Recommendation 4) are determined as they are set out in Appendix 1 to Enclosure 1.

 

Reasons for Recommendation

·         Most other PANs remain as they were determined for 2021 which enables parents to have some historical benchmark by which to make informed decisions about their school preferences for 2022 admission

·         The PAN for William Cobbett School has been increased from 50 to 60 to provide for consistent class sizes of 60 throughout KS2

·         The Education Place Planning team supports the PANs

 

Recommendation 6

That the aspects of Surrey’s admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools for September 2022 for which no change has been consulted on, are agreed as set out in Enclosure 1 and its appendices.

 

Reasons for Recommendation

·         The admission arrangements are working well

·         Surrey has undertaken to review the admission arrangements for the remaining eight schools which will still use ‘nearest school’ ahead of any consultation on the arrangements for 2023

·         The arrangements enable the majority of pupils to attend their nearest schools and in doing so reduce travel and support Surrey’s sustainability policies - this is still anticipated to be the case for 2022 admission, even with the changes proposed in Recommendations 1 to 5

·         The change highlighted in bold in Section 12 of Enclosure 1 has been made to add clarity to the arrangements and reflects existing practice

 

Recommendation 7

That the primary and secondary coordinated admission schemes that will apply to all schools for 2022 are agreed as set out in Enclosure 2. 

 

Reasons for Recommendation

·         The coordinated schemes for 2022 are essentially the same as 2021 with dates updated

·         The coordinated schemes will enable the County Council to meet its statutory duties regarding school admissions

·         The coordinated schemes are working well

 

 

Recommendation 8

That Surrey’s Relevant Area is agreed as set out in Enclosure 3.

 

Reasons for Recommendation

·         The local authority is required by law to define the Relevant Area for admissions

·         The Relevant Area must be consulted upon and agreed every two years even if no changes are proposed

·         Setting a Relevant Area ensures that any schools who might be affected by changes to the admission arrangements for other local schools will be made aware of those changes

·         No change has been made to Surrey’s Relevant Area since it was last determined in February 2019

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

1. That the Council’s forecast revenue and capital budget positions for the year be noted.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

This report is to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for approval of any necessary actions.

 

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the risks highlighted in the report as a result of these challenges and the actions being taken to continue focussing on delivery of frontline services be noted.

 

2.    That a further report is taken to Cabinet in spring 2021 – to include an update on the children’s improvement activity and the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the response from Surrey’s children’s services.

 

Reason for decision:

 

Following the suspension of routine Ofsted inspections in March 2020 due to COVID-19, the HMCI (Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector) has now outlined the interim plans for a phased return to routine inspections. Surrey's children's services look forward to hosting Ofsted for a Focussed Visit between January and March 2021 and will welcome feedback on how the local authority has supported children, young people and families throughout the pandemic.

The routine national inspection activity is expected to resume from April 2021; this was re-confirmed following the November/December ‘lockdown’ with further detail available on the GOV.UK website. We are anticipating a full re-inspection of Surrey's children's services later in 2021.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Children, Families, Lifelong Learning & Culture Select Committee]

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet Member Strategic Priority Area update report be noted.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    It be agreed that decision-making for the use of the latest £3.3m of Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) received and all future COMF monies be delegated to the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adults & Health and Surrey’s Local Resilience Forum (SLRF).

 

2.    It be agreed that decision-making on the distribution of the grant to support Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) during the current lockdown, and future tranches of this grant be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet Member for Adults & Health.

 

3.    That the challenges to the provision of normal council services presented by the new variant and more transmissible Covid-19 virus be noted.

 

4.    That the principle of needing to de-prioritise certain services/projects to enable more capacity to be deployed into critical services be noted and endorsed.

 

5.    That the lobbying for the prioritisation of key workers, including teachers, to have access to the vaccination programme as soon as possible be noted and endorsed.

 

6.    That the latest public health situation, nationally and in Surrey, actions being delivered through Surrey’s Local Outbreak Control Plan, and the ongoing support to vulnerable residents, including through the council’s Community Helpline and the Covid Winter Support Grant scheme be noted.

 

7. That the latest impacts on Adult Social Care and Children’s, Families, Lifelong learning services be noted.

 

8. That the ongoing preparation for the local elections in May 2021 and associated risks be noted and endorsed.

 

9. That the work in train to better understand and respond to the impacts on communities of Covid-19, and the work being planned and undertaken to harness the community spirit evident across the county be noted and endorsed.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

The county and council continue to face unprecedented challenges due to the Covid-19 crisis. We are simultaneously managing response activity and work with our partners to enable recovery within the county, looking ahead to a return to day-to-day life for communities following the end of national lockdown.

 

The recommendations set out in this report ensure Cabinet are appraised of the most recent work going on across the council to protect, sustain and support residents and communities and the economy of Surrey.

 

[Where necessary a waiver for call-in will be sought from the relevant Select Committee Chairman]

No decisions were taken on this item.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information under the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting of the Cabinet be noted.

 

Reason for decision:

 

To inform the Cabinet of decisions taken by Cabinet Members, Strategic Investment Board and the Committee in Common subcommittee under delegated authority.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Scrutiny of 2021/22 Draft Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy to 2025/26 report be noted and recommendations agreed.

 

There were none.

One petition with 812 signatures had been received. It requests that Surrey County Council rewards their social care staff appropriately during the pandemic. The response to the petition was published as part of the supplementary agenda. Mr Paul Couchman presented the petition.

There were two public questions. The questions and responses were published as a supplement to the agenda.

 

There was one member question. The question and response were published as a supplement to the agenda.

 

There were none.

The Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 15 December 2020 were approved as a correct record of the meeting.

 

Apologies were received from Natalie Bramhall.

To award the supply and installation of approximately of 100 Bus Shelters to provide improved waiting facilities for bus passengers. This procurement activity is planned in the APFP.

 

These are schemes funded by LEP in the following areas:

o          Guildford – 40 shelters

o          Blackwater Valley – 40 shelters

o          Woking – 20 shelters

 

All shelters for the LEP programme will be installed, commissioned and fully useable by the end of December 2021 in order to comply with LEP funding timescales.

 

Recommended supplier name: Externiture Limited

Reasons for selection: Most economically advantageous tender

 

Decision made:

 

It was AGREED that:

 

Award all three tender lots to Externiture Ltd for £1.1m.