Decisions

The Director of Resources submitted a report to Committee asking members to invest in an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for the Council.

The report explained that at the meeting of Committee on 17 March 2021 it was agreed that the 3 HR priorities for the Council for the next twelve months were:

·         Recruitment and Retention;

·         Health and Wellbeing;

·         Training and Development;

It was intended that the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) would help employees deal with personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health and wellbeing. An EAP generally would include assessment, short-term counselling and referral services for employees, paid for by the employer.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

That members approve the purchase of an Employee Assistance Programme from People Asset Management.

The Chief Executive submitted a report asking committee to consider the reappointment of the HR working group under the remit of this committee and decide upon the membership.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the following working group and the membership for the 2022/23 municipal year

HR Working Group - Councillors S Bibby, D Peat, S Atkinson, A Humphreys, D O’Rourke, R Thompson.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report requesting approval of the 2022/23 annual grant payment to Homewise.

Homewise, a Registered Charity, have been providing a service dedicated to improving homes and the quality of life of older and vulnerable people in the borough since 2014. They have helped people remain warm, safe and secure in their own homes, offering a handy person service, minor adaptations service and memory matters service assisting households with dementia and enabling them to remain in their own home as long as possible.

The report set out the requirements of Homewise as a Provider under the agreement and confirmed the monitoring information that will be provided quarterly to the Council.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve payment of the annual grant of £5,760 to Homewise to ensure continuation of the valuable service.

The Director of Resources submitted a report reviewing the final outturn of the 2021/22 capital programme for this committee and seeking member approval for the slippage of some capital scheme budgets from the 2021/22 financial year to the 2022/23 financial year.

Actual expenditure on this committee’s 2021/22 capital programme was £391,039 which was 37.3% of the revised estimate budget.

Two of the four schemes in the revised capital programme were completed in-year.Slippage of £657,620 into 2022/23 was requested to fund expenditure in 2022/23 on the other two schemes.

In response to queries from members, committee were informed that the Disabled Facilities Grants processes were regularly reviewed to try and ensure they were as efficient as possible.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the slippage of the following budgets into the 2022/23 capital programme:

1.    Disabled Facilities Grants, £645,850.

2.    Clitheroe Affordable Housing Scheme, £11,770.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report for Committee to consider the potential options that the Council has in undertaking improvements to the existing Clitheroe Market.

The report reminded members that in 2019 Committee considered options in revamping the existing market using the existing allocated capital fund of £175,000. The report detailed the options considered, and the improvements that had been actioned prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic and confirmed that £78,600 remained in the budget for improvements.

In March 2021 Committee resolved that Officers investigate options to replace the existing stalls with modern market cabins and consider options for improving the visual appearance of the bin storage area.

Following investigation and feedback from several companies and market traders, the report proposed that external advice was sought from a company that specialised in market improvements and developments, noting the benefits that this would provide.

Members were reminded that the Market Liaison Group had been re-established between officer and traders, and that the next meeting had been held earlier that day. The report noted the suggestions that had been put forward by a market trader following the previous meeting.

It was suggested that the market development should come under the remit of the Economic Development Committee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree to:

1.    Officers seeking quotes from companies who specialise in improving and developing markets, with a track record of successful outcomes, to establishing a strategic way forward for enhancing Clitheroe Market.

2.    Authorise Officers to procure the services of the cheapest quote (or the one which is the most economically advantageous) up to a value of £20,000.

The Chief Executive submitted a report asking committee to consider the reappointment of the working groups under the remit of this committee and decide upon the membership.

The question of whether the Dog Fouling Working Group would be continued was raised by a member of the committee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the following working groups and the membership for the 2022/23 municipal year

Strategic Housing Working Group - Councillors D Peat, M Hindle, A Brown, R Sherras, M Robinson.

Health & Wellbeing Partnership – Councillors D Peat, S Atkinson, S Farmer, T Austin, M Robinson, I Brown.