Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th September 2020.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th September 2020 are confirmed as a correct record and be signed by the Chair in due course.

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions to Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs provided that a question does not relate to:

·         Matters which are the subject of current or pending legal proceedings, or

·         Matters relating to employees or former employees of the Council or comments in respect of individual Council Officers

If you would like to ask a question at this meeting, please contact democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk as soon as possible and by Friday 9^th October at the latest.

The Democratic and Electoral Services Officer read the following question on behalf of a member of the public who submitted it in writing in lieu of participating in the virtual meeting.

The member of the public referred to a local media article of 19^th November 2019 that reported that designs were then still being finalised for a stained-glass window celebrating the city’s heritage to be installed at the Gloucester Transport Hub opened in October 2018.  He sought clarification on when the window might be in place and asked that if there were no current plans then clear glass be installed and remaining allocated funds be donated to a local food bank.  The Cabinet Member for Environment replied that the project was still in the design stage and that initial concepts from the artist were under consideration.  The Head of Place confirmed that the timetable for completion had not yet been finalised.

To receive any petitions or deputations provided that no such petition or deputation is in relation to:

·         Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·         Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

If you would like to present a deputation or petition at this meeting, please contact democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk as soon as possible and by Friday 9^th October at the latest.

Councillor Hilton presented a petition by residents of Malvern Road that expressed concern at the impact of the state of disrepair and structural integrity of a property at 31 Malvern Road believed to have been unoccupied for at least 10 years and requesting that action be taken to prevent further deterioration.  The Leader of the Council noted that a copy of the petition had been received by email and stated that it would be considered in due course.

Any Member of the Council may ask the Leader of the Council or any Cabinet Member any question without prior notice, upon:

·         Any matter relating to the Council’s administration

·         Any matter relating to any report of the Cabinet appearing on the summons

·         A matter coming within their portfolio of responsibilities

Only one supplementary question is allowed per question.

If you would like to ask a question at this meeting, please contact democratic.services@gloucester.gov.uk as soon as possible and by Friday 9^th October at the latest.

Regarding the reopening of Wellington Parade Garden previously discussed at Cabinet (16^th September 2020 minute 29) Councillor Hilton asked if there had been progress since an update he received on 30^th September.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods reiterated her commitment to open the garden and thanked the Leader of the Council and officers for having identified funding to take the place of the Great Western Railway Customer and Communities Improvement Fund grant that had not been awarded.  She informed Members that once the validity of the contractors’ quotes had been confirmed, a timeframe for the necessary works would be established.  Councillor Hilton noted the importance that the works enable the design that had previously been consulted upon and further asked if a start date before Christmas might be possible.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods commented on the increased availability of contractors in winter months.  She stated that officers would provide a written response when the timetable had been confirmed.

Councillor Hilton welcomed the proposed start of works to transform Kings Square (agenda item 8) and enquired if the Principal Contractor would be a local firm.  The Leader of the Council replied that he was thrilled that all of the companies who had supplied tenders were not only local but prepared to generate social value.  Councillor Hilton sought clarification of the start and finishing dates as he was mindful of delays due to COVID-19.  The Leader of the Council confirmed the proposal to commence the programme of works in October 2020 to be completed in autumn 2021 although he cautioned that no person could foretell the future.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods providing an update on the work requested by Cabinet in March 2020 to be carried out and seeking adoption of the Social Value Policy in Appendix 1 for embedding in the City Council’s procurement process.

Please note that Appendix 3 is exempt from disclosure to the press and public by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the authority holding that information). If Members wish to discuss Appendix 3 the Cabinet will need to resolve to exclude the press and public before doing so.

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the adoption of the Social Value Policy in Appendix 1 of the report, to be implemented as part of the City Council’s procurement process be approved; and

(2)  responsibility be delegated for the management of the Social Value Toolkit and Gloucester TOM’s measurement framework to the Head of Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods and the City Council Solicitor; and

(3)  it be noted that by engaging Social Value Portal Limited to support the City Council and bidders in the delivery of social value, successful bidders for City Council contracts will be required to pay a fee to the Social Value Portal as set out in Appendix 3 of the report.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods that provided an update on the work requested by Cabinet in March 2020 to be carried out and sought adoption of the Social Value Policy in Appendix 1 of the report to embed in the City Council’s procurement process.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods informed Members that the ambitious policy with its Gloucester-specific Themes Outcomes and Measures (TOMs) framework would go some way to achieving Cabinet’s long-held aspiration of weaving a `golden thread’ between social benefit and physical renovation.  She expressed confidence that the proposed 10% social value weighting on contract bids would be delivered including by the multi-million-pound regeneration of Kings Quarter with the potential to generate huge social gains.  That the policy was to be considered an evolving document for which Members should be held to account was emphasised by the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods.  She thanked not only officers but partner and community groups for developing the policy and associated documents despite the difficult circumstances. 

The Cabinet Member for Environment advised that Kings Square (agenda item 8) would be the first major project to which the policy would apply and hoped that it would be the first of many to create jobs, teach skills and deliver social value for the city in years to come.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure noted that the policy would make a real difference to people’s lives long into the future and congratulated the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods and others for bringing it forward.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy commented that it would contribute to a fairer and more inclusive city and provide an answer to anyone asking of regeneration `what’s in it for me?’.

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the adoption of the Social Value Policy in Appendix 1 of the report, to be implemented as part of the City Council’s procurement process be approved; and

(2)  responsibility be delegated for the management of the Social Value Toolkit and Gloucester TOM’s measurement framework to the Head of Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods and the City Council Solicitor; and

(3)  it be noted that by engaging Social Value Portal Limited to support the City Council and bidders in the delivery of social value, successful bidders for City Council contracts will be required to pay a fee to the Social Value Portal as set out in Appendix 3 of the report.

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council seeking to secure approval from Members to the capital budget required to implement the Kings Square redevelopment scheme thereby enabling the appointment of a Principal Contractor and a start on site in October 2020.

Please note that Appendix A is exempt from disclosure to the press and public by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person including the authority holding that information). If Members wish to discuss Appendix A the Cabinet will need to resolve to exclude the press and public before doing so.

RESOLVED that:

(1)          the Head of Place in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, the Head of Policy and Resources and the Council Solicitor is authorised to enter into a construction contract with a Principal Contractor to implement the Kings Square Redevelopment Scheme within the existing capital programme approved by Council in February 2020

(2)          authority be delegated to the Head of Place in consultation with the Council Solicitor to take all necessary steps and undertake necessary procedures, including entering into any legal arrangements or other documentation as may be required to implement or facilitate the Kings Square Redevelopment Scheme

(3)          progress be noted on the regeneration and refurbishment of Kings Square and the updated procurement strategy which led to the recommended choice of Principal Contractor.

Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council that sought to secure approval from Members to the capital budget required to implement the Kings Square redevelopment scheme thereby enabling the appointment of a Principal Contractor and a start on site in October 2020.

The Leader of the Council gave the background to the report including the delay to the project caused by COVID-19.  He stated that the contractor would be a Gloucester company focussed on delivering a successful project and benefits across the whole city.  The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources reminded Members that the finances had already been approved for the scheme and further progress would be reflected in a revised Capital Plan and Budget to be proposed to Council in February 2021.  She further commented on the importance of completing Kings Square to residents as had been made clear in the public consultation exercises and expressed her own excitement at being part of the transformation using local contractors to provide, among other things, cultural opportunities and the return of the fountains in 21^st century form in a year’s time.  The Leader of the Council reiterated his thanks to the officers involved.

RESOLVED that:

(1)          the Head of Place in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, the Head of Policy and Resources and the Council Solicitor is authorised to enter into a construction contract with a Principal Contractor to implement the Kings Square Redevelopment Scheme within the existing capital programme approved by Council in February 2020

(2)          authority be delegated to the Head of Place in consultation with the Council Solicitor to take all necessary steps and undertake necessary procedures, including entering into any legal arrangements or other documentation as may be required to implement or facilitate the Kings Square Redevelopment Scheme

(3)          progress be noted on the regeneration and refurbishment of Kings Square and the updated procurement strategy which led to the recommended choice of Principal Contractor.

The Leader of the Council took the opportunity to publicly congratulate on behalf of Cabinet the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy for having been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020 for political and public service with Membership of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy informed Members of his surprise on receiving the notification and made it clear that he regarded his achievements as teamwork.